Systems and methods for uploading files to a server

• US 9,158,436 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Varenhorst, Chris, Wheeler, Dan, Smith, Brain, Motes, Aston
• Primary Examiner(s): Shih, Haoshian
• Application Number:
  US13/723,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20140108956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 715/740, 715/748, 709/217, 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A file upload widget is provided on a website to enable the upload of files to a website from an account within a content management system. The file upload widget may be used to: (1) allow a user to select files from a content management system, such as a synced online content management system; and (2) initiate the upload of the files directly from the content management system to the website. In various embodiments, this may: (1) allow the user to upload files that are not stored locally on the computing device being used to access the file upload widget; and (2) allow the user to complete the upload of files by initiating the transfer of files and then logging off of the website (and/or powering down their computing device) before the transfer of files is complete, which may result in a more convenient and enjoyable upload process.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing, by a processor, a file upload widget on a third party website, the file upload widget being based, at least in part, on computer code provided by a synched online content management system; and

in response to activation of the file upload widget on the third party website, initiating the synched online content management system to;

receive selection of a particular file for uploading to the third party website, the particular file being stored locally on a client device associated with the user account;

access a file journal describing files associated with the user account that are stored locally on the client device and in a datastore in the synched online content management system;

initiate an upload of the particular file from the datastore to the third party website; and

complete the upload of the particular file from the datastore to the third party website by allowing a user to initiate the upload and then log off the third party website or suspend interaction with the client device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein uploading the particular file to the third party website comprises uploading the particular file directly from the online content management system to one or more servers associated with the third party website.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein uploading the particular file to the third party website comprises uploading the particular file directly from one or more servers associated with the online content management system to one or more servers associated with the third party website.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the synched online content management system, account information associated with the account; and

using, by the synched online content management system, the account information to facilitate the selection of the particular file from the account.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the file upload widget comprises a user interface element.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the user interface element is a button.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for:

creating a file upload widget for use on a third party website, the file upload widget being created based, at least in part, on computer code generated by a synched online content management system, wherein;

in response to activation of the file upload widget on the third party website, causing the synched online content management system to;

receive a selection of a particular file for uploading to the third party website;

access a file journal describing files associated with an account of a user that are stored locally on a user'"'"'s device and that are stored in a datastore of the synched online content management system;

initiate an upload of the particular file from the datastore to the third party website; and

complete the upload of the particular file from the datastore to the third party website by allowing a user to initiate the upload and then log off the website or suspend interaction with the client device.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the third party website is not associated with the online content management system.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the online content management system is adapted to:

store the one or more files on a central server; and

at least substantially automatically synch any modified versions of the one or more files to corresponding versions of the one or more files on one or more client devices associated with the account.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein facilitating the upload of the particular file to the third party website comprises enabling an upload of the particular file directly from the content management system to one or more servers associated with the third party website.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein uploading the particular file to the website comprises receiving the particular file directly from the content management system.

12. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor associated with a synched online content management system; and

memory including processor-executable instructions configuring the computer system for;

in response to an activation of a file upload widget by a user on a third party website, initiating the processor to;

receive selection of a particular file for uploading to the third party website, the particular file being stored locally on a client device associated with a user account;

access a file journal describing files associated with the user account that are stored locally on the client device and in a datastore in the synched online content management system; and

initiate an upload of the selected particular file from the datastore to one or more servers associated with the third party website; and

complete the upload of the particular file from the datastore to the third party website by allowing a user to initiate the upload and then log off the third party website or suspend interaction with the client device.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the uploading of the particular file to the one or more servers associated with the third party website comprises uploading the particular file at least substantially directly from the online content management system to the one or more servers.