Patents by Inventor Nick Lane-Smith

Nick Lane-Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8635663
    Abstract: This document describes systems and methods for restricting program process capabilities. In some implementations, the capabilities are restricted by limiting the rights or privileges granted to an application. A plurality of rules may be established for a program, or for a group of programs, denying that program the right to take actions which are outside of the actions needed to implement its intended functionality. A security policy is implemented to test actions initiated in response to an application against the rules to enable decisions restricting the possible actions of the program. Embodiments are disclosed which process the majority of decisions regarding actions against a security profile through use of a virtual machine. In some embodiments, the majority of decisions are resolved within the kernel space of an operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Cooper, Nick Lane-Smith, Joshua Osborne
  • Publication number: 20130055341
    Abstract: This document describes systems and methods for restricting program process capabilities. In some implementations, the capabilities are restricted by limiting the rights or privileges granted to an application. A plurality of rules may be established for a program, or for a group of programs, denying that program the right to take actions which are outside of the actions needed to implement its intended functionality. A security policy is implemented to test actions initiated in response to an application against the rules to enable decisions restricting the possible actions of the program. Embodiments are disclosed which process the majority of decisions regarding actions against a security profile through use of a virtual machine. In some embodiments, the majority of decisions are resolved within the kernel space of an operating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Cooper, Nick Lane-Smith, Joshua Osborne
  • Patent number: 8272048
    Abstract: This document describes systems and methods for restricting program process capabilities. In some implementations, the capabilities are restricted by limiting the rights or privileges granted to an application. A plurality of rules may be established for a program, or for a group of programs, denying that program the right to take actions which are outside of the actions needed to implement its intended functionality. A security policy is implemented to test actions initiated in response to an application against the rules to enable decisions restricting the possible actions of the program. Embodiments are disclosed which process the majority of decisions regarding actions against a security profile through use of a virtual machine. In some embodiments, the majority of decisions are resolved within the kernel space of an operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Cooper, Nick Lane-Smith, Joshua Osborne
  • Publication number: 20080127292
    Abstract: This document describes systems and methods for restricting program process capabilities. In some implementations, the capabilities are restricted by limiting the rights or privileges granted to an application. A plurality of rules may be established for a program, or for a group of programs, denying that program the right to take actions which are outside of the actions needed to implement its intended functionality. A security policy is implemented to test actions initiated in response to an application against the rules to enable decisions restricting the possible actions of the program. Embodiments are disclosed which process the majority of decisions regarding actions against a security profile through use of a virtual machine. In some embodiments, the majority of decisions are resolved within the kernel space of an operating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Simon Cooper, Nick Lane-Smith, Joshua Osborne