System, method, and computer program for enabling a user to access and edit via a virtual drive objects synchronized to a plurality of synchronization clients

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016028811-A1
Application number	US-201514873004-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 1, 2015
Priority date	Aug 10, 2012
Publication date	Jan 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program are provided for enabling a user to edit and access local and remote objects via a virtual drive, including objects synchronized to a plurality of Synchronization clients. A virtual drive is displayed on the user's local client device with all objects, which a user has synchronized to a synchronization server. A user is able to access and edit any object displayed in the virtual drive. In response to detecting a change in an object its the virtual drive, the object is updated on the synchronization server. All remote clients of the user or of any other users whom have access to the changed folder are identified and notified of the change. In response to the change being a change to content within the folder, the content of the folder is automatically updated on any identified remote clients that have a corresponding folder.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A method comprising:
displaying, on a client device, a plurality of folder indicators synchronized to a plurality of client devices, the plurality of folder indicators comprising:
a first folder indicator associated with a first client device from the plurality of client devices, and
a second folder indicator, different from the first folder indicator, associated with a second client device from the plurality of client devices;
determining, by the client device, that a user edited contents related to the first folder indicator, wherein the contents are edited via an application on the client device, the contents comprising an attribute associated with the application; and sending, by the client device, a notification of the edit to a server for distribution to the plurality of client devices.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the edited contents comprises one of a text document, a spreadsheet, a presentation, an email, a contact, a calendar item, or a media file.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the attribute comprises a file type.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the file type determines the application used for editing the contents of the first folder indicator.

25 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising downloading, from the server, the contents of the first folder indicator to the client device upon receiving input to access the contents via the application.

26 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising uploading the edited contents to the server.

27 . A method comprising:
displaying, on a client device, a plurality of item indicators synchronized to a plurality of client devices, the plurality of item indicators including:
a first item indicator associated with a first client device from the plurality of client devices, and
a second item indicator, different from the first item indicator, associated with a second client device from the plurality of client devices;
determining, by the client device, that a user edited contents related to the first item indicator, wherein the contents are edited via an application on the client device, the contents comprising an attribute associated with the application; and sending, by the client device, a notification of the edit to a server for distribution to the plurality of client devices.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the edited contents comprises one of a text document, a spreadsheet, a presentation, an email, a contact, a calendar item, or a media file.

29 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the attribute comprises a file type.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the file type determines the application used for editing the contents of the first item indicator.

31 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising downloading, from the server, the contents of the first item indicator to the client device upon receiving input to access the contents via the application.

32 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising uploading the edited contents to the server.

33 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium in a client device, comprising computer-executable code comprising:
code for displaying, on a client device, a plurality of folder indicators synchronized to a plurality of client devices, the plurality of folder indicators comprising:
a first folder indicator associated with a first client device from the plurality of client devices, and
a second folder indicator, different from the first folder indicator, associated with a second client device from the plurality of client devices;
code for determining that a user edited contents related to the first folder indicator, wherein the contents are edited via an application on the client device, the contents comprising an attribute associated with the application; and code for sending a notification of the edit to a server for distribution to the plurality client devices.

34 . The computer-readable medium of claim 33 , wherein the edited contents comprises one of a text document, a spreadsheet, a presentation, an email, a contact, a calendar item, or a media file.

35 . The computer-readable medium of claim 33 , wherein the attribute comprises a file type.

36 . The computer-readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the file type determines the application used for editing the contents of the first folder indicator.

37 . The computer-readable medium of claim 33 , further comprising code for downloading, from the server, the contents of the first folder indicator to the client device upon receiving input to access the contents via the application.

38 . The computer-readable medium of claim 33 , further comprising code for uploading the edited contents to the server.

39 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium in a client device, comprising computer-executable code comprising:
code for displaying, on a client device, a plurality of item indicators synchronized to a plurality of client devices, the plurality of item indicators including:
a first item indicator associated with a first client device from the plurality of client devices, and
a second item indicator, different from the first item indicator, associated with a second client device from the plurality of client devices;
code for determining that a user edited contents related to the first item indicator, wherein the contents are edited via an application associated with the contents on the client device, the contents comprising an attribute associated with the application; and code for sending a notification of the edit to a server for distribution to the plurality of client devices.

40 . The computer-readable medium of claim 39 , wherein the edited contents comprises one of a text document, a spreadsheet, a presentation, an email, a contact, a calendar item, or a media file.

41 . The computer-readable medium of claim 39 , wherein the attribute comprises a file type.

42 . The computer-readable medium of claim 41 , wherein the file type determines the application used for editing the contents of the first item indicator.

43 . The computer-readable medium of claim 39 , further comprising downloading, from the server, the contents of the first item indicator to the client device upon receiving input to access the contents via the application.

44 . The computer-readable medium of claim 39 , further comprising uploading the edited contents to the server.

Assignees

• Dropbox Inc

Inventors

• Rashid Faud
• Morford Michael Phillip
• Wagner Eric Wayne
• Wong James David
• Yip Sing

Classifications

• H04L67/1095 Primary

  Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes · CPC title

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• H04L67/01

  Protocols · CPC title

• G06F3/00

  Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements · CPC title

• G06F3/048

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title