Abstract: Systems and methods of the disclosure include receiving a message from a user at a user client device for a multi-agent entity. The message initiates a message thread between the user and the multi-agent entity. An administrator user for the multi-agent entity is determined and the message thread is forwarded to the administrator at an administrator client device. The method facilitates an exchange of security information between the administrator client device and the user client device. The method includes receiving a message thread forwarding a command from the administrator client device to forward the message thread to an agent of the multi-agent entity at an agent client device. The command can comprise a payload containing the security information.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for identifying and providing highlight messages from a group messaging thread. For example, systems and methods described herein detect when a group messaging thread participant becomes absent from the group messaging thread, and identifies one or more highlight messages that were submitted to the group messaging thread while the participant was absent. Systems and methods described herein identify highlight messages that are specific to the absent participant, such that when the participant again accesses the group messaging thread, the participant can review the identified highlight messages in order to quickly “catch up” on the group messaging thread without having to read each electronic message submitted to the group messaging thread during the participant's absence.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products to specify and test open communication protocols. A messaging client executing on a processor of a client device may generate a request stanza based on a first specification file of a plurality of specification files for the messaging client. The messaging client may validate the request stanza based on one or more parameters specified by the first specification file. The messaging client may invoke a response handler for the request stanza. The messaging client may receive a response stanza from a server. The response handler may process the response stanza. The messaging client may display an output of the processing of the response handler.

Abstract: This application describes methods, mediums, and systems for verifying a device for use in a messaging system. Using the device verification procedures described, a messaging system can securely authorize new devices to send and receive encrypted messages on behalf of a user, preferably without the need to share a private encryption key between the users' different devices. The application describes several techniques that can be used to provide such a system, including distributing a computer-perceptible code that encodes encryption information between a secondary device and a primary device. This allows the information to be distributed without intervention by a server. Other techniques provide unique ways to build and reverify authorized device lists, distribute encryption keys in chat channels, ensure that lists of authorized devices are distributed in the correct order and remain valid for an appropriate amount of time, add new devices to an ongoing or new conversation, and more.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for asserting the authenticity of digital content being communicated among client devices of a communication or computer system by configuring the digital content with one or more sensor responsive elements. The sensor responsive element may be a visual interface that dynamically reacts or responds to sensor data generated by one or more sensors (such as a gyroscope sensor, a microphone, and a camera) of a receiving client device. If the sensor responsive element does not dynamically react or respond to movement data, image data, or sound data generated by the one or more sensors, the digital content may fail user inspection and may indicate to the recipient that the digital content is a fake or a counterfeit.

Abstract: A messaging system receives a message including a recipient ID and a message body, the message body containing one or more customizable fields. The messaging system receives a user preference model based on the recipient ID. The user preference model identifies message elements and content preferred by the recipient of the message. Based on the user preference model, the messaging system modifies the customizable fields in the message body, generating a modified message. The modified message is transmitted to a client device associated with the recipient ID for presentation to the recipient.

Abstract: This disclosure covers methods, computer-readable media, and systems that animate a digital graphic associated with a video or other visual media item based on a detected dynamic attribute. In particular, the disclosed methods, computer-readable media, and systems detect sensor data from a client device or a motion of an object within a video or other visual media item. Based on the detected sensor data or motion of an object within a visual media item, the methods, computer-readable media, and systems overlay and animate an emoji or other digital graphic selected by a user on a video or other visual media item.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and methods are provided for facilitating payment for a third party's use of an application by a current user. The current user, or payor, initiates the process within the application by selecting one or more recipients. The system that hosts the application then determines which of the third parties are eligible. A target recipient may be ineligible because her application subscription never expires, because it doesn't expire within a threshold period of time, or for some other reason. The system identifies the target recipients that are eligible, and the payor may configure the gift payment (e.g., by choosing a duration of the subscription). The payor then chooses a method of electronic payment and, depending on the method selected, may redeem a coupon with the application host system, or the process may complete automatically. The payor and/or the recipient(s) may be notified of successful activation of the subscription(s).

Abstract: This disclosure describes a video room system that can generate a video room utilizing a cross-application technique by accessing functions of one application based on user interaction within a separate application. In particular, the disclosed systems can generate a video room that remains open for access by a creator device and invitee devices in a casual come-and-go fashion. The disclosed systems can further generate a video room link that is distributable intelligently to grant access to the video room to invitee devices. The disclosed systems can also automatically surface a video room link to an invitee device based on determining a digital connection between the invitee device and the creator device.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for aggregating communication connections. Multiple users connect to a system (e.g., a web-based system) that hosts an application or service for exchanging communications. Users who exchange communications among themselves may be considered “associates.” When one user who is on-line with the application sends a communication through the system for an associate, the system determines whether the associate is on-line or off-line. If the associate is off-line, the system crafts and sends toward the associate a notification regarding the communication, including an address of the communication server to which the one user is connected. When the associate's device receives the notification, the application may attempt to connect to the specified address. In this way associated users' connections will aggregate or gravitate toward the same communication server, thereby eliminating the latency and cost of exchanging users' communications between multiple communication servers.

Abstract: A messaging server establishes a video chat between first and second endpoints through a first and second router. In parallel, the messaging server transmits instructions to the first endpoint causing the first endpoint to transmit packets through a plurality of ports of the first router to a designated port of the second router. In addition, the messaging server transmits instructions to the second endpoint causing the second endpoint to transmit packets through a plurality of ports of the second router to a corresponding plurality of ports of the first router. A P2P connection is established between the first and second endpoints in response to a first port of the plurality of ports of the first router receiving a data packet from the designated port of the second router. The video chat is seamlessly transferred from the connection established through the messaging server to the established P2P connection.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for anonymizing information in an end-to-end (E2E) encrypted environment; the information may include, for example, statistical data about unique page/message views, view counts, view time, what users selected on the message or page, etc. Exemplary embodiments may prevent an E2E system server from being able to identify which user is associated with which record. Various examples are described, including an embodiment in which an originating client generates the data, encrypts it, and sends it to a random contact. The contact decrypts the data, re-encyrpts it, and sends it to another random contact. The procedure continues for a set amount of time or for a set number of hops. Other embodiments relate to wrapping the data in various layers of encryption and sending the data to clients in a chain. The encrypted layers prevent clients along the chain from being able to view the anonymized data.

Abstract: A messaging system interacts with the messaging applications of customer, admin, and agent clients to support encrypted communications among customers and businesses. To register as an agent of the business, an agent client sends registration information to the messaging system and receives a barcode in response. The messaging system validates information about the barcode received from the admin client and sends a validation code to the admin client. The admin client displays the validation code, and the validation code is entered into the agent client. The admin client generates a membership list including an agent client identifier, digitally signs the membership list, and provides the signed membership list to the messaging system. When a customer messages the business, the messaging system forms a customer group using the signed membership list and distributes the message to the agent clients in the group.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for improving the speed and rendering quality of an image (e.g., a JPEG), particularly in an end-to-end encrypted environment. The image may be analyzed on the sending-client side and the image data may be broken into a thumbnail and a full-quality image, where the full-quality image data relies on the thumbnail data to render a high-quality image. The image is uploaded to a blob store, and a message is sent to the receiving client with image information. At the recipient side, the JPEG image data is retrieved from the blob store and the thumbnail is first rendered. Subsequently, as the remainder of the image data is received at the receiving client, the image is updated. Consequently, images are rendered faster, and the thumbnail can be automatically downloaded so that a user can determine if they wish to download the full image.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for dynamically selecting codecs as video is transmitted in real time. In some embodiments, a first codec initially encodes video data, and a second codec is evaluated to replace the first codec. The system switches to the second codec only if an increased amount of power consumption resulting from using the second codec balances with a correspondingly sufficient increase in the quality of the video encoded by the second codec. In some embodiments, codecs are excluded from consideration if it is determined that the local device does not have sufficient processing resources to operate the codec, or if a mismatch is detected between the codec operating on a sending device and a codec operating on a receiving device.

Abstract: Techniques for media endpoint configuration are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a messaging server component operative to receive a media message addressed to a recipient user account, the media message comprising a media identifier for a media item; and send the media message to a recipient client device associated with the recipient user account; and a media management component operative to send a media endpoint list to a recipient client device, the media endpoint list operative to configure the recipient client device to retrieve the media item by identifying the media item with the media identifier to a media endpoint determined based on the media endpoint list. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for managing contact information received in the context of a messaging system. Messages may be received from known contacts which contain user contact records for third parties. Based on the trust relationship with the known contacts, the user contact record is placed in a contact record repository for later retrieval. When another message is received which either references the user contact record or is from the third party referenced in the user contact record, a dialog box is presented offering the user the opportunity to add the user contact record as an address entry in the address book of the device.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, graphical user interface and methods are provided for conducting electronic voice communications with status notifications. A user of a first portable device executing a communication application selects a multi-function control that automatically initiates an audio recording, which is automatically sent toward another participant of an active communication session when the control is released. The same multi-function control may be used to transmit a textual message. A representation of the recording is displayed on the user's device, with an indicator that changes appearance when the other participant plays the recording. In addition, when one user initiates an audio recording that will be automatically sent to another user, the other user's device is advised of the initiation of recording and displays that status for the other user.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a method for allowing a user at a first client device to provide access to restricted content on a content provider server to a user at a second client device without providing identifying information of the second client device or the user to the content provider. The second client device receives, in a messaging app, a message from the first client device comprising a link to a content item at a content provider and an identifier of a private/public key pair on the second client device. Second client device displays the link in the user interface of the messaging app and receives a user selection of the link. Second client device generates generating a digital signature for the link using the private key of the private/public key pair and sends the link and the digital signature to the content provider. The content item is then received from the content provider and displayed on the second client device.

Abstract: Techniques to dynamically configure target bitrate for streaming network connections are described.