SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING EMBEDDABLE WIDGETS WHICH ENABLE ACCESS TO A CLOUD-BASED COLLABORATION PLATFORM

• US 20140258972A1
• Filed: 10/07/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Inventors: Savage, Brandon, Casparro, Tony, Tan, Jeff, Amoli, Sahil
• Granted Patent: US 9,665,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/197 Version control for software G06F8/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for generating embeddable widgets capable of accessing contents in a cloud-based platform. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request identifying a target content in the cloud-based platform. The method further comprises automatically generating a plurality of software codes which correspond to a software widget that enables access to the target content. According to some embodiments, the software widget is to be embedded in a software product so as to enable a user of the software product to access the target content without navigating away from the software product. Among other advantages, embodiments disclosed herein provide easy integration of centralized contents to users and third-party web-service vendors, and reduce the effort necessary for system administrators in controlling data security and tracking different activities performed to the centralized content, thereby enabling more intuitive user experience without sacrificing data security.

Claims

1. A method for enabling access a cloud-based platform, the method comprising:

receiving a request identifying a target content in the cloud-based platform; and

automatically generating a plurality of software codes which correspond to a software widget that enables access to the target content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software widget is to be embedded in a software product so as to enable a user of the software product to access the target content without navigating away from the software product.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each software widget is generated as a unique instance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the software codes are uniquely generated so that different software widgets generated in a plurality of instances can access the identified target content and each have a distinct configuration.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user to preview the software widget, wherein activation of the preview causes a web browser of the user to execute the software codes.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user to copy the software codes into a memory on a device of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the software codes are configured to be directly included in a software product without a compilation process.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the software product is a webpage or a web application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from a user, the method further comprising:

presenting, via a user interface, the plurality of software codes to the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the target content comprises a file, and wherein the access to the target content includes viewing the file.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the access to the target content further includes one or more of:

editing the file, commenting on the file, highlighting portions of the file, or sharing the file.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the target content comprises a folder, and wherein the access to the target content includes displaying a list of work items in the folder.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the access to the target content further includes one or more of:

downloading a number of work items from the folder, changing a sorting option for the work items in the folder, or changing a different view style.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the target content comprises a folder, and wherein the access to the target content includes uploading a file to the folder.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

inspecting the uploaded file; and

performing actions on the uploaded file in response to a result from the inspecting.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

preventing another software widget from accessing the uploaded file.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving configuration parameters to customize the software widget.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the customization includes layout definitions for the software widget.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the customization includes adjustment of functionalities of the software widget in accessing the target content.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking access activities performed via each software widget to the target content.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the cloud-based platform is shared between a user and collaborators of the user.

22. A computer server which hosts a cloud-based environment shared among a user and collaborators of the user, the server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit having instructions stored thereon which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

receive a request identifying a target content in the cloud-based platform; and

automatically generate a plurality of software codes which correspond to a software widget that enables access to the target content.

23. The server of claim 22, wherein the software widget is to be embedded in a software product so as to enable a user of the software product to access the target content without navigating away from the software product.

24. The server of claim 22, wherein each software widget is generated as a unique instance.

25. The server of claim 22, wherein the software codes are uniquely generated so that different software widgets generated in a plurality of instances can access the identified target content and each have a distinct configuration.

26. The server of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured to:

prompt a user to preview the software widget, wherein activation of the preview causes a web browser of the user to execute the software codes.

27. The server of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured to:

prompt a user to copy the software codes into a memory on a device of the user.

28. The server of claim 22, wherein the software codes are configured to be directly included in a software product without a compilation process.

29. The server of claim 28, wherein the software product is a webpage or a web application.

30. The server of claim 22, wherein the request is received from a user, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

present, via a user interface, the plurality of software codes to the user.

31. The server of claim 22, wherein the target content comprises a file, and wherein the access to the target content includes one or more of:

viewing the file, editing the file, commenting on the file, highlighting portions of the file, or sharing the file.

32. The server of claim 22, wherein the target content comprises a folder, and wherein the access to the target content includes one or more of:

displaying a list of work items in the folder, downloading a number of work items from the folder, changing a sorting option for the work items in the folder, or changing a different view style.

33. The server of claim 22, wherein the target content comprises a folder, and wherein the access to the target content includes uploading a file to the folder.

34. The server of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

inspect the uploaded file; and

perform actions on the uploaded file in response to a result from the inspecting.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

prevent another software widget from accessing the uploaded file.

36. The server of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive configuration parameters to customize the software widget.

37. The server of claim 36, wherein the customization includes layout definitions for the software widget.

38. The server of claim 36, wherein the customization includes adjustment of functionalities of the software widget in accessing the target content.

39. The server of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured to:

track access activities performed via each software widget to the target content.

40. A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor on a server, cause the processor to:

receive a request identifying a target content in a cloud-based platform shared among a user and collaborators of the user; and

automatically generate a plurality of software codes which correspond to a software widget that enables access to the target content,

wherein the software widget is to be embedded in a software product so as to enable a user of the software product to access the target content without navigating away from the software product, and

wherein each software widget is generated as a unique instance.

41. A system which hosts a cloud-based environment shared among a user and collaborators of the user, comprising:

means for receiving a request identifying a target content in the cloud-based platform; and

means for automatically generating a plurality of software codes which correspond to a software widget that enables access to the target content,

wherein the software codes are uniquely generated so that different software widgets generated in a plurality of instances can access the identified target content and each have a distinct configuration.