# US 2014/0195678 A1 · System and method for access control and usage monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195678 A1 - Document ID: US20140195678A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/236,090 - Filed: 2012-07-30 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-01 - Assignees: Allow2PtyLtd - Inventors: Andrew Longhorn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195678A1 ## CPC - H04L 63/10: {for controlling access to devices or network resources} - G06F 21/6218: {to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database} - H04L 43/50: Testing arrangements - H04L 63/20: {for managing network security; network security policies in general (filtering policies H04L63/0227)} - G06F 2221/2101: Auditing as a secondary aspect - G06F 2221/2135: Metering - G06F 2221/2137: Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data - G06F 2221/2149: Restricted operating environment - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A system (100) for providing access control and usage monitoring of a plurality of electronic devices or applications (110a-h) enables efficient access control. The system (100) includes a control server (105) having: a reception interface, for receiving usage information relating to an account and a request to use the account, wherein each request includes an account identifier, and the account is associated with one or more of the plurality of electronic devices or applications (110a-h) and at least one user; a data store, including a first set of usage rules for the account and a second set of usage rules for a second account; a processor and memory including program code, for: determining, using the rules stored on the data store associated with the account identifier in combination with the usage information, an outcome of the request; and a transmission interface, for communicating the outcome of the request, wherein the outcome is for controlling access to one or more of the plurality of electronic devices or applications (110a-h) by the at least one user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing access control and usage monitoring of a plurality of electronic devices or applications, including: a control server including: a reception interface, for receiving usage information relating to an account and a request to use the account, wherein each request includes an account identifier, and the account is associated with one or more of the plurality of electronic devices or applications and at least one user; a data store, including a first set of usage rules for the account and a second set of usage rules for a second account; a processor and memory including program code, for: determining, using the rules stored on the data store associated with the account identifier in combination with the usage information, an outcome of the request; and a transmission interface, for communicating the outcome of the request, wherein the outcome is for controlling access to one or more of the plurality of electronic devices or applications by the at least one user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the rules include at least one of a time of day based restriction, a time based limit and a resource based limit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the rules include at least one rule that applies to more than one of the plurality of devices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the account identifier comprises a combination of a user identifier, identifying a user of one or more of the plurality of electronic devices or applications, and a device identifier, identifying one or more of the plurality of electronic devices or applications. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electronic devices or applications include at least one of a television, a personal computer, a printer, a router, a games console, a telephone, a micro-blogging application, and a social networking application. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the rules include a plurality of rules applicable to the account identifier, wherein each rule is individually assessed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the rules include total usage bans for an account. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the control server includes a reporting module that generates a report including usage statistics. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the rules include day types. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the day types include at least one of a weekday, a weekend, a school day, a school night, a school holiday, a public holiday and a sick day. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the control server includes an administration interface, which enables addition or deletion of rules and setting of day types. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the rules may be modified through tokens, and where the tokens may be redeemed for a change in a rule. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the change in the rule is adapted to encourage usage of a first device over usage of a second device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the system comprises an online shop for redeeming vouchers or tokens. ### Claim 15 A method of providing access control and usage monitoring of a plurality of electronic devices or applications by a centralized server, including: receiving usage information relating to an account, wherein the account is associated with one or more of the plurality of electronic devices or applications and one or more users; receiving a request to use of the account; determining, using rules stored on a data store and the usage information, an outcome of the request, wherein the rules include time or resource based restricted access to the account; and sending a notification of the outcome of the request to the one or more electronic devices or applications.