Dropbox’s patent involves a method where a computing system identifies, downloads, and monitors third-party dependencies for codebases within a secure runtime environment. The system generates signature values, compares them to approved dependencies, and executes them if no suspicious activity is detected, enhancing security measures. GlobalData’s report on Dropbox gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Dropbox, File server virtualization was a key innovation area identified from patents. Dropbox's grant share as of March 2024 was 76%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Securely adding third-party dependencies to codebase and monitoring activity
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11966462B2) outlines a method for securely incorporating third-party dependencies into a codebase. The method involves identifying the third-party dependency, downloading it within a secure runtime environment, generating a signature value, and comparing it to a database of approved dependencies. If the dependency passes security checks, it is executed within the secure environment. The behavior of the dependency is monitored to ensure it does not violate any security rules. Once approved, the dependency is incorporated into a service on a runtime server, with its behavior continuously monitored.
Furthermore, the patent details the use of machine learning models to analyze the behavior of the third-party dependencies, allowing developers to pull approved dependencies from a database, and utilizing secure runtime environments to monitor and compare metadata to ensure the security of the codebase. The method also extends to virtualization elements, where virtualization images are hashed, compared to approved images, and monitored for suspicious activity before being provisioned for use. The patent emphasizes a comprehensive approach to securely integrating third-party dependencies and virtualization elements into codebases, ensuring the integrity and security of the overall system.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
