Hidden Message Encoding in Standard Text for Secure Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional private messaging systems on mobile devices lack security and privacy, as messages are visible on locked screens, require specialized apps, and cannot be sent between arbitrary messengers or chat systems without compromising security.
Innovation Solution
A software application that encrypts and encodes hidden messages within normal text on one device, allowing only the receiving device's camera to extract and decrypt the message using a decryption key, enabling secure private messaging within any existing messenger or chat application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional private messaging is used on mobile devices, then messages can be sent between users, but messages are visible on locked screens and in messaging history, compromising privacy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the private message content from the visible text display by encoding it within the visual appearance of normal text. The message is taken out from plaintext form and embedded in an encoded format that appears as regular text to others but can be decoded by the recipient's device using image capture and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by embedding the encoded private message within the visual structure of normal text. The message content is nested inside the apparent text display, where the same visual elements serve both as readable text and as encoded message carriers that can be captured and decoded.
2Reliability
If specialized messenger applications are used for private messaging, then message privacy can be maintained, but the system cannot be used with arbitrary messengers or chat systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by making the private messaging capability compatible with any messenger or chat system. The encoding and decoding process works with the visual display of text from any application, allowing the same method to be applied across different messaging platforms without requiring specialized proprietary systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary process using image capture and optical character recognition as a mediator between the displayed message and the decoding process. This intermediary approach allows extraction of message content from any visual text display regardless of the source application, enabling cross-platform compatibility.
3Reliability
If hidden messages are encoded in text, then privacy is improved, but the system reveals that the user is hiding communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by capturing the visual display of the message through image photography. Instead of directly accessing or displaying the encoded message, the system creates a visual copy of the text display, which then undergoes optical character recognition and decoding to retrieve the private content without revealing the encoding mechanism.
4Reliability
If messages are encrypted and encoded, then security is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by using the visual display system and image capture capabilities that are already present in standard mobile devices. The encoding leverages the device's own display and camera functions, while the decoding uses the device's image processing and optical character recognition capabilities, eliminating the need for additional specialized hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for providing secure private electronic communications. An exemplary method includes encrypting a hidden message using an encryption scheme; encoding the encrypted hidden message in a source message; providing the source message having the encoded hidden message by a first electronic device; and transmitting a decryption key to a second electronic device. Moreover, the second electronic device can capture the encoded hidden message provided by the first electronic device, decode the hidden message, and extract the hidden message using the decryption key so that the hidden message can be rendered by the second electronic device.