Secure Virtual World Portals Using Layered Cell Sandboxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying secure portals between different virtual spaces is complicated due to security risks and the need for compatibility with varying rendering technologies and system codes, making seamless travel between virtual worlds difficult and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a cell-based portal architecture where each virtual world is rendered in a separate cell, with a transparent intermediate portal cell that communicates minimal rendering size and transform information to the underlying cell, allowing secure and efficient connection without direct interaction with the underlying system code.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If portal code is deployed in the same code space as the virtual world, then portal functionality is integrated, but security risks increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the portal system into separate code spaces: the virtual world runs in one sandbox environment while the portal operates in a distinct portal sandbox. This segmentation allows portal functionality to be isolated from the main virtual world code, enabling security policies to restrict cross-sandbox access and prevent malicious code from compromising the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a portal sandbox as an intermediary layer between the virtual world and external portal code. This intermediate environment acts as a mediator that enables portal functionality while enforcing security boundaries, allowing controlled interaction between different code spaces without direct exposure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If portals connect different sandboxes or applications, then connectivity between virtual spaces is enabled, but deployment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal portal sandbox environment that can host portals connecting to multiple different virtual worlds and applications. This single sandbox infrastructure provides multi-functional support for various portal types and destinations, eliminating the need for separate deployment mechanisms for each connection scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses configuration parameters and metadata to define portal behavior, target worlds, and security policies. By changing these parameters rather than restructuring the underlying architecture, the system can adapt to connect different sandboxes and applications without increasing deployment complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If worlds with different rendering technologies are connected, then diverse virtual space interoperability is achieved, but resource expenditure and technical difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The portal sandbox serves as an intermediary that handles rendering translation between different virtual worlds. It receives rendering commands from one world's technology stack and translates them into compatible commands for the destination world, abstracting away the technical differences between various rendering engines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs rendering translation mechanisms that create intermediate representations of graphical content. Instead of requiring direct compatibility between different rendering technologies, the system copies and transforms rendering data through a standardized intermediate format that can be adapted to various destination environments.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for secure portals between virtual worlds are provided. In some embodiments, the systems and methods include deploying a secure portal between two virtual worlds. This is performed by rendering a top cell for a first virtual world. Rendering includes a transparent region overlapping a portal. Then an intermediate cell is layered underneath the top cell. This intermediate cell comprises the portal. A message is received from the top cell. The message includes a minimum rendering size, shape and at least one transform. This message is transferred to a bottom cell for a second virtual world, where it is rendered (in part) responsive to the message. The top cell, the intermediate cell and the bottom cell are then layered to generate a scene. In some embodiments, the rendered portion of the bottom cell comports to the minimum rendering size, and the intermediate cell is transparent. In some cases, the cells are either iFrames, or separate applications.