Managing device usage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11716193-B2
Application number	US-202117317820-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2021
Priority date	May 8, 2018
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

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 restriction for device usage by a first user, the time-based restriction being set by a second user of a second device;
obtain data indicating a usage by the first user on the device;
in response to a determination that the usage by the first user on the device violates the time-based restriction, provide an overlay over a user interface of at least a first application corresponding to the time-based restriction, the overlay indicating that the time-based restriction has been violated by the first user; and
receive, on the device, an authentication by the second user to authorize adjusting the time-based restriction for the usage by the first user.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the time-based restriction 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 first application comprises at least one of the applications in the category or the first application displays one of the websites in the category.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the overlay comprises a user interface for requesting an increase of the time-based restriction.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive data indicating the time-based restriction, access of which is limited to the device and the second device.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
provide data indicating the usage to the second device, such that access to the usage is limited to the device and the second device.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the second device is configured to obtain, from a public data source, a graphical icon representative of an application which is associated with the usage and which is not installed on the second device.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
display, at an application launch interface, an icon that indicates that access is restricted.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one processor is further configured to:
detect deletion of an application on the device; and
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.

11. 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.

12. A computer program product comprising code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the code comprising:
code to receive, at a first device, a time-based restriction for usage by a first user, the time-based restriction being set by a second user of a second device;
code to receive data indicating a usage by the first user on the first device;
code to determine that the usage by the first user on the first device violates the time-based restriction;
code to provide, in response to the determining, an overlay over a user interface of at least a first application corresponding to the time-based restriction, the overlay indicating that the time-based restriction has been violated by the first user; and
code to receive, locally at the first device, an authentication by the second user to authorize adjusting the time-based restriction for the usage by the first user.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 ,
wherein the time-based restriction is with respect to a category of applications, websites or device-level functions.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , 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.

15. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the overlay comprises a user interface for requesting an increase of the time-based restriction.

16. A method comprising:
receiving, by a first device, a time-based restriction for usage by a first user on the first device, the time-based restriction being set by a second user of a second device;
determining that usage by the first user violates the time-based restriction;
providing, in response to the determining, an overlay over a user interface of at least a first application corresponding to the time-based restriction, the overlay indicating that the time-based restriction has been violated by the first user; and
receiving, locally at the first device, an authentication by the second user to authorize adjusting the time-based restriction for the usage by the first user.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the time-based restriction is with respect to a category of applications, websites or device-level functions.

18. The method of claim 17 , 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.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
displaying, at an application launch interface, an icon that indicates that access is restricted.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the overlay comprises a user interface for requesting an increase of the time-based restriction.

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

• 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

• H04L9/0894

  Escrow, recovery or storing of secret information, e.g. secret key escrow or cryptographic key storage · CPC title