System, method and computer readable medium for managing mobile devices

• US 9,858,777 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SensorMedia Inc.
• Original Assignee: SensorMedia Inc.
• Inventors: Dandie, William J., Kalendzhiev, Dimitar Deyanov
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US14/773,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20160042620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3013 where the computing system is an embedded system, i.e. a combination of hardware and software dedicated to perform a certain function in mobile devices, printers, automotive or aircraft systems testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof G05B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3055 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available error or fault processing without redundancy G06F11/0703; error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation G06F11/08; error detection or correction by redundancy in operation G06F11/14; error detection or correction by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3058 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/324 Display of status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/34 Recording or statistical evaluation of computer activity, e.g. of down time, of input/output operation ; Recording or statistical evaluation of user activity, e.g. usability assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/12 Protecting executable software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/552 involving long-term monitoring or reporting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/86 Event-based monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0686 Additional information in the notification, e.g. enhancement of specific meta-data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A system, method and computer readable medium are for managing display devices using manager devices. A communication link is established between display subsystems and manager subsystems. Alarm conditions are detected and reported, and alarm events are triggered within the display devices. The display devices have restricted access to applications, settings, or networks. User-generated media is deleted from the display devices. When idle or when user activity is detected, audiovisual media is presented from the display devices. Powering of the display devices is regulated. Metrics and data associated with the display devices is collected.

Claims

1. A system for managing one or more display devices including one or more mobile devices at an on-site location, using one or more manager devices at the on-site location and/or remotely located, wherein the system comprises:

(a) one or more manager subsystems, each for execution by a respective one of the manager devices;

(b) one or more display subsystems, each for execution by a respective one of the display devices, wherein a two-way wireless communication link is established between the display subsystems and the manager subsystems;

wherein the display subsystems report to the manager subsystems one or more predetermined alarm conditions detected for at least a first one of the mobile devices, and the manager subsystems enable one or more predetermined alarm events to be triggered within the display devices;

wherein the display subsystems restrict access to one or more applications or settings on the mobile devices, or to one or more connected networks;

wherein the manager subsystems and the display subsystems together enable deletion of user-generated audio, visual or audiovisual media from the mobile devices;

wherein, when at least a second one of the mobile devices is at idle or when user activity is detected at said second one of the mobile devices, the display subsystems present predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media from the display devices;

wherein the manager subsystems;

determine which of the mobile devices are powering;

present an alert when said one or more of the mobile devices are not powering; and

regulate power going to said one or more of the mobile devices; and

wherein the manager subsystems collect metrics and data, associated with said one or more of the mobile devices at the on-site location, concerning one or more of the following;

the user activity detected, the alarm conditions detected, the alarm events triggered, the user-generated audio, visual or audiovisual media, the predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media presented from the display devices, and the powering of said one or more of the mobile devices.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the communication link is a scalable and peer-to-peer communication link between the display subsystems and the manager subsystems, and/or between the display subsystems executed by two or more of the display devices.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined alarm conditions comprise one or more of the following:

SIM card removal;

other theft attempts;

headphones removed;

power cable disconnection;

non-powering condition;

other charging issues; and

loss of communication link.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined alarm events comprise one or more of the following:

presentation of predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual alarm events from said first one of the mobile devices and/or from at least one of the display devices nearby;

capture and transmission of a camera or microphone signal from said first one of the mobile devices to the manager subsystem; and

capture and transmission of geo-location information from said first one of the mobile devices to the manager subsystem.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the manager subsystems enable the predetermined alarm events to be triggered within the display devices after a predetermined delay or timing.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the manager subsystems enable the predetermined alarm events to be triggered within at least one of the manager devices.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the manager subsystems enable the predetermined alarm events to be triggered by email or SMS message.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein access to the manager subsystems is restricted to authorized personnel only.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more remote databases;

wherein the metrics and data associated with the mobile devices at the on-site location are stored in the remote databases.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the manager subsystems afford selective access to the metrics and data associated with the mobile devices at the on-site location from the remote databases.

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more remote databases;

wherein access to the manager subsystems requires a license key to be validated with reference to the remote databases.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the display devices present the predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media when the communication link is established between the display subsystems of said display devices and at least one of the manager subsystems.

13. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein when said user activity is detected at said second one of the mobile devices, the display subsystems stop presentation of said predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media from said second one of the mobile devices, and enable said second one of the mobile devices for use.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said user activity comprises one or more of the following:

user engagement of said second one of the mobile devices; and

lifting or movement of said second one of the mobile devices.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the display subsystems transmit a camera or microphone signal from said second one of the mobile devices to the manager subsystems when said user activity is detected.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media comprises one or more of the following:

a camera or microphone signal from said second one of the mobile devices;

marketing, advertising or other promotional media; and

other media relevant to said user activity.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein the manager subsystems and the display subsystems together enable automatic deletion of said user-generated audio, visual or audiovisual media from the mobile devices at regular intervals.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the metrics and data associated with the mobile devices at the on-site location additionally concern one or more of the following:

activation dates and times;

first discovered dates and times;

displayed today metrics and data; and

displayed since first discovered metrics and data.

19. A system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more remote databases;

wherein the display subsystems and the manager subsystems together use sensors in the mobile devices to accurately determine, and store in the remote databases, specific positions of the mobile devices at the on-site location; and

wherein the remote databases afford the manager subsystems selective access to the specific positions of the mobile devices.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein the manager subsystems enable selective termination of the predetermined alarm events triggered within the display devices.

21. A method for managing one or more display devices including one or more mobile devices at an on-site location, using one or more manager devices at the on-site location and/or remotely located, wherein the method comprises:

(c) a manager step of providing one or more manager subsystems, each for execution by a respective one of the manager devices;

(d) a display step of providing one or more display subsystems, each for execution by a respective one of the display devices, wherein a two-way wireless communication link is established between the display subsystems and the manager subsystems;

wherein the display subsystems report to the manager subsystems one or more predetermined alarm conditions detected for at least a first one of the mobile devices, and the manager subsystems enable one or more predetermined alarm events to be triggered within the display devices;

wherein the display subsystems restrict access to one or more applications or settings on the mobile devices, or to one or more connected networks;

wherein the manager subsystems and the display subsystems together enable deletion of user-generated audio, visual or audiovisual media from the mobile devices;

wherein, when at least a second one of the mobile devices is at idle or when user activity is detected at said second one of the mobile devices, the display subsystems present predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media from the display devices;

wherein the manager subsystems;

determine which of the mobile devices are powering;

present an alert when said one or more of the mobile devices are not powering; and

regulate power going to said one or more of the mobile devices; and

wherein the manager subsystems collect metrics and data, associated with said one or more of the mobile devices at the on-site location, concerning one or more of the following;

the user activity detected, the alarm conditions detected, the alarm events triggered, the user-generated audio, visual or audiovisual media, the predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media presented from the display devices, and the powering of said one or more of the mobile devices.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the communication link is a scalable and peer-to-peer communication link between the display subsystems and the manager subsystems, and/or between the display subsystems executed by two or more of the display devices.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined alarm conditions comprise one or more of the following:

SIM card removal;

other theft attempts;

headphones removed;

power cable disconnection;

non-powering condition;

other charging issues; and

loss of communication link.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined alarm events comprise one or more of the following:

presentation of predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual alarm events from said first one of the mobile devices and/or from at least one of the display devices nearby;

capture and transmission of a camera or microphone signal from said first one of the mobile devices to the manager subsystem; and

capture and transmission of geo-location information from said first one of the mobile devices to the manager subsystem.

25. A method according to claim 21, wherein the manager subsystems enable the predetermined alarm events to be triggered within the display devices after a predetermined delay or timing.

26. A method according to claim 21, wherein the manager subsystems enable the predetermined alarm events to be triggered within at least one of the manager devices.

27. A method according to claim 21, wherein the manager subsystems enable the predetermined alarm events to be triggered by email or SMS message.

28. A method according to claim 21, wherein access to the manager subsystems is restricted to authorized personnel only.

29. A method according to claim 21, further comprising a database step of providing one or more remote databases;

wherein the metrics and data associated with the mobile devices at the on-site location are stored in the remote databases.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the manager subsystems afford selective access to the metrics and data associated with the mobile devices at the on-site location from the remote databases.

31. A method according to claim 21, further comprising a database step of providing one or more remote databases;

wherein access to the manager subsystems requires a license key to be validated with reference to the remote databases.

32. A method according to claim 21, wherein the display devices present the predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media when the communication link is established between the display subsystems of said display devices and at least one of the manager subsystems.

33. A method according to claim 21, wherein when said user activity is detected at said second one of the mobile devices, the display subsystems stop presentation of said predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media from said second one of the mobile devices, and enable said second one of the mobile devices for use.

34. A method according to claim 21, wherein said user activity comprises one or more of the following:

user engagement of said second one of the mobile devices; and

lifting or movement of said second one of the mobile devices.

35. A method according to claim 21, wherein the display subsystems transmits a camera or microphone signal from said second one of the mobile devices to the manager subsystems when said user activity is detected.

36. A method according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media comprises one or more of the following:

a camera or microphone signal from said second one of the mobile devices;

marketing, advertising or other promotional media; and

other media relevant to said user activity.

37. A method according to claim 21, wherein the manager subsystems and the display subsystems together enable automatic deletion of said user-generated audio, visual or audiovisual media from the mobile devices at regular intervals.

38. A method according to claim 21, wherein the metrics and data associated with the mobile devices at the on-site location additionally concern one or more of the following:

activation dates and times;

first discovered dates and times;

displayed today metrics and data; and

displayed since first discovered metrics and data.

39. A method according to claim 21, further comprising a database step of providing one or more remote databases;

wherein the display subsystems and the manager subsystems together use sensors in the mobile devices to accurately determine, and store in the remote databases, specific positions of the mobile devices at the on-site location; and

wherein the remote databases afford the manager subsystems selective access to the specific positions of the mobile devices.

40. A method according to claim 21, wherein the manager subsystems enable selective termination of the predetermined alarm events triggered within the display devices.

41. A non-transitory computer readable medium for managing one or more display devices having processors and including one or more mobile devices at an on-site location, using one or more manager devices at the on-site location and/or remotely located, for use with one or more manager subsystems each for execution by a respective one of the manager devices, with the computer readable medium comprising executable instructions which are physically stored thereon and which, upon execution, encode the processors to perform:

a display step of providing one or more display subsystems, each for execution by a respective one of the display devices, wherein a two-way wireless communication link is established between the display subsystems and the manager subsystems;

wherein the display subsystems report to the manager subsystems one or more predetermined alarm conditions detected for at least a first one of the mobile devices, and the manager subsystems enable one or more predetermined alarm events to be triggered within the display devices;

wherein the display subsystems restrict access to one or more applications or settings on the mobile devices, or to one or more connected networks;

wherein the display subsystems, together with the manager subsystems, enable deletion of user-generated audio, visual or audiovisual media from the mobile devices;

wherein, when at least a second one of the mobile devices is at idle or when user activity is detected at said second one of the mobile devices, the display subsystems present predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media from the display devices;

wherein the display subsystems enable the manager subsystems to;

determine which of the mobile devices are powering;

present an alert when said one or more of the mobile devices are not powering; and

regulate power going to said one or more of the mobile devices; and

collect metrics and data, associated with said one or more of the mobile devices at the on-site location, concerning one or more of the following;

the user activity detected, the alarm conditions detected, the alarm events triggered, the user-generated audio, visual or audiovisual media, the predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media presented from the display devices, and the powering of said one or more of the mobile devices.

42. A non-transitory computer readable medium for managing one or more display devices including one or more mobile devices at an on-site location, using one or more manager devices having processors at the on-site location and/or remotely located, for use with one or more display subsystems each for execution by a respective one of the display devices, with the computer readable medium comprising executable instructions which are physically stored thereon and which, upon execution, encode the processors to perform:

a manager step of providing one or more manager subsystems, each for execution by a respective one of the manager devices, wherein a two-way wireless communication link is established between the display subsystems and the manager subsystems;

wherein the manager subsystem enable the display subsystems to;

report to the manager subsystems one or more predetermined alarm conditions detected for at least a first one of the mobile devices, and the manager subsystems enable one or more predetermined alarm events to be triggered within the display devices;

restrict access to one or more applications or settings on the mobile devices, or to one or more connected networks;

when at least a second one of the mobile devices is at idle or when user activity is detected at said second one of the mobile devices, present predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media from the display devices;

wherein the manager subsystems, together with the display subsystems, enable deletion of user-generated audio, visual or audiovisual media from the mobile devices;

wherein the manager subsystems;

determine which of the mobile devices are powering;

present an alert when said one or more of the mobile devices are not powering; and

regulate power going to said one or more of the mobile devices; and

wherein the manager subsystems collect metrics and data, associated with said one or more of the mobile devices at the on-site location, concerning one or more of the following;

the user activity detected, the alarm conditions detected, the alarm events triggered, the user-generated audio, visual or audiovisual media, the predetermined audio, visual or audiovisual media presented from the display devices, and the powering of said one or more of the mobile devices.