Chat-based support of multiple communication interaction types
View Patent ↗A chat-based communication capability is presented. In at least some embodiments, a chat-based communication capability utilizes a chat-based communication paradigm to support one or more communication interaction types not typically supported by chat-based communication paradigms. In at least some embodiments, a chat-based communication capability supports chat-based communication between a human entity and a non-human entity (e.g., a device, a program, a process, an organization, or the like). In at least some embodiments, a chat-based communication capability supports chat-based communication between multiple non-human entities (e.g., where the non-human entities may include devices, programs, processes, organizations, or the like).
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, the processor configured to:
provide a first chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for a first entity and a second chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for a second entity;
support a chat-based communication between the first entity and the second entity;
identify, based on context information associated with the first entity, a third entity not currently associated with the first chat application, wherein the third entity comprises a device, wherein the context information comprises an indication of a proximity of the first entity to the device and information from the chat-based communication between the first entity and the second entity;
associate the third entity with the first chat application;
establish a communication channel between the first chat application and a third chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for the third entity; and
support chat-based communication between the first entity and the third entity via the communication channel.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the context information associated with the first entity further comprises a location of the first entity.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first entity and the second entity are human entities.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second entity comprises a program or a device.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first entity is a human entity and the second entity is a non-human entity.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the context information associated with the first entity further comprises an inferred or detected need of the first entity.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to identify the third entity based on context information associated with the third entity.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the context information associated with the third entity comprises at least one of a location of the third entity or a capability of the third entity.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, to support chat-based communication between the first entity and the third entity via the communication channel, the processor is configured to:
receive, via the communication channel, information entered by the first entity via the chat-based communication interface of the first chat application; and
propagate, toward the third chat application of the third entity via the communication channel, information entered by the first entity via the chat-based communication interface of the first chat application.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, to support chat-based communication between the first entity and the third entity via the communication channel, the processor is configured to:
receive, via the communication channel, information entered by the first entity via the chat-based communication interface of the first chat application;
process the information to convert the information into modified information; and
propagate, toward the third chat application of the third entity via the communication channel, the modified information.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, to support chat-based communication between the first entity and the third entity via the communication channel, the processor is configured to:
receive, via the communication channel, information from the third entity; and
propagate, toward the first chat application of the first entity via the communication channel, the information from the third entity.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, to support chat-based communication between the first entity and the third entity via the communication channel, the processor is configured to:
receive, via the communication channel, information from the third entity;
process the information to convert the information into modified information; and
propagate, toward the first chat application of the first entity via the communication channel, the modified information.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
terminate the communication channel based on a determination that the third entity is no longer associated with the first chat application of the first entity.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first entity is a human entity.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first entity is a non-human entity.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the non-human entity comprises a program or a device.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to establish the communication channel automatically based on detection of a trigger condition.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the trigger condition comprises at least one of invocation of the first chat application, a determination that the third entity is associated with the first chat application, or a determination that the third entity is included within a contact list of the first chat application.
19. A method, comprising:
providing, by a processor, a first chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for a first entity and a second chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for a second entity;
supporting, by the processor, a chat-based communication between the first entity and the second entity;
identifying, by the processor based on context information associated with the first entity, a third entity not currently associated with the first chat application, wherein the third entity comprises a device, wherein the context information comprises an indication of a proximity of the first entity to the device and information from the chat-based communication between the first entity and the second entity;
associating, by the processor, the third entity with the first chat application;
establishing, by the processor, a communication channel between the first chat application and a third chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for the third entity; and
supporting, by the processor, chat-based communication between the first entity and the third entity via the communication channel.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
providing a first chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for a first entity and a second chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for a second entity;
supporting a chat-based communication between the first entity and the second entity;
identifying, based on context information associated with the first entity, a third entity not currently associated with the first chat application, wherein the third entity comprises a device, wherein the context information comprises an indication of a proximity of the first entity to the device and information from the chat-based communication between the first entity and the second entity;
associating the third entity with the first chat application;
establishing a communication channel between the first chat application and a third chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for the third entity; and
supporting chat-based communication between the first entity and the third entity via the communication channel.
21. An apparatus, comprising:
a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, the processor configured to:
facilitate chat-based communication between a first entity and a second entity via a communication channel between a first chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for the first entity and a second chat application configured to provide a chat-based communication interface for the second entity, wherein the second entity comprises a non-human entity;
detect, based on information exchanged via the chat-based communication, a request by the first entity for the second entity to perform an action;
determine context information associated with the first entity, wherein the context information associated with the first entity comprises an indication of a proximity of the first entity to the second entity; and
initiate time-based acceleration or deceleration of the action based on the indication of the proximity of the first entity to the second entity.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to:
initiate establishment of the communication channel based on detection of a trigger condition.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to:
perform additional processing based on additional information exchanged via the chat-based communication.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein, to perform additional processing based on the additional information exchanged via the chat-based communication, the processor is configured to:
convert at least a portion of the additional information exchanged via the chat-based communication between a first format supported by the first entity and a second format supported by the second entity.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein, to perform additional processing based on the additional information exchanged via the chat-based communication, the processor is configured to:
initiate at least one of establishment of a new communication channel configured to support chat-based communication or termination of an existing communication channel configured to support chat-based communication.
26. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein, to perform additional processing based on the additional information exchanged via the chat-based communication, the processor is configured to:
initiate at least one of establishment of a new entity association or termination of an existing entity association.
27. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the context information associated with the first entity further comprises a location of the first entity.
28. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to:
determine context information associated with the second entity; and
initiate the time-based acceleration or deceleration of the action based on the context information associated with the second entity.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the context information associated with the second entity comprises a location of the second entity.
30. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to:
develop a representation of a context of the chat-based communication; and
initiate use of the representation of the context of the chat-based communication to facilitate at least one additional chat-based communication.
31. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first entity is a human entity.