You can configure your bot to communicate with users via Google Hangouts. To do so, you need to first generate the Google API key. API keys are used to identify the calling project (in this case the Bot) which makes a call to an API (in this case, Google Hangouts). It also verifies whether the calling Bot has been granted access to call the API and has enabled the API in their project. API keys are generated on the project making the call, and their use can be restricted to a specific environment such as an IP address range, or a specific Android or iOS app. Project number (App ID) are used to identify the user or person using the Google Hangouts. Its purpose is to inform Google Hangouts that the bearer of this token has been authorized to access the API and perform the set actions.
Enter the Business Hangouts API key and the Hangouts Project number (App ID) in the Configure Google Hangouts dialog box of the Skills Builder. Later, you need to specify the Bot URL (referred to as Message URL in the Skills Builder) on the Google Hangouts API. Bot URL is used to pass data between your Bot and Google Hangouts.
Google Hangouts Channel is currently not available for customers in mainland China. |
The following steps will walk you through generating the API key that you need to allow your Bot in Skills builder to communicate with your users over Google Hangouts.
Enter the unique Project Name. Google generates and displays the unique Project ID, which cannot be changed once the project is created. The Project ID is the globally unique identifier for your project.
System automatically displays the Organization details based on the login details.
On the Credentials page, click API Key to open it on a separate page.
API key can be used in a project and with any API that supports it. |
iOS apps
Click Create to generate the API key.
It may take up to 5 minutes for the settings to take effect. |
Copy the API Key and retain it, so that it can be used in the Skills Builder to communicate with the Google Hangouts.
The API Key is used in Step 4 of Enable Google Hangouts Channel in Skills Builder section. |
Copy the generated Project number (App ID) and retain it, so that it can be used in the Skills Builder in order to authenticate the messages received from the Skills Builder.
The Project number (App ID) is used in Step 4 of Enable Google Hangouts Channel in Skills Builder section. |
Specify the Avatar URL.
Avatar URL is an image URL used to identify the bot. |
In the Connection Settings section, select Bot URL and then specify the Message URL that is copied from the Skills Builder.
To know about the Message URL, refer Step 5 of Enable Google Hangouts Channel in Skills Builder section. |
To enable Google Hangouts in Skills Builder, do the following:
Copy the Message URL and retain it in an easily accessible location such as notepad or a text editor tool. This is used while configuring the Google Hangouts Project (Step 13 of Create Google Hangouts Project section). You can use the copy icon to simplify the operation.
Once the service is running you can send messages to your Bot user and receive responses from your Luma Virtual Agent. To chat with the Bot user, navigate to https://chat.google.com/ and login to your Google Cloud Platform. If there are multiple bots, select the required Bot to start chatting as shown below.
Note that the Bot may not be visible by default. You may need to search for the bot during the first chat instance. Once the conversation starts with the bot, the bot will be visible in the Bots list. |
If case of any issues with the configuration, please contact the Serviceaide Support team.