Method and apparatus for remotely controlling a plurality of devices

• US 8,077,016 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2009
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cloudrock LLC (Slingshot Technologies LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scheidner Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Cohen, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/575,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.16, 340/310.11, 340/593, 340/500, 340/568.3, 340/692, 340/3.1, 340/10.52, 348/725, 725/25
• US Class Current: 340/309.16
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric

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.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an indication of a request to use at least one device;

determining authorization to use the at least one device in response to allotment usage values for the at least one device; and

in response to determining the authorization to use the at least one device;

providing access to the at least one device;

initiating a warning sequence in response to usage of the at least one device exceeding a warning value; and

denying access to the at least one device in response to a parameter associated with the at least one device being equal to or exceeding at least one of the allotment usage values.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining no authorization to use the at least one device, denying access to the at least one device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein denying access to the at least one device comprises switching off the at least one device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein denying access to the at least one device comprises denying use of a software program resident on the at least one device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises an accrued time since determining the authorization to use the at least one device, a time of day, or a day of the week.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning value is configured to indicate that the usage of the at least one device is approaching at least one of the allotment usage values.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the allotment usage values comprises a range of time intervals where use of the least one device is restricted.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the allotment usage values comprises a quantity of time to use the at least one device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a login or a password.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning sequence comprises at least one of an audio sequence or a visual signal configured indicate that the usage is approaching at least one of the allotment usage values.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving a usage allotment value corresponding to each of a plurality of users of at least one of a plurality of devices;

monitoring a usage time for at least one user of at least one device;

comparing the usage time to the usage allotment value corresponding to the at least one user of the at least one device;

initiating a warning sequence in response to the usage time approaching the usage allotment value; and

denying the at least one user access to the at least one device in response to the usage time being equal to or exceeding the usage allotment value corresponding to the at least one user of the at least one device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one device comprises a plurality of devices located in a plurality of different rooms of a structure.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein denying the at least one user access to the at least one device comprises switching off the at least one device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein denying the at least one user access to the at least one device comprises restricting use of a software program resident on the at least one device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the warning sequence comprises an audio sequence or a visual signal configured to alert the at least one user that the usage time is the usage allotment value.

16. A computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon that configure a processing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving an allotment value configured to indicate an amount of usage of at least one device by at least one user;

monitoring a usage time of the at least one device by the at least one user;

comparing the usage time to the allotment value;

initiating a warning sequence in response to the usage time of the at least one device by the at least one user the approaching the allotment value; and

denying the at least one user access to the at least one device in response to the usage time being equal to or exceeding the allotment value.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the at least one device comprises a plurality of devices located in a plurality of different rooms of a structure.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the processing device is configured to perform operations further comprising switching off the at least one device.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the processing device is configured to perform operations further comprising preventing the at least one user from executing a software program resident on the at least one device.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the warning sequence comprises an audio sequence or a visual signal configured to alert the at least one user that the-usage time is approaching the allotment value.

21. A device, comprising:

a memory circuit configured to store a usage allotment associated with use of a device by a user; and

a control circuit configured to;

monitor a usage time of the device by the user;

initiate a warning sequence in response to the usage time of the device exceeding a warning value; and

restrict access to the device by the user in response to the usage time meeting or exceeding the usage allotment.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the control circuit is configured to communicate wirelessly with the device.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the control circuit is configured to communicate via wired connections with the device.