JP2016162263A - Application use limitation device and program for use limitation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the effective limitation of the use of an application caused to be a limitation object even in an information processing terminal which cannot mount application start limitation by using an API.SOLUTION: An application use limitation device includes a message screen display control part 5 for repeatingly or continuously displaying a prescribed message screen until a started limitation object application is shut down in the case that a started application is determined to be the limitation object application, causes a state in which an application cannot normally be used due to the hindrance of a message screen, and prevents the limitation object application from being substantially used.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an application use restriction device and a use restriction program, and in particular, restricts an application set in a black list in advance so that the user cannot use it, or prevents an application other than an application set in a white list from being used by a user. It is related with the apparatus for restrict | limiting to.

  Generally, an information processing terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer can download and execute an application created by Java (registered trademark) via a network. The user can expand the functions of his / her information processing terminal by downloading an application suitable for his / her purpose, and can use the information processing terminal in various ways.

  Although various applications can be used in this way, the convenience of the user is improved, but there is also a problem that the user can freely download and use it. In other words, among applications, there are applications that have security problems, applications that are not necessary for business operations, and applications that children do not want to use. However, there is a problem that these applications can be freely downloaded and used.

  Conventionally, in view of such problems, applications that are not permitted to be used are registered in the black list, and the technology that restricts the activation of applications registered in the black list and applications that are permitted to be used are registered in the white list. In addition, there is provided a technology that allows only an application registered in the white list to be activated (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In the information processing apparatus described in Patent Literature 1, the activation source application does not directly activate the activation target application, but requests the application activation control unit to activate the activation target application. The application activation control unit refers to the application activation determination table to check whether the activation target application is permitted to be activated, and activates the activation target application only when permitted.

  Further, in the electronic device described in Patent Document 2, when an OS (operating system) is started based on an application start instruction, it is determined whether or not the application is a target of a white list stored in advance. If it is not the target of the white list, access from the OS to the application is denied.

JP 2007-41631 A JP2013-109420A

  Many information processing terminals realize the above-described application activation restriction by using an API (Application Programming Interface) implemented in the information processing terminal. However, among applications that are provided so as to be freely downloadable, there are maker-specific applications (hereinafter referred to as maker applications). Some models of smartphones have a problem that activation restrictions using APIs cannot be implemented for these maker applications.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and even in an information processing terminal that cannot implement application activation restrictions using APIs, the application of restricted applications is restricted. The purpose is to enable effective restriction.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, when activation of an application is detected, it is determined whether or not the application is a restriction-target application that is subject to use restriction, and is determined to be a restriction-target application. In such a case, a predetermined message screen is repeatedly or continuously displayed on the display unit of the information processing terminal in which the restriction target application is activated until the activated restriction target application is terminated. .

  According to the present invention configured as described above, when a restricted application that is subject to usage restriction is activated, a predetermined message screen is repeatedly or continuously displayed on the display unit. You will not be able to use the restricted application as usual. For this reason, even if the activated restriction target application cannot be subjected to activation restriction by using a predetermined interface, the restriction target application can be made substantially unusable. Thereby, it is possible to effectively restrict the use of the application that is the restriction target.

It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of the use restriction apparatus of the application by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the state by which the message screen was displayed by the message screen display control part of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the use restriction apparatus of the application by this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the other function structural example of the use restriction apparatus of the application by this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of an application use restriction device according to the present embodiment. The application use restriction device according to the present embodiment is mounted on, for example, a smartphone. Of course, it can also be implemented in other information processing terminals such as tablet terminals and personal computers.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the application use restriction device according to the present embodiment has, as its functional configuration, a start detection unit 1, a use restriction determination unit 2, a condition determination unit 3, a start restriction unit 4, and a message screen display control unit 5. , A black list storage unit 11 and a manufacturer storage unit 12 are provided.

  Each of the functional blocks 1 to 5 can be configured by any of hardware, DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and software. For example, when configured by software, each of the functional blocks 1 to 5 is actually configured by including a CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like of a computer built in the smartphone, and is stored in a recording medium such as a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, or a semiconductor memory. This is realized by operating the stored use restriction program.

  The blacklist storage unit 11 stores in advance information that can identify an application (hereinafter referred to as a restriction target application) that the user wants to be a use restriction target. Specifically, when the user selects an application that he / she wants to restrict activation through the operation of the smartphone and instructs to register the selected application in the black list, the identification information of the selected application is stored in the black list. Stored in the unit 11.

  The identification information stored in the blacklist storage unit 11 may be anything as long as it can identify the application. For example, it may be the name of an application or a unique ID given to the application. The blacklist storage unit 11 can store one or more pieces of identification information of the restriction target application.

  The manufacturer storage unit 12 stores in advance information that can identify a specific application (hereinafter, referred to as a specific application) that cannot be activated by using an API installed in the smartphone. A typical example of the specific application is a manufacturer application. Therefore, the maker storage unit 12 stores identification information of a maker that provides a unique application that cannot be activated using the API. The manufacturer storage unit 12 can store one or more pieces of manufacturer identification information.

  The identification information stored in the manufacturer storage unit 12 may be any information as long as it can identify the manufacturer. For example, the name of the manufacturer may be used, or the unique ID assigned to the manufacturer may be used. The manufacturer identification information is stored in the manufacturer storage unit 12 in advance by the provider of the use restriction program, for example. Or you may make it register a maker in the maker memory | storage part 12 through operation of the smart phone by a user similarly to the restriction | limiting object application mentioned above.

  The activation detection unit 1 detects activation of an application installed on a smartphone. What is detected here is whether or not a certain application has been activated, not whether or not activation has been completed. For example, the activation detection unit 1 detects whether an activation command for activating any application has occurred. When the activation detection unit 1 detects the activation of an application, the activation detection unit 1 notifies the usage restriction determination unit 2 of the identification information of the application, and notifies the condition determination unit 3 of the identification information of the manufacturer that provides the application. Any of these identification information can be acquired from the activated application.

  When the activation detection unit 1 detects the activation of an application, the usage restriction determination unit 2 determines whether the application (hereinafter referred to as an activation application) is a restriction target application. Specifically, the usage restriction determination unit 2 determines whether the identification information of the activation application notified from the activation detection unit 1 is included in the identification information of the restriction target application stored in the blacklist storage unit 11. Determine.

  Here, when it is determined that the activated application is not the restriction target application, the smartphone normally continues the activated application activation process and executes the activated application. On the other hand, when it is determined that the activation application is a restriction target application, the usage restriction determination unit 2 notifies the condition determination unit 3 of the fact.

  When the use restriction determination unit 2 determines that the activated application is a restriction target application, the condition determination unit 3 preliminarily assumes that the activated restriction target application is not subject to activation restriction using the API. It is determined whether or not the application is a specific application that satisfies a set predetermined condition. In this embodiment, it is determined as a predetermined condition whether or not the manufacturer of the activated restriction target application is a manufacturer that provides an application that cannot be activated using the API. Specifically, the condition determination unit 3 determines whether or not the manufacturer identification information stored in the manufacturer storage unit 12 includes the manufacturer identification information notified from the activation detection unit 1.

  When the condition determining unit 3 determines that the activated restriction target application is not a specific application, the activation restriction unit 4 performs control so as to restrict activation of the restriction target application using an API installed in the smartphone. For example, the activation restriction unit 4 displays a message screen indicating that the use of the application is prohibited on the display unit of the smartphone, and stops the activation process of the restriction target application.

  On the other hand, when the condition determination unit 3 determines that the activated restriction target application is a specific application, the activation of the specific application cannot be restricted using the API. Continue to execute the specific application.

  In this case, the message screen display control unit 5 repeatedly displays a predetermined message screen on the display unit of the smartphone on which the specific application is activated until the activated specific application is terminated. The predetermined message screen is, for example, a screen indicating that use of an application is prohibited.

  Until the activated specific application is terminated, it means that the user performs an operation for shutting down the specific application. Until then, the message screen display control unit 5 repeatedly displays a predetermined message screen, for example, at regular time intervals. That is, the message screen display control unit 5 displays and closes the predetermined message screen for several seconds, and displays the predetermined message screen again for several seconds after the predetermined time. Such processing is repeated.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a message screen is displayed by the message screen display control unit 5. In the example of FIG. 2, since the activation application is a game application and it is a restriction target application, it is a manufacturer application that cannot be restricted from activation using the API. A state is shown in which the initial screen 21 has been displayed. A predetermined message screen 22 is displayed so as to overlap the initial screen 21.

  Note that the repetition timing for displaying the message screen 22 is not limited to a certain time interval, and may be irregular. For example, the message screen display control unit 5 continues to display the predetermined message screen 22 and temporarily closes the message screen 22 when an operation for closing the message screen 22 is performed by the user. Then, when an operation for shutting down the specific application is not performed within a predetermined time from the operation, the predetermined message screen 22 is displayed again.

  Further, the message screen display control unit 5 continuously displays the predetermined message screen 22 until the user performs an operation of shutting down the specific application instead of repeatedly displaying the predetermined message screen 22. You may make it continue.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the application use restriction device according to the present embodiment configured as described above. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 starts when the power of the smartphone is turned on.

  First, the activation detection unit 1 detects whether or not an activation command for activating any application has occurred (step S1). When the activation detection unit 1 detects the occurrence of the activation command, the usage restriction determination unit 2 refers to the blacklist storage unit 11 to determine whether or not the activation application is a restriction target application (step S2). .

  Here, when it is determined that the activated application is not the restriction target application, the smartphone normally continues the activated application activation process (step S3), and the activated application is executed, and the flowchart illustrated in FIG. The process ends.

  On the other hand, when the use restriction determination unit 2 determines that the activation application is a restriction target application, the condition determination unit 3 refers to the manufacturer storage unit 12 and the activated restriction target application is a specific application (specific manufacturer It is determined whether or not (step S4).

  Here, when it is determined by the condition determination unit 3 that the activated restriction target application is not a specific application, the activation restriction unit 4 stops the activation process of the restriction target application using the API implemented in the smartphone. (Step S5), the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the condition determination unit 3 determines that the activated restriction target application is the specific application, the smartphone continues the activation process of the specific application (step S6), and the initial screen 21 is displayed on the smartphone after the activation process is completed. Display on the display. In this case, the message screen display control unit 5 displays a predetermined message screen 22 for several seconds so as to overlap the initial screen 21 (step S7).

  Thereafter, the message screen display control unit 5 determines whether or not an operation for shutting down the specific application has been performed (step S8). If it is determined that the operation has been performed, the message screen display control unit 5 closes the predetermined message screen 22 if it is being displayed (step S9). Thereby, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is completed. In this case, the application started in step S6 is ready to be executed as it is.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation for shutting down the specific application has not been performed, a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the predetermined message screen 22 was displayed last time (either when the display was started or when it was ended). Whether or not (step S10). If the predetermined time has not yet elapsed, the process returns to step S8. On the other hand, when the fixed time has elapsed, the process returns to step S7. Thus, the predetermined message screen 22 is repeatedly displayed at regular time intervals until the operation for shutting down the specific application is performed.

  As described above, according to the application use restriction device of the present embodiment, when a restriction target application that cannot be activated by the API is activated, the predetermined application is overlapped on the screen of the activated application. Since the message screen 22 is repeatedly or continuously displayed, the message screen 22 becomes an obstacle and the restriction target application cannot be used normally. For this reason, even if the activated restriction target application cannot be subject to activation restriction using the API, the restriction target application can be made substantially unusable.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which it is determined whether or not the manufacturer of the activation application is the same as the manufacturer that provides the original manufacturer application as the predetermined condition determined by the condition determination unit 3 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, specific application identification information that cannot be activated using API is stored in advance, and whether the identification information of the activated application corresponds to the stored identification information. May be determined.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which applies a starting restriction | limiting using the said API about the restriction | limiting object application which can utilize API of a smart phone, this invention is not limited to this. For example, all restriction target applications stored in the black list storage unit 11 may be processed by the message screen display control unit 5 regardless of whether the API can be used.

  The functional configuration of the application use restriction device in this case is as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 4, the condition determination unit 3, the activation restriction unit 4 and the manufacturer storage unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 are not provided, the activation detection unit 1, the usage restriction determination unit 2, the message screen display control unit 5 ′, and the black list storage. The unit 11 constitutes an application usage restriction device. In this case, when it is determined that the activated application is the restriction target application, the message screen display control unit 5 ′ repeatedly or continuously repeats the predetermined message screen until the activated restriction target application ends. Display.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which registers into the blacklist memory | storage part 11 the application which a user wants to make it the object of use restriction, this invention is not limited to this. For example, an application that the user wants to permit use may be registered in the white list storage unit. In this case, the use restriction determination unit 2 determines whether the identification information of the activated application notified from the activation detection unit 1 exists in the identification information of the application stored in the white list storage unit, If it does not exist, it is determined that the startup application is a restriction target application.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which displays the predetermined message screen 22 on a part of display screen of a smart phone like FIG. 2, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the predetermined message screen 22 may be displayed full screen on the display screen of a smartphone.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which memorize | stores the identification information of a restriction | limiting object application in the blacklist memory | storage part 11 through operation of the smart phone by a user, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the identification information of the restriction target application may be transmitted from the server to the smartphone and stored in the blacklist storage unit 11 through the server management screen operation by the IT administrator or the like.

  In the above embodiment, information that can identify the manufacturer application is stored in the manufacturer storage unit 12 in advance, and when the restriction target application registered in the blacklist is activated, the manufacturer storage unit 12 is referred to. Although an example in which it is determined whether or not the activation application is a manufacturer application has been described, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, when a restriction target application is activated, whether the smartphone in which the use restriction program of the present embodiment is installed is of a manufacturer that provides an application that cannot be restricted using the API. Determine whether or not, and if so, set a flag. Then, when the flag is set, it is possible to determine whether or not the activated application is a manufacturer-specific application by checking the permission information held in the activated application.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when the starting restriction | limiting part 4 restrict | limits starting of a restriction | limiting object application using API mounted in the smart phone, the message screen which shows that the utilization of an application is prohibited is displayed on a smart phone. Although an example in which the activation process of the restriction target application is canceled has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the activation restriction is applied using the API, the activated restriction target application may be forcibly terminated without displaying the message screen.

  In addition, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist or the main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Activation | determination detection part 2 Usage restrictions determination part 3 Condition determination part 4 Activation restriction part 5 Message screen display control part 11 Black list memory | storage part 12 Manufacturer memory | storage part

Claims (6)

An activation detector for detecting the activation of the application;
When the activation detection unit detects the activation of the application, a usage restriction determination unit that determines whether the application is a restriction target application that is a usage restriction target;
When the use restriction determination unit determines that the application is the restriction target application, the restriction target application is a specific condition that satisfies a predetermined condition that is set in advance so that activation restriction cannot be applied using a predetermined interface. A condition determination unit for determining whether or not the application,
An activation restriction unit that controls to restrict activation of the restriction target application using the predetermined interface when the condition determination unit determines that the application is not the specific application;
When the condition determining unit determines that the application is the specific application, a predetermined message screen is repeatedly displayed on the display unit of the information processing terminal in which the specific application is started or until the specific application that has been started ends. A device for restricting use of an application, comprising a message screen display control unit for continuously displaying the message screen.   The application use restriction device according to claim 1, wherein the condition determination unit determines whether the application is a preset manufacturer's application as the predetermined condition.   The message screen display control unit displays the predetermined message screen when an operation for closing the specific message screen is not performed within a predetermined time after the operation is performed. The application use restriction device according to claim 1, wherein the application use restriction device is displayed again. An activation detector for detecting the activation of the application;
When the activation detection unit detects the activation of the application, a usage restriction determination unit that determines whether the application is a restriction target application that is a usage restriction target;
When the use restriction determination unit determines that the application is the restriction target application, a predetermined message is displayed on the display unit of the information processing terminal in which the restriction target application is started until the activated restriction target application ends. An application usage restriction device comprising a message screen display control unit for repeatedly or continuously displaying a screen. Launch detection means for detecting launch of an application,
When activation of the application is detected by the activation detection unit, a usage restriction determination unit that determines whether or not the application is a restriction target application that is subject to usage restriction, and the restriction target by the usage restriction determination unit If the application is determined to be an application, a predetermined message screen is repeatedly or continuously displayed on the display unit of the information processing terminal where the restriction target application is started until the started restriction target application is terminated. A computer-readable application use restriction program for causing a computer to function as message screen display control means. When it is determined by the use restriction determination means that the application is the restriction target, the restriction target application satisfies a predetermined condition that is set in advance so that activation restriction cannot be applied using a predetermined interface. Condition determining means for determining whether or not the application is an application, and when the condition determining means determines that the application is not the specific application, control is performed to restrict the activation of the restriction target application using the predetermined interface. A start restriction unit;
When the condition determining unit determines that the message screen display control unit is the specific application, the message screen display control unit displays the display unit of the information processing terminal in which the specific application is activated until the activated specific application is terminated. 6. The program for restricting use of an application according to claim 5, wherein a predetermined message screen is repeatedly or continuously displayed.

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