IP Library › Granted Patent US 12699675
Granted Patent B2
US 12699675 · App. 18/621,422 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Managed folders

Inventors: Raj Fernando (Chicago, IL); Anatoliy Yudovich (Riverwoods, IL); Michael Barry (Chicago, IL); Nicholas Stech (Chicago, IL); Harris Dinga (Chicago, IL)
Assignee: WORKSTORM.COM, LLC
G06F16/168H04L51/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12699675
App. No.
18/621,422
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for managing folders. An embodiment includes a database and a messaging server. The messaging server generates a folder management graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a plurality of input fields for receiving commands. The messaging server and the folder management GUI receive a command from a global matter administrator to create a matter folder and permissions specifying which role a user must have to access the matter folder. The matter folder may carry at least one file and chat channel. In response to the command, the messaging server generates the matter folder in the database. The messaging server controls access to the matter folder as specified in the permissions such that the user is able to view or modify the at least one file and chat channel only if the user has a role allowed within the permissions.

Claims (48)

1 . A computer-implemented method for managing folders, comprising:

generating, by a messaging server, a folder management graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a plurality of input fields for receiving commands;

receiving, by the messaging server and via the folder management GUI, a command from a global matter administrator to create a matter folder and permissions specifying which role a user must have to access the matter folder, the matter folder being configured to carry at least one file and chat channel;

in response to the command, generating, by the messaging server in a database, the matter folder;

controlling access to the matter folder as specified in the permissions such that the user is able to view or modify the at least one file and chat channel only if the user has a role allowed within the permissions;

storing characteristics of the matter folder in the database as a matter template specifying one or more chat channels and one or more users and their corresponding permissions associated with a type of matter;

receiving, by the messaging server and via the folder management GUI, a command from a user having administrative permissions to create a subsequent matter folder based on the matter template; and

in response to the command, generating, by the messaging server in the database, the subsequent matter folder having the one or more chat channels and the one or more users and their corresponding permissions associated with the type of matter.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein access to the matter folder comprises at least one of read-only permissions of the at least one file and chat channel, permissions to edit content of the at least one file and chat channel, or administrative permissions to edit permissions for other users in the matter folder.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the command from the global matter administrator comprises at least one of naming the matter folder, designating users having administrative permissions, or removing users having administrative permissions.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises permitting a user having administrative permissions to create any number of chat channels, delete any number of chat channels, assign users to any chat channel, remove users from any chat channel, enable use of chat channels, or disable use of chat channels within the matter folder.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 ,

wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises preventing the global matter administrator from viewing or modifying the at least one file and chat channel based on permissions for the global matter administrator.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 ,

wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises generating a workspace graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a user-specified layout of a file view and a chat channel view corresponding to the at least one file and chat channel in the matter folder to which the user has the role allowed within the permissions.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises permitting a user having compliance permissions to view the at least one file and chat channel in a read-only format, set a data retention policy for the at least one file and chat channel, or set a legal hold requirement for the at least one file and chat channel.

8 . A system, comprising:

a database; and

a messaging server configured to:

generate, by the messaging server, a folder management graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a plurality of input fields for receiving commands;

receive, by the messaging server and via the folder management GUI, a command from a global matter administrator to create a matter folder and permissions specifying which role a user must have to access the matter folder, the matter folder being configured to carry at least one file and chat channel;

in response to the command, generate, by the messaging server in the database, the matter folder;

control access to the matter folder as specified in the permissions such that the user is able to view or modify the at least one file and chat channel only if the user has a role allowed within the permissions;

store characteristics of the matter folder in the database as a matter template specifying one or more chat channels and one or more users and their corresponding permissions associated with a type of matter;

receive, by the messaging server and via the folder management GUI, a command from a user having administrative permissions to create a subsequent matter folder based on the matter template; and

in response to the command, generate, by the messaging server in the database, the subsequent matter folder having the one or more chat channels and the one or more users and their corresponding permissions associated with the type of matter.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein access to the matter folder comprises at least one of read-only permissions of the at least one file and chat channel, permissions to edit content of the at least one file and chat channel, or administrative permissions to edit permissions for other users in the matter folder.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the receiving the command from the global matter administrator comprises at least one of naming the matter folder, designating users having administrative permissions, or removing users having administrative permissions.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises permitting a user having administrative permissions to create any number of chat channels, delete any number of chat channels, assign users to any chat channel, remove users from any chat channel, enable use of chat channels, or disable use of chat channels within the matter folder.

12 . The system of claim 8 ,

wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises preventing the global matter administrator from viewing or modifying the at least one file and chat channel based on permissions for the global matter administrator.

13 . The system of claim 8 ,

wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises generating a workspace graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a user-specified layout of a file view and a chat channel view corresponding to the at least one file and chat channel in the matter folder to which the user has the role allowed within the permissions.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises permitting a user having compliance permissions to view the at least one file and chat channel in a read-only format, set a data retention policy for the at least one file and chat channel, or set a legal hold requirement for the at least one file and chat channel.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, causes the at least one computing device to perform operations comprising:

generating, by a messaging server, a folder management graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a plurality of input fields for receiving commands;

receiving, by the messaging server and via the folder management GUI, a command from a global matter administrator to create a matter folder and permissions specifying which role a user must have to access the matter folder, the matter folder being configured to carry at least one file and chat channel;

in response to the command, generating, by the messaging server in a database, the matter folder;

controlling access to the matter folder as specified in the permissions such that the user is able to view or modify the at least one file and chat channel only if the user has a role allowed within the permissions;

storing characteristics of the matter folder in the database as a matter template specifying one or more chat channels and one or more users and their corresponding permissions associated with a type of matter;

receiving, by the messaging server and via the folder management GUI, a command from a user having administrative permissions to create a subsequent matter folder based on the matter template; and

in response to the command, generating, by the messaging server in the database, the subsequent matter folder having the one or more chat channels and the one or more users and their corresponding permissions associated with the type of matter.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 15 , wherein access to the matter folder comprises at least one of read-only permissions of the at least one file and chat channel, permissions to edit content of the at least one file and chat channel, or administrative permissions to edit permissions for other users in the matter folder.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 15 , wherein the receiving the command from the global matter administrator comprises at least one of naming the matter folder, designating users having administrative permissions, or removing users having administrative permissions.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 15 , wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises permitting a user having administrative permissions to create any number of chat channels, delete any number of chat channels, assign users to any chat channel, remove users from any chat channel, enable use of chat channels, or disable use of chat channels within the matter folder.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 15 ,

wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises preventing the global matter administrator from viewing or modifying the at least one file and chat channel based on permissions for the global matter administrator.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 15 , wherein the controlling access to the matter folder comprises permitting a user having compliance permissions to view the at least one file and chat channel in a read-only format, set a data retention policy for the at least one file and chat channel, or set a legal hold requirement for the at least one file and chat channel.