Granted Patent B2

US 12,634,254 · App. 18/657,450 · Granted May 19, 2026

Inventors: Jeremy Voss (Los Angeles, CA); Jonathan Brody (Marina Del Rey, CA); Nathan Kenneth Boyd (Los Angeles, CA)

Assignee: Snap Inc.

H04L51/42H04L51/04H04L51/216H04L51/52

Abstract

Claims (51)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, from a device of a first user, input indicative of a change from a first retention model to a second retention model selected by the first user, the first retention model specifying a non-zero retention duration for messages exchanged between the first and a second user as part of an electronic chat conversation, the second retention model specifying a zero-value retention duration for messages exchanged between the first and the second user as part of the electronic chat conversation; and

causing display, on the device, of a message feed comprising a set of indicators corresponding to a plurality of chat conversations, an indicator in the set of indicators corresponding to the electronic chat conversation between the first user and the second user, the message feed comprising a notification of the change from the first retention model to the second retention model selected by the first user, the notification indicating the zero-value retention duration for messages exchanged between the first and the second user as part of the electronic chat conversation, the notification being presented in conjunction with the indicator.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising associating the second retention model with the electronic chat conversation such that subsequent messages exchanged as part of the electronic chat conversation are retained for the zero-value retention duration specified by the second retention model.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the associating of the second retention model with the electronic chat conversation comprises updating a data structure that represents the electronic chat conversation.

4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

erasing, from computer-readable memory, a message received, from the second user, as part of the chat conversation between the first and second user, in accordance with the zero-value retention duration associated with the electronic chat conversation.

5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

prior to receiving the input indicative of the change, storing, in a computer-readable memory, a message received, from the second user, as part of the chat conversation between the first and second user, the storing of the message comprising configuring a retention duration attribute for the message in accordance with the non-zero retention duration; and

erasing, from the computer-readable memory, the message received, from the second user, as part of the chat conversation between the first and second user, in accordance with the retention duration attribute associated with the electronic chat conversation.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the erasing of the message of the electronic chat conversation includes determining an amount of time corresponding to the non-zero retention duration specified by the retention duration attribute has elapsed since receiving the message.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the device is a first device; and

the method comprises causing display, on a second client device, of the notification of the change from the first retention model to the second retention model selected by the first user.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the indicator is a first indicator;

the electronic chat conversation is a first electronic chat conversation; and

a second indicator in the set of indicators corresponds to a second electronic chat conversation between the first user and a third user.

9 . A system comprising:

one or more processors of a server machine; and

at least one computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a device of a first user, input indicative of a change from a first retention model to a second retention model selected by the first user, the first retention model specifying a non-zero retention duration for messages exchanged between the first and a second user as part of an electronic chat conversation, the second retention model specifying a zero-value retention duration for messages exchanged between the first and the second user as part of the electronic chat conversation; and

causing display, on the device, of a message feed comprising a set of indicators corresponding to a plurality of chat conversations, an indicator in the set of indicators corresponding to the electronic chat conversation between the first user and the second user, the message feed comprising a notification of the change from the first retention model to the second retention model selected by the first user, the notification indicating the zero-value retention duration for messages exchanged between the first and the second user as part of the electronic chat conversation, the notification being presented in conjunction with the indicator.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the operations comprise associating the second retention model with the electronic chat conversation such that subsequent messages exchanged as part of the electronic chat conversation are retained for the zero-value retention duration specified by the second retention model.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the associating of the second retention model with the electronic chat conversation comprises updating a data structure that represents the electronic chat conversation.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the operations comprise erasing, from computer-readable memory, a message received, from the second user, as part of the chat conversation between the first and second user, in accordance with the zero-value retention duration associated with the electronic chat conversation.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the operations comprise:

prior to receiving the input indicative of the change, storing, in a computer-readable memory, a message received, from the second user, as part of the chat conversation between the first and second user, the storing of the message comprising configuring a retention duration attribute for the message in accordance with the non-zero retention duration;

erasing, from the computer-readable memory, the message received, from the second user, as part of the chat conversation between the first and second user, in accordance with the retention duration attribute associated with the electronic chat conversation.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the erasing of the message of the electronic chat conversation includes determining an amount of time corresponding to the non-zero retention duration specified by the retention duration attribute has elapsed since receiving the message.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the device is a first device; and

the operations comprises causing display, on a second client device, of the notification of the change from the first retention model to the second retention model selected by the first user.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the indicator is a first indicator;

the electronic chat conversation is a first electronic chat conversation; and

a second indicator in the set of indicators corresponds to a second electronic chat conversation between the first user and a third user.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a device of a first user, input indicative of a change from a first retention model to a second retention model selected by the first user, the first retention model specifying a non-zero retention duration for messages exchanged between the first and a second user as part of an electronic chat conversation, the second retention model specifying a zero-value retention duration for messages exchanged between the first and the second user as part of the electronic chat conversation; and

causing display, on the device, of a message feed comprising a set of indicators corresponding to a plurality of chat conversations, an indicator in the set of indicators corresponding to the electronic chat conversation between the first user and the second user, the message feed comprising a notification of the change from the first retention model to the second retention model selected by the first user, the notification indicating the zero-value retention duration for messages exchanged between the first and the second user as part of the electronic chat conversation, the notification being presented in conjunction with the indicator.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations comprise:

prior to receiving the input indicative of the change, storing, in a computer-readable memory, a first message received, from the second user, as part of the chat conversation between the first and second user, the storing of the message comprising configuring a retention duration attribute for the first message in accordance with the non-zero retention duration;

erasing, from the computer-readable memory, the first message in accordance with the non-zero retention duration attribute associated with the electronic chat conversation, the erasing of the message of the electronic chat conversation includes determining an amount of time corresponding to the non-zero retention duration specified by the retention duration attribute has elapsed since receiving the message; and

subsequent to receiving the input indicative of the change, erasing, from the computer-readable memory, a second message received, from the second user, as part of the chat conversation between the first and second user, in accordance with the zero retention duration.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein:

the device is a first device; and

the operations comprises causing display, on a second client device, of the notification of the change from the first retention model to the second retention model selected by the first user.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein:

the indicator is a first indicator;

the electronic chat conversation is a first electronic chat conversation; and

a second indicator in the set of indicators corresponds to a second electronic chat conversation between the first user and a third user.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (55)