Plug-in for extending functionality of messenger application across supplemented and unsupplemented application instances

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing, by a first instance of a messenger application executing on a first client device and having a messenger plug-in, a conversation thread with a second instance of the messenger application executing on a second client device, the second instance lacking the messenger plug-in, the first client device and the second client device being in communication using the first instance and the second instance;

displaying, by the first instance, a user interface having a thread area configured to display thread-native content;

by the messenger plug-in of the first instance:

causing display of enhanced content within a control area of the user interface, the enhanced content not natively displayable within the thread area; and

converting the enhanced content to the thread-native content capable of being natively displayed within the thread area; and

sending the thread-native content for delivery to the second instance of the messenger application that lacks the messenger plug-in, the second instance of the messenger application configured to display the thread-native content within a thread area configured to display the thread-native content.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 comprising:

responsive to sending the thread-native content, receiving a textual message from the second instance; and

the messenger plug-in updating the enhanced content within the control area based on the textual message.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein updating the enhanced content comprises determining whether the textual message includes a command from a set of possible commands associated with the messenger plug-in.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the messenger plug-in causes display of the textual message within the thread area of the first instance.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising by the messenger plug-in:

receiving user input; and

responsive to receiving the user input:

updating the enhanced content within the control area;

re-converting the thread-native content to correspond to the updated enhanced content; and

sending the re-converted thread-native content to the second instance of the messenger for display within the thread area of the second instance.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising the messenger plug-in rendering user interface controls within the control area, wherein the user input corresponds to the rendered user interface controls.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising the messenger plug-in rendering user interface controls within the control area, wherein the user input comprises a click or press associated with the enhanced content.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising the messenger plug-in:

rendering, within the control area, a control for publishing a representation of the enhanced content to a social networking system; and

responsive to selection of the control, publishing a portion of the enhanced content to the social networking system.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing, by a first instance of a messenger application having a messenger plug-in, a conversation thread with a second instance of the messenger application running on a remote client device, the second instance lacking the messenger plug in;

displaying, by the first instance, a user interface having a thread area configured to display items of thread-native content;

displaying, by the messenger plug-in within a control area of the user interface of the first instance: a visual representation of a state of an activity engaged in by a user of the first instance and a user of the second instance, and user interface controls for interaction with the activity, the visual representation not natively displayable within the thread area;

the messenger plug-in generating a thread-native image corresponding to the visual representation of the state of the activity; and

sending the generated thread-native image for delivery to the second instance of the messenger application for display within a thread area of the second instance.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 comprising:

responsive to sending the generated thread-native image, receiving a textual message from the second instance;

the messenger plug-in interpreting the textual message as an interaction of the second user of the second instance with the activity; and

the messenger plug-in updating the visual representation within the control area based on the interaction.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein interpreting the textual message as an interaction comprises determining whether the textual message includes a command from a set of possible commands associated with the activity.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the messenger plug-in causes display of the textual message within the thread area of the first instance.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising the messenger plug-in:

receiving user input signifying an interaction with the activity; and

responsive to receiving the user input:

updating the visual representation within the control area;

regenerating the thread-native image to correspond to the updated visual representation; and

sending the regenerated thread-native image to the second instance of the messenger application for display within the thread area of the second instance.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the user input corresponds to use of one of the user interface controls within the control area.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the user input comprises a click or press associated with the visual representation.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the visual representation includes animation.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising the messenger plug-in:

displaying, as one of the user interface controls for interaction with the activity, a control for publishing a representation of the activity to a social networking system; and

responsive to selection of the control, publishing a portion of the activity to the social networking system.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for a messenger plug-in, the instructions executable by a processor and comprising:

instructions for displaying, within a control area of a user interface of a first instance of a messenger application having the messenger plug-in, the first instance sharing a conversation thread with a second instance running on a remote client device and lacking the messenger plug-in:

a visual representation of a state of an activity engaged in by a user of the first instance and a user of the second instance, and

user interface controls for interaction with the activity, the visual representation not natively displayable within a thread area of the user interface configured to display items of thread-native content;

instructions for generating a thread-native image corresponding to the visual representation of the state of the activity; and

instructions for sending the generated thread-native image for delivery to the second instance of the messenger application for display within a thread area of the second instance.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , further comprising:

instructions for interpreting a textual message received from the second instance as an interaction of the second user of the second instance with the activity; and

instructions for updating the visual representation within the control area based on the interaction.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , further comprising:

instructions for receiving user input signifying an interaction with the activity; and

instructions for, responsive to receiving the user input:

updating the visual representation within the control area;

regenerating the thread-native image to correspond to the updated visual representation; and

sending the regenerated thread-native image to the second instance of the messenger for display within the thread area of the second instance.