SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTING WITH AN APPLICATION IN A PUBLISHER
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable storage media for interacting with an application using a publisher in an online social network. A user interface includes a publisher and an information feed. A user may request to expose an application using the publisher. The application may be hosted natively in an on-demand service environment or hosted on a third-party platform. Content from the application is exposed in the publisher via an application programming interface (API). A user may interact with the application via the API through the publisher, and the information feed is updated via the API according to the user interaction with the application. A feed item may be presented for inclusion in the information feed based on the update.
1 . A computer-implemented method to interact with an application using a publisher in an online social network, comprising:
providing, by a computing device, data to generate a user interface including a publisher and an information feed, wherein the publisher is configured to publish information to the information feed;
receiving, at the computing device, a request to expose an application using the publisher;
exposing content from the application in the publisher via an application programming interface (API);
receiving a user input regarding the exposed content to interact with the application;
performing, using the user input, the interaction with the application via the API; and
updating the information feed via the API in the user interface according to the performed interaction with the application.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the application is hosted on a third-party platform.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
presenting a feed item associated with the update for inclusion in the information feed.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the feed item includes one or more actionable selections providing a reference to the application.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving another user input selecting at least one of the one or more actionable selections to update the application; and
performing, using the another user input, the update to the application via the API.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the publisher includes a custom action configured to interact with the application in accordance with custom action instructions provided by a first entity.
7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving the custom action instructions from a user, wherein the custom action instructions are configured to define the layout and dimensions of the publisher and the custom action.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first entity is a database service provider providing database services to a plurality of recipients.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first entity is a user or organization.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the interaction with the application includes:
updating a database system according to the performed interaction with the application.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the steps performed in the method occurs without refreshing the user interface.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing content associated with the application includes:
retrieving the content from a database system; and
presenting the content for display in a publisher space in the publisher.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the API is configured to enable integration of the application into an on-demand service environment.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the application is at least one of a task management service, customer relationship management (CRM) service, customer service, performance management service, social marketing service, web service, and a data repository service.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the information feed includes updating one or more data fields in the information feed based on the user input.
16 . One or more computing devices for interacting with an application using a publisher in an online social network, the one or more computing devices comprising:
one or more processors configured to execute one or more instructions to:
provide data to generate a user interface including a publisher and an information feed, wherein the publisher is configured to publish information to the information feed;
receive a request to expose an application using the publisher;
expose content from the application in the publisher via an application programming interface (API);
receive a user input regarding the exposed content to interact with the application;
perform, using the user input, the interaction with the application via the API; and
update the information feed via the API in the user interface according to the performed interaction with the application.
17 . The one or more computing devices of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute one or more instructions to:
present a feed item associated with the update for inclusion in the information feed, wherein the feed item includes one or more actionable selections providing a reference to the application.
18 . The one or more computing devices of claim 16 , wherein the publisher includes a custom action configured to interact with the application in accordance with custom action instructions provided by a first entity.
19 . The one or more computing devices of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors configured to execute the one or more instructions to perform the interaction include one or more instructions to:
update a database system according to the performed interaction with the application.
20 . The one or more computing devices of claim 16 , wherein the API is configured to enable integration of the application into an on-demand service environment.
21 . The one or more computing devices of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors configured to execute the one or more instructions to expose content associated with the application include one or more instructions to:
retrieve the content from a database system; and
present the content for display in a publisher space in the publisher.
22 . The one or more computing devices of claim 16 , wherein the application is at least one of a task management service, customer relationship management (CRM) service, customer service, performance management service, social marketing service, web service, and data repository service.
23 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a computing device to perform a method to interact with an application using a publisher in an online social network, the method comprising:
providing, by a computing device, data to generate a user interface including a publisher and an information feed, wherein the publisher is configured to publish information to the information feed;
receiving, at the computing device, a request to expose an application using the publisher;
exposing content from the application in the publisher via an application programming interface (API);
receiving a user input regarding the exposed content to interact with the application;
performing, using the user input, the interaction with the application via the API; and
updating the information feed via the API in the user interface according to the performed interaction with the application.
24 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises:
presenting a feed item associated with the update for inclusion in the information feed, wherein the feed item includes one or more actionable selections providing a reference to the application.