Techniques for Managing Persistent Document Collections

Abstract

Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for creating and managing persistent document collections. A data store is used for storing one or more persistent document collections. A content management application is used for managing documents for users, for creating one or more persistent document collections of a sub-set of the documents upon user request, and for storing the one or more persistent document collections in the data store. Users can create one or more persistent document collections from a sub-set of the documents. Users can also modify the one or more persistent document collections. A requested portion of one or more persistent document collections can be output upon request from an external application so that the external application can download one or more of the documents that are represented by the persistent document collection for further modification by the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A data processing system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the data processing system to perform functions of:
 managing documents for a plurality of users; 
 receiving user input from a client-side web browser associated with one of the plurality of users; 
 creating a persistent document collection upon receiving the user input from the client-side web browser, the persistent document collection comprising one or more documents; 
 assigning a first attribute to the persistent document collection, the first attribute specifying an external application that can access the persistent document; 
 assigning a second attribute to the persistent document collection, the second attribute specifying an amount of disk space to allocate to the persistent document collection; and 
 storing the one or more persistent document collections in the memory, in storage space allocated to the one or more persistent document collections; 
 wherein the persistent document collection enables one of the plurality of users to access the one or more documents. 
   
     
     
         2 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the device to perform functions of:
 receiving a request from the external application for information regarding a portion of the persistent document collection; and   in response to the request from the external application, retrieving the information from the memory and providing the information to the external application.   
     
     
         3 . The data processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the information that is provided to the external application is used by the external application to allow management of the portion of the persistent document collection. 
     
     
         4 . The data processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the device to perform functions of:
 in response to the request from the external application, enabling downloading of one or more documents in the portion of the persistent document collection by the external application.   
     
     
         5 . The data processing system of  claim 4 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the device to perform functions of:
 enabling modifying of the one or more documents in the portion of the persistent document collection by the external application.   
     
     
         6 . The data processing system of  claim 5 , wherein modifying of the one or more documents includes removing a first document from the portion of the persistent document collection or updating a second document using a revised version of the second document, the revised version of the second document belonging to the persistent document collection. 
     
     
         7 . The data processing system of  claim 6 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the device to perform functions of:
 synchronizing one or more documents represented by the portion of the persistent document collection with the one or more documents downloaded to a computer by the external application.   
     
     
         8 . A method for creating and managing persistent document collections, the method comprising:
 managing documents for a plurality of users;   receiving user input from a client-side web browser associated with one of the plurality of users;   creating a persistent document collection upon receiving the user input from the client-side web browser, the persistent document collection comprising one or more documents;   assigning a first attribute to the persistent document collection, the first attribute specifying an external application that can access the persistent document;   assigning a second attribute to the persistent document collection, the second attribute specifying an amount of disk space to allocate to the persistent document collection; and   storing the one or more persistent document collections in the memory, in storage space allocated to the one or more persistent document collections;   wherein the persistent document collection enables one of the plurality of users to access the one or more documents.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from the external application for information regarding a portion of the persistent document collection; and   in response to the request from the external application, retrieving the information from the memory and providing the information to the external application.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the information that is provided to the external application is used by the external application to allow management of the portion of the persistent document collection. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 in response to the request from the external application, enabling downloading of one or more documents in the portion of the persistent document collection by the external application.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 enabling modifying of the one or more documents in the portion of the persistent document collection by the external application.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein modifying of the one or more documents includes removing a first document from the portion of the persistent document collection or updating a second document using a revised version of the second document, the revised version of the second document belonging to the persistent document collection. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium on which are stored instructions that, when executed, cause a programmable device to:
 manage documents for a plurality of users;   receive user input from a client-side web browser associated with one of the plurality of users;   create a persistent document collection upon receiving the user input from the client-side web browser, the persistent document collection comprising one or more documents;   assign a first attribute to the persistent document collection, the first attribute specifying an external application that can access the persistent document;   assign a second attribute to the persistent document collection, the second attribute specifying an amount of disk space to allocate to the persistent document collection; and   store the one or more persistent document collections in the memory, in storage space allocated to the one or more persistent document collections;   wherein the persistent document collection enables one of the plurality of users to access the one or more documents.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the programmable device to:
 receive a request from the external application for information regarding a portion of the persistent document collection; and   in response to the request from the external application, retrieve the information from the memory and providing the information to the external application.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the information that is provided to the external application is used by the external application to allow management of the portion of the persistent document collection. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the programmable device to:
 in response to the request from the external application, enabling downloading of one or more documents in the portion of the persistent document collection by the external application.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the programmable device to:
 enabling modifying of the one or more documents in the portion of the persistent document collection by the external application.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein modifying of the one or more documents includes removing a first document from the portion of the persistent document collection or updating a second document using a revised version of the second document, the revised version of the second document belonging to the persistent document collection. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the programmable device to:
 synchronizing one or more documents represented by the portion of the persistent document collection with the one or more documents downloaded to a computer by the external application.