Functionalities, features, and user interface of a synchronization client to a cloud-based environment

• US 9,507,795 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Inventors: Dorman, Griffin, Sheffield, Philip, Bauer, Mark, Lee, Sang
• Primary Examiner(s): Ortiz Ditren, Belix M
• Application Number:
  US14/153,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20140201138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems

Abstract

Embodiments in the present disclosure include systems and methods related to a synchronization client of a cloud-based collaboration platform that runs on a user device for synchronizing folders and files between a location on the cloud-based collaboration platform and a location on the user device. The synchronization client informs a user of the status of synchronization processes and allows a user to choose various options depending on the informed status.

Claims

1. A client device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions of a synchronization client that when executed by the processor causes the processor to communicate with a cloud-based computing platform for synchronizing folders and files between a collaboration location on the cloud-based computing platform and a local location on the synchronization client, wherein the cloud-based computing platform facilitates collaboration among multiple users via the cloud-based platform, the synchronization client including;

an issue handling unit which aggregates for display on a user interface of the synchronization client one or more issues halting a synchronization process, wherein the one or more issues are selectable by a user to resume or restart the halted synchronization process,

wherein the synchronization process comprises an in-progress state, a paused state, and an insecure state, and wherein the paused state and the in-progress state are configured to transition to the insecure state upon detection of a security breach,

wherein the synchronization client is configured to;

in response to determining that a folder in the folders involved in the synchronization process is identifiable by multiple synchronization states, assign an aggregate synchronization state to the folder in the folders involved in the synchronization process, the aggregate state representing a combined aggregation of one or more respective synchronization states of each file included in the folder;

a conflict handling unit which aggregates for display on the user interface of the synchronization client at least one conflict of folders and files between the collaboration location and the local location for resolution during the synchronization process; and

an update handling unit which aggregates for display on the user interface of the synchronization client summary information relating to one or more updates of folders and files triggering the synchronization process, wherein display of the summary information relating to each update is selectably expandable revealing additional options to the user to view an updated file or folder.

2. The client device of claim 1, wherein an issue is exceeding a storage limit, an unsupported file type, or an unsupported filename.

3. The client device of claim 1, wherein a description of a conflict for resolution includes information on renaming a conflicting folder or file.

4. The client device of claim 1, wherein a description of a conflict for resolution includes information regarding each of conflicting files.

5. The client device of claim 1, wherein each conflict is selectable by the user to view a conflicting folder or file.

17. The client device of claim 1, wherein the security breach is unforeseen.

18. The client device of claim 1, wherein the paused state is configured to transition into the insecure state in response to instructions from the user.

6. A method comprising:

identifying by a synchronization client on a client device one or more issues halting a synchronization event, the synchronization client being configured to communicate with a cloud-based computing platform for synchronizing folders and files between a collaboration location on the cloud-based computing platform and a local location on the client device, wherein the cloud-based computing platform facilitates collaboration among multiple users via the cloud-based platform, wherein the synchronization event comprises an in-progress state, a paused state, and an insecure state, and wherein the paused state and the in-progress state are configured to transition into the insecure state upon detection of a security breach;

identifying by the synchronization client at least one conflicts associated with folders and files between the collaboration location and the local location for resolution during the synchronization event, wherein the synchronization client is configured to;

in response to determining that a folder in the folders involved in the synchronization process is identifiable by multiple synchronization states, assign an aggregate synchronization state to the folder in the folders involved in the synchronization process, the aggregate state representing a combined aggregation of one or more respective synchronization states of each file included in the folder;

identifying by the synchronization client one or more updates of folders and files triggering the synchronization event; and

displaying on one or more user interfaces provided by the synchronization client one or more messages corresponding to each of the one or more issues, the one or more conflicts, and the one or more updates of folders and files identified by the synchronization client, the one or more messages corresponding to the one or more updates of folders and files including summary information that is selectably expandable revealing additional options to facilitate sharing an updated folder or file.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more issues includes exceeding a storage limit, an unsupported file type, or an unsupported filename.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a message from the one or more messages corresponding to the one or more issues is selectable by a user to resume or restart the halted synchronization event.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more messages corresponding to the one or more conflicts include information about an action taken to resolve conflicting folders or files.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein a message from the one or more messages corresponding to the one or more conflicts is selectable by a user to view or share a conflicting file or folder.

19. The method of claim 6, wherein the security breach is unforeseen.

20. The method of claim 6, wherein the paused state is configured to transition into the insecure state in response to instructions from the user.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions which when executed by a cloud-based computing system causes the cloud-based computing system to perform a method comprising:

in response to a selection of a first tab of a user interface of a synchronization client, displaying in an issue handling area of the user interface, one or more issues halting a synchronization event, wherein an issue from the one or more issues is selectable by a user to resume or restart the halted synchronization event, wherein the synchronization event comprises an in-progress state, a paused state, and an insecure state, and wherein the paused state or the in-progress state are configured to transition into the insecure state upon detection of a security breach;

in response to a selection of a second tab of the user interface, displaying in a conflict handling area of the user interface, one or more resolved conflicts that were present between folders or files between a collaboration location on the cloud-based platform and a local location on the synchronization client during the synchronization event, wherein a resolved conflict from the one or more resolved conflicts is selectable by the user to view a conflicting folder or a file, wherein the synchronization client is configured to;

in response to determining that a folder in the folders involved in the synchronization event is identifiable by multiple synchronization states, assign an aggregate synchronization state to the folder in the folders involved in the synchronization event, the aggregate state representing a combined aggregation of one or more respective synchronization states of each file included in the folder; and

in response to a selection of a third tab of the user interface, displaying in an update handling area summary information relating to one or more updates of folders or files that triggered the synchronization event, wherein display of the summary information relating to the one or more updates is selectably expandable revealing additional options to the user to view an updated folder or file.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more issues that halted the synchronization event include exceeding a storage limit.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more issues that halted the synchronization event include an unsupported file type.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more issues that halted the synchronization event include an unsupported filename.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more resolved conflicts include information about an action taken to resolve conflicting folders or files.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the resolved conflict from the one or more resolved conflicts is selectable by the user to share the conflicting folder or file.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the security breach is unforeseen.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the paused state is configured to transition into the insecure state in response to instructions from the user.