Irrefutable Instant Messaging via Cryptographic Binding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current instant messaging systems lack robustness and accountability, failing to provide irrefutable proof of message transmission and agreement in commercial contexts, where secure and binding communication is necessary.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method for instant messaging that includes data messages with persistent attributes, enabling digital signatures and biometric binding to ensure message irrevocability, with features like disabling the delete function for irrevocable messages and synchronizing attributes across devices via a remote server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If typical IM systems allow free deletion of messages, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability and accountability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the persistence parameter of messages from temporary to permanent based on message type. Persistent messages are marked with a flag that prevents deletion, while non-persistent messages maintain normal delete functionality. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by making messages immutable when accountability is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts message deletability based on message attributes. The delete function is conditionally enabled or disabled depending on whether the message is marked as persistent. This dynamic behavior allows the system to provide both ease of operation for regular messages and reliability for important communications.
2Reliability
If digital signatures and biometric binding are implemented, then reliability and security are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a messaging server as an intermediary that handles the complexity of digital signature verification and biometric binding. The server stores public keys and manages the authentication process, freeing client devices from implementing complex cryptographic protocols locally. This mediator approach maintains high reliability while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses digital signatures as cryptographic copies that bind message content to sender identity. Instead of requiring complex biometric verification for every message, the system creates a signature copy that can be verified independently. This copying mechanism provides strong authentication without requiring continuous complex verification processes.
3Reliability
If message deletion is prevented for persistent messages, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different deletion policies to different parts of the message system based on message type. Persistent messages have deletion disabled, while non-persistent messages allow free deletion. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing reliability only where needed rather than universally restricting all message management operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The delete function dynamically changes its behavior based on the selected message's persistence attribute. When a persistent message is selected, the delete option is grayed out or disabled. When a non-persistent message is selected, normal delete functionality is available. This dynamic response maintains ease of operation by adapting to the specific message context.
4Reliability
If acknowledgement and signature collection is required, then reliability and irrefutability are improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic acknowledgement mechanisms where the recipient's signature or digital signature is collected and stored automatically as part of the message delivery process. This self-service approach to acknowledgement collection maintains reliability requirements while minimizing manual intervention and preserving communication productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure includes systems and methods for providing instant messaging communication between users via a communication network. Instant messaging clients are executed at user devices of a first and second user. A data message is transmitted from the instant messaging client at the user device of the first user to the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user, the data message having a content portion and at least one associated attribute that is cryptographically generated. The cryptographic attribute plus any additional first user attributes irrefutably binds the ID of the first user to the message information content to form an irrevocable message. The availability of at least one user-selectable function by the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user is controllable, based on the at least one associated attribute.