Sandbox Communication Framework for Secure Data Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sandboxed environments in computing devices lack a secure mechanism to control access to data between applications, allowing unauthorized access and communication, as current frameworks like iOS's Extensions Framework do not provide granular control over which applications can access data in a sandbox.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a sandbox communication framework with an access-restricted data store and APIs that utilize application identifiers and timestamps to authenticate and authorize data access, along with encryption methods to ensure secure data sharing between sandboxed applications, limiting access to only authorized applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sandboxed environments isolate applications to prevent unauthorized access, then security is improved, but data sharing capability between authorized applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sandbox communication framework as an intermediary layer between sandboxed applications. This framework includes message queues, authentication mechanisms, and data transfer protocols that enable controlled communication without breaking sandbox isolation. The framework acts as a mediator that verifies authorization tokens and manages data sharing while maintaining security boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data sharing mechanism into distinct components: authentication modules that verify application identities, authorization modules that check permissions, message queues that buffer communications, and data transfer modules that handle actual data movement. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific security and communication tasks while working together to enable controlled data sharing.
2Reliability
If sandboxed environments prevent applications from accessing resources outside their sandbox, then security is improved, but communication capability between applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sandbox communication framework serves as an intermediary that applications interact with through standardized interfaces. Applications send messages to the framework rather than directly to other applications, and the framework handles authentication, routing, and delivery. This mediates the communication process while maintaining sandbox isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The framework provides universal communication capabilities that work across different sandboxed applications through standardized protocols. It handles multiple functions including authentication, authorization, message routing, data transfer, and error handling within a single unified system, making communication easy for applications without requiring application-specific integration code.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing frameworks like Extensions Framework allow data sharing between sandboxed applications, then data sharing capability is improved, but granular control over access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by allowing each sandboxed application to define its own access control policies and permission levels for different data resources. Instead of a blanket access model, each application can specify which applications can access which data with what level of permission. This enables fine-grained control where access rights are tailored to specific application pairs and data types.
Solution Approach 2:
The framework uses parameter changes in the form of authorization tokens that encode specific access permissions. These tokens contain parameters such as application identifiers, data resource identifiers, permission levels, and time constraints. By changing and validating these parameters, the framework enables granular access control without requiring complex rule evaluation logic in each application.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various examples of systems and methods for transferring data between applications executing in sandboxed environments. In one example, a first application is in a first sandbox. A request for access to data is transmitted from the first application to a second application in a second sandbox. The data is stored in the second sandbox. The request is transmitted using a sandbox communications framework. The data is received using the sandbox communications framework. The data is encrypted. An encryption key is retrieved from an access-restricted data store.