Message control system
OwnerAnthony Sargin, Brian Asquithinventors
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Abstract
Embodiments are presented for controlling usage of a communications device, whereby for a given number of messages generated from the device the operator (e.g., a child, person, etc.) has to successfully answer a question before a further batch of messages can be sent. The number of messages that can be sent before a question is to be answered can be configured by a parent. Further, a modifiable data store can be utilized to store questions, from which questions for presentation on the communication device can be sourced. The questions can relate to subject matter the child is studying at school, a standardized test, trivia, provided by a third party.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a memory including at least one computer-executable instruction;
- a processor configured to execute the at least one computer-executable instruction, wherein in response to execution by the processor, the at least one computer-executable instruction implements components comprising:
- a messaging component configured to:
- transmit, via a communication component, at least one message from the system to a remote device;
- tally a number of messages transmitted from the system to a remote device;
- determine whether the number of messages transmitted equals a maximum number of messages to be transmitted;
- and
- deactivate, in response to determining the number of messages transmitted equals the maximum number of messages to be transmitted, ability to transmit a subsequent message to the remote device;
- a test generator component configured to select a question from a plurality of questions stored in a datastore;
- a display component configured:
- to present, in response to deactivation of message transmission, the question and a plurality of possible answers to the question;
- receive, via the communication component, an answer input from the plurality of possible answers to the question;
- transmit, via the communication component, the answer input to the messaging component, wherein, the messaging component is further configured:
- to determine whether the answer input is a correct answer to the question;
- and
- in response to determining the answer input is the correct answer, activate ability to transmit a subsequent message to the remote device.
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a system including a processor, a display component, and a communication component, a setting for a maximum number of messages M to be sent;
- transmitting, by the system, a number of messages N to a remote device;
- counting, by the system, the number of messages N sent;
- determining, by the system, whether N=M;
- and
- preventing, by the system, in response to determining N=M, a subsequent message from being sent;
- and
- presenting, by the system, a question and a plurality of answers pertaining to the question, wherein the question is selected from a plurality of questions stored in a datastore;
- receiving, by the system, an input pertaining to an answer in the plurality of answers;
- determining, by the system, whether the inputted answer is a correct answer to the question;
- and
- enabling, by the system, in response to determining the inputted answer is the correct answer to the question, the ability to send a subsequent message.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent;
- counting a number of messages sent;
- determining whether the number of messages sent equals the maximum number of messages that can be sent;
- deactivating, in response to determining the number of messages sent being equal to the maximum number of messages that can be sent, an ability to send a subsequent message;
- presenting a question and a plurality of answers pertaining to the question, wherein the question is selected from a plurality of questions stored in a datastore;
- receiving an input answer in the plurality of answers;
- determining whether the input answer is a correct answer to the question;
- and
- activating, in response to determining the input answer is the correct answer, the ability to send a subsequent message.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.