File access with different file hosts

Abstract

A file access request is received from an application. One or more file types for the file access request are identified, and one or more file hosts supporting files of the identified one or more file types are also identified. A user interface is displayed, the user interface including a hosted area. Within the hosted area, at least one of the one or more file hosts displays a portion of the user interface identifying one or more files of at least one file host that can be selected for retrieval, or one or more locations that can be selected to which the one or more files are saved.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computing device comprising a processor and a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions causing the processor to perform operations comprising:
 invoking, by an application running on the computing device, an application programming interface (API) to request access to files stored by a remote service provider, wherein the request to access files via the API comprises:
 identification of a file type of files for which access is requested; 
   displaying a user interface including a hosted area, wherein the hosted area presents user interface elements for files stored by the remote service provider that match the request, wherein the remote service provider is restricted to displaying the user interface elements for the files within the hosted area;   selecting, via the hosted area of the displayed user interface, one or more of the displayed files stored by the remote service provider that match the request; and   retrieving, via the API, the one or more selected files.   
     
     
         22 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the remote service provider is a photo management service. 
     
     
         23 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the files displayed in the user interface are image files. 
     
     
         24 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the API supports selecting a file type of video files and a file type of image files for the identification of the file type of files for which access is requested. 
     
     
         25 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the application is unaware of a data model used by the remote service provider. 
     
     
         26 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the hosted area presents user interface elements for navigating groupings of files. 
     
     
         27 . The computing device of  claim 21 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a location for saving the retrieved one or more selected files.   
     
     
         28 . The computing device of  claim 21 , the operations further comprising:
 invoking, by an application running on the computing device, the API to provide a user input, wherein the user input provides information regarding one or more other files stored by the remote service provider.   
     
     
         29 . A method, implemented by a computing device, the method comprising:
 invoking, by an application running on the computing device, an application programming interface (API) to request access to files stored by a remote service provider, wherein the request to access files via the API comprises:
 identification of a file type of files for which access is requested; 
   displaying a user interface including a hosted area, wherein the hosted area presents user interface elements for files stored by the remote service provider that match the request, wherein the remote service provider is restricted to displaying the user interface elements for the files within the hosted area;   selecting, via the hosted area of the displayed user interface, one or more of the displayed files stored by the remote service provider that match the request; and   retrieving, via the API, the one or more selected files.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the remote service provider is a photo management service. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the files displayed in the user interface are image files. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the API supports selecting a file type of video files and a file type of image files for the identification of the file type of files for which access is requested. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the hosted area presents user interface elements for navigating groupings of files. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , the operations further comprising:
 invoking, by an application running on the computing device, the API to provide a user input, wherein the user input provides information regarding one or more other files stored by the remote service provider.   
     
     
         35 . A method, implemented by a computing device, the method comprising:
 receiving, via an application programming interface (API), a file access request, wherein the file access request is received from an application running on the computing device, wherein the file access request is a request to access files stored by a remote service provider, and wherein the file access request comprises:
 identification of a file type of files for which access is requested; 
   displaying a user interface including a hosted area, wherein the hosted area presents user interface elements for files stored by the remote service provider that match the request, wherein the remote service provider is restricted to displaying the user interface elements for the files within the hosted area;   receiving a selection, via the hosted area of the displayed user interface, of one or more of the displayed files stored by the remote service provider that match the request; and   providing, via the API, the one or more selected files to the application.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the remote service provider is a photo management service. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the files displayed in the user interface are image files. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the API supports selecting a file type of video files and a file type of image files for the identification of the file type of files for which access is requested. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the hosted area presents user interface elements for navigating groupings of files. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving, via the API, a user input that provides information regarding one or more other files stored by the remote service provider.