Information Throttle for Dynamic Device Functionality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to effectively throttle electronic devices or control information flow based on compliance with agreements or events, such as school grades, weather conditions, or location, offering only binary on/off solutions rather than partial functionality adjustments, which are not suitable for managing device usage in educational or workplace settings.
Innovation Solution
An information throttle system that monitors compliance with agreements and adjusts electronic device functionality or information flow between 0% and 100% based on conditions, such as school grades, weather, or location, allowing for partial functionality changes, like reduced screen resolution or bandwidth, to enforce policies and encourage compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If binary on/off control methods are used to manage electronic device functionality, then implementation simplicity is improved, but control precision and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic functionality adjustment by transitioning from static binary on/off control to continuous adjustable control levels. The system dynamically modifies device functionality based on real-time compliance monitoring, allowing smooth transitions between operational states rather than abrupt on/off switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from binary (on/off) to continuous scale (0-100% functionality). This parameter transformation enables precise control of device capabilities by adjusting functionality percentages based on compliance metrics, resolving the contradiction between simple implementation and precise control.
2Reliability
If complete blocking of device functionality is applied to enforce compliance, then policy enforcement effectiveness is improved, but user productivity and device utility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing proportional functionality restriction rather than complete blocking. When compliance violations occur, the system restricts device functionality to a degree corresponding to the severity of the violation, maintaining sufficient device utility for productive tasks while still enforcing policy requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selectively restricting specific device functions rather than uniformly blocking all functionality. Different applications or features may be restricted to different degrees based on their relevance to compliance violations, allowing productive activities to continue while preventing policy-violating behaviors.
3Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of compliance conditions is implemented, then compliance detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity and computational resources deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining compliance conditions, thresholds, and monitoring parameters before actual compliance assessment begins. This upfront configuration reduces real-time computational complexity while maintaining accurate continuous monitoring, as the system only needs to evaluate predefined criteria rather than analyzing all possible compliance aspects.
Data Source
AI summary
Information throttle that modifies a device's access to applications, features, or information to enforce workplace use policies. May be used with “bring your own devices” that belong to a user but are also used at work. For example, the system may disable games, media players, or social media when it determines that a device is used at work. A usage context monitor determines the context in which the device is currently used. The monitor may determine that a device is used for work when the time matches working hours, the device location matches a work site location, or the network connected to a device matches a workplace network. In addition to blocking access to inappropriate features, the information throttle may allow access to sensitive information only when the device is at work. Access may also depend on factors such as user credentials and the identity and configuration of the device.