Mobile Terminal Application Time Control via Server Policy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile office technologies lack effective management and control over mobile terminals, allowing users to access entertainment applications during work hours, which affects office efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that control the usage time of applications on mobile terminals by sending terminal identities and application start requests to a controlling apparatus, which sets time control information based on local time and application identities, enabling the terminal to manage application availability and access permissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users are allowed free access to applications on mobile terminals, then user convenience and application accessibility are improved, but office efficiency deteriorates due to unauthorized use of entertainment applications during work hours

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication accessibilityVSAvoidoffice efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of application accessibility by introducing time-based control. Applications are not completely blocked but are made accessible only during specific time windows. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation within authorized time frames while preventing productivity loss during work hours.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal device communicates with the server to report application usage status and receives control instructions. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of application accessibility based on time policies, ensuring that user convenience is maintained when appropriate while preventing misuse during work periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If time control restrictions are implemented on applications, then office efficiency is improved by preventing entertainment use during work, but user convenience deteriorates due to limited application accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoffice efficiencyVSAvoidapplication accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making application accessibility dynamic rather than static. Applications transition between accessible and inaccessible states based on time conditions. This resolves the contradiction by providing strict control during work hours while automatically becoming more permissive during authorized time windows, balancing productivity and convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If the terminal controls application usage locally, then response speed is improved, but control precision deteriorates due to inability to enforce time restrictions accurately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidtime control accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the terminal and the time control logic. The terminal maintains local control for immediate response while the server provides centralized time policy management and synchronization. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by combining fast local execution with precise centralized time management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Measurement precision

If the server manages all time control decisions, then control precision is improved through centralized management, but response speed deteriorates due to network dependency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime control accuracyVSAvoidresponse speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-synchronizing time policies from the server to the terminal and pre-determining application accessibility states. This allows the terminal to make immediate local decisions without real-time network communication, resolving the contradiction by combining centralized policy precision with local execution speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2733909B8Terminal control method and device, and terminal
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 HUAWEI DEVICE CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling a terminal, and a terminal. The method includes: receiving a terminal identity sent by a terminal; acquiring, according to the terminal identity, time control information that corresponds to an application identity of an application on the terminal; and sending the time control information to the terminal, so that the terminal controls, according to the time control information, use time of the application that corresponds to the application identity. The present invention enables the use time of the application on a terminal to be controlled according to the time control information.