FUNCTIONALITIES, FEATURES, AND USER INTERFACE OF A SYNCHRONIZATION CLIENT TO A CLOUD-BASED ENVIRONMENT

• US 20140201138A1
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Inventors: Dorman, Griffin, Sheffield, Philip, Bauer, Mark, Lee, Sang
• Granted Patent: US 9,507,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/610
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems

Abstract

Embodiments in the present disclosure include systems and methods related to a synchronization client of a cloud-based collaboration platform that runs on a user device for synchronizing folders and files between a location on the cloud-based collaboration platform and a location on the user device. The synchronization client informs a user of the status of synchronization processes and allows a user to choose various options depending on the informed status.

Claims

1. A synchronization client which communicates with a cloud-based computing platform for synchronizing folders and files between a collaboration location on the cloud-based computing platform and a local location on the synchronization client, comprising:

an issue handling unit which describes one or more issues halting a previous or current synchronization process;

a conflict handling unit which describes one or more conflicts of folders and files between the collaboration location and the local location resolved during a previous or the current synchronization process; and

an update handling unit which describes one or more updates of folders and files triggering a previous or the current synchronization process.

2. The synchronization client of claim 1, wherein an issue is exceeding a storage limit, an unsupported file type, or an unsupported filename.

3. The synchronization client of claim 1, wherein the issue handling client allows a user to resume or restart the halted synchronization process.

4. The synchronization client of claim 1, wherein a description of a resolved conflict includes information on renaming a conflicting folder or file.

5. The synchronization client of claim 1, wherein a description of a resolved conflict includes information regarding each of conflicting files.

6. The synchronization client of claim 1, wherein the conflict handling unit allows a user to view a conflicting folder or file.

7. The synchronization client of claim 1, wherein the update handling unit allows a user to view an updated folder or file.

8. A synchronization client which communicates with a cloud-based computing platform for synchronizing folders and files between a collaboration location on the cloud-based computing platform and a local location on the synchronization client, comprising:

a state management unit which indicates a state of the synchronization client out of a plurality of states in an area managed by an operating system running on the user device,

wherein the state management unit allows a user to choose one or more common options regardless of the state and one or more options that are state-specific, and

wherein the plurality of states includes a complete state, an in-progress state, a paused state, and a stopped state.

9. The synchronization client of claim 8, wherein the common options include exploring the local location, exploring the collaboration location, setting preferences associated with the synchronization client, and quitting the synchronization client.

10. The synchronization client of claim 8, wherein the status management unit displays a summary of a last or a current synchronization process, including information on any errors.

11. The synchronization client of claim 8, wherein when the synchronization client is in the in-progress state, the state management unit allows a user to pause or stop a current synchronization process.

12. The synchronization client of claim 8, wherein when the synchronization client is in the paused state, the state management unit allows a user to resume or stop a paused synchronization process.

13. The synchronization client of claim 8, wherein when the synchronization client is in the stopped state, the state management unit allows a user to restart a stopped synchronization process.

14. The synchronization client of claim 13, wherein the synchronization client is in the stopped state according to a user instruction or due to an error within the synchronization client.

15. A synchronization client which communicates with a cloud-based computing platform for synchronizing folders and files between a collaboration location on the cloud-based computing platform and a local location on the synchronization client, comprising:

an issue handling means for describing one or more issues halting a previous or current synchronization process;

a conflict handling means for one or more conflicts of folders and files between the collaboration location and the local location resolved during a previous or the current synchronization process; and

an update handling means for describing one or more updates of folders and files triggering a previous or the current synchronization process.