Sender-correlated Reply ID Generation for Messaging Privacy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic messages are not private as they travel over public networks and can be intercepted or logged, leading to uncontrollable 'shelf-life' and misuse due to the association of identifying header information with message content.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that separates the display of header information from message content, with options to delete either component at predetermined times, and uses reply IDs to maintain sender anonymity, ensuring that header and message content are not displayed simultaneously and are automatically deleted after viewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If header information and message content are transmitted together over a public network, then message delivery is efficient and complete, but traceability increases and privacy is compromised due to association of identifying information with message content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electronic message into two separate components: header information (containing identifying data) and message content (containing the actual communication). These segments are transmitted separately over the network and only reassembled at the recipient's device, preventing third parties from capturing both components together and thus reducing traceability while maintaining delivery reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a session ID as an intermediary element that links header information and message content without directly associating them. The session ID acts as a mediator that allows the receiving system to reassemble the complete message while preventing external observers from establishing the connection between header and content, thereby reducing traceability.
2Loss of information
If messages are archived and logged by communication systems for record-keeping, then message retrieval and archiving capabilities are improved, but message privacy is compromised and shelf-life becomes uncontrollable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments message storage into separate archives for header information and message content. The system can retrieve and display complete messages by reassembling segments from separate storage locations, maintaining retrieval capability while preventing the creation of complete archived records that would compromise privacy and create uncontrollable shelf-life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a mechanism where header information and message content are discarded from temporary storage after being displayed to the user. The system recovers only the necessary portions for display purposes and then discards them, preventing permanent archiving and thus controlling shelf-life while maintaining necessary retrieval capabilities during active sessions.
3Ease of operation
If reply IDs are included with electronic messages to enable responses, then message responsiveness is improved, but sender anonymity is compromised and traceability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a session ID as an intermediary to enable message responses without directly exposing sender identity. The reply ID is derived from or associated with the session ID, allowing the system to route responses back to the original sender through the session context while preventing external observers from tracing the reply back to the sender's identifying information.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic messaging system that receives an original electronic message from a sender direct access client associated with a sender, the original electronic message including header and message information and being directed to a recipient. The electronic messaging system deletes the header information after a first predetermined time after the message information is accessed by the recipient, deletes the message information after deleting the header information, and generates a reply ID correlated with the sender of the electronic message in at least one of a database, a lookup table and an entry in a file system. The reply ID enables the electronic messaging system to direct a reply electronic message back to the sender, the reply ID being part of the header information of the original electronic message.