1. A method of locking a desktop shell that is executable on a plurality of operating system platforms, said method comprising:
booting one of the operating system platforms on a computer system;
loading a virtual machine middleware application on the booted operating system platform, wherein the virtual machine middleware application runs platform-neutral and native applications; and
invoking a lockdown desktop shell application in the virtual machine middleware application, wherein invoking the lockdown desktop shell application includes preventing a user of the computer system from directly accessing the booted operating system platform by performing the following:
maximizing a window corresponding to the lockdown desktop shell application;
removing window resize and window exit controls from the window; and
pinning the window to the foreground of a desktop window controlled by the booted operating system platform.
2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the virtual machine middleware application is a Java virtual machine and wherein the lockdown desktop shell application is a Java application.
3. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:
displaying the window corresponding to the lockdown desktop shell application on a display device accessible from the computer system, wherein the displayed window is substantially the same in appearance when displayed on any of the plurality of operating system platforms.
4. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a user identifier and a password from the user; and
authenticating the user identifier and password before allowing the user to use the lockdown desktop shell application.
5. The method as described in claim 4 further comprising:
receiving one or more self-contained desktops from a server in response to the authenticating, wherein each of the self-contained desktops include one or more desktop components; and
displaying, on the lockdown desktop shell application, graphical images corresponding to one or more of the desktop components.
6. The method as described in claim 4 further comprising:
receiving the lockdown desktop shell application from a server in response to the authenticating.
7. An information handling system comprising:
one or more processors;
a memory area accessible by the processors;
a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors;
a display device accessible by the processors;
an operating system executed by the processors for managing the information handling system;
a virtual machine middleware application running on the operating system;
a locking tool for displaying a lockdown desktop shell application, the locking tool including:
means for booting the operating system;
means for loading a virtual machine middleware application on the operating system, wherein the virtual machine middleware application runs platform-neutral applications; and
means for invoking a lockdown desktop shell application in the virtual machine middleware application, wherein the lockdown desktop shell includes means for preventing a user of the computer system from directly accessing the operating system, wherein the means for preventing includes:
means for maximizing a window corresponding to the lockdown desktop shell application;
means for removing window resize and window exit controls from the window; and
means for pinning the window to the foreground of a desktop window controlled by the booted operating system platform.
8. The information handling system as described in claim 7 wherein the virtual machine middleware application is a Java virtual machine and wherein the lockdown desktop shell application is a Java application.
9. The information handling system as described in claim 7 further comprising:
means for displaying the window corresponding to the lockdown desktop shell application on a display device accessible from the computer system, wherein the displayed window is substantially the same in appearance when displayed on any of a plurality of operating system platforms.
10. The information handling system as described in claim 8 further comprising:
means for receiving a user identifier and a password from the user; and
means for authenticating the user identifier and password before allowing the user to use the lockdown desktop shell application.
11. The information handling system as described in claim 10 further comprising:
means for receiving one or more self-contained desktops from a server in response to the authenticating, wherein each of the self-contained desktops include one or more desktop components; and
means for displaying, on the lockdown desktop shell application, graphical images corresponding to one or more of the desktop components.
12. The information handling system as described in claim 10 further comprising:
means for receiving the lockdown desktop shell application from a server in response to the authenticating.
13. A computer program product stored on a computer storage medium, the computer storage medium containing instructions for execution by a computer, which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to execute a method for locking a desktop shell that is executable on a plurality of operating system platforms, said method comprising:
booting one of the operating system platforms on a computer system;
loading a virtual machine middleware application on the booted operating system platform, wherein the virtual machine middleware application runs platform-neutral applications; and
invoking a lockdown desktop shell application in the virtual machine middleware application, wherein invoking the lockdown desktop shell application includes preventing a user of the computer system from directly accessing the booted operating system platform by performing the following:
maximizing a window corresponding to the lockdown desktop shell application;
removing window resize and window exit controls from the window; and
pinning the window to the foreground of a desktop window controlled by the booted operating system platform.
14. The computer program product as described in claim 13 wherein the virtual machine middleware application is a Java virtual machine and wherein the lockdown desktop shell application is a Java application.
15. The computer program product as described in claim 13 wherein the method further comprises:
displaying the window corresponding to the lockdown desktop shell application on a display device accessible from the computer system, wherein the displayed window is substantially the same in appearance when displayed on any of the plurality of operating system platforms.
16. The computer program product as described in claim 13 wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a user identifier and a password from the user; and
authenticating the user identifier and password before allowing the user to use the lockdown desktop shell application.
17. The computer program product as described in claim 16 wherein the method further comprises:
receiving one or more self-contained desktops from a server in response to the authenticating, wherein each of the self-contained desktops include one or more desktop components; and
displaying, on the lockdown desktop shell application, graphical images corresponding to one or more of the desktop components.
18. The computer program product as described in claim 16 wherein the method further comprises:
receiving the lockdown desktop shell application from a server in response to the authenticating.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of processing a reported loss or theft of a cash dispensing token, comprising:
reporting to a token provider that a token has been lost or stolen;
authenticating the report and restricting the subsequent use of the token; and
issuing a cash withdrawal code, which is usable for withdrawing an agreed amount of emergency cash from a cash dispensing machine without requiring use of a cash dispensing token, and storing the issued cash withdrawal code.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of restricting comprises cancelling said token to prevent any subsequent use thereof.
3. The method of claim 2, including the step of issuing a replacement cash dispensing token.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of restricting comprises suspending said token to prevent subsequent use thereof at least temporarily.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the suspension is removed, if said token is subsequently reported as having been recovered, so that the said token can be used to withdraw cash.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein said suspended token is cancelled if the token is not reported as having been recovered within a specified period of time.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein said suspended token is unusable at least while the cash withdrawal code is still validly usable.
8. The method of claim 1, including the step of earmarking the agreed amount in a respective customer account when the cash withdrawal code is issued.
9. The method of claim 8 including removing the earmarking when the cash is dispensed or when the cash withdrawal code is no longer validly usable.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the token is reported as lost or stolen to a call centre.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the token is reported as lost or stolen via a data messaging network.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the cash withdrawal code is issued by a call centre.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the cash withdrawal code is issued via a data message.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the cash withdrawal code has a limited use.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the cash withdrawal code is limited in use by one or more of the following:
use in a number of designated ATMs;
use in ATMs within a restricted geographic region;
use for a restricted period of time;
use for a limited number of times;
use to withdraw a limited amount of cash; and
use to withdraw a pre-agreed or pre-designated amount of cash.
16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
entering at least the cash withdrawal code into a cash dispensing machine, which is adapted to receive the input of a cash withdrawal code, without requiring use of a cash dispensing token;
validating the cash withdrawal code with reference to issued cash withdrawal codes; and
if the code is valid, dispensing the agreed amount of cash.
17. The method of claim 16, including the step of entering a secondary authentication data into the cash dispensing machine, wherein the secondary authentication data is also used for validation purposes.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the secondary authentication data comprises the agreed amount of cash to be withdrawn.
19. A system arranged to provide an emergency cash facility when a cash dispensing token is reported as lost or stolen, comprising: a token restriction processor for restricting the subsequent use of a token that is reported as lost or stolen; an emergency cash processor, for determining whether an emergency cash option is available and for generating a code to be used for approved emergency cash withdrawals; an emergency cash code store for storing the generated code; and an earmarking processor, for earmarking funds associated with an approved emergency cash withdrawal.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the token restriction processor is arranged to cancel tokens that are reported as lost or stolen and issue a replacement therefor.