Live Tile Content Retrieval via OS Metadata Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for enabling live tiles on devices pose significant security risks and resource consumption, as they require executing code from applications, which can lead to malicious actions and slow performance, especially with numerous applications on mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques that allow live tiles to be presented without executing application code by using metadata to retrieve content from trusted operating-system components, thereby reducing resource usage and enhancing security, while eliminating the need for application installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If application code is executed to provide content for tiles, then live content can be presented, but security risks increase and performance slows down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the content retrieval function from application code execution. Instead of requiring apps to execute code to provide tile content, the system separates this function by having apps declare content sources in metadata, which the operating system then retrieves directly, eliminating the need for code execution while maintaining live content capability
Solution Approach 2:
The operating system acts as an intermediary between applications and content sources. The OS reads metadata declarations from apps, retrieves content from declared sources, and presents it in tiles without requiring application code to execute, thus mediating the process to improve both security and performance
2Reliability
If application code is executed to provide tile content, then live content updates are possible, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Applications perform preliminary action by declaring their content sources in metadata during installation or configuration, rather than executing code at runtime. This preliminary declaration allows the operating system to retrieve and cache content proactively, reducing the need for resource-intensive code execution when tiles need updating
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates copies of content from declared sources and stores them locally in the tile interface. Instead of repeatedly executing application code to generate tile content, the OS retrieves content once and maintains local copies, significantly reducing computing resource consumption while preserving live update capabilities
3Reliability
If sandboxing is implemented to block application code, then security improves, but speed and resource efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the content retrieval function from application code execution entirely. By having apps declare content sources in metadata rather than executing code to provide content, the system eliminates the need for sandboxing overhead while maintaining security, thereby improving tile loading speed without compromising security
Solution Approach 2:
The operating system provides self-service by automatically retrieving and managing content from sources declared in application metadata. This eliminates the need for sandboxed application code execution entirely, as the OS handles content retrieval directly, improving speed while maintaining security through the metadata declaration mechanism
Data Source
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AI summary
This document describes techniques enabling live tiles without application-code execution. These techniques permit live content to be presented in tiles without executing code of applications associated with those tiles. By so doing, live tiles may be presented more safely, faster, or using fewer resources.