Clipboard Access Authorization for Copy-Paste Data Leakage Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The leakage of copied content, particularly personal information, occurs when a user copies data in one application and it is inadvertently accessed by unintended applications, leading to potential misuse and disruption of daily life.

Innovation Solution

A data processing method that detects copy and paste operations, authorizes only pre-approved applications to access the copied data, and optionally anonymizes sensitive information, ensuring that only authorized applications can retrieve the data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If clipboard data is made accessible to multiple applications, then application versatility and ease of operation are improved, but data security and user privacy are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclipboard accessibilityVSAvoiddata leakage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authorization checks before allowing any application to access clipboard data. The user pre-approves which applications can access clipboard content, and this authorization is stored and verified before each data access operation, preventing unauthorized applications from obtaining sensitive information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary authorization mechanism between the clipboard and applications. Instead of direct access, applications must go through the authorization system that verifies user permission before allowing data retrieval, thus mediating the interaction and preventing unauthorized access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If all applications can access copied content, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability and data protection are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaste operation convenienceVSAvoiddata access control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service authorization management where users can independently control which applications have access to their clipboard data. The authorization mechanism serves itself by automatically verifying permissions without requiring external intervention, maintaining both ease of operation and data protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If copied data is stored for later use, then productivity is improved, but loss of information and security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reuse efficiencyVSAvoidunauthorized data access
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authorization verification before allowing any application to retrieve stored clipboard data. By checking user permission in advance, the system ensures that only authorized applications can access the stored information, preventing unauthorized data access while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4660859A1Data processing method, electronic device, and readable medium
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4660859A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4660859A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4660859A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

This application relates to the field of information security technologies, and discloses a data processing method, an electronic device, and a readable medium. The data processing method in this application includes: detecting a copy operation on first data of a first application, and storing the first data; detecting a paste request of a second application for the first data; and in response to that the second application being an application that is authorized by a user or is a target pasting application, sending the stored first data to the second application. The foregoing solution avoids a problem that copied data is leaked because an application that is not authorized by the user or an application that does not detect a paste operation initiated by the user obtains the copied data.