Multiplexing message distribution within group-based communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11258622-B2
Application number	US-201916714105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2019
Priority date	May 25, 2018
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to message distribution protocols for a group-based communication platform, in which messages exchanged within a plurality of individual communication channels are provided to client devices via a single websocket connection for each client device. The messages are provided together with associated correspondence tags identifying communication channels in which the messages are exchanged, and the client device disseminates those messages for display in appropriate communication-channel-specific display windows based at least in part on the correspondence tags transmitted with the messages.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A message distribution system for communicating messages to client devices in association with a communication platform, the system comprising:
one or more message distribution servers configured for:
storing messages shared within group-based communication system channels, forming groups of users within a buffer of a memory storage device; and

at least one multiplexer configured for temporal-based multiplexing by:
periodically initializing a websocket connection with a client device of a plurality of client devices for a time period having a predefined duration in accordance with a defined schedule, wherein the websocket connection is configured for message exchange between the client device and the at least one multiplexer; and
transmitting a plurality of messages shared within respective group-based communication system channels from the one or more message distribution servers and stored within the buffer to the client device via the websocket connection.

2. The message distribution system of claim 1 , wherein periodically initializing the websocket connection comprises:
initializing the websocket connection in accordance with the defined schedule; and
closing the websocket connection upon elapsing of an established time duration.

3. The message distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the defined schedule comprises:
a websocket open period identified as the time period having an established time duration during which the websocket connection is initialized, and
a websocket close period during which the websocket connection is closed; and
wherein the one or more message distribution servers are configured to store messages shared within the group-based communication system channels within the buffer of the memory storage device during the websocket close period.

4. The message distribution system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more message distribution servers are configured to, in association with the at least one multiplexer, transmit messages shared within the group-based communication system channels to the client device via the websocket connection during the websocket open period.

5. The message distribution system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one multiplexer is configured to transmit messages shared within the group-based communication system channels during the websocket open period to the client device in realtime.

6. The message distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the predefined duration is defined by a duration of time during which messages are being transmitted to the client device.

7. The message distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one multiplexer is further configured to maintain a plurality of backend websocket connections with the one or more message distribution servers, wherein each of the plurality of backend websocket connections corresponds to a group-based communication system channel.

8. The message distribution system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of messages comprises a correspondence tag identifying a respective group-based communication system channel for display of the respective message on the client device within a respective display window corresponding to the group-based communication system channel, wherein each display window is displayed within a group-based communication system channel interface displayed via a display device of the client device.

9. A method for multiplexing messages communicated to client devices within group-based communication system channels in association with a communication platform, the method comprising:
storing messages shared within the group-based communication system channels, forming groups of users within a buffer of a memory storage device;
periodically initializing a websocket connection with a client device for a time period having a predefined duration in accordance with a defined schedule,
wherein the websocket connection is configured for message exchange between the client device and a multiplexer; and

transmitting a plurality of messages shared within respective group-based communication system channels and stored within the buffer to the client device via the websocket connection.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein periodically initializing the websocket connection comprises:
initializing the websocket connection in accordance with the defined schedule; and
closing the websocket connection upon elapsing of an established time duration.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the defined schedule comprises:
a websocket open period identified as the time period having an established time duration during which the websocket connection is initialized, and
a websocket close period during which the websocket connection is closed; and
wherein the method comprises storing messages shared within the group-based communication system channels within the buffer of the memory storage device during the websocket close period.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmit messages shared within the group-based communication system channels to the client device via the websocket connection during the websocket open period.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting messages shared within the group-based communication system channels during the websocket open period to the client device in realtime.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the predefined duration is defined by a duration of time during which messages are being transmitted to the client device.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising maintaining a plurality of backend websocket connections with one or more message distribution servers, wherein each of the plurality of backend websocket connections corresponds to a group-based communication system channel.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of messages comprises a correspondence tag identifying a respective group-based communication system channel for display of the respective message on the client device within a respective display window corresponding to the group-based communication system channel, wherein each display window is displayed within a group-based communication system channel interface displayed via a display device of the client device.

17. A computer program product for communicating messages to client devices in association with a communication platform, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising an executable portion configured to:
store messages shared within group-based communication system channels, forming groups of users within a buffer of a memory storage device;
periodically initialize a websocket connection with a client device for a time period having a predefined duration in accordance with a defined schedule, wherein the websocket connection is configured for message exchange between the client device and a multiplexer; and
transmit a plurality of messages shared within respective group-based communication system channels from one or more message distribution servers and stored within the buffer to the client device via the websocket connection.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein periodically initializing the websocket connection comprises:
initializing the websocket connection in accordance with the defined schedule; and
closing the websocket connection upon elapsing of an established time duration.

Assignees

• Slack Tech Inc
• Slack Tech Llc

Inventors

• Christian Mark
• Katrak Cyrus

Classifications

• H04L51/216

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

• H04L65/611

  for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) · CPC title

• H04L65/4015 Primary

  where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference · CPC title

• H04L12/1859

  adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels · CPC title

• H04L12/185 Primary

  with management of multicast group membership · CPC title