Messaging App Gap Restore via Contact Intermediaries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face data loss and incomplete restoration of messaging application conversations when restoring a device from a backup, as recent conversations are not captured in older backup copies, and messaging applications often push data directly to devices without central storage, leaving users responsible for backup.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that includes a gap restore program which detects data gaps in messaging applications, retrieves contact lists, and sends requests to contacts for missing conversation content using a user ID and timestamp, combining received content with the device's messaging application to restore missing data seamlessly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a device is restored from an older backup copy, then device restoration is achieved, but recent messaging conversations are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestoration completenessVSAvoidmessaging content

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by sending requests to contacts before completing the restoration process. The gap restore program proactively retrieves messaging content from contacts that occurred after the backup timestamp, preventing information loss before it happens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Contacts serve as intermediaries to transfer messaging content back to the restored device. Since messaging applications push data directly to devices without central storage, contacts act as mediators to retrieve and return the missing conversation content that occurred after the backup was created.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If messaging application data is pushed directly to devices without central storage, then device autonomy is improved, but data recovery capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage flexibilityVSAvoiddata recovery

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Contacts act as intermediaries to retrieve and transfer messaging content back to the restored device. This mediator approach enables data recovery in decentralized storage systems where no central server holds backup copies of individual messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by sending requests to contacts and receiving responses with messaging content. The gap restore program continuously checks for missing content by querying contacts and integrates received content back into the messaging application, creating a feedback loop that ensures complete restoration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11061778B2Restoration of a messaging application

Publication Date: 2021.07.13 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A computer implemented method is provided for restoring a device from a backup copy. If the device has a messaging application installed on the device, then a list of contacts for the messaging application on the device is extracted. A request is transmitted to each contact in the list of contacts, the request comprising a user id for the messaging application and a timestamp for the backup copy. One or more replies are received back from one or more of the contacts, each reply comprising messaging content, and the received messaging content is combined with content present in the messaging application on the device.