Secure Message Deletion via Session Time Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic communication systems lack secure, non-persistent mechanisms for message exchange, often requiring messages to be deleted within short time frames or encrypted, which can be inconvenient for users.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for secure electronic communication that utilizes computing devices with time and session indicators, allowing messages to be stored until a user responds, at which point older messages are automatically removed, eliminating the need for short expiration times or encryption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If messages are stored on computing devices with conventional electronic communication, then users can review messages at their leisure, but messages may persist in memory after the recipient has read the message compromising security
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing predetermined deletion triggers and criteria before messages are read. The message is configured to be automatically deleted upon specific events such as reading, time expiration, or delivery confirmation, ensuring security is maintained proactively rather than requiring manual deletion after reading.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring message status (read/unread, delivered, expired) and automatically triggering deletion based on these status changes. The computing device receives feedback about message engagement and responds by removing the message from storage, creating a closed-loop security system.
2Reliability
If messages are encrypted to provide security, then message privacy is protected, but messages require decryption before reading adding complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system treats messages as disposable, short-living objects that are automatically deleted after being read or after a predetermined time period. This eliminates the need for complex encryption and decryption operations by ensuring messages cannot be accessed after a single use, providing security through ephemerality rather than cryptographic complexity.
3Reliability
If messages are set to expire after a predetermined short time, then message persistence is reduced, but messages may be deleted before the recipient has the opportunity to review the message
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic message retention where the deletion timing is not fixed but adapts based on user interaction. Messages remain accessible until the user actually reads them or until a predetermined condition is met, providing flexibility that accommodates both security requirements and user convenience unlike static short expiration times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of message retention duration based on specific conditions such as read status, delivery confirmation, or user preferences. Rather than using a fixed short expiration time, the message lifetime parameter is adjusted dynamically based on engagement metrics and predetermined deletion criteria.
4Reliability
If messages are automatically deleted after short time periods, then security is improved, but the system complexity increases due to encryption and decryption requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the security function from complex encryption mechanisms and implements it through simple automatic deletion based on predetermined criteria. By removing messages after reading or time expiration rather than relying on encryption, the system achieves security through a simpler mechanism that does not require cryptographic operations or key management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for securing electronic communication between users is described. The users utilize a plurality of computing devices. Message(s) from other computing devices are received on a computing device of a user. Each message has a time indicator and a session indicator. A response to a message of the message(s) is provided. The response includes sending a response message from the computing device and/or receiving a selection of a clear function from the user. In response to the response, the message being responded to and a portion of the message(s) are removed. Each of the portion of the message(s) being removed has the session indicator and an earlier time indicator than the time indicator for the message being responded to.