Method and system for sender-controlled messaging and content sharing

Abstract

An access-control device that controls access to encrypted messages. During operation, the access-control device can receive an access key for a corrupted message, and can receive a cover message digest associated with the corrupted message. The access-control device stores the access key in association with the cover message digest, and stores the cover message digest in a block chain. A respective block of the block chain includes at least one cover message digest, and a hash value of a previous block of the block chain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for efficiently displaying conversational threads, comprising:
 identifying, by a computing device, an initiation of a first thread of a first topic in a group conversation in a text-based communication environment;   presenting, within a panel display associated with the group conversation, the first thread as distinct from a second thread of a second topic in the group conversation, wherein participants of the first and second threads correspond to participants of the group conversation;   determining that a subsequent textual message from a participant in the participants of the group conversation is associated with the first thread; and   displaying the subsequent message as part of the first thread in the panel display.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second threads are distinguished in the panel display based on different background shades. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising collapsing the first thread based on a user input to the panel display. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from a user, a selection that indicates that a user intends to participate in the first thread;   in response to the selection, presenting an input field to the user within the panel display that allows the user participate in the first thread;   receiving a text message from the user via the text field; and   adding the received text message to the first thread.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the initiation of the first thread further comprises identifying a question posted the group conversation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, in the panel display, a username of a sender of a text message associated with the first thread. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first user input that selects a message belonging to the first thread; and   displaying the first topic in a pop-up indicator next to the selected message.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a second user input that selects the pop-up indicator; and   navigating to an initial message of the first thread.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel display presents the first and second threads organized in a hierarchical structure resembling a tree. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a fork in the first thread in response to determining that a text message in the first thread has been forwarded. 
     
     
         11 . A computing system, comprising:
 a display device;   a processor;   a memory; and   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
 displaying, in the display device, a panel display of a group conversation in a text-based communication environment; 
 identifying an initiation of a first thread of a first topic in the group conversation; 
 presenting, within the panel display, the first thread as distinct from a second thread of a second topic in the group conversation, wherein participants of the first and second threads correspond to participants of the group conversation; 
 determining that a subsequent textual message from a participant in the participants of the group conversation is associated with the first thread; and 
 displaying the subsequent message as part of the first thread in the panel display. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second threads are distinguished in the panel display based on different background shades. 
     
     
         13 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises collapsing the first thread based on a user input to the panel display. 
     
     
         14 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, from a user, a selection that indicates that a user intends to participate in the first thread;   in response to the selection, presenting an input field to the user within the panel display that allows the user participate in the first thread;   receiving a text message from the user via the text field; and   adding the received text message to the first thread.   
     
     
         15 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein identifying the initiation of the first thread further comprises identifying a question posted the group conversation. 
     
     
         16 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises displaying, in the panel display, a username of a sender of a text message associated with the first thread. 
     
     
         17 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a first user input that selects a message belonging to the first thread; and   displaying the first topic in a pop-up indicator next to the selected message read.   
     
     
         18 . The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a second user input that selects the pop-up indicator; and   navigating to an initial message of the first thread.   
     
     
         19 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the panel display presents the first and second threads organized in a hierarchical structure resembling a tree. 
     
     
         20 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises displaying a fork in the first thread in response to determining that a text message in the first thread has been forwarded.