Cross-Platform Personal Information Broker for Automated Data Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience and error-prone processes when trying to retrieve personal information, such as passwords, from one computing device to use on another, especially when devices operate on different platforms.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that enables a personal information manager on one computing device to automatically provide personal information to an application running on another device by establishing a trusted connection between the devices, using brokers to facilitate the exchange of information through APIs and simulating requests to access the personal information manager.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual retrieval of personal information from one device to another is used, then users can access their personal information, but the process is inconvenient and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of retrieving personal informationVSAvoiderror-proneness of manual information transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a broker component that acts as an intermediary between the personal information manager on one device and the application on another device. The broker facilitates automatic authentication and information transfer through trusted connections, eliminating manual intervention and reducing errors while improving convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If personal information is stored locally on each device, then security is maintained, but information cannot be easily accessed across devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to access information across devicesVSAvoidcomplexity of cross-device information management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The broker serves as a mediator that enables cross-device information access without requiring users to manually manage their personal information across multiple devices. The broker handles authentication and data transfer automatically through established trusted connections, simplifying the user experience while maintaining local storage security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The personal information manager system is designed to work universally across different device types and platforms through the broker interface. The same personal information can be accessed from any authorized device without requiring device-specific implementations, enhancing versatility while the broker manages the complexity of cross-platform compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If automatic information sharing between devices is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but security risks may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of personal information accessVSAvoidsecurity risks of automated information transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The broker acts as a secure intermediary that mediates all information transfer between devices. It establishes trusted connections and performs authentication before allowing any personal information to be shared, thereby automating the process while maintaining security controls. The broker verifies the legitimacy of requests and ensures that only authorized applications can access personal information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If manual entry of personal information is required, then security control is maintained, but productivity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of accessing personal informationVSAvoidtime spent on manual information retrieval

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing trusted connections between devices and configuring the broker to automatically handle authentication. When personal information is needed, the broker has already prepared the communication channels and authentication mechanisms, allowing immediate automated retrieval without manual intervention, thus eliminating time loss and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11803656B2Supplying personal information between different devices using different platforms

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

An application that is running on a first computing device can receive personal information from a personal information manager that is running on a second computing device. The first computing device can operate using a first platform and the second computing device can operate using a second platform that is different from the first platform. The first computing device can include a first broker, and the second computing device can include a second broker. The first broker and the second broker can be configured to establish a trusted connection between the first computing device and the second computing device. The first broker can additionally be configured to request personal information from the personal information manager via the second broker. The first broker can be configured to automatically request the personal information in response to determining that the application on the first computing device has requested the personal information.