IP Library Granted Patent US 10,931,608
Granted Patent B2
US 10,931,608 · App. 16/411,829 · Granted Feb 23, 2021

Integration of chat messaging in email

Inventors: Rene Jesus Olivera (Hampton, GA); Annie Wilson (Chamblee, GA); Sri Krishna Chaitanya Yantrapragada (Sandy Springs, GA)
Assignee: VMWARE, INC.
H04L51/046H04L63/08H04L67/1097G06F3/0482H04L51/14H04L51/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,931,608
App. No.
16/411,829
Granted
Feb 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are various approaches for integrating chat conversations with email messages. A user can request to view a received email message exchanged between multiple entities. If there is an established chat conversation associated with the user that is linked to the email message, the user interface including the email message can include a messaging component that can allow a user to view the corresponding chat conversation. The user interface can also include a component that allows the user to initiate a chat conversation with another party included in the email without switching to a third-party service.

Claims (56)

1. A system for integrating chat conversations with email messages, the system comprising:

a client device;

at least one application executable in the client device, wherein, when executed, the at least one application causes the client device to at least:

obtain a request to view an email message, the email message being exchanged between multiple entities and the request being associated with a first entity;

send a request to a chat service for chat data linked to the email message and the first entity, the request including a conversation identifier (ID) of the email message and an entity identifier of the first entity, the chat data corresponding to a chat conversation exchanged only between the first entity and a second entity, and the first entity and the second entity being a subset of the multiple entities;

obtain the chat data from the chat service;

generate a user interface including the email message and a messaging component, selection of the messaging component causing the chat data associated with the chat conversation exchanged only between the first entity and the second entity of the subset of the multiple entities to be displayed, and the messaging component being configured to visually indicate an active chat associated with the email message and at least the first entity; and

render the user interface on a display of the client device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the client device is enrolled in a management service operated by an enterprise, and access to the chat data being controlled by the management service.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when executed, the at least one application further causes the client device to at least authenticate the first entity, the request for the chat data being sent in an instance in which the first entity is authenticated.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein authenticating the first entity comprises:

sending, to a computing device associated with a management service, a request to authenticate the first entity, the request including authentication data associated with the first entity; and

receiving a notification from the management service that the first entity is authenticated.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when executed, the at least one application further causes the client device to at least:

receive a request to initiate a chat conversation between the first entity and a third entity associated with the email message;

render a chat user interface for entry of chat data by the first entity, the chat data including an identification of the third entity and chat content; and

send the chat data and the conversation identifier of the email message to the chat service for storage.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the chat data is stored in a chat server and email data associated with the email message is stored in an email server, and the email server and the chat server are managed by different providers.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when executed, the at least one application causes the client device to at least:

receive a request to delete the email message; and

send a request to the chat service to remove the chat data associated with the first entity and linked to the email message.

8. A method for integrating chat conversations with email messages, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a computing device, a request to view an email message, the email message being exchanged between multiple entities and the request being associated with a first entity;

sending, by the computing device, a request to a chat service for chat data linked to the email message and the first entity, the request including a conversation identifier of the email message and an entity identifier of the first entity, the chat data corresponding to a chat conversation exchanged only between the first entity and a second entity, and the first entity and the second entity being a subset of the multiple entities;

obtaining, by the computing device, the chat data from the chat service;

generating, by the computing device, a user interface including the email message and a messaging component, selection of the messaging component causing the chat data associated with the chat conversation exchanged only between the first entity and the second entity of the subset of the multiple entities to be displayed, and the messaging component being configured to visually indicate an active chat associated with the email message and at least the first entity; and

rendering, by the computing device, the user interface on a display of the computing device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the computing device is enrolled in a management service operated by an enterprise, and access to the chat data being controlled by the management service.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising authenticating, by the computing device, the first entity, the request for the chat data being sent in an instance in which the first entity is authenticated.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein authenticating the first entity comprises:

sending, to a computing device associated with a management service, a request to authenticate the first entity, the request including authentication data associated with the first entity; and

receiving a notification from the management service that the first entity is authenticated.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, a request to initiate a chat conversation between the first entity and a third entity associated with the email message;

rendering, by the computing device, a chat user interface for entry of chat data by the first entity, the chat data including an identification of the third entity and chat content; and

sending, by the computing device, the chat data and the conversation identifier of the email message to the chat service for storage.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the chat data is stored in a chat server and email data associated with the email message is stored in an email server, and the email server and the chat server are managed by different providers.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, a request to delete the email message; and

sending, by the computing device, a request to the chat service to remove the chat data associated with the first entity and linked to the email message.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium for integrating chat conversations with email messages, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a client device, cause the client device to at least:

obtain a request to view an email message, the email message being exchanged between multiple entities and the request being associated with a first entity;

send a request to a chat service for chat data linked to the email message and the first entity, the request including a conversation identifier of the email message and an entity identifier of the first entity, the chat data corresponding to a chat conversation exchanged only between the first entity and a second entity, and the first entity and the second entity being a subset of the multiple entities;

obtain the chat data from the chat service;

generate a user interface including the email message and a messaging component, selection of the messaging component causing the chat data associated with the chat conversation exchanged only between the first entity and the second entity of the subset of the multiple entities to be displayed, and the messaging component being configured to visually indicate an active chat associated with the email message and at least the first entity; and

render the user interface on a display of the client device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the client device is enrolled in a management service operated by an enterprise, and access to the chat data being controlled by the management service.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein, when executed, the machine-readable instructions further cause the client device to at least authenticate the first entity, the request for the chat data being sent in an instance in which the first entity is authenticated.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein authenticating the first entity comprises:

sending, to a computing device associated with a management service, a request to authenticate the first entity, the request including authentication data associated with the first entity; and

receiving a notification from the management service that the first entity is authenticated.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein, when executed, the machine-readable instructions further cause the client device to at least:

receive a request to initiate a chat conversation between the first entity and a third entity associated with the email message;

render a chat user interface for entry of chat data by the first entity, the chat data including an identification of the third entity and chat content; and

send the chat data and the conversation identifier of the email message to the chat service for storage.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the chat data is stored in a chat server and email data associated with the email message is stored in an email server, and the email server and the chat server are managed by different providers.

Assignments (4)
PATENT ASSIGNMENT Recorded Aug 5, 2024
From: VMWARE LLC
To: OMNISSA, LLC
Reel/Frame 068327/0365 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2024
From: OMNISSA, LLC
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 068118/0004 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 15, 2024
From: VMWARE, INC.
To: VMWARE LLC
Reel/Frame 067103/0030 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2019
From: OLIVERA, RENE JESUS; WILSON, ANNIE; YANTRAPRAGADA, SRI KRISHNA CHAITANYA
To: VMWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 049175/0972 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,294,558