Method and apparatus for managing files in an online account

Abstract

An approach is provided for managing files in an online account. A file access platform causes, at least in part, retrieval of a file associated with a first communication stored in an online account. Next, the file access platform determines whether the file is modified after the retrieval and generates a second communication including a modified version of the file based, at least in part, on the determination. Then, the file access platform causes, at least in part, transmission of the second communication including the modified version to the online account.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 retrieving by at least one authorized device a file associated with at least one communication, a metadata associated with the file, or a combination thereof stored in an online account;   accessing and modifying the retrieved file by at least one application in the at least one authorized device; and   synchronizing the modified retrieved file in the at least one authorized device with the corresponding file in the online account based, at least in part, on the metadata.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronizing further comprising:
 saving the modified retrieved file as a new version of the file in the online account.   
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 presenting the new version of the file in a user interface of the at least one other device,   wherein older versions of the file are available in a hidden window of the user interface.   
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronizing of the modified retrieved file occurs automatically, periodically, on user requests, upon closing the modified retrieved file, upon saving the modified retrieved file, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 4 , wherein the synchronizing on the user requests further comprising:
 presenting an option for the synchronizing of the modified retrieved file in a user interface of the at least one authorized device;   determining a selection of the option for the synchronizing of the modified retrieved file; and   synchronizing the modified retrieved file based, at least in part, on the selection.   
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one application in the at least one authorized device comprises a synchronization feature, and wherein a cloud-to-local application in the at least one authorized device is used for the accessing of the file and the synchronizing of the modified retrieved file. 
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 tracking the one or more modifications to the retrieved file, a predetermined number of previous modifications to the retrieved file, or a combination thereof; and   saving the modified retrieved file, the previously modified retrieved file, the corresponding file, or a combination thereof in a single communication thread.   
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing, access to the retrieved file based, at least in part, on pre-set conditions, wherein the pre-set conditions classifies the retrieved file as an exclusive file or a non-exclusive file, and wherein the exclusive file is accessible by an authorized user of an account, and the non-exclusive file is accessible by one or more authorized users.   
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing access to the non-exclusive file to at least one other user by the one or more authorized users, a proprietor of the tile, or a combination thereof   
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata includes online account information, authentication credentials, authentication tokens, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
 retrieve by at least one authorized device a file associated with at least one communication, a metadata associated with the file, or a combination thereof stored in an online account; 
 access and modifying the retrieved file by at least one application in the at least one authorized device; and 
 synchronize the modified retrieved file in the at least one authorized device with the corresponding file in the online account based, at least in part, on the metadata. 
   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the synchronizing further comprises the apparatus to further caused to:
 save the modified retrieved file as a new version of the file in the online account.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 present the new version of the file in a user interface of the at least one other device, wherein older versions of the file are available in a hidden window of the user interface.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the synchronizing of the modified retrieved file occurs automatically, periodically, on user requests, upon closing the modified retrieved file, upon saving the modified retrieved file, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the synchronizing on the user requests further comprises the apparatus to further caused to:
 present an option for the synchronizing of the modified retrieved file in a user interface of the at least one authorized device;   determine a selection of the option for the synchronizing of the modified retrieved file; and   synchronize the modified retrieved file based, at least in part, on the selection.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 track the one or more modifications to the retrieved file, a predetermined number of previous modifications to the retrieved file, or a combination thereof; and   save the modified retrieved file, the previously modified retrieved file, the corresponding file, or a combination thereof in a single communication thread.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 provide access to the retrieved file based, at least in part, on pre-set conditions, wherein the pre-set conditions classifies the retrieved file as an exclusive file or a non-exclusive file, and wherein the exclusive file is accessible by an authorized user of an account, and the non-exclusive file is accessible by one or more authorized users.   
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:
 retrieving by at least one authorized device a file associated with at least one communication, a metadata associated with the file, or a combination thereof stored in an online account;   accessing and modifying the retrieved file by at least one application in the at least one authorized device; and   synchronizing the modified retrieved file in the at least one authorized device with the corresponding file in the online account based, at least in part, on the metadata.   
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the synchronizing further comprises the apparatus to further caused to perform:
 saving the modified retrieved file as a new version of the file in the online account.   
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 presenting the new version of the file in a user interface of the at least one other device,   wherein older versions of the file are available in a hidden window of the user interface.