Dynamic Content Items in Chat Interfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Collaboration platforms face challenges in managing overwhelming notifications from integrated applications, leading to reduced usability of instant messaging systems due to inundation of messages from both human and programmatic users, especially when groups subscribe to multiple integrations or experience frequent events.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of dynamic content items and conditional controls within the collaboration platform allows for the display of aggregate information outside the messaging area and provides users with relevant actions directly from the chat interface, enhancing usability by filtering and surfacing useful information and actions based on specific conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If groups subscribe to multiple integrations or when events occur frequently, then the functionality and information coverage of the collaboration platform is improved, but the number of messages received by users becomes overwhelming and reduces usability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality coverageVSAvoidusability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the information display by creating a dedicated dynamic content item area separate from the traditional messaging area. This segmentation allows integrations to display notifications and content in structured containers with conditional visibility, preventing message overload while maintaining comprehensive functionality coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic content items that can change their display state based on conditions. Content items can be shown or hidden dynamically depending on whether they contain relevant information, allowing the interface to adapt its complexity level based on current integration activity and event frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If integrations push notifications frequently to keep users informed, then the information completeness is improved, but the chat rooms become inundated with messages from programmatic users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidmessage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts integration notifications from the traditional message stream and places them in dedicated dynamic content items. This extraction allows comprehensive information delivery while preventing the message volume from becoming overwhelming, as users can see all integration content in organized containers rather than as individual messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple integration notifications into unified dynamic content item containers. Instead of displaying separate messages from each integration, related notifications are combined within structured containers that can be conditionally displayed, reducing overall message volume while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of information

If the collaboration platform displays all integration content in the messaging area, then the information accessibility is improved, but the chat interface becomes cluttered and reduces user focus on critical information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidinterface clutter

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a new dimensional organization to the interface by creating a separate dynamic content item area distinct from the messaging area. This dimensional change allows integration content to be accessible while visually separated, preventing interface clutter and helping users focus on critical messaging information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the platform provides comprehensive controls for all integration actions, then the user control capability is improved, but the interface complexity and difficulty of operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing conditional controls only where and when they are relevant. Controls are displayed based on specific conditions related to the content item state, user context, and integration type, rather than providing all possible controls universally. This maintains comprehensive control capability while preserving operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10938757B2Systems and methods for providing external content in a messaging interface

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 ATLASSIAN PTY LTD

AI summary

Described herein is a computer implemented method for displaying a dynamic content item in a chat interface running on a client device. The method comprises receiving, from a collaboration platform, a dynamic content item descriptor which defines the dynamic content item and a content provider that is configured to provide dynamic data for the dynamic content item; receiving, from the content provider, dynamic data; and displaying the dynamic content item with the dynamic data in an area of the chat interface that is distinct from a messaging area of the chat interface.