System and method for controlling communication device use

• US 9,554,190 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Location Labs (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Hodges, Daniel, Roumeliotis, Tasos, Hotes, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Everett, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US13/723,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20140180438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24015 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44226 on social networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A computer implemented method is provided including establishing a value corresponding to a particular user of a device, receiving an indication of a triggering condition of the particular user of the device, the triggering condition being enabled by the device or measurable by the device, and determining the triggering condition has been met by the user via the device. The method further includes modifying the value responsive to determining the triggering condition has been met, determining when the value crosses a particular threshold, and disabling an application or a functional component of the device responsive to the value crossing the particular threshold. A system for implementing the method is also provided.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of controlling device use, the method comprising:

receiving from a first user an indication of a schedule of required check-in communications, the schedule corresponding to a second user;

determining via an agent on a mobile communication device when a check-in communication has been initiated by the second user using the mobile communication device pursuant to the schedule; and

disabling at least one of an application or a functional component of the mobile communication device corresponding to the second user responsive to determining at least one check-in communication has not been received pursuant to the schedule.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a value corresponding to allowable use of the at least one of the application or the functional component of the device;

modifying the value responsive to determining at least one check-in communication has not been received pursuant to the schedule; and

disabling the at least one of the application or the functional component of the device responsive to the value passing a particular threshold.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving an indication of activity corresponding to the particular user; and

modifying the value corresponding to allowable use responsive to the received indication of activity.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indication of a schedule comprises a requirement for the second user to initiate a check-in communication responsive to a change in location, the method further comprising:

determining via the agent on the mobile communication device a change in location of the mobile communication device corresponding to the second user;

disabling the at least one of the application or the functional component of the device responsive to determining the change in location of the device and responsive to determining the at least one check-in communication has not been received.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, the method further comprising providing via the agent a user interface enabling the check-in communication by the second user.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting via the agent the check-in communication to the first user.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting via the agent the check-in communication via at least one of short message service (SMS), email, or phone protocol.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring via the agent at least one of outgoing phone calls or text messages on the mobile communication device to determine when the check-in communication has been initiated by the second user.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, the disabling of the at least one of the application or the functional component of the mobile communication device performed by the agent on the mobile communication device.

10. A computer implemented method of controlling use of a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

establishing a value corresponding to a particular user of the device;

receiving an indication of at least one triggering condition of the particular user of the device, the at least one triggering condition being at least one of enabled by the device or measurable by the device, the at least one triggering condition comprising a failure to perform a check-in communication using the device;

determining via an agent on the mobile communication device the failure by user to perform a check-in via the device;

modifying the value responsive to determining the failure by the user to perform check-in via the device;

determining when the value crosses a particular threshold; and

disabling at least one of an application or a functional component of the device responsive to the value crossing the particular threshold.

11. A computer implemented method of controlling use of a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

establishing a value corresponding to a particular user of the device;

receiving an indication of at least one triggering condition of the particular user of the device, the at least one triggering condition being at least one of enabled by the device or measurable by the device, the at least one triggering condition comprising performing a check-in communication using the device;

determining via an agent on the mobile communication device the performing by a user a check-in via the device;

modifying the value responsive to determining the performing by a user a check-in via the device;

determining when the value crosses a particular threshold; and

enabling at least one of an application or a functional component of the device responsive to the value crossing the particular threshold.

12. A computer implemented method of controlling device use, the method comprising:

receiving from a first user an indication of a schedule of required check-in communications, the schedule corresponding to a second user;

monitoring via a first agent on a first mobile communication device communications to the first mobile communication device;

determining based on the monitored communications to the first mobile communication device when a check-in communication to the first mobile communication device has been initiated by the second user using a second mobile communication device pursuant to the schedule; and

disabling via a second agent on the second mobile communication device at least one of an application or a functional component of the second mobile communication device corresponding to the second user responsive to determining at least one check-in communication has not been received pursuant to the schedule based on the monitored communications to the first mobile communication device.

13. A computer implemented method of controlling device use, the method comprising:

receiving from a first user an indication of a schedule of required check-in communications, the schedule corresponding to a second user;

monitoring a telecommunication carrier system via an application program interface for communications from the second user to the first user;

determining based on the monitored communications when a check-in communication has been initiated by the second user using a mobile communication device pursuant to the schedule; and

disabling at least one of an application or a functional component of the mobile communication device corresponding to the second user responsive to determining at least one check-in communication has not been received by the first user from the second user pursuant to the schedule based on the monitored communications.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13, the disabling of the at least one of the application or the functional component of the mobile communication. device performed by an agent on the mobile communication device.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 13, the disabling of the at least one of the application or the functional component of the mobile communication device performed at a network level via the telecommunication carrier system.