Host Device Resource Integration via Target Advertising

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing resource sharing techniques between devices often require preconfiguration, depend on administrative privileges, and lack fine control over shared resources, making it difficult for users to initiate sessions or share specific resources securely and efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A method where a target device advertises its resources for integration with a host computing environment, allowing the host device to borrow and integrate these resources without preconfiguration or administrative access, enabling casual and selective resource sharing while maintaining security through isolation of the target computing environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If preconfiguration and administrative privileges are required for resource sharing, then security and control are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidease of resource sharing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables devices to automatically advertise and discover resources without requiring manual configuration. The target device autonomously publishes its resources, and the host device automatically requests and integrates them, eliminating the need for user setup while maintaining security through structured protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A resource integration layer acts as an intermediary between the host device and target device. This layer handles the complex authentication and resource allocation processes transparently, allowing users to share resources simply by requesting them without dealing with security configurations directly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If all resources are shared between devices, then versatility is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource sharing capabilityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Resources are segmented into discrete, individually addressable units that can be selectively shared. The system divides resources such as displays, input devices, and storage into separate shareable entities, allowing users to share only specific resources rather than configuring entire device interactions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The resource integration layer provides universal interfaces for sharing different types of resources through a common mechanism. Whether sharing displays, input devices, or storage, the same request-integrate-use pattern applies, simplifying the user experience while maintaining versatility across resource types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If target device resources are integrated with host computing environment, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource accessibilityVSAvoidsecurity risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The resource integration layer serves as a secure intermediary between the host computing environment and target device resources. It manages authentication, authorization, and resource allocation while isolating the host environment from direct access to target device internals, reducing security risks while maintaining ease of use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Security measures are applied locally at the resource integration layer rather than requiring changes to the entire host or target device architecture. This allows security to be enforced at the point of resource access without compromising the overall ease of operation of the integrated system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3198432B1Lending target device resources to host device computing environment
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3198432B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3198432B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3198432B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various models may enable a first device to share a device resource with a second device in various contexts, such as sharing computing sessions via terminal services; sharing displays via display mirroring; and sharing input components across devices. However, such techniques often utilize ad hoc sharing models that depend on configuration and/or administrative access of each device; limit the capabilities of such sharing; and/or exhibit security concerns. Instead, a target device may advertise an availability of a target device resource. A host device may request the target device to lend the target device resource to the computing environment of the host device. The target device may reserve the target device resource for the host device, which may then integrate the target device resource into the host computing environment. The model may enable the user to utilize resources even from target devices that the user is not otherwise permitted to use.