Portable Device Virtual Desktop Isolation for Secure Multi-User Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shared personal computers face compatibility, performance, and security issues when used by multiple users, as different users' requirements and software installations can be incompatible, and existing portable computing solutions rely on the host PC for execution, leading to performance and security concerns.
Innovation Solution
A portable device with a processing unit and communication link establishes a dynamic computing environment on a host device, providing data and services that can be accessed by the host device, allowing for a device-independent and secure computing experience, with features like authentication, backup, and updating services, and security mechanisms to ensure only authorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users share a PC, then the PC can be used by different individuals, but compatibility and security problems arise due to conflicting software requirements and configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the computing environment into separate virtual desktops, each isolated from others. Each user receives a dedicated virtual desktop with its own process space, registry, and configuration settings, eliminating conflicts between users while maintaining system stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual machine as an intermediary layer between the physical PC hardware and the users. This virtual machine manages and isolates multiple user sessions, allowing each user to have their own customized environment without affecting others or the underlying system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different users install different applications on a shared PC, then each user can access their preferred software, but system stability deteriorates due to incompatible applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the system into separate process spaces for each user session. Each user can install and run applications within their own virtual desktop environment, isolated from other users' applications, preventing compatibility conflicts while maintaining overall system stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a USB flash drive stores the operating system, then portability is improved, but performance and security issues arise because the host PC must boot and execute software from the USB drive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional model by having the portable device provide the virtual machine environment that then hosts the user's computing session on the host PC. Instead of the host PC executing software from the USB drive, the USB device creates a virtual machine that manages the execution environment, improving both performance and security.
4Speed
If software is loaded from a USB drive onto the host PC's hard drive, then execution performance may improve, but the process is time-consuming and creates additional security concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the virtual machine to directly access and execute software from the USB flash drive without requiring prior loading to the host PC's hard drive. This continuous execution capability eliminates the time-consuming transfer process while maintaining security through the virtualized environment.
Data Source
AI summary
The described systems, methods and data structures are directed to a portable computing environment. A communication link is established between a portable device and a host device. The portable device is equipped with a processing unit and is configured to execute a process that is accessible by the host device. The host device includes an application configured to interact with the process on the portable device. The process on the portable device provides data to the application on the host device using the communication link. The application uses the data to provide a computing environment.