METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING FILES IN AN ONLINE ACCOUNT

• US 20130212112A1
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Blom, Jan, Viswanathan, Divya
• Granted Patent: US 9,703,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/735 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/907 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

An approach is provided for managing files in an online account. A file access platform causes, at least in part, retrieval of a file associated with a first communication stored in an online account. Next, the file access platform determines whether the file is modified after the retrieval and generates a second communication including a modified version of the file based, at least in part, on the determination. Then, the file access platform causes, at least in part, transmission of the second communication including the modified version to the online account.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A method comprising:

causing, at least in part, retrieval of a file associated with a first communication stored in an online account;

determining whether the file is modified after the retrieval;

generating a second communication including a modified version of the file based, at least in part, on the determination; and

causing, at least in part, transmission of the second communication including the modified version to the online account.

36. A method of claim 35, wherein the online account supports threaded communications, and wherein the first communication and the second communication are associated with a common thread.

37. A method of claim 35, further comprising:

identifying other communications in the online account associated with one or more other files; and

compiling an index of the file and the other files.

38. A method of claim 37, wherein the identifying of the other communications, the compiling of the index, or combination thereof is performed periodically.

39. A method of claim 35, wherein the retrieval of the file comprises:

adding metadata to the file including, at least in part, information about the online account,

wherein the transmission of the modified version of the file is based, at least in part, on the metadata.

40. A method of claim 35, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, presentation of a synchronization option in an application associated with the file; and

receiving an input for selecting the synchronization option,

wherein the generating of the second communication and the transmission of the modified version is based, at least in part, on the input.

41. A method of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving a first input from a first user for specifying an exclusive access to the file;

designating the file for the exclusive access;

receiving a second input from a second user for retrieving the file; and

causing, at least in part, alert of the second user regarding the exclusive access.

42. A method of claim 35, wherein the online account is an email account, a forum account, a messaging account, or a combination thereof.

43. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

cause, at least in part, retrieval of a file associated with a first communication stored in an online account;

determine whether the file is modified after the retrieval;

generate a second communication including a modified version of the file based, at least in part, on the determination; and

cause, at least in part, transmission of the second communication including the modified version to the online account.

44. An apparatus of claim 43, wherein the online account supports threaded communications, and wherein the first communication and the second communication are associated with a common thread.

45. An apparatus of claim 43, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

identify other communications in the online account associated with one or more other files; and

compile an index of the file and the other files.

46. An apparatus of claim 45, wherein the identifying of the other communications, the compiling of the index, or combination thereof is performed periodically.

47. An apparatus of claim 43, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

add metadata to the file including, at least in part, information about the online account,

wherein the transmission of the modified version of the file is based, at least in part, on the metadata.

48. An apparatus of claim 43, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

cause, at least in part, presentation of a synchronization option in an application associated with the file; and

receive an input for selecting the synchronization option,

wherein the generating of the second communication and the transmission of the modified version is based, at least in part, on the input.

49. An apparatus of claim 43, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

receive a first input from a first user for specifying an exclusive access to the file;

designate the file for the exclusive access;

receive a second input from a second user for retrieving the file; and

cause, at least in part, alert of the second user regarding the exclusive access.

50. An apparatus of claim 43, wherein the online account is an email account, a forum account, a messaging account, or a combination thereof.

51. An apparatus of claim 43, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone further comprising:

user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display and configured to respond to user input; and

a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone, the display and display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.

52. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

causing, at least in part, retrieval of a file associated with a first communication stored in an online account;

determining whether the file is modified after the retrieval;

generating a second communication including a modified version of the file based, at least in part, on the determination; and

causing, at least in part, transmission of the second communication including the modified version to the online account.

53. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 52, wherein the online account supports threaded communications, and wherein the first communication and the second communication are associated with a common thread.

54. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 52, wherein the apparatus is caused, at least in part, to further perform:

identifying other communications in the online account associated with one or more other files; and

compiling an index of the file and the other files.