Kernel Security System for Software Component Interaction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software development approaches burden developers with the need to embed security aspects into components, making it difficult to add or change security features later, and users struggle to enforce their own security strategies due to varying security requirements across different life stages of software components.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that control interactions between software components by associating constraints and attributes, resolving these constraints to permit or forbid interactions, with the security system integrated into the operating system's kernel, allowing incremental addition of constraints at each life stage and independent of the component's language, ensuring secure storage and environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If security aspects are built into the software component itself, then security control is integrated and enforced, but the component becomes more complex and harder to modify later
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates security control from component functionality by dividing the system into distinct parts: the software component itself and the external security system. The security system maintains separate constraint rules and parameter definitions that govern component interactions without embedding security logic within the component code, thus reducing component complexity while maintaining security control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary security system that acts as a mediator between software components. This external security system evaluates constraint rules and makes authorization decisions independently of the components, allowing security control to be enforced without increasing component complexity. The security system serves as a neutral intermediary that manages security policies separately from business logic.
2Reliability
If security parameters are fixed at development time, then security is built into the component, but security requirements cannot be adapted to different life stages or use cases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic security parameters that can change based on the component's life stage and usage context. The security system allows constraint rules and parameters to be modified at different stages (development, distribution, deployment, usage) rather than being fixed at compilation time. This enables the same component to have different security requirements enforced at different life stages without requiring recompilation or reconfiguration of the component itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables parameter changes by allowing security constraints and parameters to be defined and modified externally based on different use cases and life stages. The security system supports changing security parameters such as access rights, constraint rules, and interaction policies depending on whether the component is in development, distribution, or usage phase, providing adaptability without affecting the component's core functionality.
3Reliability
If each component has its own built-in security model, then security is enforced at component level, but users cannot enforce their own security strategies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal external security system that can enforce security strategies for multiple components and users simultaneously. This single security system provides multi-functional capabilities: it can enforce security policies for different components, support multiple user security strategies, and adapt to various life stages. Users can define and enforce their own security strategies through this universal system without each component needing its own dedicated security model, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining security enforcement.
Data Source
AI summary
In a computer system having a plurality of software components, a security system for controlling interactions between the software components, the security system including at least one constraint associated with the interaction; and at least one attribute associated with the software components. The attributes and interaction parameters are bound to the constraint. The security system reaches a verdict permitting or forbidding the interaction, by resolving the constraint, based on value of the attribute and values of the parameters. The security system uses constraints and attributes specified during different life stages of each software component, where constraints are incrementally added during each subsequent life stage.