Parent-Child Device State Interwork for Usage Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices lack effective mechanisms to manage and restrict usage, particularly for children, across multiple devices, and fail to provide comprehensive control functions and feedback systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus where two electronic devices interwork to manage and restrict usage, enabling features like notification, remote control, and push-to-talk functions, with one device controlling the mode and operations of another based on state changes and user identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a specific mode (e.g., kids mode) is configured within a single electronic device to control usage time and restrict applications, then usage restriction functionality is provided, but the control capability is limited and cannot manage multiple devices comprehensively
Solution Approach 1:
A parent electronic device acts as an intermediary to manage and control one or more child electronic devices. The parent device receives state information from child devices, processes control requests, and sends back control instructions, thereby enabling comprehensive multi-device usage restriction without requiring complex control systems in each individual child device.
Solution Approach 2:
The parent electronic device provides universal control functionality that can manage multiple different child devices (smartphones, tablets, wearables) through a unified interface. This multi-functional approach allows single point of control for diverse devices, enhancing versatility while maintaining simple individual device designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electronic devices are used by children, then usage management coverage is improved, but the ability to centrally control and monitor all devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The parent electronic device serves as a central intermediary that receives state information from multiple child devices and sends control instructions back to them. This mediator architecture enables centralized control and monitoring of all child devices through a single interface, making operation easy while covering multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where child devices continuously report their state information (usage time, current application, location) to the parent device. The parent device processes this feedback and sends appropriate control instructions back, creating a closed-loop control system that simplifies multi-device management.
3Reliability
If state information is transmitted from one electronic device to another, then control feedback is enabled, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous real-time communication, the system uses periodic state information transmission. Child devices send their state information at predetermined intervals to the parent device, which then sends control instructions if needed. This periodic approach maintains reliable control feedback while significantly reducing communication energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device comprising: a communication interface; a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and the communication interface, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: detect a change of state of the electronic device; transmit to a secondary electronic device a first information item associated with the change of state of the electronic device; receive a second information item from the secondary electronic device in response to the first information item; and perform an operation based on the secondary information item.