Web Application Default File Handler for Local Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current web-based applications restrict access to local resources for security reasons, making it inconvenient for users to interact with locally stored information without dedicated interfaces for each web-based application or resource.
Innovation Solution
Registering a web application as a default file handler in a computing device's file manager interface, allowing users to invoke the web application to handle locally stored files through a user-selectable action element, while providing secure access to locally stored data by using sandboxed sub-processes for access control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If web-based applications restrict access to local resources for security reasons, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator mechanism that allows web applications to access local resources through a controlled interface. The system provides a standardized intermediary layer that translates local file system operations into secure web application calls, enabling file access while maintaining security boundaries. This resolves the contradiction by providing a controlled bridge between web applications and local resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal interface that allows different web applications to access local resources through a common standardized mechanism. Instead of requiring dedicated interfaces for each web application, the system provides a universal file access interface that works across multiple applications, improving ease of operation while maintaining security through unified access control.
2Ease of operation
If dedicated interfaces are provided for each web-based application to access local files, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal interface that allows different web applications to access local resources through a common standardized mechanism. Instead of requiring dedicated interfaces for each web application, the system provides a universal file access interface that works across multiple applications, improving ease of operation while maintaining security through unified access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the file access functionality into a single unified interface that serves multiple web applications. By combining what would otherwise be separate dedicated interfaces into one common mechanism, the system reduces overall device complexity while maintaining ease of operation through a standardized interaction model.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes registering a web application, which is executable through a web browser, as a default file handler of a particular type of locally-stored files. A computing device provides a file manager interface that is configured to facilitate interaction, by a user, with a local filesystem of the computing device. The file manager interface receives a user selection of a file included in the local filesystem, where the file belongs to the particular type of files. Based on the user's selection, a user selectable action element is provided in the file manager interface to invoke the registered web application to handle the selected file. The file manager interface receives a user selection of the user selectable action element; and in response to the user selection of the user selectable action element the registered web application is automatically invoked to handle the selected file.