Messaging User Identity Retrieval via Encrypted Metadata Records
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing messaging technologies face challenges in securely transmitting user identifying information, such as names and images, without significantly increasing the size of the messages being transmitted.
Innovation Solution
A system that encrypts user identifying information on a cloud storage server and includes a small metadata record identifier and decryption key in outbound messages, allowing receiving devices to retrieve and decrypt this information without increasing message size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user identifying information (names, images) is transmitted directly in messaging, then the information can be securely propagated, but the message size increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the user identifying information from the message stream and stores it separately in cloud storage. Only a small metadata record with a reference identifier is included in the message, while the actual user information (names, images, videos) is retrieved from the cloud storage server, thereby reducing message size while maintaining secure propagation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cloud storage server as an intermediary between the messaging system and user identifying information. The server stores encrypted user information and provides it to receiving devices upon request, allowing secure information propagation without increasing message size since the intermediary handles the data storage and retrieval
2Quantity of substance
If user identifying information is stored on cloud storage server, then message size is reduced, but additional system complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the user information access mechanism through metadata records that contain only the essential reference identifier and encryption key. This copy approach allows the system to access full user information from cloud storage without including the complete information in messages, reducing message size while managing complexity through standardized metadata structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal cloud storage server that handles multiple types of user identifying information (names, images, videos) through a single standardized interface. The server provides consistent retrieval functionality for different data types using the same metadata record structure, which simplifies the system by creating a multi-functional platform rather than separate systems for different data types
3Reliability
If encrypted user information is retrieved from cloud storage, then information integrity is verified, but additional processing time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary encryption of user identifying information when it is first stored in the cloud storage server. The information is encrypted in advance using secure encryption algorithms, and the encryption keys are stored separately. This preliminary action allows for rapid verification and retrieval operations later, as the information is already prepared in an secure state without requiring time-consuming encryption/decryption operations at retrieval time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the cloud storage server returns encrypted user information to the receiving device along with authentication tokens. The receiving device verifies the authenticity of the retrieved information through the feedback loop, ensuring integrity while minimizing processing time through efficient authentication protocols that validate information correctness without requiring extensive verification procedures
Data Source
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AI summary
A device implementing a system for providing information corresponding to a user in association with messaging includes a processor configured to receive, by a messaging application on the device, a message and associated metadata from a second device, the associated metadata comprising a record identifier of a data record stored on a server, the data record comprising identifying information corresponding to a user of the second device. The processor is further configured to send, to the server, a request for the data record, the request comprising the record identifier, and obtain, in response to the sending, the data record. The processor is further configured to display the identifying information of the user contained in the data record, together with content of the message in a user interface of the messaging application.