Maintaining a Secure Computing Device in a Test Taking Environment

• US 20120077176A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kryterion, Inc. (Drake International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kryterion, Inc. (Drake International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Foster, David, Bonsall, Russ, Perryman, Laura, Peeke-Vout, John, Caddel, Jeff, Dormann, William
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/362
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security

Abstract

The presently disclosed invention provides for the security of a computing device in the context of a test taking environment. By securing a computing device, an individual (or group of individuals) may more effectively proctor a large examination without worrying about a test taker illicitly accessing information on their computer or via a remote source of data. Securing a computing device includes locking out or preventing access to any application not deemed necessary or appropriate by the test administrator.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for securing a computing device during a testing event, the method comprising:

receiving a testing protocol for the testing event, the testing protocol including limitations for the computing device during the testing event;

modifying a system registry of the computing device in accordance with the testing protocol;

executing a testing routine corresponding to the testing event; and

reporting attempts to change the system registry of the computing device which are not in accordance with the testing protocol during the testing routine.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the limitations include limitations for the computing device during a particular portion of the testing routine.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the limitations include prohibiting execution of an application on the computing device.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the limitations identify applications allowed to execute on the computing device.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the limitations include limiting functionality of an application when executed on the computing device.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the limitations include prohibiting access to certain data stored in memory of the computing device.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the limitations include restricting use of a hardware device of the computing device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the hardware device is a network interface card of the computing device.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the limitations include allowing only certain types of data to be exchanged via the network interface card.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the limitations include disabling network connectivity of the network interface card for a particular portion of the testing routine.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the limitations correspond to occurrences of particular events of the testing routine.