But it still does not provide us with full-duplex communication as required in real-time applications.Īn AJAX based-timer! Means that the client sends HTTP requests time-to-time and the response is immediately given by the server. This means that it helps in maintaining a persistent connection. This version of HTTP eliminates the need for opening a TCP connection for each HTTP request. Being a one-way synchronous communication protocol, this may result in a lot of overheads while creating and destroying a TCP connection every time a message is sent in real-time chat applications. But this requires establishing a TCP connection every time data is sent to the server. The concept of HTTP request-response is widely used. The user might refresh the web page time-to-time to check for message updates. With the traditional request-response model, we have few options: The challenge arises in selecting and implementing a suitable development technique. Signal Protocol for end-to-end encryptionįor any app to feel real-time, the user needs to be kept updated with any activity happening as soon as possible.

WebSocket library for real-time message exchange.Also, E2EE is needed here to keep a patient’s details/conversations secure and confidential. Therefore the users are categorized on the server based on their ‘role’. This means that the patients will only be able to see their doctor in the contact list and vice versa. These conversations take place between doctors and their respective patients.

Our application is based on conversations in a Healthcare system. Let’s find out what can be a suitable mechanism for our application. In simple systems, data transfer usually takes place through a request-response mechanism using a client-server architecture. This enables users to make the right decisions at the right time. One may specify this as bi-directional flow. Our article will cover:īut first, let’s look at what Real-time Systems mean?Ī real-time system means sending and receiving of data instantly over a network among multiple clients. End-to-End Encryption(E2EE) is the most important feature in real-time chat applications. Messages sent through Signal are said to be encrypted, meaning the platform cannot access private messages or media, or store them on their server. Signal is essentially an encrypted messaging app. WhatsApp and Signal are two messaging apps dominating the headlines, let's take a look at why - WhatsApp recently updated its privacy policy, stating that the messaging platform will share user data with other Facebook-owned and third-party apps. This has prompted several users to look for alternative platforms, top among them is Signal. Lately, there is a lot of fuss around end-to-end encrypted chat applications.

Signal app secure