Native application collaboration

• US 10,620,811 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Pedrick, Martin, Wu, Michael, Pai, Anvisha
• Primary Examiner(s): Burke, Jeff A
• Application Number:
  US14/983,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20170192656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A client device displays a content item in a window associated with a process on the device. A client application monitors the process for the content item and determines whether the content item is synchronized with a client device or content management system. When the content item is not synchronized, a synchronization interface is displayed to permit a user to request synchronizing the content item. When the user requests synchronization, the content item is moved to a shared folder synchronized with the content management system or client device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a client application installed on a client device, a monitoring event indicating a change in state of a user'"'"'s presence, the monitoring event associated with a user interface element interacting with a content item and controlled by a native application installed on the client device, wherein the client application is independent of and not integrated into the native application;

determining, by the client application, whether the content item is saved to a local folder of the client device that is not synchronized to a content management system, or is saved to a local folder of the client device that is synchronized to the content management system, the content management system being instantiated on one or more servers remote to the client device;

responsive to determining that the content item is saved to the local folder of the client device that is not synchronized to the content management system, as opposed to being saved to the local folder of the client device that is synchronized to the content management system;

generating for display, by the client application, a synchronization interface comprising a selectable option for a user to request synchronization of the content item to the content management system;

receiving a selection of the selectable option to synchronize the content item from the synchronization interface; and

in response to receiving the selection of the selectable option, adding the content item to a shared folder synchronized to the content management system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content item is synchronized to one or more shared devices after receiving the request to synchronize the content item.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a location of the shared folder.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the location of the shared folder is specified by the user.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the location of the shared folder is a root of a directory tree for synchronized content items.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring event comprises saving the content item.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring event comprises opening the content item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization interface is displayed adjacent to or overlapping with the user interface element.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the content item is synchronized to one or more shared devices after receiving the request to synchronize the content item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring event comprises saving or opening the content item.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization interface is displayed adjacent to or overlapping with the user interface element.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by one or more processors, the instructions when executed cause the one or more processors to:

receive, by a client application installed on a client device, a monitoring event indicating a change in state of a user'"'"'s presence, the monitoring event associated with a user interface element interacting with a content item and controlled by a native application installed on the client device, wherein the client application is independent of and not integrated into the native application;

determine, by the client application, whether the content item is saved to a local folder of the client device that is not synchronized to a content management system, or is saved to a local folder of the client device that is synchronized to the content management system, the content management system being instantiated on one or more servers remote to the client device;

responsive to determining that the content item is saved to the local folder of the client device that is not synchronized to the content management system, as opposed to being saved to the local folder of the client device that is synchronized to the content management system;

generate for display, by the client application, a synchronization interface comprising a selectable option for a user to request synchronization of the content item to the content management system;

receive a selection of the selectable option to synchronize the content item from the synchronization interface; and

in response to receiving the selection of the selectable option, add the content item to a shared folder synchronized to the content management system.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the content item is synchronized to one or more shared devices after receiving the request to synchronize the content item.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, the instructions further causing the processor to identify a location of the shared folder.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the location of the shared folder is specified by the user.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the location of the shared folder is a root of a directory tree for synchronized content items.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the monitoring event comprises saving the content item.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the monitoring event comprises opening the content item.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the synchronization interface is displayed adjacent to or overlapping with the user interface element.

20. A system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute instructions;

a non-transitory, non-volatile storage medium containing instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of;

receiving, by a client application installed on a client device, a monitoring event indicating a change in state of a user'"'"'s presence, the monitoring event associated with a user interface element interacting with a content item and controlled by a native application installed on the client device, wherein the client application is independent of and not integrated into the native application;

determining, by the client application, whether the content item is saved to a local folder of the client device that is not synchronized to a content management system, or is saved to a local folder of the client device that is synchronized to the content management system, the content management system being instantiated on one or more servers remote to the client device;

responsive to determining that the content item is saved to the local folder of the client device that is not synchronized to the content management system, as opposed to being saved to the local folder of the client device that is synchronized to the content management system;

generating for display, by the client application, a synchronization interface comprising a selectable option for a user to request synchronization of the content item to the content management system;

receiving a selection of the selectable option to synchronize the content item from the synchronization interface; and

in response to receiving the selection of the selectable option, adding the content item to a shared folder synchronized to the content management system.