Patents by Inventor Ehren Andrew Kret

Ehren Andrew Kret has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11882231
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for transmitting ephemeral content messages. A sending client may establish an end-to-end encrypted session with possible recipients of the message, using a first decryption key during initial session setup. The client may send an ephemeral content message, including encrypted content and a second key, to the recipients through a server. The server may be unable to retrieve the encrypted content due to a lack of the second key. The server may filter a list of intended recipients, and may forward the ephemeral content message to the recipients on the filtered list. The recipients may retrieve the second key from the message, and use the first and second keys to decrypt the encrypted content. The sending client may change the second key each time the recipient list changes from the perspective of the sending client, as determined at the time the ephemeral content message is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: WhatsApp LLC
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Lange Acton, Jan Boris Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 11658952
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for anonymizing information in an end-to-end (E2E) encrypted environment; the information may include, for example, statistical data about unique page/message views, view counts, view time, what users selected on the message or page, etc. Exemplary embodiments may prevent an E2E system server from being able to identify which user is associated with which record. Various examples are described, including an embodiment in which an originating client generates the data, encrypts it, and sends it to a random contact. The contact decrypts the data, re-encrypts it, and sends it to another random contact. The procedure continues for a set amount of time or for a set number of hops. Other embodiments relate to wrapping the data in various layers of encryption and sending the data to clients in a chain. The encrypted layers prevent clients along the chain from being able to view the anonymized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: WhatsApp LLC
    Inventors: Jamshid Mahdavi, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 11316965
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for transmitting ephemeral content messages. A sending client may establish an end-to-end encrypted session with possible recipients of the message, using a first decryption key during initial session setup. The client may send an ephemeral content message, including encrypted content and a second key, to the recipients through a server. The server may be unable to retrieve the encrypted content due to a lack of the second key. The server may filter a list of intended recipients, and may forward the ephemeral content message to the recipients on the filtered list. The recipients may retrieve the second key from the message, and use the first and second keys to decrypt the encrypted content. The sending client may change the second key each time the recipient list changes from the perspective of the sending client, as determined at the time the ephemeral content message is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Lange Acton, Jan Boris Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 11265413
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for sending ephemeral content messages via a communications service. An interface may be presented to allow a user to initially access ephemeral content functionality and select content for inclusion in the ephemeral content message. The interface may present a streamlined set of use cases without regard to the manner in which the content was initially captured. Different types of content may be used as ephemeral content, including images, videos, weather reports, news stories, text, audio recordings, location tags, etc. The ephemeral content may be sent through the communications service as an end-to-end encrypted message. When a user replies to an ephemeral content message, the reply may trigger a one-to-one conversation between the originating user and the replying user. Alternatively, an ephemeral content message may be initially sent to a selected group, and replies may be sent back to the entire group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Acton, Jan Boris Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Anton Borzov, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 11265300
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for anonymizing information in an end-to-end (E2E) encrypted environment; the information may include, for example, statistical data about unique page/message views, view counts, view time, what users selected on the message or page, etc. Exemplary embodiments may prevent an E2E system server from being able to identify which user is associated with which record. Various examples are described, including an embodiment in which an originating client generates the data, encrypts it, and sends it to a random contact. The contact decrypts the data, re-encyrpts it, and sends it to another random contact. The procedure continues for a set amount of time or for a set number of hops. Other embodiments relate to wrapping the data in various layers of encryption and sending the data to clients in a chain. The encrypted layers prevent clients along the chain from being able to view the anonymized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: WHATSAPP LLC
    Inventors: Jamshid Mahdavi, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 11171900
    Abstract: Techniques for media endpoint configuration are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a messaging server component operative to receive a media message addressed to a recipient user account, the media message comprising a media identifier for a media item; and send the media message to a recipient client device associated with the recipient user account; and a media management component operative to send a media endpoint list to a recipient client device, the media endpoint list operative to configure the recipient client device to retrieve the media item by identifying the media item with the media identifier to a media endpoint determined based on the media endpoint list. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: WHATSAPP LLC
    Inventors: Alan Kao, Jamshid Mahdavi, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 11050723
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for anonymizing information in an end-to-end (E2E) encrypted environment; the information may include, for example, statistical data about unique page/message views, view counts, view time, what users selected on the message or page, etc. Exemplary embodiments may prevent an E2E system server from being able to identify which user is associated with which record. Various examples are described, including an embodiment in which an originating client generates the data, encrypts it, and sends it to a random contact. The contact decrypts the data, re-encrypts it, and sends it to another random contact. The procedure continues for a set amount of time or for a set number of hops. Other embodiments relate to wrapping the data in various layers of encryption and sending the data to clients in a chain. The encrypted layers prevent clients along the chain from being able to view the anonymized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Jamshid Mahdavi, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 11005708
    Abstract: Techniques to perform the dynamic configuration of load-balanced relay operations are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a first load balancer component, a second load balancer component, a first relay server component, a second relay server component, and a persistent shared-memory storage component. The apparatus may be operative to perform the dynamic configuration of load-balanced relay operations for a two-tier relay system using persistent shared-memory storage in which a session identifier received from client devices is used to coordinate the activities of the relay server components based on information shared via the persistent shared-memory storage component. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Claudiu Dan Gheorghe, Erik James Reed, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 10855846
    Abstract: A messaging system establishes a secure call session between multiple parties. The call session is secured using an entropy value shared among parties in the call session. During the call session, the messaging system receives an instruction from a party in the call session to modify the call session. The call session may be modified by a party being added or removed from the session. Based on the received instruction, the messaging system performs an entropy value update to ensure that the call session is secure after the modification is made. A new entropy value is generated by a party in the call session and transmitted to other parties in the call session. Using the new entropy value, the messaging system establishes the modified secure call session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: WhatsApp Inc.
    Inventors: Ehren Andrew Kret, Manpreet Singh
  • Patent number: 10778831
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for displaying and interacting with ephemeral content messages in a communication service. Ephemeral content, transmitted as a message in order to preserve end-to-end encryption, may be tagged with an identifier designating the message as an ephemeral content message. A receiving client may recognize the flag and display the content of the message as ephemeral content. The update may include a link to the content that expires under certain conditions. While the link is active, the link may be selected to enter a full-screen presentation of the ephemeral content. Different media types may be associated with different types of full-screen presentations. Displayed ephemeral content from different users may be ranked based on an interest score and displayed in the ranked order. Ephemeral content may be displayed in a user interface on separate tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Acton, Jan Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Anton Borzov, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 10735384
    Abstract: Techniques for key ratcheting with multiple step sizes are described. For example, an apparatus may be configured to receive two or more encrypted messages, where the encrypted messages are encrypted according to a multi-dimensional ratcheting encryption scheme. Moreover, the apparatus may be configured to determine which of the encrypted messages was most-recently received and extract a message iteration count from the most-recent encrypted message, generate a decrypted message by decrypting the encrypted message based on a decryption key, decompose the message iteration count into a plurality of message chain key iteration counts, and determine the decryption key based on the plurality of message chain key iteration counts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Derek Alan Konigsberg, George Nachman, Chun Wing Yuen, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 10681202
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for transmitting ephemeral content messages. A sending client may establish an end-to-end encrypted session with possible recipients of the message, using a first decryption key during initial session setup. The client may send an ephemeral content message, including encrypted content and a second key, to the recipients through a server. The server may be unable to retrieve the encrypted content due to a lack of the second key. The server may filter a list of intended recipients, and may forward the ephemeral content message to the recipients on the filtered list. The recipients may retrieve the second key from the message, and use the first and second keys to decrypt the encrypted content. The sending client may change the second key each time the recipient list changes from the perspective of the sending client, as determined at the time the ephemeral content message is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Acton, Jan Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 10666693
    Abstract: A messaging system establishes a secure call session between multiple parties. The call session is secured using an entropy value shared among parties in the call session. During the call session, the messaging system receives an instruction from a party in the call session to modify the call session. The call session may be modified by a party being added or removed from the session. Based on the received instruction, the messaging system performs an entropy value update to ensure that the call session is secure after the modification is made. A new entropy value is generated by a party in the call session and transmitted to other parties in the call session. Using the new entropy value, the messaging system establishes the modified secure call session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: WhatsApp Inc.
    Inventors: Ehren Andrew Kret, Manpreet Singh
  • Patent number: 10582036
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for sending ephemeral content messages via a communications service. An interface may be presented to allow a user to initially access ephemeral content functionality and select content for inclusion in the ephemeral content message. The interface may present a streamlined set of use cases without regard to the manner in which the content was initially captured. Different types of content may be used as ephemeral content, including images, videos, weather reports, news stories, text, audio recordings, location tags, etc. The ephemeral content may be sent through the communications service as an end-to-end encrypted message. When a user replies to an ephemeral content message, the reply may trigger a one-to-one conversation between the originating user and the replying user. Alternatively, an ephemeral content message may be initially sent to a selected group, and replies may be sent back to the entire group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: WHATSAPP INC.
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Lange Acton, Jan Boris Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Anton Borzov, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Publication number: 20180241725
    Abstract: Techniques for key ratcheting with multiple step sizes are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a messaging component operative to receive an encrypted message, the encrypted message encrypted according to a multi-dimensional ratcheting encryption scheme; determine a message iteration count for the encrypted message; and generate a decrypted message by decrypting the encrypted message based on a decryption key; and a key management component operative on the processor circuit to decompose the message iteration count into a plurality of message chain key iteration counts; and determine the decryption key based on the plurality of message chain key iteration counts. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Derek Alan Konigsberg, George Nachman, Chun Wing Yuen, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Publication number: 20180241707
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for transmitting ephemeral content messages. A sending client may establish an end-to-end encrypted session with possible recipients of the message, using a first decryption key during initial session setup. The client may send an ephemeral content message, including encrypted content and a second key, to the recipients through a server. The server may be unable to retrieve the encrypted content due to a lack of the second key. The server may filter a list of intended recipients, and may forward the ephemeral content message to the recipients on the filtered list. The recipients may retrieve the second key from the message, and use the first and second keys to decrypt the encrypted content. The sending client may change the second key each time the recipient list changes from the perspective of the sending client, as determined at the time the ephemeral content message is transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Acton, Jan Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Publication number: 20180241871
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for displaying and interacting with ephemeral content messages in a communication service. Ephemeral content, transmitted as a message in order to preserve end-to-end encryption, may be tagged with an identifier designating the message as an ephemeral content message. A receiving client may recognize the flag and display the content of the message as ephemeral content. The update may include a link to the content that expires under certain conditions. While the link is active, the link may be selected to enter a full-screen presentation of the ephemeral content. Different media types may be associated with different types of full-screen presentations. Displayed ephemeral content from different users may be ranked based on an interest score and displayed in the ranked order. Ephemeral content may be displayed in a user interface on separate tabs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Acton, Jan Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Charles Donald Deets, JR., Anton Borzov, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Publication number: 20180241705
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for sending ephemeral content messages via a communications service. An interface may be presented to allow a user to initially access ephemeral content functionality and select content for inclusion in the ephemeral content message. The interface may present a streamlined set of use cases without regard to the manner in which the content was initially captured. Different types of content may be used as ephemeral content, including images, videos, weather reports, news stories, text, audio recordings, location tags, etc. The ephemeral content may be sent through the communications service as an end-to-end encrypted message. When a user replies to an ephemeral content message, the reply may trigger a one-to-one conversation between the originating user and the replying user. Alternatively, an ephemeral content message may be initially sent to a selected group, and replies may be sent back to the entire group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Randall Sarafa, Eugene Fooksman, Brian Lange Acton, Jan Boris Koum, Michael B. Donohue, Charles Donald Deets, Jr., Anton Borzov, Ehren Andrew Kret
  • Patent number: 9280212
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, may be used for content delivery. In particular implementations, methods, systems, and apparatuses may include the ability to identify that a content item request for a user device has been received, determine a position and velocity of the user device, select a content item to provide to the user device based at least on its position and velocity, and sending the content item to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ehren Andrew Kret, Ronald Ho
  • Patent number: 8984147
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, may be used for content delivery. In particular implementations, methods, systems, and apparatuses may include the ability to identify that a content item request for a user device has been received, determine a position and velocity of the user device, select a content item to provide to the user device based at least on its position and velocity, and sending the content item to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ehren Andrew Kret, Ronald Ho