Group-based communication interface with subsidiary channel-based thread communications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11206231-B2
Application number	US-201715730044-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2017
Priority date	Aug 18, 2017
Publication date	Dec 21, 2021
Grant date	Dec 21, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a group-based communication interface configured to allow members of the interface to communicate within group-based communication channels. The group-based communication interface is configured to relegate selected group-based messaging communications to a separate display pane, where additional messaging communications can be received, thereby maintaining a focused selected group-based communication channel. The selected group-based communication channel is updated to indicate that the selected group-based messaging communications was relegated to a separate display pane, informing the channel members while also allowing the channel members to access the separate display pane if desired. Accordingly, the selected group-based communication interface provides for efficient and focused group-based communications.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for generating a group-based communication interface within a defined display window of a user client device, the group-based communication interface defining a channel list pane comprising a plurality of group-based communication channels and a channel messaging pane, the apparatus comprising at least a processor, and a memory associated with the processor having computer coded instructions therein, with the computer coded instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive a first messaging communication associated with a selected group-based communication channel of the plurality of group-based communication channels, the selected group-based communication channel comprising a plurality of messaging communications;
cause the first messaging communication to be rendered within the channel messaging pane;
receive, from the user client device, a thread request to create a subsidiary channel-based thread communication, wherein the thread request is associated with the first messaging communication in the selected group-based communication channel;
in response to receiving the thread request, generate and transmit for display a thread summary indicator renderable within the channel messaging pane proximate the first messaging communication, wherein the thread summary indicator is configured to be selectable by any user of the selected group-based communication channel;
receive an indication of an input indicating a selection of the thread summary indicator; and
cause, based at least in part on receiving the indication of the input, rendering of the subsidiary channel-based thread communication to a thread communication pane within the group-based communication interface, wherein the thread communication pane is separate from the channel list pane and the channel messaging pane within the group-based communication interface, wherein the channel list pane, the channel messaging pane, and the thread communication pane are configured to be rendered within the defined display window as viewable simultaneously, and wherein content of the thread communication pane is particular to the first messaging communication.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer coded instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
cause a thread actuator to be rendered within the channel messaging pane proximate the first messaging communication, wherein the thread request comprises user selection of the thread actuator; and receive, after receiving the user selection of the thread actuator, a thread communication message, wherein the thread communication message is rendered within the thread communication pane.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the computer coded instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
in response to receiving the thread communication message, update the thread summary indicator within the channel messaging pane to indicate that the thread communication message was received.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer coded instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
cause messaging communication information associated with the subsidiary channel-based thread communication to be rendered within the thread communication pane, wherein the messaging communication information is particular to the first messaging communication.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer coded instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive a thread communication message, wherein the thread communication message is rendered within the thread communication pane and wherein the thread communication message is associated with a profile identifier, wherein the profile identifier is configured to associate the thread communication message with a user of the selected group-based communication channel; and
in response to receiving the thread communication message and the profile identifier, update a thread indication within the channel list pane, the thread indication indicating that the profile identifier was received in the thread communication message.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer coded instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive a thread summary view request; and in response to receiving the thread summary view request, cause at least a portion of the subsidiary channel-based thread communication and at least a portion of one or more thread communication messages to be rendered within a thread summary communication pane.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the computer coded instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
in response to receiving the thread summary view request, cause a notification to be rendered within the thread summary communication pane, wherein the notification indicates receipt of new thread communication messages that have not yet been rendered for viewing by a thread-associated user profile.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the input indicating the selection of the thread summary indicator is a selected thread view request, and wherein the computer coded instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
in response to receiving the selected thread view request, cause the first messaging communication and one or more thread communication messages particular to the first messaging communication to be rendered within the thread communication pane.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer coded instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive a follow request that is configured to activate notifications corresponding to the subsidiary channel-based thread communication; and
in response to receiving the follow request, update a thread indication within the channel list pane, the thread indication indicating that the follow request was received.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer coded instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive a thread communication message in the thread communication pane, wherein the thread communication message is rendered within the thread communication pane;
receive a share request associated with the thread communication message in the thread communication pane; and
in response to receiving the share request, cause the thread communication message to be rendered within the channel messaging pane.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the computer coded instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive a selected thread view request associated with the thread communication message rendered in the channel messaging pane; and
in response to receiving the selected thread view request associated with the thread communication message rendered in the channel messaging pane, cause the thread communication message to be rendered within the thread communication pane.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the thread summary indicator indicates that the subsidiary channel-based thread communication is associated with the first messaging communication of the plurality of messaging communications, and further wherein the thread summary indicator comprises a thread count and a latency indicator.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the comp

Assignees

• Slack Tech Inc

Inventors

• Rosania Paul
• Watanabe Milo
• Butterfield Daniel Stewart
• Walker Neil
• Kane Patrick
• Florin Hubert
• Fan Wayne

Classifications

• H04L51/216 Primary

  Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads · CPC title

• H04L67/535

  Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34) · CPC title

• H04L67/306

  User profiles · CPC title

• H04L67/22

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L51/16 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic