Message Chain Tracing with Forwarding Records for Revocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic messaging systems lack the ability for message authors to effectively track and revoke messages that have been forwarded to unintended recipients, limiting control over message propagation and content moderation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that stores records of forwarded messages with links to their origins, allowing message authors or administrators to trace and revoke messages across multiple recipients and groups, using a message footprint store to maintain control over message distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If message forwarding is enabled in electronic messaging systems, then message propagation speed and reach are improved, but control over message distribution and ability to revoke forwarded messages deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system embeds a unique message identifier and forwarding trace information in each message before it is forwarded. This preliminary action enables the original sender to track and revoke the message at any later point, resolving the contradiction by establishing control mechanisms in advance that persist through multiple forwards.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where forwarded messages carry information about their origin and forwarding path. When the original sender initiates a revoke action, the system uses this feedback information to identify and notify all recipients of forwarded copies, enabling comprehensive message control despite propagation.
2Ease of operation
If message author can delete messages from original group, then content moderation capability is improved, but ability to track and revoke forwarded messages deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-embeds a unique message identifier and forwarding trace data in each message before it leaves the original sender's control. This ensures that even when the message is forwarded outside the original group, the tracking information is preserved, allowing the sender to locate and revoke forwarded copies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and maintains a copy of the message metadata including forwarding path information in a centralized database. This copied information allows the original sender to query and identify all instances of the message without requiring direct access to each forwarded copy, preserving tracking capability.
3Device complexity
If predetermined time limit is imposed on message revocation, then system simplicity is improved, but flexibility in message control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic revocation time limits that can be adjusted based on message characteristics, sender preferences, and system policies. Rather than a fixed predetermined limit, the revocation window adapts to different scenarios, providing both simplicity through automated expiration and flexibility through configurable parameters.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems for tracing forwards of an electronic message. One method includes storing, for each of a plurality of forwarded messages sent via an electronic messaging application, a record in a data store, each record including a link to an original message for the forwarded message and calculating, with an electronic processor, a statistic for an electronic message based on records stored in the data store, wherein the statistic includes at least one selected from a group consisting of a number of forwards of the electronic message, a number of recipients of the electronic message including all forwards of the electronic message, and a number of requests to revoke the electronic message. The statistic is then output for display to a user via at least one user interface.