Patent US5761071A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5761071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Browser kiosk system
Assignee: LEXITECH Inc A DELAWARE Corp
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Filing: 1996-07-27
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Granted: 1998-06-02
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Expires: 2016-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A self-service kiosk system is provided which includes a monitor having a display screen, a microprocessor electrically coupled to the monitor for controlling the display screen, a browser software executable on the microprocessor for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input, the graphical user interface (GUI) of the browser software including controls for the browser software and a document viewing area, and at least one image positioned for display on the screen so as to mask the controls for the browser software, the image thus rendering the controls inaccessible to a user of the kiosk system to resist tampering with the browser software. The self-service kiosk system may also include a security control software which is programmed to disable system functions available to the user of the kiosk system to resist tampering with operation of the kiosk system.
Inventors
- 👤 Jason D. Bernstein
- 👤 Alexander D. Richardson
- 👤 Paul W. Blodgett
- 👤 Joseph P. McGuire
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/18; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/0014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A self-service computer, comprising: a monitor having a display screen; a microprocessor coupled to said monitor for controlling what is displayed on said screen; browser software executable on said microprocessor for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input, the graphical user interface (GUI) of said browser software comprising controls for said browser software and a document viewing area; and at least one image positioned for display on said screen so as to mask the controls for said browser software, said image thus rendering the controls inaccessible to a user of the self-service computer to resist tampering with said browser software.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A self-service computer, comprising: a monitor having a display screen; a microprocessor coupled to said monitor for controlling what is displayed on said screen; browser software executable on said microprocessor for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input, the graphical user interface (GUI) of said browser software comprising controls for said browser software and a document viewing area; and at least one image positioned for display on said screen so as to mask the controls for said browser software, said image thus rendering the controls inaccessible to a user of the self-service computer to resist tampering with said browser software.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The self-service computer of claim 1, wherein said image includes buttons selectable via said screen for initiating browser software commands.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The self-service computer of claim 1, wherein said GUI includes a status area, and further comprising a second image which covers said status area of said GUI of said browser software.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The self-service computer of claim 3, wherein said GUI includes a scroll bar, and further comprising a third image wherein said images cover all but the document viewing area of said GUI of said browser software.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The self-service computer of claim 1, wherein said browser software is developed by and available from third parties.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The self-service computer of claim 1, further comprising GUI control software executable on said microprocessor to generate said image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The self-service computer of claim 6, further comprising file transfer protocol (FTP) server software executable on said microprocessor for remotely updating said GUI control software and/or said browser software.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The self-service computer of claim 6, further comprising a first daemon running on said microprocessor which shuts down said GUI control software and/or said browser software when a SUSPEND file is copied to a specified directory on the self-service computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The self-service computer of claim 8, further comprising a second daemon running on said microprocessor which starts said GUI control software and/or said browser software when a RESTART file is copied to a specified directory on the self-service computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The self-service computer of claim 1, further comprising a security control software executable on said microprocessor, said security control software being programmed to limit documents accessible to said browser software by limiting uniform resource locators (URLs) accessible to said browser software.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The self-service computer of claim 10, wherein said security control software is further programmed to disable system functions available to the user of the self-service computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The self-service computer of claim 1, wherein the access of said browser software includes the world wide web (WWW).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The self-service computer of claim 1, further comprising an attract loop which appears on said display screen when there has been no user input for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
A self-service kiosk system, comprising: a monitor having a display screen; a microprocessor coupled to said monitor for controlling what is displayed on said screen; browser software module executable on said microprocessor for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input; and security control software module executable on said microprocessor, said security control software module being programmed to disable system functions available to a user of the kiosk system to resist tampering with the kiosk system during operation of the kiosk system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
A self-service kiosk system, comprising: a monitor having a display screen; a microprocessor coupled to said monitor for controlling what is displayed on said screen; browser software module executable on said microprocessor for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input; and security control software module executable on said microprocessor, said security control software module being programmed to disable system functions available to a user of the kiosk system to resist tampering with the kiosk system during operation of the kiosk system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The self-service kiosk system of claim 14, wherein said security control software module is further programmed to limit documents accessible to said browser software module by limiting uniform resource locators (URLs) accessible to said browser software module.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
106 words
A self-service computer, which comprises: a monitor having a display screen; a keyboard and a mouse; a microprocessor electrically coupled to said monitor for controlling what is displayed on said screen; software including browser application programming interface (API) calls executable on said microprocessor for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input, the graphical user interface (GUI) of said software displaying only the document viewing area; and security control software executable on said microprocessor, said security control software being programmed to disable system functions available to a user of the self-service computer to resist tampering with the self-service computer during operation of the self-service computer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
A self-service computer, which comprises: a monitor having a display screen; a keyboard and a mouse; a microprocessor electrically coupled to said monitor for controlling what is displayed on said screen; software including browser application programming interface (API) calls executable on said microprocessor for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input, the graphical user interface (GUI) of said software displaying only the document viewing area; and security control software executable on said microprocessor, said security control software being programmed to disable system functions available to a user of the self-service computer to resist tampering with the self-service computer during operation of the self-service computer.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for providing a self-service computer, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor with a display screen; providing browser software for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input, the graphical user interface (GUI) of said browser software comprising controls for said browser software and a document viewing area; and masking the controls for said browser software with at least one image so that the controls are inaccessible to a user of the self-service computer.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for providing a self-service computer, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor with a display screen; providing browser software for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input, the graphical user interface (GUI) of said browser software comprising controls for said browser software and a document viewing area; and masking the controls for said browser software with at least one image so that the controls are inaccessible to a user of the self-service computer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said image includes buttons selectable via said screen for initiating browser software commands.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of masking said GUI of said browser software so that only the document viewing area is not covered.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of limiting documents accessible to said browser software by limiting uniform resource locators (URLs) accessible to said browser software.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of updating said browser software remotely.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for providing a self-service kiosk system, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor with a display screen; providing browser software for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input; and disabling system functions available to a user of the kiosk system to resist tampering with the kiosk system during operation of the kiosk system.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for providing a self-service kiosk system, comprising the steps of: providing a monitor with a display screen; providing browser software for accessing and displaying documents in response to user input; and disabling system functions available to a user of the kiosk system to resist tampering with the kiosk system during operation of the kiosk system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-01 | 2001-12-01 | 2002-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-12-01 | 2006-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-01 | 2009-12-01 | 2010-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |