# US 10,771,619 B1 · Systems and methods for context-aware application and content access control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,771,619 B1 - Document ID: US10771619B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/506,112 - Filed: 2019-07-09 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-09 - Assignees: Life360, Inc. - Applicants: Life360, Inc. - Inventors: Naveen Puvvula; Nitin Bhandari - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771619B1 ## CPC - H04M 1/72463: to restrict the functionality of the device - H04M 1/72451: according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications - H04M 1/72454: according to context-related or environment-related conditions - H04M 1/72457: according to geographic location - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Systems and methods for controlling application usage on a user device are disclosed. According to some embodiments, usage information is received from the user device. Whether one or more trigger criteria associated with a usage control mode are satisfied is determined based on the received usage information. If the trigger criteria are satisfied, application usage on the user device is controlled according to the usage control mode to reduce or eliminate distractions to the user. Otherwise if the trigger criteria are not satisfied, access to all applications is allowed on the user device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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: 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selection is selectable for a maximum number of times per day. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first specific time period and the second specific time period are (i) configured by the user or (ii) automatically configured based on usage history. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the application usage on the user device according to the usage control mode further comprises: pausing the first specific time period in response to detecting that a screen of the user device is locked. ### Claim 5 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether the one or more trigger criteria associated with the usage control mode are satisfied is further based on a predefined schedule. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the list of allowed applications includes educational applications. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether the one or more trigger criteria associated with the usage control mode are satisfied is further based on information indicating the user has logged onto a Wi-Fi access point associated with a work location. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the list of allowed applications includes productivity and work-related applications. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether the one or more trigger criteria associated with the usage control mode are satisfied is further based on at least one of: location information that matches a home of the user, a connection to a home Wi-Fi of the user, a time period during family hours, or information indicating more than one family member is located at the user's home. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the list of allowed applications includes only critical applications. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the usage control mode is a smart mornings mode, a school mode, a work mode, a family mode, a study mode, a driving mode, or a walking mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more trigger criteria comprise one of following: (i) a detection of a first usage of the day, and a lock state of the user device, (ii) a detection that the user is in school, a manually set school schedule, and a school access point connection, (iii) a detection that the user is in a work place, a manually set work schedule, and a work access point connection, (iv) a specific time period, location information indicating the user is at home, a home access point connection, and a detection that more than one family members are in a same location, (v) a manually set study schedule, and usage of homework or study application, (vi) a change in location, a rate of change in the location, and a wireless connectivity to a vehicle's entertainment system, or (vii) a change in location, and an update received from a fitness tracker or a physical tracking device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the group of applications comprises social media, news or messaging applications. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the usage information comprises network traffic information, a lock state of a screen of the user device, and a time of day. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the selection is selectable for a maximum number of times per day. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the first specific time period and the second specific time period are (i) configured by the user or (ii) automatically configured based on usage history. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein controlling the application usage on the user device according to the usage control mode further comprises: pausing the first specific time period in response to detecting that a screen of the user device is locked. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more trigger criteria comprise one of following: (i) a detection of a first usage of the day, and a lock state of the user device, (ii) a detection that the user is in school, a manually set school schedule, and a school access point connection, (iii) a detection that the user is in a work place, a manually set work schedule, and a work access point connection, (iv) a specific time period, location information indicating the user is at home, a home access point connection, and a detection that more than one family members are in a same location, (v) a manually set study schedule, and usage of homework or study application, (vi) a change in location, a rate of change in the location, and a wireless connectivity to a vehicle's entertainment system, or (vii) a change in location, and an update received from a fitness tracker or a physical tracking device.