SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NOTIFYING USERS OF CHANGES TO FILES IN CLOUD-BASED FILE-STORAGE SYSTEMS

• US 20160308940A1
• Filed: 04/16/2015
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Herndon, John, Procopio, Michael Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 10,356,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1734 Details of monitoring file system events, e.g. by the use of hooks, filter drivers, logs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for notifying a user of a change to a file stored in a cloud-based file-storage system. A first indication of a first change to the file by a first user is received from a remote server, where the file is associated with a second user and is stored by the remote server. Subscription preferences of the second user are received. A notification indicating the first change to the file is displayed on a mobile device associated with the second user if a category of the notification is allowed by the subscription preferences. The notification includes a graphical preview of the file, an identifier of the file, and an identity of the first user.

Claims

1. A method for notifying a user of a change to a file stored in a cloud-based file-storage system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a remote server, a first indication of a first change to the file by a first user, wherein the file is associated with a second user and is stored by the remote server;

receiving subscription preferences of the second user; and

displaying, on a mobile device associated with the second user, a notification indicating the first change to the file if a category of the notification is allowed by the subscription preferences;

wherein the notification includes;

a graphical preview of the file,

an identifier of the file, and

an identity of the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical preview includes a portion of the file that is affected by the first change.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes action buttons that allow the second user to perform actions in response to the notification.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising calling a local application on the mobile device to handle the file responsive to a selection of one of the action buttons.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein handling the file includes at least one of opening the file, viewing the file, sharing the file, and editing the file.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the action buttons include a button for contacting the first user.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

calling a local email application on the mobile device responsive to a selection of the button for contacting the first user; and

automatically generating, with the local email application, an email addressed to an email address of the first user.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising retrieving contact information of the first user from an address book stored in the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

retrieving a phone number of the first user based on the identity of the first user included in the notification; and

in response to a selection of the button for contacting the first user, generating a text message addressed to the phone number of the first user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second indication of a second change to the file from the remote server; and

grouping the first and second changes in response to determining that the first and second changes are related;

wherein the notification indicates the grouped first and second changes.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the action buttons include an action button for updating the subscription preferences.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscription preferences include at least one of an activity type, an identity of a monitored file, an identity of a monitored folder, and an identity of a user of interest.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification further includes an image of the first user, a type of the file, a description of the file, a size of the file, an open URL associated with the file, a time of the first change, a type of the first change, or an identifier of the owner of the file.

14. A system for notifying a user of a change to a file stored in a cloud-based file-storage system, the system comprising circuitry configured to:

receive from a remote server a first indication of a first change to the file by a first user, wherein the file is associated with a second user and is stored by a remote server;

receive subscription preferences of the second user; and

display, by a mobile device associated with the second user, a notification indicating the first change to the file if a category of the notification is allowed by the subscription preferences;

wherein the notification includes;

a graphical preview of the file,

an identifier of the file, and

an identity of the first user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the graphical preview includes a portion of the file that is affected by the first change.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the notification includes action buttons that allow the second user to perform actions in response to the notification.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry is further configured to call a local application on the mobile device to handle the file responsive to a selection of one of the action buttons.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein handling the file includes at least one of opening the file, viewing the file, sharing the file, and editing the file.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the action buttons include a button for contacting the first user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

call a local email application on the mobile device responsive to a selection of the button for contacting the first user; and

automatically generate, with the local email application, an email addressed to an email address of the first user.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the circuitry is further configured to retrieve contact information of the first user from an address book stored in the mobile device.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

retrieve a phone number of the first user based on the identity of the first user included in the notification; and

in response to a selection of the button for contacting the first user, generate a text message addressed to the phone number of the first user.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

receive a second indication of a second change to the file from the remote server; and

group the first and second changes in response to determining that the first and second changes are related;

wherein the notification indicates the grouped first and second changes.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the action buttons include an option to update the subscription preferences.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the subscription preferences include at least one of an activity type, an identity of a monitored file, an identity of a monitored folder, and an identity of a user of interest.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the notification further includes an image of the first user, a type of the file, a description of the file, a size of the file, an open URL associated with the file, a time of the first change, a type of the first change, or an identifier of the owner of the file.