Capability-Restricted Control for Secure Inter-Process Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connected devices lack robust security and operational stability, leading to potential system failures and high maintenance costs due to unhandled errors or attacks, and are hindered by a lack of interoperability and user-centric management.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a capability-restricted system control scheme where entities are granted specific capabilities, with ownership retained by the requesting entity, and these capabilities are restricted to authorized use, limiting the scope and impact of attacks or errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If connected devices use traditional PC-oriented operating systems with kernel-loaded drivers, then performance is improved, but security and reliability deteriorate due to unhandled errors and ransomware attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the operating system into a minimal verified kernel and separate user-mode services. Drivers and system functions are divided into isolated service processes that run independently, preventing cascading failures. The capability system further segments access rights, granting only necessary permissions to each service, thereby limiting the impact of security breaches or software errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a capability-based intermediary layer between processes and system resources. Instead of direct access, processes communicate through capability tokens that mediate resource allocation and access control. This intermediary mechanism enables secure inter-process communication while maintaining isolation, preventing attacks from propagating across the system.
2Reliability
If connected devices implement comprehensive security measures, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the fundamental parameter of access control from traditional permission bits to capability tokens with hierarchical scopes. This parameter transformation enables more granular security control without proportionally increasing complexity, as capabilities can be composed and restricted through mathematical operations on access rights rather than managing complex permission matrices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical security models (physical security, complex authentication protocols) with a mathematical capability system based on formal verification. The use of mathematically proven security properties and automated verification tools reduces the need for complex manual security configurations while maintaining high security standards.
3Productivity
If connected devices use manufacturer-specific proprietary systems, then device functionality is improved, but interoperability and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The capability system provides a universal interface for resource access and inter-process communication that works across different device types and manufacturers. The standardized capability token mechanism enables diverse services and hardware to interact through a common protocol, allowing proprietary functionality to be exposed through a universal access control framework that simplifies interoperability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are directed to capability-restricted system control. In some embodiments, during the instantiation of a requesting entity in a system, the requesting entity is granted a specific set of capabilities. In these examples, capabilities used by a responding entity to fulfil a request from a requesting entity are limited to the capabilities granted the responding entity by the requesting entity. When granting the capabilities to the responding entity, the granted capabilities are restricted from use by the requesting entity. Once the request is fulfilled by the responding entity, the restrictions on the capabilities are removed, allowing the requesting entity to use those capabilities in a further request.