Method and system for private communication

• US 10,437,451 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dingtalk Holding (Cayman) Limited
• Original Assignee: Dingtalk Holding (Cayman) Limited
• Inventors: Zhang, Lili, Zhang, Di, Chen, Zaixiang, Yin, Yien, Liu, Huachen
• Primary Examiner(s): Phantana-angkool, David
• Application Number:
  US15/699,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20180081529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 715753
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/205 involving negotiation or determination of the one or more network security mechanisms to be used, e.g. by negotiation between the client and the server or between peers or by selection according to the capabilities of the entities involved negotiation of communication capabilities H04L69/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a method and system for private communication. During operation, the system may determine a privacy level from a plurality of privacy levels associated with a private chat function of a communication application. The private chat function may be configured to transmit and receive private chat messages, and each privacy level is associated with visual effects which are different from the visual effects of other privacy levels. The system may obtain mode configuration information corresponding to the selected privacy level. The system may then configure the private chat function for the communication application based on the obtained mode configuration information, and display the visual effects for the communication application according to the selected privacy level.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for private communication, comprising:

obtaining mode configuration information corresponding to a selected privacy level from a plurality of privacy levels associated with a private chat function of a communication application, wherein the private chat function is configured to transmit and receive private chat messages, and each privacy level is associated with visual effects which are different from the visual effects of other privacy levels;

configuring the private chat function for the communication application based on the obtained mode configuration information;

configuring a display mode of the private chat function with the obtained mode configuration information, wherein a visual intensity of the display mode is inversely related to the selected privacy level; and

displaying the visual effects for the communication application according to the selected privacy level and the configured display mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the private chat function for the communication application based on the obtained mode configuration information further comprises:

configuring a display element of a page entry identifier when a preset function page of the communication application includes the page entry identifier of the private chat function.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the preset function page is at least one of the following:

a message list page of the communication application, a regular chat window page of the communication application, a function menu page associated with the regular chat window page, and a contact details page of the communication application.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the display element comprises a first display element associated with a message-receiving-prompting state and a second display element associated with a non-message-receiving-prompting state.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein

the first display element associated with a predefined low privacy level comprises a text icon corresponding to the private chat function;

the second display element associated with the predefined low privacy level comprises the text icon corresponding to the private chat function with a number indicating a quantity of new messages near the text icon;

the first display element associated with a predefined medium privacy level comprises a graphic icon corresponding to the private chat function;

the second display element associated with the predefined medium privacy level comprises the graphic icon corresponding to the private chat function with a visual indicator near the graphic icon signaling that there is at least one new message;

the first display element associated with a predefined high privacy level comprises a fuzzy icon displayed with a first color corresponding to the private chat function; and

the second display element associated with the predefined high privacy level comprises the fuzzy icon displayed with a second color signaling at least one new message is available.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing at least one of determining a general privacy level configured by the user for all associated communication partners listed in the communication application, and

determining an individual privacy level configured by the user for a respective communication partner listed in the communication application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the private chat function for the communication application based on the obtained mode configuration information comprises:

configuring a waiting duration corresponding to the private chat function, wherein the waiting duration is inversely related to the selected privacy level, and any private chat message received by the private chat function is automatically deleted when a reading duration associated with the private chat message for a corresponding user reaches the waiting duration.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a respective private chat message is automatically deleted after the respective private chat message changes from an unread state to a read state.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of privacy levels includes three privacy levels comprising a low privacy level, a medium privacy level, and a high privacy level.

10. A computing system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors storing instructions stored that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform a method for private communication, the method comprising;

obtaining mode configuration information corresponding to a selected privacy level from a plurality of privacy levels associated with a private chat function of a communication application, wherein the private chat function is configured to transmit and receive private chat messages, and each privacy level is associated with visual effects which are different from the visual effects of other privacy levels;

configuring the private chat function for the communication application based on the obtained mode configuration information;

configuring a display mode of the private chat function with the obtained mode configuration information, wherein a visual intensity of the display mode is inversely related to the selected privacy level; and

displaying the visual effects for the communication application according to the selected privacy level and the configured display mode.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein configuring the private chat function for the communication application based on the obtained mode configuration information further comprises:

configuring a display element of a page entry identifier when a preset function page of the communication application includes the page entry identifier of the private chat function.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the preset function page is at least one of the following:

a message list page of the communication application, a regular chat window page of the communication application, a function menu page associated with the regular chat window page, and a contact details page of the communication application.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the display element comprises a first display element associated with a message-receiving-prompting state and a second display element associated with a non-message-receiving-prompting state.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein

the first display element associated with a predefined low privacy level comprises a text icon corresponding to the private chat function;

the second display element associated with the predefined low privacy level comprises the text icon corresponding to the private chat function with a number indicating a quantity of new messages near the text icon;

the first display element associated with a predefined medium privacy level comprises a graphic icon corresponding to the private chat function;

the second display element associated with the predefined medium privacy level comprises the graphic icon corresponding to the private chat function with a visual indicator near the graphic icon signaling that there is at least one new message;

the first display element associated with a predefined high privacy level comprises a fuzzy icon displayed with a first color corresponding to the private chat function; and

the second display element associated with the predefined high privacy level comprises the fuzzy icon displayed with a second color signaling at least one new message is available.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

performing at least one of determining a general privacy level configured by the user for all associated communication partners listed in the communication application, and

determining an individual privacy level configured by the user for a respective communication partner listed in the communication application.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein configuring the private chat function for the communication application based on the obtained mode configuration information comprises:

configuring a waiting duration corresponding to the private chat function, wherein the waiting duration is inversely related to the selected privacy level, and any private chat message received by the private chat function is automatically deleted when a reading duration associated with the private chat message for a corresponding user reaches the waiting duration.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for private communication, the method comprising:

obtaining mode configuration information corresponding to a selected privacy level from a plurality of privacy levels associated with a private chat function of a communication application, wherein the private chat function is configured to transmit and receive private chat messages, and each privacy level is associated with visual effects which are different from the visual effects of other privacy levels;

configuring the private chat function for the communication application based on the obtained mode configuration information;

configuring a display mode of the private chat function with the obtained mode configuration information, wherein a visual intensity of the display mode is inversely related to the selected privacy level; and

displaying the visual effects for the communication application according to the selected privacy level and the configured display mode.