Digitally Signed Download Manager for Dynamic Software Customization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing need for information security has made it difficult to customize software programs without breaking their digital signature, making the process resource-intensive and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that provides a digitally signed download manager to dynamically customize software programs by receiving client-specific customization requirements and downloading client-specific data to satisfy these requirements, allowing for customization without re-signing the software at delivery time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If software programs are customized just before delivery, then client-specific customization requirements are satisfied, but the digital signature of the software program is broken and the customization process becomes resource intensive and time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclient-specific customizationVSAvoiddelivery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-customizing software programs for multiple clients before delivery. The system receives customization requirements from multiple clients in advance, customizes the software program for each client, and delivers the customized versions. This eliminates the need for time-consuming customization at delivery time while maintaining digital signature integrity through virtualization containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If software programs are customized just before delivery, then client-specific customization requirements are satisfied, but the customization process becomes resource intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclient-specific customizationVSAvoidcomputational resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs customization operations in advance during a preliminary action phase, distributing the computational workload over time rather than concentrating it at delivery. By pre-customizing software for multiple clients and using virtualization containers to maintain digital signatures, the system reduces peak resource consumption during delivery operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If software programs are digitally signed to ensure security, then information security is maintained, but customization becomes difficult or impossible without breaking the digital signature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation securityVSAvoidcustomization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by separating the software program into two distinct components: a digitally signed base program and separate customization data. The base program maintains its digital signature for security, while customization is achieved by adding or modifying separate data elements (such as configuration files, localization data, or virtualization containers) that do not alter the signed portion. This allows customization while preserving security integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses virtualization containers as intermediaries between the digitally signed software program and customization requirements. These containers act as a mediator layer that enables customization functionality without directly modifying the signed program code, thus maintaining both security and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple software programs from multiple publishers are distributed, then distributor versatility is improved, but the complexity of delivering the correct version to each client increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistributor versatilityVSAvoiddelivery process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a standardized customization framework that can handle multiple software programs from different publishers through a single unified process. The system uses a common architecture with virtualization containers and standardized customization data formats that work across different software publishers and programs, reducing the complexity of managing diverse software distributions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10203944B1Systems and methods for dynamically customizing software programs

Publication Date: 2019.02.12 GEN DIGITAL INC

AI summary

The disclosed computer-implemented method for dynamically customizing software programs may include (i) receiving, from a client device, a request for a software program with client-specific customization requirements and (ii) providing, to the client device, a digitally signed download manager for downloading a client-specific version of the software program that satisfies the client-specific customization requirements, where the digitally signed download manager provides the client-specific version of the software program to the client device by (a) downloading, from the backend computing system, both the software program and client-specific data that satisfies the client-specific customization requirements and (b) customizing, using the client-specific data, the software program in a manner that satisfies the client-specific customization requirements. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.