Systems and methods to enable users to interact with remotely managed documents with a single interaction using locally stored documents
A system and method that enables editing capabilities of content accessed from a content management server using any type of locally-installed application is provided. In some embodiments, a content management server stores documents in a cache on the user's computer. Documents can thus be accessed and edited using the document in the local file system of the user. For example, users may open, reserve or lock, download, and edit documents with a single user action such as a click. Advantageously, the teachings of embodiments as described can be used in conjunction with content management systems for improving the user experiences involved in editing documents by providing an ‘instant’ and ‘seamless’ editing experience substantially equivalent to editing files on a local hard disk.
1. A content management system, comprising:
a processor;
a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions for:
a content management server browser interface adapted to enable users to access documents managed by a content management server and present hyperlinks for documents managed by the content management server;
a sync agent deployed on a client computing device coupled over a network to the content management server, wherein the client computing device includes a file system and a local document cache associated with the content management system in the file system of the client computing device, the local cache comprising a first local cache associated with only a first user and a second local cache associated with only a second user, wherein the sync agent, in response to a user action on the client computing device by the first user relative to one of the hyperlinks referencing a selected document in the content management sever browser interface, is adapted to: automatically download the selected document stored at the content management server and automatically store the selected document in the first local cache associated with the content management system when the document is not resident in the first local cache, maintain synchronicity between the selected document at the content management server synchronized with the selected document in the first local cache, and wherein the sync agent is adapted to: maintain synchronicity between documents in the second local cache and associated documents at the content management server as the second user interacts with the client computing device; and
an edit client controller of the content management system deployed on the client computing device and coupled to the sync agent, wherein the edit client controller, in response to the user action relative to one of the hyperlinks referencing the selected document, is adapted to interact with an editing application to allow the first user to edit the selected document stored in the first local cache.
2. The content management system of claim 1 , wherein the location of the local document cache is configurable by a user.
3. The content management system of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization of the selected documents in the local document cache with the selected document as the content management server is done asynchronously to the editing of the selected document in the editing application.
4. The content management system of claim 1 , wherein the editing application is browser based.
5. The content management system of claim 1 , wherein the selected document is locked at the content management server when it is being edited in the editing application.
6. The content management system of claim 5 , wherein the selected document is automatically unlocked at the content management server when the editing application is closed.
7. The content management system of claim 1 , wherein the content management server browser interface comprises the sync agent and the edit client controller.
8. A method, comprising:
providing a content management server browser interface adapted to enable users to access documents managed by a content management server and present hyperlinks for documents managed by the content management server;
providing a sync agent deployed on a client computing device coupled over a network to the content management server, wherein the client computing device includes a file system and a local document cache associated with the content management system in the file system of the client computing device, the local cache comprising a first local cache associated with only a first user and a second local cache associated with only a second user, wherein the sync agent, in response to a user action on the client computing device by the first user relative to one of the hyperlinks referencing a selected document in the content management sever browser interface, is adapted to: automatically download the selected document stored at the content management server and automatically store the selected document in the first local cache associated with the content management system when the document is not resident in the first local cache, maintain synchronicity between the selected document at the content management server synchronized with the selected document in the first local cache, and wherein the sync agent is adapted to: maintain synchronicity between documents in the second local cache and associated documents at the content management server as the second user interacts with the client computing device; and
providing an edit client controller of the content management system deployed on the client computing device and coupled to the sync agent, wherein the edit client controller, in response to the user action relative to one of the hyperlinks referencing the selected document, is adapted to interact with an editing application to allow the first user to edit the selected document stored in the first local cache.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the location of the local document cache is configurable by a user.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the synchronization of the selected documents in the local document cache with the selected document as the content management server is done asynchronously to the editing of the selected document in the editing application.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the editing application is browser based.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the selected document is locked at the content management server when it is being edited in the editing application.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the selected document is automatically unlocked at the content management server when the editing application is closed.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the content management server browser interface comprises the sync agent and the edit client controller.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions for:
a content management server browser interface adapted to enable users to access documents managed by a content management server and present hyperlinks for documents managed by the content management server;
a sync agent deployed on a client computing device coupled over a network to the content management server, wherein the client computing device includes a file system and a local document cache associated with the content management system in the file system of the client computing device, the local cache comprising a first local cache associated with only a first user and a second local cache associated with only a second user, wherein the sync agent, in response to a user action on the client computing device by the first user relative to one of the hyperlinks referencing a selected document in the content management sever browser interface, is adapted to: automatically download the selected document stored at the content management server and automatically store the selected document in the first local cache associated with the content management system when the document is not resident in the first local cache, maintain synchronicity between the selected document at the content management server synchronized with the selected document in the first local cache, and wherein the sync agent is adapted to: maintain synchronicity between documents in the second local cache and associated documents at the content management server as the second user interacts with the client computing device; and
an edit client controller of the content management system deployed on the client computing device and coupled to the sync agent, wherein the edit client controller, in response to the user action relative to one of the hyperlinks referencing the selected document, is adapted to interact with an editing application to allow the first user to edit the selected document stored in the first local cache.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the location of the local document cache is configurable by a user.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium method of claim 15 , wherein the synchronization of the selected documents in the local document cache with the selected document as the content management server is done asynchronously to the editing of the selected document in the editing application.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the editing application is browser based.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the selected document is locked at the content management server when it is being edited in the editing application.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the selected document is automatically unlocked at the content management server when the editing application is closed.
21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the content management server browser interface comprises the sync agent and the edit client controller.