System and method for database access using a history walker

Abstract

Systems and methods for a history walker interface to a time-based data structure are disclosed. A time-based data structure may contain information about updates to a set of records that change periodically over time. For example, a set of records that record state transitions of a task item as the task item progresses through its life cycle. An example task item may be represented by a change request or incident report in a help desk software application. The task item begins with an “open” state and may transition through any number of states (e.g., assigned, on-hold, test, customer response requested, etc.) on its way to ultimately being “closed” as completed. A history walker interface may assist application developers when creating applications to indicate how the task item transitioned through its different states throughout its lifecycle.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a hardware processor; and   a non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to perform actions comprising:
 receiving update information via a history walker interface, wherein the update information is related to an update to an item associated with a time-based data structure, and wherein the update information is indicative of one or more additional updates that precede the update, or proceed the update, or both; and 
 providing a representation of a graphical user interface (GUI) to a client device, wherein the representation of the GUI is configured to display the update and the one or more additional updates positioned along a timeline for the item. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the update information comprises one or more field value changes between the update and the one or more additional updates. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the history walker interface comprises an application programming interface (API) configured to obtain the update information. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the item comprises an incident report associated with an enterprise or a change request associated with the enterprise. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the representation of the GUI indicates whether each update of the update and the one or more additional updates are a task update or a task update with a state change. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the time-based data structure comprises a transaction history representative of a life-cycle of the item. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the item comprises one or more tasks associated with one or more service level agreements (SLAs), and wherein the representation of the GUI indicates compliance with the one or more SLAs. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each task of the one or more tasks comprises one or more color-coded segments representing an elapsed timeline and a compliance status with the one or more SLAs. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the representation of the GUI indicates a schedule associated with at least one of the one or more SLAs. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 receiving update information from an application programming interface (API), wherein the update information is related to an update to an item associated with a time-based data structure, and wherein the update information is indicative of one or more additional updates that precede the update, or proceed the update, or both; and   providing a representation of a graphical user interface (GUI) to a client device, wherein the representation of the GUI is configured to display the update and the one or more additional updates positioned along a timeline for the item.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the update information comprises one or more field value changes between the update and the one or more additional updates. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the representation of the GUI enables navigation between the update and the one or more additional updates. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the representation of the GUI indicates whether each update of the update and the one or more additional updates are a task update or a task update with a state change. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the time-based data structure comprises a transaction history representative of a life-cycle of the item. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the representation of the GUI indicates whether the item comprises an incident report associated with an enterprise or a change request associated with the enterprise. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer readable instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving update information from an application programming interface (API), wherein the update information is related to an update to an item associated with a time-based data structure, and wherein the update information is indicative of one or more additional updates that precede the update, or proceed the update, or both; and   providing a representation of a graphical user interface (GUI) to a client device, wherein the representation of the GUI is configured to display the update and the one or more additional updates positioned along a timeline for the item.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the representation of the GUI enables navigation between the update and the one or more additional updates. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the item comprises one or more tasks associated with one or more service level agreements (SLAs), and wherein the representation of the GUI indicates compliance with the one or more SLAs. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein each task of the one or more tasks comprises one or more color-coded segments representing an elapsed timeline and a compliance status with the one or more SLAs. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the representation of the GUI indicates a schedule associated with at least one of the one or more SLAs.