Application Security Information Integration via OS Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in evaluating the security and performance implications of applications before downloading, as existing platforms often lack comprehensive information, and third-party security applications fail to provide supplemental information in a usable manner during the browsing process.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that leverages sharing functionality provided by an operating system to identify and share security information about applications, allowing users to make informed decisions by obtaining and displaying security information prior to download, including reputation data from a database.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If third-party security applications provide supplemental security information, then users gain access to additional security data, but users cannot access this information while browsing the application distribution platform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the application distribution platform interface with third-party security information by integrating the security application within the platform's user interface. This allows security information to be displayed directly on the platform without requiring users to switch applications, thus merging the functionality of both systems into a unified interface that provides both application listings and security evaluations simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses sharing functionality as an intermediary mechanism that enables data exchange between the application distribution platform and the security application. Through this intermediary, the platform can pass application information to the security application, which then returns security evaluations, allowing seamless integration without direct coupling of the systems.
2Loss of information
If application distribution platforms provide comprehensive security information, then users can make better informed decisions, but platforms may be slow to identify security issues or fail to provide complete information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third-party security application as an intermediary that specializes in security analysis. This intermediary independently evaluates applications and provides security information, allowing the application distribution platform to benefit from specialized security expertise without being responsible for the accuracy of security assessments, thus resolving the conflict between information completeness and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the functionality of application distribution into separate components: the platform handles application hosting and basic information provision, while a dedicated security application handles security analysis and evaluation. This segmentation allows each component to focus on its specialized function, improving both the completeness and reliability of security information.
3Loss of information
If users access security information through a separate security application, then comprehensive security data is available, but users must leave the application distribution platform to access it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the security application's information display capability with the application distribution platform's browsing interface. By integrating the security application within the platform, users can access security information without leaving the platform, eliminating the time loss associated with switching applications while maintaining access to comprehensive security data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the security application pre-load and display security information alongside application listings on the platform. This allows users to see security evaluations immediately during browsing without needing to separately access the security application, thus eliminating delays and streamlining the evaluation process.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method for informing users about applications available for download may include (1) identifying, through sharing functionality provided by an operating system, shared content that identifies an application hosted by an application distribution platform, (2) in response to identifying the shared content, obtaining security information about the identified by the shared content, and (3) informing, prior to a user downloading the application, the user of the obtained security information about the application to enable the user to make an informed decision about whether to download the application. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.