WO2017187234A1 - Control method of a smartphone or tablet, and corresponding smartphone or tablet - Google Patents

Control method of a smartphone or tablet, and corresponding smartphone or tablet Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017187234A1
WO2017187234A1 PCT/IB2016/052444 IB2016052444W WO2017187234A1 WO 2017187234 A1 WO2017187234 A1 WO 2017187234A1 IB 2016052444 W IB2016052444 W IB 2016052444W WO 2017187234 A1 WO2017187234 A1 WO 2017187234A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
smartphone
tablet
application
applications
controlled
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2016/052444
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Francesco Alessandro GRANDI
Daniel MANNINI
Original Assignee
TOGNI, Andrea Sacha
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TOGNI, Andrea Sacha filed Critical TOGNI, Andrea Sacha
Priority to PCT/IB2016/052444 priority Critical patent/WO2017187234A1/en
Publication of WO2017187234A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017187234A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/08—Access security
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/30—Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F21/60—Protecting data
    • G06F21/604—Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F21/60—Protecting data
    • G06F21/62—Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
    • G06F21/629—Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules to features or functions of an application
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/30—Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
    • H04W12/37—Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2221/00—Indexing scheme relating to security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F2221/21—Indexing scheme relating to G06F21/00 and subgroups addressing additional information or applications relating to security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F2221/2149—Restricted operating environment
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/60—Context-dependent security
    • H04W12/61—Time-dependent
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/60—Context-dependent security
    • H04W12/63—Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/60—Context-dependent security
    • H04W12/67—Risk-dependent, e.g. selecting a security level depending on risk profiles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/60—Context-dependent security
    • H04W12/68—Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for controlling a smartphone or tablet comprising a plurality of applications, each intended to provide at least one service for the user of the smartphone or tablet.
  • the invention relates also to a control application for a smartphone or tablet comprising a plurality of service applications, each service application being intended to provide at least one service for the user of the smartphone or tablet and the control application being intended to control the service applications.
  • control methods for controlling a smartphone or tablet mainly consist of the so-called parental control - function, which is used to apply some filters on content that is searchable and downloadable via the Internet by adolescents or children, or involve setting actual blocks on the smartphone or tablet for predetermined time periods. Also known are control methods which, while allowing the Internet to be browsed freely, are used to monitor or store the content received, transmitted or downloaded by means of the smartphone or tablet, for subsequent inspection by the parent.
  • completely blocking the device can be counter-productive and sometimes dangerous, due to the fact that the user (for example the adolescent or child) may be in a situation in which he/she needs the smartphone or tablet (for example in order to contact his/her parents in the event of an emergency).
  • the smartphone or tablet for example in order to contact his/her parents in the event of an emergency.
  • control methods are also inadequate for regulating access to functions of the mobile device when the user is an adult, and therefore not subject to control by other persons.
  • smartphones or tablets are increasingly being used in extremely dangerous situations, in particular when driving a motor vehicle, where some users not only speak with each other without using headsets or hands-free mode, but sometimes also write, transmit - and receive messages via messaging systems (SMS, WhatsApp, etc.) or access social networks, dangerously occupying their hands while driving.
  • SMS messaging systems
  • WhatsApp etc.
  • the known methods are not designed to perform an effective control, nor to exclude only those functions of smartphones or tablets which may create a disturbance or cause danger or distract an adolescent or child, while not leaving enabled functions which it is instead useful to have available for reasons of safety, traceability or also communication in totally safe circumstances.
  • the technical problem forming the basis of the present invention is that of devising a method for controlling a smartphone or tablet which is capable of preventing adolescents or children from devoting too much time to use of the device, regulating the use of the smartphone or tablet, both for adolescents or children and for adults, especially in situations where it is highly recommended not to use the device, for example because dangerous, without however depriving the user of those functionalities which may suddenly become indispensable or which in any case do not cause a disturbance and do not constitute a distraction, substantially overcoming all the limitations and drawbacks which are still associated with the known control methods.
  • the proposed idea forming the basis of the present invention is that of devising a control application for smartphones and tablets which is capable of providing control over all the resources or the other applications or functionalities (services) of a smartphone or tablet, and introducing restrictions or blocks on the use of such resources, applications or functionalities depending on a condition arising, this condition also being controlled by the control application.
  • the control application after the control application is installed in the smartphone or tablet, it automatically identifies all the user applications of the smartphone or tablet, and allows the selection of how, where, when and which applications are to be controlled. Provision is made for control to be performed over both the hardware resources and the software resources and over some of the hardware resources or software resources.
  • the technical problem is solved by a method of controlling a smartphone or tablet comprising a plurality of applications, each application being intended to provide at least one service for the user of the smartphone or tablet, the method comprising the steps of:
  • this step of setting the control profile comprising the selection of one or more applications to be controlled from said plurality of applications of the smartphone or tablet and comprising the selection, for each of the applications to be controlled, of one or more services of the application to be controlled from the services provided by the application to be controlled;
  • the method specifically described with reference to a smartphone or a tablet, can also be implemented in other electronic devices, in particular in portable devices, in order to control and regulate their use.
  • the blocking condition is a maximum speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet.
  • the blocking condition is a geographical area or predetermined location of the smartphone or tablet.
  • the blocking condition is a predetermined time period.
  • the same blocking condition can be set for all the services of the applications to be controlled. For example, all the applications are blocked when a maximum speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet is reached.
  • a service can also be associated with more than one blocking condition.
  • the service can be blocked both in a place of worship, and when a maximum speed of displacement is reached.
  • control profile can be selected from a plurality of predefined control profiles, and the prede ' fined control profiles comprise, among the applications to be controlled, at least the telephony, messaging and social networking and Internet browsing applications.
  • the user can select one of the predefined profiles in order to control the applications or service, or the main functions of the smartphone or tablet.
  • control profile which can be selected from a plurality of predefined control profiles allows the blocking condition to be associated with
  • control profile can be customized, and the step for setting the control profile comprises a function for entering and deleting blocking conditions.
  • control profile and the check module are protected by a password, and the password is different from an access password of the smartphone.
  • control application for a smartphone or tablet comprising a plurality of service applications, each service application being intended to provide at least one service for the user of the smartphone or tablet, and said control application comprising:
  • control profile of one or more of the service applications, and means for setting the control profile, these means comprising a selector for selecting one or more applications to be controlled from said plurality of applications of the smartphone or tablet and comprising a selector for selecting, for each of the applications to be controlled, one or more services of the application to be controlled from the services provided by the application to be controlled; - means for setting at least one blocking condition in the control profile;
  • this check module being intended to block said one or more services of the application to be controlled if the blocking condition associated with one or more services is verified.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the control method according to the present invention. Detailed description
  • this shows in schematic form a smartphone or tablet 1 , comprising a solid-state memory which stores a plurality of user applications 2, 3, 4, and also said service applications, since they provide a plurality of services 20, 2 1 , 30, 40 for the user of the smartphone or tablet.
  • one of the applications 3 provides only one specific service 30 and another application provides multiple services 20, 21.
  • service(s) is used hereafter in the description indicate both the main functionality or functionalities of an application, which may also be different, and various operating modes of a specific application.
  • the application 2 may be the application intended to manage incoming and outgoing calls of the smartphone or tablet and the services 20, 21 , etc. of such an application may be intended, respectively, to manage the ringing of voice calls or to manage the hands-free modes or to disable the keypad or user interface, still in association with the voice call.
  • the application 2 may comprise different services, as in the case of a fitness management application comprising a pedometer service, a service for calculating the number of calories used up or a kilometre counting service.
  • the applications are stored in the smartphone or tablet and can be executed by means of the hardware integrated in the smartphone or tablet, including for example the processor, an accelerometer, a microphone and a speaker, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), etc.
  • SIM Subscriber Identity Module
  • a control method for the smartphone or tablet 1 comprises the steps of: - setting a control profile 50 for one 2 or more of said applications 2, 3, 4, said step for setting the control profile comprising the selection of one 2 or more applications to be controlled from the plurality of applications 2, 3, 4 of the smartphone or tablet and comprising the selection, for each of the applications 2 to be controlled, of one 20 or more services of the application to be controlled from the services 20, 21 provided by the application 2 to be controlled;
  • the control profile 50 is stored in the solid-state memory of the smartphone or tablet 1.
  • the control profile is managed by an application for controlling the smartphone or tablet 1 which has access rights to the applications 2, 3, 4.
  • the control profile 50 is associated with a user interface which lists all the applications 2, 3, 4 and, for each application, the services associated with it.
  • the voice call management application 2 can be displayed in the user interface together with its services 20, 21 , 22 intended for, respectively, voice call ringing management (20), hands-free mode management (2 1) and keypad or user interface disabling (22), by means of respective labels (for example "calls”, “silent”, “hands-free”, “no keypad”).
  • the user interface makes available, for each of the applications 2, and/or for each of the services 20, 21 , 22, means for selecting the application or service(s) to be controlled.
  • selection means may be, for example, a check box, to be marked for the particular application 2 and/or its services 20, 2 1 , 22.
  • the check box for the application selects all the services of the application as a group.
  • the control profile 50 comprises a section for defining at least one blocking condition 60.
  • the blocking condition 60 may be, for example, a speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet 1 or a geographical location or a time period.
  • one or more services of the application 2 to be controlled can be associated with the blocking condition 60.
  • the "speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet 1 " blocking condition can be associated with the "voice call” application 2 or with the "messaging" application 3 in order to block incoming or outgoing voice calls or block the interface for retrieving messaging services, in the event that a speed higher than a predefined speed is detected.
  • the degree of control can be more sophisticated: for example, the "speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet 1" blocking condition 60 can be associated solely with some services of the "voice call” application 2, and in particular with the "keypad or user interface disabling (22)" service, in order to block the keypad of the smartphone or tablet during displacement at a speed higher than the predefined speed, without however blocking a "hands-free mode management (21)" service which allows voice calls to be made over a Bluetooth connection with the audio devices of a motor vehicle.
  • the "speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet 1" blocking condition 60 can be associated solely with some services of the "voice call” application 2, and in particular with the "keypad or user interface disabling (22)” service, in order to block the keypad of the smartphone or tablet during displacement at a speed higher than the predefined speed, without however blocking a "hands-free mode management (21)" service which allows voice calls to be made over a Bluetooth connection with the audio devices of a motor vehicle.
  • the smartphone or tablet 1 stores and executes a check module 70 for the blocking condition 60, in order to check whether or not the block associated with the blocking condition 60 is to be applied.
  • the check module 70 calculates the speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet depending on changing of the cells of a telephone network interconnected by the smartphone or tablet, applying for example triangulation mechanisms.
  • the check module 70 can interact with hardware means of the smartphone or tablet, for example with a GPS system if available.
  • the check module 70 interacts also with hardware means not incorporated in the smartphone or tablet.
  • the motor vehicle and the smartphone or tablet can be equipped with a respective electronic proximity device, such as an RFID. If the proximity device of the smartphone or tablet (reader) identifies a respective device on the motor vehicle, the check module 70 activates the block associated with the blocking condition 60, limiting or barring the use of some applications of the smartphone or tablet 1.
  • the applications can be controlled even when the smartphone or tablet is in a slow-moving vehicle, given that even a distraction at low speed may have serious consequences.
  • control profile 50 a single application or multiple applications 2, 3, 4 can be blocked, in conjunction with the blocking condition 60 occurring and persisting.
  • the blocking conditions include a maximum speed of displacement 80 of the smartphone or tablet.
  • Multiple blocking conditions can be stored in the smartphone or tablet, including for example a blocking condition 60 for a geographical area or predetermined location 90 of the smartphone or tablet, or a predetermined time period 100.
  • setting several blocking conditions increases control and safety.
  • a voice call service can be blocked in a skiing area if the speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet is higher than a predefined speed while the voice call service may be available in the skiing area if the speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet is lower than the predefined speed.
  • the Applicant has envisaged setting a plurality of predefined control profiles 50, 51 , 52 from which the preferred control profile 50 may be selected.
  • the predefined control profiles include, from among the applications to be controlled, the most popular applications or at least the applications which are most likely to involve danger, disturbance and loss - of concentration, including telephony, messaging, and social networking and Internet browsing applications.
  • the blocking condition 60 with a message receiving service and/ or a message sending service of the messaging application, and/ or with a service for downloading and/ or a service for uploading multimedia content of the social networking or browsing applications, and/or with a sound notification service of the telephony application.
  • a parent wishing to regulate the use of the smartphone or tablet for their own child may for example decide which applications to make available and for which time period, blocking during predetermined time periods dedicated for study all messaging services such as "WhatsApp” or social networks such as “Facebook” or games, as well as excluding some telephone numbers, while leaving open however the possibility of making or receiving calls to/ from other telephone numbers, without thereby barring a correct use of the smartphone or tablet which includes, precisely, the possibility of communicating if needed.
  • Each profile including predefined profiles, can be modified.
  • the user can therefore adopt a predefined profile and then customize it by introducing other control blocks or removing some preset control blocks and their possible associations with the applications/ services of the smartphone or tablet.
  • control method according to the present invention is protected by security means, for example the control profile 50 and the check module are protected by a password, and the password is different from an access password for the smartphone.
  • security means for example the control profile 50 and the check module are protected by a password, and the password is different from an access password for the smartphone.
  • the software and/or hardware means intended to implement the method are integrated and accessible by an application, which falls within the scope of protection of the claims set out hereafter.

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Abstract

A method for controlling a smartphone or tablet (1) comprising a plurality of applications (2, 3, 4) is described, each application being intended to provide at least one service (20, 21, 30, 40) for the user of the smartphone or tablet. The method comprises the steps of; - setting.a control profile (50) for one (2) or more of said applications, said step for setting the control profile comprising the selection of aforesaid one (2) or more applications to be controlled from said plurality of applications (2, 3, 4) of the smartphone or tablet and comprising the selection, for each of the applications (2) to be controlled, of one (20) or more services of the application to be controlled from the services (20, 21) provided by said application (2) to be controlled; - setting in the control profile (50) at least one blocking condition (60); - associating, in the control profile (50), said one (20) or more services of the application (2) to be controlled with said at least one blocking condition (60); - executing a check module (70) for the blocking condition (60); - blocking said one (20) or more services of the application (2) to be controlled if the blocking condition (60) associated with said one (20) or more services occurs.

Description

Title: Control method of a smartphone or tablet, and corresponding smartphone or tablet
DESCRIPTION
Field of application The present invention relates to a method for controlling a smartphone or tablet comprising a plurality of applications, each intended to provide at least one service for the user of the smartphone or tablet.
The invention relates also to a control application for a smartphone or tablet comprising a plurality of service applications, each service application being intended to provide at least one service for the user of the smartphone or tablet and the control application being intended to control the service applications.
Prior art
Methods for controlling a smartphone or tablet are known. Such control methods mainly consist of the so-called parental control - function, which is used to apply some filters on content that is searchable and downloadable via the Internet by adolescents or children, or involve setting actual blocks on the smartphone or tablet for predetermined time periods. Also known are control methods which, while allowing the Internet to be browsed freely, are used to monitor or store the content received, transmitted or downloaded by means of the smartphone or tablet, for subsequent inspection by the parent.
While useful for solving some problems, especially to exercise control over the content which adolescents or children access, such methods have a number of limitations.
First of all, they are not suitable for regulating the use of the smartphone or tablet, for example by preventing the device from being used in environments where silence must be observed.
Indeed, even if a block is set on the smartphone or tablet for a predetermined time period during which it is expected that the adolescent or child will be in an environment where silence must be observed, it is impossible to prevent this environment from being visited again by the adolescent or child during another time period for which the block on the smartphone or tablet has not been set.
Furthermore, completely blocking the device can be counter-productive and sometimes dangerous, due to the fact that the user (for example the adolescent or child) may be in a situation in which he/she needs the smartphone or tablet (for example in order to contact his/her parents in the event of an emergency).
The abovementioned control methods are also inadequate for regulating access to functions of the mobile device when the user is an adult, and therefore not subject to control by other persons. For example, smartphones or tablets are increasingly being used in extremely dangerous situations, in particular when driving a motor vehicle, where some users not only speak with each other without using headsets or hands-free mode, but sometimes also write, transmit - and receive messages via messaging systems (SMS, WhatsApp, etc.) or access social networks, dangerously occupying their hands while driving.
Also known is a very dangerous phenomenon where young drivers of motor vehicles record films while driving at high speed in order to then broadcast the video of their stunt on social networks.
In some cases, the use of smartphones or tablets is very dangerous even at low speed, especially on urban routes, where a distraction can cause a serious accident with a pedestrian or cyclist.
Lastly, poorly regulated use of mobile phones or tablets is encountered among adults too who, inadvertently or through a lack of consideration, forget to turn off sound notifications even during meetings or in environments in which it would be preferable to avoid, at the very least, disturbing other people (libraries, churches, cinemas, theatres, etc).
As mentioned, in all these cases, the known methods are not designed to perform an effective control, nor to exclude only those functions of smartphones or tablets which may create a disturbance or cause danger or distract an adolescent or child, while not leaving enabled functions which it is instead useful to have available for reasons of safety, traceability or also communication in totally safe circumstances.
The technical problem forming the basis of the present invention is that of devising a method for controlling a smartphone or tablet which is capable of preventing adolescents or children from devoting too much time to use of the device, regulating the use of the smartphone or tablet, both for adolescents or children and for adults, especially in situations where it is highly recommended not to use the device, for example because dangerous, without however depriving the user of those functionalities which may suddenly become indispensable or which in any case do not cause a disturbance and do not constitute a distraction, substantially overcoming all the limitations and drawbacks which are still associated with the known control methods.
Summary of the invention
The proposed idea forming the basis of the present invention is that of devising a control application for smartphones and tablets which is capable of providing control over all the resources or the other applications or functionalities (services) of a smartphone or tablet, and introducing restrictions or blocks on the use of such resources, applications or functionalities depending on a condition arising, this condition also being controlled by the control application. In particular, after the control application is installed in the smartphone or tablet, it automatically identifies all the user applications of the smartphone or tablet, and allows the selection of how, where, when and which applications are to be controlled. Provision is made for control to be performed over both the hardware resources and the software resources and over some of the hardware resources or software resources.
Based on the abovementioned proposed idea, the technical problem is solved by a method of controlling a smartphone or tablet comprising a plurality of applications, each application being intended to provide at least one service for the user of the smartphone or tablet, the method comprising the steps of:
- setting a control profile for one or more of said applications, this step of setting the control profile comprising the selection of one or more applications to be controlled from said plurality of applications of the smartphone or tablet and comprising the selection, for each of the applications to be controlled, of one or more services of the application to be controlled from the services provided by the application to be controlled;
- setting in the control profile at least one blocking condition; - associating, in the control profile, one or more services of the application to be controlled with the blocking condition;
- executing a check module for the blocking condition;
- blocking one or more services of the application to be controlled if the blocking condition associated with said one or more services is verified. The method, specifically described with reference to a smartphone or a tablet, can also be implemented in other electronic devices, in particular in portable devices, in order to control and regulate their use.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the blocking condition is a maximum speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet. According to another aspect of the present invention, the blocking condition is a geographical area or predetermined location of the smartphone or tablet.
According to another aspect, the blocking condition is a predetermined time period.
The same blocking condition can be set for all the services of the applications to be controlled. For example, all the applications are blocked when a maximum speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet is reached.
A service can also be associated with more than one blocking condition. For example, the service can be blocked both in a place of worship, and when a maximum speed of displacement is reached.
In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, the control profile can be selected from a plurality of predefined control profiles, and the prede'fined control profiles comprise, among the applications to be controlled, at least the telephony, messaging and social networking and Internet browsing applications. Advantageously, the user can select one of the predefined profiles in order to control the applications or service, or the main functions of the smartphone or tablet.
For example, the control profile which can be selected from a plurality of predefined control profiles allows the blocking condition to be associated with
- a message receiving and/ or message sending service of a messaging application;
- a service for downloading and/ or a service for uploading multimedia content of the social networking or browsing application;
- a sound notification service of the telephony application. Preferably, the control profile can be customized, and the step for setting the control profile comprises a function for entering and deleting blocking conditions.
Advantageously, according to a further aspect of the present invention, the control profile and the check module are protected by a password, and the password is different from an access password of the smartphone.
The technical problem described above is solved also by a control application for a smartphone or tablet comprising a plurality of service applications, each service application being intended to provide at least one service for the user of the smartphone or tablet, and said control application comprising:
- a control profile of one or more of the service applications, and means for setting the control profile, these means comprising a selector for selecting one or more applications to be controlled from said plurality of applications of the smartphone or tablet and comprising a selector for selecting, for each of the applications to be controlled, one or more services of the application to be controlled from the services provided by the application to be controlled; - means for setting at least one blocking condition in the control profile;
- means for. associating, in the control profile, one or more services of the application to be controlled with the at least one blocking condition;
- a check module for the blocking condition, this check module being intended to block said one or more services of the application to be controlled if the blocking condition associated with one or more services is verified. The abovementioned technical problem is also solved by a smartphone or tablet which stores and executes the control method.
Further characteristic features and advantages of the method according to the present invention will emerge more clearly from an example of embodiment provided by way of non-limiting illustration with reference to the attached figure.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 is a block diagram of the control method according to the present invention. Detailed description
With reference to Figure 1 , this shows in schematic form a smartphone or tablet 1 , comprising a solid-state memory which stores a plurality of user applications 2, 3, 4, and also said service applications, since they provide a plurality of services 20, 2 1 , 30, 40 for the user of the smartphone or tablet.
For example, one of the applications 3 provides only one specific service 30 and another application provides multiple services 20, 21. The term "service(s)" is used hereafter in the description indicate both the main functionality or functionalities of an application, which may also be different, and various operating modes of a specific application. For example, purely by way of example, the application 2 may be the application intended to manage incoming and outgoing calls of the smartphone or tablet and the services 20, 21 , etc. of such an application may be intended, respectively, to manage the ringing of voice calls or to manage the hands-free modes or to disable the keypad or user interface, still in association with the voice call. Still by way of example, the application 2 may comprise different services, as in the case of a fitness management application comprising a pedometer service, a service for calculating the number of calories used up or a kilometre counting service.
The applications are stored in the smartphone or tablet and can be executed by means of the hardware integrated in the smartphone or tablet, including for example the processor, an accelerometer, a microphone and a speaker, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), etc.
According to the present invention, a control method for the smartphone or tablet 1 comprises the steps of: - setting a control profile 50 for one 2 or more of said applications 2, 3, 4, said step for setting the control profile comprising the selection of one 2 or more applications to be controlled from the plurality of applications 2, 3, 4 of the smartphone or tablet and comprising the selection, for each of the applications 2 to be controlled, of one 20 or more services of the application to be controlled from the services 20, 21 provided by the application 2 to be controlled;
- setting in the control profile 50 at least one blocking condition 60; - associating, in the control profile 50, one 20 or more services of the application 2 to be controlled with this at least one blocking condition 60;
- executing a check module 70 for the blocking condition 60;
- blocking one 20 or more .services of the application 2 to be controlled if the blocking condition 60 associated with this one 20 or more services is verified. The control profile 50 is stored in the solid-state memory of the smartphone or tablet 1. Preferably, the control profile is managed by an application for controlling the smartphone or tablet 1 which has access rights to the applications 2, 3, 4. Even more preferably, the control profile 50 is associated with a user interface which lists all the applications 2, 3, 4 and, for each application, the services associated with it.
Purely by way of example, with reference to that already mentioned above, the voice call management application 2 can be displayed in the user interface together with its services 20, 21 , 22 intended for, respectively, voice call ringing management (20), hands-free mode management (2 1) and keypad or user interface disabling (22), by means of respective labels (for example "calls", "silent", "hands-free", "no keypad").
The user interface makes available, for each of the applications 2, and/or for each of the services 20, 21 , 22, means for selecting the application or service(s) to be controlled. Such selection means may be, for example, a check box, to be marked for the particular application 2 and/or its services 20, 2 1 , 22. In one embodiment, the check box for the application selects all the services of the application as a group.
The control profile 50 comprises a section for defining at least one blocking condition 60. The blocking condition 60 may be, for example, a speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet 1 or a geographical location or a time period.
Still in the control profile 50, one or more services of the application 2 to be controlled can be associated with the blocking condition 60. For example, the "speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet 1 " blocking condition can be associated with the "voice call" application 2 or with the "messaging" application 3 in order to block incoming or outgoing voice calls or block the interface for retrieving messaging services, in the event that a speed higher than a predefined speed is detected. As already pointed out, the degree of control can be more sophisticated: for example, the "speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet 1" blocking condition 60 can be associated solely with some services of the "voice call" application 2, and in particular with the "keypad or user interface disabling (22)" service, in order to block the keypad of the smartphone or tablet during displacement at a speed higher than the predefined speed, without however blocking a "hands-free mode management (21)" service which allows voice calls to be made over a Bluetooth connection with the audio devices of a motor vehicle.
Still according to the method of the present invention, the smartphone or tablet 1 stores and executes a check module 70 for the blocking condition 60, in order to check whether or not the block associated with the blocking condition 60 is to be applied. According to one aspect of the invention, the check module 70 calculates the speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet depending on changing of the cells of a telephone network interconnected by the smartphone or tablet, applying for example triangulation mechanisms. The check module 70 can interact with hardware means of the smartphone or tablet, for example with a GPS system if available.
According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the present invention, the check module 70 interacts also with hardware means not incorporated in the smartphone or tablet. For example, the motor vehicle and the smartphone or tablet can be equipped with a respective electronic proximity device, such as an RFID. If the proximity device of the smartphone or tablet (reader) identifies a respective device on the motor vehicle, the check module 70 activates the block associated with the blocking condition 60, limiting or barring the use of some applications of the smartphone or tablet 1. Advantageously, according to this aspect of the present invention, the applications can be controlled even when the smartphone or tablet is in a slow-moving vehicle, given that even a distraction at low speed may have serious consequences.
Advantageously, once the control profile 50 is set, a single application or multiple applications 2, 3, 4 can be blocked, in conjunction with the blocking condition 60 occurring and persisting.
As already mentioned, the blocking conditions include a maximum speed of displacement 80 of the smartphone or tablet. Multiple blocking conditions can be stored in the smartphone or tablet, including for example a blocking condition 60 for a geographical area or predetermined location 90 of the smartphone or tablet, or a predetermined time period 100. Advantageously, according to this aspect of the present invention, setting several blocking conditions increases control and safety. Purely by way of example, a voice call service can be blocked in a skiing area if the speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet is higher than a predefined speed while the voice call service may be available in the skiing area if the speed of displacement of the smartphone or tablet is lower than the predefined speed.
The Applicant has envisaged setting a plurality of predefined control profiles 50, 51 , 52 from which the preferred control profile 50 may be selected. The predefined control profiles include, from among the applications to be controlled, the most popular applications or at least the applications which are most likely to involve danger, disturbance and loss - of concentration, including telephony, messaging, and social networking and Internet browsing applications.
Consequently, with the predefined control profiles 50, 51 , 52, it is possible to associate the blocking condition 60 with a message receiving service and/ or a message sending service of the messaging application, and/ or with a service for downloading and/ or a service for uploading multimedia content of the social networking or browsing applications, and/or with a sound notification service of the telephony application.
A parent wishing to regulate the use of the smartphone or tablet for their own child may for example decide which applications to make available and for which time period, blocking during predetermined time periods dedicated for study all messaging services such as "WhatsApp" or social networks such as "Facebook" or games, as well as excluding some telephone numbers, while leaving open however the possibility of making or receiving calls to/ from other telephone numbers, without thereby barring a correct use of the smartphone or tablet which includes, precisely, the possibility of communicating if needed.
Each profile, including predefined profiles, can be modified. The user can therefore adopt a predefined profile and then customize it by introducing other control blocks or removing some preset control blocks and their possible associations with the applications/ services of the smartphone or tablet.
The control method according to the present invention is protected by security means, for example the control profile 50 and the check module are protected by a password, and the password is different from an access password for the smartphone. Thus, even in the latest generation smartphones or tablets, equipped with fingerprint recognition access control, it will be possible to preset the control profile 50 before handing over the smartphone or tablet 1 to their children (or in any case with their agreement), then leaving them free to set their password for accessing the mobile device, given that the applications and services stored it are controlled by means of the control profile 50. Removal of the control profile 50 and of the check module is allowed only by using the password associated with them.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the software and/or hardware means intended to implement the method are integrated and accessible by an application, which falls within the scope of protection of the claims set out hereafter.

Claims

1. Method for controlling a smartphone or tablet ( 1) comprising a plurality of applications (2, 3, 4), each application being intended to provide at least one service (20, 2 1 , 30, 40) for the user of the smartphone or tablet, the method comprising the steps of:
- setting a control profile (50) of one (2) or more of said applications, said step of setting the control profile comprising the selection of said one (2) or more applications to be controlled from said plurality of applications (2, 3, 4) of the smartphone or tablet and comprising the selection, for each of the applications (2) to be controlled, of one (20) or more services of the application to be controlled from the services (20, 21) provided by said application (2) to be controlled;
- setting in the control profile (50) at least one blocking condition (60);
- associating, in the control profile (50), said one (20) or more services of the application (2) to be controlled with said at least one blocking condition (60);
- executing a check module (70) for the blocking condition (60);
- blocking said one (20) or more services of the application (2) to be controlled if the blocking condition (60) associated with said one (20) or more services occurs.
2. Control method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said blocking condition (60) is a maximum speed of displacement (80) of the smartphone or tablet.
3. Control method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said blocking condition (60) is a geographical area or predetermined location (90) of the smartphone or tablet.
4. Control method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said blocking condition (60) is a predetermined time period ( 100).
5. Control method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the same blocking condition (60) is set for all the services (20, 21 , 30, 40) of the applications to be controlled.
6. Control method according to claim 1 , characterized in that a service (21) is associated with more than one blocking condition (80, 90).
7. Control method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said control profile (50) is selectionable from a plurality of predefined control profiles (50, 51 , 52), and in that said predefined control profiles comprise, from among the applications to be controlled, at least the telephony, messaging and social networking and Internet browsing applications.
8. Control method according to claim 7, characterized in that said control profile (50) which is selectionable from a plurality of predefined control profiles (50, 51 , 52) allows the blocking condition (60) to be associated with
- a message receiving service and/or a message sending service of said messaging application;
- a service for downloading and/ or a service for uploading multimedia content of said social networking or browsing application;
- a sound notification service of said telephony application.
9. Control method according to claim 7, characterized in that said control profile (50) can be personalized, said step for setting the control profile (50) comprising a function for entering and a function for deleting blocking conditions (60) .
10. Control method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said control profile (50) and said check module are protected by a password, said password being different from an access password of the smartphone.
1 1. Control method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said check module (70) communicates with a hardware device on-board the smartphone or tablet and/ or with an external hardware device and said blocking condition (60) is verified depending on at least one item of information received from the hardware device on-board the smartphone or tablet and /or from the external hardware device.
12. Control method according to claim 1 1 , characterized in that said external hardware device is an RFID and the smartphone or tablet comprises an RFID reader.
13. Application for a smartphone or tablet comprising a plurality of applications (2, 3, 4) , each application being intended to provide at least one service (20, 21 , 30, 40) for the user of the smartphone or tablet, said application comprising: - a control profile (50) of one (2) or more of said applications, and means for setting the control profile, said means comprising a selector for selecting said one (2) or more applications to be controlled from said plurality of applications (2, 3, - 4) of the smartphone or tablet and comprising a selector for selecting, for each of the applications (2) to be controlled, one (20) or more services of the application to be controlled from the services (20, 21) provided by said application (2) to be controlled, - means for setting at least one blocking condition (60) in the control profile;
- means for associating, in the control profile (50), said one (20) or more services of the application (2) to be controlled with said at least one blocking condition (60);
- a check module (70) for the blocking condition (60), said check module being intended to block said one (20) or more services of the application (2) to be controlled if the blocking condition (60) associated with said one (20) or more services occurs.
14. Smartphone or tablet comprising a solid-state memory and an application according to claim 13.
PCT/IB2016/052444 2016-04-29 2016-04-29 Control method of a smartphone or tablet, and corresponding smartphone or tablet WO2017187234A1 (en)

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