Peripheral Risk Assessment for Trusted Client Connections

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Modern electronic devices face security threats from malicious peripherals that exploit enhanced connection capabilities, making it difficult to establish trusted connections while managing power and data signals effectively.

Innovation Solution

A peripheral device management system that analyzes environmental and historical data to determine a risk factor for connected devices, providing intelligent power management and user-friendly interface prompts to manage trust levels and prevent security threats.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If modern connectors provide multiple signal types (command signals, data signals, power signals) to enhance device capabilities, then the functionality and versatility of electronic devices are improved, but security risks increase due to potential malicious device attacks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidsecurity risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary risk assessment and device classification before establishing full communication. The processor analyzes device characteristics, connection context, and environmental factors in advance to determine trust levels, preventing malicious devices from causing harm before security measures can be applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary risk assessment mechanism that mediates between the connector and the computing device systems. This intermediary layer evaluates connection requests, assesses risk factors, and controls signal transmission, preventing direct untrusted access to sensitive systems while allowing legitimate communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If computing devices establish connections with peripheral devices quickly to improve productivity, then the speed and efficiency of device operation are enhanced, but the ability to detect and prevent malicious devices is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection speedVSAvoidmalicious device detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary risk assessment and device classification before establishing full communication. The processor analyzes device characteristics, connection context, and environmental factors in advance to determine trust levels, preventing malicious devices from causing harm before security measures can be applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The risk assessment process operates periodically and continuously, evaluating connection status, device behavior, and environmental factors at multiple stages. This periodic evaluation maintains security monitoring without significantly impacting initial connection speed, as assessments occur in parallel or at strategically timed intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If devices appear as trusted device or common class of device to simplify connection process, then the ease of operation is improved, but security threats from malicious devices increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection simplicityVSAvoidsecurity threat
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-assessment of connection risk by automatically analyzing device characteristics, connection context, and environmental factors. The processor autonomously determines trust levels and applies appropriate security policies without requiring user intervention, maintaining ease of operation while preventing malicious attacks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes trust parameters and security policy parameters based on real-time risk assessment. Devices that appear as common classes initially receive baseline trust levels, but parameters are adjusted based on ongoing evaluation of device behavior, connection context, and environmental factors, allowing simple initial connection with enhanced security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4042313B1Establishing a trusted connection with a peripheral device
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4042313B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4042313B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4042313B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for establishing and managing a trusted connection between a peripheral device and a client device. For example, systems discussed herein include determining whether a peripheral device poses a security risk based on a combination of peripheral device data and a client profile including environmental data and historical usage data for the client device. Systems described herein may further grant a level of trust based on the determine security risk. The systems disclosed herein facilitate implementation of intelligent policies that are user friendly without exposing the client device to a variety of security threats.