Controlling application access to applications and resources via graphical representation and manipulation

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• a computer-readable program code stored in the computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable program code containing instructions that are executed by a central processing unit (CPU) of a mobile device, which is a computer system, to implement a method of controlling an access, by a first application installed on a mobile device, of a second application installed on the mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:
• the mobile device assigning attributes to a graphical element included in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile device;
• the mobile device detecting a manipulation on the GUI of a first icon representing the first application so that the first icon is moved towards and subsequently placed into the graphical element included in the GUI;
• the mobile device detecting a manipulation on the GUI of a second icon representing a second application so that the second icon is moved towards and subsequently placed into the graphical element;
• based on the first and second icons representing the first and second applications, respectively, having been placed into the graphical element, the mobile device obtaining one of the assigned attributes, which specifies an interaction between the first and second applications, the interaction specifying information that is permitted to be exchanged between the first and second applications based on the first and second icons having been both placed in the graphical element;
• the mobile device determining whether access control settings of the first application are automatically configurable;
• if the access control settings of the first application are automatically configurable, the mobile device automatically configuring the access control settings based on the obtained attribute specifying the interaction between the first and second applications or if the access control settings of the first application are not automatically configurable, the mobile device applying the obtained attribute to the first application by utilizing resource controls of an operating system of the mobile device;
• and
• based on the mobile device automatically configuring the access control settings or the mobile device applying the obtained attribute to the first application by utilizing the resource controls of the operating system, the mobile device controlling the access of the second application by the first application.

A mobile device which is a computer system comprising:

• a central processing unit (CPU);
• a memory coupled to the CPU;
• and
• a computer readable storage device coupled to the CPU, the storage device containing instructions that are executed by the CPU via the memory to implement a method of controlling an access, by a first application installed on the mobile device, of a second application installed on the mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:
• the mobile device assigning attributes to a graphical element included in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile device;
• the mobile device detecting a manipulation on the GUI of a first icon representing the first application so that the first icon is moved towards and subsequently placed into the graphical element included in the GUI;
• the mobile device detecting a manipulation on the GUI of a second icon representing a second application so that the second icon is moved towards and subsequently placed into the graphical element;
• based on the first and second icons representing the first and second applications, respectively, having been placed into the graphical element, the mobile device obtaining one of the assigned attributes, which specifies an interaction between the first and second applications, the interaction specifying information that is permitted to be exchanged between the first and second applications based on the first and second icons having been both placed in the graphical element;
• the mobile device determining whether access control settings of the first application are automatically configurable;
• if the access control settings of the first application are automatically configurable, the mobile device automatically configuring the access control settings based on the obtained attribute specifying the interaction between the first and second applications or if the access control settings of the first application are not automatically configurable, the mobile device applying the obtained attribute to the first application by utilizing resource controls of an operating system of the mobile device;
• and
• based on the mobile device automatically configuring the access control settings or the mobile device applying the obtained attribute to the first application by utilizing the resource controls of the operating system, the mobile device controlling the access of the second application by the first application.