SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COMMUNICATION DEVICE USE

• US 20140180438A1
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wavemarket Incorporated (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Hodges, Daniel, Roumeliotis, Tasos, Hotes, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,554,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/11
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24015 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44226 on social networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A computer implemented method is provided including establishing a value corresponding to a particular user of a device, receiving an indication of a triggering condition of the particular user of the device, the triggering condition being enabled by the device or measurable by the device, and determining the triggering condition has been met by the user via the device. The method further includes modifying the value responsive to determining the triggering condition has been met, determining when the value crosses a particular threshold, and disabling an application or a functional component of the device responsive to the value crossing the particular threshold. A system for implementing the method is also provided.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of controlling device use, the method comprising:

receiving from a first user an indication of a schedule of required check-in communications, the schedule corresponding to a second user;

determining when a check-in communication has been initiated by the second user pursuant to the schedule; and

disabling at least one of an application and a functional component of a device corresponding to the second user responsive to determining at least one check-in communication has not been received pursuant to the schedule.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a value corresponding to allowable use of the at least one of the application and the functional component of the device;

modifying the value responsive to determining at least one check-in communication has not been received pursuant to the schedule; and

disabling the at least one of the application and the functional component of the device responsive to the value passing a particular threshold.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving an indication of activity corresponding to the particular user; and

modifying the value corresponding to allowable use responsive to the received indication of activity.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indication of a schedule comprises a requirement for the second user to initiate a check-in communication responsive to a change in location, the method further comprising:

determining a change in location of the device corresponding to the second user;

disabling the at least one of the application and the functional component of the device responsive to determining the change in location of the device and responsive to determining the at least one check-in communication has not been received.

5. A computer implemented method of controlling device use, the method comprising:

receiving from a first user an indication of a required state of a device corresponding to a second user;

determining a current state of the device corresponding to the second user; and

disabling at least one of an application and a functional component of the device responsive to the current state being inconsistent with the required state.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein receiving the indication of the required state comprises receiving an indication corresponding to a required battery charge of the device corresponding to the second user, the method further comprising:

determining a battery charge of the device; and

disabling the at least one of the application and the functional component of the device responsive to the determined battery charge being less than a particular minimum battery charge.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an indication of the minimum battery charge from the first user.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein receiving the indication of the state comprises receiving an indication of a particular functional component of the device corresponding to the second user, the method further comprising:

determining when the particular functional component is at least partially disabled; and

disabling the at least one of the application and at least one other functional component of the device responsive to determining the particular functional component is at least partially disabled.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the particular functional component comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver of the device.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the particular functional component comprises a WiFi™

protocol transceiver of the device.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the particular functional component comprises at least one of a phone ringer volume control and electronic message notification volume control.

12. A computer implemented method of controlling device use, the method comprising:

receiving from a first user an indication of a maximum allowed use of at least one device corresponding to a second user;

determining amount of use of the at least one device corresponding to the second user; and

disabling at least one of an application and a functional component of the at least one device responsive to the at least one of the determined amount of use being greater than the indicated maximum allowed use.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 12, wherein the maximum allowed use comprises a maximum allowed communication use.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13, wherein the maximum allowed use comprises a maximum allowed number of transmitted Short Message Service (SMS) messages.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 13, wherein the maximum allowed use comprises a maximum allowed amount of phone use.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 13, further comprising receiving an indication of at least one contact corresponding to an exception to the maximum allowed use, wherein communications with the at least one contact are not used in determining the amount of use of the at least one device.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 12, wherein the maximum allowed use comprises a maximum allowed use of at least one particular application.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 17, further comprising receiving an indication of at least one application corresponding to an exception to the maximum allowed use, wherein use of the at least one application is not used in determining the amount of use of the at least one device.

19. A computer implemented method of controlling device use, the method comprising:

receiving an indication from a first user of a geographic area;

receiving an indication from the first user of a schedule corresponding to at least one time at which a second user is required to be present at the geographic area;

receiving location information of a device corresponding to the second user;

determining whether the location information indicates that the second user is present at the geographic area at the at least one time; and

disabling at least one of an application and a functional component of the device responsive to determining that the second user is not present at the geographic area at the at least one time.

20. A computer implemented method of controlling use of a device, the method comprising:

establishing a value corresponding to a particular user of a device;

receiving an indication of at least one triggering condition of the particular user of the device, the at least one triggering condition being at least one of enabled by the device and measurable by the device;

determining the at least one triggering condition has been met by the user via the device;

modifying the value responsive to determining the at least one triggering condition has been met;

determining when the value crosses a particular threshold; and

disabling at least one of an application and a functional component of the device responsive to the value crossing the particular threshold.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the at least one triggering condition comprises a failure to perform a check-in communication using the device.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the at least one triggering condition comprises performing a check-in communication using the device.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the at least one triggering condition comprises a failure to maintain a battery charge of the device at a particular threshold level.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the at least one triggering condition comprises charging a battery of the device to a particular threshold level.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the at least one triggering condition comprises performing communication of quantity greater than an indicated maximum allowed threshold using the device.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the triggering condition comprises performing communication of at least one of quantity and duration greater than an indicated maximum allowed threshold.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a geographic area;

receiving an indication of a schedule corresponding to at least one particular time at which the user is required to be present at the geographic area;

receiving location information of the user corresponding to the device; and

determining that the location information indicates that the user is not present at the geographic area at the at least one particular time;

wherein the triggering condition comprises the user not being present at the geographic area at the at least one particular time.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a geographic area;

receiving an indication of a schedule corresponding to at least one particular time at which the user is required to be present at the geographic area;

receiving location information of the user corresponding to the device; and

determining that the location information indicates that the user is present at the geographic area at the at least one particular time;

wherein the triggering condition comprises the user being present at the geographic area at the at least one particular time.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising modifying the value responsive to a passage of time.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the at least one triggering condition comprises a first triggering condition and a second triggering condition, the method further comprising:

increasing the value responsive to determining the first triggering condition has been met;

decreasing the value responsive to the second triggering condition being met;

disabling the at least one of the application and the functional component responsive to the value crossing a first threshold from a first direction; and

enabling the at least one of the application and the functional component responsive to the value crossing a second threshold from a second direction.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, wherein the first threshold is equal to the second threshold.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the value is reset at a particular time interval.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the at least one triggering condition comprises a plurality of differently weighted triggering conditions, the method further comprising modifying the value based on respective weightings of the plurality of triggering conditions.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a weighting of the at least one triggering condition; and

modifying the value based on the weighting.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising providing the user with an indication of the value.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising providing the user with an indication of the value and an indication of the at least one triggering condition which has been met which has contributed to modification of the value.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising providing the user with an indication of the value and an indication of a particular triggering condition which when met can contribute to modification of the value.

38. The computer implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving an indication of activity corresponding to the particular user; and

modifying the value responsive to the received indication of activity.

39. The computer implemented method of claim 38, wherein the indication of activity corresponds to at least one of time spent and achievement earned using a particular application.

40. The computer implemented method of claim 38, further wherein the indication of activity corresponds to an academic achievement.

41. A computing system comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium having encoded thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the system, cause the system to perform a process including:

establishing a value corresponding to a particular user of a device;

receiving an indication of at least one triggering condition of the particular user of the device, the at least one triggering condition being at least one of enabled by the device and measurable by the device;

determining the at least one triggering condition has been met by the user via the device;

modifying the value responsive to determining the at least one triggering condition has been met;

determining when the value crosses a particular threshold; and

disabling at least one of an application and a functional component of the device responsive to the value crossing the particular threshold.