Policy-Based Clipboard Access via OS-Level Manager
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clipboard management systems lack consistency in enforcing policy-based access restrictions across multiple applications, leading to security issues in enterprise settings due to inconsistent implementation of security controls.
Innovation Solution
Modifying the operating system's clipboard functionality through subclassing the ClipboardManager class or using a shim to create a policy-enforcing wrapper, ensuring all applications adhere to established access rules via a software development kit (SDK) or shared library, thereby enforcing system-wide policy-based restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If developers implement clipboard security controls on an application-by-application basis, then each application can have customized clipboard behavior, but consistency and security reliability deteriorate across the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a clipboard manager as an intermediary component that sits between applications and the clipboard functionality. This manager enforces system-wide policies on all clipboard operations, ensuring consistent security controls across all applications while allowing individual applications to request specific clipboard behaviors through policy definitions.
2Reliability
If a software development kit or shared library is used to enforce policies, then system-wide consistency is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal clipboard manager that handles all clipboard operations across different applications through a single implementation. This multi-functional component replaces the need for each application to implement its own clipboard security logic, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining consistent policy enforcement.
3Reliability
If clipboard access is restricted through policies, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for legitimate users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic policy evaluation where the clipboard manager assesses each clipboard operation against defined policies in real-time. Policies can be configured to allow or deny specific operations based on application context, user permissions, and data types, enabling flexible security control that adapts to different usage scenarios rather than applying blanket restrictions.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various examples for providing access to a clipboard based at least in part on one or more policies. Data is received from a client application. A permission associated with the client application is checked, the permission specifying that the client application is authorized to store data in a clipboard provided by an operating system of the computing device. In response, the data received from the client application is stored in the clipboard.