Display of a plurality of files from multiple devices
View Patent ↗In a synchronization or back-up system that synchronizes and/or back-ups files from multiple computing devices, the present invention provides a method for (1) displaying files from multiple computing devices in a multi-view user interface and (2) enabling content and file operations to be performed on such files through the user interface. The multi-view interface includes a file-system view and one or more media-specific views. In the file-system view files are organized in the same way in which they are organized on the devices on which they are stored. The file-system view in the interface looks essentially the same as the file-system view on client devices. In the file-system view, users can perform file operations on files. In the media-specific view files are organized by media category. In one embodiment of the media-specific view, files are organized by metadata that relates to the files content. In the media-specific view, users can perform content operations on the files.
1. A method comprising:
providing, on a first client device, a graphical user interface for enabling a user to interact with files synchronized between a synchronization server and a plurality of client devices, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:
a selectable file-system view icon corresponding to a storage location; and
a selectable media-specific view icon corresponding to a media-type;
in response to detecting a selection of the file-system view icon, providing, via the graphical user interface, a file-system view comprising a first plurality of file indicators corresponding to a first plurality of files stored on the storage location, wherein the first plurality of files comprises multiple types of files and the storage location is on a second client device;
enabling interaction with the first plurality of file indicators to allow a user to perform a file operation on one or more of the first plurality of files via the file-system view of the graphical user interface;
in response to detecting a selection of the media-specific view icon, providing, via the graphical user interface, a media-specific view comprising a second plurality of file indicators corresponding to a second plurality of files comprising only files of the media-type corresponding to the media-specific view, wherein the second plurality of files are located on a combination of the synchronization server and one or more of the plurality of client devices; and
enabling interaction with the second plurality of file indicators to allow a user to perform a file operation on one or more of the second plurality of files via the media-specific view of the graphical user interface.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media-type comprises one of: photographs, music, videos, or documents.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the file operation comprises one or more of deleting a file, copying a file, pasting a file, or moving a file.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the file-system view is displayed in a portion of the graphical user interface.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media-specific view is displayed in a portion of the graphical user interface.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of file indicators displayed in the media-specific view are organized by artist or album regardless of a corresponding client device from the plurality of client devices on which the files from the first plurality of files are stored.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the file operation comprises sharing a file with another user.
8. A system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
provide on a first client device, a graphical user Interface for enabling a user to interact
with files synchronized between a synchronization server and a plurality of client devices, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:
a selectable file-system view icon corresponding to a storage location; and
a selectable media-specific view icon corresponding to a media-type; in response to detecting a selection of the file-system view icon, provide, via the graphical user interface, a file-system view comprising a first plurality of file indicators corresponding to a first plurality of files stored on the storage location, wherein the first plurality of files comprises
multiple types of files and the storage location is on a second client device:
enable interaction with the first plurality of file indicators to allow a user to perform a file operation on one or more of the first plurality of files via the file-system view of the graphical user interface;
in response to detecting a selection of the media-specific view icon, provide, via the graphical user interface, a media-specific view comprising a second plurality of file indicators corresponding to a second plurality of files comprising only files of the media-type corresponding to the media-specific view, wherein the second plurality of files are located on a combination of the synchronization server and one or more of the plurality of client devices; and
enable interaction with the second plurality of file indicators to allow a user to perform a file operation on one or more of the second plurality of files via the media-specific view of the graphical user interface.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the media-type comprises one of: photographs, music, videos, or documents.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the file operation comprises one or more of deleting a file, copying a file, pasting a file, or moving a file.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the file-system view is displayed in a portion of the graphical user interface.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the media-specific view is displayed in a portion of the graphical user interface.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second plurality of file indicators displayed in the media-specific view are organized by artist or album and regardless of a corresponding client device from the plurality of client devices on which the files from the first plurality of files are stored.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the file operation comprises sharing a file with another user.
15. A computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to:
provide, on a first client device, a graphical user interface for enabling a user to interact
with files synchronized between a synchronization server and a plurality of client devices, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:
a selectable file-system view icon corresponding to a storage location; and
a selectable media-specific view icon corresponding to a media-type; in response to detecting a selection of the file-system view icon, provide, via the graphical user interface, a file-system view comprising a first plurality of file indicators corresponding to a first plurality of files stored on the storage location, wherein the first plurality of files comprises
multiple types of files and the storage location is on a second client device;
enable interactions with the first plurality of file indicators to allow a user to perform a file operation on one or more of the first plurality of files via the file-system view of the graphical user interface;
in response to detecting a selection of the media-specific view icon, provide, via the graphical user interface, a media-specific view comprising a second plurality of file indicators corresponding to a second plurality of files comprising only files of the media-type corresponding to the media-specific view, wherein the second plurality of files are located on a combination of the synchronization server and one or more of the plurality of client devices; and
enable interactions with the second plurality of file indicators to allow a user to perform a file operation on one or more of the second plurality of files via the media-specific view of the graphical user interface.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the media-type comprises one of: photographs, music, videos, or documents.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the file operation comprises one or more of deleting a file, copying a file, pasting a file, or moving a file.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the file-system view is displayed in a portion of the graphical user interface.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the media-specific view is displayed in a portion of the graphical user interface.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the file operation comprises sharing a file with another user.