IP Library Granted Patent US 12,368,651
Granted Patent B2
US 12,368,651 · App. 18/643,825 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

User interface for managing and viewing synchronization settings in a synchronization system

Inventor: Domingo A Mihovilovic (Menlo Park, CA)
Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
H04L41/22G06F3/04817G06F3/0482G06F3/04847G06F16/178
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,368,651
App. No.
18/643,825
Granted
Jul 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a synchronization system, the present invention provides an improved user interface through which a user can view and manage settings associated with the user's account in the synchronization system. In the preferred embodiment, a column is displayed for each electronic device associated with the user's account in the synchronization system. In each column is a visual representation of items (e.g., folders) that are (1) backed up, remotely accessible and/or synchronized in the synchronization system and (2) located on the electronic device associated with such column. For each item that is synchronized across multiple devices, all the visual representations of such item in the columns are aligned across a single row in the interface. In the preferred embodiment, there is an arrow, or other visual indicator, between the visual representations of such items to indicate that the items are synchronized.

Claims (73)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

maintaining, on a synchronization system, a user account associated with a first user device and a second user device;

storing, on one or more servers of the synchronization system, a plurality of content items associated with the user account;

based on synchronization settings associated with the user account:

providing, by the synchronization system, a first content item from the plurality of content items to the first user device associated with the user account; and

refraining from providing the first content item from the plurality of content items to the second user device associated with the user account;

providing, for presentation on the second user device, a graphical user interface comprising a listing of the plurality of content items associated with the user account, the listing including a visual indication that the first content item is not stored locally on the second user device while being accessible to the second user device via the one or more servers; and

providing, in response to detecting a user interaction associated with the first content item on the second user device, the first content item from the one or more servers to the second user device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from the first user device, a request to add an additional content item to the user account; and

adding the additional content item to the user account without synchronizing the additional content item with the second user device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from the first user device, a request to add an additional content item to the user account; and

synchronizing the additional content item with the second user device based on adding the additional content item to the user account.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting the user interaction associated with the first content item on the second user device by receiving, from the second user device, an indication of an interaction with a selectable sync option corresponding to the first content item; and

providing the first content item to the second user device based on receiving the indication of the interaction with the selectable sync option.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving, from the first user device, an indication of an interaction with a selectable unsync option corresponding to the first content item; and

removing the first content item from the first user device based on receiving the indication of the interaction with the selectable unsync option.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating a third user device with the user account based on receiving a request to add the third user device with the user account;

providing a first set of content items from the plurality of content items to the third user device; and

refraining from providing a second set of content items from the plurality of content items to the third user device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, for display on the second user device, an indication of the first content item while refraining from providing the first content item to the second user device.

8. A system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

maintain, on a synchronization system, a user account associated with a first user device and a second user device;

store, on one or more servers of the synchronization system, a plurality of content items associated with the user account;

based on synchronization settings associated with the user account:

provide, by the synchronization system, a first content item from the plurality of content items to the first user device associated with the user account; and

refrain from providing the first content item from the plurality of content items to the second user device associated with the user account;

provide, for presentation on the second user device, a graphical user interface comprising a listing of the plurality of content items associated with the user account, the listing including a visual indication that the first content item is not stored locally on the second user device while being accessible to the second user device via the one or more servers; and

provide, in response to detecting a user interaction associated with the first content item on the second user device, the first content item from the one or more servers to the second user device.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive, from the first user device, a request to add an additional content item to the user account; and

store, on the one or more servers of the synchronization system, the additional content item without synchronizing the additional content item with the second user device.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive, from the first user device, a request to add an additional content item to the user account; and

provide the additional content item with the second user device based on adding the additional content item to the user account.

11. The system of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

detect the user interaction associated with the first content item on the second user device by receiving, from the second user device, an indication of an interaction with a selectable sync option corresponding to the first content item; and

provide the first content item to the second user device based on receiving the indication of the interaction with the selectable sync option.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive, from the first user device, an indication of an interaction with a selectable unsync option corresponding to the first content item; and

remove the first content item from the first user device based on receiving the indication of the interaction with the selectable unsync option.

13. The system of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

associate a third user device with the user account based on receiving a request to add the third user device with the user account;

provide a first set of content items from the plurality of content items to the third user device; and

refrain from providing a second set of content items from the plurality of content items to the third user device.

14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to provide, for display on the second user device, an indication of the first content item stored on the one or more servers while refraining from providing the first content item to the second user device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to:

maintain, on a synchronization system, a user account associated with a first user device and a second user device;

store, on one or more servers of the synchronization system, a plurality of content items associated with the user account;

based on synchronization settings associated with the user account:

provide, by the synchronization system, a first content item from the plurality of content items to the first user device associated with the user account; and

refrain from providing the first content item from the plurality of content items to the second user device associated with the user account;

provide, for presentation on the second user device, a graphical user interface comprising a listing of the plurality of content items associated with the user account, the listing including a visual indication that the first content item is not stored locally on the second user device while being accessible to the second user device via the one or more servers; and

provide, in response to detecting a user interaction associated with the first content item on the second user device, the first content item from the one or more servers to the second user device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to:

receive, from the first user device, a request to add an additional content item to the user account; and

store, on the one or more servers of the synchronization system, the additional content item without synchronizing the additional content item with the second user device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to:

receive, from the first user device, a request to add an additional content item to the user account; and

provide the additional content item with the second user device based on adding the additional content item to the user account.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to:

detect the user interaction associated with the first content item on the second user device by receiving, from the second user device, an indication of an interaction with a selectable sync option corresponding to the first content item; and

provide the first content item to the second user device based on receiving the indication of the interaction with the selectable sync option.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to:

receive, from the first user device, an indication of an interaction with a selectable unsync option corresponding to the first content item; and

remove the first content item from the first user device based on receiving the indication of the interaction with the selectable unsync option.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to provide, for display on the second user device, an indication of the first content item stored on the one or more servers while refraining from providing the first content item to the second user device.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2024
From: DROPBOX, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069604/0611 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2024
From: SUGARSYNC, INC.
To: DROPBOX, INC.
Reel/Frame 069074/0578 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2024
From: MIHOVILOVIC, DOMINGO A.
To: SUGARSYNC, INC.
Reel/Frame 068737/0650 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 18049222 · Oct 24, 2022
Continuation 17177982 · Feb 17, 2021
Continuation 16917653 · Jun 30, 2020
Continuation 15991895 · May 29, 2018
Continuation 14871967 · Sep 30, 2015
Continuation 14175256 · Feb 7, 2014
Continuation 12799832 · May 3, 2010
Provisional Application 61215396 · May 4, 2009
Related Publication 20240275693A1 · Aug 15, 2024
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