Live interaction in persistent conversations

• US 10,582,157 B1
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Cushing, Kathryn Chapman, Eidelson, Benjamin David, Sarafa, Randall, Kamat, Mayur, Reddappagari, Param, Borde, Shrikrishna Vijaykumar, Dodd, Michael, Fulcher, Richard, Birand, Gulay, Bertona, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Thanh T
• Application Number:
  US15/010,819
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• 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: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable media for live interactions in persistent conversations are described. In some implementations, a method can include receiving a communication message sent from a first user to a second user, wherein the communication message includes initiation of a live interaction. The method can also include generating a live interaction user interface element for display as part of a persistent conversation interface. The method can further include storing a representation of the live interaction in a conversation content section of a persistent conversation object when the live interaction ends. The method can include updating conversation state information of the persistent conversation object to reflect the receiving of the communication message and the storing of the representation.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a processor, a communication message sent by a first user via a first user device, wherein the communication message has an intended recipient that includes at least one other user different than the first user, and wherein the communication message includes information effective to initiate a live interaction between the first user device and at least one other device corresponding to the at least one other user via the processor;

storing the communication message in a persistent conversation object stored in a server;

after the storing, forwarding a portion of the persistent conversation object that contains the communication message from the server to the at least one other device;

upon conclusion of the live interaction, updating conversation state information of the persistent conversation object stored in the server to include history information corresponding to the live interaction; and

determining that one or more of the users had previously disabled history tracking for the concluded, live interaction, then waiting for a predetermined amount of time after the conclusion of the live interaction to elapse, then deleting the communication message from the persistent conversation object that is stored on the server after the predetermined period of time after the conclusion of the live interaction has elapsed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a portion of the conversation state information that was updated in the persistent conversation object from the server to the first user device and the at least one other device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein initiation of the live interaction includes initiation of one or more of a one-to-one video conference, a multi-way video conference, a one-to-one audio conference, and a multi-way audio conference.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the conversation state information to include the history information includes storing identifiers of participants in the live interaction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the conversation state information to include the history information includes storing one or more of a date of the live interaction, a time of the live interaction, and a duration of the live interaction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the conversation state information to include the history information includes:

determining a recording of the live interaction was made; and

upon determination that the recording was made, storing a link to the recording.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a live interaction user interface for display as part of a persistent conversation interface, wherein the live interaction user interface includes a first element that, upon selection, causes a recording of the live interaction to be made.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the live interaction user interface includes a second element that, upon selection, is effective to indicate declined participation the live interaction.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the live interaction user interface includes a third element that, upon selection, initiates a callback to the first user.

10. A system comprising:

one or more computers configured to perform operations including;

receiving, at a processor, a communication message sent by a first user via a first user device, wherein the communication message has an intended recipient that includes at least one other user different than the first user, and wherein the communication message includes information effective to initiate a live interaction between the first user device and at least one other device corresponding to the at least one other user via the processor;

storing the communication message in a persistent conversation object stored in a server;

after the storing, forwarding a portion of the persistent conversation object that contains the communication message from the server to the at least one other device;

upon conclusion of the live interaction, updating conversation state information of the persistent conversation object stored in the server to include history information corresponding to the live interaction; and

determining that one or more of the users had previously disabled history tracking for the concluded, live interaction, then waiting for a predetermined amount of time after the conclusion of the live interaction to elapse, then deleting the communication message from the persistent conversation object that is stored on the server after the predetermined period of time after the conclusion of the live interaction has elapsed.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising providing a portion of the conversation state information that was updated in the persistent conversation object stored in the server to the first user device and the at least one other device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the history information includes a list of participants in the live interaction.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the history information includes one or more of a date of the live interaction, a time of the live interaction, and a duration of the live interaction.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein updating the conversation state information to include the history information includes:

determining a recording of the live interaction was made; and

upon determination that the recording was made, storing a link to the recording.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising generating a live interaction user interface for display as part of a persistent conversation interface, the live interaction user interface including one or more of a first element, that when selected, causes a recording of the live interaction to be made, a second element that, upon selection, is effective to indicate declined participation the live interaction, and a third element that, upon selection, initiates a callback to the first user.

16. A nontransitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a processor, a communication message sent by a first user via a first user device, wherein the communication message has an intended recipient that includes at least one other user different than the first user, and wherein the communication message includes information effective to initiate a live interaction between the first user device and at least one other device corresponding to the at least one other user via the processor;

storing the communication message in a persistent conversation object stored in a server;

after the storing, forwarding a portion of the persistent conversation object that contains the communication message from the server to the at least one other device;

upon conclusion of the live interaction, updating conversation state information of the persistent conversation object stored in the server to include history information corresponding to the live interaction; and

determining that one or more of the users had previously disabled history tracking for the concluded, live interaction, then waiting for a predetermined amount of time after the conclusion of the live interaction to elapse, then deleting the communication message from the persistent conversation object that is stored on the server after the predetermined period of time after the conclusion of the live interaction has elapsed.

17. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising providing a portion of the conversation state information that was updated in the persistent conversation object stored in the server the first user device and to the at least one other device.

18. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the history information includes participants in the live interaction, a date of the live interaction, a time of the live interaction and a duration of the live interaction.

19. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein updating the conversation state information to include the history information includes:

determining a recording of the live interaction was made; and

upon determination that the recording was made, storing a link to the recording.

20. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the live interaction user interface includes one or more of a first element, that, upon selection, causes a recording of the live interaction to be made, a second element that, upon selection, is effective to indicate declined participation the live interaction, and a third element that, upon selection, initiates a callback to the first user.