Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method for enabling access to content of a compressed content item from a variety of computing devices. For example, upon receiving a compressed content item, an online content management system can decompress the compressed content item. A copy of the decompressed content item, in this example, can then be sent to one or more computing devices associated with the online content management system through a user account. Accordingly, when the compressed content item is uploaded and decompressed by the online content management system, a folder, for example, containing content associated with the online content management system is synced across each device associated with the user account with the decompressed content item, thereby, enabling the decompressed content item to be available on each device.
Abstract: An online content management system enables rapid application development by an application developer using an application development system to create a content application configured to execute on a client device. A designated folder on the application development system is designated for sharing with the client device. Configuration data containing parameters for controlling the operation of the content application is stored in the designated folder. The content application on the client device reads the configuration data from the designated location and applies the parameters on execution and thereafter. When the configuration data is modified on the application development system, the modified data is synchronized by the content management system to the client device. The content application on the client device reads the modified configuration data and applies the modified parameters during execution.
Abstract: A user of a content management system can store one or more content items at the user's account with the system. In some instances, the system can generate and present a preview of a content item of interest (e.g., a content item selected by the user). In addition to the preview of the content item, the system can generate and present a web address or other machine-readable code referring to (or otherwise associated with) the preview of the content item. Various embodiments of the present disclosure can enable the web address or other machine-readable code to be sharable and to provide access to the content item (or a copy thereof). For example, the user who is previewing the content item can share the web address of the preview with one or more other users. The one or more users can then access the content item via the web address.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 11, 2013
Publication date:
June 11, 2015
Applicant:
DROPBOX, INC.
Inventors:
Ziga Mahkovec, Christopher Beckmann, Rian Hunter
Abstract: An analytics system that executes processing jobs infers dependencies between jobs to be executed based on identification of dependencies between a “sink” job and a source data object on which the sink job depends. Given a job definition for the sink job that identifies a source data object, the system can identify a “source” job that produces the source data object and can infer a dependency of the sink job on the source job. The system can schedule executions of the source and sink jobs such that the source job completes (or completes generation of the source data object) before the sink job is launched.
Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention automatically crop images based upon the location of one or more regions of interest (ROIs) identified within the cropped image. In one embodiment, an image cropping application configures a processor to utilize at least one object detector to identify at least one region of interest within an image. A plurality of candidate cropped images within the image are selected and for each candidate cropped image, an output is generated by weighting each of the at least one region of interest contained within the candidate cropped image as a function of its position within the candidate cropped image. A crop location can then be selected based upon the candidate cropped image having the largest output.
Abstract: A computing system can provide user interfaces and back-end operations to facilitate review and invalidation of executed jobs. The system can provide an interface that allows the operator to review quality-control information about a completed job. Once the operator identifies a job as invalid, the operator can be presented with further options, such as whether to invalidate only the reviewed job or the job and all its descendants. The operator can also review antecedent jobs to an invalid job (e.g., in order to trace the root of the problem) and can selectively invalidate antecedent jobs.
Abstract: A content management system defines a synchronization application programming interface (API) used by applications executing on client devices to synchronize content items after the content items are changed. Functions of the API specify changes to the content items in terms of semantically-meaningful locations within the content items, rather than physical file locations. The content management system can represent the state of a content item in terms of change descriptors that reference the semantic locations of the API. The content management system can then distribute the change descriptors to the client devices, which refer to the semantic locations of the change descriptors when determining how to reconcile changes made by other client devices.
Abstract: Embodiments are provided for managing shared content with a content management system. In some embodiments, a request is received for a history of content shares for an authenticated account, at least one content share is retrieved for the authenticated account, the at least one content share having at least one shared item and at least one recipient identifier, information on the at least one content share on a user interface is displayed, and a request is received to modify the at least one content share and updating the at least one content share in response to the request.
Abstract: Content items stored in an online content management service can be organized and shared. Content items can be associated with sharing profiles that include various sharing-specific metadata, such as details of how an item is shared or with whom it is shared. In some embodiments, the metadata stored in the sharing profiles can be used to organize shared content into shared folders automatically and/or to sort a list of content items.
Abstract: A reservation system associated with an app installed on a user device can be used to regulate access to network-based features of a primary software service offered by the app. Network-based features can include providing access to online content items. Regulating access to these features can prevent overloading the backend service components that provide the network-based features. Growing the user base in a controlled fashion can benefit the user experience. A waitlist with a countdown can be used for users that have installed the app, but who are not yet allowed access to the network-based features of the primary software service. A user interface can display a reservation status (e.g., how many people are in front of the user in line, how many people are behind the user in line, and the like). This can increase user anticipation of the app features and reduce user attrition.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 20, 2013
Publication date:
June 4, 2015
Applicant:
Dropbox, Inc.
Inventors:
George Milton Underwood, IV, Scott Cannon, Sean Beausoleil, Adam Cue, Darian Edwards, Steven Flory, Elizabeth Armistead, Elle Luna, Josh Elman
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:
August 25, 2011
Date of Patent:
June 2, 2015
Assignee:
Dropbox, Inc.
Inventors:
Arash Ferdowsi, Drew Houston, Jonathan Ying, Jeffrey Bartelma
Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generate and share metadata for indexing synchronized content items. A server generates metadata for indexing synchronized content items and manages sharing of the metadata with client devices in accordance with user preferences that may be embodied in metadata generation and sharing management rules. For example, a content item stored at the server has been designated to be synchronized across at least a first client. The server generates metadata for indexing the content item and sends the metadata to at least a second client.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 25, 2013
Publication date:
May 28, 2015
Applicant:
Dropbox, Inc.
Inventors:
Graham Abbott, Todd Dabney, George Milton Underwood, IV
Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a data storage system that facilitates efficiently recovering from storage device failures. Upon receiving a request to retrieve a data block from the data storage system, the system uses a hash that identifies the data block to look up a bucket and an associated cell containing the data block. Note that the bucket aggregates a large number of data blocks and is located in the associated cell that comprises a set of object storage devices (OSDs). Within the cell, the system uses the bucket to look up an OSD that contains the bucket in a local bucket database (BDB) for the cell. Within the OSD, the system uses the bucket and the hash to look up an offset and a length for the data block in a write-ahead log that stores data blocks for the bucket. Finally, the system returns the data block from the determined offset.
Abstract: Message management services for text messages can include converting, modifying, or copying a text message so as to create an email that a corresponds to the text message; adding a subject line to a corresponding email to facilitate grouping, threading, and searching; linking a corresponding email to the original text message to enable a text-message reply to a corresponding email; email-address-lookup services to enable an email reply to a corresponding email; and so on.
Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for managing and sharing picture files. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises providing a server platform and providing a datastore on the server platform for maintaining full resolution copies of the files shared between a plurality of sharing clients. A synchronization engine is provided on the server platform and is configured to send real-time updates to a plurality of sharing clients when at least one of the sharing clients updates or changes one of said files. A web interface may also be provided that allows a user to access files in the datastore through the use of a web browser.
Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system for managing replicated copies of data items in a storage system. During operation, the system obtains a current configuration of the storage system, wherein the current configuration specifies locations of replicated copies of data items. Next, the system analyzes the current configuration to identify possible movements of copies of data items among locations in the storage system. The system then assigns utilities to the identified movements, wherein a utility assigned to a movement reflects a change in reliability resulting from the movement. Finally, the system selects a utility-maximizing set of movements and performs the utility-maximizing set of movements to improve the reliability of the storage system.
Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates access to content. During operation, the system tracks a content item at an online content management system using an identifier for the content item. Next, the system uses the identifier to provide a link to the content item, wherein the link enables access to the content item from an electronic device independently of a location of the content item within the online content management system.
Abstract: Shareable links can be created to share content items and information pertaining to activity on those shareable links can be monitored and stored in an online content management service. Based on this activity information, predetermined actions can be executed. These actions can include sending notifications regarding link activity, disabling shareable links, and/or updating sharing limitations related to the shareable links. Using the activity information, popular shared content items can be identified and recommendations for sharing unshared content items can be provided to the user. Additionally, advertisements can be tailored to the relative popularity of the shared content items.
Abstract: Shareable links can be created to share content items and information pertaining to activity on those shareable links can be monitored and stored in an online content management service. Based on this activity information, actions can be executed. These actions can include sending notifications regarding link activity, disabling shareable links, and/or updating activity thresholds related to the shareable links. Using the activity information, popular shared content items can be identified and recommendations for sharing unshared content items can be provided to the user. Additionally, advertisements can be tailored to the relative popularity of the shared content items.