Mobile App Provisioning via Desktop Code Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for provisioning mobile applications from desktop applications are cumbersome, requiring manual entry of serial numbers and lacking user authentication mechanisms, making them vulnerable to unauthorized access.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that generates a code on the desktop application, which is captured and decrypted by the mobile device, validated through a server, and used to provision the mobile application, ensuring secure and direct provisioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual serial number entry is used for mobile application provisioning, then user authentication can be performed, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser authenticationVSAvoidprovisioning process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical entry of serial numbers with an automated optical scanning system. The mobile device's camera captures an image of the serial number displayed on the desktop application, and optical character recognition (OCR) technology automatically extracts and processes the serial number, eliminating the need for manual keypad entry while maintaining authentication reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy of the serial number in the form of a displayed code or image on the desktop application screen. This visual representation can be captured by the mobile device's camera, allowing the serial number information to be transferred automatically without manual transcription, thus simplifying the provisioning process while preserving security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If hard copy serial numbers are provided with desktop applications, then user licensing can be validated, but the serial numbers are vulnerable to interception by unauthorized users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelicense validationVSAvoidunauthorized access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary validation server that acts as a trusted third party between the desktop application and the mobile application provisioning process. The serial number is validated through this secure server intermediary, which verifies the license and returns authorization tokens, preventing direct exposure of the serial number and blocking unauthorized interception and reuse

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements single-use or time-limited serial numbers and authorization tokens that become invalid after one provisioning transaction or after a specific time period. This disposable nature of the credentials ensures that even if intercepted, they cannot be reused by unauthorized users, maintaining license validation security while enabling secure provisioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS8966653B2Method and apparatus for provisioning a mobile application

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 ADOBE INC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for provisioning a mobile application that is related to a desktop software application comprising capturing a code using a mobile device, where the desktop software application generates and displays the code for capture by the mobile device; decrypting the code using the mobile device; validating the code; validating a user based on the code; and enabling functionality of the mobile application for use by the mobile device based on the validation of the user.