Managing device usage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11005986-B2
Application number	US-202016835124-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2020
Priority date	May 8, 2018
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A device receives a time-based restriction for usage by a first user with respect to an application, a website or a device-level function. The device receives encrypted data indicating a usage by the first user on a second device with respect to the application, website or device-level function. The device determines that at least one of the usage by the first user on the second device or a usage by the first user on the device with respect to the application, website or device-level function violates the time-based restriction. The device provides, in response to the determining, a notification that the time-based restriction has been violated by the first user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a memory; and
at least one processor configured to:
receive a time-based quota for device usage by a first user;
receive data indicating a usage by the first user on a second device;
determine an aggregated usage based on the usage by the first user on the second device and on a usage by the first user on the device;
determine that the aggregated usage has reached the time-based quota; and
provide a notification that the time-based quota has been reached by the first user.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the time-based quota is with respect to a category of applications, websites or device-level functions.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the category is based on a particular topic, and wherein the category comprises a predefined set of one or more applications, websites or device-level functions corresponding to the particular topic.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
prevent, in response to determining that the aggregated usage has reached the time-based quota for the category, the first user from accessing the applications or websites in the category.

5. The device of claim 2 , wherein determining the aggregated usage comprises de-duping simultaneous usage by the first user on the device and the second device corresponding to a same application, a same website or a same device-level function in the category.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the data indicating the usage is end-to-end encrypted between the device and the second device, such that access to the data indicating the usage is limited to the device and the second device.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the data indicating the usage by the first user on the second device is stored on a server in association with at least one encrypted data container corresponding to usage by the first user across multiple devices, and
wherein the device stores a key for accessing the data indicating the usage from the server.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device receives the data indicating the usage from the second device via a device-to-device communication protocol.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the time-based quota is set by a second user associated with a third device, and
wherein receiving the time-based quota comprises receiving data indicating the time-based quota, access of which is limited to the device, the second device and the third device.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
provide data indicating the aggregated usage to the third device, such that access to the aggregated usage is limited to the device, the second device and the third device.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the third device is configured to obtain, from a public data source, a graphical icon representative of an application which is associated with the aggregated usage and which is not installed on the third device.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
receive an indication of authorization by the second user to adjust the time-based quota; and
adjust, in response to receiving the indication, the time-based quota.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein receiving the indication comprises:
receiving, at the device, user input of an authentication to authorize adjusting the time-based quota.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein receiving the indication comprises:
receiving, from the third device, the indication of authorization by the second user to adjust the time-based quota.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein receiving the data indicating the usage is performed in association with a synchronization policy that indicates when to synchronize the usage between the device and the second device.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the synchronization policy indicates to synchronize the usage more frequently in a case where the first user is associated with multiple devices instead of a single device or as the aggregated usage approaches the time-based quota, or at a current time in a case where user interaction is detected with respect to a user interface associated with the time-based quota for usage.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one processor is further configured to:
detect deletion of an application on the device;
in response to detecting the deletion, remove data on the device that identifies the application, and maintain a record of usage with respect to a category corresponding to the application.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
detect deletion of browser history corresponding to a website; and
in response to detecting the deletion, remove data on the device that identifies the browser history corresponding to the website, and maintain a record of usage with respect to a category corresponding to the browser history corresponding to the website.

19. A computer program product comprising code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the code, when executed by one or more processors causing the one or more processors to:
receive, at a first device, a time-based restriction for usage by a first user;
receive indicating a usage by the first user on a second device;
determine, at the first device, an aggregated usage based on the usage by the first user on the second device and on the usage by the first user on the first device;
determine that the aggregated usage by the first user violates the time-based restriction; and
provide, in response to the determining, a notification that the time-based restriction has been violated by the first user.

20. A method comprising:
receiving, by a first device, a time-based restriction for usage by a first user on the first device and on a second device;
receiving data indicating a usage by the first user on the second device;
determining, by the first device, an aggregated usage based on the usage by the first user on the second device and on the usage by the first user on the first device;
determining that the aggregated usage by the first user violates the time-based restriction; and
providing, in response to the determining, a notification that the time-based restriction has been violated by the first user.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Skogen Christopher G
• Ciudad Jean-Pierre
• Freudiger Julien F
• De Almeida Forjaz De Lacerda Joao Pedro
• Daboo Cyrus
• Fernandez Todd R
• Alsina Thomas
• Iyer Deepak
• Jorgensen Cody D
• Schmidt Edward T
• Yi Astrid

Classifications

• H04M1/72463 Primary

  to restrict the functionality of the device · CPC title

• G06F2221/2137

  Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data · CPC title

• G06F2221/2149

  Restricted operating environment · CPC title

• G06F2221/2141

  Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices · CPC title

• H04L67/535 Primary

  Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34) · CPC title