Patent Publication Number: US-2005143175-A1

Title: System and method for regulating use of an electronic device

Description:
RELATION TO OTHER APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/745,515, entitled SYSTEM FOR REGULATING USE OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE, to Steven Ahlquist, filed on Dec. 30, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to a system and method for regulating the use of an electronic device. Specifically, there is an electronic reward system and method that regulates the use of, for example, a television, computer, Play Station®, Nintendo®, etc.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Since the introduction of the personal computer(PC) users have been playing games thereon. Since the introduction of the PC, the proliferation of computer games has grown at an accelerated rate. So much so, those specialty game computers, such as Nintendo® or Play Station®, have developed strong niche markets. Additionally, cable and satellite television offers hundreds of channels including movie channels, and football, basketball, and baseball cable packages.  
      As a result of this proliferation of PC games and television programs, people, especially young teenage men, have become almost addicted to playing the computer games and watching television. One survey estimates that some people spend more time playing computer games than watch television, which amounted to literally thirty seven hours or more a week. As a result, parents are clamoring for a way to control or limit the amount of time an adolescent may spend on the computer, television or other similar entertainment devices.  
      The following patents are offered to assist in understanding the state of the art known to be at least somewhat related to the present invention, and are herein incorporated by reference for their supporting teachings:  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,325, is a child sleep-time timer and clock device.  
      U.S. publication no.: US 2003/0005072 A1, is a system and method for monitoring computer usage.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,583, is a time monitoring portable game system.  
      U.S. publication no. 2003/0008268 A1, is a network-assisted behavior management system.  
      It is believed that none of the above incorporated patents teach, alone or in combination, the present illustrated embodiments of the invention.  
      Therefore, it can be seen that there is a need for a system and method for regulating the use of an electronic device. Beneficially, such a system and method would allow guardians, particularly parents, to control the amount of time their children are engaged in front of the computer or television. Additionally, such a system rewards children for performing duties and rewards the parents as the duties are accomplished.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available technology. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a system and method for regulating the use of an electronic device. Specifically, there is a system and method that regulates the use of, for example, the television, computer, Play Station®, Nintendo®, etc.  
      A system of the present invention is presented to control access to an electrical device. The system includes a controller module positioned between the electrical device and a display and a tracking module electrically coupled to the controller module, and designed to keep track of an amount of time a user has available to use in accessing the electronic device. The controller module interrupts transmission of data from the electrical device to the display when the tracking module determines that the amount of time the user has available has expired.  
      In another embodiment, the system may be configured to secure power and data transmission wires to the controller module.  
      In yet another embodiment, the system allows a manager to add time to a user profile so that the user can use the electronic device for an extended period of time.  
      In still another embodiment, the controller module causes the electrical device to power off when the tracking module determines that the amount of time the user has available has expired. In another embodiment, the controller module distorts the transmission of data to cause an image to be presented on the display to be unrecognizable.  
      The system, in another embodiment, is configured to allow a manager to increase and decrease time allotments of users of the electronic device.  
      A method of the present invention is also presented for controlling access to an electronic device. The method in the disclosed embodiments substantially includes the steps necessary to carry out the functions presented above with respect to the operation of the described apparatus and system. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a controller module positioned between the electrical device and a display, providing a tracking module electrically coupled to the controller module, and causing the controller module to interrupt transmission of data from the electrical device to the display.  
      The method, in other embodiments, also may include the steps of providing a locking mechanism to prevent a user from removing data transfer wires that connect the controller module to the electronic device and the display, an interface screen to allow programming of the controller module, a tracking module designed to keep track of an amount of time a user has available to use in accessing the electronic device, and a reward module designed to enable a manager to add time to a user profile stored in the tracking module for when the user performs selected activities.  
      Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.  
      Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.  
      These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1A  is a schematic view of a system for regulating the use of electronic devices through a television according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 1B  is a schematic view of a system for regulating the use of an electronic device through a computer monitor according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating major steps in operation of the system illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a representation of a screen illustration for making sections requested in  FIG. 2  according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is another screen illustration related to selections from  FIG. 2  according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is yet another screen illustration related to exercise rules according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is yet another screen illustration related to learning rules according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is yet another screen illustration related to seasonal exercise rules according to one embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 8  is yet another screen illustration related to continuous use exercise rules according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is optionally included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.  
      Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.  
      Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules, or systems in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like.  
      Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module.  
      Indeed, a module of executable code could be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.  
      For the purpose of this disclosure, a user is defined as a person that is to have limited access to electronic games or devices and will be subject to the governing rules. A manager is a person that will set the governing rules that determine the amount of time the user(s) may have to access the electrical devices. The manager is also the person that will determine how many time units of reward have been earned and will credit those time units to the appropriate user. Time units are defined as equal amounts of time, but are flexible enough in definition to be described as being minuets, hours, half days, etc.  
      A general description of the goal of the present invention is to provide a control device that will allow parents to regulate the amount of time their child can use an electronic device, such as a computer for playing video games, or a television. Rules are set up so that the child knows that if they go for a 30 min. walk, for example, that they will receive an award for a certain amount of time to play a computer game or watch television, but not an unlimited amount of time. The control device will automatically limit the amount of time that the electronic device is capable of being used.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , there are illustrated certain embodiments of an electronic device control system  10 . Specifically, there are illustrated various electronic devices  12 , which include, for example, a television  14  that enables devices like Nintendo®, Sony Playstation®, Xbox® 16, and that also receives transmissions from satellite and cable boxes  18 .  FIG. 1B  also illustrates a computer display  19  and processor  21 . It is noted that although the illustrated embodiments show various types of electronic devices  12 , all types of electronic devices  12  are envisioned, and the illustration is not intended to be limiting. Each electronic device  12  electrically connects to the control system  10  via an appropriate data transfer device  20 , which may be a USB cable, a serial cable, Ethernet cable, phone cable, coaxial cable, or any other known device for transferring data.  
      In one embodiment, the control system  10  includes a controller module  30  intended to control data transfer between the electronic devices  12  and the television  14  or display  19 . A user activates the controller module  30  by entering a personal identification number (“PIN”), or code, and accessing a tracking module  50 , which determines how much time is available for the particular user to use the electronic device  12 . The controller module  30  records how much time is used by the user and subtracts from the user&#39;s time account and records the new time amount available for the next access to the controller module  30 . When the user&#39;s time limits expire, the controller module  30  interferes with the user&#39;s ability to interact with the electronic device  12 . More specifically, the controller module  30  is configured to intercept, attenuate, distort, or block an audio and video signal from the satellite or cable box, the video gaming system, or the television. In another embodiment, the controller module  30  commands the satellite or cable box, television, or video gaming system to power off. In still another embodiment, the controller module  30  displays a timer indicating that time is expiring and that the electronic device will be unusable within a period of time. The timer may be a countdown timer that shows all the time or it may only show when a predetermined period of time is left for use.  
      In one embodiment, the control system  10  may optionally include a locking mechanism  32 , which is designed to securely hold the data transfer devices  20  therein and to prevent easy removal therefrom. One way for ensuring only authorized removal occurs is to use a pass code or locking system incorporated into the locking mechanism. For example, this locking mechanism  32  could be as simple as a combination lock, or as complex as an electronic locking mechanism being unlocked from entering codes on a touch screen  34 . The main purpose is to prevent bypassing the control system  10 . The locking mechanism  32  is not required to be coupled to the controller module  30  as illustrated, but is intended to be part of the control system  10 .  
      Additionally, in another embodiment, the control system  10  includes some sort of input screen  34 , which would function much like a personal digital assistant, or PDA, using touch screen type functioning. The screen  34  is intended to provide information and queries, like establishing access codes for removal of the plug locking means  32 , manager access codes, or user access codes. Additionally, the screen  34  enables multiple users to access the control system  10 . For example, when two or more people are enrolled in the system  10 , they will have different reward rules and different time usage on the electronic devices  12 . The screen  34  allows for each user to have an individual sign-on code to enable only their allocated time to be used when using the electronic devices  12 . Additionally, the manager of the system  10  will use the screen to add on reward time units for the users for performing authorized activities as will be made clearer herein below.  
      There is also illustrated in  FIG. 1 a  reward module  40  that is part of the system  10 . The reward module  40  is illustrated to be an imbedded software program, and is designed to use the same screen  34  and other features illustrated therein. A user would simply log on with an individual code that would be entered on the touch screen  34 , or some similar fashion of entering information. Thus, the user could activate the controller module  30  to recognize the particular user, access the stored time units for the user available for the electronic device  12  usages, and enable power to be supplied to the selected electronic devices  12 .  
      In another embodiment, similar to the controller module  30 , the reward module  40  optionally could be a separate hardware piece that has a separate screen and other features. In operation, the user will access the reward module  40 , interact with the screen  42 , and have reward time units assigned to the individual in accordance to the specific rules, which are described below.  
       FIG. 1  additionally teaches implementing another embodiment of the tracking module  50 . The tracking module  50  may take the form of software or smart card, credit card or memory card. If the tracking module  50  is in a card form, a card reader  36  would be mounted to the control system  10 . The reader  36  would work like a credit card, smart card, memory card reader, or any other known or future identification reader methods. Thus, each user would have an individual card  46 , which is used to 1) activate the controller module  30 , 2) use the reward module  40  to add reward time units to the card, and 3) record time units used during activation of the electronic devices  12 .  
      In yet a further embodiment, it is noted that the control system  10  is illustrated as being separate from the electronic devices  12 . However, it is contemplated to include the control system  10  within a selected electronic device  12 . For example, if the control system  10  were implemented in Nintendo®, there could be a count down timer displayed on the monitor to indicate the amount of time reward units remaining. Upon reaching a low number of reward time units, the game may display options to save the game before executing a shut down sequence. The control of the electronic device would remain the same, in that the access to that device could be shut down for that user.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates specific rule generation options that will be displayed on the screen  34 . Uniquely, the manager may select all existing rules, select certain existing rules, modify existing rules, create new rules, create rules per person or user, create rules per season, or create rules per continuous use.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a potential list of classes of activities that would be listed on screens  34  or  42 , which may be created during the rules creation stage  52  and  54 . Specifically, there are listed classes of activities such as exercise, learning, character, spiritual, other, or by person.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of the invention related to the specific class of activities related to exercise and provides the related rules for a person named Mary. Uniquely, Mary has four activities: walking, running, biking and aerobics. The specific rules provided for Mary to do walking, for example, if she does 10 units of walking, she receives 10 units of reward time, and 20 units of walking will earn her 30 units of reward time. Additionally, the activity of Biking for 20 units of time will earn 10 units of reward time. Notice that reward units do not need to be equal to the activity performance time. Some reward time may be higher and some lower than the actual time performing the activity. The actual rules are completely adjustable to meet the individual needs of the user. In clarification, the rules are generally defined, by way of this illustration, as the amount of units of time required to perform the particular activity and the calculation for the amount of reward unit time associated with each.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates the learning rules associated with three different users for the same activities. For example, for performing the writing activity, Mary receives one unit of reward time, Mark receives two units of reward time, and John receives four units of reward time. This illustrates, again, that the rules are completely adjustable to the individual. This further illustrates that there would be three different access codes so that the three listed individuals would have three different reward unit accounts to access the electrical devices  12 . This example also illustrates that it is possible to display the same activities for different people.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates the seasonal exercise rules associated for Mary. For example, Mary would have different rules for summer (SUM) and winter (WIN) for the same activity. Specifically, running in summer provides 15 reward units while running in winter will provide 30 reward units for the same 10 units of running. The reasoning for this could be that running for Mary may be harder to do in the winter and thus it is determined to increase the rewards for her when she runs in the winter.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates the rules for performing an activity for a continuous amount of time for Mary. For example, Mary would receive 15 units of reward time for 10 units of running time if she has been continuously running for less than a month (1 MON). However, once her continuous running activities have exceeded two months (2 MON), her reward has increased to thirty units of reward time for the same 10 units of running time. Thus, the rules programming steps allow for calculations for continuous performance of a desired activity.  
      In a further embodiment of the illustrated invention, it is contemplated to optionally include a base amount of reward time units on a scheduled time period, like on a weekly basis. Thus, there would be an allowance of reward time units provided that is not dependent upon performing any activity, and is merely provided every Monday, for example. The individual amount of time reward units obviously could be different for each user.  
      In yet an additional embodiment of the illustrated invention, it is contemplated to optionally include reward calculations and rules for weight loss. Thus, if Mary, for example, needed to watch her weight, she could receive an additional weekly allowance for not exceeding a certain weight. Of course, this rule could account for different levels of weight maintenance with different reward time units available for each level. For example, 50 reward units for keeping a weight of 145#, and 75 reward units for keeping a weight of 140#, etc. Additionally, if Mary needed to loose weight, she could receive reward time units for every amount of weight that she has lost in a given time period.  
      It is a further embodiment of the invention to provide the ability to suspend a certain user&#39;s access to the electronic equipment  12 . This could be done in any number of known ways. For example, the control module  30 , the reward module  40  or the tracking module  50  could have the particular user identification code suspended for a certain amount of time or permanently removed.  
      Another embodiment of the invention also contemplates allowing the manager to deduct amounts of reward time units from any particular user.  
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating the general operation  50  of the illustrated embodiment  10 . Specifically, the manager of the rules will interact with the screen  42  and would be taken through a series of screens to establish the initial classes of activities and specific rules as previously illustrated in  FIGS. 2-7 . The step is to determine if the manager wants to use the existing pre-programmed rules  52 , if not, the manager is allowed to modify the classes of activities and specific rules  54 . Specifically, the manager would be able to add new rules or classes, modify the existing rules or classes, and keep intact other rules or classes of activities.  
      Continuing the description of  FIG. 8 , after the rules are established, the rules tracking module  56 , which may be the card  46 , is loaded with the appropriate rules information. One embodiment for loading rules could include the use of smart cards, or chip imbedded cards, or other portable piece capable of having the rules loaded thereon. The smart card  46  is then intended to hold specific rules related to the specific user. Where each card  46  would contain different rules and stored reward time.  
       FIG. 8  further illustrates the step of programming the reward module  40  with individual security codes and selected rules associated with the individual  58 . Specifically, programming the individual security codes includes creating codes for both the individual using the rules to access the electronic devices  12  and the individual responsible for managing the compliance with the rules and entering time rewards accordingly. Obviously, the managing person should have an entry code that is to be entered before they can give reward time to the user for performing the activity that earns them the reward time. That reward time will then be stored for the particular user to access the electronic devices  12  for a given amount of time. The reward time may be stored on the card  46 , may be stored in the controller module  30 , or reward module  40 , or may be stored as a separate module.  
       FIG. 8  additionally illustrates the step of performing an activity that corresponds to the rules  60 . This is where the user selects a particular class of activity and selects a particular activity to perform for a designated unit of time. Thereafter, the manager will update  62  the tracking module, which may be the card  46  or just entering the user&#39;s code in the controller module  30  as previously described, to access the rules that are tailored to the user. The manager then enters their personal access codes to enable the manager to enter the units of time performed by the user for the specific activity, like running for Mary. The reward module  40  will then add the corresponding reward units of time to the tracking module, or card  46 . Next, the user is free to access the controller module  30  to enable the electronic device  12  to be played by the user for the amount of reward time units  64 . Once the user accesses the controller module  30 , reward units are removed from the tracking module during electronic device usage  66 . When the user disengages from the electronic device, the user may reengage the electronic device  12  if there are any remaining reward units of time, or they may perform other classes of activities to gain additional reward units of time  68 .  
      It is understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the presently illustrated invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.  
      For example, in some situations a cable box, or satellite box is not necessary to receive cable television, rather the cable data is converted at a remote location and transmitted as digital data over a network. In such circumstances, it is understood that the electrical device is the device located at the remote location causing the data information to transmit across the network.  
      Although the illustrated embodiments show data transfer cables  20  being used to transfer data from electronic devices  12  to the system  10 , it is envisioned that wireless systems may also utilize the unique features of the system  10 . Data transfer cables  20  are not necessary to the implementation of the invention.  
      It is envisioned that the connections of the electronic device  12 , which are configured to connect to other electronic devices, may be located anywhere on the electronic device  12 , including on a single back side, similar to a DVD player of a VCR.  
      It is further envisioned that the system  10  may be electronic device  12  specific. In other words, the system  10  may be manufactured to include only those ports necessary for the particular electronic device  12 . More particularly, for applications wherein the system  10  is connected to a video game module, there is rarely a need for a coaxial connector. Accordingly, the system  10  may be sold as a stripped down version to be used only with video game modules, without the necessary connectors commonly used with televisions and computer displays.  
      Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.