Collaboration center for group-based communication system

Abstract

Computer-readable media, methods, and systems for generating a collaboration center for display in a graphical user interface of a group-based communication system. The collaboration center includes a list of recommended activity users, a list of recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions, and a feed of recommended asynchronous collaboration threads such that related activities within the group-based communication system can be viewed and accessed by users of the group-based communication system.

Description

[0001] Divisional Information

[0002] This application is a divisional application of the patent application for invention titled "Collaboration Center for Group-Based Communication Systems" with application number 202280050009.6, filed on May 11, 2022.

[0003] Related Applications

[0004] This application shares certain common themes with U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 064,344, titled "AMBIENT, AD HOC, MULTIMEDIA COLLABORATION IN A GROUP-BASED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM", filed on October 6, 2020; U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 064,161, titled "SNIPPET(S) OF CONTENT ASSOCIATED WITH A COMMUNICATION PLATFORM", filed on October 6, 2020; and U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 320,620, titled "ASYNCHRONOUS COLLABORATION IN A COMMUNICATION PLATFORM", filed on May 14, 2021. The entire contents of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to multimedia communication, and more particularly, to a virtual multimedia collaboration content hub for a group-based communication system. Background Art

[0006] Traditionally, non-face-to-face collaboration has been divided into asynchronous communication (e.g., email and group-based messaging) and synchronous communication that occurs in real time but must be scheduled in advance (e.g., phone calls and video conferences). In asynchronous communication, the recipient may view the message minutes, days, or months after the sender sends it. Neither of these formats can replicate the type of serendipitous conversations that occur naturally in a physical office. Additionally, users currently cannot view content related to multimedia collaboration for both asynchronous and synchronous communication in one place. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention solve the above problems by providing computer-readable media, systems, and methods that generate a collaboration hub for display in a graphical user interface of a group-based communication system. The collaboration hub includes information related to recommended active users, recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions, and recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration threads.

[0008] A first embodiment of the present invention relates to one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for generating virtual content associated with a group-based communication system. The method includes: generating a collaboration hub for display in a graphical user interface of a group-based communication system, the collaboration hub including: a list of recommended active users; a plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to respective users in the list of recommended active users, wherein the plurality of actuatable controls are configured to initiate at least one of a text-based communication session or a multimedia communication session with the respective user; a list of recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions; and a feed of recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration sessions.

[0009] A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for generating virtual content associated with a group-based communication system. The method includes: generating a collaboration hub for display in a graphical user interface of a group-based communication system, the collaboration hub including: a list of recommended active users; a plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to respective users in the list of recommended active users, wherein the plurality of actuatable controls are configured to initiate at least one of a text-based communication session or a multimedia communication session with the respective user; a list of recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions; and a feed of recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration sessions.

[0010] A third embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for generating virtual content associated with a group-based communication system. The system includes: a data memory storing information associated with a group-based communication system; a processor programmed to: generate a collaboration hub for display in a graphical user interface of a group-based communication system, the collaboration hub including: a list of recommended active users; a plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to respective users in the list of recommended active users, wherein the plurality of actuatable controls are configured to initiate at least one of a text-based communication session or a multimedia communication session with the respective user; a list of recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions; and a feed of recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration sessions.

[0011] Other embodiments of the present invention relate to generating a session preview for display in a graphical user interface of a group-based communication system. The session preview indicates information about the session, which includes at least one of the number of users in the session, the user activities in the session, and a set of actuatable controls related to the session.

[0012] A further embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for initiating a synchronous multimedia collaboration session in a group-based communication system. A multimedia collaboration session is generated, and other users are invited to join the multimedia collaboration session using a session invitation interface that is generated for display in a graphical user interface associated with the group-based communication system.

[0013] This summary is provided in a simplified form to introduce some concepts that will be further elaborated in the detailed description below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1A An exemplary hardware platform of certain embodiments of the present invention is described;

[0016] Figure 1B A system diagram showing the elements of a system for implementing the embodiments of the present invention is described;

[0017] Figure 2A A user interface including a collaboration center related to certain embodiments of the present invention is described;

[0018] Figure 2B A user interface of a channel having an active multimedia collaboration session related to certain embodiments of the present invention is described;

[0019] Figure 2C A user interface after joining an active multimedia collaboration session related to certain embodiments of the present invention is described;

[0020] Figure 3 A user interface of an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session related to certain embodiments of the present invention is described;

[0021] Figure 4 A method for generating a collaboration center within a group-based communication system related to certain embodiments of the present invention is described;

[0022] Figure 5Describes a method for initiating a synchronous multimedia collaboration session within a group-based communication system related to certain embodiments of the present invention; and

[0023] Figure 6 Describes a method for conducting an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session within a group-based communication system related to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] The drawings do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis on clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Detailed Description

[0025] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the present invention can be implemented. These embodiments are intended to describe the various aspects of the present invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to implement the present invention. Other embodiments may be used and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims and the full scope of equivalents to which those claims are entitled.

[0026] In this document, when referring to "one embodiment", "an embodiment" or "multiple embodiments", it means that one or more of the recited features are included in at least one embodiment of the present technology. The separate references to "one embodiment", "an embodiment" or "multiple embodiments" in this document do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and unless otherwise stated and / or it is readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the specification, they are not mutually exclusive. For example, features, structures, behaviors, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but not necessarily. Thus, the technology may include various combinations and / or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

[0027] Figure 1AAn exemplary hardware platform for certain embodiments of the present invention is shown. Computer 102 can be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server computer, a mobile device such as a smartphone or a tablet, or any other form of general-purpose or special-purpose computing device. For illustrative purposes, several components are described in conjunction with computer 102. In some embodiments, certain components may be arranged differently or may not be present. Other components may also be present. Computer 102 includes a system bus 104 through which other components of computer 102 can communicate with each other. In certain embodiments, there may be multiple buses, or components may communicate directly. Connected to the system bus 104 is a central processing unit (CPU) 106. Also connected to the system bus 104 are one or more random access memory (RAM) modules 108. Also connected to the system bus 104 is a graphics card 110. In some embodiments, graphics card 104 may not be a physically separate card but may be integrated into the motherboard or CPU 106. In some embodiments, graphics card 110 has an independent graphics processing unit (GPU) 112 that can be used for graphics processing or general-purpose computing (GPGPU). There is also GPU memory 114 on graphics card 110. Connected (directly or indirectly) to graphics card 110 is a display 116 for user interaction. In some embodiments, there is no display, and in other embodiments, the display is integrated into computer 102. Similarly, peripheral devices such as a keyboard 118 and a mouse 120 are also connected to the system bus 104. Like display 116, these peripheral devices can be integrated into computer 102 or may not be present. In some embodiments, other peripheral devices such as a microphone or a camera may also be present and connected to system 104. In some embodiments, these peripheral devices can be detachably connected to computer 102 through a wired or wireless connection. In other embodiments, for example, in a tablet or a smartphone, these peripheral devices are integrated into computer 102. Also connected to the system bus 104 is a local memory 122, which can be any form of computer-readable medium and can be internally installed in computer 102 or externally detachably connected.

[0028] Computer-readable media include volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media, and media that can be read by a database. For example, computer-readable media include (but are not limited to) RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other storage technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), holographic media or other optical disc storage, magnetic tape cartridges, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage and other magnetic storage devices. These technologies can store data temporarily or permanently. However, unless otherwise expressly stated, the term "computer-readable media" should not be construed to include physical but transitory forms of signal transmission, such as, for example, radio broadcasts, electrical signals through wires, or optical pulses through optical fibers. Examples of information stored include computer-usable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data representations.

[0029] Finally, a network interface card (NIC) 124 is also connected to the system bus 104, allowing the computer 102 to communicate over a network (e.g., network 126). The NIC 124 can be any form of network interface known in the art, such as, for example, Ethernet, ATM, fiber optic, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi (i.e., the IEEE 802.11 family of standards). The NIC 124 connects the computer 102 to a local network 126, which may also include one or more other computers (e.g., computer 128) and network storage (e.g., data storage 130). Generally, data storage (e.g., data storage 130) can be any repository that can store information and retrieve the information as needed. Examples of data storage include relational databases or object-oriented databases, spreadsheets, file systems, flat files, directory services (e.g., LDAP and Active Directory), or email storage systems. The data storage can be accessed through a complex API (e.g., Structured Query Language), a simple API that provides only read, write, and lookup operations, or any level of complexity in between. Some data storage also provides management functions such as backup or version management for the data sets stored therein. The data storage can be local storage of a single computer (e.g., computer 128), accessible through a local network (e.g., local network 126), or remotely accessible through the Internet 132. The local network 126 is in turn connected to the Internet 132, which connects many networks, such as, for example, local network 126, remote network 134, or directly connected computers (e.g., computer 136). In some embodiments, the computer 102 itself can be directly connected to the Internet 132.

[0030] Figure 1BShows the elements of a system 150 for implementing an embodiment of the present invention. System 150 includes any number of client devices, e.g., client devices 152, 154, and 156 associated with users 158, 160, and 162, respectively. Although system 150 is depicted as having one client device per user, a single user may use multiple client devices to connect to the group-based communication system simultaneously or sequentially. Similarly, in some embodiments, multiple users may (simultaneously or sequentially) share a single client device to access the group-based communication system. As Figure 1B shown, the client device can be any form of computing device discussed above with respect to Figure 1A . Specifically, a user may use a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a mobile device to access the group-based communication system. The group-based communication system can be accessed via dedicated software on the client device or the client device's web browser. In some embodiments, a channel administrator may access the management functions through any client device. In other embodiments, the management functions can only be accessed through a limited subset of client devices (e.g., only through client device 152). In some embodiments, the group-based communication system is a channel-based messaging platform.

[0031] The group-based communication system is hosted by a group-based communication system server 164. The group-based communication system server 164 can be a dedicated server, a shared server, a virtual machine instance in a cloud computing environment, or any other form of computing device discussed above with respect to Figure 1A . Although a single group-based communication system server 164 is depicted, embodiments having multiple such group-based communication system servers are also contemplated to provide scale, redundancy, and / or isolation between different instances of the group-based communication system. For example, for security reasons, a software development company may not want its group-based communication system to be hosted on the same server as a competitor's group-based communication system. Server 164 is communicatively coupled to client devices 152, 154, and 156 via a network 166. Network 166 can be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a virtual private network (VPN), or the Internet. Broadly speaking, any type of network that provides communication between the various components of system 150 can be contemplated. The group-based communication system server 164 can provide web server functionality to support web-based clients and non-web server functionality to support clients using dedicated applications. Alternatively, both web-based clients and dedicated application clients can use a single web server, or the web server may be a gateway providing web-based access to a dedicated application server. Other techniques for enabling communication between various client applications can also be contemplated.

[0032] The group-based communication system data storage 168 is communicatively coupled to the group-based communication system server 164. As shown, the group-based communication system data storage 168 is directly connected to the group-based communication system server 164; however, any form of communication connection (e.g., network attached storage (NAS), network file system (NFS), or cloud-based storage) may also be employed. Broadly speaking, the group-based communication system data storage 168 stores all persistent information used by the group-based communication system server 164. For example, the group-based communication system data storage 168 may store all of the messages and their associated channels, the documents and images uploaded to a particular channel, the channel member information, and / or the user information. In some embodiments, the collaboration sessions may be archived and stored on the group-based communication system data storage 168 for subsequent retrieval. As previously mentioned, there may be multiple group-based communication system servers in the system 150. In such an embodiment, each group-based communication system server may have its own copy of the group-based communication system data storage 168. Alternatively, multiple group-based communication system servers may share a network attached group-based communication system data storage. Alternatively or additionally, in any of the above embodiments, the data may be shared among multiple group-based communication system data storages.

[0033] The real-time media server 170 is also communicatively coupled to the group-based communication system server 164 and the client devices 152, 154, and 156. The real-time media server manages the multimedia aspects of the real-time multimedia collaboration sessions among the users of the group-based communication system, as described in detail below. For simplicity, the term "multimedia" is used herein; however, it should be understood that the term as used herein includes pure audio streams, pure video streams, audio / video streams, or any other combination of one or more media streams.

[0034] As shown, communication between real-time media servers is through network 166. However, in some embodiments, connections that communicate partially or fully coupled through different networks can better meet the real-time requirements of collaborative sessions. For example, a particular client device is typically connected to the group-based communication system server 164 via a cellular data connection, but when a multimedia collaboration session begins, it can switch to a WiFi connection to meet the additional bandwidth requirements. In some embodiments, client devices can use a hub-and-spoke configuration to communicate multimedia collaboration data with each other through real-time media server 170. In other embodiments, client devices can communicate directly with each other using a peer-to-peer or supernode architecture. In other embodiments, client devices on the same network can communicate with each other using a multicast network protocol (e.g., IP multicast). In other embodiments, media communication between client devices can be through an edge-based scalable content delivery network.

[0035] Figure 2A An exemplary user interface 200A is shown, including a collaboration hub 202 and a sidebar pane 204. In some such embodiments, the user interface 200A can be a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with a group-based communication system. Additionally, the user interface 200A can be generated to be displayed on one of the client devices 152, 154, and 156 to an immediate user operating the client device. The collaboration hub 202 can include at least one of a list 206 of recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions, a list 208 of recommended active users, and an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session or conference feed including a multimedia or video thread 210. In some embodiments, a synchronous multimedia collaboration session includes a synchronous form of multimedia communication, e.g., video chat, audio chat, screen sharing, collaborative work, and other forms of synchronous communication between two or more users. Alternatively, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session or conference includes an asynchronous form of communication, e.g., published videos and text-based message communication that can be viewed asynchronously. Other details associated with asynchronous forms of communication (e.g., video messages) are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 064,161, filed on October 6, 2020, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. In some examples, video responses to an asynchronous collaboration session can be strung together to create a video thread and / or feed, as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 320,620, filed on May 14, 2020, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0036] The synchronized multimedia collaboration session list 206 can include one or more active collaboration sessions selected for recommendation on the collaboration hub 202. For example, a collaboration session can be selected from among multiple collaboration sessions displayed in the user interface 200A because these collaboration sessions are currently active when the instant user views the collaboration hub 202. Additionally, the selection of the collaboration session can be based in part on the user's interaction with the session or some association of the instant user with the session. For example, the recommended collaboration sessions can be displayed in the collaboration hub 202 in part based on the instant user being a member of or invited to the corresponding collaboration session. The recommended collaboration sessions can be displayed based on the association of the instant user with other users belonging to the active collaboration session. In some examples, the collaboration hub 202 can display collaboration sessions based on the user's organization, attributes of the user profile, topics and projects the user may be associated with, projects associated with the user, channels associated with the user, and other factors.

[0037] The list 206 of recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions can also include an actuatable join session button 212 for joining each of the listed recommended sessions. In some embodiments, the join session button 212 can be an actuatable link to join the corresponding multimedia collaboration session. For example, the join session button 212 can be selected from the user interface 200A by clicking or tapping the button 212. Once the join session button 212 is actuated, the instant user is added to the multimedia collaboration session associated with the join session button 212. In some embodiments, the list 206 of recommended active multimedia collaboration sessions also includes additional information for each corresponding session. For example, as shown, the list 206 can include at least one of an indication of the users in the session, an indication of the number of users in the session, and an indication of the group-based communication channel associated with the session. In some embodiments, the list of active sessions can include an actuatable control for creating a new session, thereby adding the newly created session to the list of active sessions. Alternatively or additionally, if the collaboration session includes a video component (e.g., video of one or more users, screen sharing, or co-working), a thumbnail depicting the video component can be displayed. In some embodiments, the thumbnail may be static. In other embodiments, the thumbnail can be fully dynamic or a series of animated thumbnails to reduce bandwidth consumption. Additionally, the name of the session, the topic of the session, the active time of the session, the number of participants in the session, and other session-related information can be included on the collaboration hub 202. In some embodiments, each multimedia collaboration session can be associated with a channel of a group-based communication system. In some embodiments, the synchronized multimedia collaboration session can be associated with users belonging to group messages or direct messages that are not associated with a channel. In some embodiments, the session preview 248 is used to show as Figure 2CSome or all of the active sessions shown. In some embodiments, the synchronous collaboration session includes a session topic 238 that indicates the session topic. The session topic 238 can be any topic defined by the user or selected from a pre-populated list of topics (e.g., a list of common topics can be provided to facilitate user use). The user can add any topic to the session by typing in the topic input field. In some embodiments, the preview includes a screen sharing preview, which can include a notification indicating that screen sharing is in progress and an indication of which user is performing the screen sharing.

[0038] In some embodiments, a user can only join one active synchronous collaboration session at any given time. Thus, joining a second active synchronous collaboration session will cause the user to leave the first active synchronous collaboration session. In some embodiments, a user can be part of multiple active synchronous collaboration sessions.

[0039] In some embodiments, the recommended active user list 208 can include multiple users of the group-based communication system recommended based on at least one of user activity, user interaction, and other user information. For example, the recommended active user list 208 can be selected from multiple users based on the user's activity status in the group-based communication system, historical, recent, or frequent user interactions (e.g., the user communicates in a group-based communication channel), or some similarity between users (e.g., determining that a user has a common membership with another user in a channel). The recommended active user list 208 can include user information for each corresponding user. For example, as shown, the status information 214 of the user can be depicted on the collaboration center 202. The status information can include one or more of an indication that the user is active in the group-based communication system, an indication that the user is currently in a collaboration session, an indication that the user is in a scheduled meeting, an indication that the user is on vacation, an indication that the user is working remotely, and an indication that the user is sick at home. In some embodiments, the status indication includes presence information, e.g., whether the user is active, idle, or offline. It should be understood that other types of status information are also considered in some embodiments.

[0040] In some embodiments, the recommended active user list 208 further includes a plurality of actuatable buttons 216 corresponding to the respective listed active users. For example, the actuatable buttons 216 may be configured to initiate at least one of a text-based communication session and a multimedia communication session when selected. In some embodiments, there may be two corresponding actuatable buttons 216 for each listed active user, as shown, a first button for initiating a synchronous multimedia collaboration session and a second button for initiating a text-based communication session. In some embodiments, the user can initiate an asynchronous meeting by clicking the second button and starting an asynchronous video thread. In some embodiments, initiating a text-based communication session may include redirecting the user interface 200A of the group-based communication system to a direct (person-to-person) message channel shared with the recommended user listed in association with the respective actuatable button.

[0041] In some embodiments, one or more recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration sessions or meetings 210 are displayed in the asynchronous meeting section 210. In some embodiments, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session is an asynchronous meeting in which a topic is posted in a message at the start of the meeting thread, and meeting participants can respond by posting messages or video responses. In some embodiments, the responses are aggregated into a video thread corresponding to the meeting. In some embodiments, a preview of a subset of the video responses may be displayed in the asynchronous collaboration session or thread. In some embodiments, each asynchronous collaboration session displayed in the collaboration center is interactive, where the user can directly post a response to the asynchronous collaboration session or view the video responses of a particular asynchronous collaboration session. In some embodiments, clicking on the video thread causes the entire thread associated with the asynchronous meeting to open in a separate thread pane. In certain embodiments, the user can interact with each posted message in the thread pane. In some embodiments, a preview can be generated for each asynchronous collaboration session for display on the collaboration center 202, which includes one or more asynchronous playable videos 218, response buttons 220, text-based communication buttons 222, and add user buttons 224. The asynchronous playable videos 218 may be videos shared by other users within the asynchronous collaboration session thread. In some embodiments, selecting a preview of an asynchronous collaboration session may display the full thread in more detail or a partial view of the most recently posted thread in a new pane. In some embodiments, each collaboration session can be associated with a channel of the group-based communication system. For example, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session may be hosted in the announcement channel of the group-based communication system, as shown. Thus, the channel name may be displayed along with the thread of the asynchronous collaboration session.

[0042] Each asynchronous collaboration session or subset of asynchronous collaboration sessions may include a reply button 220 that allows a user to record or otherwise post a multimedia or text communication reply to the asynchronous collaboration session. For example, when a user actuates the button by clicking or tapping on the reply button 220, the user may begin recording a video reply and add it to the thread associated with the asynchronous collaboration session. Additionally, each asynchronous collaboration session may also include a text-based communication button 222 that allows a user to create a text message communication for sharing within the corresponding thread. In some embodiments, an add user button 224 may be displayed with the asynchronous conference, allowing users to be added to the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session. For example, a user may click or tap on the add user button 224, thereby generating an "add user" modal that is displayed on the user interface 200A. The "add user modal" may include a plurality of users, based on a user directory or a set of recommended users for the session, for selection to be added to the collaboration session. In some embodiments, any user associated with a channel, direct message, or group message related to the asynchronous collaboration session may post a reply. In some embodiments, adding a user to an asynchronous conference specifically mentions the added user in the body of the conference message. In some embodiments, mentioning a user causes a notification or alert to be sent to the mentioned user informing of an asynchronous collaboration session. In some embodiments, adding a user enables the added user to reply to the asynchronous collaboration conference even if the user did not previously have viewing privileges.

[0043] The sidebar pane 204 includes a channels section 280 and a direct messages section 282. The channels section 280 lists a plurality of channels of the group-based communication system, and the direct messages section 282 lists a plurality of direct messages with other users in the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, group messages between multiple users may also be listed in the direct messages section. In some embodiments, only channels that the user can access (or channels of which the user is a member) are included. These channels may include any combination of direct message channels, public channels, and private channels. Additionally, in some embodiments, if a channel is associated with an active synchronous multimedia collaboration session, a session indicator 226 may be included next to the channel name indicating that a session is currently being hosted on that channel. Additionally, the session indicator 226 may also display the number of users currently joined to the session, as shown.

[0044] Figure 2BThe user interface 200B shows the channel 228 with an active synchronous multimedia collaboration session before the user joins the session. The user interface 200B includes a sidebar pane 204, and the sidebar pane includes the channel 228, where the channel has a session indicator 226 that shows the number of participants in the session. In addition, the sidebar pane 204 can also show the selected channel 228, where the channel name is highlighted, outlined, shown in a different color or font, or represented in some way to indicate that a specific channel is selected and open in the group-based communication system currently. Besides the sidebar pane 204, the user interface 200B also includes a channel communication pane 230. The channel communication pane 230 includes multiple communications shared in the selected channel. For example, channel members can post multiple messages 232 in the channel. The user interface 200B can also include a communication input field 234 for sharing messages, attachments, and other communications within the channel.

[0045] In some embodiments, if the selected channel includes a currently active synchronous collaboration session, a session preview 236 can be generated for display on the user interface 200B. In some embodiments, when the synchronous collaboration session indicator 226 is clicked from the sidebar pane 204, the session preview 236 is generated. In some embodiments, the active session indicator can be shown in the channel title, and clicking the active session indicator causes the display of the session preview 236. The session preview 236 can include an indication of the session topic 238, an indication of one or more users 240 in the session, an indication of the audio status 242 of each of the one or more users 240, a join button 244, and / or a mute join button 246. The audio status 242 can indicate whether the corresponding user is muted, unmuted, or talking in the multimedia collaboration session. In some embodiments, each indication 240 of the user in the session is a static image, e.g., a profile picture or a username. In other embodiments, each indication is a video thumbnail from the real-time video feed of the user. In other embodiments, some users are represented by static images while other users are represented by video thumbnails. Thus, the session preview 236 allows the user to view whether a multimedia collaboration session is currently in progress in the channel, which users are in the multimedia collaboration session, and the audio status of each user in the session before joining the session. The join button 244 is an actuatable button that automatically joins the user to the multimedia collaboration session when clicked or tapped. Similarly, the mute join button 246 allows the user to join the session with the microphone muted. In some embodiments, it is preferable to include the mute join button 246 so that the user can join the session quietly without disturbing the session flow. In addition, the user may wish to join the session just to listen to the voices of other users rather than actively communicate in the session.

[0046] In some embodiments, the session preview 236 can be displayed as a pop-up window that covers a portion of the channel communication pane 230. Additionally, in some embodiments, the session preview 236 is movable so that the user can drag the session preview 236 to adjust its positioning within the user interface 200B. Further, in some embodiments, the session preview 236 automatically scales with the overall size of the user interface 200B such that the session preview 236 never covers the communication input field 234. For example, if the user reduces the window size of the user interface 200B by clicking and dragging on the window edge of the user interface 200B, the size of the session preview 236 will automatically adjust according to the change in the window size of the user interface 200B. In some such embodiments, it is preferable to automatically adjust the size of the session preview 236 such that the communication input field 234 remains visible and the user can still input message communications while viewing the session preview 236. Additionally, in some embodiments, the user can also manually adjust the size of the session preview 236. In some embodiments, the session preview 248 is displayed at the bottom of the sidebar pane 204 of the user interface 200B, as Figure 2C shown. In some embodiments, the session preview pane can be freely moved by the user within the user interface.

[0047] Figure 2C Figure 200C shows a user interface for an active synchronized multimedia collaboration session after the user joins the session. Thus, the session preview 236 can be compressed into a compressed session preview 248. In some embodiments, the compressed session preview 248 can be displayed in the active session list of the collaboration hub 202 described in Figure 2A . In other embodiments, as will be discussed in detail below, when the user browses a group-based communication system, the session preview 248 appears in the sidebar pane 204 of the user interface 200C. In these embodiments, the compressed session preview 248 includes a subset of the information of the session preview 236 described above. For example, the compressed session preview 248 includes the session topic 238. In some embodiments, the compressed session preview 248 also includes a current speaker indicator 250 that indicates the user currently speaking in the session (where the current speaker indicator 250 is similar to the corresponding user identifier indicator in 240); a mute button 252 that can be used to mute the microphone of the instant user in the session; a share screen button 254 that can be used to share the screen of the instant user in the session; an add user button 256 that can be used to add other users to the session; and an exit button 258. In some embodiments, the exit button 258 can be used to close the compressed session preview 248. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the exit button 258 can exit the session, thereby removing the instant user from the session.

[0048] In some embodiments, the synchronous collaboration session includes additional functions that can add multimedia to the session. For example, video, audio, collaboration tools (such as whiteboards or blackboards), third-party application plugins, source code editors, document editors, web browsers, spreadsheets, presentation software, games, photo or video editing software, command-line terminals, or file browsers, and / or other collaborative work tools are also contemplated. For example, users in a synchronous multimedia collaboration session can communicate using any of text, video, audio, file attachments, and other forms of media. In some embodiments, multiple forms of media can be streamed synchronously at the same time. For example, a user can talk during a video call while posting text-based messages or images on a whiteboard associated with the session. In some embodiments, each user of the synchronous multimedia collaboration session can see a whiteboard that includes text and image content, so that users can freely use various forms of media for real-time collaboration simultaneously.

[0049] In one example of user interfaces 200B and 200C, a first user posts a message in a discussion channel of a group-based communication system, including the meeting agenda of a scheduled meeting that will use a synchronous multimedia collaboration session. The first user initiates multimedia collaboration within the discussion channel and sets the session topic "10 am Meeting" for the initiated session, which appears on session preview 236. In addition, session preview 236 also displays the users in the session and their microphone status.

[0050] For users in the discussion channel who have not yet joined the session, join button 244 and muted join button 246 are additionally displayed on session preview 236, allowing the above users to join the session. For example, a fifth user, who is a member of the discussion channel, selects join button 244 to join the session. In response to the fifth user joining the session, session preview 236 is compressed into compressed session preview 248, as Figure 2C shown. Thus, the fifth user is able to view who is speaking in the session and other session-related information. As Figure 2C shown, the fifth user can traverse the graphical user interface to view another channel while viewing the compressed session preview in the sidebar of the graphical user interface. Thus, the fifth user can use communication input field 234 to draft text messages for interacting with users in the announcement channel while still being able to join the session in the discussion channel.

[0051] In addition, the user interface 200C also includes a selected channel indicator 228 and a session indicator 226 indicating an active session. Further, the user interface 200C also includes a channel communication pane 230. In some embodiments, a user is able to browse a group-based communication system while participating in a multimedia collaboration session. For example, as shown, while an instant user is participating in a session hosted on a "Discussion" channel, the user may consider the "Announcement" channel as the selected channel. It should be understood that the "Discussion" and "Announcement" channels are merely examples of group-based communication channels, and for various applications of the embodiments of the present invention, any number of channels with any kind of channel names may be included.

[0052] In some embodiments, as Figure 2C shown, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session 260 may be hosted within a channel of a group-based communication system, as shown. In other embodiments, the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session 260 may be initiated from a direct message or a multi-person direct message of the group-based communication system. Here, as shown, the multimedia collaboration session may include one or more video and text message communications replies posted in a corresponding thread. Alternatively or additionally, Figure 2A the "Collaboration Center" in

[0053] As shown, the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session thread 260 can appear in the channel communication pane 230. In some embodiments, the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session thread 260 includes a session topic 262, which includes a description of the thread 260 selected by the user, and in some embodiments, as shown, the thread is a video thread. Additionally, the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session thread 260 further includes a reply indicator 264, which, as shown, indicates the number of replies in the thread. The replies can include video replies or text replies. In some embodiments, there is a thread expansion button 266, which, when selected by the user, as shown, expands the thread by displaying the replies within the thread in an expanded thread pane 270. Thus, the expanded thread pane 270 includes a first playable video 272, a second playable video 274, and a third playable video 276. In some embodiments, the first playable video 272 is the original playable video 218 of the thread, and the second and third playable videos 274, 276 are subsequently posted video replies. It should be understood that other forms of media content, such as pure audio media, text media, and file attachments, can be considered for posting in the thread.

[0054] In some embodiments, a thread input field 278 is included below the expanded thread pane 270. The thread input field 278 allows the user to directly input a reply to the thread 260. In some embodiments, the thread input field 278 is similar to the communication input field 234, allowing the user to generate and edit text message communications and add multimedia file attachments.

[0055] As shown in the above example, Figure 2A The shown collaboration center 202 recommends relevant collaboration forms based on the user's activities in the group-based communication system, thus providing a unique experience for the user. Therefore, the user can quickly view and access synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions, asynchronous multimedia collaboration threads, and communications with individual users from a single interface. Additionally, the collaboration center 202 also includes previews and other information informing the user of various details in the group-based communication system, such as which users are currently active, what the active users are doing, and the number of users in each active session. In some embodiments, the collaboration center 202 can also notify the user of the participants in each session. Moreover, the embodiments of the present invention also provide the user with the ability to freely multitask in the group-based communication system. For example, the user can post a message or video and comment on a thread in one channel while actively participating in a synchronous multimedia collaboration session in another channel. Thus, by providing multiple synchronous and asynchronous forms of communication and collaboration options, the productivity of users in the group-based communication system is improved.

[0056] Figure 3An asynchronous session interface 300 is shown for recording and generating a playable video for an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session in a group-based communication system. The asynchronous session interface 300 can be generated to be displayed on the screen of one of client devices 152, 154, 156. In some embodiments, the asynchronous session interface 300 can be displayed to a user after the user actuates a control to post a video in an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session. In some embodiments, the asynchronous session interface 300 is displayed in response to a user initiating an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session within the group-based communication system or after the user selects a reply button 220.

[0057] In one example, the recording user has just completed recording a playable video, which includes a video clip of the recording user speaking in reply to a previously posted video or other content in an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session. Thus, in some embodiments, a preview of the playable video can be generated to be displayed in the background of the asynchronous session interface 300. Alternatively, in another example, the asynchronous session interface 300 can be displayed while the recording user is actively recording a playable video, thereby displaying a real-time stream of video data on the asynchronous session interface 300.

[0058] The asynchronous session interface 300 includes a theme notification 302 that notifies the recording user to set a theme for the playable video, as shown. In some embodiments, the theme notification 302 is generated after recording is completed. Additionally, a theme input field 304 can be included for the recording user to type or enter a theme for the recorded video. In some embodiments, the theme input field 304 can include a text input field that allows the user to type a user-defined theme for the recorded video. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the theme input field 304 also allows an image input or an emoji to be added to the theme. Thus, embodiments that generate a user-defined theme that includes an emoji and a text description using the theme input field 304 can be contemplated.

[0059] In some embodiments, as shown, the asynchronous session interface 300 also includes a plurality of theme recommendations 306. The theme recommendations 306 include example themes that the recording user can select as the theme for the recorded video. In some embodiments, the theme recommendations 306 are generated at least in part based on previous video themes added by the user or other users in the group-based communication system. For example, in some embodiments, the plurality of themes 306 includes the themes used by the recording user for previous playable videos. Alternatively or additionally, the plurality of theme recommendations 306 can include one or more default themes for the user to select. In some embodiments, when the user selects one of the plurality of theme recommendations 306, the selected theme is automatically generated in the theme input field 304 for the user to accept the theme or further edit the theme using the theme input field 304, e.g., by adding text or changing the theme emoji.

[0060] In some embodiments, the asynchronous session interface 300 further includes a plurality of actuatable video controls, including a record video button 308, a share screen button 310, and an upload video button 312. In some embodiments, the record video button 308 can be switched to a stop recording button or a pause recording button (not shown) when actuated. In some embodiments, the video controls 308, 310, and 312 are only included on the asynchronous session interface 300 when a recording user is recording a video, such that the video controls are not displayed or changed after the video recording is completed. In such a case, a stop video button that replaces the record video button 308 can be selected to stop the video recording. In some embodiments, the stop video button additionally completes the recording of the video. When the user selects the share screen button 310, the video recording switches from the video data of the recording user's camera or webcam to the video data of the screen of the user's device. In some embodiments, the screen share button 310 records the entire screen of the user's device. Alternatively, the user is allowed to select a portion of the screen to record, including a portion related to a specific application running on the user's device.

[0061] When the upload video button 312 is selected, the upload video button 312 uploads a previously recorded video to the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, the upload video button 312 automatically publishes the previously recorded video as a playable video to the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session. For example, as Figure 2C shown by the playable video 218. In some embodiments, other video controls are further included. For example, a pause video button can be included to temporarily stop recording the video so that the user can continue recording later by pressing the record button. Additionally, in some embodiments, after the video recording, a play video button can also be included on the asynchronous session interface 300 so that the recording user can view the recorded video before uploading the video.

[0062] In one example, in response to a first user selecting a reply button 220 from a video previously published in the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session, an asynchronous session interface 300 is generated for display on the first user's user device. Then, the first user can operate the asynchronous session interface 300 to initiate the recording of a video reply. Accordingly, video control options are generated for display during the video recording. Here, video and audio data are respectively recorded from the first user's webcam and microphone. Then, the first user can select the share screen button 310 to start recording the video data from the first user's screen. For example, the first user can perform screen sharing to discuss a specific document or content from other applications during the video.

[0063] Figure 4Method 400 for generating a collaboration center in a group-based communication system is shown. In some embodiments, the collaboration center may be generated on a user-specific basis such that each user of the group-based communication system receives a unique collaboration center at least in part based on the user's preferences, activities, and relevant information within the group-based communication system. For example, the content displayed in the collaboration center for a first user may be different from the content displayed in the collaboration center for a second user.

[0064] In step 402, a list of recommended active users is determined. In some embodiments, the list of recommended active users may be selected from among multiple users at least in part based on user activities within the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, users may be recommended based on the frequency of interaction between users. For example, if a first user frequently communicates with a second user in the group-based communication system via any one of direct messages, public channels, and dedicated channels, then the second user may appear in the list of recommended active users on the collaboration center of the first user. In some embodiments, this may further depend on the status of the second user (e.g., whether the second user is currently active in the group-based communication system). Additionally, in some embodiments, users may be recommended at least in part based on relevant information within the group-based communication system, such as whether two users have similar channel memberships in the group-based communication system. For example, if a first user and a second user are both members of a first channel and a second channel, then the second user may be recommended for the collaboration center of the first user based on this association.

[0065] In step 404, a list of recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions is determined. In some embodiments, the recommended multimedia collaboration sessions may be selected from among multiple multimedia collaboration sessions in the group-based communication system. Here, the multimedia collaboration sessions may be recommended based on a variety of factors, including, for example, whether the session is currently active, whether the user has previously been invited to or joined the session, whether the session is hosted on a channel of which the user is a member, and other session-related information.

[0066] In step 406, a list of recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration threads is determined. In some embodiments, the recommended multimedia collaboration threads are selected from among a plurality of multimedia collaboration threads within a group-based communication system. In some such embodiments, the multimedia collaboration threads may be selected based on a variety of factors, including, for example, whether the user has been mentioned in the thread, whether the user has previously posted a communication in the thread, when the most recent communication was posted in the thread, whether the thread is hosted on a channel of which the user is a member, and other thread-related information. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to remove a thread from consideration for recommendation after it has not been used for a long time. For example, if no new content has been posted to a particular thread for more than a month, that thread is excluded from the collaboration center. However, it should be understood that the time threshold for recommending a thread can be any suitable period, such as, for example, two months, three months, or one year.

[0067] In step 408, a collaboration center 202 is generated for display in the graphical user interface of the group-based communication system. For example, as Figure 2A shown, the collaboration center may be generated for display as part of the user interface 200A. However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the appearance of the collaboration center may vary, and the collaboration center 202 may be user-specific, displaying unique content for each user. Additionally, the presence and arrangement of the various components of the collaboration center 202 may vary between different embodiments and between different users of the same embodiment. In some embodiments, the collaboration center 202 includes each of a list 206 of recommended active users, a list 208 of recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions, and a feed 210 of recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration threads.

[0068] In some such embodiments, each of the lists 206, 208, and the feed 210 is displayed according to the importance of each item. For example, if a recommended session is determined to be the most important, that session may be displayed at the top of the list 206 of recommended active sessions. Here, the importance of an item may be determined according to the same criteria used to determine the recommended item. For example, if a user is recommended to the list of recommended active users, the importance of that user will be determined according to these same factors. In one example, a first user may appear at the top of the list of recommended active users because the instant user has recently communicated with the first user most frequently. Similarly, a second user with a lower frequency of communication will appear further down the list 208 of recommended active users.

[0069] In some embodiments, the collaboration hub 202 further includes actuatable controls 214 for each respective user in the list 208 of recommended activity users, which are configured to initiate at least one of a text-based communication session (e.g., a direct message with the respective user) and a multimedia communication session with the respective user. In some embodiments, the multimedia communication session can be conducted similar to the synchronous multimedia collaboration session described herein.

[0070] Figure 5 Method 500 for initiating a synchronous multimedia collaboration session within a group-based communication system is shown. At step 502, user input is received to create a synchronous multimedia collaboration session. In some embodiments, the user input can be the user clicking a create session button or a start session button (e.g., session join / initiate buttons 226, 212, and 214) within the collaboration hub 202 in the graphical user interface of the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, the user can also receive the user input by selecting a shortcut for creating a session. In some embodiments, the session creation shortcut can be in a single channel such that the user can initiate a session without accessing the collaboration hub 202. Additionally, in some embodiments, the user input can be received within a channel of the group-based communication system to associate the channel with the synchronous collaboration session. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the user can choose to associate the channel with the synchronous collaboration session after creating the session. In some embodiments, the user can start a synchronous collaboration session with one or more users without associating any channels.

[0071] At step 504, the synchronous multimedia collaboration session is initiated within the group-based communication system. Here, the initiation of the session can include generating any one of a session identifier and other session information for the session. At step 506, a session invitation user interface 400 is generated for display on the user device of the initiating user. The session invitation user interface 400 includes a graphical user interface suitable for selecting users to invite to the initiated session. In some embodiments, the session invitation user interface 400 can recommend users to invite based on user activity or other user associations described herein.

[0072] At step 508, the session invitation user interface 400 receives user input to invite one or more users to the session. Thus, the initiating user can select to invite one or more users to the session from the session invitation user interface 400. At step 510, an invitation is sent to the one or more selected users to invite the users to the session for synchronous multimedia collaboration. Thus, users are able to interact and collaborate in real time using various forms of media (e.g., video and audio chat, real-time text communication, and screen sharing).

[0073] In some embodiments, a session provides a multimedia data stream to the users participating in the session. The multimedia data stream may include video data, audio data, or any combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments, a user participating in a session may choose to share video data captured by the desktop webcam or the mobile phone camera of the user's user device (e.g., if the user participates in the session using a mobile phone). Additionally, the user may also choose not to share video data and communicate only via audio.

[0074] Figure 6 Method 600 for facilitating an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session within a group-based communication system is shown. At step 602, user input is received. In some embodiments, the user input may receive multimedia content to be published within the group-based communication system. For example, the user input may be that the user publishes a playable video within a channel of the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, in addition to the multimedia content, an indication to start an asynchronous session is also received from the user. At step 604, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session is initiated within the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, for example, as described above with respect to Figure 3 the session topic of the asynchronous session is received.

[0075] At step 606, other users are notified to participate in the session. In some embodiments, only a selected portion of the users are notified. For example, embodiments where only the users associated with the asynchronous session are notified may be considered. In some embodiments, the users may be mentioned in the original post of the thread so as to be associated with and notified of the session. Additionally, in some embodiments, the users who are members of the channel where the original session communication is posted are notified. It should be understood that embodiments where non-channel member users are notified may be considered. For example, non-channel member users mentioned in the post of the session thread may be notified and granted access to the session thread but not to other content of the channel.

[0076] At step 608, a reply is received from other users or in some cases from the original user. The reply may be any one of a video reply, a text reply, a pure audio reply, a file attachment, and other forms of multimedia content posted after the original session content. At step 610, an asynchronous thread 270 is generated for the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session that includes the original post communication and the reply. In some embodiments, the asynchronous thread 270 is generated so as to be displayed as an expanded thread pane in a user interface (e.g., Figure 2C shown). In some embodiments, as Figure 2C shown, only a preview portion of the thread, e.g., the original post communication, is displayed in the channel, and the thread is expanded according to user actuation of an expand button (e.g., thread expand button 266).

[0077] In some embodiments, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session may be desirable when asynchronous communication is needed. For example, in some cases, users may have scheduling conflicts that prevent them from participating in a synchronous real-time meeting. Thus, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session can be used to provide multimedia communication between users, where users can interact at their own time without the need for other users to be present at all times.

[0078] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be noted that the present invention may adopt equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope of the present invention as described in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a user to one or more users in a group-based communication system, the method comprises: causing a display of a user interface; identifying one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions in the group-based communication system, at least in part based on determining that the user is a member of one or more channels associated with one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions; causing a display of information indicating the one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions in the user interface; causing a display of one or more controls in the user interface corresponding to the respective recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions of the one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions, which allow the user to join the respective recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions; receiving from the user a selection of a control among the one or more controls; and in response to receiving the selection of the control among the one or more controls, causing the user to join the respective recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration session.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprises: receiving from the user a second selection of a second control among the one or more controls; and in response to receiving the selection of the second control among the one or more controls, causing the user to join the respective recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration session corresponding to the selected second control.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions are further identified at least in part based on previous interactions between the user and the one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions are further identified at least in part based on previous interactions between the user and another user currently joined to the one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprises: causing a display of other information associated with the one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions, the other information including: a first indication of one or more active users of the respective recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration session currently joined to the one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions; and a second indication of a group-based communication channel of the one or more channels associated with the respective recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration session of the one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the other information further comprises: a third indication of the number of users currently joined to the respective recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration session of the one or more recommended activity-synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprises: Causing display of a session preview associated with the corresponding recommended activity synchronized multimedia collaboration session that synchronizes with the one or more recommended activities, the session preview including an indication of a session topic associated with the corresponding recommended activity synchronized multimedia collaboration session of the one or more recommended activities and a current speaker indication.

8. A system, comprising: at least one processor; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform the method of any one of claims 1-7.

9. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform the method of any one of claims 1-7.

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