Method of limiting access to network sites for a network kiosk

A method of limiting access to network sites for a network kiosk which controls public operation of the kiosk. The method includes the steps of receiving a request to display the web page by the kiosk, determining an address of the web page, determining a current time, determining an unacceptable period of access to the web page, and preventing access to the web page if current time falls within the unacceptable period.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to self-service kiosks and more specifically to a method of limiting access to network sites for a network kiosk.

Retailers have a desire to sell their products over networks, such as global networks which are a part of the World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) and which use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP protocol). These retailers wish to provide Internet server web sites which offer the same features as Internet server web sites available to home shoppers who use their computers to connect to the Internet server web sites.

Kiosks provide a publicly-accessible computing platform for displaying web pages from retailer web sites. Kiosks may be located within a retailer's transaction establishment or elsewhere, such as in shopping malls. Kiosks may be easily networked to retailer web sites using the TCP/IP protocol. Web pages from web sites may be displayed using known and available web software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer software.

One problem with allowing the general public to use a network kiosk is that an operator may choose not to visit web sites of the kiosk owner, thereby making the network kiosk less effective in promoting goods and services offered by the kiosk owner. However, if the kiosk owner were to prohibit any use of the network kiosk to access non-owner sites, use of the network kiosk would be less attractive to the general public and public use would fall off. Also, current methods of limiting access or “filtering” web site addresses used by web browser applications are not flexible enough to accommodate scheduled changes in access.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method of limiting access to network sites for a network kiosk which makes the network kiosk attractive to both kiosk owners and to operators from the general public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method of limiting access to network sites for a network kiosk is provided.

The method includes the steps of receiving a request to display the web page by the kiosk, determining an address of the web page, determining a current time, determining an unacceptable period of access to the web page, and preventing access to the web page if current time falls within the unacceptable period.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a method of limiting access to network sites for a network kiosk.

It is another object of the present invention to limit access by establishing time of day and date limits in certain restricted web sites.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now toFIG. 1, transaction system10includes kiosk12and server14. Kiosk12is preferably located within a transaction establishment, such as a retail store, or transaction environment, such as a shopping mall. Kiosk12may include an NCR 7401 computer.

Kiosk12primarily includes processor16, touch screen18, memory20, and storage medium22. Kiosk12may additionally include a number of peripherals, including magnetic strip reader (MSR)24, printer26, and scanner28.

To assist with execution of certain tasks performed by kiosk12, kiosk12includes a built-in time keeping device, commonly referred to as a system clock, which is synchronized with current time, in order to automatically execute the tasks at their scheduled times.

Web browser software32allows an operator to access information and purchase products from retailers through network14, which preferably includes World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) servers. Web browser software32may include commercially-available web browser software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software. Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software is configured into a kiosk operation using a “-k” command line option. This option hides toolbars and menubars to prevent operator access to those functions.

Web browser software32retrieves and displays web pages44from network14, which includes a plurality of interconnected servers. Web pages44include web pages which display information about products and services offered by the kiosk owner as well as other web pages. Web pages44assist operators to find information about products sold by the kiosk owner and to complete purchases of such products. For this purpose, web pages34may include a start or “home” page which operates as a default page from which operation begins and to which operation returns when an operator is finished using kiosk12. Web pages44may be written using hypertext markup language (HTML) or other suitable web page language.

Web wrapper software36provides security functions. During operation, web wrapper software36prevents an operator from accessing kiosk files, other applications, the operating system software, or basic input-output system (BIOS) firmware, and prevents the operator from causing kiosk12to reboot.

Under the present invention, web wrapper software36additionally limits access to network sites in a way which makes use of kiosk12attractive to both kiosk owners and to operators from the general public. To accomplish this objective, web wrapper software36constrains access to kiosk owner sites during certain dates and times.

The access limitations may be simple or complicated, depending upon the business objectives of the kiosk owner. For example, a kiosk owner who sells appliances may wish to limit access to certain web sites during the kiosk owner's normal business hours The kiosk owner may choose to not apply access limitations after normal business hours. Only the kiosk owners web site may be accessible. Alternatively, the kiosk owner may wish to additionally allow access to appliance manufacturer web sites. As yet another alternative, the kiosk owner may additionally wish to allow access to web sites which promote use of appliances. For example, if the kiosk owner sells ovens, the kiosk owner may wish to provide access to web sites which promote cooking in ovens by providing recipes. As yet another example, a kiosk owner may wish to provide web-based training to store employees, but only during non-business hours or non-peak hours.

Advantageously, kiosk12becomes a leveraged asset which is capable of performing many functions through access limitations. Access information by address, time, and date may be coded into web wrapper software36or listed in access configuration file38to allow a kiosk owner to control operation.

Touch screen18includes display40and input device42. Display40and input device42may also be separate units. Input device42may record personal information from an operator.

Memory20is used by processor16to store executed program information, including web wrapper software information.

Storage medium22stores software including web wrapper software36.

MSR24reads loyalty, credit, debit, SMART, and/or other types of cards carried by an operator. MSR24may record personal information from an operator.

Printer26prints information from web wrapper software32, including information on web pages44from server14. For example, printer26may print information relevant to a transaction completed by an operator using kiosk12.

Scanner28reads bar codes on products to obtain product identification numbers. Kiosk12queries a transaction server with the identification numbers to obtain information about the product and displays the information.

Entry PAGE identifies a particular web address or Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for a web page to which the kiosk owner wishes to provide public access. Addresses not listed in access configuration file are not accessible. Web browser software32will display a standard error message if an operator attempts to access such addresses.

Entry CONTENT describes the content of the web page at the address of the corresponding page entry. Content information allows a kiosk owner to manage page entries.

Entry DATE identifies dates on which the web page is accessible.

Entry TIME identifies times of day at which the web page is accessible.

Web wrapper software36compares each address entered into web browser software32and with entries PAGE in access configuration file38to determine whether the address is listed. If the address is listed, web wrapper software36compares current time and date information to time and date information in the corresponding record in access configuration file38.

Turning now toFIG. 3, the method of the present invention is illustrated beginning with START60.

In step62, web wrapper software36waits for a web page access attempt. An access attempt may be initiated by typing an address in one of web pages44provided by the kiosk owner for that purpose, for example, the start page, or by selecting a hypertext link in a displayed web page44. Entry of an address into the address field of web browser software32may not be possible since web browser software32is not displaying its address field or other controls in the kiosk mode of operation.

In step64, web wrapper software36obtains the requested address from web browser software32.

In step66, web wrapper software36compares the address to the addresses under entries PAGE in access configuration file38. If the address of the web page is in one of the records in access configuration file38, operation proceeds to step68, otherwise access is denied and operation returns to step62to wait for another page to be displayed. Web wrapper software36preferably provides an indication to the operator that access has failed and may additionally redisplay the previously displayed web page.

In step68, web wrapper software36reads entry DATE in the corresponding record.

In step70, web wrapper software36compares the current date reported by the system clock to the date information under entries DATE in the record in access configuration file38. If the date information includes the current date, operation proceeds to step72, otherwise access is denied and operation returns to step62to wait for another page to be displayed. Web wrapper software36preferably provides an indication to the operator that the access attempt has failed and may additionally redisplay the previously displayed web page.

In step72, web wrapper software36reads entry TIME in the corresponding record.

In step74, web wrapper software36compares the current time reported by the system clock to the time information under entries TIME in the record in access configuration file38. If the time information includes the current time, operation proceeds to step76, otherwise access is denied and operation returns to step62to wait for another page to be displayed. Web wrapper software36preferably provides an indication to the operator that access has failed and may additionally redisplay the previously displayed web page.

In step76, web wrapper software36causes web browser software32to retrieve and display the web page associated with the recorded address. Operation returns to step62to await another access attempt.

Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.