Management apparatus

• US 6,777,828 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald J. Rothstein
• Original Assignee: Ronald J. Rothstein
• Inventors: Rothstein, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIOS CUEVAS, ROBERTO JOSE
• Application Number:
  US10/056,443
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 307/139, 307/140, 307/141, 307/141.4, 307/116
• US Class Current: 307/140
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A management apparatus for allowing a parent to limit the amount of time a specific user is allowed access to an electronic device. The management apparatus includes an enclosure that has an interior space. A controller for processing a plurality of electronic operations is positioned in the interior space. An alphanumeric display displays information and is attached to the front side of the enclosure. A keypad for inputting numerical data is attached to the front side of the enclosure. A modem positioned in the interior space of the enclosure. A phone jack is attached to the second side of the enclosure. A power cord is attached to the second side of the enclosure. A plurality of receptacles allows coupling of electrical cords from electrical devices. A cover member covers the first end of the enclosure and is releasably attachable to the first end by a plurality of fasteners.

Claims

1. A management apparatus for allowing a parent to limit the amount of time a specific user is allowed access to an electronic device, said apparatus comprising:

an enclosure having a front side, a first end, and a second end, said enclosure having an interior space;

a controller for processing a plurality of electronic operations being positioned in said interior space of said enclosure;

an alphanumeric display for displaying information to the user and the parent being attached to said front side of said enclosure;

a keypad for inputting numerical data being attached to said front side of said enclosure;

a modem for transmitting and receiving verbal commands from the parent via a telephone being positioned in said interior space of said enclosure;

a phone jack for allowing the parent to selectively couple a phone line to said enclosure being attached to said second side of said enclosure;

a power cord being attached to said second side of said enclosure;

a plurality of receptacles for allowing the parent to selectively couple at least one electrical cord from the electronic devices to said enclosure;

a cover member for covering said first end of said enclosure including an end wall and a peripheral wall attached to and extending away from said end wall, said cover member being releasably attachable to said first end; and

a plurality of fasteners for securing said cover member to said enclosure.

2. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said first end including a middle section, said middle section being recessed from outer edges of said first end such that a ledge is defined.

3. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said display being electrically coupled to said controller.

4. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said keypad including a plurality of buttons, each of said buttons having a number indicia thereon.

5. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said keypad being electrically coupled to said controller.

6. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said modem being electrically coupled to said controller.

7. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said phone jack being electrically coupled to said modem.

8. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said power cord being electrically coupled to said controller.

9. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising each of said receptacles being integrally coupled to said first end of said enclosure.

10. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising each of said receptacles being electrically coupled to said controller.

11. The management t apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising dimensions of said cover member inside said peripheral wall being generally equal to outside dimensions of said middle section of said first end of said enclosure such that inner edges of said peripheral wall abut said ledge when said cover member is attached to said enclosure.

12. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a front portion of said peripheral wall having a plurality of slots extending therethrough.

13. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising each of said slots extending from an inner edge of said front portion of said peripheral wall towards said end wall such that the electrical cord from one of the electronic devices may pass through one of said slots when said cover member is attached to said enclosure.

14. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising being positioned adjacent outer ends of said end wall of said cover member.

15. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the parent may program said controller for an allotted amount of time each specific user may operate the electronic device during a specific time period once the user has put in a security cod allowing them access.

16. The management apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the parent may access said controller remotely via the telephone through said modem to modify programming of said controller.

17. A management apparatus for allowing a parent to limit the amount of time a specific user is allowed access to an electronic device, said apparatus comprising:

an enclosure having a front side, a first end, and a second end, said enclosure having an interior space, said first end including a middle section, said middle section being recessed from outer edges of said first end such that a ledge is defined;

a controller for processing a plurality of electronic operations being positioned in said interior space of said enclosure;

an alphanumeric display for displaying information to the user and the parent being attached to said front side of said enclosure, said display being electrically coupled to said controller;

a keypad for inputting numerical data being attached to said front side of said enclosure, said keypad including a plurality of buttons, each of said buttons having a number indicia thereon, said keypad being electrically coupled to said controller;

a modem for transmitting and receiving verbal commands from the parent via a telephone being positioned in said interior space of said enclosure, said modem being electrically coupled to said controller;

a phone jack for allowing the parent to selectively couple a phone line to said enclosure being attached to said second side of said enclosure, said phone jack being electrically coupled to said modem;

a power cord being attached to said second side of said enclosure, said power cord being electrically coupled to said controller;

a plurality of receptacles for allowing the parent to selectively couple at least one electrical cord from the electronic devices to said enclosure being integrally coupled to said first end of said enclosure, each of said receptacles being electrically coupled to said controller;

a cover member for covering said first end of said enclosure including an end wall and a peripheral wall attached to and extending away from said end wall, said cover member being releasably attachable to said first end, dimensions of said cover member inside said peripheral wall being generally equal to outside dimensions of said middle section of said first end of said enclosure such that inner edges of said peripheral wall abut said ledge when said cover member is attached to said enclosure, a front portion of said peripheral wall having a plurality of slots extending therethrough, each of said slots extending from an inner edge of said front portion of said peripheral wall towards said end wall such that the electrical cord from one of the electronic devices may pass through one of said slots when said cover member is attached to said enclosure;

a plurality of fasteners for securing said cover member to said enclosure being positioned adjacent outer ends of said end wall of said cover member;

wherein the parent may program said controller for an allotted amount of time each specific user may operate the electronic device during a specific time period once the user has put in a security cod allowing them access; and

wherein the parent may access said controller remotely via the telephone through said modem to modify programming of said controller.