Method and System for Using a Supervisory Device with a Mobile Device

Abstract

A method and system are provided for monitoring and controlling a mobile device using a supervisory device. In some embodiments, the supervisory device operates in conjunction with the mobile device to monitor an extent of usage of the mobile device as well as to ensure that certain software is being used appropriately. The supervisory device may take one or more responsive actions when an extent of usage of the mobile device reaches a threshold extent of usage, when certain software on the mobile device is not being used appropriately, and/or when certain settings of the mobile device have been changed. The supervisory device may operate in a non-permissible mode and determine that the mobile device is currently enabled. In response to this operation and determination, the supervisory device may disable the mobile device and/or transmit to an external device a notification message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a supervisory device, an indication that a mobile device is enabled, the supervisory device being communicatively coupled to the mobile device;   making a determination, via the supervisory device, whether to disable the mobile device; and   when the determination is to disable the mobile device, disabling the mobile device via the supervisory device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the supervisory device is communicatively coupled to the mobile device via a headphone jack on the mobile device, and wherein receiving, at the supervisory device, an indication that a mobile device is enabled comprises the supervisory device measuring a voltage at the headphone jack and determining that the measured voltage exceeds a threshold voltage level. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, at the supervisory device, an indication that the mobile device is enabled comprises receiving, at the supervisory device, an indication through a wired connection that the mobile device is enabled. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling the mobile device via the supervisory device comprises the supervisory device transmitting through a wired connection a signal that causes the mobile device to be disabled. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, at the supervisory device, an indication that the mobile device is enabled comprises receiving, at the supervisory device, an indication through a wireless connection that the mobile device is enabled. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling the mobile device via the supervisory device comprises the supervisory device transmitting through a wireless connection a signal that causes the mobile device to be disabled. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 measuring, via the supervisory device, an amount of time the mobile device has been enabled; and   when the amount of time the mobile device has been enabled exceeds a threshold, disabling the mobile device via the supervisory device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein making a determination, via the supervisory device, whether to disable the mobile device comprises making a determination, via the supervisory device, whether the mobile device is enabled during a forbidden time of day. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein making a determination, via the supervisory device, whether to disable the mobile device comprises determining that at least one pre-approved application is in-use on the mobile device, and   wherein the method further comprises: in response to determining that at least one pre-approved application is in-use on the mobile device, operating the supervisory device so as to not disable the mobile device so long as the at least one pre-approved application is in-use on the mobile device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the supervisory device is disposed within a case that substantially surrounds the mobile device, the case including a screen, and   wherein disabling the mobile device via the supervisory device comprises manipulating the screen such that viewing of the mobile device through the screen is inhibited.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing operating conditions on the supervisory device by manipulating a graphical user interface (GUI) accessible via the mobile device, and   wherein making a determination, via the supervisory device, whether to disable the mobile device comprises making a determination, via the supervisory device based on the operating conditions established via the GUI, whether to disable the mobile device.   
     
     
         12 . A supervisory device comprising:
 a case adapted to substantially surround a mobile device; and   one or more computing devices coupled to or disposed within the case, the one or more computing devices being configured to carry out operations including;
 being communicatively coupled to the mobile device; 
 receiving an indication that the mobile device is enabled; 
 making a determination whether to disable the mobile device; and 
 when the determination is to disable the mobile device, disabling the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         13 . The supervisory device of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more computing devices are communicatively coupled to the mobile device via a headphone jack on the mobile device, and wherein receiving an indication that the mobile device is enabled comprises measuring a voltage at the headphone jack and determining that the measured voltage exceeds a threshold voltage level. 
     
     
         14 . The supervisory device of  claim 12 ,
 wherein receiving an indication that the mobile device is enabled comprises receiving an indication through a wired connection that the mobile device is enabled, and   wherein disabling the mobile device comprises transmitting through a wired connection a signal that causes the mobile device to be disabled.   
     
     
         15 . The supervisory device of  claim 12 ,
 wherein making a determination whether to disable the mobile device comprises determining that at least one pre-approved application is in-use on the mobile device, and   wherein the operations further comprise: in response to determining that at least one pre-approved application is in-use on the mobile device, operating so as to not disable the mobile device so long as the at least one pre-approved application is in-use on the mobile device.   
     
     
         16 . The supervisory device of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the case comprises a screen, and   wherein disabling the mobile device comprises manipulating the screen such that viewing of the mobile device through the screen is inhibited.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium (CRM) having program instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to carry out functions comprising:
 receiving, at a supervisory device, an indication that a mobile device is enabled;   making a determination, via the supervisory device, whether to disable the mobile device; and   when the determination is to disable the mobile device, disabling the mobile device via the supervisory device.   
     
     
         18 . The CRM of  claim 17 , wherein the supervisory device is communicatively coupled to the mobile device via a headphone jack on the mobile device, and wherein receiving, at the supervisory device, an indication that a mobile device is enabled comprises the supervisory device measuring a voltage at the headphone jack and determining that the measured voltage exceeds a threshold voltage level. 
     
     
         19 . The CRM of  claim 17 ,
 wherein receiving, at the supervisory device, an indication that the mobile device is enabled comprises receiving, at the supervisory device, an indication through a wired connection that the mobile device is enabled, and   wherein disabling the mobile device via the supervisory device comprises the supervisory device transmitting through a wired connection a signal that causes the mobile device to be disabled.   
     
     
         20 . The CRM of  claim 17 ,
 wherein receiving, at the supervisory device, an indication that the mobile device is enabled comprises receiving, at the supervisory device, an indication through a wireless connection that the mobile device is enabled, and   wherein disabling the mobile device via the supervisory device comprises the supervisory device transmitting through a wireless connection a signal that causes the mobile device to be disabled.   
     
     
         21 . The CRM of  claim 17 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 measuring, via the supervisory device, an amount of time the mobile device has been enabled; and   when the amount of time the mobile device has been enabled exceeds a threshold, disabling the mobile device via the supervisory device.   
     
     
         22 . The CRM of  claim 17 , wherein making a determination, via the supervisory device, whether to disable the mobile device comprises making a determination, via the supervisory device, whether the mobile device is enabled during a forbidden time of day. 
     
     
         23 . The CRM of  claim 17 ,
 wherein making a determination, via the supervisory device, whether to disable the mobile device comprises determining that at least one pre-approved application is in-use on the mobile device, and   wherein the functions further comprise: in response to determining that at least one pre-approved application is in-use on the mobile device, operating the supervisory device so as to not disable the mobile device so long as the at least one pre-approved application is in-use on the mobile device.   
     
     
         24 . The CRM of  claim 17 ,
 wherein disabling the mobile device via the supervisory device comprises manipulating a screen associated with a case that is adapted to substantially surround the mobile device such that viewing of the mobile device through the screen is inhibited.   
     
     
         25 . The CRM of  claim 17 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 establishing operating conditions on the supervisory device by manipulating a graphical user interface (GUI) accessible via the mobile device, and   wherein making a determination, via the supervisory device, whether to disable the mobile device comprises making a determination, via the supervisory device based on the operating conditions established via the GUI, whether to disable the mobile device.