Dynamic feed generation
Syndicated feeds are generated from enterprise data using an interface that dynamically adapts user requests to an enterprise system and dynamically conforms the responsively provided enterprise data to a format suitable for presentation in a syndicated data feed.
1. A method comprising a computer having a computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor of the computer, causes the processor to perform the steps of:
initiating a service at a server, wherein the server is associated with a client, the client having an interface configured as a remote service, wherein the remote service provides an RSS interface for employing a secure connection;
receiving a request from the client to access an enterprise system, wherein the request comprises credentials associated with the client;
accessing the enterprise system, wherein the enterprise system is accessed when the credentials are validated;
querying the enterprise system to obtain enterprise data;
converting the enterprise data into a syndicated feed; and
providing the syndicated feed to the client.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
identifying an object identifier in the enterprise data;
performing a supplemental request to the enterprise system for additional data relating to the object identifier; and
inserting the additional data into the syndicated feed.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the supplemental request is based upon a type of object specified by the identifier.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the type includes one or more of a name, a customer number, a date, and an address.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the request from the client includes at least one relative term, the method further comprising converting the relative term into a specific term for presentation to the enterprise system.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the relative term specifies a range of times.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the range of times is one or more of this year, this month, last month, today, and next three days.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein converting the enterprise data into a syndicated feed includes using a syntax for formatting during presentation of the feed.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the syntax specifies one or more of a local variable, a date, a dollar amount, and a percentage.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein converting the enterprise data into a syndicated feed includes converting at least one error into a human-readable message.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the human-readable message describes one or more of an inability to reach the enterprise system, a failure of login credentials, and a lapsed subscription to a service.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the human-readable message is communicated through a medium including one or more of an electronic mail, an instant message, and a cellular phone text message.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein converting the enterprise data into a syndicated feed includes mapping the enterprise data to at least one RSS extension.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein converting the enterprise data into a syndicated feed includes encoding the enterprise query into one or more custom namespace elements of an RSS output, the custom namespace elements providing a machine-readable form to facilitate transfer of the enterprise data to an application.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the application is one or more of a local application and a second enterprise system.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein converting the enterprise data into a syndicated feed includes one or more of filtering, sorting, categorizing and formatting the enterprise data.