Shared folder backed integrated workspaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016283085-A1
Application number	US-201514725905-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	Mar 23, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for shared folder backed integrated workspaces. In some implementations, a content management system can provide a graphical user interface (GUI) that integrates communications and content management into a single user interface. The user interface can include mechanisms that allow a user to provide input to generate a new workspace. The user interface can provide a mechanism to allow a user to view conversations related to the workspace and/or content items associated with the workspace. The user interface can present representations of content items associated with the workspace and allow the user to provide input to generate, view, edit, and share content items associated with the workspace.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
generating, by an online content management system, a shared-folder backed workspace graphical user interface that provides an integrated environment for manipulating content items in an online shared folder of the online content management system and communicating with the authorized users of the shared folder, the workspace user interface including representations of content items stored in the online shared folder; receiving, by the online content management system, a first message indicating a selection of one of the content items represented by the workspace user interface; in response to receiving the message, generating a prompt to select one of a plurality of options for viewing the selected content item, where the plurality of options includes viewing a preview image of the selected content item and viewing the selected content item in a native application installed on the client device; receiving, by the online content management system, a second message indicating a selected option for viewing the selected content item; and in response to the second message, causing the client device to present the selected content item according to the selected option.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the selected content item exists in a local folder on the client device; and causing the option for viewing the selected content item in a native application installed on the client device to be presented in the prompt when the selected content item exists in a local folder on the client device.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the local folder corresponds to the online shared folder and wherein the selected content item was received during synchronization of the online shared folder with the local folder.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the selected option is viewing the selected content item in the native application installed on the client device, and further comprising:
determining which native application installed on the client device corresponds to the selected content item; and invoking the native application on the client device, wherein the invocation causes the native application to open the selected content item stored in the local folder.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected option is viewing a preview image of the selected content item, and further comprising:
sending, by the online content management system to the client device, the preview image representing contents of the selected content item, wherein the client device displays the preview image in a web browser application.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the native application modifies the selected content item and stores the modified content item in a local folder on the client device, and further comprising:
synchronizing the local folder, including the modified content item, with the online shared folder.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein determining which native application installed on the client device corresponds to the selected content item comprises:
determining a content item type corresponding to the selected content item; and determining a native application capable of opening the content item type of the selected content item.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause:
generating, by an online content management system, a shared-folder backed workspace graphical user interface that provides an integrated environment for manipulating content items in an online shared folder of the online content management system and communicating with the authorized users of the shared folder, the workspace user interface including representations of content items stored in the online shared folder; in response to receiving a selection of a content item represented by the workspace user interface, generating a prompt to select an option for viewing the selected content item, where the option includes viewing a preview image of the selected content item or viewing the selected content item in a native application installed on the client device; in response to receiving an indication of a selected option for viewing the selected content item, causing the client device to present the selected content item according to the selected option.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause:
determining that the selected content item exists in a local folder on the client device; and causing an option for viewing the selected content item in a native application installed on the client device to be presented in the prompt when the selected content item exists in a local folder on the client device.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the local folder corresponds to the online shared folder and wherein the selected content item was received during synchronization of the online shared folder with the local folder.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the selected option is viewing the selected content item in the native application installed on the client device, and wherein the instructions cause:
determining which native application installed on the client device corresponds to the selected content item; and invoking the native application on the client device, wherein the invocation causes the native application to open the selected content item stored in the local folder.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the selected option is viewing a preview image of the selected content item, and wherein the instructions cause:
sending, by the online content management system to the client device, the preview image representing contents of the selected content item, wherein the client device displays the preview image in a web browser application.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the native application modifies the selected content item and stores the modified content item in a local folder on the client device, and wherein the instructions cause:
synchronizing the local folder, including the modified content item, with the online shared folder.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions that cause determining which native application installed on the client device corresponds to the selected content item include instructions that cause:
determining a content item type corresponding to the selected content item; and determining a native application capable of opening the content item type of the selected content item.

15 . An online content management system comprising:
one or more processors; and a computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause:
generating, by an online content management system, a shared-folder backed workspace graphical user interface that provides an integrated environment for manipulating content items in an online shared folder of the online content management system, communicating with the authorized users of the online shared folder, the workspace user interface including representations of content items stored in the online shared folder;
synchronizing, by the online content management system, contents of the online shared folder with respective local folders on user devices of the authorized users of the online shared folder;
in response to receiving a selection of a content

Assignees

• Dropbox Inc

Inventors

• Beausoleil Sean
• Pan Matteus
• Greze Jean-Denis
• Devincenzi Anthony

Classifications

• G06F40/123

  Storage facilities · CPC title

• G06F40/134

  Hyperlinking · CPC title

• G06F40/166

  Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting · CPC title

• G06F40/186

  Templates · CPC title

• G06F16/9574

  of access to content, e.g. by caching · CPC title