System and method for detecting and integrating with native applications enabled for web-based storage

• US 10,176,192 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Procopio, Michael Jeffrey, Thierer, Tobias, Kan, Reuben, Lee, Ivan Young, Schoeffler, Eric Benson, Cairns, Brian Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Gortayo, Dangelino N
• Application Number:
  US15/069,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20160196280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 707783, 707705, 707736, 707748, 707758, 707769, 707803, 707827
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/148 File search processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/183 Provision of network file services by network file servers, e.g. by using NFS, CIFS network file access protocols H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/188 Virtual file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/33 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3331 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/345 Summarisation for human users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/358 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• 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 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A cloud storage system provides remote access to a file associated with the cloud storage system. In response to a request to access the file, the cloud storage system identifies applications available to the request generator and capable of accessing the file, which may include both online web-based applications and applications installed on a device with which the user is accessing the file. The cloud storage system determines an application type of an identified application, and provides file access to the identified application based on the application type.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing access to a file on a cloud storage system, comprising:

receiving a request from a request transmitting device to access a file on the cloud storage system, the request transmitting device being external to a cloud storage engine in the cloud storage system;

identifying a file type of the file;

identifying at least one application capable of accessing the file based on the file type, wherein the at least one application comprises an application installed at the request transmitting device or an online web-based application capable of accessing the file with the identified file type;

determining whether the at least one application is cloud-capable of accessing the file stored on the cloud storage engine in the cloud storage system based on an application type of the at least one application;

providing access to the file to the at least one application responsive to determining that the at least one application is cloud-capable of accessing the file stored on the cloud storage engine in the cloud storage system; and

providing a copy of the file to the request transmitting device for the at least one application to access the file, responsive to determining that the at least one application is not cloud-capable of accessing the file stored on the cloud storage engine in the cloud storage system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the request transmitting device, wherein the request transmitting device is a user associated with the file, a user who generated the request, or a device which transmitted the request.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the at least one identified application is available to the request transmitting device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one identified application is cloud-capable when the at least one identified application is configured to access a cloud storage engine of the cloud storage system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the at least one identified application is not available to the request transmitting device;

providing an option to gain access to the at least one identified application,

in response to receiving a selection of the option, determining an application type of the at least one identified application, wherein the application type indicates whether the at least one identified application is capable of accessing the file through the cloud storage system, and;

providing file access information to the at least one identified application if the at least one identified application is capable of accessing the file through the cloud storage system, or

providing a copy of the file to the at least one identified application if the at least one identified application is not capable of accessing the file through the cloud storage system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

querying a device associated with the request transmitting device for a list of applications installed on the device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

searching a list of applications associated with the request transmitting device, wherein the list is stored on the cloud storage system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one identified application includes a web-based application associated with the request, or a predetermined default application associated with the file type.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the file type is identified by a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) type associated with the file.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the application type indicates whether the application is installed on a user device, or whether the application is an online web-based application.

11. A cloud storage system for providing access to a file, the cloud storage system comprising:

a processor;

a file database communicatively coupled to the processor, the file database for storing a plurality of files and metadata associated with each of the plurality of files; and

a user database communicatively coupled to the processor, the user database for storing information associating at least one user with at least one file,

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive a request from a request transmitting device to access a file in the file database, the request transmitting device being external to a cloud storage engine in the cloud storage system;

identify a file type of the file;

identify at least one application capable of accessing the file based on the file type, wherein the at least one application comprises an application installed at the request transmitting device or an online web-based application capable of accessing the file with the identified file type;

determine whether the at least one application is cloud-capable of accessing the file stored in the file database on the cloud storage system based on an application type of the at least one application;

provide access to the file to the at least one application responsive to determining that the at least one application is cloud-capable of accessing the file stored in the file database; and

provide a copy of the file the request transmitting device for the at least one application to access the file, responsive to determining that the at least one application is not cloud-capable of accessing the file stored in the file database.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify the request transmitting device, wherein the request transmitting device is a user associated with the file, a user who generated the request, or a device which transmitted the request.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether the at least one identified application is available to the request transmitting device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one identified application is cloud-capable when the at least one identified application is configured to access a cloud storage engine of the cloud storage system.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to determining that the at least one identified application is not available to the request transmitting device;

provide an option to gain access to the at least one identified application,

in response to receiving a selection of the option, determine an application type of the at least one identified application, wherein the application type indicates whether the at least one identified application is capable of accessing the file through the cloud storage system, and;

provide file access information to the at least one identified application if the at least one identified application is capable of accessing the file through the cloud storage system, or

provide a copy of the file to the at least one identified application if the at least one identified application is not capable of accessing the file through the cloud storage system.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

query a device associated with the request transmitting device for a list of applications installed on the device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

search a list of applications associated with the request transmitting device, wherein the list is stored on the cloud storage system.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one identified application includes a web-based application associated with the request transmitting device, or a predetermined default application associated with the file type.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the file type is identified by a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) type associated with the file.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the application type indicates whether the application is installed on a user device, or whether the application is an online web-based application.

21. Non-transitory computer-readable media having recorded thereon instructions, that when executed by one or more computer processors, perform operations comprising:

receiving a request from a request transmitting device to access a file on the cloud storage system, the request transmitting device being external to a cloud storage engine in the cloud storage system;

identifying a file type of the file;

identifying at least one application capable of accessing the file based on the file type, wherein the at least one application comprises an application installed at the request transmitting device or an online web-based application capable of accessing the file with the identified file type;

determining whether the at least one application is cloud-capable of accessing the file stored on the cloud storage engine in the cloud storage system based on an application type of the at least one application;

providing access to the file to the at least one application responsive to determining that the at least one application is cloud-capable of accessing the file stored on the cloud storage engine in the cloud storage system; and

providing a copy of the file to the request transmitting device for the at least one application to access the file, responsive to determining that the at least one application is not cloud-capable of accessing the file stored on the cloud storage engine in the cloud storage system.