Collection folder for collecting file submissions via a customizable file request

• US 10,601,916 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2017
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhang, Mindy, Piyush, Pranav
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Liang Che A
• Application Number:
  US15/633,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20170295238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 709202, 709204, 709217, 709223, 709226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• 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

A content management system for collecting files from one or more submitters in a collection folder. A collector, who generates the collection folder, can invite one or more submitters to submit one or more files to the collection folder via a customizable file request. The one or more submitters have limited rights to the collection folder. The limited rights can include uploading rights and prohibiting a submitter from viewing files that other submitters associated with the collection folder submitted. Thus, the collection folder is able to store files from the one or more submitters, but prevent them from viewing other'"'"'s submissions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving from a first user account, by a content management system, a request to create a file request for use in collecting one or more content items from one or more submitters;

in response to the request, providing a user interface comprising a menu with one or more selectable options for customizing the file request;

determining, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information for the file request, the customization information specifying at least one permitted file extension for a collection folder;

generating, based on the customization information, the collection folder associated with the received file request and the first user account; and

generating, based on the customization information, a link to the collection folder, wherein the link enables a submitter to submit one or more content items of the at least one permitted file extension specified by the customization information to the generated collection folder.

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

distributing, by the content management system, the generated link to the one or more submitters.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the submitter has limited rights to the collection folder, the limited rights enabling submission of one or more content items to the generated collection folder and prohibiting the submitter from viewing content items added by another submitter.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more selectable options for customizing the file request comprise options to specify at least one of:

a number of submissions permitted by a submitter;

an expiration of the request;

a white labeling file;

a template file;

or

a viewing role.

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

determining, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, a message to accompany the request; and

wherein distributing the generated link further comprises distributing, by the content management system, the message along with the generated link to the one or more submitters.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information further specifying a white labeling file; and

in response to the generated link being activated, rendering, by the content management system, a file request user interface including a white label associated with the white labeling file.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information further specifying an expiration of the file request; and

sending, by the content management system, a message notifying a submitter that a submission from the submitter is rejected when the submission occurs after a deadline based on the expiration of the file request.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information further specifying a number of submissions permitted by a submitter; and

sending, by the content management system, a message notifying the submitter that a submission from the submitter is rejected when a total number of submissions by the submitter exceeds the number of submissions permitted by the submitter.

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

determining, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information further specifying permission to replace a previous submission.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, from a submitter in response to the generated link, a first content item;

receiving, at a later time, a second content item;

determining that the second content item corresponds to the first content item; and

replacing, based on the permission to replace a previous submission, the first content item with the second content item within the generated collection folder.

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

receiving, from the first user account, by the content management system, a previous file request for use in collecting one or more content items from one or more submitters; and

receiving, by way of the one or more selectable options, an indication of the previous file request associated with the first user account.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein:

determining the customization information comprises reusing customization information from the previous file request.

13. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having processor-executable instructions stored therein for causing the one or more processors to;

receive from a first user account a request to create a file request for use in collecting one or more content items from one or more submitters;

in response to the request, provide a user interface comprising a menu with one or more selectable options for customizing the file request;

determine, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information for the file request, the customization information specifying at least one permitted file extension for a collection folder;

generate, based on the customization information, the collection folder associated with the received file request and the first user account; and

generate, based on the customization information, a link to the collection folder, wherein the link enables a submitter to submit one or more content items of the at least one permitted file extension specified by the customization information to the generated collection folder.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more processors to:

distribute the generated link to the one or more submitters.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the submitter has limited rights to the collection folder, the limited rights enabling submission of one or more content items to the collection folder and prohibiting the submitter from viewing content items added by another submitter.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more selectable options for customizing the file request comprise options to specify at least one of:

a number of submissions permitted by a submitter;

an expiration of the request;

permission to replace a previous submission;

a white labeling file;

a template file;

use of a previous request;

or

a viewing role.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more processors to:

determine, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information further specifying a message; and

wherein distributing the generated link further comprises distributing the message along with the generated link to the one or more submitters.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more processors to:

determine, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information further specifying a white labeling file; and

in response to the generated link being activated, render a file request user interface including a white label associated with the white labeling file.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more processors to:

determine, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information further specifying an expiration of the file request; and

send a message notifying a submitter that a submission from the submitter is rejected when the submission occurs after a deadline based on the expiration of the file request.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more processors to:

determine, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information further specifying a number of submissions permitted by a submitter; and

send a message notifying the submitter that a submission from the submitter is rejected when a total number of submissions by the submitter exceeds the number of submissions permitted by the submitter.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for:

receiving from a first user account, by a content management system, a request to create a file request for use in collecting one or more content items from one or more submitters;

in response to the request, providing a user interface comprising a menu with one or more selectable options for customizing the file request;

determining, based on one or more user interactions with the one or more selectable options, customization information for the file request, the customization information specifying at least one permitted file extension for a collection folder;

generating, based on the customization information, the collection folder associated with the received file request and the first user account; and

generating, based on the customization information, a link to the collection folder, wherein the link enables a submitter to submit one or more content items of the at least one permitted file extension specified by the customization information to the generated collection folder.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 further comprising code for:

distributing, by the content management system, the generated link to the one or more submitters.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the submitter has limited rights to the collection folder, the limited rights enabling submission of one or more content items to the collection folder and prohibiting the submitter from viewing content items added by another submitter.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more selectable options for customizing the file request comprise options to specify at least one of:

a number of submissions permitted by a submitter;

an expiration of the request;

permission to replace a previous submission;

a white labeling file;

a template file;

use of a previous request;

or

a viewing role.