Systems and methods for providing external content in a messaging interface

Abstract

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.

1 . A computer implemented method for displaying a dynamic content item in a chat interface running on a client device, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a collaboration platform, a dynamic content item descriptor, the dynamic content item descriptor defining the dynamic content item and a content provider that is configured to provide dynamic data for the dynamic content item, wherein the dynamic content item comprises an icon representing the content provider, an attribute portion describing the dynamic data, and a data portion for the dynamic data;   receiving, from the content provider, dynamic data;   displaying the icon, the attribute portion, and the data portion comprising the dynamic data in an area of the chat interface that is distinct from a messaging area of the chat interface;   receiving, from the content provider, new dynamic data;   updating the display of the data portion with the new dynamic data.   
     
     
         2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending, to the content provider, a content request comprising at least one of a user identifier, a chat room identifier, a client identifier, and a dynamic content item identifier, and wherein the dynamic data is received from the content provider in response to the content request. 
     
     
         3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic content item comprises a static data element, the static data element being defined in the dynamic content item descriptor. 
     
     
         4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the static data element is defined by an address from which the static data element is retrieved by the client device for display in the dynamic content item. 
     
     
         5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic data comprises aggregate information about an underlying service. 
     
     
         6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic data comprises data defining at least one dynamic data element for display in the dynamic content item, the at least one dynamic data element being selected from a group comprising:
 a label;   an icon; and   a lozenge.   
     
     
         7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic content item descriptor defines one or more conditions which are evaluated by the client device to determine whether or not to display the dynamic content item. 
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein the response from the content provider further comprises metadata, and wherein the one or more conditions defined by the dynamic content item descriptor are evaluated by the client device with reference to the metadata. 
     
     
         9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a dynamic data update, the dynamic data update being initiated and generated by the content provider and communicated to the client device via the collaboration platform;   updating the dynamic content item to display data from the dynamic data update.   
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the collaboration platform, a related content descriptor, the related content descriptor being associated with the dynamic content item and defining an address from which related content can be retrieved;   detecting activation of a displayed dynamic content item;   retrieving the related content from the address defined in the related content descriptor; and   displaying the related content in the chat interface.   
     
     
         11 . An electronic device configured to operate as a client to a collaboration platform, the computer processing system comprising:
 one or more processors;   a display, a communications interface; and   one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 display, on the display, a chat interface; 
 receive, via the communications interface, a dynamic content item descriptor from the collaboration platform, the dynamic content item descriptor defining the dynamic content item and a content provider that is configured to provide dynamic data for a dynamic content item, wherein the dynamic content item comprises an icon representing the content provider, an attribute portion describing the dynamic data, and a data portion for the dynamic data; 
 receive, via the communications interface, dynamic data; 
 display, on the display, the icon, the attribute portion, and the data portion comprising the dynamic data in an area of the chat interface that is distinct from a messaging area of the chat interface; 
 receiving, from the content provider, new dynamic data; 
 updating the display of the data portion with the new dynamic data. 
   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to send, via the communications interface, a content request to the content provider, the content request comprising at least one of a user identifier, a chat room identifier, a client identifier, and a dynamic content item identifier, and wherein the dynamic data is received from the content provider in response to the content request. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic content item comprises a static data element, the static data element being defined in the dynamic content item descriptor. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the static data element is defined by an address from which the static data element is retrieved by the electronic device for display in the dynamic content item. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic data comprises aggregate information about an underlying service. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic data comprises data defining at least one dynamic data element for display in the dynamic content item, the at least one dynamic data element being selected from a group comprising:
 a label;   an icon; and   a lozenge.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic content item descriptor defines one or more conditions which are evaluated by the electronic device to determine whether or not to display the dynamic content item. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the response from the content provider further comprises metadata, and wherein the one or more conditions defined by the dynamic content item descriptor are evaluated by the electronic device with reference to the metadata. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein when executed, the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive, via the communications interface, a dynamic data update, the dynamic data update being initiated and generated by the content provider and communicated to the electronic device via the collaboration platform; and   update the dynamic content item to display data from the dynamic data update.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein when executed, the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive, via the communications interface, a related content descriptor from the collaboration platform, the related content descriptor being associated with the dynamic content item and defining an address from which related content can be retrieved;   detect activation of a displayed dynamic content item; retrieve, via the communications interface, the related content from the address defined in the related content descriptor; and   display the related content in the chat interface.