Learning gamification and safety control application for mobile devices

Abstract

An application for mobile devices that enables a server device to control multiple client devices with numerous features and capabilities relevant to both server and client devices, such as learning gamification and safety controls. Running on popular operating systems, this application is compatible with other mobile applications and provides a mechanism for the server device to override internal controls on one or more client devices with ability to configure access controls based on gamification features using parameters that include but not limited to applications, programs, goals, and rewards. This application includes safety and security control features that enables the server device to remotely monitor and control one or more client devices.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for enabling a server device to control at least one client device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a server device having a control application loaded thereon and a user interface, wherein the user interface enables the server device to control one or more associated client devices via the control application;   installing a control application via the user interface to each of the one or more associated client devices controllable by the server device;   connecting the server device and each of the one or more associated client devices to a wireless network;   providing direct bi-directional communication between the server device and each of the one or more associated client devices via the wireless network, wherein the direct bi-directional communication allows the control application of the server device to manage application configurations and settings of each associated client device;   controlling the one or more client devices by performing at least one of the following steps:
 managing each of the one or more associated client devices using the server device, wherein the step of managing comprises at least one of the steps of: 
 creating and editing calendar events; 
 creating, editing, and updating tasks; 
 creating and updating a timer for measuring days and time with timer functionality; 
 setting and assigning user-defined requirements and user-defined expectations with timer functionality; 
 creating one or more timer activities, wherein the timer activities involve one or more requirements and one or more expectations that include one or more mobile applications or tasks with pre-defined expectations corresponding to one or more rewards; 
 configuring allowed and disallowed mobile applications based on settings that include age appropriate content, category, rating, and content type; 
 configuring allowed and disallowed content based on settings that include age appropriate content, category, rating, and content type; 
 enabling and disabling mobile applications based on age appropriate content, category, rating, and content type; 
 enabling and disabling access and control; 
 controlling access to mobile applications based on settings established by the server device user that include age appropriate content, category, rating, and content type; 
 configuring allowed and disallowed URLs based on settings that include age appropriate content, category, rating and content type; 
 receiving, viewing and resetting usage history; 
 remotely installing and removing mobile applications; 
 remotely triggering an erase feature of selected applications or data; 
 remotely deleting all data and applications; 
 remotely configuring and controlling, enabling and disabling wireless network access; 
 remotely configuring and controlling, enabling and disabling a key and screen logger application; 
 remotely configuring and controlling, enabling and disabling an existing camera application; 
 remotely configuring and controlling, enabling and disabling, an existing screenshot application; 
 sending computerized instructions from the server device to the one or more associated client devices that enables instant audio or video communications between the server device and the one or more client devices; 
 controlling an ability for the server device user to create, edit, or delete contact records; 
 controlling an ability for the server device to disable or password protect a delete function; 
 creating alerts and notifications and associating the alert or notification to at least one of a task, calendar event, and timer activity; 
 initiating emergency calls and activating an emergency mode by pressing a user-defined sequence of numbers, referred to as a personal identification number; and 
 initiating a device locator feature. 
   
     
     
       2. The method as recited in claim  1  6, further comprising the steps of:
 managing the server device and each of the one or more associated client device settings using the server device and a web-based administrator portal; and 
 offering monitoring, support, and administrative services via a web-based administrator portal, for a fee. 
 
     
     
       3. A method as recited in claim  1  6, further comprising at least one of the step following steps of:
 enabling the server device user to control and monitor the features and usage of each of the one or more client devices; 
 enabling the server device user to configure settings, features, and usage of each of the one or more client devices; 
 enabling the server device user to create, edit, and view tasks and calendar activities, events, and records on each of the one or more client devices; 
 enabling each of the one or more client device users to perform each of one or more tasks, activities, events, or records created and assigned to each respective client device; 
 enabling each of the one or more client device users to run, pause, and complete one or more requirements and expectations created and assigned to each respective client device; 
 enabling each of the one or more client device users to access each of one or more allowed mobile applications, websites, URLs, content, or features based on the configurations and settings defined by the server device; 
 enabling each of the one or more client device users to operate, play, or view each of the one or more allowed mobile applications, websites, URLs content, or features based on the configurations and settings defined by the server device; 
 enabling the server device to access, monitor, and view usage history for each of the one or more client devices; 
 enabling the server device to access, capture, transmit, and erase audio, video, and images from each of the one or more client devices to the server device or other pre-defined location; 
 enabling the server device to access, capture, transmit, and erase report logs created by the key and screen logger application from each of the one or more client devices; 
 enabling the server device to access, capture and transmit audio, video, and images to the server device using the camera application from each of the one or more client devices; 
 enabling the server device to access, capture, transmit, and erase audio, video, and images to the server device using the screenshot application from each of the one or more client devices; 
 enabling the server device to take control of each of the one or more client devices by disabling an on/off switch, volume, screen, and other buttons and switches built into the device without powering a screen, similar to turning off the device, for each of the one or more client devices; 
 enabling the server device to erase all or selected data or applications, or delete all data and applications on each of the one or more client devices; 
 enabling the server device to create, edit, or delete contact records on each of the one or more client devices; and 
 enabling the server device to create, edit, and view emails for one or more email accounts using the existing email application on each device for each of the one or more client devices. 
 
     
     
       4. A method as recited in claim  1  6, further comprising the step of associating a server device with the one or more client devices to access a password protected administrative interface for at least one of the steps of:
 creating and maintaining a customer account utilizing account management functionality; 
 creating and maintaining a profile utilizing profile management functionality for each client device user and the server device user; 
 creating and maintaining a purchase and payment history; 
 activating or deactivating the server device or the one or more client devices; 
 allowing the server device to create, change, or delete a masked password that controls each of the one or more client devices; 
 allowing each of the one or more client device to access the password protected administrative interface if the user enters the correct password, as defined and controlled by the server device; 
 entering and updating a unique license key issued for each server device and client device, as necessary to enable and operate the control application; 
 accessing a purchase history for the server device and each of the one or more client devices; 
 accessing each of the one or more client device usage history reports or logs with date and time stamps and details on applications accessed, time duration by application, URL's accessed, time duration by URL, tasks completed, time to complete tasks, incomplete tasks, texts and text history, phone call history, emails and email history, instant messaging and message history, video and image history; 
 allowing an account holder to view, enter, and delete credit or debit card information and process payments for licensing server devices and client devices to operate the Control Application; 
 allowing an account holder to create, edit, and delete each of the one or more groups of devices; 
 allowing an account holder to create, edit, and delete each of the one or more server device users; 
 allowing an account holder to assign and un-assign one or more device groups to each of the one or more server device users; 
 allowing the server device user to create, edit, and delete each of the one or more client devices users; 
 allowing the server device user assigned to a device group to assign and un-assign each of the one or more client devices to device groups; 
 allowing the one or more server device users to assign and un-assign one or more client devices to each of the one or more client device users, respectively; 
 allowing the server device user to create, edit, and delete one or more timers with one or more user-defined requirements, expectations, and rewards for each of the one or more client devices; 
 allowing the server device user to designate one or more applications as allowed or disallowed, and assign one or more requirements, expectations, and rewards to each allowed application for each of the one or more client devices; 
 allowing the server device user to designate one or more Internet websites, URLs, or domains as allowed or disallowed and assign one or more requirements, expectations, and rewards to each allowed website, URL, or domain for each of the one or more client devices; 
 allowing the server device user to enable and disable each of the one or more client devices based on a user-defined programmable schedule; 
 allowing the server device user to configure and trigger a data erase feature on each of the one or more client devices to erase the entire device or one or more user-defined applications or databases, or other content installed on the client device; 
 allowing the server device user to track and locate each of the one or more client devices; 
 allowing the server device to install one or more mobile applications on each of the one or more client devices; 
 allowing the server and client devices to communicate using any Internet-accessible access point or wireless service; 
 allowing the server device to enable or disable each of the one or more client devices; 
 allowing the server device to send one or more emergency notifications, alerts, and messages to each of the one or more client devices; 
 allowing each client device to send one or more emergency notifications, alerts, and messages to one or more server devices; 
 allowing the server device to setup notifications, alerts and messages for the server and client devices; and 
 allowing the server and client devices to access and utilize the telephone and text features for emergency purposes without restrictions. 
 
     
     
       5. A method as recited in claim  1  6, further comprising the step of allowing the server device and the one or more client devices to integrate with peripheral devices attached to a computer network, local computer, or the device using a device data cable or existing wireless communication features. 
     
     
       6. A method for enabling a server device to control one or more client devices, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a server control application for loading onto the server device, the server control application having a user interface which enables control of the one or more client devices each having a client control application loaded thereon:   preventing uninstallation of the client control application by the one or more client devices based on parameters set by the server device;   providing bi-directional connectivity of the server and the one or more client devices to a wireless network;   allowing the server device management of the application configurations and settings on the one or more client devices via the client control application;   wherein, the server device manages application configurations and settings of the one or more client devices by performing at least one of the following steps:
 creating and editing calendar events; 
 creating, editing, and updating tasks; 
 creating and updating a timer for measuring days and time with timer functionality; 
 setting and assigning user-defined requirements and user-defined expectations with timer functionality; 
 creating one or more timer activities, wherein the timer activities involve one or more requirements and one or more expectations that include one or more mobile applications or tasks with pre-defined expectations corresponding to one or more rewards; 
 configuring allowed and disallowed mobile applications based on settings that include age-appropriate content, category, rating, and content type; 
 configuring allowed and disallowed content based on settings that include age-appropriate content, category, rating, and content type; 
 enabling and disabling mobile applications based on age-appropriate content, category, rating, and content type; 
 enabling and disabling access and control; 
 controlling access to mobile applications based on settings established by the server device user that include age-appropriate content, category, rating, and content type; 
 configuring allowed and disallowed URLs based on settings that include age-appropriate content, category, rating and content type; 
 receiving, viewing, and resetting usage history; 
 remotely installing and removing mobile applications; 
 remotely triggering an erase feature of selected applications or data; 
 remotely deleting all data and applications; 
 remotely configuring and controlling, enabling, and disabling wireless network access; 
 remotely configuring and controlling, enabling, and disabling a key and screen logger application; 
 remotely configuring and controlling, enabling, and disabling an existing camera application; 
 remotely configuring and controlling, enabling, and disabling, an existing screenshot application; 
 sending computerized instructions to the one or more client devices that enables instant audio or video communications between the server device and the one or more client devices; 
 controlling an ability for the server device user to create, edit, or delete contact records; 
 controlling an ability for the server device to disable or password protect a delete function; 
 creating alerts and notifications and associating the alert or notification to at least one of a task, calendar event, and timer activity; 
 initiating emergency calls and activating an emergency mode by pressing a user-defined sequence of numbers, referred to as a personal identification number; and 
 initiating a device locator feature.