SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING USER ACTIVITY ON A PLURALITY OF NETWORKED COMPUTING DEVICES
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring user activity on a plurality of networked devices, the system comprising:
- a central monitoring device comprising a monitor display and capable of wireless communication over a network;
a plurality of personal computing devices, each comprising a display and being capable of communication with the central monitoring device over the network, each personal computing device being associated with a supervised user and comprising a software agent executing on the computing device when the personal computing device is powered on;
wherein each software agent is configured;
to monitor user activity of the personal computing device on which it is executing,to transmit user activity data to the central monitoring device when the personal computing device is in use, andto transmit to the central monitoring device display images from the display of the personal computing device;
wherein display images received by the central monitoring device from one or more of the personal computing devices are displayed on the monitoring display.
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Abstract
Among other things, we describe monitoring and interactively supervising user activity on a plurality of networked computing devices. Some embodiments relate to methods and systems configured for remote automatic selection and monitoring of a most actively used computer device from among a plurality of computer devices accessible to and logged into by a specific user. Such methods and systems may also involve the display of the user'"'"'s screen on a dedicated monitoring display device. Where multiple users are monitored, the displays of the user devices that are most actively used may be reproduced on the monitoring device display in dedicated view ports for the users being monitored. Embodiments may involve the use of software agents installed and executing on each user device that is turned on. Such software agents assist in allowing the monitoring device to determine which of the user devices is most actively used by a particular user.
20 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring user activity on a plurality of networked devices, the system comprising:
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a central monitoring device comprising a monitor display and capable of wireless communication over a network; a plurality of personal computing devices, each comprising a display and being capable of communication with the central monitoring device over the network, each personal computing device being associated with a supervised user and comprising a software agent executing on the computing device when the personal computing device is powered on; wherein each software agent is configured; to monitor user activity of the personal computing device on which it is executing, to transmit user activity data to the central monitoring device when the personal computing device is in use, and to transmit to the central monitoring device display images from the display of the personal computing device; wherein display images received by the central monitoring device from one or more of the personal computing devices are displayed on the monitoring display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 47)
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23. A monitoring device for monitoring user activity on a plurality of networked devices, the monitoring device comprising:
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a wireless communication sub-system for local area network communication; an image display; at least one processor; and memory storing program code executable by the at least one processor to cause the monitoring device to; receive user activity data from a software agent executing on each of a plurality of personal computing devices in local area network communication with the monitoring device, the user activity data being indicative of use of the respective personal computing device by a supervised user, receive from at least one of the personal computing devices display images from a display of the at least one personal computing device, and display in at least a part of the image display the display images received from the at least one personal computing device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A personal computing device comprising:
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a wireless communication sub-system for local area network communication; an image display; at least one processor; and memory storing program code executable by the at least one processor to implement a software agent program, the software agent program configured to; monitor user activity in relation to the personal computing device, transmit to a monitoring device display images from the image display when monitored user activity indicates active use of the personal computing device by a supervised user, and display in at least a part of the image display a graphical indication that user activity on the personal computing device is being monitored by the software agent program and the monitoring device.
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44. A method of user activity monitoring by a monitoring device having an image display, the method comprising:
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receiving user activity data from a software agent executing on each of a plurality of personal computing devices in local area network communication with the monitoring device, the user activity data being indicative of use of the respective personal computing device by a supervised user; receiving from at least one of the personal computing devices display images from a display of the at least one personal computing device; and displaying in at least a part of the image display the display images received from the at least one personal computing device; wherein the plurality of personal computing devices comprises at least two personal computing devices associated with a same supervised user, and wherein the monitoring device determines from user activity data received from each of the at least two personal computing devices which one of the at least two personal computing devices is most actively used, and wherein the displaying comprises displaying on the image display the display images received from the one personal computing device associated with the same supervised user determined to be most actively used.
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45. A method of establishing voice communication between an originating device and one of a plurality of personal computing devices, the method comprising:
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receiving at the originating device user activity data from a software agent executing on each of the plurality of personal computing devices, the user activity data being indicative of use of the respective personal computing device by a supervised user, wherein the plurality of personal computing devices comprises at least two personal computing devices associated with a same supervised user; receiving input at the originating device to establish voice communication between the originating device and the supervised user; determining, by the originating device, which one of the at least two personal computing devices is most actively used based on user activity data received from each of the at least two personal computing devices; and establishing voice communication between the originating device and the one personal computing device associated with the same supervised user determined to be most actively used.
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46. A method of establishing voice communication between an originating device and one of a plurality of personal computing devices, wherein the plurality of personal computing devices comprises at least two personal computing devices associated with a same supervised user, the method comprising:
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receiving input at the originating device to establish voice communication between the originating device and the supervised user; determining, by the originating device, which one of the at least two personal computing devices is most actively used based on user activity data obtained in relation to each of the at least two personal computing devices; and establishing voice communication between the originating device and the one personal computing device associated with the same supervised user determined to be most actively used.
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48. The steps, processes, modules, features, elements, acts, compositions, architecture, components, examples, arrangements and structure described or depicted herein, individually or in any combination or sub-combination thereof.
Specification