External user notifications in shared folder backed integrated workspaces

• US 10,042,900 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Beausoleil, Sean, Pan, Matteus, Greze, Jean-Denis, DeVincenzi, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wan, Jasmine
• Application Number:
  US14/726,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20160285797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 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 Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/123 Storage facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 : Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 : Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 : Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 : Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 : Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 : Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 : Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 : providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 : Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 : Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 : for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 : Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 : when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 : for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles

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.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating, by a computing device, a chat message stream that presents chat messages generated by authorized users of an online shared folder of an online content management system, wherein each of the authorized users, including those not engaged in a chat conversation, can access data content of the online shared folder including the chat messages in the chat message stream;

receiving, by the computing device, a first chat message generated by an authorized user of the online shared folder;

determining, by the computing device, that the first chat message mentions an external user who is not authorized to access the data content of the online shared folder;

in response to the determination that an external user is mentioned in the first chat message, obtaining, by the computing device, contact information for the external user; and

sending, by the computing device, at least a text portion of the first chat message outside of the chat message stream to a remote device of the external user according to a communication mechanism corresponding to the contact information, while the external user is still not authorized to access the data content of the online shared folder and the chat message stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first chat message mentions an external user includes determining that the first chat message includes an identifier for the external user prefixed with a reference symbol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining contact information for the external user includes generating a prompt requesting contact information for the external user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining contact information for the external user includes accessing a contacts database associated with the authorized user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending at least a portion of the first chat message to the external user according to a communication mechanism corresponding to the contact information comprises:

determining that the contact information includes an email address for the external user; and

sending an email to the external user that includes at least a portion of the first chat message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending at least a portion of the first chat message to the external user according to a communication mechanism corresponding to the contact information comprises:

determining that the contact information includes a telephone number for the external user; and

sending a text message to the telephone number for the external user that includes at least a portion of the first chat message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a reply message in reply to the first chat message from the external user according to the communication mechanism; and

posting at least a portion of the reply message in the chat message stream.

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 that provides an integrated environment for manipulating content items in an online shared folder and for communicating with authorized users of the online shared folder, the workspace including a chat message stream that includes chat messages generated by authorized users of the online shared folder, wherein each of the authorized users, including those not engaged in a chat conversation, can access data content of the online shared folder including the chat messages in the chat message stream;

receiving, by the computing device, a first chat message generated by an authorized user of the online shared folder;

determining, by the computing device, that the first chat message mentions an external user who is not authorized to access the data content of the online shared folder;

in response to the determination that an external user is mentioned in the first chat message, obtaining, by the computing device, contact information for the external user; and

sending, by the computing device, at least a text portion of the first chat message outside of the chat message stream to a remote device of the external user according to a communication mechanism corresponding to the contact information, while the external user is still not authorized to access the data content of the online shared folder and the chat message stream.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause determining that the first chat message mentions an external user include instructions that cause determining that the first chat message includes an identifier for the external user prefixed with a reference symbol.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause obtaining contact information for the external user include instructions that cause generating a prompt requesting contact information for the external user.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause obtaining contact information for the external user include instructions that cause accessing a contacts database associated with the authorized user.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause sending at least a portion of the first chat message to the external user according to a communication mechanism corresponding to the contact information include instructions that cause:

determining that the contact information includes an email address for the external user; and

sending an email to the external user that includes at least a portion of the first chat message.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause sending at least a portion of the first chat message to the external user according to a communication mechanism corresponding to the contact information include instructions that cause:

determining that the contact information includes a telephone number for the external user; and

sending a text message to the telephone number for the external user that includes at least a portion of the first chat message.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions cause:

receiving a reply message in reply to the first chat message from the external user according to the communication mechanism; and

posting at least a portion of the reply message in the chat message stream.

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 the online content management system, a shared-folder backed workspace that provides an integrated environment for manipulating content items in an online shared folder and for communicating with authorized users of the online shared folder, the workspace including a chat message stream that includes chat messages generated by authorized users of the online shared folder, wherein each of the authorized users, including those not engaged in a chat conversation, can access data content of the online shared folder including the chat messages in the chat message stream;

receiving, by the computing device, a first chat message generated by an authorized user of the online shared folder;

determining, by the computing device, that the first chat message mentions an external user who is not authorized to access the data content of the online shared folder;

in response to the determination that an external user is mentioned in the first chat message, obtaining, by the computing device, contact information for the external user; and

sending, by the computing device, at least a text portion of the first chat message outside of the chat message stream to a remote device of the external user according to a communication mechanism corresponding to the contact information, while the external user is still not authorized to access the data content of the online shared folder and the message stream.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions that cause determining that the first chat message mentions an external user include instructions that cause determining that the first chat message includes an identifier for the external user prefixed with a reference symbol.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions that cause obtaining contact information for the external user include instructions that cause generating a prompt requesting contact information for the external user.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions that cause obtaining contact information for the external user include instructions that cause accessing a contacts database associated with the authorized user.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions that cause sending at least a portion of the first chat message to the external user according to a communication mechanism corresponding to the contact information include instructions that cause:

determining that the contact information includes an email address for the external user; and

sending an email to the external user that includes at least a portion of the first chat message.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions that cause sending at least a portion of the first chat message to the external user according to a communication mechanism corresponding to the contact information include instructions that cause:

determining that the contact information includes a telephone number for the external user; and

sending a text message to the telephone number for the external user that includes at least a portion of the first chat message.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions cause:

receiving a reply message in reply to the first chat message from the external user according to the communication mechanism; and

posting at least a portion of the reply message in the chat message stream.