Collection folder for collecting file submissions in response to a public file request

• US 10,885,209 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2019
• Issued: 01/05/2021
• 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): Dolly, Kendall
• Application Number:
  US16/425,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20190278924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

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 in response to a public 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 method comprising:

providing, by a content management system and for display on a client device associated with a collector user, a graphical user interface that comprises a preview of a link to a collection folder and a customization option;

receiving, by the content management system, a request to generate the link to the collection folder, the request specifying a customization for the link based on the collector user interacting with the customization option within the graphical user interface;

in response to the request, generating, by the content management system, the customized link to the collection folder, the customized link for use in collecting files in the collection folder from one or more submitters;

distributing, by the content management system, the customized link to a submitter client device associated with a submitter;

receiving, by the content management system and from the submitter client device, a file selected by the submitter based on the submitter accessing the customized link to the collection folder on the submitter client device; and

storing, by the content management system, the file in the collection folder,

wherein each of the one or more submitters has limited rights to the collection folder which comprise uploading rights for uploading one or more files to the 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 collection folder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customization option comprises at least one of a customization option for the link to the collection folder or a customization option for settings of file request associated with the link to the collection folder.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the link is a universal resource locator (URL) that specifies a destination address corresponding to the collection folder.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving a modification to the URL, wherein the customization for the link is based on the modification to the URL.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the modification comprises a change to the URL that modifies the destination address of the collection folder.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the content management system, a user-specified name for the collection folder, wherein generating the customized link to the collection folder comprises referencing the user-specified name within the customized link.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the customization for the link to the collection folder comprises a modification that changes the customized link from a private link to a public link.

8. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

provide, for display on a client device associated with a collector user, a graphical user interface that comprises a preview of a link to a collection folder and a customization option;

receive a request to generate the link to the collection folder, the request specifying a customization for the link based on the collector user interacting with the customization option within the graphical user interface;

in response to the request, generate the customized link to the collection folder, the customized link for use in collecting files in the collection folder from one or more submitters;

distribute the customized link to a submitter client device associated with a submitter;

receive, from the submitter client device, a file selected by the submitter based on the submitter accessing the customized link to the collection folder on the submitter client device; and

store the file in the collection folder,

wherein each of the one or more submitters has limited rights to the collection folder which comprise uploading rights for uploading one or more files to the 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 collection folder.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the customization option comprises at least one of a customization option for the link to the collection folder or a customization option for settings of file request associated with the link to the collection folder.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the link is a universal resource locator (URL) that specifies a destination address corresponding to the collection folder.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to receive a modification to the URL, wherein the customization for the link is based on the modification to the URL, wherein the modification comprises a change to the URL that modifies the destination address of the collection folder.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to receive a user-specified name for the collection folder, wherein generating the customized link to the collection folder comprises referencing the user-specified name within the customized link.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the customization for the link to the collection folder comprises a modification that changes the customized link from a private link to a public link.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer device to:

provide, for display on a client device associated with a collector user, a graphical user interface that comprises a preview of a link to a collection folder and a customization option;

receive a request to generate the link to the collection folder, the request specifying a customization for the link based on the collector user interacting with the customization option within the graphical user interface;

in response to the request, generate the customized link to the collection folder, the customized link for use in collecting files in the collection folder from one or more submitters;

distribute the customized link to a submitter client device associated with a submitter;

receive, from the submitter client device, a file selected by the submitter based on the submitter accessing the customized link to the collection folder on the submitter client device; and

store the file in the collection folder,

wherein each of the one or more submitters has limited rights to the collection folder which comprise uploading rights for uploading one or more files to the 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 collection folder.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the customization option comprises at least one of a customization option for the link to the collection folder or a customization option for settings of file request associated with the link to the collection folder.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the link is a universal resource locator (URL) that specifies a destination address corresponding to the collection folder.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to receive a modification to the URL, wherein the customization for the link is based on the modification to the URL, wherein the modification comprises a change to the URL that modifies the destination address of the collection folder.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer device to receive a user-specified name for the collection folder, wherein generating the customized link to the collection folder comprises referencing the user-specified name within the customized link.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the customization for the link to the collection folder comprises a modification that changes the customized link from a private link to a public link.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the customization for the link is based on user input received from a collector client device via a file request user interface.