A collaboration hub for group-based communication systems

Abstract

A computer-readable medium, method and system for generating a collaboration hub for display within a graphical user interface of a group-based communication system, the collaboration hub including a list of recommended active users, a list of recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions, and a feed of recommended asynchronous collaboration threads such that related activity within the group-based communication system is viewable and accessible to users of the group-based communication system.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] [Related Applications] This application shares certain common subject matter with U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 064,344, entitled "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, entitled "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, entitled "ASYNCHRONOUS COLLABORATION IN A COMMUNICATION PLATFORM," filed on May 14, 2021. The above applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0002] [Technical field] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to multimedia communications, and more specifically to a virtual multimedia collaboration content hub for group-based communication systems. [Background technology]

[0003] Traditionally, non-face-to-face collaboration has been divided into asynchronous communication (such as email or group-based messaging), where the recipient may see the message minutes, days, or months after the sender sent it, and synchronous communication (such as telephone calls or video conferences), which occurs in real time but must be scheduled in advance. None of these formats can replicate the casual conversations that naturally occur in a physical office. Furthermore, there is currently no way for users to view content related to multimedia collaboration for both asynchronous and synchronous communications in one place. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present invention solve the above problems by providing a computer-readable medium, system, and method for generating a collaboration hub for display within a graphical user interface of a group-based communication system, the collaboration hub including information regarding recommended active users, recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions, and recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration threads.

[0005] A first embodiment of the present invention is directed to one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method of generating virtual content associated with a group-based communication system, the method including generating a collaboration hub for display in a graphical user interface of the group-based communication system, the collaboration hub including a list of recommended active users, a plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to each user in the list of recommended active users, the plurality of actuatable controls being 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.

[0006] A second embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for generating virtual content associated with a group-based communication system, the method including generating a collaboration hub for display in a graphical user interface of the group-based communication system, the collaboration hub including a list of recommended active users and a plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to each user on the list of recommended active users, the plurality of actuatable controls 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.

[0007] A third embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system for generating virtual content associated with a group-based communication system, the system having a data store that stores information associated with the group-based communication system; and a processor programmed to generate a collaboration hub for display in a graphical user interface of the group-based communication system, the collaboration hub including a list of recommended active users and a plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to each user on the list of recommended active users, the plurality of actuatable controls being 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.

[0008] Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to generating a session preview for display within a graphical user interface of a group-based communication system, the session preview showing information of the session including at least one of the number of users in the session, user activity within the session, and a set of actuatable controls associated with the session.

[0009] A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for initiating a synchronized multimedia collaboration session within a group-based communication system, where a multimedia collaboration session is generated and additional users are invited to the multimedia collaboration session using a session invitation interface generated for display within a graphical user interface associated with the group-based communication system.

[0010] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following Detailed Description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] [Figure 1A] 1 illustrates an exemplary hardware platform for certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0013] [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 shows a system diagram illustrating elements of a system for implementing an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] [Figure 2A] 1 illustrates a user interface including a collaboration hub in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0015] [Figure 2B] 1 illustrates a user interface for a channel having an active multimedia collaboration session in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] [Figure 2C] 1 illustrates a user interface of an active multimedia collaboration session after the sessions have been merged in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0017] [Diagram 3] 1 illustrates a user interface for an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0018] [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a method for creating a collaboration hub within a group-based communication system in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0019] [Diagram 5] 1 illustrates a method for initiating a synchronized multimedia collaboration session within a group-based communication system in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a method for an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session in a group-based communication system in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] The drawings do not limit the invention to the particular embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, which show specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0023] In this description, the term "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "an embodiment" means that one or more features referenced are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Individual references in this description to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "an embodiment" do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are not mutually exclusive, unless so described and / or as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description. For example, features, structures, acts, etc. described in one embodiment may, but are not necessarily, included in other embodiments. Thus, the technology may include various combinations and / or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

[0024] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary hardware platform for certain embodiments of the present invention. The computer 102 can be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server computer, a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, or any other form factor of a general-purpose or special-purpose computing device. Shown with the computer 102 are several components for illustration purposes. In some embodiments, certain components may be located differently or not present. Additional components may be present. The computer 102 includes a system bus 104, which allows other components of the computer 102 to communicate with each other. In certain embodiments, there may be multiple buses, or the components may communicate directly with each other. 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, the graphics card 110 may not be a physically separate card, but rather may be integrated into the motherboard or CPU 106. In some embodiments, the graphics card 110 has a separate graphics processing unit (GPU) 112, which can be used for graphics processing or general purpose computing (GPGPU). The graphics card 110 also has GPU memory 114. Connected (directly or indirectly) to the graphics card 110 is a display 116 for user interaction. In some embodiments, there is no display, while in other embodiments, a display is integrated into the computer 102. Similarly, peripherals such as a keyboard 118 and a mouse 120 are connected to the system bus 104. Like the display 116, these peripherals may or may not be integrated into the computer 102.In some embodiments, additional peripherals, such as a microphone or video camera, may also be present and connected to the system bus 104. In some embodiments, such peripherals may be removably connected to the computer 102 via a wired or wireless connection. In other embodiments, such as a tablet or smartphone, these peripherals are integrated into the computer 102. Also connected to the system bus 104 is local storage 122, which may be any form of computer readable media and may be located internally within the computer 102 or removably attached externally.

[0025] Computer-readable media includes volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media, and media readable by a database. For example, computer-readable media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD), holographic media or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and other magnetic storage devices. These technologies can store data either temporarily or permanently. However, unless expressly specified, the term "computer-readable media" should not be interpreted to include physical but transitory forms of signal transmission such as radio broadcasts, electrical signals over wires, or light pulses over fiber optic cables. Examples of stored information include computer usable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data representations.

[0026] Finally, a network interface card (NIC) 124 is also attached to the system bus 104, enabling the computer 102 to communicate over a network, such as network 126. The NIC 124 can be any form of network interface known in the art, such as Ethernet, ATM, fiber, 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, such as computer 128, and network storage, such as data store 130. In general, a data store, such as data store 130, may be any repository in which information can be stored and retrieved as needed. Examples of data stores include relational or object-oriented databases, spreadsheets, file systems, flat files, directory services such as LDAP and Active Directory, or email storage systems. The data store may be accessible through a complex API (such as a structured query language), a simple API that provides only read, write, and seek operations, or any level of complexity in between. Some data stores may additionally provide management features for the stored data sets, such as backups and version control. A data store can be local to a single computer, such as computer 128, can be accessible over a local network, such as local network 126, or can be remotely accessible via the Internet 132. Local network 126 is in turn connected to the Internet 132, which connects many networks, such as local network 126, remote networks 134, or directly connected computers, such as computer 136. In some embodiments, computer 102 can itself be directly connected to the Internet 132.

[0027] FIG. 1B illustrates elements of a system 150 for implementing an embodiment of the present invention. System 150 includes any number of client devices, such as client device 152, client device 154, and client device 156, associated with user 158, user 160, and user 162, respectively. Although system 150 is depicted with one client device per user, an individual user may connect to the group-based communication system using multiple client devices, either simultaneously or sequentially. Similarly, in some embodiments, multiple users may share a single client device (simultaneously or sequentially) to access the group-based communication system. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the client device may be any form of computing device as described above with respect to FIG. 1A. In particular, a user may access the group-based communication system using a desktop, laptop, or mobile device. The group-based communication system may be accessed via dedicated software on the client device or a web browser on the client device. In some embodiments, a channel administrator may access management functions via any client device. In other embodiments, management functions may be accessed only from a limited subset of client devices (e.g., only via client device 152). In some embodiments, the group-based communication system is a channel-based messaging platform.

[0028] The group-based communication system is hosted by a group-based communication system server 164. The group-based communication system server 164 may be a dedicated server, a shared server, a virtual machine instance in a cloud computing environment, or other forms of computing devices as described above with respect to FIG. 1A. Although a single group-based communication system server 164 is shown, such embodiments having multiple group-based communication system servers are also intended to provide scale, redundancy, and / or isolation between different instances of the group-based communication system. For example, a software development company may not want to host its group-based communication system on the same server as a competitor's group-based communication system for security reasons. The server 164 is communicatively coupled to the client devices 152, 154, and 156 via a network 166. The network 166 may 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 for providing communication between the various components of the system 150 is contemplated. The group-based communication system server 164 may provide web server functionality to enable web-based clients and non-web server functionality to enable clients using dedicated apps. Alternatively, both the web-based clients and the dedicated app clients may use a single web server, and the web server may be a gateway that provides web-based access to the dedicated app servers. Other techniques for enabling communication between various types of client applications are also contemplated.

[0029] The group-based communication system data store 168 is communicatively connected to the group-based communication system server 164. As illustrated, the group-based communication system data store 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 be used. Generally speaking, the group-based communication system data store 168 stores all persistent information used by the group-based communication system server 164. For example, the group-based communication system data store 168 may store all messages including associated channels, documents and images uploaded to a particular channel, channel membership information and / or user information. In some embodiments, collaboration sessions may be archived and stored in the group-based communication system data store 168 for subsequent retrieval. As previously mentioned, multiple group-based communication system servers may be present in the system 150. In such embodiments, each group-based communication system server may have its own copy of the group-based communication system data store 168. Alternatively, multiple group-based communication system servers may share a single networked group-based communication system data store. Alternatively, or in addition, in any of these embodiments, data may be shared across multiple group-based communication system data stores.

[0030] A 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 real-time multimedia collaboration sessions between users of the group-based communication system, as described in further detail below. The term "multimedia" is used herein for brevity; however, it should be understood that the term as used herein contemplates audio-only streams, video-only streams, audio / video streams, or any other combination of one or more media streams.

[0031] As shown, communication between the real-time media servers is via network 166. However, in some embodiments, the real-time nature of the collaboration session may be better served by connecting via a different network for some or all of the communication couplings. For example, a particular client device may normally connect to the group-based communication system server 164 via a cellular data connection, but may switch to a WiFi connection when the multimedia collaboration session begins to accommodate additional demands on bandwidth. In some embodiments, the client devices may communicate multimedia collaboration data with each other via the real-time media server 170 using a hub-and-spoke configuration. In other embodiments, the client devices may communicate with each other directly using a peer-to-peer or supernode architecture. In still other embodiments, client devices on the same network may communicate with each other using a multicast network protocol such as IP multicast. In still other embodiments, media communication between the client devices may be via an edge-based scaling content delivery network.

[0032] FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary user interface 200A including a collaboration hub 202 and a sidebar pane 204. In some such embodiments, the user interface 200A may be a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with a group-based communication system. Additionally, the user interface 200A may be generated instant user operating any of the client devices 152, 154, or 156 for display on said client devices. The collaboration hub 202 may include at least one of a list of recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions 206, a list of recommended active users 208, and a feed of an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session or conference including a multimedia or video thread 210. The synchronous multimedia collaboration session, in some embodiments, includes synchronous forms of multimedia communication such as video chat, audio chat, screen sharing, collaboration, and other forms of synchronous communication between two or more users. Alternatively, the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session or conference includes asynchronous forms of communication such as asynchronously viewable posted video and text-based message communication. Additional details relating to asynchronous forms of communication such as video messages are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 064,161, filed October 6, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In some examples, video responses to an asynchronous collaboration session can be threaded together to create a video thread and / or feed, as described herein in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 320,620, filed May 14, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0033] The list 206 of synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions may include one or more active collaboration sessions selected for recommendation on the collaboration hub 202. For example, the collaboration session may be selected from multiple collaboration sessions displayed on the user interface 200A because they are currently active while the collaboration hub 202 is being viewed by the instant user. Additionally, the collaboration session may be selected in part based on user interaction with the session or some association of the instant user with the session. For example, the recommended collaboration sessions may be displayed on the collaboration hub 202 in part based on the instant user being a member of or invited to the respective collaboration sessions. The recommended collaboration sessions may be displayed based on the association of the instant user with other users who are part of the active collaboration sessions. In some examples, the collaboration hub 202 may display the collaboration sessions based on the user's organization, attributes of the user's profile, topics and projects to which the user may be associated, projects associated with the user, channels to which the user is associated, and other factors.

[0034] The list of recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions 206 may further include an actuatable join session button 212 for joining each of the listed recommended sessions. In some embodiments, the join session button 212 may be an actuatable link for joining the respective multimedia collaboration session. For example, the join session button 212 may be selected from within the user interface 200A by clicking or tapping the button 212. When the join session button 212 is actuated, the instant user may be added to the multimedia collaboration session associated with the join session button 212. In some embodiments, the list of recommended active multimedia collaboration sessions 206 further includes additional information for each session. For example, the list 206 may 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 a group-based communication channel associated with the session, as shown. In some embodiments, the list of active sessions may include an actuatable control for creating a new session and having the newly created session added to the list of active sessions. Alternatively or additionally, if the collaboration session includes a video component (e.g., one or more users' videos, screen sharing, collaboration, etc.), a thumbnail showing the video component may be drawn. In some embodiments, the thumbnails may be static. In other embodiments, they may be fully dynamic, or may be animated sequences of thumbnails to reduce bandwidth consumption. Additionally, the name of the session, the topic of the session, the time the session was active, the number of participants in the session, and other session related information may be included in the collaboration hub 202. In some embodiments, each multimedia collaboration session may be associated with a channel of a group-based communication system.In some embodiments, a synchronous multimedia collaboration session may be associated with users who are part of a group message or direct message that is not associated with a channel. In some embodiments, a session preview 248 is shown for some or all of the active sessions, as shown in FIG. 2C. In some embodiments, a synchronous collaboration session includes a session topic 238 that indicates the topic of the session. The session topic 238 may be any user-defined topic or may be selected from a pre-populated list of topics (e.g., for the convenience of the user, a list of commonly used topics may be provided). A user may add any topic to the session by typing in a topic entry field. In some embodiments, the preview includes a screen sharing preview, which may include a notification that screen sharing is occurring and an indication of which users are screen sharing.

[0035] In some embodiments, a user may only participate in a single active synchronous collaboration session at any one time. Thus, participating in a second active synchronous collaboration session causes the user to leave the first active synchronous collaboration session. In some embodiments, a user may be part of multiple active synchronous collaboration sessions.

[0036] In some embodiments, the list of recommended active users 208 may include a plurality of group-based communication system users that are recommended based on at least one of user activity, user interaction, or other user information. For example, the list of recommended active users 208 may be selected from a plurality of users based on some similarity between the users, such as the active status of the users in the group-based communication system, historical, recent, or frequent user interactions, such as the users communicating in a group-based communication channel, or determining that the users share common membership in a channel with other users. The list of recommended active users 208 may include user information for each user. For example, the user's status information 214 may be displayed on the collaboration hub 202 as shown. The status information may 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, or an indication that the user is home and sick. In some embodiments, the status indication includes presence information, such as whether the user is active, idle, or offline. It should be understood that in some embodiments, additional types of status information are contemplated.

[0037] In some embodiments, the list of recommended active users 208 further includes a plurality of actuatable buttons 216 corresponding to each listed active user. For example, the actuatable buttons 216 may be configured to initiate at least one of a text-based communication session or a multimedia communication session when selected. In some embodiments, each listed active user may appear with two respective actuatable buttons 216 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 may initiate an asynchronous conference by clicking the second button to initiate an asynchronous video thread. In some embodiments, initiating the text-based communication session may include redirecting the group-based communication system user interface 200A to a direct (person-to-person) message channel shared with the listed recommended user associated with the respective actuatable button.

[0038] In some embodiments, one or more recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration sessions or conferences 210 are displayed in the asynchronous conferences section 210. In some embodiments, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session is an asynchronous conference where a topic is posted in a message at the start of a conference thread and conference participants respond by posting messages or video responses. In some embodiments, the responses are aggregated in a video thread corresponding to the conference. In some embodiments, a preview of a subset of the video responses may be shown within the asynchronous collaboration session or thread. In some embodiments, each asynchronous collaboration session displayed in the collaboration hub is interactable, allowing users to post responses directly to the asynchronous collaboration session or to view video responses to a particular asynchronous collaboration session. In some embodiments, clicking on a video thread causes the entire thread associated with the asynchronous conference to be opened in a separate thread pane. In some embodiments, a user may interact with each message posted in the thread pane. In some embodiments, a preview of each of the asynchronous collaboration sessions may be generated for display on the collaboration hub 202, including one or more asynchronous playable videos 218, a response button 220, a text-based communication button 222, and an add user button 224. Asynchronously playable videos 218 may be videos shared by other users within the thread of an asynchronous collaboration session. In some embodiments, selecting a preview of an asynchronous collaboration session may show the complete thread in more detail or a partial view of the thread displaying the latest posts in a new pane. In some embodiments, each collaboration session may be associated with a channel of a group-based communication system. For example, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session may be hosted within an announcements channel of a group-based communication system as shown.Thus, the channel name may be displayed along with the thread of the asynchronous collaboration session.

[0039] A reply button 220 may be included in each asynchronous collaboration session or a subset of asynchronous collaboration sessions to allow a user to record or otherwise post a multimedia or text communication response to the asynchronous collaboration session. For example, when a user activates the reply button 220 by clicking or tapping the button, the user may initiate recording of a video response that may be added to a thread associated with the asynchronous collaboration session. Additionally, a text-based communication button 222 may be included in each asynchronous collaboration session to allow a user to create a text message communication to be shared within the respective thread. In some embodiments, an add user button 224 may be displayed with an asynchronous meeting that allows a user to be added to the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session. For example, a user may click or tap the add user button 224, which generates an “add user” modal for display in the user interface 200A. The “add user modal” may include multiple users for selection to be added to the collaboration session based on a user directory or a set of recommended users for the session. In some embodiments, any user associated with the channel, direct message, or group message with which the asynchronous collaboration session is associated may post a response. In some embodiments, adding a user to an asynchronous conference specifically lists the added user in the body of the conference message. In some embodiments, listing the user sends a notification or alert to the listed user that there is an asynchronous collaboration session. In some embodiments, adding a user allows the added user to respond to the asynchronous collaboration conference even if the user did not previously have viewing permissions.

[0040] The sidebar pane 204 includes a channels section 280 that lists multiple channels of the group-based communication system, and a direct messages section 282 that lists multiple direct messages with other users of 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 to which the user has access (or only channels of which the user is a member) are included. The 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 synchronized multimedia collaboration session, a session indicator 226 may be included next to the channel name indicating that a session is currently hosted on the channel. Additionally, the session indicator 226 may indicate the number of users currently participating in the session, as shown.

[0041] FIG. 2B illustrates a user interface 200B of a channel 228 having an active synchronous multimedia collaboration session before a user has joined the session. The user interface 200B includes a sidebar pane 204 including a channel 228 having a session indicator 226 indicating the number of participants in the session. Additionally, the sidebar pane 204 may indicate the selected channel 228 by highlighting the channel name, outlining it, displaying it in a different color or font, or in some other manner indicating that the particular channel is currently selected and opened within the group-based communication system. In addition to the sidebar pane 204, the user interface 200B includes a channel communication pane 230. The channel communication pane 230 includes a number of communications shared within the selected channel. For example, a number of messages 232 may be posted within the channel by the channel members. The user interface 200B may further include a communication input field 234 for sharing messages, attachments, and other communications within the channel.

[0042] In some embodiments, if a selected channel includes a currently active synchronous collaboration session, a session preview 236 may be generated for display in the user interface 200B. In some embodiments, the session preview 236 is generated when the synchronous collaboration session indicator 226 is clicked from the sidebar pane 204. In some embodiments, an active session indicator may be displayed in a channel header, and clicking the active session indicator displays the session preview 236. The session preview 236 may include a display of a session topic 238, a display of one or more users 240 in the session, a display of an audio status 242 for each of the one or more users 240, a join button 244, and / or a join mute button 246. The audio status 242 may indicate whether a respective user is muted, unmuted, or speaking in the multimedia collaboration session. In some embodiments, each representation of the users 240 in the session is a still image, such as a profile picture or username. In other embodiments, each representation is a video thumbnail from the user's live video feed. In still other embodiments, some users are represented by still images and other users are represented by video thumbnails. Thus, the session preview 236 allows a user to see whether a multimedia collaboration session is currently in progress on a 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, when clicked or tapped, automatically joins the user to the multimedia collaboration session. Similarly, the join mute button 246 allows a user to join a session with their microphone muted. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to include the join mute button 246 so that a user can silently join a session without interrupting the flow of the session.Additionally, a user may join a session only to listen to other users and not want to actively communicate within the session.

[0043] In some embodiments, the session preview 236 may be displayed as a pop-over window that covers a portion of the channel communication pane 230. Additionally, in some embodiments, the session preview 236 is movable such that a user can drag the session preview 236 to adjust its position within the user interface 200B. Additionally, in some embodiments, the session preview 236 automatically scales to the overall size of the user interface 200B such that the session preview 236 does not cover the communication input field 234. For example, if a user reduces the window size of the user interface 200B by clicking and dragging the edge of the window of the user interface 200B, the size of the session preview 236 is automatically adjusted based on the change in the window size of the user interface 200B. In some such embodiments, it may be desirable to automatically adjust the size of the session preview 236 such that the communication input field 234 is always visible and the user can enter message communications while simultaneously viewing the session preview 236. Still further, in some embodiments, the user can 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 on the user interface 200B, as shown in FIG. 2C. In some embodiments, the session preview pane may be freely movable within the user interface by the user.

[0044] FIG. 2C illustrates a user interface 200C for an active synchronous multimedia collaboration session after the session has been joined by a user. Thus, the session preview 236 may be compressed into a condensed session preview 248. In some embodiments, the session preview 248 may be shown in a list of active sessions in the collaboration hub 202 illustrated in FIG. 2A. In other embodiments, as described in further detail below, the session preview 248 appears in a sidebar pane 204 of the user interface 200C as the user navigates the group-based communication system. In such embodiments, the condensed session preview 248 includes a subset of information from the session preview 236 described above. For example, the condensed session preview 248 includes the session topics 238. In some embodiments, the condensed session preview 248 further includes a current speaker indication 250 indicating the user currently speaking in the session (the current speaker indication 250 is similar to the corresponding user identifier indication in 240), a mute button 252 operable to mute the microphone of an instant user in the session, a screen share button 254 operable to share the screen of an instant user in the session, an add user button 256 for adding additional users to the session, and an end button 258. In some embodiments, the end button 258 is operable to close the condensed session preview 248. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the end button 258 ends the session such that the instant user is removed from the session.

[0045] In some embodiments, the synchronous collaboration session includes additional affordances for adding multimedia to the session, such as video, audio, collaboration tools such as a whiteboard or board, third party application plug-ins, 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 collaboration tools are also contemplated. For example, users of a synchronous multimedia collaboration session may communicate using any of text, video, audio, file attachments, and other forms of media. In some embodiments, multiple forms of media may be streamed synchronously at the same time. For example, a user may talk on a video call while posting text-based messages or images on a whiteboard associated with the session. In some embodiments, the whiteboard, including the text and image content, is visible to each user of the synchronous multimedia collaboration session such that users may freely collaborate in real time using various forms of media at the same time.

[0046] In one example of user interfaces 200B and 200C, a first user posts a message to a discussion channel on a group-based communication system including a meeting agenda for a meeting to be conducted using a synchronous multimedia collaboration session. The first user initiates a multimedia collaboration in the discussion channel and sets a session topic for the starting session "10 AM Meeting" which is displayed in session preview 236. Additionally, session preview 236 displays the users in the session and their microphone status.

[0047] For users in the discussion channel who have not yet joined the session, a join button 244 and a join mute button 246 may additionally appear in the session preview 236 to enable the users to join the session. For example, a fifth user is a member of the discussion channel and selects the join button 244 to join the session. In response to the fifth user joining the session, the session preview 236 may be compressed into a condensed session preview 248, as shown in FIG. 2C. Thus, the fifth user can see who is speaking in the session and other session related information. The fifth user may traverse the graphical user interface to view another channel while simultaneously viewing the condensed session preview in a sidebar of the graphical user interface, as shown in FIG. 2C. Thus, the fifth user may use the communication input field 234 to draft a text message to interact with users of the announcement channel while remaining part of the discussion channel session.

[0048] Additionally, the user interface 200C includes a selected channel indicator 228 and a session indicator 226 showing active sessions. Additionally, the user interface 200C includes a channel communication pane 230. In some embodiments, a user may navigate the group-based communication system while participating in a multimedia collaboration session. For example, as shown, an instant user may view the "Announcements" channel as a selected channel while participating in a session hosted in the "Discussion" channel. It should be understood that the "Discussion" and "Announcements" channels are merely examples of group-based communication channels and that any number of channels may be included in any variety of channel names for various applications of embodiments of the present invention.

[0049] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2C, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session 260 may be hosted within a channel of a group-based communication system, as shown. In other embodiments, an 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, the multimedia collaboration session may include one or more video and text message communication responses posted to a corresponding thread, as shown. Alternatively or additionally, a representation of this thread may be shown in the "collaboration hub" of FIG. 2A. For example, a user may post a playable video in a channel to initiate or respond to a multimedia collaboration session. Additionally, the channel communication pane 230 may include text responses and video responses to the playable video 218. In some embodiments, a text response to a playable video 218 may be generated in response to a user clicking a text-based communication button 222 adjacent to the original playable video 218 posted to the channel. Similarly, a video response may be generated in response to a user clicking a response button 220. For example, a video response may include video data recorded in response to a user clicking a response button 220.

[0050] The asynchronous multimedia collaboration session thread 260 may appear in the channel communication pane 230, as shown. In some embodiments, the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session thread 260 includes a session topic 262 that includes a user-selected description of the thread 260, which in some embodiments is a video thread, as shown. Additionally, the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session thread 260 includes a response indicator 264 that indicates the number of responses in the thread, as shown. The responses may include either video responses or text responses. In some embodiments, a thread expand button 266 is included that, when selected by the user, expands the thread by displaying the responses in the thread in the expanded thread pane 270, as shown. 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 responses. It should be understood that additional forms of media content, such as audio-only media, text media, and file attachments, are contemplated to be posted to threads.

[0051] In some embodiments, a thread entry field 278 is included below the expanded thread pane 270. The thread entry field 278 allows a user to directly enter a response to the thread 260. In some embodiments, the thread entry field 278 is similar to the communication entry field 234 and allows a user to create and edit text message communications and add multimedia file attachments.

[0052] As shown in the above examples, the collaboration hub 202 provides a unique experience to users by recommending relevant forms of collaboration based on user activity within the group-based communication system, as shown in FIG. 2A. Thus, users 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 hub 202 includes previews and additional information that inform users of various details within 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 session that are actively occurring. In some embodiments, the collaboration hub 202 may further inform users of the participants of each session. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide users with the ability to freely multitask within the group-based communication system. For example, a 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, user productivity in the group-based communication system is increased by providing such a variety of synchronous and asynchronous forms of communication and collaboration options.

[0053] 3 illustrates an asynchronous session interface 300 for recording and generating a playable video for an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session within a group-based communication system. The asynchronous session interface 300 may be generated for display on a screen of one of the client devices 152, 154, or 156. In some embodiments, the asynchronous session interface 300 may be displayed to a user after the user activates 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 a user selects the reply button 220.

[0054] In one example, the recording user has just finished recording a playable video that includes a video clip of the recording user speaking in response to previous videos or other content posted in the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session. Thus, in some embodiments, a preview of the playable video may be generated for display in the background of the asynchronous session interface 300. Alternatively, in another example, the asynchronous session interface 300 may be displayed while the recording user is actively recording a playable video, such that a live stream of video data is displayed in the asynchronous session interface 300.

[0055] The asynchronous session interface 300 includes a topic notification 302 that notifies the recording user to set a topic for the playable video, as shown. In some embodiments, the topic notification 302 is generated after the recording is finished. Additionally, a topic entry field 304 may be included for the recording user to type or input a topic for the recorded video. In some embodiments, the topic entry field 304 includes a text entry field that allows the user to type a user-defined topic for the recorded video. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, the topic entry field 304 further allows for image entry or emojis to be added to the topic. Thus, in embodiments, it is contemplated that a user-defined topic that includes both emojis and text descriptions may be generated using the topic entry field 304.

[0056] In some embodiments, the asynchronous session interface 300 further includes a plurality of topic recommendations 306, as shown. The topic recommendations 306 include example topics that the recording user can select as topics for the recorded video. In some embodiments, the topic recommendations 306 are generated based at least in part on previous video topics added by the user or other users within the group-based communication system. For example, in some embodiments, the plurality of topics 306 includes topics that the recording user used for previous playable videos. Alternatively or additionally, the plurality of topic recommendations 306 may include one or more default topics for the user to select. In some embodiments, when the user selects one of the plurality of topic recommendations 306, the selected topic is automatically generated in the topic input field 304 for the user to accept the topic or to further edit the topic using the topic input field 304, for example, by adding text or changing the topic emoji.

[0057] In some embodiments, the asynchronous session interface 300 further includes a number of actuatable video controls, including a record video button 308, a screen share button 310, and an upload video button 312. In some embodiments, the record video button 308, when actuated, may switch to become a stop record button or a pause record button (not shown). In some embodiments, the video controls 308, 310, and 312 are included in the asynchronous session interface 300 only while the recording user is recording a video, such that the video controls are not displayed or are changed after the video recording is completed. In such a case, a stop video button, which replaces the record video button 308, may be selected to stop the recording of the video. In some embodiments, the stop video button additionally completes the recording of the video. The screen share button 310, when selected by the user, switches the video recording from recording video data from the user's camera or webcam to recording video data from the screen of the user's device. In some embodiments, the screen share button 310 causes the entire screen of the user's device to be recorded. Alternatively, the user may be allowed to select the portions of the screen that are to be recorded, including portions that relate to particular applications running on the user's device.

[0058] The upload video button 312, when selected, uploads the previously recorded video to the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, the upload video button 312 automatically posts the previously recorded video as a playable video in the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session, such as playable video 218 as shown in FIG. 2C. In some embodiments, additional video controls may be included, such as a pause video button to temporarily stop recording of the video so that the user can continue recording later by pressing a record button. Additionally, in some embodiments, a video playback button may be included in the asynchronous session interface 300 after the video has been recorded so that the recording user can review the recorded video before uploading.

[0059] In one example, the asynchronous session interface 300 is generated for display on the user device of the first user in response to the first user selecting the reply button 220 from a video previously posted in the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session. The first user may then operate the asynchronous session interface 300 to start recording a video reply. Thus, video control options are generated for display while the video is being recorded. Here, video and audio data are recorded from the first user's webcam and microphone, respectively. The first user may then select the screen share button 310 to start recording video data from the first user's screen. For example, the first user may screen share to discuss a particular document or content from another application during the video.

[0060] 4 illustrates a method 400 for generating a collaboration hub within a group-based communication system. In some embodiments, the collaboration hub may be generated on a user-specific basis such that each user of the group-based communication system receives a unique collaboration hub based at least in part on the user's preferences, activities, and related information within the group-based communication system. For example, content displayed in a collaboration hub for a first user may differ from content displayed in a collaboration hub for a second user.

[0061] In step 402, a list of recommended active users is determined. In some embodiments, the list of recommended active users may be selected from a plurality of users based at least in part on user activity within the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, users may be recommended based on the frequency of interactions between the users. For example, if a first user frequently communicates with a second user within the group-based communication system via either direct messages, public channels, and private channels, the second user may appear in a list of recommended active users in the first user's collaboration hub. In some embodiments, this may further depend on the status of the second user (e.g., whether the second user is currently active within the group-based communication system). Furthermore, in some embodiments, users may be recommended based at least in part on related information within the group-based communication system, such as whether the two users have similar channel membership within the group-based communication system. For example, if the first user and the second user are members of both the first channel and the second channel, the second user may be recommended in the first user's collaboration hub based on this relatedness.

[0062] At step 404, a list of recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions is determined. In some embodiments, the recommended multimedia collaboration sessions may be selected from a plurality of multimedia collaboration sessions in the group-based communication system, where the multimedia collaboration sessions may be recommended based on a number of factors including, for example, whether the session is currently active, whether the user has previously been invited to or participated in the session, whether the session is hosted on a channel in which the user is a member, and other session-related information.

[0063] At step 406, a list of recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration threads is determined. In some embodiments, the recommended multimedia collaboration threads are selected from a plurality of multimedia collaboration threads in the group-based communication system. In some such embodiments, the multimedia collaboration threads may be selected based on multiple factors including, for example, whether the user is referenced 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 in a channel in which the user is a member, and other thread-related information. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to remove a thread from recommendation consideration after the thread has not been used for an extended period of time. For example, if no new content has been posted to the thread for more than a month, the thread may be removed from the collaboration hub. However, it should be understood that the time threshold for recommending a thread may be any suitable period of time, such as (for example) two months, three months, or one year.

[0064] At step 408, the collaboration hub 202 is generated for display in a graphical user interface of the group-based communication system. For example, the collaboration hub may be generated for display as part of the user interface 200A, as shown in FIG. 2A. However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the appearance of the collaboration hub may be modified and the collaboration hub 202 may be user-specific with unique content displayed for each user. Furthermore, the presence and location of various components of the collaboration hub 202 may vary between embodiments and between users of the same embodiment. In some embodiments, the collaboration hub 202 includes each of a list 206 of recommended active users, a list 208 of recommended active synchronous multimedia collaboration sessions, and a feed of recommended asynchronous multimedia collaboration threads 210.

[0065] In some such embodiments, each of the lists 206, 208 and the feed 210 is displayed based on the importance of each item. For example, if one of the recommended sessions is determined to be the most important, this session may be displayed at the top of the list of recommended active sessions 206. Here, the importance of the item may be determined based on the same criteria used to determine the recommended item. For example, if a user is recommended in the list of recommended active users, the importance of the user is determined by 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 last communicated frequently with the first user. Similarly, a second user who communicates less frequently may appear further down in the list of recommended active users 208.

[0066] In some embodiments, the collaboration hub 202 further includes, for each user on the list of recommended active users 208, an actuatable control 214 configured to initiate at least one of a text-based communication session, such as a direct message, with the respective user or a multimedia communication session with the respective user. In some embodiments, the multimedia communication session may be performed similarly to a synchronous multimedia collaboration session, as described herein.

[0067] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for initiating a synchronous multimedia collaboration session within a group-based communication system. In step 502, a user input is received to create a synchronous multimedia collaboration session. In some embodiments, the user input may be a user clicking a session creation button or a session start button (e.g., session join / start buttons 226, 212, and 214) within collaboration hub 202 in a graphical user interface of the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, the user input may additionally be received by a user selecting a shortcut to create a session. In some embodiments, a session creation shortcut may be included in an individual channel such that a user may initiate a session without visiting collaboration hub 202. Additionally, in some embodiments, a user input may be received from within a channel of the group-based communication system to associate the channel with the synchronous collaboration session. Alternatively, in some embodiments, a user may select to associate a channel with a synchronous collaboration session once a session is created. In some embodiments, a user may initiate a synchronous collaboration session with one or more users without being associated with a channel.

[0068] At step 504, a synchronous multimedia collaboration session is initiated within the group-based communication system, where initiating the session may include any of generating a session identifier or other session information for the session, and 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 be invited to a session to be initiated. In some embodiments, the session invitation user interface 400 may recommend users to be invited based on user activity or other user associations, as described herein.

[0069] At step 508, user input is received by the session invitation user interface 400 to invite one or more users to the session. Thus, an initiating user may select one or more users from the session invitation user interface 400 to invite to the session. 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 can interact and collaborate in real time using various forms of media such as video and audio chat, live text communication, and screen sharing.

[0070] In some embodiments, a session provides a multimedia data stream to 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 a desktop webcam of the user's user device or, if the user is using a mobile phone to participate in the session, a mobile phone camera. Additionally, a user may choose not to share video data and to communicate via audio only.

[0071] FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 for facilitating an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session within a group-based communication system. In step 602, a user input is received. In some embodiments, the user input may be receiving multimedia content to be posted within the group-based communication system. For example, the user input may be a user posting a video playable within a channel of the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, in addition to the multimedia content, an instruction to initiate an asynchronous session is also received from the user. In step 604, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session is initiated within the group-based communication system. In some embodiments, a session topic is received for the asynchronous session, for example, as described above with respect to FIG. 3.

[0072] At step 606, additional users are notified of the session. In some embodiments, only a select portion of users are notified. For example, embodiments are contemplated in which only users associated with the asynchronous session are notified. In some embodiments, users may be referenced in the original post of the thread to be associated with the session and notified. Additionally, in some embodiments, users who are members of the channel to which the original session communication was posted are notified. It should be understood that embodiments are contemplated in which users who are not channel members may also be notified. For example, non-channel member users referenced in the post of the session thread may be notified and granted access to the session thread but not the remaining content of the channel.

[0073] At step 608, responses are received from additional users, possibly from the original user. The responses can be either video responses, text responses, audio-only responses, file attachments, or other forms of multimedia content posted after the original session content. At step 610, an asynchronous thread 270 is created for the asynchronous multimedia collaboration session including the originally posted communication and the responses. In some embodiments, the asynchronous thread 270 is created for display as an expanded thread pane in a user interface such as that shown in FIG. 2C. In some embodiments, only a preview portion of the thread is displayed in the channel, such as the originally posted communication, and the thread is expanded based on the user executing an expand button, such as the thread expand button 266, as shown in FIG. 2C.

[0074] In some embodiments, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session may be desirable when asynchronous communication is required. For example, in some cases, users may have scheduling conflicts such that synchronous real-time conferencing is not possible. Thus, an asynchronous multimedia collaboration session may be used to provide multimedia communication between users that allows users to interact on their own time without requiring the other user to be constantly present.

[0075] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it should be noted that equivalents may be used and substitutions may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. 1. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method for providing recommendations for connecting a user with one or more users of a group-based communication system, the method comprising: identifying one or more recommended active users based on past user activity between the user and each of the one or more recommended active users; identifying one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions involving multimedia communication including at least audio; Causing a representation of a collaboration hub in a user interface of the group-based communication system, the collaboration hub comprising: a list of said one or more recommended active users; a first plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to each of the one or more recommended active users, the first plurality of actuatable controls configured to initiate at least one of a text-based communication session or a multimedia communication session with each of the one or more recommended active users; a list of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions; and a second plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to each recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration session of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions and configured to cause the user to join the respective recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration session; the steps of: receiving a user selection of one of the second plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to a selected active synchronized multimedia collaboration session of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions; and in response to receiving the user selection, participating in the selected active synchronized multimedia collaboration session; Medium.

2. 1. A method for providing recommendations for connecting a user with one or more users of a group-based communication system, the method comprising: identifying one or more recommended active users based on past user activity between the user and each of the one or more recommended active users; identifying one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions involving multimedia communication including at least audio; Causing a representation of a collaboration hub in a user interface of the group-based communication system, the collaboration hub comprising: a list of said one or more recommended active users; a first plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to each of the one or more recommended active users, the first plurality of actuatable controls configured to initiate at least one of a text-based communication session or a multimedia communication session with each of the one or more recommended active users; a list of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions; and a second plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to each recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration session of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions and configured to cause the user to join the respective recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration session; the steps of: receiving a user selection of one of the second plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to a selected active synchronized multimedia collaboration session of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions; and in response to receiving the user selection, participating in the selected active synchronized multimedia collaboration session; method.

3. the collaboration hub further includes a set of user information for each recommended active user in the list of the one or more recommended active users, the user information including status information; The medium according to claim 1 or the method according to claim 2.

4. the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions are identified based on activity within each synchronized multimedia collaboration session. The medium according to claim 1 or the method according to claim 2.

5. each active synchronized multimedia collaboration session in the list of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions is associated with a respective group-based communication channel of the group-based communication system; The medium according to claim 1 or the method according to claim 2.

6. the collaboration hub further includes, for each recommended active multimedia collaboration session, one or more user indicators indicating which users are currently in the respective recommended active multimedia collaboration session. The medium according to claim 1 or the method according to claim 2.

7. an order of the recommended active users in the list of the one or more recommended active users is determined based on a communication frequency between the user and each recommended active user. The medium according to claim 1 or the method according to claim 2.

8. receiving an additional user selection of one of the first plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to a selected recommended active user of the one or more recommended active users; and initiating a communication session between the user and the selected recommended active user in response to receiving the additional user selection. The medium according to claim 1 or the method according to claim 2.

9. 1. A system for providing recommendations for connecting a user with one or more users of a group-based communication system, the system comprising: a data store storing information associated with the group-based communication system; At least one processor: identifying the one or more recommended active users based on past user activity between the user and each of the one or more recommended active users; identifying one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions involving multimedia communication including at least audio; generating a representation of a collaboration hub in a user interface of the group-based communication system, the collaboration hub comprising: a list of said one or more recommended active users; a first plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to each of the recommended active users, the first plurality of actuatable controls configured to initiate at least one of a text-based communication session or a multimedia communication session with each of the one or more recommended active users; a list of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions; and a second plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to each recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration session of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions and configured to cause the user to join the respective recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration session; Including; receiving a user selection of one of the second plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to a selected active synchronized multimedia collaboration session of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions; In response to receiving the user selection, participating in the selected active synchronized multimedia collaboration session; and at least one processor programmed to: system.

10. the list of recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions is selected based on activity within each synchronized multimedia collaboration session. The system of claim 9.

11. each active synchronized multimedia collaboration session in the list of the one or more recommended active synchronized multimedia collaboration sessions is associated with a respective group-based communication channel of the group-based communication system; The system of claim 9.

12. the collaboration hub further includes, for each recommended active multimedia collaboration session, one or more user indicators indicating which users are currently in the respective recommended active multimedia collaboration session. The system of claim 9.

13. an order of the recommended active users in the list of the one or more recommended active users is determined based on a communication frequency between the user and each recommended active user. The system of claim 9.

14. receiving an additional user selection of one of the first plurality of actuatable controls corresponding to a selected recommended active user of the one or more recommended active users; and initiating a communication session between the user and the selected recommended active user in response to receiving the additional user selection. The system of claim 9.

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