Method for using a multi-function computer for testing

• US 8,789,197 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wolfram Alpha LLC (Wolfram Research Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wolfram Alpha LLC (Wolfram Research Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wolfram, Stephen, Beynon, Taliesin Sebastian, Lockhart, Robert Kerr
• Primary Examiner(s): Armouche, Hadi
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLMES, ANGELA R
• Application Number:
  US12/884,720
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 713/171, 713/100, 713/168, 726/34, 726/6, 726/26, 380/279, 380/44, 708/130, 708/160, 382/145, 382/232
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/544 for evaluating functions by calculation G06F7/4824 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09C 5/00 Ciphering apparatus or methods not provided for in the preceding groups, e.g. involving the concealment or deformation of graphic data such as designs, written or printed messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3236 using cryptographic hash functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

A system and method facilitate the use of a multi-function computer for an examination. An application implementing the method receives a hash input from a user and, upon successful completion of the examination, displays a hash output. The hash output may be displayed as a visual hash. During the examination, the application or system monitors the multi-function computer to determine whether the user has activated, viewed, or launched any prohibited functions or applications on the multi-function computer. If the user views a prohibited function or application, the examination application does not display the hash output. The system and application implement various security measures to prevent spoofing or duplication of the hash output or tampering with the application.

Claims

1. A method executed on a first computer device running an operating system and including a processor, a memory device communicatively coupled to the processor, and a display, the method comprising:

executing a testing routine on the processor, the testing routine configured to securely allow the use of one or more of a plurality of applications or functions of the first computer device during an academic examination;

receiving a hash input;

entering a test mode;

receiving an input indicating completion;

evaluating whether unauthorized use of the first computer device occurred while the first computer device was in the test mode;

computing a hash output;

displaying the hash output or a visual representation of the hash output when it is determined that no unauthorized use of an application or function on the first computer device occurred while the first computer device was in the test mode; and

displaying an indication of unauthorized use when it is determined that unauthorized use of an application or function on the first computer device occurred while the first computer device was in the test mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a hash input comprises employing an imaging device in the computer device to capture an image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a hash input comprises receiving an input entered via a keyboard or a touch screen of the computer device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a hash input comprises receiving a hash input via the wireless network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating whether unauthorized use of an application or function on the first computer device occurred while the first computer device was in the test mode comprises monitoring for a signal sent to the testing routine from the operating system of the first computer device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the hash output comprises an image displayed on the display of the first computer device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one of a clock indicating a current time or a timer indicating an elapsed time from the start of the examination.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication connection with a second computer device; and

transmitting a periodic heartbeat signal indicating to the second computer device that the testing routine is still executing on the first computer device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location of the first computer device; and

selectively enabling the test mode based on the determined location.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication connection with a second computer device;

determining a location of the first computer device; and

transmitting to the second computer device an indication of the determined location.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication connection with a second computer device; and

transmitting a verification copy of the computed hash output to the second computer device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication connection with a second computer device; and

using the hash output to authenticate a communication signal between the first computer device and the second computer device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the hash input includes information specific to the first computer device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving configuration information pertaining to the test mode.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication of a hash function to execute.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing the testing routine comprises executing the testing routine as a sub-routine of a calculator application.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein computing a hash output comprises computing a hash output when it is determined that no unauthorized use of an application or function on the first computer device occurred while the first computer device was in the test mode.

18. The method of claim 5, wherein the signal sent to the testing routine from the operating system of the first computer device is a signal indicating that the testing routine is being moved from a foreground.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein the hash output affects the displayed clock or timer.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the received configuration information is encoded in the hash input.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, executable by a processor, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving a hash input;

instructions for entering a test mode, the test mode configured to securely allow the use of one or more of a plurality of applications or functions of the first computer device during an academic examination;

instructions for receiving an input indicating completion;

instructions for evaluating whether unauthorized use of the first computer device occurred while the first computer device was in the test mode;

instructions for generating a hash output;

instructions for displaying the hash output or a visual representation of the hash output when it is determined that no unauthorized use of an application or function on the first computer device occurred while the first computer device was in the test mode; and

instructions for displaying an indication of unauthorized application execution when it is determined that unauthorized use of an application or function on the first computer device occurred while the first computer device was in the test mode.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein instructions for receiving a hash input comprise instructions for activating an image capture device in the first computer device and for capturing an image.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein instructions for receiving a hash input comprise instructions for receiving an input entered via a keyboard or a touch screen of the first computer device.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein instructions for receiving a hash input comprise instructions for receiving a hash input via the wireless network.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein instructions for evaluating whether unauthorized use of an application or function on the first computer device occurred while the first computer device was in the test mode comprise instructions for monitoring for a signal sent from the operating system of the first computer device.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions for generating a hash output comprise instructions for generating an image corresponding to the hash output.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions for displaying at least one of a clock indicating a current time or a timer indicating an elapsed time from the start of the examination.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising:

instructions for establishing a communication connection with a second computer device; and

instructions for transmitting a periodic heartbeat signal indicating to the second computer device that the instructions are still executing on the first computer device.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising:

instructions for determining a location of the first computer device; and

instructions for selectively enabling the test mode based on the determined location.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising:

instructions for establishing a communication connection with a second computer device;

instructions for determining a location of the first computer device; and

instructions for transmitting to the second computer device an indication of the determined location.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising:

instructions for establishing a communication connection with a second computer device; and

instructions for transmitting a verification copy of the computed hash output to the second computer device.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the hash input includes information specific to hardware or software of the first computer device.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions for receiving configuration information pertaining to the test mode.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions for receiving an indication of a hash function to execute.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions for generating a hash output comprise instructions for generating a hash output when it is determined that no unauthorized use of an application or function on the first computer device occurred while the first computer device was in test mode.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the signal sent to the testing routine from the operating system of the first computer device is a signal indicating that the testing routine is being moved from a foreground.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the generated hash output affects the displayed clock or timer.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the hash input for a given first computer device includes at least one of:

information of an identification number of a hardware device in the given first computer device;

information generated from an identification number of a hardware device in the given first computer device;

information of an identification number of a software instance stored in the given first computer device;

or

information generated from an identification number of a software instance stored in the given first computer device.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the configuration information is encoded in the hash input.