Message Security Indication via Persistent Color Coding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Government officials with accounts in multiple networks face challenges in distinguishing and properly treating messages based on their security levels, as existing systems do not provide clear visual indications of message sources, requiring users to scroll through message content to find this information.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that generates a visual indication of a message's security level, making it visible throughout the message text, allowing users to easily identify the message source and sensitivity level, which can be configured by IT administrators for consistent policy enforcement across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If service source information is displayed in the first field when viewing the message, then users can identify the message source, but the field may not be visible when the user first opens the message and they would have to scroll to the top to view it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by displaying visual indicators (such as colored bars or background colors) that represent different service sources. These color-coded indicators are embedded within the message display and remain visible regardless of scrolling position, allowing users to quickly identify the message source without needing to scroll to the top or search through message content.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users receive all e-mail messages on one mobile device, then they can consolidate their communication, but they cannot easily determine which network or e-mail server a message came from
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded visual indicators to encode network source information. Each network or e-mail server is assigned a distinct color or visual pattern that appears consistently throughout the message display. This allows users to receive all messages on a single device while maintaining clear visual differentiation of message sources through color coding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual indicators as an intermediary element between the message content and the user. These indicators serve as a visual mediator that conveys network source information without requiring users to examine message headers or scroll through content. The visual indicators act as a bridge that translates network source data into immediately recognizable visual cues.
3Loss of information
If visual indication is made visible through a majority of text associated with the message, then users can easily identify security level, but the display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements security level indication through color changes that are applied to specific portions of the message display, such as background colors, text colors, or border colors. These visual indicators are integrated into the existing message structure rather than adding separate complex display elements. The color-coded security indicators are embedded within the message flow and become visible as users naturally scroll through the content, minimizing additional display complexity while maximizing security information visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for displaying messages to a user, the messages having different levels of security, are provided herein. One method of displaying to a user messages having different levels of security includes receiving a message over a network includes examining an attribute of the message to determine a security-related level associated with the message. A visual indication for display to a device user is generated by the device. Such visual indication is indicative of the determined security-related level, and is configured to be visible during scrolling through a majority of the message text.