{
  "patent_number": "US 10402375",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Operating Systems Display Cloud File Status Icons",
  "original_title": "Cloud content states framework",
  "summary": "A system for Windows or other operating systems to show synchronization status icons for files stored in various cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a software framework that acts as a middleman between your computer's file explorer and various cloud storage services. It manages two types of status icons: primary states (like 'synced,' 'downloading,' or 'error') and custom states defined by specific cloud providers (like 'shared' or 'locked'). The framework identifies available display slots next to a file name in your file explorer, prioritizes the primary synchronization icons, and then fills the remaining slots with the custom icons. This ensures that no matter which cloud service you use, the file explorer displays a consistent set of status indicators.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover the actual file synchronization process itself (the uploading or downloading of bits).",
    "Does not cover cloud storage services that do not integrate with the operating system's file explorer.",
    "Does not cover the underlying network protocols used to communicate with cloud servers.",
    "Does not cover non-visual methods of indicating file status, such as audio alerts or haptic feedback."
  ],
  "filed": "2016-07-18",
  "granted": "2019-09-03",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/microsoft-technology-licensing-llc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Mohammed Amirali Samji",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/mohammed-amirali-samji"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aaron Naoyoshi Sheung Yan Woo",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/aaron-naoyoshi-sheung-yan-woo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Raju Jain",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/raju-jain"
    },
    {
      "name": "John H. Lueders",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/john-h-lueders"
    },
    {
      "name": "Robert P. St. Pierre",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/robert-p-st-pierre"
    },
    {
      "name": "Elizabeth P. Salowitz",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/elizabeth-p-salowitz"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anshul Rawat",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/anshul-rawat"
    },
    {
      "name": "David Ben Perry",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/david-ben-perry"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 4,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "A cloud content states framework is described herein. In implementations, a framework is configured to perform operations for management of cloud content files at the computing device on behalf of cloud storage providers. The framework is operable to manage states for cloud content files accessible from multiple cloud storage services. The framework also manages and outputs state indicators with file system representations of the cloud content files. The states include at least a set of primary states indicative of synchronization status controlled by the framework. The states may also include custom states associated with cloud storage services that are defined via an interface exposed by the framework. In operation, states associated with cloud content files are recognized in connection with rendering a user interface with cloud content file representations. Then, state indicators that reflect the recognized states are exposed along with cloud content file representations in the user interface.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10402375/microsoft-365-subscription",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10402375/microsoft-365-subscription/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10402375",
  "relatedPatents": []
}