System and method for limiting maximum run time for an application

Abstract

An application or other non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing instructions is disclosed. The instructions are executed by at least one processing device which is configured to store at least one user preference. The at least one user preference comprises a selection of one or more monitored applications and one or more warning thresholds corresponding to the one or more monitored applications. The one or more warning thresholds comprise a user selected time period. Further, time information associated with a use of the one or more monitored applications, is obtained. The time information is determined according to an accessibility event notifications function, on an operating system of a device. Further, the at least one user preference and the obtained time information are compared to determine whether the one or more warning thresholds have been exceeded. Thereafter, a notification is delivered to the user, upon exceeding the one or more warning thresholds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing instructions, wherein the instructions are executed by at least one processing device, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to:
 store at least one user preference, wherein the at least one user preference comprises a selection of one or more monitored applications and one or more warning thresholds corresponding to the one or more monitored applications, and wherein the one or more warning thresholds comprise a user selected time period;   obtain time information associated with a use of the one or more monitored applications, wherein the time information is determined according to an accessibility event notifications function, on an operating system of a device;   compare the at least one user preference and the obtained time information to determine whether the one or more warning thresholds have been exceeded; and   deliver a notification, upon exceeding the one or more warning thresholds, to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one user preference further comprises a selection of a maximum time limit corresponding to the one or more monitored applications and a kill feature corresponding to the one or more monitored applications. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processing device is configured to kill the one or more monitored applications when the maximum time limit corresponding to the one or more monitored applications has been exceeded. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one user preference further comprises e-mail preferences, application monitoring, analytics, crash reporting, and monitoring preferences. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the user selected time period comprises at least one of a number of hours per day and a number of hours per week. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the use of the one or more monitored applications is being monitored based on one or more time frames. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are performed using a software application running on the device. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the software application is used by the user to create a profile for selecting or deselecting the one or more monitored applications and to create multiple profiles for making different timing goals. 
     
     
         9 . A method for limiting maximum run time for an application, the method comprising:
 receiving, by at least one processing device, at least one user preference, wherein the at least one user preference comprises a selection of one or more monitored applications and one or more warning thresholds corresponding to the one or more monitored applications, and wherein the one or more warning thresholds comprise a user selected time period;   obtaining, by the at least one processing device, time information associated with a use of the one or more monitored applications, wherein the time information is determined according to an accessibility event notifications function, on an operating system of a device;   comparing, by the at least one processing device, the at least one user preference and the obtained time information to determine whether the one or more warning thresholds have been exceeded; and   delivering, by the at least one processing device, a notification, upon exceeding the one or more warning thresholds, to the user, and thereby limiting the maximum run time for the application.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one user preference further comprises a selection of a maximum time limit corresponding to the one or more monitored applications and a kill feature corresponding to the one or more monitored applications. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising killing, by the at least one processing device, the one or more monitored applications when the maximum time limit corresponding to the one or more monitored applications has been exceeded. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one user preference further comprises e-mail preferences, application monitoring, analytics, crash reporting, and monitoring preferences. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user selected time period comprises at least one of a number of hours per day and a number of hours per week. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the use of the one or more monitored applications is being monitored based on one or more time frames. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method is being performed using a software application running on the device. 
     
     
         16 . A device for limiting maximum run time for an application, the device comprising:
 at least one processing device that is configured to:
 store at least one user preference, wherein the at least one user preference comprises a selection of one or more monitored applications and one or more warning thresholds corresponding to the one or more monitored applications, and wherein the one or more warning thresholds comprise a user selected time period; 
 obtain time information associated with a use of the one or more monitored applications, wherein the time information is determined according to an accessibility event notifications function, on an operating system of the device; 
 compare the at least one user preference and the obtained time information to determine whether the one or more warning thresholds have been exceeded; and 
 deliver a notification, upon exceeding the one or more warning thresholds, to the user, and thereby limiting the maximum run time for the application. 
   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one user preference further comprises a selection of a maximum time limit corresponding to the one or more monitored applications and a kill feature corresponding to the one or more monitored applications. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one processing device is configured to kill the one or more monitored applications when the maximum time limit corresponding to the one or more monitored applications has been exceeded. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one user preference further comprises e-mail preferences, application monitoring, analytics, crash reporting, and monitoring preferences. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein a software application running on the device, is being used by the user to create a profile for selecting or deselecting the one or more monitored applications and to create multiple profiles for making different timing goals.