Authenticating a user account with a content management system

• US 9,781,089 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Kaplan, Josh, Cook, Adam, Poletto, Stephen, Wright, Thomas, Faraone, Luke
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirl, Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, JOSEPH B
• Application Number:
  US14/607,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20160219027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0815 providing single-sign-on or federations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for authenticating a user account with a content management system are disclosed. A synchronized content management system may receive an identifier via a first access platform. The identifier may be associated with a device. The content management system can generate a link based on the identifier and the device. The link may be then send to the device by using the identifier. When accessed by the device, the link may authenticate a user account associated with the device at a second access platform.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, from a first user device, at a content management system an identifier associated with a second user device, wherein the first user device is associated with a verified user account, wherein the content management system maintains a database of user accounts and identifiers;

generating, based on the database and via a processor at the content management system, a link, comprising a security code associated with the verified user account and wherein the security code is unique to the verified user account and access platform; and

sending the link to the second user device by using the identifier, wherein the link, when accessed at the second user device, is configured to automatically authenticate an application associated with the content management system to access the verified user account on the second user device using the security code.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a phone number.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the link comprises a uniform resource locator (URL).

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the security code is uniquely generated for the user account.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the security code is uniquely generated for a second access platform.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the link is sent to the second user device via a text message.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the link, when accessed at the second user device, is further configured to:

when an application associated with the content management system is installed on the second user device;

open the application; and

log the application into the user account; and

when the application is not installed on the second user device;

cause the second user device to navigate to a URL where the application can be downloaded on to the device; and

log the application into the user account.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the URL is associated with an application store.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the identifier, authenticating the user account at the first user device.

10. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, at a second device associated with a user account, a link from a content management system, wherein the content management system associates the second device to a verified user account based on an identifier received at the content management system from a first device and wherein the content management system maintains a database of user accounts and identifiers, the link comprising a security code that uniquely identifies the second device and the user account based on the identifier;

accessing the link at the second device; and

by using the code, automatically authenticating an application associated with the content management system allowing the application to access the verified user account on the second device.

11. The system of claim 10, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

receiving a phone number associated with the second device at the content management system,

wherein the link is received from the content management system via a text message to the phone number.

12. The system of claim 10, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

when the application is not installed on the second device at a time that the link is accessed, installing the application on the second device prior to authenticating the user account on the device.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the user account is authenticated on the application without receiving user credential information from a user after receiving the link.

14. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a first user device, at a content management system, an identifier associated with a second user device, wherein the first user device is associated with a verified user account, wherein the content management system maintains a database of user accounts and identifiers;

generating, based on the database, at the content management system, a link, comprising a security code associated with the verified user account and wherein the security code is unique to the verified user account and access platform; and

sending the link to the second user device by using the identifier, wherein the link, when accessed by the second user device, is configured to automatically authenticate the second user device using the security code and associate the second user device with the verified user account.