Sharable content item links with use restrictions

• US 9,154,498 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Byrne, Sean, Dabney, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): PYZOCHA, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US14/281,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20140289868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 726/28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/082 applying multi-factor authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0838 using one-time-passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

Shareable content items links with use restrictions. In one embodiment, for example, a method comprises: receiving, from a client computing device used by a link submitter, a request to access a server-stored content item at a sharable link; denying the access requested by the link submitter based on one or more use restrictions associated with the shareable link; prompting the link submitter to request approval to access to the server-stored content item at the shareable link; responsive to receiving approval for the link submitter to access the server-stored content item at the shareable link, modifying the use restrictions associated with the shareable link to allow the link submitter to access the server-stored content item at the shareable link.

Claims

1. A method for sharing a server-stored content item, comprising:

receiving, from a client computing device used by a link sharer, configuration information specifying whether or not users that are not authorized to access a server-stored content item at a sharable link can request access from the link sharer to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link;

storing the configuration information in association with the sharable link;

receiving, from a client computing device used by a link submitter, a first request to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link;

denying the access to the server-stored content item requested by the link submitter in the first request based on one or more use restrictions associated with the sharable link;

determining, based on the configuration information associated with the sharable link, whether the link submitter can request access from the link sharer to access the server stored content item at the sharable link;

based on determining that the link submitter can request access from the link sharer to access the server stored content item at the sharable link, prompting the link submitter to request approval to access to the server-stored content item at the sharable link;

responsive to receiving approval from the link sharer for the link submitter to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link, modifying the use restrictions associated with the sharable link to allow the link submitter to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link;

after the modifying the use restrictions, receiving, from a client computing device used by the link submitter, a second request to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link; and

allowing the access to the server-stored content item requested by the link submitter in the second request based on the modified use restrictions associated with the sharable link;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the approval for the link submitter to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link is received from a link sharer that created the sharable link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sharable link has the form of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the server-stored content item is one of a file or a folder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the use restrictions associated with the sharable link are modified to allow the link submitter to download the server-stored content item at the sharable link.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the use restrictions associated with the sharable link are modified to allow the link submitter to view the server-stored content item at the sharable link.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the use restrictions associated with the sharable link are modified to allow the link submitter to view a preview of the server-stored content item at the sharable link.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the link submitter is prompted to request approval to access to the server-stored content item at the sharable link in response to the receiving the first request to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link and denying the access requested.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a link sharer to approve or disapprove the link submitter'"'"'s request for approval to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

allowing the link sharer to modify the use restrictions associated with the sharable link before approving the link submitter'"'"'s request for approval to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link.

11. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices configured with instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause;

receiving, from a client computing device used by a link sharer, configuration information specifying whether or not users that are not authorized to access a server-stored content item at a sharable link can request access from the link sharer to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link;

storing the configuration information in association with the sharable link;

receiving, from a client computing device used by a link submitter, a first request to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link;

denying the access to the server-stored content item requested by the link submitter in the first request based on one or more use restrictions associated with the sharable link;

determining, based on the configuration information associated with the sharable link, whether the link submitter can request access from the link sharer to access the server stored content item at the sharable link;

based on determining that the link submitter can request access from the link sharer to access the server stored content item at the sharable link, prompting the link submitter to request approval to access to the server-stored content item at the sharable link;

responsive to receiving approval from the link sharer for the link submitter to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link, modifying the use restrictions associated with the sharable link to allow the link submitter to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link;

after the modifying the use restrictions, receiving, from a client computing device used by the link submitter, a second request to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link; and

allowing the access to the server-stored content item requested by the link submitter in the second request based on the modified use restrictions associated with the sharable link.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the approval for the link submitter to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link is received from a link sharer that created the sharable link.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sharable link has the form of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the server-stored content item is one of a file or a folder.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the use restrictions associated with the sharable link are modified to allow the link submitter to download the server-stored content item at the sharable link.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the use restrictions associated with the sharable link are modified to allow the link submitter to view the server-stored content item at the sharable link.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the use restrictions associated with the sharable link are modified to allow the link submitter to view a preview of the server-stored content item at the sharable link.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the link submitter is prompted to request approval to access to the server-stored content item at the sharable link in response to the receiving the first request to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link and denying the access requested.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

prompting a link sharer to approve or disapprove the link submitter'"'"'s request for approval to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

allowing the link sharer to modify the use restrictions associated with the sharable link before approving the link submitter'"'"'s request for approval to access the server-stored content item at the sharable link.