Web-based file management system and service

• US 8,326,814 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Inventors: Ghods, Sam, Jourda, Florian
• Primary Examiner(s): LEROUX, ETIENNE PIERRE
• Application Number:
  US12/260,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/3, 707/703, 711/100
• US Class Current: 707/703
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications

Abstract

A system and method for integrating a plurality of web-based applications with a web-based file management system. The web-based application may provide a service to the users of the web-based file management system, such that the web-based application can interact with the files of said users. The integration of the service of the web-based application with the web-based file management system is achieved through a simple web interface to configure the service, without the developer of the web-based application having to change the application programming interface (API) of the application. The user of the web-based file management system may add services of a plurality of available web-based applications and use these services with one or more files that are stored on the web-based file management system.

Claims

1. A method of a web based file management system accessed via a website, comprising:

providing a user interface on the website through which a user uploads a file and views the file, the website hosted by the web based file management system,

wherein, through the user interface, the user accesses and manages the file via the web based file management system by enabling the user to perform an action on the file;

graphically presenting options to perform the action on the file in the user interface of the website for access by the user;

further providing, through the user interface for the website, the user with sharing capability of the file with other users of the web based file management system;

receiving, through the user interface of the website hosted by the web based file management system, a selection by the user of the action to be performed on the file;

wherein, the web based file management system further enables integration of a developer'"'"'s service with the web based file management system, the developer'"'"'s service being accessible for use with the file by the user via the web based file management system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, the user interface further enables the user to edit the file.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein, the web based file management system is accessed by the user using a wireless client.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising restricting editing of the file by the other users to a situation when it is specified as being shared by the user.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein, the user interface of the website which is hosted by the web based file management system, further enables the user to post the file which was uploaded to the website, to another website;

wherein, the other website is a social networking site.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying in the user interface, a prompt to the user to overwrite the existing file or create a new file.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying in the user interface, additional features regarding the prior use of the file.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein, the user interface further enables the user to send the file via fax.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein, the user interface further enables the user to make a web log entry.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, the graphical presentation of the user interface further includes clickable or selectable features and the action includes, to organize the file into a folder, re-name, or delete the file.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying in the user interface, a version history of the file and a web log history.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, the user interface is provided through a mobile device.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising, displaying, to a user, a feature regarding the prior version of the file;

wherein, the feature regarding the prior version of the file includes a version history.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying in the user interface, a web log history of the file.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising, presenting the action available in a drop-down list for the file the action, including one or more of:

renaming the file and deleting the file.

16. A method for providing a file management service, comprising:

providing a user interface through which a user uploads a file and views the file through the file management service,

the user interface including graphical features which are accessed by the user, the file being graphically displayed to the user in the user interface upon uploading and viewable through the user interface;

wherein, the user accesses and manages the file using the file management service which enables the user to perform an action on the file;

graphically presenting options to perform the action on the file for access by the user;

further providing, through the file management server, the user with sharing capability of the file with other users;

restricting editing of the file by other users to a situation when it is specified as being shared by the user;

receiving, a selection by the user, of the action to be performed on the file;

wherein, the file management service further enables integration of a third-party service with the file management system, the third-party service being accessible for use by the user with the file via the file management system.

17. A system for providing a web based file management service, comprising:

means for, providing a user interface through which a user uploads a file and views the file, the user interface provided by the web based file management service,

wherein, through the user interface, the user accesses and manages the file using the web based file management service by enabling the user to perform an action on the file;

means for, graphically presenting options to perform the action on the file in the user interface for access by the user;

means for, further providing, through the user interface for web-based file management service, the user with sharing capability of the file with collaborators;

means for, restricting editing of the file by the collaborators to a situation when it is specified as being shared by the user;

means for, receiving, through the user interface, a selection by the user of the action to be performed on the file;

means for, enabling integration of a developer'"'"'s service with the web-based file management service, the developer'"'"'s service being accessible for use with the file accessible using the web based file management service.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein, the web based file management service is accessed using a wireless client.