Enhanced group communications with external participants

Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation comprising identifying, in a first group chat comprising a plurality of messages, an indication to add an external user in a text of a first message of the plurality of messages, wherein a membership of the first group chat comprises a plurality of users exclusive of the external user, responsive to receiving a second message from the external user via a first graphical user interface (GUI), outputting the second message to each of the plurality of users of the first group chat, and responsive to receiving a third message from one of the plurality of members of the first group chat via a second GUI, outputting the third message to the external user and each of the plurality of users of the first group chat.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to computer software, and more specifically, to enhanced group communications with external participants.

Modern communications applications allow multiple users to communicate in a common communication space, commonly referred to as a “group chat”. However, management of group chats is often difficult. For example, creators of a group chat often forget to add an intended user. As another example, the group membership may be formed accurately, but the group chat may require input from an external participant for a limited time and/or topic of conversation. Simply adding the external participant to the group chat is undesirable, as it may be embarrassing to remove the external participant once the limited time has expired, or the limited topic of conversation has completed.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method comprises identifying, in a first group chat comprising a plurality of messages, an indication to add an external user in a text of a first message of the plurality of messages, wherein a membership of the first group chat comprises a plurality of users exclusive of the external user, responsive to receiving a second message from the external user via a first graphical user interface (GUI), outputting the second message to each of the plurality of users of the first group chat, and responsive to receiving a third message from one of the plurality of members of the first group chat via a second GUI, outputting the third message to the external user and each of the plurality of users of the first group chat.

In another embodiment, a system comprises a processor and a memory storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, performs an operation comprising identifying, in a first group chat comprising a plurality of messages, an indication to add an external user in a text of a first message of the plurality of messages, wherein a membership of the first group chat comprises a plurality of users exclusive of the external user, responsive to receiving a second message from the external user via a first graphical user interface (GUI), outputting the second message to each of the plurality of users of the first group chat, and responsive to receiving a third message from one of the plurality of members of the first group chat via a second GUI, outputting the third message to the external user and each of the plurality of users of the first group chat.

In another embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium has computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code executable by a processor to perform an operation comprising identifying, in a first group chat comprising a plurality of messages, an indication to add an external user in a text of a first message of the plurality of messages, wherein a membership of the first group chat comprises a plurality of users exclusive of the external user, responsive to receiving a second message from the external user via a first graphical user interface (GUI), outputting the second message to each of the plurality of users of the first group chat, and responsive to receiving a third message from one of the plurality of members of the first group chat via a second GUI, outputting the third message to the external user and each of the plurality of users of the first group chat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein provide techniques for dynamic, enhanced group communications between members of a group chat and one or more external participants. Generally, embodiments disclosed herein perform semantic analysis of the text in the group chat to identify an indication that the group needs to communicate with an external participant. For example, the semantic analysis may identify the phrase “let's ask user X for her opinion” as an indication that the group needs to communicate with user X. In response, a communication channel is established between the group chat and user X. Embodiments disclosed herein then provide a modified user interface for the group chat which includes at least two different input areas. The at least two different input areas differ in that messages sent via a first input area is received only by members of the group chat, while messages sent via a second input area are received by members of the group chat and the external user (e.g., user X). Furthermore, the external user is presented a user interface which displays messages sent by the group chat members via the second input area, and allows users to input messages which are outputted in the group chat window.

FIG. 1illustrates an example system architecture100which provides enhanced group communications with external participants, according to one embodiment. As shown, the system includes a plurality of client devices1011-Nand a server102. As shown, the client devices1011-Ninclude a plurality of communication applications103. The communication applications103are representative of any type of application which allows users communicate via text that is organized into threads (or groups, windows, etc.), such as email clients, chat rooms, forums, meeting rooms, and the like. Furthermore, the communication applications103include web browsers which expose similar functionality (e.g., web-based email clients, chat rooms, forums, etc.). In addition to text, the users of the communication applications103may further communicate via voice messages, images, videos, and any other type of objects.

As shown, the server102includes instances of the communication applications103, which includes a collaboration component105. The collaboration component105is generally configured to manage communications between multiple users (collectively referred to herein as a “group chat”) of the communications applications103and one or more users of the communications applications103that are not members of the multi-user group chat. In some embodiments, the instances of the communications applications103on the client devices1011-Ninclude the collaboration component105. In at least one embodiment, the collaboration component is external to each communication application103. In at least one embodiment, the collaboration component105leverages cognitive computing to determine when the text of a group chat suggests that communication with an external user is desired (e.g., identifying phrases such as “we should ask . . . ”). In at least one embodiment, the collaboration component105is configured to identify a question and the name of a user that is not a member of the group chat to determine that communication with an external user is desired (e.g., “I don't know the answer, let's ask user Y.”). However, in other embodiments, a user may manually specify to engage an external user with a group chat (e.g., via a GUI provided by the collaboration component105and/or communication application103). The collaboration component105may then notify the external user that one or more of the members of the group chat wish to communicate with the external user. The collaboration component105may then establish communications between the external user and the group chat, e.g., by associating messages sent by the external user with the group chat in the messages104. In at least one embodiment, the collaboration component105receives approval from the external user before establishing communications with the group chat.

In at least one embodiment, the collaboration component105modifies the graphical user interface (GUI) of the group chat to include two or more input areas. When input is provided to a first one of the input areas, the input is only provided to members of the group chat, and not the external user. When input is provided to a second one of the input areas, the input is provided to the members of the group chat and the external user. When the external user sends messages to the group chat, the messages are viewable by the external user and the members of the group chat. In at least one embodiment, the GUI of the group chat also allows the users to end the communication session with the external user. Similarly, the external user is able to end the communication session with the group chat at any time.

Furthermore, the collaboration component105leverages cognitive computing to determine when a group chat has concluded communications with an external user (e.g., when a user of the group chat sends a message104including “thank you for your help”, “talk to you later”, etc.). In response, the collaboration component105may end the communication session between the group chat and the external user. Further still, the collaboration component105, over time, learns phrases that users typically use to indicate that communication with an external user is desired, and uses these learned phrases to automatically determine to engage an external user of a group chat with a high level of confidence. Similarly, the collaboration component105may learn phrases that indicate that communications between the group chat and the external user have completed, and use these learned phrases to automatically end the communication session between the group chat and the external user with a high level of confidence.

As shown, the server102further includes data stores for messages104, user profiles110, and rules111. The messages104store the text, images, and any other objects contributed by the users of the communication applications103. Although depicted as a common data store, in some embodiments, each respective communication application103has its own instance of the messages104. Generally, for a given communication application103the messages that make up a single thread of discussion (e.g., a group chat) share a relationship based on a common identifier (e.g., a universally unique identifier (UUID)). For example, an email chain sent between multiple users share the same UUID, allowing an email client instance of a communication application103to display the email chain as a single thread. When a communications session between a group chat and an external user is initiated, the messages sent by members of the group chat only to the other members of the group chat may retain the UUID of the original group chat. However, a new UUID may be assigned for communications between the group chat and the external user. In such embodiments, the messages sent by the external user to the group chat are labeled with the new UUID, and messages sent by members of the group chat to the external user and other members of the group chat are labeled with the new UUID.

The user profiles110include user profiles for a plurality of users of each communication application103. A given user profile110generally includes metadata describing the user and user preferences. The user profiles110may further include style preferences (e.g. fonts, font sizes, font effects), external communication preferences (e.g., open external communications in a new tab, window, panel, etc.), and the like. The rules111are representative of rules leveraged by the collaboration component105and/or the communication applications103. For example, the rules may include default formatting rules, words and/or phrases identified by the collaboration component105as including a question and a need to communicate with an external user, and phrases marking the end of a conversation (e.g., between the external user and the group chat), and the like.

FIG. 2Aillustrates examples graphical user interface200which provides enhanced group communications with external participants, according to one embodiment. As shown, the GUI200includes a threads panel201and a messages panel202. The threads panel201lists a plurality of different threads of discussion (e.g., work, family, cars), each of which are associated with one or more messages in the messages104. The messages panel202outputs the messages from the messages104that are associated with a given thread in the threads201. As shown, a user has selected the “work” thread, which is a group chat having a plurality of members from the threads panel201. As such, the messages panel202depicts a plurality of messages from the messages204, e.g., messages submitted by a plurality of different users via a submission box203of the GUI200.

As shown, the users of the group chat are discussing a performance issue in a piece of software. However, the users have determined that the expertise of an additional user, “Tyler”, who is not a member of the group chat, is needed to resolve the performance issue. As previously indicated, the collaboration component105performs semantic analysis of the text of the messages submitted by the users to determine that members of a group chat need to communicate with an external user. For example, the collaboration component105may use natural language classifiers to identify questions, concepts, topics, and/or intent to communicate with an external user in the messages104. Similarly, the logic layer106may identify keywords and/or punctuation that indicate questions, topics, concepts, and intent. In the example depicted inFIG. 2A, the collaboration component105identifies a new user “Tyler” that is not a member of the group chat, and a question “maybe he can help us solve the problem”, and determines that the members of the group chat need to communicate with the external user Tyler.

FIG. 2Bthe GUI200with a popup window210generated by the collaboration component105after determining the users of the group chat wish to communicate with Tyler, who is not a member of the “work” group chat. As shown, the window210lists three example usernames “Tyler123”, “TylerABC”, and “TylerXYZ”. In one embodiment, the example usernames are selected based on contact data stored in the user profiles110of the members of the group chat (e.g., contacts who have a first, middle, last, or username that is like “Tyler”). The user may then select one or more of the example usernames. In the example depicted inFIG. 2B, the user selects and submits the example username “Tyler123”.

FIG. 2Cdepicts the GUI200after the user selected and submitted the example username of “Tyler123” in the window210.FIG. 2Calso depicts a new GUI220that is generated for the user “Tyler123. The GUIs200,220are outputted on different user devices1011-N, e.g., a user device1011used by the user “Tyler123”, and a respective user device1012-Nused by the members of the group chat. As shown, the messages window202of the GUI200now includes two new input areas204,205. Generally, the input area204is configured to receive text and other input which, when submitted (e.g., via the submit button206), is displayed in the group chat window202(e.g., to the members of the group chat), but not displayed in the GUI220(e.g., Tyler123 cannot view). The input area205is configured to receive text and other input which, when submitted (e.g., via the submit button207) is displayed in the group chat window202, and the GUI220. As shown, the GUI200also includes a button208that allows any member of the group chat to end the external communication with Tyler123.

The GUI220is a chat window generated for the user external to the group chat, in this example, the user Tyler123. As shown, the GUI220includes a message from “UserA”, and a message submitted by Tyler123. Similarly, the messages panel202of the GUI200also includes the message from “UserA” and the message from user “Tyler123”. The GUI220also includes an input box221that allows the user Tyler123 to submit messages that are stored in the messages104, and outputted in the GUI220and the messages panel220of the GUI200.

FIG. 2Ddepicts the GUIs200,220during the communication between the group chat and the external user Tyler123. As shown, the messages104depicted in the GUIs200,220differ in that the messages panel202includes a message211from “UserB” that is not displayed in the GUI220, and is therefore not viewable by user “Tyler123”. This is because “UserB” submitted the message211via the input area204, which submits messages to the group chat, but not to external users. However, the GUIs200,220each display a message212, which was submitted by “UserB” via the input area205, which submits messages to the group chat and any other external users (e.g., user “Tyler123”).

FIG. 2Edepicts the GUIs200,220during the communication between the group chat and the external user Tyler123. As shown, the messages104depicted in the GUIs200,220differ in that the messages panel202includes a message214from “UserA” that is not displayed in the GUI220, and is therefore not viewable by user “Tyler123”. This is because “UserA” submitted the message214via the input area204, which submits messages to the group chat, but not to external users. However, the GUIs200,220each display a message213, which was submitted by “UserB” via the input area205, which submits messages to the group chat and any other external users (e.g., user “Tyler123”).

As previously indicated, the collaboration component105is configured to dynamically determine when communications between the members of the group chat and external users has completed. For example, as shown inFIG. 2E, the input area205includes a message stating “Ok, let us know!” The collaboration component105may determine that this message is the conclusion of the conversation between the members of the group chat and user “Tyler123”. In response, the collaboration component105may end the communication session. However, as previously indicated, the users of the group chat may end the communication session manually by selecting the button208.

FIG. 2Fdepicts the GUIs200,220after the collaboration component105has determined to end the communication session between the members of the group chat and the external user “Tyler123”. As shown, the input areas204,205and submit buttons206-207no longer appear in the message panel202. Furthermore, the GUI220no longer includes the input box221, meaning the user “Tyler123” can no longer chat with the members of the group chat.

Furthermore, the collaboration component105may allow multiple external users to communicate with a group chat. For example, returning toFIG. 2B, the user may select each of the three users depicted in the window210. Each selected user would be presented a respective chat window220which allows the external user to submit messages to the members of the group chat, which would be displayed in the messages window202of the GUI200. In some embodiments, the messages sent by the external users are visible to the other external users. In other embodiments, messages sent by external users are not visible by other external users. Similarly, the input area204of the GUI200would send messages to the members of the group chat, and the three external users would not be able to view such messages in the respective GUI200. However, messages sent via the input area205of the GUI200would be viewable by each of the three external users via their respective GUI220. In at least one embodiment, the GUI200further provides the members of the group chat input areas to send messages the group as well as to one or more of the external users (e.g., send a message viewable by two of the three external users, but not the third external user).

FIG. 3is a flow chart illustrating an example method300to provide enhanced group communications with external participants, according to one embodiment. As shown, the method300begins at block310, where the collaboration component105uses natural language classifiers applied to the text of the messages104to classify indications to add external users to group chats and/or to communications between group chats and external user(s). As previously stated, the rules111include predefined words, concepts, formatting, and/or phrases that indicate that an external user should be added to the group chat and/or that the group chat with the external user should be ended. For example, predefined phrases that indicate an external user should be added to the group chat include “I wonder if <name> knows,” “let's ask,” “we should get input from <name>” and the like. Similarly, predefined phrases that indicate the external conversation should be closed include “goodbye,” “thank you,” and the like. In addition, the collaboration component105builds on the predefined rules in the rules111and cognitively learns additional indicators at block310using natural language classifiers. For example, the collaboration component105may identify concepts and/or keywords that are consistently followed with a manual, user-initiated request to add an external user to a group chat. As such, the collaboration component105may classify such concepts and/or keywords as reflecting the need to invite an external user to the group chat. In at least one embodiment, the collaboration component105applies a threshold count of user-initiated requests to classify a given concept and/or keyword(s). For example, if the threshold is 10 user-initiated requests, and the keywords of “let's bring in” was followed by 20 user-initiated requests, the collaboration component105would classify the keywords of “let's bring in” as an indicator to add an external user to the group chat.

At block320, the collaboration component105monitors each thread in the messages104that includes three or more members (e.g., a group chat). Generally, at block320, the collaboration component105searches for concepts, phrases, and the like which indicate that an external user should be added to the group chat. At block330, the collaboration component105identifies, in a first group chat comprising a plurality of associated messages, a semantic indicator to add an external user to the first group chat. The first group chat comprises a plurality of messages in the messages104that are associated by a common UUID and three or more user UUIDs. The semantic indicator is any text that has been classified as being associated with adding an external user to the group chat. For example, the collaboration component105may identify the phrase “let's ask Joel” in a message of the first group chat. In response, at block340, the collaboration component105outputs a GUI, such as the GUI210, to receive input specifying the external user(s) to add to the first group chat. As previously stated, however, in some embodiments, the collaboration component105outputs the GUI210based on a user request to add an external user to the first group chat.

At block350, the collaboration component105opens a session between the first group chat and the external user. In at least one embodiment, the collaboration component105receives approval from the external user before opening the session. At block360, described in greater detail with reference toFIG. 4, the collaboration component105processes communications between the members of the first group chat and the external user. Generally, the collaboration component105outputs messages sent by the external user to all members of the first group chat. The collaboration component105also outputs some input (e.g., input received via the input area205) to all members of the first group chat and the external users. Additionally, the collaboration component105outputs some input (e.g., input received via the input area204) only to the members of the first group chat, and not to any external users. At block370, the collaboration component105receives an indication to close the session between the first group chat and the external user (e.g., a user selects the input button208). In some embodiments, the collaboration component105identifies semantic indicators to close the session between the first group chat and the external user. For example, if the user “Tyler123” is the external user, and a member of the first group chat submits a message including “thanks for the help Tyler”, the collaboration component105may determine that the session is complete, and programmatically determine to end the session. At block380, the collaboration component105closes the session between the first group chat and the external user. Doing so disables the GUI220of the external users from submitting messages to the first group chat. Similarly, the collaboration component105removes the input areas204,205from the GUI200, and the first group chat members are able to communicate within the first group chat.

FIG. 4is a flow chart illustrating an example method400corresponding to block360to process communications between users of a group chat and an external user, according to one embodiment. As shown, the method400begins at block410, where the collaboration component105executes a loop including blocks420-460for each message submitted by the members of the first group chat and/or the external users communicating with the members of the first group chat. At block420, the collaboration component105outputs messages submitted by the users external to the group chat in the first group chat and in the chat window of the corresponding external user. Doing so allows the submitting user and the members of the first group chat to view the submitted messages.

At block430, the collaboration component105outputs messages submitted via a first input area (e.g., the input area204) by members of the first group chat to the other members of the first group chat. However, the collaboration component105does not output such messages to the users external to the group chat. At block440, the collaboration component105outputs messages submitted via a second input area (e.g., the input area205) to the members of the first group chat and to the users external to the group chat. Doing so allows all members of the first group chat and all external users to view messages. At block450, the collaboration component105orders messages in each chat window based on the timestamp associated with each message. Generally, when a user submits a message to the first group chat, the collaboration component105and/or the communications applications103tag the message with metadata including a timestamp and group chat UUID. Doing so allows the messages to be outputted in the respective GUIs200,220based on the timestamp.

FIG. 5illustrates a system500which provides enhanced group communications with external participants, according to one embodiment. The networked system500includes a computer502. The computer502may also be connected to other computers via a network530. In general, the network530may be a telecommunications network and/or a wide area network (WAN). In a particular embodiment, the network530is the Internet.

The computer502generally includes a processor504which obtains instructions and data via a bus520from a memory506and/or a storage508. The computer502may also include one or more network interface devices518, input devices522, and output devices524connected to the bus520. The computer502is generally under the control of an operating system (not shown). Examples of operating systems include the UNIX operating system, versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system, and distributions of the Linux operating system. (UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States, other countries, or both.) More generally, any operating system supporting the functions disclosed herein may be used. The processor504is a programmable logic device that performs instruction, logic, and mathematical processing, and may be representative of one or more CPUs. The network interface device518may be any type of network communications device allowing the computer502to communicate with other computers via the network530.

The storage508is representative of hard-disk drives, solid state drives, flash memory devices, optical media and the like. Generally, the storage508stores application programs and data for use by the computer502. In addition, the memory506and the storage508may be considered to include memory physically located elsewhere; for example, on another computer coupled to the computer502via the bus520.

The input device522may be any device for providing input to the computer502. For example, a keyboard and/or a mouse may be used. The input device522represents a wide variety of input devices, including keyboards, mice, controllers, and so on. Furthermore, the input device522may include a set of buttons, switches or other physical device mechanisms for controlling the computer502. The output device524may include output devices such as monitors, touch screen displays, and so on.

As shown, the memory506contains the communication applications103and the collaboration component105, while the storage508contains the messages104, user profiles110, and rules111. As shown, the client devices1011-Ninclude the communication applications103and a display device513. The client devices1011-Nfurther include processors, memory, storage, network interfaces, I/O devices, and a bus (each not pictured).

Advantageously, embodiments disclosed herein provide techniques to for enhanced group chats on messaging platforms. Generally, embodiments disclosed herein monitor messages submitted to a group chat, and detect indications to add an external user to the group chat. A communication channel between the group chat and the external user is established, allowing the external user to communicate with the group chat without needing to add the external user to the group chat or remove the external user from the group chat.

Typically, cloud computing resources are provided to a user on a pay-per-use basis, where users are charged only for the computing resources actually used (e.g. an amount of storage space consumed by a user or a number of virtualized systems instantiated by the user). A user can access any of the resources that reside in the cloud at any time, and from anywhere across the Internet. In context of the present disclosure, a user may access applications or related data available in the cloud. For example, the communications applications103including collaboration component105could execute on a computing system in the cloud and dynamically add external users to group chats. In such a case, the collaboration component105could classify indicators to add external users to group chats and store the indicators as rules in the rules111at a storage location in the cloud. Doing so allows a user to access this information from any computing system attached to a network connected to the cloud (e.g., the Internet).