Ephemeral Messaging with Legacy Client Support

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing messaging systems face challenges in implementing an automatic-delete feature for messages, particularly when dealing with legacy clients that do not support message marking for deletion, requiring efficient tracking and management of message queues to ensure privacy and computational efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a delayed-action worker module that manages a message queue with a delayed-action cursor, determining the next update object and wake timer based on action delays, and a legacy client support component that assigns server-specified time-to-live settings for incoming updates, ensuring efficient traversal of message queues and support for legacy clients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a delayed-action worker module is implemented to manage message queues with action delays, then automatic deletion of messages can be achieved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components needed to track and manage the message queues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic deletion capabilityVSAvoidmessage queue management structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses self-service mechanisms where the delayed-action worker module automatically processes message deletions based on pre-configured time-to-live settings. The module wakes according to wake timers, determines current update objects for delayed-action cursors, performs deletion activities, and automatically schedules next wake timers without requiring manual intervention or complex external coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary action by pre-assigning time-to-live settings to messages before they are deleted. The delayed-action worker module is scheduled in advance based on action delays and creation times of update objects, allowing the system to proactively manage message lifecycle without reactive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If legacy client support is added to assign server-specified time-to-live settings, then compatibility with legacy clients is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional compatibility checking and setting assignment logic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelegacy client compatibilityVSAvoidclient compatibility management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The legacy client support component acts as an intermediary between incoming messages and the message queue system. It determines whether messaging clients support client-side time-to-live settings, and if not, it assigns server-specified time-to-live settings automatically. This intermediary layer handles compatibility checking and setting assignment, isolating the complexity from the core messaging functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the time-to-live parameter based on client capabilities. For legacy clients that do not support client-side time-to-live settings, the server assigns appropriate time-to-live values, effectively adapting the message lifecycle parameters to match the client's capabilities without requiring structural changes to the core system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If efficient traversal of message queues is implemented with delayed-action cursors, then productivity is improved through automated processing, but the use of energy increases due to continuous monitoring and wake timer management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage processing efficiencyVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The delayed-action worker module employs periodic action by waking according to wake timers that are determined based on action delays and creation times of update objects. Instead of continuous monitoring, the system schedules periodic wake-ups to process messages that have reached their time-to-live threshold, reducing energy consumption while maintaining processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring that the delayed-action worker module is always ready to process messages when needed. The wake timer mechanism ensures that processing occurs continuously at appropriate intervals without idle gaps, maximizing productivity while minimizing energy waste through targeted wake-up events rather than constant operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9906480B2Techniques for ephemeral messaging with legacy clients

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 META PLATFORMS INC

AI summary

Techniques for ephemeral message are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a sender inbound messaging component operative to receive an incoming update for a message queue at a client support server for a messaging system from a messaging client on a client device; a legacy client support component operative to determine whether the messaging client supports a client-side time-to-live setting; determine whether the incoming update should be associated with a server-specified time-to-live setting where the messaging client does not support the client-side time-to-live setting; and assign the incoming update the server-specified time-to-live setting where the messaging client does not support the client-side time-to-live setting and where the incoming update should be associated with a server-side time-to-live setting. Other embodiments are described and claimed.