Mobile Device Focus Restriction via Wireless Beacon Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile device management systems rely heavily on IT administrators, which can be inefficient and costly, especially when managing devices outside of designated areas, and raise privacy concerns due to GPS-based location tracking.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enable a primary mobile device, such as a teacher's tablet, to perform selected mobile device management functions on secondary devices, using wireless beacons to determine location and enforce policies, reducing power consumption and maintaining user privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS-based location tracking is used to enforce device policies, then device management control is improved, but power consumption increases and user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces GPS-based location tracking with wireless beacon detection (Bluetooth Low Energy) to determine device location. This substitution reduces power consumption significantly while maintaining the ability to enforce location-based device policies. The beacon detection system uses低功耗 wireless communication instead of continuous GPS satellite communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless beacons as intermediary objects that mediate between the device and the location tracking system. These beacons are placed in specific locations (classrooms, offices) and provide location information to devices without requiring GPS. The be act as intermediaries that enable location-based policy enforcement with reduced power consumption.
2Reliability
If GPS-based location tracking is used to enforce device policies, then device management control is improved, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements location-based policy enforcement with local quality by applying different management rules to different physical locations using wireless beacons. Each beacon location (e.g., classroom, office) has specific policies applied locally without requiring continuous GPS tracking. This allows precise location-based control while minimizing privacy intrusion by only tracking when devices are in beacon-covered areas.
3Reliability
If IT administrators manage all mobile device functions, then centralized control is improved, but operational efficiency decreases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments device management functions by introducing a manager device that operates autonomously within specific locations (classrooms, offices). This manager device handles local device management tasks (restricting focus, clearing passcodes, initiating screen mirroring) without requiring IT administrator intervention. IT administrators maintain centralized control through policy definition but delegate operational execution to local manager devices, improving efficiency while preserving centralized oversight.
Data Source
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AI summary
A particular method includes receiving, at a manager mobile device, a selection of a managed mobile device of a plurality of managed mobile devices. The method also includes displaying, at the manager mobile device, a list of applications executable by the managed mobile device, a list of websites accessible by the managed mobile device, or both. The method further includes receiving, at the manager mobile device, a selection of an application from the list of applications or a selection of a website from the list of websites. The method includes initiating, at the manager mobile device, transmission of data to the managed mobile device instructing the managed mobile device to restrict focus to the selected application or the selected website.