Guest Browser Interface Rendering in Host Environment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organizations face challenges in maintaining consistent security policies and updating software components across client devices, particularly in extending the functionality of web browsers while ensuring security and compliance with organizational policies.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a guest browser system that provides a customizable and secure browsing environment by rendering a guest browser interface within an existing web browser, using code from a second web page to update content and retrieve web pages, without requiring installation of additional components on the operating system, and utilizing virtual modules for virus protection and plug-ins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If applications are installed to extend web browser functionality, then browser functionality is enhanced, but device complexity and security management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrowser functionalityVSAvoidsoftware components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guest browser is nested within the host browser environment, with the guest browser interface and engine operating as a contained application within the existing browser window. This allows extended functionality without adding separate standalone applications to the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The guest browser leverages the host browser's existing infrastructure (rendering engine, network stack, security mechanisms) to provide browsing functionality, making the host browser serve multiple purposes - both as the host environment and as the foundation for the guest browser's operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple applications are installed to extend browser functionality, then features are enhanced, but maintenance and updating become cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrowser featuresVSAvoidsoftware maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guest browser extracts and utilizes the host browser's existing rendering engine and infrastructure components, eliminating the need to maintain separate copies of these components. Updates to the host browser automatically benefit the guest browser without requiring separate update processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The guest browser merges its functionality with the host browser's existing infrastructure, combining the needs of both into a single maintenance cycle. Security updates, engine improvements, and bug fixes in the host browser automatically apply to the guest browser environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If virus protection applications are installed, then security is improved, but device complexity and policy management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsecurity components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guest browser acts as an intermediary browsing environment that isolates web content execution from the host system. Web content runs within the guest browser's sandboxed context, providing inherent security protection without requiring additional virus protection applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The browsing environment is segmented into distinct host and guest contexts, with the guest browser providing an isolated execution environment. This segmentation naturally limits the ability of malicious web content to affect the host system or other applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If organizational security policies are enforced across client devices, then security compliance is improved, but ease of operation and deployment become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity complianceVSAvoidpolicy deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guest browser is a self-contained application that brings its own security context and configuration. Organizations can deploy guest browser instances with pre-configured security policies without requiring changes to the host system or individual client device configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Security policies and configurations are established in advance within the guest browser environment before deployment to client devices. The guest browser is pre-configured with organizational security requirements, eliminating the need for post-deployment configuration management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9116998B2Guest browser

Publication Date: 2015.08.25 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

One embodiment of a guest browser system, among others, includes a guest browser interface configured to provide an address bar interface for accepting a network address for retrieving a first web page. The guest browser interface is rendered from code of a second web page, where content of the second web page is rendered by an installed web browser. The system further includes a guest browser engine configured to retrieve contents of web pages. The guest browser engine is built from code provided by the second web page and is used to update content of the second web page with content from the first web page. Other systems and methods are also provided.