Graphical Overlay for Kiosk Print System Access Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Public kiosks face challenges in providing controlled access to internet services while preventing users from modifying browser settings or accessing unauthorized content, which can lead to system failures and increased customer turnaround times.
Innovation Solution
A print system that includes a processor with programming instructions to launch a graphical overlay over user interaction fields in a web application, preventing users from accessing settings or unrelated actions, while allowing document printing and scanning services through a kiosk device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If full web browser access is provided to users, then users can access cloud storage services and download documents, but users can modify browser settings and access unauthorized content causing system failures
Solution Approach 1:
The web browser interface is segmented into multiple layers: the underlying browser engine remains hidden and protected, while a graphical overlay layer provides the user interface. This overlay is divided into specific interactive regions that correspond to permitted actions (printing, scanning, cloud storage access), while other regions are blocked to prevent unauthorized modifications to browser settings or navigation to unauthorized content.
Solution Approach 2:
A graphical overlay application serves as an intermediary between the user and the web browser. This overlay intercepts and manages all user inputs, routing them only to permitted regions and functions. It acts as a mediator that allows necessary web access for document management while blocking access to unauthorized content and settings modification capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If web browser control is provided to users, then users can navigate and interact with web applications, but control regions permit modification of browser settings undermining kiosk uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical overlay implements local quality by making different regions of the interface have different properties: some regions are interactive and responsive to user input (such as print buttons and cloud service access areas), while other regions are non-interactive and blocked (such as browser menu areas and navigation controls). This selective interactivity maintains ease of operation for permitted functions while preventing modifications that would compromise system uniformity.
3Reliability
If web wraps are used to limit displayed pages, then preset web pages can be displayed, but access to outside Internet pages for document authentication and download is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical overlay dynamically adapts its blocking behavior based on the context and requirements of the web application being accessed. Rather than using static web wraps that completely block external access, the overlay remains transparent to permitted actions (such as authentication requests and document downloads from authorized cloud services) while blocking unauthorized navigation and content access, providing both control and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A print system includes a print device and a processor comprising programming instructions. The processor is configured to launch a first application that causes a display device to output a user interface via which a user may select a document to print via the print device. The user interface includes user interaction fields that, when actuated, will initiate actions that are unrelated to operation of the print device. The processor is further configured to launch a second application that causes the display device to generate and output a graphical overlay that is at least in part displayed over one or more of the user interaction fields to prevent the user from actuating the user interaction fields while presenting a user interaction field that permits the user to cause the print device to print a document.