# US 2014/0157437 A1 · Creating Distinct User Spaces Through User Identifiers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0157437 A1 - Document ID: US20140157437A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/172,634 - Filed: 2014-02-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-25 - Assignees: OpenPeak Inc. - Applicants: OpenPeak Inc. - Inventors: Philip Schentrup; Michael Kelly; Eoin Hyden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140157437A1 ## CPC - G06F 21/6218: {to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database} - G06F 21/31: User authentication - G06F 21/602: {Providing cryptographic facilities or services} - G06F 21/62: Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules - H04L 63/104: {Grouping of entities} - H04W 12/08: Access security - G06F 2221/2117: User registration - G06F 2221/2141: Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices - G06F 2221/2149: Restricted operating environment - H04W 12/06: Authentication - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method of, and a processing system for, creating distinct user spaces. In a platform originally intended to be a single user platform, for each of a plurality of users, a first application used by the user can be assigned a user identifier (UID) unique to the user and the first application. The first UID can be associated with user data exclusively associated with the user and the first application to create a multi-user platform. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of creating distinct user spaces, comprising: in a platform originally intended to be a single user platform, for each of a plurality of users: via a processor, assigning to a first application used by the user a user identifier (UID) unique to the user and the first application; associating the first UID with user data exclusively associated with the user and the first application to create a multi-user platform; and allocating to the user a range of UIDs, wherein the first UID is selected from the range of UIDs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: assigning to a second application used by the user a second UID unique to the user and the second application; and associating the second UID with user data exclusively associated with the user and the second application. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: assigning to applications used by the user the UIDs from the range of UIDs in a serially incrementing manner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: when at least one of the applications used by the user is removed from the single user platform, returning a corresponding UID to a pool of available UIDs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: allocating for shared usage among the plurality of users a range of UIDs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: allocating for system or administrative use a range of UIDs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving from a process a request to access the user data, the request indicating the first UID exclusively unique to the user and the first application; and allowing the process to access the user data corresponding to the user and the first application. ### Claim 8 A processing system, comprising: a processor configured to, in a platform originally intended to be a single user platform, for each of a plurality of users: assign to a first application used by the user a first user identifier (UID) unique to the user and the first application; associate the first UID with user data exclusively associated with the user and the first application to create a multi-user platform; and allocate to the user a range of UIDs, wherein the first UID is selected from the range of UIDs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor further is configured to: assign to a second application used by the user a second UID unique to the user and the second application; and associate the second UID with user data exclusively associated with the user and the second application. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The processing system of claim 8, wherein the processor further is configured to: allocate for shared usage among the plurality of users a range of UIDs. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The processing system of claim 9, wherein the processor further is configured to: receive from a process a request to access the user data, the request indicating the first UID exclusively unique to the user and the first application; and allow the process to access the user data corresponding to the user and the first application. ### Claim 12 A method of creating distinct user spaces, comprising: in a platform originally intended to be a single user platform in which applications are assigned unique user identifiers (UID), via a processor, assigning a first unique UID to a first user and a first application to be used by a first user; and via the processor, assigning a second unique UID to a second user and a second application to be used by a second user, wherein the assignment of the first and second UIDs isolates user data associated with the first application and the first user from user data associated with the second application and the second user and results in a multi-user platform. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising: assigning a first range of unique UIDs to the first user, wherein the first unique UID assigned to the first user and the first application is from the first range of unique UIDs; and assigning a second range of unique UIDs to the second user, wherein the second unique UID assigned to the second user and the second application is from the second range of unique UIDs. ### Claim 14 The method according to 13, further comprising: assigning a common range of unique UIDs to the first user and the second user; assigning a unique UID from the common range to an application to be used by the first user and the second user to enable the first user and second user to share resources. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein assigning the first unique UID to the first user and the first application and assigning the second unique UID to the second user and the second application is performed in a serially incrementing manner. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the second unique UID has a higher integer value in comparison to the first unique UID. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising saving the first unique UID and the second unique UID to storage such that information on the UID subsets for the first user and the second user is available. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein assigning the first range of unique UIDs and assigning the second range of unique UIDs is done in an equal-weighted fashion such that an equivalent number of UIDs are assigned to the first range and the second range or is done in a non-equal-weighted fashion such that one range of the first range and the second range has a greater number of UIDs in comparison to the other. ### Claim 19 A processing system, comprising: one or more data storage elements; and a processor configured to cause data to be stored to the data storage element, wherein the processing system was originally intended to be a single user platform in which applications are assigned unique user identifiers (UID); wherein the processor is configured to: assign a first unique UID to a first user and a first application to be used by a first user; assign a second unique UID to a second user and a second application to be used by a second user, wherein the assignment of the first and second UIDs by the processor isolates user data associated with the first application and the first user from user data associated with the second application and the second user and results in a multi-user platform. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The processing system according to claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to select the first unique UID from a first range of UIDs and the second unique UID from a second range of UIDs. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The processing system according to claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to assign the first unique UID and the second unique UID in a serially incremental manner, wherein the first unique UID and the second unique UID are selected from a range of shared UIDs. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The processing system according to claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to return a UID that corresponds to an application that has been removed from the system to a pool of UIDs available for assignment.