Secret Chat Mode Message Deletion and Retrieval

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Solution Overview

Problem

Instant messaging software applications lack a secure method to manage and control the visibility of sensitive messages, allowing them to be viewed by unintended third parties.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a 'secret chat mode' within instant messaging software that allows users to selectively delete and re-post text messages, voice messages, and other media between users and contacts, with visual or auditory indicators, and storage options for later retrieval, ensuring messages are only visible during active chat sessions and can be re-displayed upon mutual request.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If messages are stored permanently on contact devices, then message availability is improved, but user privacy and security deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage availabilityVSAvoidprivacy risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic message retention where messages are automatically deleted after chat sessions end, making the storage duration variable rather than fixed. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring message availability during active communication while automatically removing privacy risks after use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary deletion of messages after chat sessions conclude, proactively removing sensitive data before potential privacy breaches can occur. This maintains reliability during necessary communication while preventing future privacy hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If messages are automatically deleted after chat sessions, then user privacy is improved, but message accessibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidmessage accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that stores message history and retrieves deleted messages upon user request. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling privacy protection through local deletion while maintaining information accessibility through server-mediated recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates server-side copies of messages that can be retrieved after local deletion. This copying mechanism allows messages to be removed from contact devices for privacy while preserving accessibility through server-stored replicas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If secret chat mode is implemented with deletion features, then security is improved, but system complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechat securityVSAvoidsoftware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal server-side architecture that handles both regular and secret chat modes through the same infrastructure. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by providing enhanced security features without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements automatic message deletion and retrieval mechanisms that operate without manual intervention. This self-service approach handles the complexity of secret chat management automatically, reducing the perceived complexity for users while maintaining high security standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Loss of information

If messages are retained for later retrieval, then information accessibility is improved, but privacy risk deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage retrievabilityVSAvoiddata exposure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments message storage between local devices and remote servers, with different retention policies for each. Messages are deleted locally after chat sessions but can be retrieved from server copies, resolving the contradiction by separating accessibility needs from privacy protection requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the storage location parameter from local-only to server-mediated storage, enabling flexible retrieval while maintaining privacy. This parameter change allows messages to be inaccessible locally after deletion while remaining accessible through controlled server retrieval mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11362978B2Method for deleting and re-posting text messages in dialog boxes

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 DAHAN MEIR

AI summary

A method for managing text messages of a chat between a user and a contact of an instant messaging application that provides the option to apply a secret chat mode on the messages that are written or recorded and displayed in the dialog boxes after applying the secret mode. The method indicates on the screens of the computing devices of the user and the contact that the chat is under the secret chat mode. The method deletes from the dialog boxes the text messages that are under the secret chat mode upon receiving a deleting command from the user or the contact. The deleting command may be automatically created when the user or the contact leaves the chat. The method stores these text messages and re-posts them upon receiving a mutual re-posting command from both the user and the contact.