Patent Publication Number: US-2010113224-A1

Title: Controlling device for electronic device usage control

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention related to a controlling device that makes an operational correlation between an apparatus capable of generating an exercise mode and an electronic device. More particularly, in the present invention, only when the apparatus has been operated by a user of the electronic device for an operation duration and frequency reaching predetermined thresholds, power of the electronic device is turned on and the electronic device is allowed to work for a corresponding working period. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     One of the known approaches to change or correct some certain human behavior is to interconnect the certain behavior with another behavior that is positive and take a record of performance of the positive behavior as a necessary condition of performance of this certain behavior. Hereinafter, human behavior of using entertainment electronic devices is taken as an example for illustration of the aforesaid corrective approach. 
     Entertainment electronic devices, such as televisions and video game stations, have significantly changed the way people enjoy their leisure time in this modern world. More and more people rely on entertainment electronic devices to spend their leisure time, and some even revel in using such entertainment electronic devices. However, when using an entertainment electronic device., one usually keeps his/her body still or only with slight movement. If things continue this way, as a natural result of the human nature of indolence, the person is likely to suffer from physical problems due to lack of exercise. Hence, to improve human health, people shall prevent undue use of entertainment electronic devices and maintain proper exercise. One solution for this purpose is to interconnect one&#39;s behavior of using entertainment electronic devices with his/her behavior of exercise and take a record of the exercise behavior as a necessary condition of using the connected entertainment electronic devices so as to encourage the person to exercise with increased duration and frequency or to reduce his/her using time of the connected entertainment electronic devices, thereby, as an ultimate goal, correcting behavior of unduly using entertainment electronic devices. However, one tends to fail in fulfilling such solution when merely relying on mental motive and self-encouragement. On the contrary, with the assistance of some cooperative hardware while fulfilling such solution, the connection and interaction between the two kinds of behavior can be enhanced and the desired outcomes can become more achievable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a controlling device for electronic device usage control. The controlling device makes an operational correlation between an apparatus operated by a user to perform an exercise mode and an electronic device (especially an entertainment electronic device). Therein, only when the apparatus has been operated by the user of the electronic device for operation duration and frequency reaching predetermined thresholds, power of the electronic device can be turned on and the electronic device can be operated for a corresponding time period. 
     The present invention relates to a controlling device for electronic device usage control, wherein an apparatus capable of generating an exercise mode is operated by a user and generates the exercise mode. The controlling device senses and records the exercise mode of the apparatus, such as operation time, operation mode, operation frequency, levels of difficulty and so on. Then the controlling device converts the exercise mode into an operation record and takes the operation record as a condition for an electric device to be turned on, and the controlling device controls the electric device to be turned on, continuously operated, and/or turned off. 
     The present invention relates to a controlling device for electronic device usage control, wherein the controlling device determines an electric device to be turned on and to be continuously operated according to an operation record of an apparatus capable of performing an exercise mode. Basing on this concept, a user is encouraged or forced to operate the apparatus capable of performing the exercise mode by his/her desire or habit for using the electronic device and thereby his/her exercise time is prolonged. Meantime, the user&#39;s behavior of unduly using the entertainment electronic device may be naturally changed or corrected due to post-exercise tiredness. 
     In a controlling device for electronic device usage control, the controlling device recording an exercise mode of an apparatus capable of generating the exercise mode, and converting the exercise mode into an operation record, so that the controlling device uses the operation record as a necessary condition to turn on an electronic device and controls power of the electronic device to be turned on or off. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram showing a controlling device of the present invention coupled with an apparatus capable of generating an exercise mode and an electronic device; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram showing the controlling device in detail; and 
         FIG. 3  is another schematic block diagram showing the controlling device of the present invention coupled with the apparatus and the electronic device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While a preferred embodiment is provided herein for illustrating the concept of the present invention as described above, it is to be understood that the components in these drawings are made for better explanation and need not to be made in scale. Moreover, in the following description, resemble components are indicated by the same numerals. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a controlling device  30  for electronic device usage control is shown. The controlling device  30  serves to makes an operational correlation between at least one apparatus  10  capable of generating an exercise mode and at least one electronic device  20 . The apparatus  10  may include various exercise apparatus and devices for detecting human movement. Exercise apparatus applicable to the present invention are those suitable for domestic installation and use, such as treadmills, exercise bikes, steppers and so on. The devices for detecting human movement may refer to pedometers. The controlling device  30  converts information related to human exercise generated by the device for detecting human movement into the operation record. The electronic device  20  may be an entertainment electronic device, such as a computer, a television or a video game station. The controlling device  30  senses and records the exercise mode of the apparatus  10 , and then converts the exercise mode into an operation record. The controlling device  30  takes the operation record as a condition for an electric device  20  to be turned on, continuously operated, and turned off. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an operation record generating unit  31 , a data transmitting module  32 , a central processing unit  33 , a power controlling module  34  and a user setting module  35  are integrated in a control box  40  so as to realize the controlling device  30 . The control box  40  may be coupled to the apparatus  10  and the electronic device  20 . 
     The operation record generating unit  31  primarily serves to record the exercise mode of the apparatus  10 , such as operation time, operation mode, operation frequency, difficulty and so on, and then converts the exercise mode into the operation record. The operation record is digital data receivable to a program preset in the central processing unit  33 . In an example where a treadmill is implemented as the apparatus  10 , the exercise mode of the apparatus  10  is substantially rotation of a tread of the treadmill. In this case the operation record generating unit  31  senses rotation mode of the tread, such as rotation rate and lasting duration, and converts the rotation mode into the operation record. In another example where a computer-controlled treadmill is implemented as the apparatus  10 , the operation record generating unit  31  can directly access latest information about operation of the treadmill stored in the computer and converts the rotation mode into the operation record. 
     The data transmitting module  32  comprises a data output unit  321  and a data input unit  322 , wherein the data output unit  321  connects with the operation record generating unit  31  and the data input unit  322  connects with the central processing unit  33 . The operation record is delivered to the data input unit  322  by the data output unit  321 . 
     The central processing unit  33  utilizes the preinstalled program to convert the operation record received by the data input unit  322  into on/off time or working time of the electronic device  20  and then generates a power-on signal and a power-off signal. 
     The power controlling module  34  comprises a signal transmitting unit  341  and a signal receiving unit  342 . The signal transmitting unit  341  is coupled with the central processing unit  33  and to receive the power-on signal and power-off signal, and to transmit the signals to the signal receiving unit  342 . The signal receiving unit  342 , when the control box  40  is coupled with the electronic device  20 , is coupled with a power system of the electronic device and to control the power system of the electronic device to be turned on or off according to the signal it receives. 
     The user setting module  35  is coupled with the central processing unit  33 . A plurality of keys  351  and a display screen  352  belonging to the user setting module  35  are arranged at an exterior of the control box  40 . The keys  352  allow the user to set at least one set of conditions such as the turn on/off time of the electronic device  20 . The display screen  352  serves to exhibit the entered settings. 
     By setting the turn on time and turn off time, the user can choose when to use the electronic device  20  as his/her wish, of course, upon the necessary condition that the operation record exists so that the central processing unit  33  is capable of receiving the settings made through the user setting module  35 . When the control box  40  is coupled to the electronic device  20 , the signal transmitting unit  341 , at the turn on time and the turn off time, transmits the power-on signal and the power-off signal to the signal receiving unit  342  respectively, so that the power system of the electronic device  20  is turned on or off at the turn on time and the turn off time. 
     The central processing unit  33  deletes the stored operation record, when: 
     (1) The power system of the electronic device  20  is turned on or off at the set turn on time and turn off time; 
     (2) It exceeds the turn off time; and 
     (3) The central processing unit  33  receives no settings about the turn on time and turn off time of the electronic device from the user setting module  35  receives after a certain time period since generation of the operation record. 
     In other words, when the user uses up the duration he/she sets for using the electronic device  20 , or he/she fails to operate the electronic device  20  during the duration he/she sets for using the electronic device  20 , or he/she fails to use the operation record to set the usage of the electronic device  20 , the operation record is erased by the central processing unit  33 . After that, the user can not use the electronic device  20  until he/she operates the apparatus  10  again to generate a new operation record and then uses the operation record to set a new set of turn on time and turn off time for the electronic device  20  by way of the user setting module  35 . 
     The controlling device connects the apparatus  10  and the electronic device  20  in aspect of use, while the power system of the electronic device  20  is controlled by the controlling device  30 . In a preferred embodiment, only after the apparatus  10  is operated for a predetermined time period, the electronic device  20  can be turned on by the controlling device  30 . The turn on time and working period of the electronic device  20  are determined by the operation duration of the apparatus  10 . For example, when a user operates the apparatus  10  for one hour, the operation record generating unit  31  records that the apparatus  10  has been operated for one hour and converts it into digital data receivable to the program. Then the data output unit  321  transmits the digital data to the data input unit  322  for the central processing unit  33  to convert the digital data into the working period of the electronic device  20  which may be one hour or half an hour subject to the program. Afterward, the user can use the user setting module  35  to set the turn on time and turn off time of the electronic device. For example, the user may set the turn on time as 8:00 PM and the turn off time as 9:00 PM. Therefore, the central processing unit  33 , at eight o&#39;clock in the evening, orders the signal transmitting unit  341  of the power controlling module  34  to transmit a power power-on signal so as to turn on the electronic device  20  at the preset time. Later, at nine o&#39;clock in the evening, the central processing unit  33  orders the signal transmitting unit  341  of the power controlling module  34  to transmit a power power-off signal so as to turn off the electronic device  20  at the preset time. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user can use the user setting module  35  to further set a conversion pattern between the operation duration and the working period. For example, the user may set the conversion pattern as that one hour of operation duration is converted as two hours of working period, or one hour of operation duration is converted as half an hour of working period. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the user setting module  35  may further allow the user to select an exercise item, such as walking, jogging, riding a bicycle, etc. The central processing unit  33  thus automatically converts the operation duration into corresponding working period according to the selected exercise item. 
     The central processing unit  33  can not receive the settings from the user setting module  35  until it obtains an operation record of the apparatus  10 . That is, the central processing unit  33  can only receive the settings from the user setting module  35  and turns on the electronic device  20  only after it obtains an operation record. In another word, a user has to exercise for a certain time to gain a corresponding working period of the electronic device  20 . Hence, the subject matter of the present invention compels the user to increase exercise time or frequency and changes/connects users&#39; undue use of enticement electronic devices, thereby contributing to improve human health. 
     While in the above-mentioned embodiment the operation record generating unit  31 , data transmitting module  32 , central processing unit  33 , power controlling module  34  and user setting module  35  are integrated in the control box  40  so as to realize the controlling device  30 , the control box  40  is substantially a device independent from the apparatus  10  and the electronic device  20 . Besides, the controlling device for electronic device use control is not limited to the form described herein, and may be formed as a chip. 
     In the present invention, it is also feasible to settle the operation record generating unit  31  on the apparatus  10 , to settle the data output unit  321  of the data transmitting module  32  on the apparatus  10 , and/or to settle the signal receiving unit  342  of the power controlling module  34  on the electronic device  20 . Thereupon, the data transmitting module  32  may implement a wireless transmission system or a wired transmission system. The signal transmission between the signal transmitting unit  341  and the signal receiving unit  342  of the power controlling module  34  may also implement a wireless transmission system or a wired transmission system. 
     Although the particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations will be possible without going outside the scope of the invention as disclosed in the claims.