Systems and methods for context-aware application and content access control

A computer-implemented method for controlling application usage on a user device, comprising:

• receiving usage information from the user device;
• determining whether one or more trigger criteria associated with a usage control mode are satisfied based on the received usage information;
• if the one or more trigger criteria are satisfied, controlling application usage on the user device according to the usage control mode, wherein controlling the application usage on the user device comprises:
• checking category information of an application currently being accessed on the user device,
• determining whether the category information matches a list of allowed applications, and
• blocking the application currently being accessed on the user device in response to determining that the category information does not match the list of allowed applications;
• and
• otherwise if the one or more trigger criteria are not satisfied, allowing access to all applications on the user device.

A system, comprising:

• a processor,
• a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
• receiving usage information from a user device;
• determining whether one or more trigger criteria associated with a usage control mode are satisfied based on the received usage information;
• if the one or more trigger criteria are satisfied, controlling application usage on the user device according to the usage control mode, wherein controlling the application usage on the user device comprises:
• notifying a user of the user device that a group of applications on the user device will be disabled after an expiration of a first specific time period,
• controlling the user device to operate in a first state wherein usage of the group of applications is enabled for the first specific time period in the first state,
• after the first specific time period has expired, controlling the user device to operate in a second state wherein the usage of the group of applications is blocked for a second specific time period in the second state, and
• after the second specific time period has expired, in response to a selection from the user to skip operating the user device under the usage control mode, controlling the user device to operate in a third state that allows the usage of the group of applications;
• and
• otherwise if the one or more trigger criteria are not satisfied, allowing access to all applications on the user device.