Patent Publication Number: US-2010125625-A1

Title: Method for Restricting Usage of a Mobile Device for Participating in a Session

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of mobile devices and particularly relates to restricting the usage of a mobile device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Today, mobile devices are widely used in all spheres of modern life. Significant growth in the field of electronics and telecommunication has revolutionized the way we connect to people and avail services at distant places. The mobile devices, particularly mobile phones, are used worldwide for personal as well as business communication. Generally, a person carries a mobile phone most of the times to stay connected with his acquaintances, but sometimes the mobile phone becomes a source of interruption in certain situations and places. 
     There are many places where usage of a mobile phone is restricted, for example, in educational institutes, theatres, offices, airplanes, high security zones, etc. Moreover, there are certain situations where people themselves want to restrict the usage of their mobile phones, for example, in a classroom, during a seminar, in a meeting, etc. In such places and situations, people are often asked to switch off their mobile phones. By switching off the mobile phone, a person might miss an important call. Therefore, rather than switching off the mobile phones, it is preferable to have a mechanism to restrict the usage of the mobile phone. 
     Some techniques have been proposed in past for restricting usage of mobile phones. One of those techniques is a method for controlling usage of a mobile terminal based on an authorization code. A usage specification including an identification of allowed numbers, an identification of restricted numbers, a usage time limitation, etc. is specified for the mobile terminal. Usage of the mobile terminal is limited based on the usage specification responsive to receipt of a valid authorization code. The primary use of this technique is for a parent to restrict a child from using the mobile terminal. 
     Another known technique is a method for managing a mobile phone answering mode and outgoing message based on a location of the mobile phone. This technique employs a location system to ascertain current location of a mobile phone being carried by a user. Based on the current location, it is determined whether operation of the mobile phone to receive and/or send calls should be restricted. In addition, a message is provided to calling parties while the mobile phone is located in an area where use of the mobile telephone to receive calls is prohibited. This technique restricts incoming and/or outgoing calls without asking the user permission. As soon as the user enters a location where calls are to be restricted, the mobile phone automatically restricts reception of the calls. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system diagram for mobile devices participating in a session hosted on a server in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a mobile device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the server of  FIG. 1  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for facilitating a mobile device to participate in a session hosted on a server, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a method for facilitating a server to impose restrictions on a mobile device to enable the mobile device to participate in a session, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present disclosure, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to restricting usage of a mobile device for participating in a session. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. 
     It will be appreciated that embodiments of the disclosure described herein may be comprised of one or more conventional processors and unique stored program instructions that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions for restricting usage of a mobile device for participating in a session described herein. The non-processor circuits may include, but are not limited to, a radio receiver, a radio transmitter, signal drivers, clock circuits, power source circuits, and user input devices. As such, these functions may be interpreted as steps of a method for restricting usage of a mobile device for participating in a session. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. Thus, methods and means for these functions have been described herein. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and integrated circuits (ICs) with minimal experimentation. 
     All of the embodiments described in this Detailed Description are exemplary embodiments provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure and not to limit the scope of the disclosure which is defined by the claims. 
     The present disclosure discloses a method for facilitating a mobile device to participate in a session hosted on a server. In one embodiment, the mobile device requests the server to participate in the session. In response to the request, the mobile receives a set of restrictions from the server. The set of restrictions includes restrictions to be imposed on one or more applications residing in the mobile device. The mobile device determines whether to accept or reject the received set of restrictions. Upon accepting the restrictions, the mobile device sends an acceptance message to the server confirming imposition of the restrictions. Thereafter, the mobile device obtains access to the session hosted on the server. 
       FIG. 1  shows a system  100  having various mobile devices participating in a session hosted on a server. In one embodiment, the system  100  includes a plurality of mobile devices  102 - 1  to  102 -N, collectively referred to as mobile devices  102 . The mobile devices  102  include, but not limited to, mobile phones, pagers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), laptops, etc. The system  100  also includes a server  104  that communicates with presenter devices  106 - 1  and  106 - 2 , collectively referred to as presenter devices  106 , for hosting one or more sessions controlled via the presenter devices  106 . The presenter devices  106  refer to personal computers or laptops possessed by presenters or instructors conducting the sessions. The mobile devices  102  and the server  104  can communicate with each other via a network  108 . The network  108  can be any wired or a wireless network and can include various network devices such as switches, routers, bridges, multiplexers, de-multiplexers, servers, client devices, etc. The mobile devices  102  can connect to the network  108  through either wireless or wired communication links. For example, in the system  100 , the mobile devices  102 - 1  to  102 - 3  communicate with the server  104  wirelessly by accessing the network  108  via a wireless access point  110 , whereas the mobile devices  102 - 4  to  102 -N connect to the network  108  over wired connections. 
     In one embodiment, the system  100  may refer to a system employed in an educational institute like schools or colleges for imparting education to students. In such a scenario, the mobile devices  102  can be mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), or laptops carried by the students in a classroom. The server  104  is a server maintained by the educational institute to host educational sessions led by the instructors through the presenter devices  106 . Each of the mobile devices  102  carried by the students have capabilities to participate in the session hosted on the server  104 . The classroom can have wireless connectivity or individual wired connections for the mobile devices  102 . A student can also participate in the session without being present in the classroom, if the student has connectivity to the network  108  to access the server  104 . 
     The students using their respective mobile devices can receive invitation alert from the presenter and can send request messages to the server  104  to participate in a session hosted on the server  104  by a presenter device, for example, the presenter device  106 - 1 . The server  104  sends a set of restrictions to the mobile devices  102  before providing access to the session. The mobile devices  102  may accept or reject the restrictions based upon discretion of respective students carrying the mobile devices  102 . One or more of the mobile devices  102  accepting the restrictions sends an acceptance message(s) to the server  104 , and in response obtains access to the session hosted on the server  104 . 
     In alternate embodiments, the system  100  can refer to a system employed in a multinational organization for conducting a conference, a meeting, or a seminar with participants present at different office locations. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating various components of the mobile device  102 . In one embodiment, the mobile device  102  includes a processor  200 , one or more network interfaces  202  for establishing connection with the server  104  and other mobile devices present in the system  100 , a transceiver  204 , and a memory  206  for storing operating instructions that are executed by the processor  200 . Although not shown, the mobile device  102  also can include an antenna, a duplexer, a circulator, or other highly isolative means for intermittently providing data from the transceiver  204  to the antenna and from the antenna to the transceiver  204 . The mobile device  102 , for example, can be an integrated unit containing at least all the elements depicted in  FIG. 2 , as well as any other elements necessary for the mobile device  102  to perform its particular functions. 
     The processor  200  includes one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), state machines, logic circuitry, or any other device or devices that process information based on operational or programming instructions. Such operational or programming instructions are stored in the memory  206 . The memory  206  can be an IC (Integrated Circuit) memory chip containing any form of RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read-Only Memory), a floppy disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a hard disk drive, a DVD (Digital Video Disc), a flash memory card or any other medium for storing digital information. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that when the processor  200  has one or more of its functions performed by a state machine or logic circuitry, the memory  206  containing the corresponding operational instructions can be embedded within the state machine or logic circuitry. 
     The transceiver  204  includes a transmitter  204 - 1  and a receiver  204 - 2 . The transceiver  204  enables the mobile device  102  to communicate with the server  104  and other devices in the network  108 . In this regard, the transmitter  204 - 1  and the receiver  204 - 2  include conventional circuitry to enable digital or analog transmissions over a wireless communication channel. The transceiver  204  is designed to operate over air interface such as 802.11 WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), 802.16 WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the like. It is to be understood that the mobile device  102  can communicate with the server  104  over a wired connection and through appropriate interfaces such as a USB port (Universal Serial Bus). 
     The transmitter  204 - 1  can be designed to allow transmitting to multiple devices on multiple frequency bands. The receiver  204 - 2  is designed to allow receiving of radio frequency (RF) signals from within at least one bandwidth and optionally more bandwidths, if the communications with the proximate device are in a frequency band other than that of the network communications. 
     The implementations of the transmitter  204 - 1  and the receiver  204 - 2  depend on the implementation of the mobile device  102 . For example, the transmitter  204 - 1  and the receiver  204 - 2  can be implemented as an appropriate wireless modem, or as conventional transmitting and receiving components of two-way wireless communication devices. Most, if not all, of the functions of the transceiver  204  can be implemented in a processor, such as the processor  200 . 
     The memory  206  includes various modules containing instructions for functioning of the mobile device  102 . The functioning of the mobile device  102  is explained using the modules to facilitate better understanding; however, these modules do not limit implementation various embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, the memory  206  includes a request module  208 , a device access manager  210 , a session manager  212 , and other modules  214  such as operating system, application support software, and other similar modules that assist in proper functioning of the mobile device  102 . 
     The request module  208  enables the mobile device  102  to request the server  104  for participating in a session hosted on the server  104 . In one embodiment, the request module  208  sends a request message to the server  104 , requesting the server  104  to allow the mobile device  102  to participate in the session. The mobile device  102  can send the request message as a text message via Short Message Service (SMS) or e-mail. The mobile device  102  can also request the server  104  via voice communication or an IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System). In response to the request message, the mobile device  102  receives an authentication message from the server  104 , directing the mobile device  102  to send credentials of a user carrying the mobile device  102 . In response to the authentication message, the request module  208  sends the credentials of the user to the server  104 . The credentials can include, for example, a username and a password, or biometric information of the user. In one embodiment, the mobile device  102  and the server  104  mutually authenticate each other, where the mobile device  102  verifies the server  104  based on a server ID, or the like. After authentication, the request module  208  informs the device access manager  210  about completion of authentication process. 
     The device access manager  210  manages access to applications residing in the mobile device  102  based on a set of restrictions received from the server  104 . Upon successful authentication, the mobile device  102  receives a set of restrictions from the server  104 . The user of the mobile device  102  reviews the received set of restrictions and decides whether to accept the restrictions. The device access manager  210  analyzes the decision of the user and responds to the server  104  accordingly. In case the user decides to reject the restrictions, the device access manager  210  sends a rejection message to the server  104  and terminates any further communication with the server  104 . However, if the user decides to accept the restrictions, the device access manager  210  analyzes the set of restrictions and imposes the restrictions on the mobile device  102 , thereby restricting the use of one or more applications residing in the mobile device  102 . After imposing restrictions on the mobile device  102 , the device access manager  210  sends an acceptance message to the server  104 , confirming the imposition of the restrictions on the mobile device  102 . Thereafter, the mobile device  102  receives an authorization message from the server  104 , thereby providing access to the session to the mobile device  102 . After receiving the authorization message, the device access manager  210  informs the session manager  212  that access to the session is available. 
     The session manager  212  manages communication with the server  104  during the session as well as when the session is temporarily terminated. The session manager  212  receives various messages from the server  104  during the session. The messages can include questions, surveys, lectures, etc. In one embodiment, the session manager  212  provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for viewing multimedia presentations shared by an instructor leading the session through the server  104 . The session manager  212  also enables the user to send responses to the messages received from the server  104 . The session manager  212  may also have an option to store the messages and the presentations received from the server  104  for future reference. Based on a request from the user, the session manager  212  can ask the device access manager  210  to disable the access to the session, and thereby remove the restrictions imposed on the mobile device  102 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating components of the server  104  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the server  104  includes a processor  300 , one or more network interfaces  302 , a transceiver  304 , and a memory  306  for storing operating instructions that are executed by the processor  300 . Although not shown, server  104  also can include an antenna, a duplexer, a circulator, or other highly isolative means for intermittently providing data from the transceiver  304  to the antenna and from the antenna to the transceiver  304 . The server  104 , for example, can be an integrated unit containing at least all the elements depicted in  FIG. 3 , as well as any other elements necessary for the server  104  to perform its particular functions. 
     The processor  300  includes one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), state machines, logic circuitry, or any other device or devices that process information based on operational or programming instructions. Such operational or programming instructions are stored in the memory  306 . The memory  306  can be an IC (Integrated Circuit) memory chip containing any form of RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read-Only Memory), a floppy disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a hard disk drive, a DVD (Digital Video Disc), a flash memory card or any other medium for storing digital information. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that when the processor  300  has one or more of its functions performed by a state machine or logic circuitry, the memory  306  containing the corresponding operational instructions can be embedded within the state machine or logic circuitry. 
     The transceiver  304  includes a transmitter  304 - 1  and a receiver  304 - 2 . The transceiver  304  enables the server  104  to communicate with mobile devices  102  and other devices in the network  108 . In this regard, the transmitter  304 - 1  and the receiver  304 - 2  include conventional circuitry to enable digital or analog transmissions over a wireless communication channel. The transceiver  304  is designed to operate over air interface such as 802.11 WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), 802.16 WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution) and the like. It is to be understood that the server  104  can communicate with the mobile devices  102  over wired connection as well. 
     The transmitter  304 - 1  can be designed to allow transmitting to multiple devices on multiple frequency bands. The receiver  304 - 2  is designed to allow receiving of radio frequency (RF) signals from within at least one bandwidth and optionally more bandwidths, if the communications with the proximate device are in a frequency band other than that of the network communications. 
     The implementations of the transmitter  304 - 1  and the receiver  304 - 2  depend on the implementation of the server  104 . For example, the transmitter  304 - 1  and the receiver  304 - 2  can be implemented as an appropriate wireless modem, or as conventional transmitting and receiving components of two-way wireless communication devices. Most, if not all, of the functions of the transceiver  304  can be implemented in a processor, such as the processor  300 . 
     The memory  306  includes various modules containing instructions for functioning of the server  104 . The functioning of the server  104  is explained using the modules to facilitate better understanding; however, these modules do not limit various embodiments of techniques disclosed in the present disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, the memory  306  includes a communication module  308 , a restriction module  310 , a presentation module  312 , and other modules  314  such as operating system, application support software, database, and the like. 
     The communication module  308  communicates with the mobile devices  102  to address any requests made by the mobile devices  102  either before participating in the session or during the session. The communication module  308  receives a request message from a mobile device, for example, mobile device  102 - 1 , for participating in the session hosted on the server  104 . In response to the received request message, the communication module  308  sends an authentication message to the mobile device  102 - 1 . The authentication message includes queries to authenticate or verify the credibility of a user carrying the mobile device  102 - 1 . For example, the communication module  308  sends queries directed to credentials of the user such as username, password, etc. The communication module  308  authenticates the user based on a response it receives from the mobile device  102 - 1 . After authentication, the communication module informs the restrictions module  310  about the request from the mobile device  102 - 1 . In an alternate embodiment, the communication module  308  sends invitation alert to the mobile device  102 - 1  to participate in the session. Such a scenario may occur if the server  104  holds regular and timely sessions and maintains a list of mobile devices that are enrolled for the sessions. In such a case, before initiating the session, the communication module  308  informs each of the enrolled mobile devices about the session by sending invitation alerts. 
     The restrictions module  310  manages restrictions for the mobile devices  102  participating in the session. In one embodiment, the restrictions module  310  receives a message from the communication module  308 , informing the restrictions module  310  that the mobile device  102 - 1  has requested to participate in the session. The restrictions module  310  determines the type of session currently hosted on the server  104 , and accordingly prepares a set of restrictions. Restrictions can differ for different types of sessions. For example, a session including examination questions may require restrictions on usage of camera, audio-video player, internet access, and voice communication of the mobile device  102 - 1 , whereas a session including a multi-media presentation may require the usage of audio-video player of the mobile device  102 - 1 . Some of the restrictions that the restrictions module  310  can include in the set of restrictions are:
         restricting voice communications to emergency calls only or a limited subset (such as family members),   restricting messaging communications to one address (such as website hosted in the server) or a limited number of addresses,   restricting access to the Internet,   restricting use of media capture (camera/video) or playback,   restricting use of applications such as music player, games, and the like.       

     After determining the set of restrictions, the restrictions module  310  sends a message including the set of restrictions to the mobile device  102 - 1 . The restrictions module  310  awaits an acceptance message from the mobile device  102 - 1  that confirms imposition of the restrictions on the mobile device  102 - 1 . After receiving the acceptance message from the mobile device  102 - 1 , the restrictions module  310  sends an authorization message to the mobile device  102 - 1 , thereby permitting the mobile device  102 - 1  to participate in the session hosted on the server  104 . In one embodiment, the authorization message includes a unique identification (ID) for the mobile device  102 - 1 , using which the mobile device  102 - 1  can log on to the server  104  to participate in the session. The unique ID can be any numeric, alphabetic, alphanumeric code or a combination of two or more such codes. Thereafter, the communication module  310  informs the presentation module  312  about authorized access granted to the mobile device  102 - 1 . 
     The presentation module  312  selects and presents content for the session, and manages communication between the mobile devices  102  and the server  104  during the session. In one embodiment, the presentation module  312  receives content from presenter devices  106  for the session. The presentation module  312  can also select content from the database included in the other modules  324 . The presentation module  312  identifies the mobile device  102 - 1  logged on to the server  104  based on the unique ID assigned to the mobile device  102 - 1 . The presentation module  312  either can allow the mobile device  102 - 1  to communicate with the server  104  through text messages via SMS or email, or can present a graphical user interface on the display of the mobile device  102 - 1 . Through the presentation module  312 , a presenter or an instructor can hold question-answer series, quizzes, conduct surveys, or give presentations on various topics. The presentation module  312  either can transmit the questions, quizzes, presentations, etc. to the mobile device  102 - 1  and other mobile devices via messages or present them on displays on the mobile devices in an appropriate format. The presentation module  212  can also present the content on one more display devices such as projectors present at each location where participants of the session are gathered. The presentation module  312  also tracks responses from the mobile device  102 - 1  and other mobile devices participating in the session. The presentation module  312  can send a report message to each of the mobile devices participating in the session. The report message includes, but not limited to, a score report including marks obtained in a test or a quiz, correct responses for the questions asked during the session, and a consolidated performance chart comparing the marks obtained by all the users of the mobile devices participating the session. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method  400  for facilitating a mobile device to participate in a session hosted on a server. The method  400  is explained with reference to  FIG. 1 . At block  402 , the mobile device  102 - 1  requests the server  104  to participate in a session hosted on the server  104 . In one embodiment, the mobile device  102 - 1  sends a request message to the server  104  seeking permission to participate in the session. In response to the request message, the mobile device  102 - 1  receives an authentication message from the server  104  requesting for credentials of the user carrying the mobile device  102 - 1 . The mobile device  102 - 1  sends the credentials such as username and password to the server  104 , and the server  104  authenticates the mobile device  102 - 1  based on the credentials. In an alternate embodiment, the mobile device  102 - 1  and the server  104  mutually authenticate each other based on one or more authentication parameters such as device ID, server ID, passwords, and the like. 
     At block  404 , after the authentication, the mobile device  102 - 1  receives a message including a set of restrictions from the server  104 . In one embodiment, the set of restrictions received from the server  104  includes restrictions on usage of one or more applications residing on the mobile device  102 - 1 . 
     At block  406 , the mobile device  102 - 1  determines whether the restrictions are acceptable. In one embodiment, the user carrying the mobile device  102 - 1  reviews the received set of restrictions and decides whether to accept or reject the restrictions. If the user decides that the restrictions are not acceptable, the mobile device  102 - 1  follows instructions at block  408 . On the other hand, if the user decides that the restrictions are acceptable, the mobile device  102 - 1  follows instructions at block  410 . 
     At block  408 , the mobile device  102 - 1  rejects the restrictions. In one embodiment, upon determining that the restrictions are not acceptable, the mobile device  102 - 1  sends a rejection message to the server  104 . In response to the rejection message, the mobile device  102 - 1  receives a reply from server  104  stating that the mobile device  102 - 1  has no permission to join the session, as indicated by block  412 . 
     At block  410 , the mobile device  102 - 1  imposes the restrictions on the one or more applications residing on it. In one embodiment, upon determining that the restrictions are acceptable, the mobile device  102 - 1  imposes the restrictions on the one or more application residing on it based on the received set of restrictions. After imposing the restrictions, the mobile device  102 - 1  sends an acceptance message to the server  104 , as indicated by block  414 . In one embodiment, the user may not be able to send the acceptance message to the server  104  unless the mobile device  102 - 1  imposes all the restrictions as received from the server  104 . In response to the acceptance message, the mobile device  102 - 1  receives an authorization message from the server  104 , permitting the mobile device  102 - 1  to participate in the session. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a method  500  for facilitating a server to impose restrictions on a mobile device to enable the mobile device to participate in a session. The method  500  is explained with reference to  FIG. 1 . At block  502 , the server  104  receives a request from a mobile device to participate in the session hosted on the server  104 . In one embodiment, the server  104  receives a request message from the mobile device  102 - 1  seeking permission to participate in the session. The server  104  sends an authentication message to the mobile device  102 - 1 , directing the mobile device  102 - 1  to send credentials of the user carrying the mobile device  102 - 1 . The server  104  authenticates the user based on the credentials received from the mobile device  102 - 1 . In an alternate embodiment, the server  104  sends invitation an alert to the mobile device  102 - 1  to participate in the session. 
     At block  504 , the server  104  sends a set of restrictions to the mobile device. In one embodiment, after authentication, server  104  sends a message including a set of restrictions to the mobile device  102 - 1 . The set of restrictions includes restrictions to be imposed on one or more applications residing in the mobile device  102 - 1 . The server  104  requires that the mobile device  102 - 1  impose the restrictions before participating in the session. 
     At block  506 , the server  104  receives an acceptance message confirming the acceptance of restrictions. In one embodiment, the server  104  receives an acceptance message from the mobile device  102 - 1 , which confirms that the mobile device  102 - 1  has accepted the restrictions and imposed the restrictions on the one or more applications residing in the mobile device  102 - 1 . After receiving the acceptance message, the server  104  sends an authorization message to the mobile server  102 - 1 . The authorization message includes a unique ID that enables the mobile device  102 - 1  to log on to the server  104  for participating the session. The server  104  receives a rejection message from the mobile device  102 - 1 , if the mobile device  102 - 1  does not accept the restrictions. 
     At block  508 , the server  104  selects content for the session. In one embodiment, the server  104  can select the content from the presenter devices  106 . The presenters or instructors operating the presenter devices  106  upload content relevant for the session on the presenter devices  106 . The server  104  can also select relevant content from its own database. 
     At block  510 , the server  104  sends the selected content to the mobile devices participating in the session. In one embodiment, after selecting the content for the session, the server  104  sends the content to the mobile device  102 - 1 . The server  104  can either send the content to the mobile device  102 - 1  through messages or present the content through a graphical user interface on to the display of the mobile device  102 - 1 . 
     At block  512 , the server  104  receives responses from the mobile devices participating in the session. In one embodiment, the server  104  receives responses from the mobile device  102 - 1  for the content sent by the server  104 . The responses may include answers to questions asked during the session, responses to surveys, queries from the user carrying the mobile device  102 - 1 , and the like. 
     At block  514 , the server  104  analyzes the responses received from the mobile devices and prepares a report. In one embodiment, after receiving the responses from the mobile device  102 - 1 , the server  104  analyzes the responses and calculates scores or marks obtained by the user of the mobile device  102 - 1 . The server  104  prepares a report for the mobile device  102 - 1 . The report can include a score report, correct responses to the questions asked during the session, and a consolidated performance report comparing the performance of the user of mobile device  102 - 1  with users of other mobile devices participating in the session. 
     At block  516 , the server  104  sends the report to the mobile devices. In one embodiment, the server  104  sends a report message to the mobile device  102 - 1 . The report message includes the report prepared for the mobile device  102 - 1  (as described in block  514 ). The report message can also include responses for the queries raised by the user of the mobile device  102 - 1  during the session. 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present disclosure. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The disclosure is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.