Multi-Device Screen Time Control via User Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing screen time across multiple computing devices for users, especially children, is challenging due to the accessibility of various devices and shared usage in environments, making it difficult for supervisory users to enforce usage limits effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a system that monitors network destinations and user ages to determine age ranges, enabling the tracking of screen time across devices and disabling functional components when thresholds are exceeded, using classifiers trained on network data and user information, with options for router or cloud-based implementations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple computing devices are made accessible to users for convenience and shared usage, then device accessibility and versatility improve, but managing and restricting screen time across these devices becomes more complex and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal supervisory system that can manage multiple different types of computing devices (tablets, smartphones, computers, televisions, media players) through a single unified interface and control mechanism. The system assigns user profiles and supervisory controls that work across all device types, allowing parents to enforce screen time limits without needing separate management systems for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a supervisory user account and control system that acts as an intermediary between the actual users (children) and the computing devices. This intermediary layer monitors usage across all devices, enforces time limits, and provides centralized control, simplifying the management complexity while maintaining multi-device accessibility.
2Productivity
If shared devices are used in common areas to increase usability, then device utilization improves, but accurately tracking and allocating usage time to specific users becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments usage tracking by creating distinct user profiles and accounts for different individuals. Each user has their own identifier and usage history that is tracked separately, even when using shared devices. The system divides the monitoring function into device-level tracking and user-level aggregation, allowing accurate attribution of usage time to specific users across multiple shared devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where usage data from shared devices is continuously collected, processed, and attributed to specific users based on their profiles. The system provides real-time or near-real-time feedback on accumulated usage time, allowing supervisory users to monitor and adjust limits, and enabling accurate tracking despite shared device access.
Data Source
AI summary
A device control method includes monitoring location of a first user device of a first user and receiving an indication of a location of a second user device. The method further includes monitoring use of the second user device and determining a first time of use on the second user device. The first time of use on the second user device is allocated to a use time of a second user based on the location of the first user device relative to the location of the second user device, and a functional component of a third user device of the second user is disabled based at least on the use time of the second user.