Converting private channels to public channels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12069054-B2
Application number	US-202117452016-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2021
Priority date	Oct 22, 2021
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to virtual spaces, such as channels, of a communication platform. In some cases, a channel may be designated as a private channel, which may permit access to the private channel by only users joined to the channel and may restrict/prevent access by all other users. The present disclosure is related to solutions for changing the private channel to a public channel, which may allow additional user accounts that were not associated with the private channel to discover and/or access the converted channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, implemented at least in part by one or more computing devices of a communication platform, the method comprising:
receiving, in association with a private channel associated with two or more users of the communication platform, a request to convert the private channel to a public channel, wherein the private channel is associated with a first discoverability setting such that the private channel is not discoverable by users of a workspace other than the two or more users associated with the private channel;
initiating, based at least in part on receiving the request to convert the private channel to the public channel, an approval workflow that provides, to the two or more users, at least one of a first option to approve or oppose conversion of the private channel to the public channel or a second option to identify content within the private channel that is to be unviewable by the users of the workspace; and
based at least in part on receiving the request to convert the private channel to the public channel and the approval workflow, modifying the first discoverability setting associated with the private channel, wherein based at least in part on the modifying of the first discoverability setting, the public channel is associated with a second discoverability setting such that the public channel is discoverable by any user associated with the workspace.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the request to convert the private channel to the public channel from a particular user;
determining whether the particular user is associated with a permission or a role enabling the particular user to modify the first discoverability setting; and
modifying the first discoverability setting based at least in part on a determination that the particular user is associated with the permission or role enabling the particular user to modify the first discoverability setting.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the private channel, based at least in part on the first discoverability setting, is not discoverable via a search query or a channel browsing query.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the public channel, based at least in part on the second discoverability setting, is discoverable via at least one of a search query or a channel browsing query.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obscuring from view, within the public channel and with respect to the users of the workspace, second content posted within the private channel prior to the private channel being converted to the public channel such that the second content is only viewable by the two or more users; and
causing display, to the two or more users and the users of the workspace, of third content posted to the public channel after the private channel has been converted to the public channel.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication of a portion of data associated with the private channel to exclude from the public channel, wherein the portion of data associated with the private channel is excluded from the public channel.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication of a portion of data associated with the private channel to exclude from the public channel, wherein:
the portion of data is included in the public channel when viewed by the two or more users associated with the private channel; and
the portion of data is excluded from the public channel when viewed by other users associated with the public channel.

8. A system for implementing at least a portion of communication platform, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:
receive, in association with a private channel associated with two or more users of the communication platform, a request to convert the private channel to a public channel, wherein the private channel is associated with a first discoverability setting such that the private channel is not discoverable by users of a workspace other than the two or more users associated with the private channel;
initiate, based at least in part on receiving the request to convert the private channel to the public channel, an approval workflow that provides, to the two or more users, at least one of a first option to approve or oppose conversion of the private channel to the public channel or a second option to identify content within the private channel that is to be unviewable by the users of the workspace; and
based at least in part on receiving the request to convert the private channel to the public channel and the approval workflow, modify the first discoverability setting associated with the private channel, wherein based at least in part on the modifying of the first discoverability setting, the public channel is associated with a second discoverability setting such that the public channel is discoverable by any user associated with the communication platform.

9. The system of claim 8 , the instructions, when executed, further causing the system to:
receive the request to convert the private channel to the public channel from a particular user;
determining whether the particular user is associated with a permission or a role enabling the particular user to modify the first discoverability setting; and
modifying the first discoverability setting based at least in part on a determination that the particular user is associated with the permission or role enabling the particular user to modify the first discoverability setting.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein
the private channel, based at least in part on the first discoverability setting, is not discoverable via a search query or a channel browsing query; and
the public channel, based at least in part on the second discoverability setting, is discoverable via at least one of the search query or the channel browsing query.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the private channel is associated with a first set of permissions that is different than a second set of permissions with which the public channel is associated;
the first set of permissions are more restrictive than the second set of permissions.

12. The system of claim 8 , the instructions, when executed, further causing the system to receive an indication of a portion of data associated with the private channel to exclude from the public channel, wherein the portion of data associated with the private channel is excluded from the public channel.

13. The system of claim 8 , the instructions, when executed, further causing the system to receive an indication of a portion of data associated with the private channel to exclude from the public channel, wherein:
the portion of data is included in the public channel when viewed by the two or more users associated with the private channel; and
the portion of data is excluded from the public channel when viewed by other users associated with the public channel.

14. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:
receive, in association with a private channel associated with two or more users of a communication platform, a request to convert the private channel to a public channel, wherein the private channel is associated with a first discoverability setting such that the private channel is not discoverable by users of a workspace other than the two or more users associated with the private channel;
initiate, based at least in part on receiving the request to convert the private channel to the p

Assignees

• Saleforce Inc
• Salesforce Inc

Inventors

• Monroe Ii Bradford Parker
• Barzilay Ittai Sean
• Demmer Michael
• Clemenson Elizabeth
• Sullivan Christopher
• Greenberg Ryan
• Sivakumaran Sivapriyan
• Morrison Andrew S

Classifications

• H04L41/22

  comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title

• G06F21/62

  Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules · CPC title

• H04L12/1859

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

• H04L63/10 Primary

  for controlling access to devices or network resources · CPC title

• H04L63/104 Primary

  Grouping of entities · CPC title