Partial information throttle based on compliance with an agreement
First Claim
1. A partial information throttle system based on compliance with an agreement, comprising:
- an agreement database stored in a memory of a computer, wherein said agreement database comprises an agreement between an agreement creator and an agreement performer, andwherein said agreement comprisesa first unique identifier associated with said agreement performer that is a first human,a second unique identifier associated with said agreement creator that is a second human,a condition comprising an activity to be performed by said agreement performer, andan action to be performed based on compliance with said condition;
an activity database comprisingan activity status associated with said activity to be performed by said agreement performer;
an agreement monitor coupled with said agreement database and said activity database and configured tocheck said activity status to determine said compliance with said condition based on said activity status;
an information throttle coupled at least intermittently with said agreement monitor and configured to perform said action on at least one electronic device associated with said agreement performer;
wherein said agreement database further comprises a first condition having a first activity that is independent of input into said at least one electronic device by said agreement performer;
wherein said action is configured to direct said information throttle to partially decrease a performance of said at least one electronic device while said at least one electronic device is being utilized by said activity performer when said condition has not been satisfied, without fully disabling said at least one electronic device;
wherein said partially decrease said performance of said at least one electronic device comprises a change in performance selected from the group comprisingdisable one or more applications or services on said at least one electronic device, without disabling all applications and services on said at least one electronic device, andreduce performance of one or more applications or services on said at least one electronic device, without completely disabling said one or more applications or services such that said one or more applications or services remain usable with reduced capabilities, and without reducing performance of all applications and services on said at least one electronic device,wherein said reduce performance causes a performance change selected from the group comprisingone or more features of said one or more applications or services to run more slowly on said at least one electronic device,one or more features of said one or more applications or services to be disabled, without disabling all features of said one or more applications or services,said one or more applications or services to run in a window on a display of said at least one electronic device, wherein said window has one or more of a reduced size, a reduced resolution, a reduced color space, and a reduced brightness, andaudio output from said one or more applications or services to have one or more of a reduced volume and a reduced sound quality; and
,wherein said action is further configured to direct said information throttle to reverse said partially decrease of said performance of said at least one electronic device when said agreement performer satisfies said condition, after said partially decrease of said performance occurs, to increase said performance of said at least one electronic device to its original level.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Partially reduces performance or features of a user'"'"'s electronic device if the user does not comply with an agreement. An agreement may specify tasks or activities to be performed, such as homework or chores, or required results such as grades. Partial throttling of the device when the user is not in compliance with the agreement may include for example disabling a subset of the apps or services on the device, slowing down the device or selected applications, denying access to selected information sources, limiting audio volume or display resolution, or limiting time on activities such as web browsing. The device may remain usable, but with reduced features or performance. Throttling actions may also be based on location, schedule, or environmental conditions. The system may reward compliance with the agreement by increasing performance, by re-enabling previously disabled applications, or by providing direct rewards such as money or credits.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A partial information throttle system based on compliance with an agreement, comprising:
-
an agreement database stored in a memory of a computer, wherein said agreement database comprises an agreement between an agreement creator and an agreement performer, and wherein said agreement comprises a first unique identifier associated with said agreement performer that is a first human, a second unique identifier associated with said agreement creator that is a second human, a condition comprising an activity to be performed by said agreement performer, and an action to be performed based on compliance with said condition; an activity database comprising an activity status associated with said activity to be performed by said agreement performer; an agreement monitor coupled with said agreement database and said activity database and configured to check said activity status to determine said compliance with said condition based on said activity status; an information throttle coupled at least intermittently with said agreement monitor and configured to perform said action on at least one electronic device associated with said agreement performer; wherein said agreement database further comprises a first condition having a first activity that is independent of input into said at least one electronic device by said agreement performer; wherein said action is configured to direct said information throttle to partially decrease a performance of said at least one electronic device while said at least one electronic device is being utilized by said activity performer when said condition has not been satisfied, without fully disabling said at least one electronic device; wherein said partially decrease said performance of said at least one electronic device comprises a change in performance selected from the group comprising disable one or more applications or services on said at least one electronic device, without disabling all applications and services on said at least one electronic device, and reduce performance of one or more applications or services on said at least one electronic device, without completely disabling said one or more applications or services such that said one or more applications or services remain usable with reduced capabilities, and without reducing performance of all applications and services on said at least one electronic device, wherein said reduce performance causes a performance change selected from the group comprising one or more features of said one or more applications or services to run more slowly on said at least one electronic device, one or more features of said one or more applications or services to be disabled, without disabling all features of said one or more applications or services, said one or more applications or services to run in a window on a display of said at least one electronic device, wherein said window has one or more of a reduced size, a reduced resolution, a reduced color space, and a reduced brightness, and audio output from said one or more applications or services to have one or more of a reduced volume and a reduced sound quality; and
,wherein said action is further configured to direct said information throttle to reverse said partially decrease of said performance of said at least one electronic device when said agreement performer satisfies said condition, after said partially decrease of said performance occurs, to increase said performance of said at least one electronic device to its original level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A partial information throttle system based on compliance with an agreement, comprising:
-
an agreement database stored in a memory of a computer, wherein said agreement database comprises an agreement between an agreement creator and an agreement performer, and wherein said agreement comprises a first unique identifier associated with said agreement performer that is a first human, a second unique identifier associated with said agreement creator that is a second human, a condition comprising an activity to be performed by said agreement performer, wherein one or more of said activity to be performed comprises homework and said condition comprises completion of said homework, said activity to be performed comprises a test to be performed by said agreement performer and said condition comprises achievement of a grade result on said test at or above a predefined value, and said activity to be performed comprises a chore or an extracurricular activity and said condition comprises completion of said chore or said extracurricular activity, and
wherein said condition further comprises one or both ofa location of said at least one electronic device and a schedule associated with said agreement performer, and, an action to be performed based on compliance with said condition; an activity database comprising an activity status associated with said activity to be performed by said agreement performer; an agreement monitor coupled with said agreement database and said activity database and configured to check said activity status to determine said compliance with said condition based on said activity status; an information throttle coupled at least intermittently with said agreement monitor and configured to perform said action on at least one electronic device associated with said agreement performer; wherein said agreement database further comprises a first condition having a first activity that is independent of input into said at least one electronic device by said agreement performer; wherein said action is configured to direct said information throttle to partially decrease a performance of said at least one electronic device while said at least one electronic device is being utilized by said activity performer when said condition has not been satisfied, without fully disabling said at least one electronic device; wherein said partially decrease said performance of said at least one electronic device comprises a change in performance selected from the group comprising disable one or more applications or services on said at least one electronic device, without disabling all applications and services on said at least one electronic device, and reduce performance of one or more applications or services on said at least one electronic device, without completely disabling said one or more applications or services such that said one or more applications or services remain usable with reduced capabilities, and without reducing performance of all applications and services on said at least one electronic device, wherein said reduce performance causes a performance change selected from the group comprising one or more features of said one or more applications or services to run more slowly on said at least one electronic device, one or more features of said one or more applications or services to be disabled, without disabling all features of said one or more applications or services, said one or more applications or services to run in a window on a display of said at least one electronic device, wherein said window has one or more of a reduced size, a reduced resolution, a reduced color space, and a reduced brightness, and audio output from said one or more applications or services to have one or more of a reduced volume and a reduced sound quality; and
,wherein said action is further configured to direct said information throttle to reverse said partially decrease of said performance of said at least one electronic device when said agreement performer satisfies said condition, after said partially decrease of said performance occurs, to increase said performance of said at least one electronic device to its original level.
-
Specification