GB2356766A

GB2356766A - Time limiting device

Info

Publication number: GB2356766A
Application number: GB0020392A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Goodwill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-25
Filing date: 2000-08-21
Publication date: 2001-05-30
Also published as: GB0020392D0; GB9920089D0

Description

2356766 TIME LIN41TING DEVICE The present invention is concerned with a

device for limiting the length of time that a user can be connected to a telephone line, for example via a modern or a 5 telephone.

Many people have their computer connected to the internet via their home telephone line. While a user is connected to the internet he is running up a large telephone bill and furthermore is preventing anyone else in the household from using the telephone. In particular many children spend long periods of time on the internet to the annoyance of their parents. Sometimes parents try and agree how long a child should be allowed to spend connected to the internet, however there is still the problem of enforcement. If the child is in their bedroom the parent may not know how long the child is spending on the internet, until the telephone bill arrives. In addition children run up large telephone bills by chatting on tile phone to their various friends. Similarly parents sometimes try to limit the amount of time their children, particularly their teenage children, spend chatting on the telephone. As above the parents often do not know how long their children are spending chatting until the telephone bill comes in.

The object of the present invention is to limit the time a user can spend using a telecommunications device.

According to the present invention there is provided a time limiting device comprising:

a switch for switching a telecommunications device off line, a first timer for turning the switch off after a period of time, and a second timer for preventing the switch from being turned on again for a further period of time.

The telecommunications device will normally be a telephone or a modem.

Preferably the device is a stand alone unit connectable between the telecommunication device and a telephone line to replace a standard lead.

2 Alternatively the device may be incorporated into a modem or telephone. Usually the device includes an indicator light showing the state of the device, i.e. connectable or non-connectable. The device may be hardware or software.

Normally the device is adapted to issue a warning signal five minutes before the end of the first time period, i.e. before the telecommunications connection is switched off This may be in the.form of a noise, a light or a message that appears on a screen of a computer being used.

Preferably the time periods on the timers can be altered to suit the user, usually through a security code. This may be via a key pad on the top of the device or alternatively may be via a NET telephone. An override faci I ity can also be provided to allow users unrestricted access to the internet connection.

A third timer may be included in the device to reset the first timer after a third period of time.

Preferably the device is powered from the telephone line and usually includes a battery back-up device.

To help understanding of the invention, two specific embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I is a block diagram of a device according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a block diagram of a further device according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the device I thereshown has a connector 2 for a modem 3 of a computer 4 and a connector 5 for a telephone line 6, also having a telephone 7.

The device is intended to be used in place of a standard lead provided with the modem. This standard lead can be destroyed or hidden to prevent a user from bypassing this device.

The device also comprises a switch 10, for either allowing a connection between the modem 3 and the telephone line 6 or for preventing the connection.

When the device is connected between the modem 3 and the telephone line 6 a first 3 timer I I starts to time a set period of time, for example I hour. When the timer has five minutes left, in this case after 55 minutes have elapsed, a bleeper 12 in tile device is turned on to wam the user that only five minutes is left before the connection is lost. Alternatively a light (not shown) maybe used or a message may be sent to the screen of the computer 4.

After the timer I I has reached the set time period, the switch 10 is turned off and the computer 4 is disconnected from the telephone line 6 and thus the connection to the internet is lost.

Once the switch 10 has switched the modem 3 off I i n e, a second timer 20 starts to time a second time period, for example 23 hours. While this second timer 20 is on the switch 10 remains open and prevents reconnection to the internet via the telephone line 6. At the end of this time period the switch closes and connection to the telephone fine 6 becomes possible again.

This second timer 20 is initiated by the first timer I I switching the modem 3 off line. If the internet connection is closed in any other way, for example if the user disconnects from the internet, then the first timer I I will stop timing, but it will hold the time period left in its memory, and will not trigger the second timer to start timing. On the next occasion when the modem 3 connects to the telephone line 6, the first timer will start with the amount of time left ftom the previous occasion. For example, if the first timer I I is set for 30 minutes, and a user uses the internet for 15 minutes before disconnecting himself, the'use can reconnect to the internet at any time he wants to but will only be allowed the remaining 15 minutes use time before the first timer I I switches the modem 3 off line.

A dual coloured LED 22 on the device housing 23 indicates the condition of the switch. A green light indicates that connection is possible, while a red light indicates that connection is not possible.

Both the timers 11, 20 can be programmed to suit the owners requirements. The program is protected with a security code which must always be entered before the timers can be reprogrammed. The programming can be performed through a WT 4 telephone and a connector 24 for a telephone is provided on the side of the device 1. In the embodiment shown in Figure I a key pad 25 is also provided which can also be used for programming the timers. Again the programming is protected by a security code. The device is powered by the telephone line but also includes a battery backup 5 26.

Now turning to Figure 2, the device 50 thereshown has a connector 51 for a telephone 52 and a connector 53 for a telephone line 54. As with the first embodiment, the standard lead supplied with the telephone can be destroyed or io hidden.

As above this device 50 also incorporates a switch 60 for either allowing connection between the telephone 52 and the telephone line 54, or for preventing connection. Also shown are a first timer 61 and a second timer 62. These operate as described above. In addition this device 50, has a third timer 63 connected to the first timer 61. This third timer is programmed to reset the first timer after a third time period, which runs continuously. For example, if the first timer was set for I hour, and the second timer was set for 23 hours, then if a user made a 15 minute telephone call, the first timer would record 15 minutes. Then, if the user made a second telephone call for 30 minutes shortly afterwards, the first timer would record 45 minutes of used time. If the user then did not make a telephone call until the following day, after he had been using the telephone for 15 minutes the first timer 61 would record I hour and would turn the switch 60 off, disconnecting the telephone call, and would trigger the second timer 62 to prevent reconnection for 23 hours.

However if the third timer 63 was set to 24 hours, then on day one if the user made the same 45 minutes of calls, then on day 2 the third timer 63 would reset the first timer 61 enabling the user to have the full I hour of call time before being disconnected.

As shown in Figure 2, this device incorporates an LED 65 activated to flash when five minutes of connection time are left. This is equivalent to the bleeper 12 in device of Figure 1. The device also includes a dual coloured LED 66 indicating the condition of the switch, i.e. connectable or non-connectable, a keypad 67 for programming the timers 60, 61 and 62, and a battery backup 68.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of tile above described embodiment. For instance the device can be either hardware or software.

6

Claims

1. A time limiting device comprising:

0 a switch for switching a telecommunications device off line, 0 a first timer for turning the switch off after a period of time, and 0 a second timer for preventing the switch from being turned on again for a further period of time.

2. A time limiting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the telecommuni cations device is a telephone.

3. A time limiting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the telecommunications device is a modem.

4. A time limiting device as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the device is a stand alone unit connectable between the telecommunication device and a telephone line to replace a standard lead.

5. A time limiting device as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the device is incorporated into a modem or telephone.

6. A time limiting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device includes an indicator light showing the state of the device, i.e. connectable of non connectable.

7. A time limiting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device and its components are hardware.

8. A time limiting device as claimed in any one of claims I to 6, wherein the device comprises software.

9. A time limiting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is adapted to issue a warning signal five minutes before the end of the first time period, i.e. before the telecommunications connection is switched off

10. A time limiting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the signal is in the form of a noise, a light or a message that appears on a screen of a computer being used.

11. A time limiting device as -claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the time periods on the timers can be altered to suit the user.

12. A time limiting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the timers are altered through a security code, via a key pad on the top of the device or be via a MFT telephone.

7

13. A time limiting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device includes an override facility to allow users unrestricted access to tile telecommunications device.

14. A time limiting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device 5 includes a third timer adapted to reset the first timer after a third period of time.

15. A time limiting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is powered from the telephone line and includes a battery back-up device.

16. A time limiting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure I or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. 10