System and method for controlling access to electronic devices

• US 9,489,531 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2012
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Location Labs (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Weiss, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nalven, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALINOWSKI, WALTER J
• Application Number:
  US13/470,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20130305384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,640 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A computer implemented method for controlling access to an electronic media source is disclosed. An access control system receives achievement goals and degree of access information. Assessment information is also received by the access control system from one or more input data sources. The access control system determines whether the achievement goals are met based on the received assessment information and forwards an access signal to the electronic media source based on the access determination. The access signal, including a grant signal, is forwarded when the achievement goals are met.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling access to an electronic media source comprising:

receiving one or more achievement goals and degree of access information for a first user from a second user, wherein the degree of access information includes limitations of access to the electronic media source including at least one of a time limit, a day of week limit, a media category limit, a content title limit, or a rating limit;

receiving assessment information for the first user from one or more 3^rd party network-accessible input data sources, the assessment information related to the achievement goals;

linking the 3^rd party network-accessible input data sources;

aggregating the received assessment information;

aggregating knowledge of electronic media source usage comprising at least knowledge of electronic media source usage by a first user;

determining when the first user attempts to access an electronic media source;

receiving information related, to use of the electronic media source;

determining that an identity of a user of the electronic media source is that of the first user based on the received information related to use of the electronic media source and based on the aggregated knowledge;

determining whether the achievement goals are met by the first user using the received assessment information in response to an access inquiry from the electronic media source; and

forwarding an access signal to the electronic media source based on the determination of whether the achievement goals are met;

wherein the access signal includes a grant signal when the achievement goals are met.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the access signal includes a deny signal when the achievement goals are not met.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the grant signal allows access to the electronic media source, and the deny signal prevents access to the electronic media source.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising storing usage information when access to the electronic media source has been allowed.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic media source includes at least one of a gaming system, a television show, a video game, a movie, a computer, or a movie player.

6. The computer-implemented method, of claim 1, wherein the achievement goals include at least one of academic goals, chores, or activity goals.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, farther comprising:

receiving an indication of usage of the electronic media source from the electronic media source; and

providing an indication to a particular party regarding the indication of usage based on the determination of whether the achievement goals are met.

8. The access control system of claim 1, wherein the one or more 3^rd party network-accessible input data sources comprises an automated online grade reporting system.

9. A computer-implemented method for controlling access to an electronic media source comprising:

receiving one or more achievement goals and degree of access information for a first user from a second user;

receiving assessment information for the first user from one or more 3^rd party network-accessible input data sources comprising an automated online grade reporting system, the assessment information related to the achievement goals;

aggregating knowledge of electronic media source usage comprising at least knowledge of electronic media source usage by a first user;

determining when the first user attempts to access an electronic media source;

receiving information related to use of the electronic media source;

determining that an identity of a user of the electronic media source is that of the first user based on the received information related to use of the electronic media source and based on the aggregated knowledge;

receiving an access inquiry from the electronic media source inquiring whether the electronic media source is able to be accessed by a user;

determining whether the achievement goals are met by the first user using the received assessment information; and

forwarding an access signal to the electronic media source based on the determination of whether the achievement goals are met;

wherein the access signal includes a grant signal when the achievement goals are met.

10. The access control system of claim 9, wherein the access inquiry processor determines whether the achievement goals are met using the received assessment information in response to an access inquiry from the electronic media source.

11. A computer-implemented method for controlling access to an electronic media source comprising:

receiving one or more achievement goals and degree of access information wherein the degree of access information includes limitations of access to the electronic media source including at least one of a time limit, a day of week limit, a media category limit, a content tide limit, or a rating limit;

receiving assessment information from one or more 3rd party network-accessible input data sources, the assessment information related to the achievement goals;

providing an application on an electronic media source configured to enable interface with a network-connectable control system;

linking the 3rd party network-accessible input data sources;

aggregating the received assessment information;

aggregating knowledge of electronic media source usage comprising at least knowledge of electronic media source usage by a particular user;

determining an attempt to access an electronic media source;

receiving information related to use of the electronic media source;

determining that an identity of a user of the electronic media source is that of the particular user based on the received information related to use of the electronic media source and based on the aggregated knowledge;

determining whether the achievement goals are met by the determined particular user using the received assessment information in response to an access inquiry from the electronic media source; and

forwarding by the network-connectable control system an access signal to the electronic media source as corresponds to the determined user based on the determination of whether the achievement goals are met;

wherein the access signal includes a grant signal when the achievement goals are met;

receiving the access signal by the electronic media source via the application and constraining usage by the particular use of the electronic media source based on the access signal.

12. A computer-implemented method for controlling access to an electronic media source comprising:

receiving one or more achievement goals and degree of access information wherein the degree of access information includes limitations of access to the electronic media source including at least one of a time limit, a day of week limit, a media category limit, a content title limit, or a rating limit;

receiving assessment information from one or more 3^rd party network-accessible input data sources, the assessment information related to the achievement goals;

linking the 3^rd party network-accessible input data sources;

aggregating the received assessment information;

receiving an indication of usage of the electronic media source from the electronic media source;

transmitting a query to a particular party for an identity of a user of the electronic media source, the query comprising at least one of an indication of the electronic media source or an indication of content accessed by the electronic media source;

receiving an indication of the identity of the user of the electronic media source from the particular party; and

providing an indication to a particular party regarding the indication of usage based on the determination of whether the achievement goals are met by the identified user;

determining whether the achievement goals are met using the received assessment information in response to an access inquiry from the electronic media source;

forwarding an access signal to the electronic media source based on the determination of whether the achievement goals are met, wherein the access signal includes a grant signal when the achievement goals are met.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising providing an indication to the particular party of specific content of the electronic media source accessed.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein providing the indication to the particular party regarding the indication of usage comprises alerting the particular party that the usage of the electronic media exceeds an allowed amount based on the determination of whether the achievement goals are met.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising periodically requesting a state of the electronic media source.

16. An access control system for controlling access to an electronic media source comprising:

a goal database for storing achievement goals comprising an indication of at least one location and at least one time corresponding to the at least one location and for storing degree of access information wherein the degree of access information includes limitations of access to the electronic media source including at least one of a time limit, a day of week limit, a media category limit, a content title limit, or a rating limit;

an aggregation database for storing assessment information from one or more 3^rd party network-accessible input data sources input data sources comprising location based information and for linking the 3^rd party network-accessible input data sources and aggregating the received assessment information, the assessment information related to the achievement goals, and for aggregating knowledge of electronic media source usage comprising at least knowledge of electronic media source usage by a particular user; and

an access inquiry processor for determining whether the achievement goals are met in response to an access inquiry from the electronic media source using the received assessment information by determining whether a mobile device corresponding to a particular user is located at a particular location at a particular time and for determining that an identity of a user of the electronic media source is that of the particular user based on received information related to use of the electronic media source and based on the aggregated knowledge;

wherein the access inquiry processor forwards an access signal to the electronic media source based on the determinations.

17. The access control system of claim 16, wherein the access signal includes a grant signal when the achievement goals are met, wherein the grant signal allows access to the electronic media source.

18. The access control system of claim 16, wherein the access signal includes a deny signal when the achievement goals are not met, wherein the deny signal prevents access to the electronic media source.

19. The access control system of claim 16, wherein the degree of access information includes limitations of access to the electronic media source.

20. The access control system of claim 19, wherein the limitations of access include at least one of a time of day limitation, a day of week limitation, a time duration limit, or a type of electronic media source limitation.

21. The access control system of claim 16, wherein the achievement goals include at least one of academic goals, chores, or activity goals.

22. The access control system of claim 16, further comprising a system interface for communicating with the one or more input data sources and the electronic media source.

23. The access control system of claim 16, further comprising a usage database for storing electronic media source usage information when access to the electronic media source is allowed.