System and method for multi-party communication of trending topics

Abstract

A system and method for multi-party communication includes determining a trending common identifier within a media platform and generating a communication channel within a communication platform based on the common identifier. The method and system includes, in response to a join request from each of a plurality of users, connecting the plurality of users to the communication channel, where the communication channel is an open communication channel for active audio communication between the plurality of users across the communication platform and facilitating audio communication between the plurality of users, including providing a visual display on the communication platform, including visual display of the active audio communication across the communication platform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for multi-party communication comprising:
 determining an identifier identifying a trending topic on a social networking system, wherein the trending topic is a topic of a plurality of social media posts posted on the social networking system;   generating a communication channel within a communication platform based on the common identifier, the communication channel identified by the trending topic;   in response to a join request from each of a plurality of users, connecting the plurality of users to the communication channel identified by the trending topic;   facilitating audio communication between the plurality of users, including providing a visual display on the communication platform, including visual display of the active audio communication across the communication platform; and   monitoring the social network system for determining if the identifier continues to identify the trending topic on the social network system to maintain the communication channel while the identifier identifies the trending topic.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media platform is a social media platform for users communicating short messages. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the common identifier is a hashtag. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining the common identifier is no longer trending; and 
 terminating the communication channel. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 for at least one of the users of the plurality of users, prior to connecting to the communication channel, receiving a user identification indicating a user identity associated with the communication platform. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the communication channel operates using a communication mode being at least one of: an open communication mode and a touch-to-talk communication mode, the method further comprising:
 receiving a user selection for changing the communication mode; and   updating the user communication within the communication channel based on the change in the communication mode.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 providing a visual display on the communication platform of active engagement of the plurality of users engaging the communication channel to distribute audio communication thereacross, including illuminating a visual display associated with the user when the user is actively talking. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 squelching one more of the plurality of users in a dynamic manner such that the one or more of the plurality of users are restrictive from active communication; and 
 providing a visual display of the squelching, the visual display visible within the communication platform. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the social networking system is disposed within the communication platform.