# US 9,521,097 B2 · System and method for management of persistent and irrefutable instant messages > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,097 B2 - Document ID: US9521097B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/315,466 - Filed: 2014-06-26 - Published: 2015-12-17 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-26 - Applicants: Martin Tomlinson; Andersen Cheng; Cen Jung Tjhai - Inventors: Martin Tomlinson; Andersen Cheng; Cen Jung Tjhai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521097B2 ## CPC - H04L 51/04: Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] - H04L 9/3247: {involving digital signatures} - H04L 51/043: using or handling presence information - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The present disclosure includes systems and methods for providing instant messaging communication between users via a communication network. Instant messaging clients are executed at user devices of a first and second user. A data message is transmitted from the instant messaging client at the user device of the first user to the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user, the data message having a content portion and at least one associated attribute that is cryptographically generated. The cryptographic attribute plus any additional first user attributes irrefutably binds the ID of the first user to the message information content to form an irrevocable message. The availability of at least one user-selectable function by the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user is controllable, based on the at least one associated attribute. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of providing instant messaging communication between users via a communication network, comprising: executing an instant messaging client at a user device of a first user and an instant messaging client at a user device of a second user; transmitting a data message from the instant messaging client at the user device of the first user to the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user, the data message having a content portion and at least one associated attribute identifying the content portion as persistent data; and controlling the availability of at least one user-selectable function by the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user, based on the at least one associated attribute, wherein said controlling comprises disabling or omitting a data message delete function. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one associated attribute includes an attribute identifying an acknowledgement status of the data message, wherein controlling the availability of at least one user-selectable function is further based on the acknowledgement status of the data message. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user prompts for a user input signature to acknowledge receipt of the data message based on an unsigned acknowledgement status. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the signature is a digital signature that verifies the identity of the recipient. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the signature is a biometric information file including at least a portion of the content portion implanted therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the availability of the same at least one user-selectable function by the instant messaging client at the user device of the first user, based on the at least one associated attribute. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that a non-persistent data message is expired based on at least one message attribute, and removing the content portion of the expired non-persistent data message from memory. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a plurality of sequential data messages of a conversation, wherein a footprint of a non-persistent data message having a content portion that was removed from memory is retained in the displayed conversation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the footprint includes a digital signature of the first user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data message is transmitted from the instant messaging client at the user device of the first user to an instant messaging client at a user device of a third user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein synchronisation of the at least one associated attribute of corresponding data messages at all of the instant messaging clients is maintained by a remote messaging server. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the content portion of the data message comprises one or more of: text data, image data, audio data, video data and encoded data, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that one or more recipients are offline and in response, storing the data message on one or more servers until it is determined that the recipients become online and subsequently receive the data message sent by said servers. ### Claim 14 A system or apparatus for providing instant messaging communication between users via a communication network, comprising at least one processor configured to: execute an instant messaging client at a user device of a first user and an instant messaging client at a user device of a second user; transmit a data message from the instant messaging client at the user device of the first user to the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user, the data message having a content portion and at least one associated attribute identifying the content portion as persistent data; and control the availability of at least one user-selectable function by the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user, based on the at least one associated attribute, by disabling or omitting a data message delete function. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, said processor further configured to display a plurality of sequential data messages of a conversation, wherein a footprint of a non-persistent data message having a content portion that was removed from memory is retained in the displayed conversation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the footprint includes a digital signature of the first user. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, that when executed, perform a method of providing instant messaging communication between users via a communication network, comprising the steps of: executing an instant messaging client at a user device of a first user and an instant messaging client at a user device of a second user; transmitting a data message from the instant messaging client at the user device of the first user to the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user, the data message having a content portion and at least one associated attribute identifying the content portion as persistent data; and controlling the availability of at least one user-selectable function by the instant messaging client at the user device of the second user, based on the at least one associated attribute, wherein said controlling comprises disabling or omitting a data message delete function. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, said steps further comprising displaying a plurality of sequential data messages of a conversation, wherein a footprint of a non-persistent data message having a content portion that was removed from memory is retained in the displayed conversation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the footprint includes a digital signature of the first user.