AI Source Code Retrieval With Security Screening

Solution Overview

Problem

Software engineers rely on external code resources that can introduce security vulnerabilities and compromised or unreliable code, posing risks to a company's applications.

Innovation Solution

A code retrieval system leveraging AI for intelligent search and retrieval of source code, utilizing a private and public database, with quality assessment features to ensure reliability and compatibility, and a feedback-driven approach to optimize code reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If external code resources are used to streamline development, then development speed is improved, but security vulnerabilities and unreliable code are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevelopment speedVSAvoidcode reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a code retrieval system as an intermediary between developers and external code resources. This system acts as a mediator that queries public code repositories, filters results based on quality assessment features, and presents vetted code options to developers. The intermediary layer ensures that only reliable, high-quality code is accessed, thereby maintaining development speed while preventing security vulnerabilities from compromising code reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms through quality assessment features that continuously evaluate code segments based on multiple criteria including security vulnerabilities, reliability scores, and community ratings. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from code usage patterns and improve its filtering capabilities over time, ensuring that developers receive increasingly reliable code recommendations while maintaining high development velocity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If code segments are retrieved from public databases, then code availability is improved, but security vulnerabilities and compromised code are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecode availabilityVSAvoidsecurity vulnerabilities

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-querying public code databases and pre-assessing code segments against security criteria before they are made available to developers. The code retrieval system proactively filters out compromised code and presents only vetted options, ensuring that security checks are completed in advance rather than after code is introduced to the development environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a code retrieval system as an intermediary between developers and external code resources. This system acts as a mediator that queries public code repositories, filters results based on quality assessment features, and presents vetted code options to developers. The intermediary layer ensures that only reliable, high-quality code is accessed, thereby maintaining development speed while preventing security vulnerabilities from compromising code reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If quality assessment features are applied to code segments, then code reliability is improved, but retrieval complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecode reliabilityVSAvoidretrieval system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the quality assessment process into distinct, manageable features such as security vulnerability detection, reliability scoring, and compatibility evaluation. Each feature can be independently weighted and configured, allowing the system to handle complex assessment requirements through modular components rather than a monolithic complex system. This segmentation makes the retrieval system more manageable while maintaining comprehensive quality assessment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250328320A1Systems and methods for intelligent retrieval of source code

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for intelligent search and reuse of source code are disclosed. A code retrieval system leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to provide a search engine designed to assist users in locating and retrieving relevant code segments. A context-based search functionality retrieves code segments tailored to specific requirements set forth in the search. The system leverages several features, including user reviews, and single-click downloads to streamline code discovery and integration. The system tracks various metrics, including views, downloads, likes, dislikes, and ratings to continuously update and maintain quality assessment features indicative of the quality and usefulness of the segments. The system collects and uses a feedback-driven approach to dynamically refine and optimize code retrieval operations.