Output Control Device for Malware Data Transmission Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anti-virus measures are becoming inadequate in preventing malware invasion, particularly due to the rise of new types of malware, and are increasingly difficult to manage effectively.

Innovation Solution

An output control system and method that includes a user terminal and a rating server, which assesses data characteristics and operational patterns to determine whether to permit or prohibit data output, using characteristic information collection, comparison with stored conditions, and user input to prevent malicious data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional anti-virus programs are used to prevent malware invasion, then malware prevention is provided, but the system becomes increasingly difficult to manage and less effective against new types of malware

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalware prevention effectivenessVSAvoidsystem management difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of preventing malware from entering the system (traditional approach), this invention inverts the approach by monitoring and controlling data output from the system. The output control apparatus detects attempts to output data from infected terminals and prohibits such output, thereby preventing malware transmission without requiring complex prevention mechanisms at the input stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary component (output control apparatus) between the infected terminal and the external network. This intermediary monitors data output attempts, determines whether they originate from infected terminals, and controls whether to permit or prohibit the output, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining effective malware prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional anti-virus measures are applied, then malware detection is attempted, but new types of malware can still invade and existing measures become inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalware detection capabilityVSAvoideffectiveness against new malware types
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection by monitoring data output attempts before actual malware transmission occurs. By detecting characteristics of data being output from potentially infected terminals and comparing them against stored profiles, the system can identify and prohibit malicious output attempts in advance, providing proactive protection against both known and unknown malware types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the detection parameter from examining input data characteristics to analyzing output data characteristics. By monitoring what data attempts to leave the system rather than what enters, the approach becomes adaptable to new malware types since it focuses on the behavioral pattern of data exfiltration rather than relying on predefined malware signatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If comprehensive malware prevention is implemented, then security is improved, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity levelVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the security control function from the complex ecosystem of traditional anti-virus programs and concentrates it in a dedicated output control apparatus. This separate component specifically handles data output monitoring and control, simplifying the overall system by isolating the security function from general system operations and reducing management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2639725B1Output control device, computer-readable medium, output control method, and output control system
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 DIGITAL ARTS
  • EP2639725B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2639725B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2639725B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an output section that outputs data to outside; a condition storage section that stores an abnormal condition showing at least one of a characteristic of data to be outputted from the output section by means of malicious software and a characteristic of an operational pattern of the output section that results when the malicious software outputs data; and an output control section that prohibits output of data when at least one of a characteristic of data to be outputted from the output section and a characteristic of an operational pattern of the output section satisfies the abnormal condition.