Microsoft technology licensing, llc (20240126846). IDENTIFYING AND CONSENTING TO PERMISSIONS FOR WORKFLOW AND CODE EXECUTION simplified abstract

IDENTIFYING AND CONSENTING TO PERMISSIONS FOR WORKFLOW AND CODE EXECUTION

Organization Name

microsoft technology licensing, llc

Inventor(s)

Sunay Vaishnav of Seattle WA (US)

Merwan Vishnu Hade of Seattle WA (US)

Stephen Christopher Siciliano of Bellevue WA (US)

David Nissimoff of Bellevue WA (US)

FNU Anubhav of Redmond WA (US)

IDENTIFYING AND CONSENTING TO PERMISSIONS FOR WORKFLOW AND CODE EXECUTION - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240126846 titled 'IDENTIFYING AND CONSENTING TO PERMISSIONS FOR WORKFLOW AND CODE EXECUTION

Simplified Explanation

The present invention involves methods, systems, and computer program products for identifying and consenting to permissions for workflow and code execution. The innovation allows for automatic scanning of a workflow or code definition to identify the actions/triggers intended to be performed on behalf of a user. Users are shown these actions/triggers before granting consent, providing awareness of the workflow or program's intended actions. By aligning permission requests with actual functionality, the innovation enhances user understanding and control.

• Automatic scanning of workflows or code definitions to identify intended actions/triggers
• User consent required before actions/triggers are executed
• Enhanced user awareness of workflow or program functionality
• Alignment of permission requests with actual actions performed during execution

Potential Applications

This technology can be applied in various industries where workflows and code execution require user consent and understanding, such as:

• Software development
• Data processing
• Workflow automation

Problems Solved

The technology addresses the following issues:

• Lack of transparency in workflow and program actions
• Inadequate user consent processes
• Misalignment between permission requests and actual functionality

Benefits

The innovation offers the following benefits:

• Improved user control over workflow and program actions
• Enhanced user understanding of intended actions
• Increased transparency in code execution

Potential Commercial Applications

This technology can be utilized in commercial settings for:

• Secure data processing
• Compliance with privacy regulations
• Enhanced user experience in software applications

Possible Prior Art

One potential prior art in this field is the use of permission prompts in software applications, where users are asked to grant access to certain functionalities. However, the present invention goes beyond simple prompts by automatically identifying actions/triggers and providing detailed information to users before consent is granted.

How does the technology handle complex workflows with multiple actions/triggers?

The article does not delve into the specifics of how the technology manages complex workflows with numerous actions/triggers. Further information on scalability and performance in such scenarios would be beneficial.

What measures are in place to ensure user privacy and data security during the consent process?

The article does not discuss the security protocols or encryption methods used to protect user data during the consent process. Understanding the safeguards in place would be essential for evaluating the technology's reliability.

Original Abstract Submitted

the present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for identifying and consenting to permissions for workflow and code execution. aspects of the invention can be used to automatically scan a workflow or code definition to identify (potentially all) the actions/triggers a workflow or program intends to perform on behalf of a user. the user is shown the actions/triggers the workflow or program intends to perform (e.g., at a user interface) before consent to perform the actions/triggers is granted. as such, a user is aware of intended actions/triggers of a workflow or program before granting consent. further, since actions/triggers are identified from the workflow or code definition (and not formulated by an author), permission requests better align with permissions that workflow or program functionality actually uses during execution.