Define Return Value at Runtime

Number: 20210192026
Published: 2021-06-24
Filed: 2019-12-18
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: LEFLER; Nathan, Corrigan-Colville; James A.
CPC: G06F21/44; G06F21/32; G06F21/121; G06F21/1066
Verdict: Set aside software security, generic engineering
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

Abstract

The exemplary embodiments are related to a device, a system, and a method for implementing a mechanism that is configured to prevent the unauthorized execution of software. A user device is configured to execute a feature access function corresponding to an application feature included in an application. The feature access function is configured to receive one of a plurality of values each time the application is launched. During operation, the feature access function receives a value and determines whether a condition is satisfied. When the condition is satisfied, the value is returned which indicates that execution of the application feature is permitted.

Background

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

An application may be configured with any of a variety of different application features. The application may restrict access to a particular application feature based on whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. For example, access to multimedia data (e.g., video, audio, text, etc.) may be based on whether login credentials are associated with an active subscription.

Under conventional circumstances, the developer may implement a Boolean function to restrict access to the application feature. The Boolean function may be configured to evaluate any of a plurality of factors to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. If the Boolean function determines that access to the application feature is permitted (e.g., the predetermined condition is satisfied), the function may return a known value which represents true. Subsequently, the application may execute the machine code of the corresponding application feature. Alternatively, if the Boolean function determines that access to the feature is not permitted (e.g., the predetermined condition is not satisfied), the function may return a known value which represents false and the machine code of the corresponding application feature is not to be executed.

To provide a general example of when this type of conventional Boolean function may be executed, consider the following exemplary scenario. The user device is powered on, an operating system has been booted, the appl

Claims

1. A user device, comprising: a memory arrangement; and a processor configured to execute a feature access function corresponding to an application feature included in an application, wherein the feature access function performs operations comprising: receiving a first value, wherein the feature access function is configured to receive one of a plurality of values each time the application is launched; determining that feature access a condition is satisfied; when the feature access condition is satisfied, returning the first value, wherein returning the first value indicates that execution of the application feature is permitted. || 6. A user device, comprising: a memory arrangement; and a processor configured to execute an application, wherein the application includes an application feature and a feature access function, the application configured to perform a feature access operation comprising: selecting, during runtime, a first value for the feature access function to return when the feature access function determines that access to the feature is permitted; determining, by the feature access function, that access to the application feature is permitted; returning, by the feature access function, the first value; and enabling the application feature based on the feature access function returning the first value. || 13. A method to prevent circumvention of a feature access condition, comprising: at an application running on a user device, wherein the application includes an application feature: selecting, during runtime, a first value for a feature access function to return when access to the application feature is permitted; determining, by the feature access function, that access to the application feature is permitted; returning, by the feature access function, the first value; and enabling the application feature based on the feature access function returning the first value.