Methods and apparatuses for determining a user status avatar for rendering within a group-based communication interface

1. An apparatus configured to programmatically determine a user status avatar that is configured for rendering within a group-based communication interface of a group-based communication system, the apparatus comprising at least a processor, and a memory associated with the processor having computer coded instructions therein, with the computer coded instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

retrieve a user activity data log from a group-based communication repository, the user activity data log documenting user engagement with the group-based communication interface;

receive a user status data object from an external resource, the user status data object comprising external engagement data relating to a user availability;

determine the user status avatar from a plurality of user status avatars based on the user activity data log and the user status data object,

wherein the user status avatar is associated with the user availability,

wherein the group-based communication system comprises a plurality of group-based communication channels providing a communications environment to display communications posted by channel members of each respective group-based communication channel; and

displaying additional information relating to the user status avatar in response to a user hovering over the user status avatar, the additional information reflecting at least a portion of the external engagement data relating to the user availability.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user status data object comprises an external resource user identifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the computer coded instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to associate the user status data object with the user activity data log based on the external resource user identifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer coded instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to transmit the user status avatar for rendering within a user profile interface of the group-based communication interface that is associated with the user activity data log.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer coded instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to receive avatar rendering settings and to transmit the user status avatar for rendering within the group-based communication interface based on the avatar rendering settings.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the avatar rendering settings are configured to cause the apparatus to transmit the user status avatar to be rendered as viewable only to selected users of the group-based communication interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the avatar rendering settings are configured to cause the apparatus to transmit the user status avatar to be rendered as viewable only to selected channel users of the group-based communication interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the avatar rendering settings are configured to cause the apparatus to transmit the user status avatar for rendering within a second group-based communication interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the avatar rendering settings are configured to cause the apparatus to transmit the user status avatar to be rendered as viewable only to first selected users of the group-based communication interface and second selected users of the second group-based communication interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer coded instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

retrieve a second user activity data log from the group-based communication repository, the second user activity data log documenting second user engagement with the group-based communication interface;

receive a second user status data object from the external resource, the second user data status object comprising second external engagement data;

determine a replacement user status avatar from the plurality of user status avatars based on the second user activity data log and the second user status data object; and

transmit the replacement user status avatar for rendering within the group-based communication interface to replace the user status avatar.

11. A computer-implemented method for programmatically determining a user status avatar that is configured for rendering within a group-based communication interface of a group-based communication system, the method comprising:

retrieving a user activity data log from a group-based communication repository, the user activity data log documenting user engagement with the group-based communication interface;

receiving a user status data object from an external resource, the user status data object comprising external engagement data relating to user availability; and

determining the user status avatar from a plurality of user status avatars based on the user activity data log and the user status data object,

wherein the user status avatar is associated with the user availability,

wherein the group-based communication system comprises a plurality of group-based communication channels providing a communications environment to display communications posted by channel members of each respective group-based communication channel, and

displaying additional information relating to the user status avatar in response to a user hovering over the user status avatar, the additional information reflecting at least a portion of the external engagement data relating to the user availability.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the user status data object comprises an external resource user identifier.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising associating the user status data object with the user activity data log based on the external resource user identifier.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting the user status avatar for rendering within a user profile interface of the group-based communication interface that is associated with the user activity data log.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising receiving avatar rendering settings and transmitting the user status avatar for rendering within the group-based communication interface based on the avatar rendering settings.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the avatar rendering settings are configured to render the user status avatar as viewable only to selected users of the group-based communication interface.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the avatar rendering settings are configured to render the user status avatar as viewable only to selected channel users of the group-based communication interface.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the avatar rendering settings are configured to render the user status avatar as viewable within a second group-based communication interface.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , wherein the avatar rendering settings are configured to render the user status avatar as viewable only to first selected users of the group-based communication interface and second selected users of the second group-based communication interface.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

retrieving a second user activity data log from the group-based communication repository, the second user activity data log documenting second user engagement with the group-based communication interface;

receiving a second user status data object from the external resource, the second user data object comprising second external engagement data;

determining a replacement user status avatar from the plurality of user status avatars based on the second user activity data log and the second user status data object; and

transmitting the replacement user status avatar for rendering within the group-based communication interface to replace the user status avatar.