Guest Mode Application State Recreation Across Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience when they lose access to their mobile devices due to battery depletion or unavailability, as they cannot easily continue using applications on alternative devices without compromising security or functionality.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device can grant temporary guest access to another user, recreating the application state and interface of the primary device on a trusted friend's or family member's device, using authentication credentials and server authorization to ensure security and seamless transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user logs in to another device as a guest to continue using applications when their primary device is inaccessible, then accessibility and continuity of application usage are improved, but security risks increase due to unauthorized access possibilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guest user account as an intermediary mechanism that allows access to another user's device without compromising the primary user's security. The guest account serves as a mediator that provides controlled access to application functionality while isolating the guest user from sensitive device data and settings. This resolves the contradiction by enabling accessibility through the guest account while maintaining security through account isolation and authorization controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of access rights to different users on the same device. The guest user account has restricted permissions tailored specifically for application continuity, while the primary user retains full control. This localized differentiation of access rights enables the device to simultaneously provide high accessibility to authorized guests while maintaining strong security for the primary user's data.
2Ease of operation
If a device recreates the application state and interface from cloud data to provide seamless guest access, then user experience and continuity are improved, but data synchronization complexity and server resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-synchronizing application data and state to the cloud before the user needs access from another device. The application maintains up-to-date cloud copies of user data, contact lists, chat histories, and settings in advance. When a guest user logs in, the system simply retrieves this pre-synchronized data rather than performing complex real-time synchronization, thereby improving user experience while managing complexity through advance preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a replicated version of the application interface and data for the guest user based on cloud-stored information. Instead of sharing the primary device's actual state, the system generates a copy of the application environment that mirrors the user's experience. This copying approach simplifies data synchronization by working with static cloud data rather than dynamic device state, reducing complexity while maintaining user experience quality.
3Ease of operation
If guest access is granted based on authentication credentials without pre-authorization, then ease of login is improved, but security control and device owner consent are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by requiring the primary user to pre-authorize specific devices for guest access before actual login occurs. The device owner configures which devices are trusted and can host guest sessions in advance. This pre-authorization step maintains security control by ensuring the primary user consents to each potential guest access scenario, while still enabling easy login for authorized devices through automatic credential verification without requiring additional approval at login time.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for extending application access across devices. In some implementations, an electronic device receives a request to provide access to the electronic device to a particular user that is not registered as a user of the electronic device. The electronic device receives authentication credentials for the particular user. The electronic device provides the authentication credentials to a server system and receives data from the server system that (i) indicates that the providing access to the electronic device in a guest mode is authorized, and (ii) indicates a state of an instance of an application installed on a second device. The electronic device provides access to the electronic device in the guest mode that provides an interface that at least partially recreates the state of the instance of the application installed on the second device.