Batch uploading of content to a web-based collaboration environment

• US 9,015,601 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2011
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Inventors: Trombley-Shapiro, Benjamin, Lyons, James P., Goldberg, Arnold, Jourda, Florian, Mand, Arshdeep, Lee, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustine, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US13/165,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20120331394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 715/748, 715/750, 715/751
• US Class Current: 715/748
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/48 Program initiating; Program switching, e.g. by interrupt
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

Systems and methods of batch uploading of content to a web-based collaboration environment are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, for receiving an upload request from a user through a user interface to upload multiple items and sequentially uploading each of the multiple items to the host server. In one embodiment, the user is able to navigate away from the user interface through which the upload request was submitted prior to completion of the uploading of each of the multiple items to the host server. In addition, the upload of the multiple items is not interrupted if the user accesses a link on the user interface causing another user interface to launch in a browser.

Claims

1. A method performed by a host server on a computing system for uploading content to the host server, the method, comprising:

receiving, by the host server, an upload request from a user through a user interface of a web application to upload multiple items;

wherein, the upload request is generated when a folder having the multiple items that is to be uploaded is identified through the user interface of the web application;

wherein, the folder includes additional folders in a folder hierarchy of multiple items;

determining, by the host server, whether the multiple items are acceptable for uploading to the host server;

compressing the multiple items in the folder hierarchy in a single process into a single items and uploading the single item in a single upload process to the host server;

parsing the single upload of the ingle item into individual files on the host server that were stored as the multiple items in the folder hierarchy;

uploading the multiple items in the folder hierarchy based on a single request to upload the folder including the additional folders in the hierarchy;

wherein, the uploading occurs in response to determining that the multiple items are acceptable for uploading to the server;

wherein, the user is able to navigate away from the user interface of the web application to the host server through which the upload request was submitted prior to completion of the uploading by the host server of each of the multiple items to the host server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, the host server is a web server hosting an online collaboration environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, the upload of the multiple items is not interrupted if the user accesses a link on the user interface causing another user interface to launch in a browser.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, the upload of the multiple items continues if the user accesses a link on the user interface causing another user interface to launch in a browser.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

providing an item of the multiple items that has been uploaded to the host server available for access through the user interface, even when some of the multiple items have not yet been uploaded to the host server;

wherein, the item that has been uploaded is available for access by the user and available to be shared with collaborators and accessed by the collaborators.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, the item which has been uploaded to the host server is manipulable by the user through the user interface, without a need for browser refresh.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein, in accessing the item, the user is able to view, edit, preview, or comment on the item that has been uploaded, even prior to completion of uploading all of the multiple items.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising, updating a feed stream to include an updated feed to indicate that the item has been uploaded to a collaboration environment hosted by the server.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, the feed stream that is updated is for the user or collaborators of the user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein, the feed stream is updated in real time or near real time relative to when the upload of the item completed.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, depicting in the user interface, a progress bar indicating upload progress of the upload request.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, the progress bar is depicted even when the user navigates away from the user interface to another user interface during the upload process.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein, the upload request is generated via a drag-and-drop action of the multiple work items to be uploaded to the host server into a portion of the user interface.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein, the upload request is generated via a drag-and-drop action of a single folder containing the multiple work items to be uploaded to the host server into a portion of the user interface.

15. A method performed by a host server on a computing system for uploading content to the host server, the method, comprising:

receiving, by the host server, an upload request from a user through a user interface of a web application to upload multiple items;

determining, by the host server, whether the multiple items are acceptable for uploading to the host server;

wherein, the upload request is generated when a folder having the multiple items that is to be uploaded is identified through the user interface of the web application;

wherein, the folder includes additional folders in a folder hierarchy of the multiple items;

uploading, by the host server, the multiple items in the folder hierarchy to the host server based on a single request to upload the folder including the additional folders in the folder hierarchy;

wherein, uploading the multiple items comprises;

compressing the multiple items in the folder hierarchy in a single process into a single item and uploading the single item in a single upload process; and

parsing the single upload of the single item into individual files on the host server that were stored as the multiple items in the folder hierarchy; and

wherein, the uploading occurs in response to determining that the multiple items are acceptable for uploading to the host server.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, the user is able to navigate away from the user interface through which the upload request was submitted prior to completion of the uploading of each of the multiple items to the host server.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein, the upload request is generated via a drag-and-drop action of the folder containing the multiple work items to be uploaded to the host server into a portion of the user interface.

18. A method performed by a host server on a computing system for providing a notification of an upload to an online collaboration platform, the method, comprising:

uploading, by the host server, multiple items to the host server of the online collaboration platform in response to receiving a upload request through a user interface of a web application to upload an item;

wherein, the upload request is generated when a folder having the multiple items that is to be uploaded is identified through the user interface of the web application;

wherein, the folder includes additional folders in a folder hierarchy;

wherein, uploading the multiple items comprises;

compressing the multiple items in the folder hierarchy in a single process into a single items and uploading the single item in a single upload process to the host server; and

parsing the single upload of the single item into individual files on the host server that were stored as the multiple items in the folder hierarchy;

wherein, the uploading occurs in response to determining that the multiple items are acceptable for uploading to the host server;

selecting, by the host server, a recipient of a notification an activity according to criteria determined based on a workspace in which the upload was performed in the online collaboration platform; and

updating, by the host server, a feed stream to include an updated feed which indicates that the item has been uploaded to the host server of the online collaboration platform.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, the feed stream is updated in real time or near real time to when the activity occurred.

20. A server for uploading content, the server, comprising:

a processor;

memory having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor causes the server to;

receive an upload request from a user through a user interface of a web application;

wherein, the upload request is generated when a folder having multiple that is to be uploaded is identified through the user interface of the web application;

wherein, the folder includes additional folders in a folder hierarchy of multiple items;

compress the multiple items in the folder hierarchy in a single process into a single item and upload the single item in a single upload process;

parse the single upload of the single item into individual files that were stored as multiple items in the folder hierarchy;

upload the multiple items in the folder hierarchy based on a single request to upload the folder including the additional folders in the folder hierarchy;

wherein, the upload occurs in response to determining that the multiple items are acceptable for uploading; and

provide an item of the multiple items that has been uploaded to the server available for access through the user interface, even when some of the multiple items have not yet been uploaded to the server.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein, the item which has been uploaded to the host server is manipulable by the user through the user interface, without a need for browser refresh.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein, in accessing the item, the user is able to view, edit, preview, or comment on the item that has been uploaded, even prior to completion of uploading all of the multiple items.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein, the user is able to navigate away from the user interface through which the upload request was submitted prior to completion of the uploading of each of the multiple items to the host server.

24. A system for uploading content to a host, the system, comprising:

a memory;

a module stored on the memory that is configured, when executed, to provide;

means for, receiving an upload request from a user through a user interface of a web application;

wherein, the upload request is generated when a folder having the multiple items that is to be uploaded is identified through the user interface of the web application;

wherein, the folder includes additional folders in a folder hierarchy of multiple items;

means for, determining whether the multiple items are acceptable for uploading to the host server;

means for, compressing the multiple items in the folder hierarchy in a single process into a single item and uploading the single item in a single upload process to the host server;

means for, parsing the single upload of the single item into individual files on the host server that were stored as the multiple items in the folder hierarchy;

means for, uploading the multiple items in the folder hierarchy based on a single request to upload the folder including the additional folders in the folder hierarchy; and

means for, providing an item of the multiple items that has been uploaded to the host available for access through the user interface, even when some of the multiple items have not yet been uploaded to the host.