Message Store Expiration Control by Recipient Connection State

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing messaging systems fail to effectively manage messages sent in error by allowing recipients to read them before recall requests are processed, leading to incomplete recall functionalities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a message expiration status based on the connection state of the recipient terminal to the messaging server, allowing for rules to manage message deletion or expiration, including timeouts and recipient terminal actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the messaging server deletes a message immediately upon receiving a recall request, then the message can be removed from the server, but the recipient may have already read the message before the deletion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage recall effectivenessVSAvoidmessage delivery time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system checks the recipient's connection status before delivering the message. By performing this check in advance, the message can be prevented from being delivered to an unconnected recipient, or an expiration status can be assigned, thereby ensuring recall effectiveness without requiring immediate deletion after the fact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The message status is made dynamic based on the recipient's connection state. Messages can transition between different statuses (delivered, expiring, expired) depending on whether the recipient is connected, allowing flexible management that adapts to real-time conditions rather than following a fixed deletion timeline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the messaging server waits for a timeout period before deleting the message, then the recipient has time to read the message, but the message remains on the server longer than necessary if the recipient never connects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecipient message accessVSAvoidserver message storage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a preliminary check of the recipient's connection status before completing message delivery. This early detection allows the server to assign an expiration status or delete the message immediately, avoiding unnecessary storage time while still allowing access when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Messages are treated as short-lived objects that should be retained only as long as necessary. By using connection status checks, the system ensures messages are kept only when recipients can actually access them, and are promptly removed when recipients are unconnected, optimizing server storage utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If the messaging server implements connection status checking and message expiration management, then message recall and expiration can be effectively managed, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage expiration managementVSAvoidmessaging server complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring recipient connection status and using this information to dynamically adjust message delivery and expiration behavior. This feedback loop enables effective expiration management without requiring overly complex manual intervention systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The messaging server automatically manages message expiration by checking connection status and applying appropriate actions without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach handles the complexity internally while presenting a simple interface to users, effectively managing expiration through automated processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2915113B1Improved management of a message store
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 MERCI
  • EP2915113B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2915113B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for managing a message store transmitted via a communication network. The method is implemented by a messaging server, and comprises the following steps: upon receiving a command for the expiry of a message intended for being received by a destination terminal of said message, detecting whether or not the terminal is connected to the messaging server (T4), and according to said detection, optionally assigning an expiring message status (S3) to said message.