Support User Access Mode for Data Integrity in Computing Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Technical support users face challenges in replicating user-specific issues in software applications with varying access rights, leading to potential data integrity loss when attempting to assist users, as existing solutions either allow direct login or assume control, both of which can result in unintended data changes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enable a technical support user to log in with the same access rights as the system user, utilizing a support mode flag to simulate the application's functionality without saving changes, ensuring data integrity by preventing permanent updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If technical support users directly log in to the computer system as system users or assume control of the system user's computer system, then the support user can re-create the problem and access the application with the same rights, but data integrity may be lost due to unintended data changes
Solution Approach 1:
A support user mode is introduced as an intermediary between the system user and the application. This mode allows support users to access and interact with the application as if they were system users, enabling them to re-create and diagnose problems. However, the support user mode includes restrictions that prevent permanent data changes, thus maintaining data integrity while providing full diagnostic capabilities.
2Reliability
If technical support users are restricted from accessing the application with system user rights, then data integrity is maintained, but the support user cannot effectively re-create or diagnose user-specific problems
Solution Approach 1:
The support user mode implements local quality by applying different access permissions to different operations within the application. Read operations and diagnostic functions are fully enabled, allowing support users to re-create and analyze problems. Write operations and data modification functions are restricted or disabled, ensuring data integrity. This localized permission approach allows the support user to have full access where needed for diagnosis while maintaining protection where needed for data safety.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the invention relates to a system for providing a support function in maintaining a computing system. The system includes a computer-implemented interface configured to receive a support user identification and a system user identification. The system also includes a support user implementation engine configured to set a support mode based on the support user identification and to log the support user into the computing system based on the system user identification. The system also includes one or more applications implemented by the computing system configured to perform one or more functions on the computing system in accordance with the system user identification and the support user identification.