IP Library Granted Patent US 9,288,655
Granted Patent B2
US 9,288,655 · App. 13/843,839 · Granted Mar 15, 2016

Message control system

Inventors: Anthony Sargin (Lyndhurst, OH); Brian Asquith (Cleveland, OH)
H04W4/26G09B7/06H04L12/1453H04W4/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,288,655
App. No.
13/843,839
Granted
Mar 15, 2016
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (61)

1. 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.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the messaging component is further configured to, in response to determining the answer input is the correct answer, generate a reward, wherein the reward is configured for presentment on the display component.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the messaging component is further configured to receive the reward from a remote network, the reward is at least one of a ticket, a download, or a coupon.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the messaging component is further configured to receive, via the communication component, the question and the plurality of possible answers to the question from a remote network.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote network is hosted by a telecommunication service provider for the system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is a cellular phone.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the question is selected from a plurality of questions stored on the server, the plurality of questions pertain subject matter comprising at least one of a test, an academic test, a standardized test, an academic test, a general knowledge test, an intelligence quotient test, a game, trivia, a multi-lingual test, a competition, a reward program, or self-study.

8. 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.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: providing, by the system, in response to determining the inputted answer is the correct answer to the question, a reward.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: preventing, by the system, in response to determining the inputted answer is incorrect answer to the question, the ability to send a subsequent message.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving, by the system, a second input pertaining to a second answer in the plurality of answers;

determining, by the system, whether the inputted second answer is a correct answer to the question; and

enabling, by the system, in response to determining the inputted second answer is the correct answer to the question, the ability to send a subsequent message.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the system comprises a cellular phone.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the N messages are generated in accordance with a short message service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), enhanced messaging service (EMS), or a text messaging service.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the setting for the maximum number of messages M to be sent is received from a remote device.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the question has subject matter pertaining to at least one of a test, an academic test, a standardized test, an academic test, a general knowledge test, an intelligence quotient test, a game, trivia, a multi-lingual test, a competition, a reward program, or self-study.

16. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

counting a number of messages sent subsequent to messaging being re-enabled;

determining whether the count of the number of subsequent messages sent equals M;

in response to determining the count of the number of subsequent messages sent equals M, preventing transmission of a subsequent message; and

presenting a second question and a second plurality of answers pertaining to the second question, wherein the second question is selected from the plurality of questions stored in the datastore.

17. 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.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the computing system is a cellular phone.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , the operations further comprising receiving the question and the plurality of answers pertaining to the question from a remote device.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , the operations further comprising:

in response to determining the input answer is an incorrect answer, presenting an indication that the answer is incorrect and a request for input of a second answer; and

in response to receiving the second answer, determining whether the second answer is the correct answer to the question; and

in response to determining the second answer is the correct answer, enabling the ability to send a subsequent message.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61641272 · May 1, 2012
Related Publication 20130295876A1 · Nov 7, 2013