Ephemeral Message Storage with Durable Envelope Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional off-the-record communication systems fail to ensure delivery and privacy of electronic messages, as they require recipients to be online and do not provide mechanisms for expiring messages, leading to potential misunderstandings and mistrust due to missed communications.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for off-the-record communication that includes expiring messages, where content is temporarily stored in non-durable memory and envelope information is durably stored, with transmission occurring based on recipient availability and expiration events such as time or number of views, ensuring message privacy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If messages are stored permanently at server locations, then message recovery is always possible, but message privacy and Ephemerality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments message data into two distinct parts: envelope information (metadata like sender, recipient, subject) stored in durable storage, and message content stored in ephemeral storage with automatic deletion. This segmentation allows the system to provide different storage durability for different types of data, achieving both message recoverability (through envelope storage) and privacy protection (through content deletion).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the message content from permanent storage and places it in ephemeral storage that automatically deletes after delivery or after a predetermined time period. This extraction allows the system to maintain durable records of message metadata while removing sensitive content from permanent storage, resolving the contradiction between reliability and privacy.
2Loss of information
If chat messages are not stored by the service provider, then message privacy is maintained, but message delivery reliability deteriorates when recipients are offline
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by storing message envelope information and delivery status in durable storage before the actual message content is deleted from ephemeral storage. This allows the system to track message delivery state and notify recipients of missed messages even after the content has been ephemeralized, maintaining delivery reliability without compromising privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of envelope information that mediates between the ephemeral message content and the recipient. The envelope contains delivery status and notification information that persists in durable storage, allowing the system to communicate delivery state without retaining the actual message content, thus balancing privacy and reliability.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If recipients must be online to receive messages, then message Ephemerality is maintained, but communication reliability deteriorates due to missed messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing envelope information and delivery notifications in durable storage before message content deletion. This allows recipients to be notified of missed messages asynchronously, even after the ephemeral content has expired, ensuring communication continuity without extending message availability indefinitely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through notification mechanisms that inform recipients when messages were missed. The system provides feedback about delivery status through persistent envelope information, allowing recipients to understand what communications they missed without requiring continuous online presence, thus improving communication reliability while maintaining message ephemerality.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure includes systems and methods for off-the-record communication including expiring messages. An example method comprises receiving an electronic communication from a source device, the electronic communication including at least one expiring message, temporarily storing content of the expiring message in a non-durable memory for a predetermined amount of time, durably storing envelope information associated with the expiring message in a durable memory, and determining whether a recipient device for the expiring message is available to accept transmission of the expiring message and determining whether an expiration event has occurred.