Method and apparatus for remotely controlling a plurality of devices
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling usage times for at least one device, comprising the steps of:
- (a) identifying a device to be controlled;
(b) utilizing the device by a user;
(c) tracking a device usage value for the device as the user utilizes the device;
(d) initiating an action sequence based upon the device usage value; and
(e) providing a warning value, wherein the action sequence is a warning sequence indicating that the device usage value equals the warning value;
wherein the warning sequence is a visual indication, an audio sequence or any combination thereof.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method for controlling usage times for at least one device, including the steps of: (a) identifying a device to be controlled; (b) utilizing the device by a user; (c) tracking a device usage value for the device as the user utilizes the device; and (d) initiating an action sequence based upon the device usage value. Also disclosed is an apparatus for controlling usage times for at least one device.
67 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method for controlling usage times for at least one device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying a device to be controlled; (b) utilizing the device by a user; (c) tracking a device usage value for the device as the user utilizes the device; (d) initiating an action sequence based upon the device usage value; and (e) providing a warning value, wherein the action sequence is a warning sequence indicating that the device usage value equals the warning value; wherein the warning sequence is a visual indication, an audio sequence or any combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for controlling usage times for a plurality of devices, comprising:
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a control mechanism configured to communicate with the plurality of devices and configured to initiate at least one action sequence corresponding to at least one of the devices; an input mechanism in communication with the control mechanism and configured to transmit user inputs to the control mechanism; and a visual display in communication with the control mechanism and configured to display visual data; wherein the control mechanism is configured to; (a) identify a device in operation; (b) track a device usage value for the device as a user utilizes the device; and (c) initiate an action sequence based upon the device usage value; wherein the control mechanism is a computer-implemented software program loadable onto and executable on at least one programmable computing device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification