Method and system for protecting user choices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for prioritizing user application preferences based on user input data, the method comprising:
- recognizing, at a computing device of a user, user input data relevant to a first application as a prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application, wherein the prioritized user choice setting determines at least one property of execution of at least one event of the first application;
securing, at the computing device of the user, the user choice setting as a protected value using an access control indicator, wherein the access control indicator prohibits a second application from modifying the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application without authorization from the user;
receiving, at the computing device of the user, a request from the second application to modify the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application;
in response to receiving the request from the second application to modify the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application, generating an approval user interface on the computing device of the user, the approval user interface requesting authorization from the user to modify the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application to be consistent with the modification request received from the second application;
receiving, at the computing device of the user, input from the user approving the modification of the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application to be consistent with the modification request received from the second application;
modifying, at the computing device of the user, the access control indicator to permit modification of the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application to be consistent with the modification request received from the second application;
modifying, at the computing device of the user, the prioritized user choice setting to a different value in accordance with the received user input; and
restoring, at the computing device of the user, the access control indicator to prohibit further modification by the second application of the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and computer-accessible medium for protecting user choice settings are provided. The system and method provide an application programming interface that uses a security subsystem to unlock, write, and relock the user choice settings to insure that the user'"'"'s choices are enforced and respected by the applications that attempt to change them in a manner that is verifiable and transparent to the user. The user is notified whenever a change to their user choice settings is made.
38 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for prioritizing user application preferences based on user input data, the method comprising:
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recognizing, at a computing device of a user, user input data relevant to a first application as a prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application, wherein the prioritized user choice setting determines at least one property of execution of at least one event of the first application; securing, at the computing device of the user, the user choice setting as a protected value using an access control indicator, wherein the access control indicator prohibits a second application from modifying the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application without authorization from the user; receiving, at the computing device of the user, a request from the second application to modify the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application; in response to receiving the request from the second application to modify the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application, generating an approval user interface on the computing device of the user, the approval user interface requesting authorization from the user to modify the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application to be consistent with the modification request received from the second application; receiving, at the computing device of the user, input from the user approving the modification of the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application to be consistent with the modification request received from the second application; modifying, at the computing device of the user, the access control indicator to permit modification of the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application to be consistent with the modification request received from the second application; modifying, at the computing device of the user, the prioritized user choice setting to a different value in accordance with the received user input; and restoring, at the computing device of the user, the access control indicator to prohibit further modification by the second application of the prioritized user choice setting associated with the first application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for storing user choice settings in a data repository to prevent undesired modifications to user choice settings, the system comprising:
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a registry for storing a user choice setting associated with a first application as a protected value in a registry key, wherein the user choice setting determines at least one property of execution of at least one event of the first application, and wherein the user choice setting comprises at least one of a user preference relating to a file association, an autoplay setting, contents of a start menu, a registered client, a protocol handler, a MIME type handler, a task association, an internet explorer home page, a reset Web page setting, and a sidebar setting; an access control list (ACL) to secure the registry key, wherein the ACL prevents the first application or another application from modifying the user choice setting associated with the first application; and an approval user interface to control modifications to the user choice setting, wherein the approval user interface is generated on a computing device of the user in response to receiving a request from the first application or another application to modify the user choice setting, and wherein the approval user interface, upon obtaining approval to modify the user choice setting, modifies the ACL to permit writing to change the protected value in the registry key to a modified user choice setting. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Computer-accessible storage devices having components for performing a method of safely modifying user application preferences for when and how an application is to operate on a computer of a user, the method comprising:
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recognizing user input data relevant to the application as a prioritized user choice setting, wherein the prioritized user choice setting determines at least one property of execution of at least one event of the application; securing the prioritized user choice setting as a protected value using an access control indicator, wherein the access control indicator prohibits the application from modifying the prioritized user choice setting; receiving a request from the application to modify the prioritized user choice setting; in response to the request from the application to modify the prioritized user choice setting, generating an approval user interface requesting authorization from the user to modify the prioritized user choice setting in accordance with the modification request received; receiving input from the user approving modification of the prioritized user choice setting associated with the application to be consistent with a value stated in the request received from the application; modifying the access control indicator to permit modification of the prioritized user choice setting associated with the application to match the value stated in the request received from the application; modifying the prioritized user choice setting to match the value stated in the request received from the application in accordance with the received user input; restoring the access control indicator to prohibit further modification of the prioritized user choice setting; and generating a change notification to the user once the prioritized user choice setting has been modified. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification