Device lock mode

• US 9,712,663 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Lang, Jonathan, Fowler, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Nano, Sargon
• Application Number:
  US14/619,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20150156101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/30 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program for remotely managing a digital device is provided. One or more digital devices are monitored. At least one matter associated with the one or more digital devices is identified. A resolution to address the at least one matter is generated. The resolution is then distributed from a remote location.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a computing device to perform operations for managing a plurality of digital media devices at a remote location with respect to the computing device, the operations comprising:

monitoring, by the computing device via a network, the plurality of digital media devices, wherein each of the plurality of digital media devices is associated with a plurality of functions;

while monitoring the plurality of digital media devices, receiving data by the computing device indicating that a lock mode is enabled for the plurality of digital media devices such that a subset of the plurality of functions is disabled, wherein, when the lock mode is enabled, the computing device is configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving, via the network, data indicating a command to cause at least one digital media device of the plurality of digital media devices to perform a first function;

determining that the first function is in the subset of the plurality of functions; and

in response to determining the first function is in the subset of the plurality of functions, transmitting instructions via the network to the at least one digital media device that prevent the at least one digital media device from performing the first function;

receiving, by the computing device, data indicating that the lock mode is to be disabled for at least one of the plurality of digital media devices;

based on the received data indicating that the lock mode is to be disabled, transmitting, by the computing device to at least one of the plurality of digital media devices, a command to enable all functions in the plurality of functions associated with the at least one of the plurality of digital media devices; and

transmitting at a predetermined time, by the computing device, to at least one of the plurality of digital media devices a command to revert an operational state of the at least one of the plurality of digital media devices to a default state.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

causing, by the computing device, a graphical display at the remote location to provide a graphical indication that the plurality of digital media devices is in the lock mode.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

causing, by the computing device, a graphical display at the remote location to provide a graphical indication that the first function is not being performed.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, by the computing device, data indicating a command to cause the at least one digital media device to perform a second function;

determining, by the computing device, that the second function is not in the subset of the plurality of functions; and

responsively, transmitting, by the computing device, data to cause the at least one digital media device to perform the second function.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the subset of the plurality of functions comprises one or more of:

(a) deletion of one or more files on the at least one digital media device, (b) displaying of one or more particular content, (c) streaming of media content, (d) accessing of one or more software applications on the digital media device, and (e) modification of settings of the digital media device.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the remote location is a retail location.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the plurality of digital media devices are demonstration devices.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein receiving data indicating that a lock mode is to be enabled for the plurality of digital media devices comprises:

causing, by the computing device, a graphical display at the remote location to display a selectable option to enable the lock mode; and

receiving, by the computing device, data indicating a selection of the option to enable the lock mode.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein receiving data indicating that a lock mode is enabled for the plurality of digital media devices comprises:

prior to causing the graphical display at the remote location to display the selectable option to enable the lock mode, receiving, by the computing device, data indicating a credential to enable the lock mode of the plurality of digital media devices.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein receiving the data indicating that the lock mode is to be disabled for at least one of the plurality of digital media devices comprises receiving data indicating that the lock mode to be disabled for a first device of the plurality of digital media devices, and wherein the operations further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, first data indicating that the lock mode is to be disabled for the first device;

receiving, by the computing device, second data indicating a command to cause the first device to perform the first function; and

in response to receiving the second data, causing, by the computing device, the first device to perform the first function.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein receiving the first data comprises:

causing, by the computing device, a graphical display at the remote location to display a selectable option to disable the lock mode;

receiving, by the computing device, data indicating a selection of the option to disable the lock mode.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein receiving the first data further comprises:

prior to causing the graphical display at the remote location to display the selectable option to disable the lock mode, receiving, by the computing device, third data indicating a credential to disable the lock mode of the first device.

13. A method of remotely managing a plurality of digital media devices, the method comprising:

monitoring, by a computing device via a network, the plurality of digital media devices, wherein the computing device is at a remote location with respect to the plurality of digital media devices, and wherein each of the plurality of digital media devices is associated with a plurality of functions;

while monitoring the plurality of digital media devices, receiving, by the computing device, first data comprising instructions to enable a lock mode for the plurality of digital media devices such that a subset of the plurality of functions is disabled;

based on the received first data, transmitting at a first time, by the computing device, to at least one of the plurality of digital media devices a command to disable the subset of the plurality of functions;

receiving, by the computing device, second data comprising instructions to disable the lock mode for at least one of the plurality of digital media devices;

based on the received second data, transmitting at a second time, by the computing device to at least one of the plurality of digital media devices, a command to enable all functions in the plurality of functions, wherein the second time is later than the first time.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the received first data indicates credentials to enable the lock mode.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the subset of the plurality of functions comprises one or more of:

(a) deletion of one or more files on the at least one digital media device, (b) displaying of one or more particular content, (c) streaming of media content, (d) accessing one or more software applications on the digital media device, and (e) modification of settings of the digital media device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

periodically transmitting, by the computing device, to at least one of the plurality of digital media devices a command to revert an operational state of the plurality of digital media devices to a default state.

17. A computing device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor; and

memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform operations for remotely managing a plurality of digital media devices configured to perform features that include a first set of features and a second, different set of features, the operations comprising;

receiving, via the network interface, data at a first time indicating that a lock mode is activated for the plurality of digital media devices such that the first set of features is disabled;

receiving, via the network interface, data indicating a command to cause at least a first device of the plurality of digital media devices to perform a first feature;

determining that the first function is a feature in the first set of features;

in response to determining the first feature is in the first set of features, transmitting, via the network interface to the first device, data causing a graphical display at the first device to provide a graphical indication that the first feature is unavailable;

receiving, via the network interface, data at a second, later time, the data indicating that the lock mode is deactivated for at least one of the plurality of digital media devices; and

based on the received data indicating that the lock mode is deactivated, transmitting, via the network interface, to at least one of the plurality of digital media devices, a command to enable the first set of features.

18. The computing device of claim 17, the operations further comprising:

receiving, via the network interface, data indicating a command to cause the first device to perform a second feature;

determining that the second feature is in the second set of features; and

in response to determining the second feature is in the second set of features, transmitting, via the network interface to the first device, data to cause the first device to perform the second feature.

19. The computing device of claim 18, the operations further comprising:

transmitting at a predetermined time, via the network interface, to at least one of the plurality of digital media devices a command to revert an operational state of the plurality of digital media devices to a default state.