Method and system for automatically saving a document to multiple file formats

• US 8,407,266 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2010
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Pan, Eric Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US12/830,186
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 707/500, 707/654, 707/4, 707/749, 707/802, 707/803, 707/201, 707/770, 715/248
• US Class Current: 707/827
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems

Abstract

A method and system for automatically saving a document in multiple file formats. A first file for the document is modified and saved on a persistent storage device using a primary file format. A second file for the document is saved on the persistent storage device using a secondary file format. The method further involves re-saving the first file as modified using the primary file format. When the first file is saved using the primary file format, the method further involves deleting the second file from the persistent storage device. A first mapping associating the second file with the first file is deleted. A third file for the document is created using the secondary file format and saved to the persistent storage device using the secondary file format. A second mapping associating the third file with the first file is created.

Claims

1. A method for automatically saving a document in multiple file formats, comprising:

receiving, from a user, a first request to save the document in a primary file format;

saving, on a persistent storage device and in response to the first request, a first file for the document using the primary file format;

creating, in response to the first request, a first data structure comprising a first file path for the first file;

creating, in response to the first request, a second file for the document;

saving, on the persistent storage device and in response to the first request, the second file for the document using a secondary file format;

creating, in response to the first request, a second data structure comprising a second file path for the second file and a first mapping associating the first file with the second file;

modifying, using an application executing on a hardware processor, the first file for the document;

receiving a second request to re-save the first file as modified;

re-saving, using the application and in response the second request, the first file as modified using the primary file format;

when the first file is saved using the primary file format;

determining the second file path using the second data structure;

deleting, using the application and in response the second request, the second file from the second file path on the persistent storage device;

deleting, using the application and in response the second request, the second data structure;

creating, using the application and in response the second request, a third file for the document using the secondary file format;

saving, using the application and in response the second request, the document as the third file on the persistent storage device using the secondary file format; and

creating, using the application and in response the second request, a third data structure comprising a third file path for the third file and a second mapping associating the third file with the first file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the document is saved as the first file using the primary file format;

displaying, using the application interacting with a display device, a prompt; and

receiving, using the application, an input in response to the prompt, wherein the input specifies the secondary file format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary file format is a proprietary file format for the application such that the user may only access the first file using the application.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the secondary file format is a non-proprietary file format such that the second file and the third file may be accessed using a different application.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the secondary file format is available to a creator of the first file when a fee is paid.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sharing, using the application, the third file with the user over the network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

when the third file is created using the application;

sending, using the application, a notification to the user.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

when the third file is created using the application;

granting, using the application, a deletion permission for the third file to the user.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

deleting, using the application, the first file; and

when the first file is deleted using the application;

displaying, using the application interacting with a display device, a prompt, wherein an input provided in response to the prompt determines whether the third file is deleted using the application.

10. A system, comprising:

at least one hardware processor;

a persistent storage device;

a display device interacting with the hardware processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one hardware processor and the display device, wherein the memory comprises executable instructions to;

receive, from a user, a first request to save a document in a primary file format;

save, on the persistent storage device and in response to the first request, a first file for the document using the primary file format;

create, in response to the first request, a first data structure comprising a first file path for the first file;

create, in response to the first request, a second file for the document;

save, on the persistent storage device and in response to the first request, the second file for the document using a secondary file format;

create, in response to the first request, a second data structure comprising a second file path for the second file and a first mapping associating the first file with the second file;

modify, using an application executing on the at least one hardware processor, the first file for a document;

receive a second request to re-save the first file as modified;

resave, using the application, the first file as modified using the primary file format;

when the first file is saved using the primary file format;

determine the second file path using the second data structure;

delete, using the application and in response the second request, the second file from the second file path on the persistent storage device;

delete, using the application and in response the second request, the second data structure;

create, using the application and in response the second request, a third file for the document using the secondary file format;

save, using the application and in response the second request, the document as the third file on the persistent storage device using the secondary file format; and

create, using the application and in response the second request, a third data structure comprising a third file path for the third file and a second mapping associating the third file with the first file.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a network interface card configured to operatively connect the system to the user over a network, and

wherein the memory further comprises executable instructions to;

share, using the application, the third file with the user over the network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory further comprises executable instructions to:

send, using the application, a notification to the user when the third file is created using the application.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory further comprises executable instructions to:

grant, using the application, a deletion permission for the third file to the user when the third file is created using the application.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory further comprises executable instructions to:

delete, using the application, the first file; and

when the first file is deleted using the application;

display, using the application interacting with the display device, a prompt, wherein an input provided in response to the prompt determines whether the third file is deleted using the application.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the primary file format is a proprietary file format for the application such that the user may only access the first file using the application.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the secondary file format is a non-proprietary file format such that the second file and the third file may be accessed by the user using a different application.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the secondary file format is available to a creator of the first file when a fee is paid.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory further comprises executable instructions to:

when the document is saved as the first file using the primary file format;

display, using the application interacting with the display device, a prompt; and

receive, using the application, an input in response to the prompt, wherein the input specifies the secondary file format.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for automatically saving a document in multiple file formats, the instructions comprising functionality for:

receiving, from a user, a first request to save the document in a primary file format;

saving, on a persistent storage device and in response to the first request, a first file for the document using the primary file format;

creating, in response to the first request, a first data structure comprising a first file path for the first file;

creating, in response to the first request, a second file for the document;

saving, on the persistent storage device and in response to the first request, the second file for the document using a secondary file format;

creating, in response to the first request, a second data structure comprising a second file path for the second file and a first mapping associating the first file with the second file;

modifying the first file for the document;

receiving a second request to re-save the first file as modified;

re-saving, in response the second request, the first file as modified using the primary file format;

when the first file is saved using the primary file format;

determining the second file path using the second data structure;

deleting, in response the second request, the second file using the second file path;

deleting, in response the second request, the second data structure;

creating, in response the second request, a third file for the document;

saving, in response the second request, the document as the third file using the secondary file format; and

creating, in response the second request, a third data structure comprising a third file path for the third file and a second mapping associating the third file with the first file.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality for:

sharing the third file with the user over a network.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality for:

sending a notification to the user when the third file is created.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality for:

granting a deletion permission for the third file to the user when the third file is created.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality for:

deleting the first file; and

when the first file is deleted;

displaying a prompt, wherein an input provided in response to the prompt determines whether the third file is deleted using the application.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the primary file format is a proprietary file format for the application such that the user may only access the first file using the application.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the secondary file format is a non-proprietary file format such that the second file and the third file may be accessed by the user using a different application.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the secondary file format is available to a creator of the first file when a fee is paid.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality for:

when the document is saved as the first file using the primary file format;

displaying a prompt; and

receiving an input in response to the prompt, wherein the input specifies a secondary file format.