Integrating communication modes in persistent conversations

• US 9,270,630 B1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Eidelson, Benjamin David, Pawlowski, Peter, Gustafsson, Per, Lindberg, Jonas Erik, Douglas, Heradon, Kempn, Bjrn
• Primary Examiner(s): Mirza, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US13/748,579
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable media for persistent conversations are described. In some implementations, a method can include receiving a communication message sent from a first user to at least one other user and generating a persistent conversation object having a conversation content section and conversation state information. The method can also include storing the communication message in the conversation content section of the persistent conversation object and forwarding the communication message to the at least one other user. The method can further include updating the conversation state information to reflect the receiving, storing and forwarding of the communication message.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first communication message in a first protocol, wherein the first protocol includes a native persistent conversation client protocol;

receiving a second communication message in a second protocol, wherein the second protocol is different from the first protocol and includes an extensible messaging and presence protocol;

storing the first communication message and the second communication message in a conversation content section of a persistent conversation object;

forwarding a portion of the persistent conversation object containing both the first communication message and the second communication message after storing the first communication message and the second communication message in the persistent conversation object; and

providing, for display to a user, a user interface showing the conversation content including the forwarded portion of the persistent conversation object containing both the first communication message and the second communication message.

2. A method comprising:

receiving a first communication message in a first protocol;

receiving a second communication message in a second protocol, wherein the second protocol is different from the first protocol;

storing the first communication message and the second communication message in a persistent conversation object; and

forwarding a portion of the persistent conversation object containing both the first communication message and the second communication message after storing the first communication message and the second communication message in the persistent conversation object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first protocol includes a native persistent conversation client protocol and the second protocol includes an extensible messaging and presence protocol.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a third communication message in a third communication protocol, wherein the third communication protocol is different from both the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol;

storing the third communication message to the conversation content of the persistent communication object; and

updating the user interface to include the third communication message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the third communication protocol is a short message service protocol.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a fourth communication message in a fourth communication protocol, wherein the fourth communication protocol is different from each of the first communication protocol, the second communication protocol and third communication protocol;

storing the fourth communication message to the conversation content of the persistent communication object; and

updating the user interface to include the fourth communication message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fourth communication message is a social network message.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving the second communication message includes receiving the second communication message via a session server.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving the third communication message includes receiving the third communication message via a short message service gateway.

10. A system comprising one or more computers configured to perform operations including:

receiving a first communication message in a first protocol;

receiving a second communication message in a second protocol, wherein the second protocol is different from the first protocol;

storing the first communication message and the second communication message to a persistent conversation object;

forwarding a portion of the persistent conversation object containing both the first communication message and the second communication message after storing the first communication message and the second communication message in the persistent conversation object; and

providing, for display to a user, a user interface showing persistent conversation content including the forwarded portion of the persistent conversation object containing both the first communication message and the second communication message.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first protocol includes a native persistent conversation client protocol and the second protocol includes an extensible messaging and presence protocol.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a third communication message in a third communication protocol, wherein the third communication protocol is different from both the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol;

storing the third communication message to the conversation content of the persistent communication object; and

updating the user interface to include the third communication message.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the third communication protocol is a short message service protocol.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a fourth communication message in a fourth communication protocol, wherein the fourth communication protocol is different from each of the first communication protocol, the second communication protocol and third communication protocol;

storing the fourth communication message to the conversation content of the persistent communication object; and

updating the user interface to include the fourth communication message.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the fourth communication message is a social network message.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the receiving the second communication message includes receiving the second communication message via a session server.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the receiving the third communication message includes receiving the third communication message via a short message service gateway.