Creating conversations in shared folder backed integrated workspaces

• US 9,959,327 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Beausoleil, Sean, Pan, Matteus, Greze, Jean-Denis, DeVincenzi, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Poltorak, Peter
• Application Number:
  US14/725,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20160285795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/123 Storage facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 : Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 : Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 : Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 : Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 : Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 : Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 : Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 : providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 : Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 : Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 : for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 : Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 : when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for shared folder backed integrated workspaces. In some implementations, a content management system can provide a graphical user interface (GUI) that integrates communications and content management into a single user interface. The user interface can include mechanisms that allow a user to provide input to generate a new workspace. The user interface can provide a mechanism to allow a user to view conversations related to the workspace and/or content items associated with the workspace. The user interface can present representations of content items associated with the workspace and allow the user to provide input to generate, view, edit, and share content items associated with the workspace.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating, by an online content management system, a shared-folder backed workspace graphical user interface that provides an integrated environment for manipulating content items in an online shared folder of the online content management system and communicating with authorized users of the online shared folder, wherein the workspace interface includes representations of content items in the online shared folder and a message stream including workspace messages generated by the authorized users of the online shared folder, and wherein the same content items are presented to each of the authorized users of the online shared folder;

receiving, by the online content management system from a first user among the authorized users, a first message indicating a selection of a content item represented on the workspace graphical user interface;

in response to receiving the first message, generating, by the online content management system, an options graphical user interface that includes an option to discuss the particular content item;

receiving, by the online content management system from the first user, a second message indicating that the discuss option has been selected; and

in response to receiving the second message, generating, by the online content management system, a new workspace message from the first user including a link to the particular content item and inserting the new workspace message in the workspace message stream, wherein the link and new workspace message are presented to each of the authorized users of the online shared folder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the new-workspace message includes receiving text data that specifies the textual content of the new message.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing the textual content of the new-workspace message as comment metadata for the selected content item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the new-workspace message includes a preview image of the particular content item.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a reply message generated by a second user among the authorized users, where the reply message is a response to the new-workspace message associated with the particular content item; and

inserting the reply message into the message stream in a message thread associated with the new-workspace message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the new-workspace message in the online shared folder.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

in response to storing the new-workspace message in the online shared folder, identifying one or more client devices associated with the shared folder and synchronizing the new workspace message with each of the one or more client devices.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending an email containing the new-workspace message to at least one of the authorized users of the online shared folder.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

generating, by an online content management system, a shared-folder backed workspace graphical user interface that provides an integrated environment for manipulating content items in an online shared folder of the online content management system and communicating with authorized users of the online shared folder, wherein the workspace interface includes representations of content items in the online shared folder and a message stream including workspace messages generated by the authorized users of the online shared folder, and wherein the same content items are presented to each of the authorized users of the online shared folder;

receiving, by the online content management system from a first user among the authorized users, a first message indicating a selection of a content item represented on the workspace graphical user interface;

in response to receiving the first message, generating, by the online content management system, an options graphical user interface that includes an option to discuss the particular content item; and

in response to receiving a second message from the first user indicating that the discuss option has been selected, generating, by the online content management system, a new workspace message including a link to the particular content item and inserting the new workspace message in the workspace message stream, wherein the link and new workspace message are presented to each of the authorized users of the online shared folder.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions that cause generating the new workspace message include instructions that cause receiving text data that specifies the textual content of the new workspace message.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions cause:

storing the textual content of the new workspace message as comment metadata for the selected content item.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the new workspace message includes a preview image of the particular content item.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause:

receiving a reply message generated by a second user among the authorized users, where the reply message is a response to the new workspace message associated with the particular content item; and

inserting the reply message into the message stream in a message thread associated with the new workspace message.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause storing the new workspace message in the online shared folder.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause:

sending an email containing the new workspace message to at least one of the authorized users of the online shared folder.

16. An online content management system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause;

generating, by an online content management system, a shared-folder backed workspace graphical user interface that provides an integrated environment for manipulating content items in an online shared folder of the online content management system and communicating with authorized users of the online shared folder, wherein the workspace interface includes representations of content items in the online shared folder and a message stream including workspace messages generated by the authorized users of the online shared folder, and wherein the same content items are presented to each of the authorized users of the online shared folder;

receiving, by the online content management system from a first user among the authorized users, a first message indicating a selection of a content item represented on the workspace graphical user interface;

in response to receiving the first message, generating, by the online content management system, an options graphical user interface that includes an option to discuss the particular content item; and

in response to receiving a second message from the first user that a selection of the discuss option has been selected, generating, by the online content management system, a new workspace message including a link to the particular content item and inserting the new workspace message in the workspace message stream, wherein the link and new workspace message are presented to each of the authorized users of the online shared folder.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the instructions that cause generating the new message include instructions that cause receiving text data that specifies the textual content of the new workspace message.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions cause:

storing the textual content of the new workspace message as comment metadata for the selected content item.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the new message includes a preview image of the particular content item.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the instructions cause:

receiving a reply message generated by a second user, where the reply message is a response to the new workspace message associated with the particular content item; and

inserting the reply message into the message stream in a message thread associated with the new workspace message.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the instructions cause storing the new workspace message in the online shared folder.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the instructions cause:

sending an email containing the new workspace message to at least one of the authorized users of the online shared folder.

23. A method comprising:

generating, by an online content management system, a shared-folder backed workspace graphical user interface that provides an integrated environment for manipulating content items in an online shared folder of the online content management system and communicating with authorized users of the online shared folder, wherein the workspace interface includes representations of content items in the online shared folder and a message stream including workspace messages generated by the authorized users of the online shared folder, and wherein the same content items are presented to each of the authorized users of the online shared folder;

receiving, by the online content management system from a first user among the authorized users, a first message indicating a selection of a new content item that is external to the content items represented on the workspace graphical user interface;

in response to receiving the first message, generating, by the online content management system, an options graphical user interface that includes an option to discuss the new content item;

receiving, by the online content management system from the first user, a second message indicating that the discuss option has been selected;

in response to receiving the second message;

adding, by the online content management system, the new content item to the online shared folder,

generating, by the online content management system, a new workspace message from the first user including a link to the new content item,

inserting the new workspace message in the workspace message stream, including a representation of the new content item, and

updating representations of content items in the online shared folder to include a representation of the new content item that is presented to each of the authorized users of the online shared folder.