Real-Time Chat Message Sequencing Using Initial Character Timestamps
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Solution Overview
Problem
In real-time text (RTT) chat scenarios, the existing technologies fail to effectively maintain the time sequence relationship between messages displayed on different terminals, leading to inefficiencies in user input and experience due to differences in displaying receiving and sending times.
Innovation Solution
A message display method where the terminal uses the input time of the initial character in a message as its sending time and the receiving time of the initial character in a message as its receiving time, ensuring messages are displayed in the correct time sequence by synchronously displaying characters entered or sent, and rearranging them based on these timestamps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the terminal uses the receiving time of the initial character as the receiving time of the message and the sending time of the initial character as the sending time of the message, then the time sequence relationship between messages can be accurately reflected, but the complexity of time tracking and message sequencing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal performs preliminary action by recording the receiving time and sending time of the initial character of each message as it arrives. This timestamp recording is done proactively at the moment the initial character is received, before any potential display reordering is needed. By establishing the time reference early, the system can later reorder messages according to these pre-recorded timestamps without adding complex real-time calculation logic during display operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal creates a copy of the time sequence information by storing timestamps separately from the message content. Instead of relying on the natural arrival order or storing complex time calculation logic, the system copies the essential time reference (timestamp of initial character) and uses this copy for sorting and displaying messages in the correct chronological order, simplifying the overall sequencing mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If messages are displayed according to the sending time and receiving time of initial characters, then the conversational flow and clarity are improved, but the difficulty of tracking multiple message timestamps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal extracts the time tracking function from the overall message processing system. By isolating the timestamp recording of the initial character as a separate, dedicated function, the system simplifies the tracking process. Instead of monitoring and comparing multiple time points for each message, the system focuses solely on capturing the timestamp when the initial character is received, making the tracking process simpler and more reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The message system performs self-service by automatically recording its own timestamp when a message is received. The terminal itself generates and stores the time reference without requiring external synchronization or complex coordination with the other party's terminal. This self-generated timestamp serves as a reliable local reference for displaying messages in the correct chronological order.
Data Source
AI summary
A message display method includes displaying, by a first terminal, a chat window for chatting with a second terminal, receiving, by the first terminal at a first moment, an initial character of a first message from a user into the input box, receiving, by the first terminal at a second moment, an initial character of a second message from the second terminal, receiving, by the first terminal at a third moment, a first preset character from the user into the input box, wherein the first preset character indicates that the first message is complete, and the third moment is later than the second moment, and displaying, by the first terminal in the dialog area, the first message as a message earlier than the second message.