Mobile device, methods and user interfaces thereof in a mobile device platform featuring multifunctional access and engagement in a collaborative environment provided by a cloud-based platform

• US 8,892,679 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Michael, Destagnol, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Michael Y
• Application Number:
  US14/026,837
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/205, 709/212, 709/213, 709/217, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/17325 Synchronisation; Hardware support therefor intertask synchronisation G06F9/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• 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 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for implementing an intuitive interface which can facilitate collaboration among the multiple users and collaborators as well as enable utilization of content in a shared space among multiple users in a more effective way. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving updates regarding activities performed by a user and one or more collaborators on contents in a workspace. The method further comprises displaying, on an interactive user interface, lists of information based on the updates to facilitate interaction from the user with respect to the updates. An example of the lists of information can include an activity and, if one or more files are associated with the activity, thumbnails that represent previews of the one or more files. In some embodiments, the thumbnails can enable the user to interact with the files and/or the collaborators.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to a cloud-based workspace via an interactive user interface on a mobile device, the cloud-based workspace being shared among a user at the mobile device and collaborators of the user, the method comprising:

receiving, in near real time, updates regarding activities performed by the collaborators of the user on files in the cloud-based workspace;

wherein the updates include generated lists of information based on the updates;

displaying, on the interactive user interface of the mobile device, a visual feed of the lists of information;

wherein each list of information includes;

a description of the activities performed by the collaborators of the user on the files in the cloud-based workspace;

an identification of the collaborators who performed the activities on the files; and

thumbnails that illustrate previews of the files associated with the activities, wherein the previews depict actual content of the files; and

upon receiving a selection from the user of one of the displayed lists of information;

prompting the user with an option to perform one or more actions on the one or more files associated with the selected list of information; and

prompting the user with an option to communicate with the one or more collaborators associated with the selected list of information;

displaying, on the interactive user interface of the mobile device, the files in the workspace; and

upon receiving a request from the user of a file in the workspace for access, determining that the file'"'"'s type is compatible before downloading the file for access.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the thumbnails enable the user at the mobile device to interact with the files.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the thumbnails are configured to be displayed in the interactive user interface of the mobile device based on a plurality of visualization criteria.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

detecting a size of a screen on which the interactive user interface of the mobile device is displayed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a thumbnail is to occupy larger than 20% of a height of the screen if the screen'"'"'s size is less than or equal to 7.25 inches when measured diagonally.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein a thumbnail is to occupy larger than 10% but less than 20% of a height of the screen if the screen'"'"'s size is more than 7.25 inches when measured diagonally.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of information is sorted based on identities of who perform the activities.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the list of information is further sorted based on timestamps of the activities.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the file'"'"'s type is incompatible, displaying an alert to the user before the downloading.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the file'"'"'s type is pictorial;

starting displaying the file before downloading of the file completes by displaying a lower resolution version of the file first; and

gradually transitioning from the lower resolution version of the file to a full resolution of the file as the downloading of the file completes.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the file'"'"'s type is audio;

starting fetching metadata of the file as soon as loading of the file starts; and

displaying information related to the file based on the metadata.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the file'"'"'s type is textual;

identifying whether the file is a source code; and

coloring the source code based on a plurality of syntax highlighting rules.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the file'"'"'s type is of a portable document format (PDF);

providing, via the user interface of the mobile device, a selectable element to adjust a brightness for the PDF file.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the user at the mobile device is prompted with an option to select more than one files.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more actions include obtaining a link to the workspace for public access to the selected file.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more actions include preparing the selected file for an offline mode access.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more actions include at least one of:

(a) writing a note for the selected file, wherein the note is to be stored in the workspace;

(b) uploading the file to the workspace, if the selected file is stored locally;

(c) downloading the file from the workspace, if the selected file is stored in the workspace; and

(d) sharing the selected file via email to the collaborators.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving a selection from the user at the mobile device of a file in the workspace, allowing the user at the mobile device to add the selection into a favorite list of the user.

19. A mobile device having an interactive user interface for providing access to a cloud-based workspace, the cloud-based workspace being shared among a user at the mobile device and collaborators of the user, the mobile device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit having instructions stored thereon which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to generate the interactive user interface on the mobile device and to;

receive, in near real time, updates regarding activities performed by the collaborators of the user on files in the cloud-based workspace;

wherein the updates include generated lists of information based on the updates;

display, on the interactive user interface, a visual feed of the lists of information,

wherein each list of information includes;

a description of the activities performed by the collaborators of the user on the files in the cloud-based workspace;

an identification of the collaborators who performed the activities on the files; and

thumbnails that illustrate previews of the files associated with the activities,

wherein the previews depict actual content of the files; and

upon receiving a selection from the user of one of the displayed lists of information;

prompt the user with an option to perform actions on the files associated with the selected list of information; and

prompt the user with an option to communicate with the collaborators associated with the selected list of information;

display, on the interactive user interface of the mobile device, the files in the workspace; and

upon receiving a request from the user of a file in the workspace for access, determine that the file'"'"'s type is compatible before downloading the file for access.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the thumbnails enable the user at the mobile device to interact with the files.

21. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the thumbnails are configured to be displayed in the interactive user interface of the mobile device based on a plurality of visualization criteria.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a size of a screen on which the interactive user interface of the mobile device is displayed.

23. The mobile device of claim 22, wherein a thumbnail is to occupy larger than 20% of a height of the screen if the screen'"'"'s size is less than or equal to 7.25 inches when measured diagonally.

24. The mobile device of claim 22, wherein a thumbnail is to occupy larger than 10% but less than 20% of a height of the screen if the screen'"'"'s size is more than 7.25 inches when measured diagonally.

25. A computer system having an interactive user interface for providing access to a cloud-based workspace being shared among a user at the computer system and collaborators of the user, the computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit having instructions stored thereon which when executed by the processor causes the processor to generate and interactive user interface on the computer system and to;

receive in near real time, updates regarding activities performed by the collaborators of the user on files in the cloud-based workspace;

wherein the updates include generated lists of information based on the updates;

display, on the interactive user interface of the mobile device, a visual feed of the lists of information;

wherein each list of information includes;

a description of the activities performed by the collaborators of the user on the files in the cloud-based workspace;

an identification of the collaborators who performed the activities on the files; and

thumbnails that illustrate previews of the files associated with the activities, wherein the previews depict actual content of the files;

upon receiving a selection from the user of one of the displayed lists of information;

prompt the user with an option to perform actions on the files associated with the selected list of information; and

prompt the user with an option to communicate with the collaborators associated with the selected list of information; and

display, on the interactive user interface, the files in the workspace; and

upon receiving a request from the user of a file in the workspace for access, determining that the file'"'"'s type is compatible before downloading the file for access;

wherein the processor is further configured to;

(a) if the file'"'"'s type is pictorial;

start to display the file before downloading of the file completes by displaying a lower resolution version of the file first; and

gradually transition from the lower resolution version of the file to a full resolution of the file as the downloading of the file completes;

(b) if the file'"'"'s type is audio;

start to fetch metadata of the file as soon as loading of the file starts; and

display information related to the file based on the metadata; and

(c) if the file'"'"'s type is textual;

identify whether the file is a source code; and

color the source code based on a plurality of syntax highlighting rules.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the thumbnails enable the user to interact with the files.

27. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the thumbnails are configured to be displayed in the interactive user interface based on a plurality of visualization criteria.