How Salesforce Speeds Up Data Processing Using Bulk Message Handling
A method for cloud systems to grab multiple tasks at once instead of one by one, using a locking mechanism to ensure data stays consistent during bulk processing.
Original patent title: “Systems and methods for implementing bulk handling in asynchronous processing”
A method for cloud systems to grab multiple tasks at once instead of one by one, using a locking mechanism to ensure data stays consistent during bulk processing. Granted to Salesforce com Inc in 2018 with 28 claims and 7 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way for a computer system to handle large volumes of background tasks more efficiently. Instead of processing messages one at a time, the system uses a broker to push one task to a worker thread, which then pulls additional tasks from the queue to group them together. The system then attempts to 'lock' this entire group of tasks in a database simultaneously. If the lock is successful, the system processes all the messages in the group at once, which is much faster than individual processing. If the lock fails, the system puts the messages back in the queue to try again later.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover processing messages that do not require a database lock for synchronization.
- Does not cover systems that lack a message broker or queue-based architecture.
- Does not cover individual, non-bulk message processing methods.
- Does not cover methods that do not use a relational database to verify record existence before locking.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the 'pull' request from the thread to the broker to aggregate messages dynamically, combined with an atomic database lock check that ensures the system only processes a batch if all records are available and unlocked.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Salesforce background job processing
High-volume enterprise message queues
Cloud-based asynchronous task runners
Why it matters
The bigger picture
In large-scale cloud services like Salesforce, processing millions of user requests individually creates a massive bottleneck. This patent provides a specific architectural pattern to increase throughput by reducing the number of database transactions required. It is a foundational technique for maintaining performance in multi-tenant environments where many customers share the same infrastructure.
Filed
June 16, 2014
Granted
July 10, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Salesforce remains the primary user of this architecture within their own platform. Other major cloud infrastructure providers and enterprise SaaS companies utilize similar patterns for asynchronous message handling to manage high-concurrency workloads.
Market impact
This technology enables the high-performance background processing required for modern SaaS platforms to scale. It allows companies to manage massive spikes in data traffic without needing to linearly increase the number of database servers, effectively optimizing the cost and speed of cloud operations.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way for a computer system to handle large volumes of background tasks more efficiently. Instead of processing messages one at a time, the system uses a broker to push one task to a worker thread, which then pulls additional tasks from the queue to group them together. The system then attempts to 'lock' this entire group of tasks in a database simultaneously. If the lock is successful, the system processes all the messages in the group at once, which is much faster than individual processing. If the lock fails, the system puts the messages back in the queue to try again later.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the 'pull' request from the thread to the broker to aggregate messages dynamically, combined with an atomic database lock check that ensures the system only processes a batch if all records are available and unlocked.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover processing messages that do not require a database lock for synchronization.
- Does not cover systems that lack a message broker or queue-based architecture.
- Does not cover individual, non-bulk message processing methods.
- Does not cover methods that do not use a relational database to verify record existence before locking.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
18/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
19/20
Very broad protection
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$125K – $399K
Midpoint $250K · 8.0 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
28 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Murugesan, P., Devadhar, V., Helmich, M., & Yadav, A. (2018). How Salesforce Speeds Up Data Processing Using Bulk Message Handling (U.S. Patent No. 10,019,297). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10019297/power-bi
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US10019297"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Software & Internet
US 4405829 · 1983 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How RSA Public-Key Encryption Keeps Digital Messages Secret
US 6285999 · 2001 · Leland Stanford Junior University
How Websites Get Ranked by Importance
US 5960411 · 1999 · Amazon com Inc
How Amazon's One-Click Ordering Works for Online Purchases
US 7669123 · 2010 · Facebook Inc
Displaying Friends' Activities in a Social Network Feed
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Salesforce Speeds Up Data Processing Using Bulk Message Handling cover?
A method for cloud systems to grab multiple tasks at once instead of one by one, using a locking mechanism to ensure data stays consistent during bulk processing.
Who owns patent US 10019297?
Salesforce com Inc owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 10, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10019297 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 7 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
In large-scale cloud services like Salesforce, processing millions of user requests individually creates a massive bottleneck. This patent provides a specific architectural pattern to increase throughput by reducing the number of database transactions required. It is a foundational technique for maintaining performance in multi-tenant environments where many customers share the same infrastructure.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover processing messages that do not require a database lock for synchronization.
Same assignee
More from Salesforce com Inc
Patent monitoring