Chat Message Merging for Cluttered Multimedia Threads

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Solution Overview

Problem

In online chat conversations, the frequent transmission of similar multimedia messages, such as emojis, leads to overcrowding on the chat interface, making it difficult for users to quickly locate relevant information.

Innovation Solution

A message merging method that automatically groups similar messages based on predefined or dynamically adjusted conditions, merging them into a single message to improve interface space utilization and message visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple similar multimedia messages are displayed separately on the chat interface, then message transmission completeness is improved, but interface clutter increases and information location efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage transmission completenessVSAvoidinformation location efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple similar multimedia messages (same or substantially same content) into a single merged message display. The message merging module combines n messages of the first media type into one merged message, reducing the number of separate displays from n to 1, thereby eliminating interface clutter while preserving message transmission completeness through the merged message content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If similar messages are merged into a single display, then interface clutter is reduced and information location efficiency is improved, but message detail completeness may be lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation location efficiencyVSAvoidmessage detail completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the merged message into multiple sub-messages, where each sub-message corresponds to one of the original n messages. This segmentation allows users to access individual message details when needed, preserving message detail completeness while maintaining the consolidated display structure that reduces interface clutter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The merged message acts as an intermediary that represents multiple original messages. It provides a summarized view for efficient information location while containing references or access points to the full details of each constituent message, thus mediating between the need for consolidation and the need for detail preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If all messages are displayed individually, then message distinguishability is improved, but chat interface space utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage distinguishabilityVSAvoidchat interface space utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines n individual message displays into a single merged message display, reducing the total occupied space on the chat interface. This merging maintains message distinguishability by preserving the content and identity of each original message within the merged structure, while significantly improving space utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20260005992A1Message merging and displaying method and apparatus, device, storage medium, and product
Publication Date: 2026.01.01 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • US20260005992A1 patent drawing
  • US20260005992A1 patent drawing
  • US20260005992A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A message merging and displaying method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for optimizing chat interface presentation. The method displays n messages of a first media type on a chat interface, where n is a positive integer. Upon receiving an (n+1)th message of the same media type, the system evaluates whether the combined n+1 messages satisfy a merging display condition. When the condition is met, the n+1 messages of the first media type are merged into a single merged message, which is then displayed on the chat interface. This approach enables cleaner chat interfaces by automatically consolidating multiple messages of the same media type when appropriate merging conditions are satisfied.