File sharing via link generation

• US 10,491,653 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2018
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Ferdowsi, Arash, Houston, Drew, Ying, Jonathan, Bartelma, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, John B
• Application Number:
  US16/222,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20190124131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0622 in relation to access
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• 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]

Abstract

Users specify that a file set comprising their files, folders, or other content owned by the users should be made accessible via a link, such as a uniform resource locator (URL). The system which stores and provides access to the files accordingly creates a link that specifies the file set to be made accessible. The users may distribute the link to recipients with whom the file set is to be shared, and the distribution may be performed in any manner that the users choose.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

generating, by a server, a link associated with at least one file stored on the server in response to a first link request from a first client device of a first user, the at least one file synchronized with the first client device, the link providing access to a representation of the at least one file;

receiving, by the server, a modification to the at least one file;

updating, by the server, the at least one file stored on the server to include the modification, wherein, after the updating of the at least one file, the representation accessed by the link includes the modification.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a second client device of a second user, a request to access the at least one file via the link; and

providing the representation of the at least one file to the second client device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the representation of the at least one file is a preview of the at least one file.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the link is associated with a folder containing a set of files including the at least one file.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the link indicates a native application associated with the at least one file.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising generating a second link in response to a second link request, the second link providing access to the representation of the at least one file.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing the link in response to a delete request; and

after deleting the link, receiving a request to access the at least one file via the link; and

denying access to the at least one file.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more computer processors of a file access server cause the one or more computer processors to perform actions comprising:

generating, by a server, a link associated with at least one file stored on the server in response to a first link request from a first client device of a first user, the at least one file synchronized with the first client device, the link providing access to a representation of the at least one file;

receiving, by the server, a modification to the at least one file;

updating, by the server, the at least one file stored on the server to include the modification, wherein, after the updating of the at least one file, the representation accessed by the link includes the modification.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the actions further comprising:

receiving, from a second client device of a second user, a request to access the at least one file via the link; and

providing the representation of the at least one file to the second client device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the representation of the at least one file is a preview of the at least one file.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the link is associated with a folder containing a set of files including the at least one file.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the link indicates a native application associated with the at least one file.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the actions further comprising generating a second link in response to a second link request, the second link providing access to the representation of the at least one file.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the actions further comprising:

removing the link in response to a delete request; and

after deleting the link, receiving a request to access the at least one file via the link; and

denying access to the at least one file.

15. A file access server comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to perform actions comprising;

generating, by a server, a link associated with at least one file stored on the server in response to a first link request from a first client device of a first user, the at least one file synchronized with the first client device, the link providing access to a representation of the at least one file;

receiving, by the server, a modification to the at least one file;

updating, by the server, the at least one file stored on the server to include the modification, wherein, after the updating of the at least one file, the representation accessed by the link includes the modification.

16. The file access server of claim 15, the actions further comprising:

receiving, from a second client device of a second user, a request to access the at least one file via the link; and

providing the representation of the at least one file to the second client device.

17. The file access server of claim 15, wherein the representation of the at least one file is a preview of the at least one file.

18. The file access server of claim 15, wherein the link is associated with a folder containing a set of files including the at least one file.

19. The file access server of claim 15, wherein the link indicates a native application associated with the at least one file.

20. The file access server of claim 15, the actions further comprising generating a second link in response to a second link request, the second link providing access to the representation of the at least one file.