Centralized Authentication Page Update System for Retail Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Retail establishments face challenges in efficiently updating authentication pages across multiple network access devices, leading to outdated information being displayed to patrons, which results in a less than perfect user experience and increased costs due to the need for skilled employee intervention.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a wide area network and an update device coupled to it, which automatically provides authentication pages to multiple local area networks, allowing for centralized management and sharing of authentication mark-up data, enabling automatic updates across all connected gateway devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual replacement of authentication pages is performed at each retail location, then the authentication page can be updated with new marketing information, but the process becomes expensive and cumbersome requiring skilled employee time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of updating authentication pageVSAvoidcomplexity of update process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a centralized authentication page generation system that acts as an intermediary between the content provider and multiple gateway devices. This system generates authentication pages centrally and distributes them to multiple gateway devices, eliminating the need for manual intervention at each location while reducing the complexity of the update process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates copies of the authentication page at multiple gateway devices through centralized generation. Instead of manually replacing pages at each location, the system generates a master authentication page and distributes copies to all gateway devices, significantly reducing the effort required while maintaining consistency across all locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual replacement of authentication pages is performed at each retail location, then new marketing information can be implemented, but network service disruption and reconfiguration are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to update marketing informationVSAvoidproductivity of update process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized authentication page generation system serves as an intermediary that handles updates uniformly across all gateway devices. This allows marketing information to be updated adaptably while avoiding the need for individual reconfiguration at each location, thereby maintaining network service continuity and improving update productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary generation of authentication pages centrally before distribution to gateway devices. This preliminary action allows new marketing information to be prepared and validated in advance, then deployed to multiple locations simultaneously without requiring on-site reconfiguration or service disruption at each retail location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If authentication pages are manually updated at each location, then local customization is possible, but the risk of outdated information increases when updates are forgotten

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of maintaining up-to-date informationVSAvoidreliability of information currency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized authentication page generation system acts as a reliable intermediary that ensures all gateway devices receive updated authentication pages simultaneously. This eliminates the risk of outdated information at any location, as the system centrally manages and distributes updates, ensuring information currency across the entire network without requiring local intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple authentication pages are stored in gateway devices, then local access is enabled, but the complexity of managing updates across multiple devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversatility of network accessVSAvoidcomplexity of centralized management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized authentication page generation system serves as an intermediary that manages the complexity of updating multiple gateway devices. Instead of each gateway device independently managing its own authentication page, the system centrally generates and distributes updates, reducing the complexity of management while maintaining versatility across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8074259B1Authentication mark-up data of multiple local area networks

Publication Date: 2011.12.06 QUEST SOFTWARE INC

AI summary

An authentication mark-up data of multiple local area networks is disclosed. In one embodiment of a system, the system includes a wide area network, an update device coupled to the wide area network, and any number of gateway devices coupled to the wide area network. Each of the gateway devices is associated with a separate local area network. Each of the plurality of gateway devices automatically provide an authentication page stored in the update device based upon a data provided to the update device. In addition, the authentication page is the same for at least some of the plurality of gateway devices, according to the one embodiment.