Patents by Inventor Drew Houston

Drew Houston has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11985192
    Abstract: The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for synchronizing a content library between a content management system and client devices. Each content item in a user's content library is stored on the content management system and a record of each change to the content library is recorded in a content journal. A client device transmits a synchronization request that a portion of the content journal representing unsynchronized changes be processed to update the content library on the client device. The synchronization request includes a content library identifier and a content journal number identifying the content entry in the content journal last processed by the client device. Synchronization commands are sent based on the content entries not processed by the client device. Updated synchronization data representing the processed content entries is sent to the client device after synchronization is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventor: Drew Houston
  • Publication number: 20230090977
    Abstract: The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for synchronizing a content library between a content management system and client devices. Each content item in a user's content library is stored on the content management system and a record of each change to the content library is recorded in a content journal. A client device transmits a synchronization request that a portion of the content journal representing unsynchronized changes be processed to update the content library on the client device. The synchronization request includes a content library identifier and a content journal number identifying the content entry in the content journal last processed by the client device. Synchronization commands are sent based on the content entries not processed by the client device. Updated synchronization data representing the processed content entries is sent to the client device after synchronization is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventor: Drew Houston
  • Patent number: 11516288
    Abstract: The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for synchronizing a content library between a content management system and client devices. Each content item in a user's content library is stored on the content management system and a record of each change to the content library is recorded in a content journal. A client device transmits a synchronization request that a portion of the content journal representing unsynchronized changes be processed to update the content library on the client device. The synchronization request includes a content library identifier and a content journal number identifying the content entry in the content journal last processed by the client device. Synchronization commands are sent based on the content entries not processed by the client device. Updated synchronization data representing the processed content entries is sent to the client device after synchronization is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventor: Drew Houston
  • Publication number: 20210185122
    Abstract: The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for synchronizing a content library between a content management system and client devices. Each content item in a user's content library is stored on the content management system and a record of each change to the content library is recorded in a content journal. A client device transmits a synchronization request that a portion of the content journal representing unsynchronized changes be processed to update the content library on the client device. The synchronization request includes a content library identifier and a content journal number identifying the content entry in the content journal last processed by the client device. Synchronization commands are sent based on the content entries not processed by the client device. Updated synchronization data representing the processed content entries is sent to the client device after synchronization is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: Drew Houston
  • Patent number: 10951702
    Abstract: The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for synchronizing a content library between a content management system and client devices. Each content item in a user's content library is stored on the content management system and a record of each change to the content library is recorded in a content journal. A client device transmits a synchronization request that a portion of the content journal representing unsynchronized changes be processed to update the content library on the client device. The synchronization request includes a content library identifier and a content journal number identifying the content entry in the content journal last processed by the client device. Synchronization commands are sent based on the content entries not processed by the client device. Updated synchronization data representing the processed content entries is sent to the client device after synchronization is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventor: Drew Houston
  • Patent number: 10911518
    Abstract: Synchronization of folders shared among multiple clients over a network is provided. A first user of a first client instantiates a folder to be shared, and the folder and its contents are synchronized with a host system. As the user makes changes to the folder and its contents on the first client, those changes are propagated to the synchronized version on the host server. Other clients who will be sharing the synchronized folder register with the host system and obtain a current version of the synchronized folder and contents. As the contents of the synchronized folder are changed by any of the clients, the changes are propagated to the host system, which in turn delivers the changes to each of the clients registered as sharing that folder. In this way, each client participating in the share has a current version of the folder and its contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Houston, Arash Ferdowsi
  • Patent number: 10567484
    Abstract: The described systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media manage pooled collections of content items in a content management system. An example system can receive, from a user device, content uploaded to an account at a synchronized online content management system, and cluster some of the content as a collection. The system can receive, from a user, a request to share the collection with a second user having a second account at the content management system. In response to the request, content management system generates a pooled collection from the collection. The system can also transmit an invitation to the second user to join the pooled collection, and, upon acceptance, link the pooled collection to the second user account so that the first user and the second user have access to the persistent pooled collection and have permission to contribute content to the pooled collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Houston, Chris Beckmann
  • Patent number: 10491653
    Abstract: Users specify that a file set comprising their files, folders, or other content owned by the users should be made accessible via a link, such as a uniform resource locator (URL). The system which stores and provides access to the files accordingly creates a link that specifies the file set to be made accessible. The users may distribute the link to recipients with whom the file set is to be shared, and the distribution may be performed in any manner that the users choose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventors: Arash Ferdowsi, Drew Houston, Jonathan Ying, Jeffrey Bartelma
  • Publication number: 20190245921
    Abstract: The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for synchronizing a content library between a content management system and client devices. Each content item in a user's content library is stored on the content management system and a record of each change to the content library is recorded in a content journal. A client device transmits a synchronization request that a portion of the content journal representing unsynchronized changes be processed to update the content library on the client device. The synchronization request includes a content library identifier and a content journal number identifying the content entry in the content journal last processed by the client device. Synchronization commands are sent based on the content entries not processed by the client device. Updated synchronization data representing the processed content entries is sent to the client device after synchronization is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventor: Drew Houston
  • Patent number: 10331757
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for adding users to groups of content items organized into events based on a common attribute. An example system configured to practice the method can receive, from a client device, content items uploaded to a synced online content management system, wherein the content items are associated with an account of a first user. The system can cluster at least some of the content items as an event, wherein the event is associated with a common attribute, and identify a second user satisfying a minimum similarity threshold for the event based on the common attribute. The system can provide a suggestion to share the event with the second user. Upon receiving a confirmation of the suggestion, the system can make content items clustered in the event available to the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Houston, Chris Beckmann
  • Patent number: 10291702
    Abstract: The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for synchronizing a content library between a content management system and client devices. Each content item in a user's content library is stored on the content management system and a record of each change to the content library is recorded in a content journal. A client device transmits a synchronization request that a portion of the content journal representing unsynchronized changes be processed to update the content library on the client device. The synchronization request includes a content library identifier and a content journal number identifying the content entry in the content journal last processed by the client device. Synchronization commands are sent based on the content entries not processed by the client device. Updated synchronization data representing the processed content entries is sent to the client device after synchronization is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventor: Drew Houston
  • Publication number: 20190124131
    Abstract: Users specify that a file set comprising their files, folders, or other content owned by the users should be made accessible via a link, such as a uniform resource locator (URL). The system which stores and provides access to the files accordingly creates a link that specifies the file set to be made accessible. The users may distribute the link to recipients with whom the file set is to be shared, and the distribution may be performed in any manner that the users choose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Arash Ferdowsi, Drew Houston, Jonathan Ying, Jeffrey Bartelma
  • Publication number: 20190089768
    Abstract: Synchronization of folders shared among multiple clients over a network is provided. A first user of a first client instantiates a folder to be shared, and the folder and its contents are synchronized with a host system. As the user makes changes to the folder and its contents on the first client, those changes are propagated to the synchronized version on the host server. Other clients who will be sharing the synchronized folder register with the host system and obtain a current version of the synchronized folder and contents. As the contents of the synchronized folder are changed by any of the clients, the changes are propagated to the host system, which in turn delivers the changes to each of the clients registered as sharing that folder. In this way, each client participating in the share has a current version of the folder and its contents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Drew Houston, Arash Ferdowsi
  • Patent number: 10212211
    Abstract: Users specify that a file set comprising their files, folders, or other content owned by the users should be made accessible via a link, such as a uniform resource locator (URL). The system which stores and provides access to the files accordingly creates a link that specifies the file set to be made accessible. The users may distribute the link to recipients with whom the file set is to be shared, and the distribution may be performed in any manner that the users choose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventors: Arash Ferdowsi, Drew Houston, Jonathan Ying, Jeffrey Bartelma
  • Patent number: 10148730
    Abstract: Synchronization of folders shared among multiple clients over a network is provided. A first user of a first client instantiates a folder to be shared, and the folder and its contents are synchronized with a host system. As the user makes changes to the folder and its contents on the first client, those changes are propagated to the synchronized version on the host server. Other clients who will be sharing the synchronized folder register with the host system and obtain a current version of the synchronized folder and contents. As the contents of the synchronized folder are changed by any of the clients, the changes are propagated to the host system, which in turn delivers the changes to each of the clients registered as sharing that folder. In this way, each client participating in the share has a current version of the folder and its contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Houston, Arash Ferdowsi
  • Publication number: 20180143987
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for adding users to groups of content items organized into events based on a common attribute. An example system configured to practice the method can receive, from a client device, content items uploaded to a synced online content management system, wherein the content items are associated with an account of a first user. The system can cluster at least some of the content items as an event, wherein the event is associated with a common attribute, and identify a second user satisfying a minimum similarity threshold for the event based on the common attribute. The system can provide a suggestion to share the event with the second user. Upon receiving a confirmation of the suggestion, the system can make content items clustered in the event available to the second user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Drew Houston, Chris Beckmann
  • Publication number: 20180146027
    Abstract: The described systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media manage pooled collections of content items in a content management system. An example system can receive, from a user device, content uploaded to an account at a synchronized online content management system, and cluster some of the content as a collection. The system can receive, from a user, a request to share the collection with a second user having a second account at the content management system. In response to the request, content management system generates a pooled collection from the collection. The system can also transmit an invitation to the second user to join the pooled collection, and, upon acceptance, link the pooled collection to the second user account so that the first user and the second user have access to the persistent pooled collection and have permission to contribute content to the pooled collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Drew Houston, Chris Beckmann
  • Patent number: 9912734
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for managing pooled collections of content items, such as photos, in a content management system. An example system can first receive, from a first user device, images uploaded to a first account at a synchronized online content management system, and cluster at least some of the images as a collection. The system can receive, from the first user, a request to share the collection with a second user having a second account at the content management system, and generate, in response to the request, a pooled collection at the content management system from the collection. The system can transmit an invitation to the second user to join the pooled collection, and, upon acceptance, link the pooled collection to the second user account so that the first user and the second user have access to images in the persistent pooled collection and have permission to contribute content to the pooled collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Houston, Chris Beckmann
  • Publication number: 20180048698
    Abstract: Users specify that a file set comprising their files, folders, or other content owned by the users should be made accessible via a link, such as a uniform resource locator (URL). The system which stores and provides access to the files accordingly creates a link that specifies the file set to be made accessible. The users may distribute the link to recipients with whom the file set is to be shared, and the distribution may be performed in any manner that the users choose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Arash Ferdowsi, Drew Houston, Jonathan Ying, Jeffrey Bartelma
  • Patent number: 9892203
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for adding users to groups of content items organized into events based on a common attribute. An example system configured to practice the method can receive, from a client device, content items uploaded to a synced online content management system, wherein the content items are associated with an account of a first user. The system can cluster at least some of the content items as an event, wherein the event is associated with a common attribute, and identify a second user satisfying a minimum similarity threshold for the event based on the common attribute. The system can provide a suggestion to share the event with the second user. Upon receiving a confirmation of the suggestion, the system can make content items clustered in the event available to the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Houston, Chris Beckmann