Virtual-Machine GUI Snapshot Capture for Clickwrap Evidence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing platforms fail to provide a reliable, scalable, and efficient way to capture and evidence the acceptance of clickwrap agreements on graphical user interfaces, particularly in dynamic environments where user-specific settings and interactions are involved.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for capturing and storing snapshot records of clickwrap agreements using virtual emulation of computing platforms, associating acceptance events with previously-generated snapshot records, and automating the capture of graphical user interfaces based on snapshot configurations, including metadata and image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing platforms attempt to capture and evidence clickwrap agreement acceptance, then evidentiary proof can be obtained, but the system lacks reliability, scalability, and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates virtual copies (virtual machines) of end-user computing platforms to emulate and capture GUI states. Instead of directly accessing actual user devices, the system generates snapshot records from virtual replicas, enabling reliable evidence collection without burdening real user devices while maintaining scalability through automated virtual instance management
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a virtual machine as an intermediary layer between the evidence collection system and end-user devices. This intermediary emulates the user platform, captures screenshot images and metadata, and associates them with acceptance events, thereby achieving reliable evidentiary proof without directly impacting actual user devices and improving overall system efficiency
2Measurement precision
If snapshot capture is performed on actual end-user devices, then accurate GUI state representation is obtained, but the burden on user devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than capturing snapshots directly from actual user devices, the system creates virtual machine copies that replicate the end-user computing platform. These virtual instances perform the screenshot capture and state representation, eliminating the burden on real user devices while maintaining accurate GUI state representation through faithful emulation
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine system performs self-service by autonomously emulating the end-user platform, executing navigation instructions, and capturing snapshot records without requiring active participation or resource allocation from actual user devices. The system serves itself by using virtual replicas to gather the evidentiary data needed
3Loss of information
If comprehensive snapshot records with metadata are stored, then complete evidentiary documentation is achieved, but storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores snapshot records from virtual machine copies rather than raw data from multiple actual devices. By emulating platforms in virtual environments, the system consolidates evidentiary information into standardized snapshot records with associated metadata, achieving complete documentation while reducing redundant storage requirements through virtualization
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine infrastructure provides multi-functional capability, serving both as the platform for capturing GUI snapshots and as the environment for storing and managing snapshot records. This universal system handles multiple functions (emulation, capture, metadata generation, and record management) within a single architecture, improving storage efficiency while maintaining information completeness
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for automating the recording of an evidentiary history (e.g., versions audit trail) of a graphical user interface with an embedded clickwrap agreement. The snapshot server captures and outputs snapshot records of a graphical user interface displaying the click-wrap agreement on an end user computing platform. The snapshot records are created using a virtual machine that emulates an end user computing platform for navigation of an application rendered on the platform. Aspects may also include generating a snapshot record of metadata associated with the captured snapshot image.