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Last active August 29, 2015 14:10
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Cross-app messaging
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gistfile1.md

Cross-app messaging allows communication between a browser window (Requester) and a native application (Provider). For example, a web page may wish to read bluetooth data from the users smartphone.

Pre-setup

  • A native data provider app is installed on the phone, and registered to a unique protocol handler. For example, "bthack:---".

Connection init

  • Requester generates a secure random key (or loads the existing key cookie).
  • Requester sends a one-way "access requested" message to Provider via the protocol handler
    • Requester waits a few seconds for Provider to boot up
  • Requester & provider establish a WebSockets connection
  • Provider re-affirms its identify key via WebSockets
    • If Requester key is inappropriate, Provider sends Requester some entropy, asks Requester to try again, and drops the connection.
  • Provider asks user for access permissions
    • Connection is dropped if not accepted by user

Connected

  • Provider keeps running in background until sockets connection is terminated
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