Systems and methods for regulating device usage

Abstract

A device is provided, comprising at least one processor and at least one computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon executable instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to: monitor a user's usage of the device; in response to determining that an amount of time the user has been using the device has reached a selected limit for usage time, activate a home screen application to restrict the user's access to the device, wherein the home screen application is programmed to prompt the user to demonstrate at least one achievement; and in response to determining that the user successfully demonstrated at least one achievement, allow the user to regain access to the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon executable instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:   monitor a user's usage of the device;   in response to determining that an amount of time the user has been using the device has reached a selected limit for usage time, activate a home screen application to restrict the user's access to the device, wherein the home screen application is programmed to prompt the user to demonstrate at least one achievement; and   in response to determining that the user successfully demonstrated at least one achievement, allow the user to regain access to the device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the home screen application is programmed to:
 suspend at least one application that was running in a foreground of the device when the home screen application was activated.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the home screen application is programmed to:
 determine whether the user successfully demonstrated at least one achievement; and   in response to determining that the user successfully demonstrated at least one achievement, restore the at least one application to the foreground of the device.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the home screen application is programmed to:
 present a user interface to the user for demonstrating at least one achievement; and   disregard selected user input until the user demonstrates at least one achievement.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the home screen application is programmed to disregard a home button input. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the home screen application is programmed to disregard a back button input. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the home screen application is programmed to:
 in response to the user pressing a home button of the device, present a list of approved applications to the user, wherein the device has installed thereon at least one application that is not on the list of approved applications and not presented to the user.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed to:
 establish the list of approved applications based on input received from an administrator.   
     
     
         9 . The dice of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed to:
 establish the selected limit for usage time based on input received from an administrator.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the home screen application is programmed to prompt the user to demonstrate at least one achievement at least in part by:
 presenting one or more questions to the user and prompting the user o answer the one or more questions.   
     
     
         11 . A method performed by at least one processor of a device, the at least one processor being programmed by executable instructions encoded on at least one computer-readable storage medium of the device, the method comprising:
 monitoring a user's usage of the device;   in response to determining that an amount of time the user has been using the device has reached a selected limit for usage time, activating a home screen application to restrict the user's access to the device, wherein the home screen application is programmed to prompt the user to demonstrate at least one achievement; and   in response to determining that the user successfully demonstrated at least one achievement, allowing the user to regain access to the device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 suspending, by the home screen application, at least one application that was running in a foreground of the device when the home screen application was activated.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining, by the home screen application, whether the user successfully demonstrated at least one achievement; and   in response to determining that the user successfully demonstrated at least one achievement, restoring, by the home screen application, the at least one application to the foreground of the device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 presenting, by the home screen application, a user interface to the user for demonstrating at least one achievement; and   disregarding, by the home screen application, selected user input until the user demonstrates at least one achievement.   
     
     
         15 . The method of claim.  14 , wherein disregarding selected user input comprises disregarding a home button input. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein disregarding selected user input comprises disregarding a back button input. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 in response to the user pressing a home button of the device, presenting, by the home screen application, a list of approved applications to the user, wherein the device has installed thereon at least one application that is not on the list of approved applications and not presented to the user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 establishing, by the home screen application, the list of approved applications based on input received from an administrator.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 establishing, by the home screen application, the selected limit for usage time based on input received from an administrator.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . At least one computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:
 monitoring a user's usage of the device;   in response to determining that an amount of time the user has been using the device has reached a selected limit for usage time activating a home screen application to restrict the user's access to the device, wherein the home screen application is programmed to prompt the user to demonstrate at least one achievement; and   in response to determining that the user successfully demonstrated at least one achievement, allowing the user to regain access to the device.   
     
     
         22 - 30 . (canceled)