Collection folder for collecting file submissions and recording associated activities

• US 10,628,593 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2015
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• 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): Thieu, Benjamin M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tseng, Leon Y
• Application Number:
  US14/961,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20160308946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 709204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• 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: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/295 Named entity recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1425 Traffic logging, e.g. anomaly detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1078 Resource delivery mechanisms
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles

Abstract

A content management system for collecting files from one or more submitters in a collection folder and recording activities associated with the 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. 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 client device associated with a collector, by a content management system, a request to generate a link for use in collecting one or more files from one or more submitters;

receiving, from the client device associated with the collector, a deadline for collection of the one or more files from the one or more submitters;

generating, by the content management system, a link to a designated collection folder based on receiving the request, wherein generating the link to the designated collection folder comprises associating the deadline with the link;

distributing, by the content management system, the link to the designated collection folder to one or more submitter client devices;

receiving, by the content management system, at least one file from a client device associated with a submitter based on the submitter accessing the link to the designated collection folder;

storing, by the content management system, the at least one file in the designated collection folder in an account associated with the collector;

detecting, by the content management system, a file submitted to the designated collection folder after the deadline;

identifying, by the content management system, an indication to override the deadline; and

storing, by the content management system, the file based on the indication to override the deadline.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the at least one file from the client device associated with the submitter comprises receiving an indication of an identity of the submitter with the at least one file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to generate the link comprises:

a name for a file request;

a selection of the designated collection folder; and

an email address for the submitter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the request to generate the link further comprises a message from the collector to the one or more submitters; and

distributing the link to the one or more submitter client devices comprises providing the message along with the link to the one or more submitter client devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the at least one file in the designated collection folder further comprises:

generating, by the content management system, a filename for the at least one file, wherein the filename comprises a name for the file request and information identifying the submitter; and

associating the filename with the at least one file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the file submitted to the designated collection folder after the deadline further comprises detecting a timestamp associated with the file.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

recording, by the content management system in an activity log, that the file was submitted to the designated collection folder after the deadline; and

providing the activity log to the client device associated with the collector.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the client device associated with the collector, an indication to associate the deadline with the link; and

providing, to the client device associated with the collector, a calendar graphical user interface for selection of a date to be the deadline.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one submitter of the one or more submitters does not have an account with the content management system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the content management system is a synchronized content management system.

11. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

receive from a client device associated with a collector, by a content management system, a request to generate a link for use in collecting one or more files from one or more submitters;

receive, from the client device associated with the collector, a deadline for collection of the one or more files from the one or more submitters;

generate, by the content management system, a link to a designated collection folder based on receiving the request, wherein generating the link to the designated collection folder comprises associating the deadline with the link;

distribute, by the content management system, the link to the designated collection folder to one or more submitter client devices;

receive, by the content management system, at least one file from a client device associated with a submitter based on the submitter accessing the link to the designated collection folder;

store, by the content management system, the at least one file in the designated collection folder in an account associated with the collector;

detect, by the content management system, a file submitted to the designated collection folder after the deadline;

identify, by the content management system, an indication to override the deadline; and

store, by the content management system, the file based on the indication to override the deadline.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein receiving the at least one file from the client device associated with the submitter comprises receiving an indication of a submitter identity with the at least one file.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the request to generate the link comprises:

a name for a file request;

a selection of the designated collection folder; and

an email address for the submitter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the request to generate the link further comprises a message from the collector to the one or more submitters; and

distributing the link to the one or more submitter client devices comprises providing the message from the collector along with the link to the designated collection folder to the one or more submitter client devices.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein storing the at least one file in the designated collection folder further comprises:

generating a filename for the at least one file, wherein the filename comprises a name for the file request and information identifying the submitter; and

associating the filename with the at least one file.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein detecting the file submitted to the designated collection folder after the deadline further comprises detecting a timestamp associated with the file.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to:

record, by the content management system in an activity log, that the file was submitted to the designated collection folder after the deadline; and

provide the activity log to the client device associated with the collector.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to:

receive, from the client device associated with the collector, an indication to associate the deadline with the link; and

provide, to the client device associated with the collector, a calendar graphical user interface for selection of a date to be the deadline.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one submitter of the one or more submitters does not have an account with the content management system.

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

receive from a client device associated with a collector, by a content management system, a request to generate a link for use in collecting one or more files from one or more submitters;

receive, from the client device associated with the collector, a deadline for collection of the one or more files from the one or more submitters;

generate, by the content management system, a link to a designated collection folder based on receiving the request, wherein generating the link to the designated collection folder comprises associating the deadline with the link;

distribute, by the content management system, the link to the designated collection folder to one or more submitter client devices;

receive, by the content management system, at least one file from a client device associated with a submitter based on the submitter accessing the link to the designated collection folder;

store, by the content management system, the at least one file in the designated collection folder in an account associated with the collector;

detect, by the content management system, a file submitted to the designated collection folder after the deadline;

identify, by the content management system, an indication to override the deadline; and

store, by the content management system, the file based on the indication to override the deadline.