Collection folder for collecting file submissions via a customizable file request

• US 9,692,826 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhang, Mindy, Piyush, Pranav
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US14/960,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20160308967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 709202, 709204, 709217, 709223, 709226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A content management system for collecting files from one or more submitters in a collection folder. A collector, who generates the collection folder, can invite one or more submitters to submit one or more files to the collection folder via a customizable file request. The one or more submitters have limited rights to the collection folder. The limited rights can include uploading rights and prohibiting a submitter from viewing files that other submitters associated with the collection folder submitted. Thus, the collection folder is able to store files from the one or more submitters, but prevent them from viewing other'"'"'s submissions.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving from a collector, by a content management system, a request to generate a link for use in collecting one or more files from one or more submitters;

in response to receiving the request, providing, by the content management system, one or more prompts requesting information from the collector with the one or more prompts requesting customization information for customizing the request and provides one or more restrictions on how the one or more submitters uploads one or more files;

receiving, by the content management system, information responding to the prompts;

generating, by the content management system, a link to a designated collection folder using at least some of the received information;

distributing, by the content management system, the generated link to one or more submitters based on at least some of the received information,

wherein each of the one or more submitters has limited rights to the designated collection folder which comprises uploading rights for uploading one or more files to the designated collection folder and prohibits each of the one or more submitters from viewing files uploaded by other submitters of the one or more submitters associated with the designated collection folder.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more prompts are rendered in one or more user interfaces.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the received information comprises:

a name for a file request;

a designated collection folder to store one or more files received from the one or more submitters; and

at least one email address for the one or more submitters.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the received information further includes a message from the collector to the one or more submitters and distributing, by the content management system, the message along with the generated link to the one or more submitters.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more prompts requesting customization information for customizing the request further comprise prompts for at least one of:

a number of submissions permitted by each submitter;

a type of files permitted by each submitter;

an expiration of the request;

permission to replace a previous submission;

a white labeling file;

a template file;

use of a previous request; and

a viewing role.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein in response to receiving a selection of the expiration of the request further comprises:

rendering, by the content management system, a user interface displaying a calendar;

receiving, by the content management system, a deadline date; and

associating, by the content management system, the received deadline date with the request.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein in response to receiving a selection of the expiration of the request further comprises:

rendering, by the content management system, a user interface displaying a prompt for a deadline time;

receiving, by the content management system, a deadline time; and

associating, by the content management system, the received deadline time with the request.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

sending, by the content management system, a message notifying the submitter that a submission from a submitter is rejected when the submission occurs after a deadline based on the associated deadline date and deadline time.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein in response to receiving a selection of the white labeling file further comprises:

rendering, by the content management system, a user interface displaying a list of files;

receiving, by the content management system, a selection of a white labeling file; and

associating, by the content management system, the received white labeling file with the request.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

rendering, by the content management system, a file request user interface in response to the generated link being selected with the file request rendering a white label associated with the white labeling file.

11. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having processor-executable instructions store therein for causing a processor to;

receiving a request to generate a link for use in collecting one or more files from one or more submitters;

in response to receiving the request, providing one or more prompts to the collector, wherein the one or more prompts request information from the collector with the one or more prompts requesting customization information for customizing the request and provides one or more restrictions on how the one or more submitters uploads one or more files;

receiving information responding to the prompts;

generating a link to a designated collection folder in a content management system using at least some of the received information;

distributing the generated link to one or more submitters based on at least some of the received information,

wherein each of the one or more submitters has limited rights to the designated collection folder which comprises uploading rights for uploading one or more files to the designated collection folder and prohibits each of the one or more submitters from viewing files uploaded by other submitters of the one or more submitters associated with the designated collection folder.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more prompts are rendered in one or more user interfaces.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the received information comprises:

a name for a file request;

a designated collection folder to store one or more files received from the one or more submitters; and

at least one email address for the one or more submitters.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the received information further includes a message from the collector to the one or more submitters and distributing the message along with the generated link to the one or more submitters.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the one or more prompts requesting customization information for customizing the request further comprise prompts for at least one of:

a number of submissions permitted by each submitter;

a type of files permitted by each submitter;

an expiration of the request;

permission to replace a previous submission;

a white labeling file;

a template file;

use of a previous request; and

a viewing role.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein in response to receiving a selection of the expiration of the request further comprises:

rendering a user interface displaying a calendar;

receiving a deadline date; and

associating the received deadline date with the request.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein in response to receiving a selection of the expiration of the request further comprises:

rendering a user interface displaying a prompt for a deadline time;

receiving a deadline time; and

associating the received deadline time with the request.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

sending a message notifying the submitter that a submission from a submitter is rejected when the submission occurs after a deadline based on the associated deadline date and deadline time.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein in response to receiving a selection of the white labeling file further comprises:

rendering a user interface displaying a list of files;

receiving a selection of a white labeling file; and

associating the received white labeling file with the request.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

rendering a file request user interface in response to the generated link being selected with the file request rendering a white label associated with the white labeling file.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

notifying the collector that the collection folder request is established.