User interface for viewing items in a synchronization system

• US 10,009,233 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Mihovilovic, Domingo A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torres, Ayesha Huertas
• Application Number:
  US14/871,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20160028593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

In a synchronization system, the present invention provides an improved user interface through which a user can view and manage settings associated with the user'"'"'s account in the synchronization system. In the preferred embodiment, a column is displayed for each electronic device associated with the user'"'"'s account in the synchronization system. In each column is a visual representation of items (e.g., folders) that are (1) backed up, remotely accessible and/or synchronized in the synchronization system and (2) located on the electronic device associated with such column. For each item that is synchronized across multiple devices, all the visual representations of such item in the columns are aligned across a single row in the interface. In the preferred embodiment, there is an arrow, or other visual indicator, between the visual representations of such items to indicate that the items are synchronized.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating a plurality of electronic devices with a user account in a synchronization system, wherein a plurality of items are synchronized with at least one of the plurality of electronic devices associated with the user account;

providing a user interface corresponding to the user account, the user interface comprising;

a visual representation of each of the plurality of electronic devices;

a visual representation of each item of the plurality of items, wherein a visual representation of a given item visually corresponds to a visual representation of a given electronic device to which the given item is synchronized in the synchronization system;

a first section of the user interface comprising visual representations of items that are synchronized with multiple electronic devices from the plurality of electronic devices; and

a second section of the user interface comprising visual representations of items that are not synchronized with more than one electronic device from the plurality of electronic devices,

an indicator of a function with which the user interacts to synchronize an item between two or more electronic devices from the plurality of the electronic devices associated with the user account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a visual connector between the visual representations of the items that are synchronized with the multiple electronic devices from the plurality of electronic devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the visual connector comprises one of an arrow, a line, or an icon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises the visual representation of each of the plurality of electronic devices as columns, wherein the columns are divided horizontally into the first section and the second section.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises, an indicator of a function, the function comprising at least one of:

adding the item to the user account;

deleting the item from the user account.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the item comprises a folder.

7. A system for displaying items associated with a user account in a synchronization system, the system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

provide a user interface comprising;

a visual representation of each of a plurality of electronic devices, wherein each of the plurality of electronic devices are associated with the user account in the synchronization system;

a visual representation of each item of a plurality of items, wherein a visual representation of a given item visually corresponds to a visual representation of a given electronic device to which the given item is synchronized in the synchronization system;

a first section of the user interface comprising visual representations of items that are synchronized with multiple electronic devices from the plurality of electronic devices;

a second section of the user interface comprising visual representations of items that are not synchronized with more than one electronic device from the plurality of electronic devices; and

an indicator of a function with which the user interacts to synchronize an item between two or more electronic devices from the plurality of the electronic devices associated with the user account.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the user interface further comprises a visual connector between the visual representations of the items that are synchronized with the multiple electronic devices from the plurality of electronic devices.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the visual connector comprises one of an arrow, a line, or an icon.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the user interface further comprises the visual representation of each of the plurality of electronic devices as columns, wherein the columns are divided horizontally into the first section and the second section.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the user interface further comprises an indicator of a function, the function comprising at least one of:

adding the item to the user account;

deleting the item from the user account.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the item comprises a folder.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer device to:

provide a user interface corresponding to a user account, the user interface comprising;

a visual representation of each of a plurality of electronic devices;

a visual representation of each item of a plurality of items, wherein a visual representation of a given item visually corresponds to a visual representation of a given electronic device to which the given item is synchronized in a synchronization system;

a first section of the user interface comprising visual representations of items that are synchronized with multiple electronic devices from the plurality of electronic devices;

a second section of the user interface comprising visual representations of items that are not synchronized with more than one electronic device from the plurality of electronic devices; and

an indicator of a function with which the user interacts to synchronize an item between two or more electronic devices from the plurality of the electronic devices associated with the user account.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the user interface further comprises a visual connector between the visual representations of the items that are synchronized with the multiple electronic devices from the plurality of electronic devices.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the visual connector comprises one of an arrow, a line, or an icon.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the user interface further comprises the visual representation of each of the plurality of electronic devices as columns, wherein the columns are divided horizontally into the first section and the second section.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the user interface further comprises an indicator of a function, the function comprising at least one of:

adding the item to the user account;

deleting the item from the user account.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the item comprises a folder.