Method, apparatus, and computer program product for installing third party applications requiring variable host address identification in a group-based communication system

• US 10,592,225 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2018
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Slack Technologies, Inc. (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gurtin, Liza, Ranchod, Sachin, Harrigan, Elizabeth Catherine, Mountz, Jammie, Agan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen, Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Binh
• Application Number:
  US15/977,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20190347082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3668 Software testing software testing in telephone exchanges H04M3/242, testing of hardware G06F11/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/547 Remote procedure calls [RPC]; Web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products that provide for an improved and more efficient system of networked computing devices. The embodiments disclose an apparatus and system that enable client devices to install integrations of a third party application that supports variable host address identification. The apparatus and methods further enable a user of the client device to modify the host address identification associated with an installed integration. In this manner, the group-based communication system establishes communication links with network locations that vary from integration to integration and that may vary over time. To implement the invention, the group-based communication system supports the creation of a blueprint application, with an associated blueprint row that serves as the basis from which a plurality of differing integrations are generated. Further, the blueprint row stores variable host address identifications. The reduced number of data structures that result from supporting variable host address identifications increases system efficiency and reduces infrastructure requirements.

Claims

1. An apparatus for integrating a third party application requiring variable host address identification in a group-based communication system comprising a group-based communication server, a group-based communication repository, and a plurality of group-based communication channels, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

generate, by the group-based communication server, a blueprint row, wherein the blueprint row comprises a third party application blueprint identifier and one or more templatized strings comprising at least one placeholder;

store, by the group-based communication server, the blueprint row in an application programming interface (API) applications table in the group-based communication repository;

generate and transmit, by the group-based communication server and in response to receiving an installation request associated with a user, scope request interface data configured to cause a client device to render an interactive scope request interface, the interactive scope request interface being configured to enable user authorization of defined scopes by the third party application, wherein the defined scopes by the third party application represent one or more selected group-based communication channels of the plurality of group-based communication channels the third party application is authorized to access;

receive, by the group-based communication server, a user scope definition object from the client device comprising user authorization of defined scopes by the third party application;

generate and transmit, by the group-based communication server and in response to receiving the user scope definition object, a credentials set associated with the third party application and host address request interface data configured to cause the client device to render an interactive host address request interface, the interactive host address request interface being configured to enable user input of at least one host address identification for the third party application;

generate, by the group-based communication server, an integration row by reproducing the blueprint row and substituting the at least one placeholder in each of the one or more templatized strings with the at least one host address identification for the third party application; and

store, by the group-based communication server, the integration row in the API applications table in the group-based communication repository.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more templatized strings comprises a URL.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the placeholder corresponds to a section of the URL specifying a domain name.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user input of at least one host address identification comprises a domain name.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer program code is configured to further cause the apparatus to:

associate the user with a user account that is associated with a first group identifier;

transmit, by the group-based communication server and in response to receiving a supplemental installation request associated with a subsequent user, supplemental scope request interface data configured to cause a subsequent client device to render a supplemental interactive scope request interface, the supplemental interactive scope request interface being configured to enable user authorization of defined scopes by the third party application, and wherein the subsequent user is associated with a second user account that is associated with a second group identifier;

generate and transmit, by the group-based communication server and in response to receiving a supplemental scope definition object, a supplemental credentials set associated with the third party application and supplemental host address request interface data configured to cause the subsequent client device to render a supplemental interactive string request interface, the supplemental interactive string request interface being configured to enable user input of at least one supplemental host address identification for the third party application;

generate, by the group-based communication server, a supplemental integration row by reproducing the blueprint row and substituting the at least one placeholder in each of the one or more templatized strings with the at least one supplemental host address identification;

store, by the group-based communication server, the supplemental integration row in the API applications table in the group-based communication repository.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the group-based communication server is configured to establish a first communication link with a first network endpoint, wherein a first location of the first network endpoint is at least partially specified by the at least one host address identification, and wherein the first communication link is associated with the first group identifier, and

the group-based communication server is further configured to establish a supplemental communication link with a supplemental network endpoint, wherein a second location of the supplemental network endpoint is at least partially specified by the at least one supplemental host address identification, and wherein the supplemental communication link is associated with a supplemental group identifier.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code is configured to further cause the apparatus to:

send, to the client device and by the group-based communication server, credential set upload data configured to cause the client device to present, to the user, instructions for providing the credentials set to a third party application provider;

send, by the group-based communication server and to at least one location at least partially specified by the at least one host address identification, a communication request message;

receive, by the group-based communication server and from the at least one location, a communication response message;

send, to the client device and by the group-based communication server, communication confirmation data configured to cause the client device to present, to the user, a communication link confirmation indicating that a communication link with the at least one location was established.

8. An apparatus for integrating a third party application requiring variable host address identification in a group-based communication system comprising a group-based communication server, a group-based communication repository, and a plurality of group-based communication channels, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive, by the group-based communication server, a request to convert a test application into a blueprint application;

generate, in response to receiving the request and by the group-based communication server, a blueprint row, wherein the blueprint row comprises a third party application identifier and one or more templatized strings comprising at least one placeholder, and wherein the blueprint row is generated at least in part by replicating a test application row and transforming at least one defined host address identification into a templatized string, the test application row being generated as a response to receiving the request, from a third party application provider, app creation data and an app creation confirmation; and

store, by the group-based communication server, the blueprint row in an API applications table in the group-based communication repository,

wherein storing the blueprint row is configured to enable a user of the group-based communication system to transmit to the group-based communication server scope request interface data configured to cause a client device associated with the user to render an interactive scope request interface, and

wherein the interactive scope request interface is configured to enable user authorization of defined scopes by the third party application, and

wherein the defined scopes by the third party application represent one or more selected group-based communication channels of the plurality of group-based communication channels the third party application is authorized to access.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the group-based communication server modifies the test application row at least once before generating the blueprint row.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the group-based communication server sends, to the third party application provider, app creation interface data configured to cause the third party application provider to render an interactive app creation interface.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the group-based communication server receives, from the third party application provider, a permission authorization indicating at least one of:

(a) that the third party application provider has provided authorization to install the test application in a test workspace and (b) that the third party application provider has provided authorization of defined scopes by the test application.

12. A method for integrating a third party application requiring variable host address identification in a group-based communication system comprising a group-based communication server, a group-based communication repository, and a plurality of group-based communication channels, the method comprising:

generating, by the group-based communication server, a blueprint row, wherein the blueprint row comprises a third party application blueprint identifier and one or more templatized strings comprising at least one placeholder;

storing, by the group-based communication server, the blueprint row in an application programming interface (API) applications table in the group-based communication repository;

generating and transmitting, by the group-based communication server and in response to receiving an installation request associated with a user, scope request interface data configured to cause a client device to render an interactive scope request interface, the interactive scope request interface being configured to enable user authorization of defined scopes by the third party application, wherein the defined scopes by the third party application represent one or more selected group-based communication channels of the plurality of group-based communication channels the third party application is authorized to access;

receiving a user scope definition object from the client device comprising user authorization of defined scopes by the third party application;

generating and transmitting, by the group-based communication server and in response to receiving the user scope definition object, a credentials set associated with the third party application and host address request interface data configured to cause the client device to render an interactive host address request interface, the interactive host address request interface being configured to enable user input of at least one host address identification for the third party application;

generating, by the group-based communication server, an integration row by reproducing the blueprint row and substituting the at least one placeholder in each of the one or more templatized strings with the at least one host address identification for the third party application; and

storing, by the group-based communication server, the integration row in the API applications table in the group-based communication repository.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein each of the one or more templatized strings comprises a URL.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the placeholder corresponds to a section of the URL comprising a domain name.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the user input of at least one host address identification comprises a domain name.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

associating the user with a user account that is associated with a first group identifier;

transmitting, by the group-based communication server and in response to receiving a supplemental installation request associated with a subsequent user, supplemental scope request interface data configured to cause a subsequent client device to render a supplemental interactive scope request interface, the supplemental interactive scope request interface being configured to enable user authorization of defined scopes by the third party application, and wherein the subsequent user is associated with a second user account that is associated with a second group identifier;

generating and transmitting, by the group-based communication server and in response to receiving a supplemental scope definition object, a supplemental credentials set associated with the third party application and supplemental host address request interface data configured to cause the subsequent client device to render a supplemental interactive string request interface, the supplemental interactive string request interface being configured to enable user input of at least one supplemental host address identification for the third party application;

generating, by the group-based communication server, a supplemental integration row by reproducing the blueprint row and substituting the at least one placeholder in each of the one or more templatized strings with the at least one supplemental host address identification;

storing, by the group-based communication server, the supplemental integration row in the API applications table in the group-based communication repository.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the group-based communication server is configured to establish a first communication link with a first network endpoint, wherein a first location of the first network endpoint is at least partially specified by the at least one host address identification provided by the user, and wherein the first communication link is associated with the first group identifier, and

the group-based communication server is further configured to establish a supplemental communication link with a supplemental network endpoint, wherein a second location of the supplemental network endpoint is at least partially specified by the at least one supplemental host address identification, and wherein the supplemental communication link is associated with a supplemental group identifier.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

sending, to the client device and by the group-based communication server, credential set upload data configured to cause the client device to present, to the user, instructions for providing the credentials set to the third party application provider;

sending, by the group-based communication server and to at least one location at least partially specified by the at least one host address identification, a communication request message;

receiving, by the group-based communication server and from the at least one location, a communication response message;

sending, to the client device and by the group-based communication server, communication confirmation data configured to cause the client device to present, to the user, a communication link confirmation indicating that a communication link with the at least one location was established.

19. A method for integrating a third party application requiring variable host address identification in a group-based communication system comprising a group-based communication server, a group-based communication repository, and a plurality of group-based communication channels, the method comprising:

receiving, by the group-based communication server, a request to convert a test application into a blueprint application;

generating, in response to receiving the request and by the group-based communication server, a blueprint row, wherein the blueprint row comprises a third party application identifier and one or more templatized strings comprising at least one placeholder, and wherein the blueprint row is generated at least in part by replicating a test application row and transforming at least one defined host address identification into a templatized string, the test application row being generated as a response to receiving a request, from a third party application provider, app creation data and an app creation confirmation; and

storing, by the group-based communication server, the blueprint row in an API applications table in the group-based communication repository,

wherein storing the blueprint row is configured to enable a user of the group-based communication system to transmit to the group-based communication server scope request interface data configured to cause a client device associated with the user to render an interactive scope request interface, and

wherein the interactive scope request interface is configured to enable user authorization of defined scopes by the third party application, and

wherein the defined scopes by the third party application represent one or more selected group-based communication channels of the plurality of group-based communication channels the third party application is authorized to access.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the group-based communication server modifies the test application row at least once before generating the blueprint row.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the group-based communication server sends, to the third party application provider, app creation interface data configured to cause the third party application provider to render an interactive app creation interface.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the group-based communication server receives, from the third party application provider, a permission authorization indicating at least one of:

(a) that the third party application provider has provided authorization to install the test application in a test workspace and (b) that the third party application provider has provided authorization of defined scopes by the test application.