Apparatus For Managing A Smart Device

Abstract

An access restriction kit for a smart device, such as an iPhone.RTM., an iPad.RTM., a Samsung Galaxy.RTM., a Samsung Galaxy Tab.RTM., or the like, is disclosed. The restriction kit may comprise a removable pad. The removable pad is configured to at least partially cover a home button, or the like, of the smart device to protect the home button and prevent accidental or intentional tapping on the home button. The removable pad is further configured to activate a restricted access mode on the smart device when the removable pad is covering the home button, or the like.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application is a Continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/042,432, filed Sep. 30, 2013 which is a Continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/330,419, filed Dec. 11, 2011, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,547,695 on Oct. 1, 2013, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure pertains to portable electronic devices, and more particularly, to removable pads and protective cases disposed on the portable electronic devices.

BACKGROUND

[0003] In the past few years, the rate of smart device adoption is accelerating. According to Gartner in their report dated May 19, 2011, worldwide smart device sales to end users totaled over 100 million units in the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 85 percent year-to-year. The availability of digital application distribution platforms was a big contribution to this growth. Many end users purchase smart devices for the purpose of using business applications, educational applications, games, and other applications available on the smart devices. As of Jun. 6, 2011, there are at least 425,000 third-party applications officially available on the App Store.RTM..

[0004] Many smart devices use a multi-touch interface, which has a touch screen for direct finger input as its main means for interaction instead of having a keyboard and/or a keypad. Common resolutions for smart device screens vary from 240.times.320 to 768.times.1024, with many flagship smart devices at 768.times.1024. As a result, the touch screen can be very sensitive to even accidental taps on the screen.

[0005] Further, parents often allow their children to operate a parent's client device in order to keep the child occupied. For example, when a family is out for dinner or taking a long drive, a parent may let a child play with his mobile phone or tablet device so that the child does not get bored or unruly while waiting for food or to arrive at a destination. However, letting a child use a parent's client device can present several issues for the parent and/or child. For instance, the child may not be old enough to understand all of the controls of the client device and accidently place the device in a state from which she does not know how to navigate to content she would like to view.

[0006] For example, a parent may start a video on the client device and give the device to the child. The child may accidentally activate a control or simply hit a button on the device (e.g., home button on iPhone.RTM., iPad.RTM.), which navigates the child away from the video and require the child to ask the parent's help to get back to the video. This interruption can become frustrating for the child and parent, especially if occurs repetitively.

[0007] Further, a parent's device might provide the child access to content that the parent would not like the child to utilize or view. For example, the child may inadvertently access the parent's email or text messaging program and send an inappropriate message to one of the parent's work contacts. In another example, the child may unintentionally access music, videos, or internet sites which have content that is adult oriented.

SUMMARY

[0008] According to a broad aspect of a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, an access restriction kit is provided. The access restriction kit can be utilized to control a user's access of a smart device. The kit comprises an attachment mechanism for attaching the access restriction kit to the smart device, where the smart device includes a touch-screen display portion and a non-display portion that includes a sensor. The kit further comprises a removable pad that is connected to the attachment mechanism, where the removable pad has a first setting and a second setting. The first setting enables the detection of the connection of the removable pad to the attachment mechanism while the second setting prevents the detection of the removable pad. The detection is performed by the sensor. The kit further comprises a toggle mechanism for switching the removable pad between the first setting and the second setting relative to the sensor, where the toggle mechanism is configured such that the first setting is a restricted access state tending to prevent toggling from the first setting to the second setting.

[0009] Other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description and claims. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a removable pad disposed onto an iPhone.RTM. or an iPad.RTM. in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an embodiment of the present disclosure that includes a removable pad kit 100 and a software application for activating/deactivating restricted access mode utilizing a fingerprint scanner.

[0013] FIG. 3A is an isometric view illustrating a flip-up lid disposed onto an iPhone.RTM. or an iPad.RTM. in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3B is an isometric view illustrating a sliding lid disposed onto an iPhone.RTM. or an iPad.RTM. in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 3C is an isometric view illustrating of a sliding lid disposed onto an iPhone.RTM. or an iPad.RTM. in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 4 provides an illustration of an embodiment of the software application and its various modules utilized to provide restricted access mode on a smart device.

[0017] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrates an embodiment of how an allowed applications module working in conjunction with an access management application can detect a removable pad kit and provide a restricted list of applications to a user of a smart device.

[0018] FIG. 6A illustrates a displayed interface of the game Candy Crush.RTM. on a smart device's display screen before a removable pad kit (with predefined marking (not shown)) is closed down and locked into the carrying case.

[0019] FIG. 6B illustrates the displayed interface of the game Candy Crush.RTM. on the smart device's display screen after the removable pad kit has been closed down on the smart device.

[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram illustrating a method for implementing a restricted mode access.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a computer system as may be used to implement features of some embodiments of the disclosed technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] References in this specification to "an embodiment", "one embodiment", or the like, mean that the particular feature, structure or characteristic being described is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Occurrences of such phrases in this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

[0023] As indicated in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a removable pad kit 100 and a software application (not shown) for an iPhone.RTM. or an iPad.RTM. 10, or the like. In some embodiments, the removable pad kit 100 is attached to the smart device 10, where the removable pad kit 100 covers one or more buttons, or like, on the smart device 10. By covering the one or more buttons, or like, the removable pad kit 100 prevents physical access to those buttons, helping disable control of the smart device 10 through the buttons.

[0024] In some embodiments, the software application ("app") is installed and executed on a smart device 10, where the app activates a restricted access mode (e.g., a parental lock enabled access mode) of the smart device when the app detects a removable pad kit 100 attached to the smart device 10. In some embodiments, the app utilizes a sensor included within the smart device 10 to detect the presence of the removable pad kit 100 that is attached to the smart device 10. In some embodiments, a user of the smart device 10 invokes the app using a input means (e.g., the touch-sensitive display screen of the smart device 10) to activate the restricted access mode of the smart device.

[0025] In some embodiments, the removable pad kit 100 attached to the smart device 10 prevents physical access to one or more buttons, or like, on the smart device 10, while the app, sensing the removable pad kit 100 attached to the smart device 10, activates a restricted access mode of the smart device 10. In some embodiments, the sensor used by the app is a fingerprint scanner (not shown) embedded within a home button 140, or the like, on the smart device 10. The app utilizes the fingerprint scanner to scan for a predetermined mark (not shown) applied to a portion of the removable pad kit 100.

[0026] In some embodiments, the predetermined mark is applied such that the mark at least partially covers the fingerprint scanner embedded within the home button 140, or the like, when the removable pad kit 100 is attached to the smart device 10. Additional details of an embodiment of the present disclosure that includes a removable pad kit 100 and an app that utilizes a fingerprint scanner to activate/deactivate restricted access mode is described with reference with FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0027] For example, when it comes to playing games or other applications on the smart device 10, users may put the removable pad kit 100 onto the smart device 10 easily, which then at least partially covers a home button 140, or the like, of the smart device 10. When the attached removable pad kit 100 is detected by the app using the smart device's 10 fingerprint scanner, the app activates the restricted access mode of the smart device. Users, especially children, may then enjoy playing games or other applications without worrying about being disturbed by accidentally tapping on the home button 140, any control buttons within the games disabled by the restricted access mode, or the like, which could potentially navigate the user away from the game and require assistance to get back to the game. Additional details of an embodiment of the app and the various features of the restricted access mode deployed by the app are described with reference with FIG. 4-6B.

[0028] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the home button is physically separated from a display portion of the smart device 10. In some implementations, the home button is located within a display portion of the smart device 10. In some embodiments, the pad kit 100 is held in position on the smart device 10 using, for example, an adhesive or other such attaching means as may be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The material of the removable pad kit 100 may include, but is not limited to, rubber, silicone rubber, resins, plastic resins, polymer, synthetic materials, or the like. In addition, the material of the removable pad kit 100 may have elastic properties and/or be flexible to enable a snug fit with the smart device 10 and match the aesthetic appearance of the smart device 10.

[0029] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the removable pad kit 100 may include a carrying case 220 that fits onto at least a portion of the smart device 10. The carrying case 220 fits the smart device 10. The removable pad kit 100 may comprise a flip-up lid 230. The flip-up lid 230 may have one end as a pivot that is, for example, mechanically connected to the carrying case 220 with the other end capable of flipping up and down relative to the smart device 10.

[0030] In some embodiments, the flip-up lid 230 may be easily detachable from the carrying case 220. In some embodiments, the flip-up lid 230 may be connected to the carrying case 220 by a living hinge or the like. As shown in FIG. 2A, the flip-up lid 230 may be flipped up away from the smart device 10. In some embodiments, the flip-up lid 230 in its flipped up mode may serve as a leg or a stand to support the smart device 10 in an upright vertical or vertical orientation. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2B, users may choose to put the flip-up lid 230 down onto the smart device 10, which then at least partially covers the home button 140, or the like, of the smart device 10.

[0031] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a predetermined mark 250 (e.g., a Quick Response "QR" code) is applied on the side of the flip-up lid 230 which comes in contact with the smart device 10 when the flip-up lid 230 is put down onto the smart device 10. The predetermined mark 250 is applied to a portion of the flip-up lid 230 that covers the home button 140, or the like, such that the predetermined mark 250 can be scanned by a sensor (e.g., fingerprint scanner) embedded in conjunction with the home button 140, or the like, in the smart device 10.

[0032] In some embodiments, an app installed on the smart device 10 periodically scans for the predetermined mark 250 utilizing the fingerprint scanner on the smart device 10. When the flip-up lid 230 is put down onto the smart device 10, covering the home button 140 and the fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button 140, a periodic scan by the app for the predetermined mark 250 using the fingerprint scanner will result in a positive match for the predetermined mark 250.

[0033] In some embodiments, when a positive match is detected, the app will activate a preconfigured restricted access mode to control access to the smart device 10. In some embodiments, the activation of restricted access mode does not require any further user input using any of the input means on the smart device 10. For example, a user of the smart device 10 does not require to provide any authentication credentials (e.g., a pin number combination) to invoke the restricted access mode.

[0034] In some embodiments, after activating the restricted access mode, the app continues to periodically scan for the predetermined mark 250 using the fingerprint scanner. In some embodiments, the app continues to allow access to the smart device 10 in restricted access mode until the periodic scans result in a positive match for the predetermined mark 250. In some embodiments, the app will deactivate the restricted access mode and return the smart device 10 to normal access mode when a periodic scan fails to detect the predetermined mark 250.

[0035] In some embodiments, the app utilizes a threshold number of successful or failed detection of the predetermined mark 250 before activating or deactivating, respectively, the restricted access mode on the smart device 10. In some embodiments, the periodicity of scans are set such that the app can activate or deactivate the restricted access mode on the smart device 10 relative to the change in position of the flip-up lid 230 without creating a perceptible delay to the user of the smart device during the change in mode. Additional details of an embodiment of the app and the various features of the restricted access mode deployed by the app are described with reference with FIG. 4-6B.

[0036] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the removable pad kit 100 may include a carrying case 220 that fits onto at least a portion of the smart device 10. The carrying case 220 fits the smart device 10. The removable pad kit 100 may comprise a flip-up lid 230. The flip-up lid 230 may have one end as a pivot that is, for example, mechanically connected to the carrying case 220 with the other end capable of flipping up and down relative to the smart device 10.

[0037] FIG. 3A-3C illustrative various embodiments of removable pad kit 100 and means for attaching the various embodiments of removable pad kit 100. As discussed above with reference with FIG. 2A-2B, in some embodiments, the removable pad kit 100 may include a carrying case 320 that fits onto at least a portion of the smart device 10. The carrying case 320 fits the smart device 10. The removable pad kit 100 may comprise a flip-up lid 335. The flip-up lid 335 may have one end as a pivot that is, for example, mechanically connected to the carrying case 320 with the other end capable of flipping up and down relative to the smart device 10.

[0038] In some embodiments, the flip-up lid 335 may be flipped up away from the smart device 10. In some embodiments, the flip-up lid 335 in its flipped up mode may serve as a leg or a stand to support the smart device 10 in an upright vertical or vertical orientation. In some embodiments, users may choose to put the flip-up lid 335 down onto the smart device 10, which then at least partially covers the home button 140, or the like, of the smart device 10.

[0039] In some embodiments, a predetermined mark 330 (e.g., a Quick Response "QR" code) is applied on the side of the flip-up lid 335 which comes in contact with the smart device 10 when the flip-up lid 335 is put down onto the smart device 10. The predetermined mark 330 is applied to a portion of the flip-up lid 335 that covers the home button 140, or the like, such that the predetermined mark 335 can be scanned by a sensor (e.g., fingerprint scanner) embedded in conjunction with the home button 140, or the like, in the smart device 10.

[0040] In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the removable pad kit 100 may include a carrying case 320 for the smart device 10. The removable pad kit 100 may comprise a sliding lid 345. Users may choose to slide the sliding lid 345 onto the smart device 10 to at least partially cover the home button 140, or the like, of the smart device 10. In some embodiments, a predetermined mark 340 (e.g., a QR code) is applied on the side of the sliding lid 345 which is in close proximity to the surface of the smart device 10 when the sliding lid 345 is slid onto the smart device 10.

[0041] The predetermined mark 340 is applied to a portion of the sliding lid 345 that covers the home button 140, or the like, such that the predetermined mark 340 can be scanned by a sensor (e.g., fingerprint scanner) embedded in conjunction with the home button 140, or the like, in the smart device 10. In FIG. 3B, it should be noted that, for illustrative purposes, the predetermined mark 340 is shown to be applied on the side of the sliding lid 345 facing away towards the user of the smart device 10. However, in actual application, as discussed above, the predetermined mark 340 is applied on the side of the sliding lid 345 which is in close proximity to the surface of the smart device 10 when the sliding lid 345 is slid onto the smart device 10.

[0042] In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the removable pad kit 100 may comprise a slide lid 355. The slide lid 355 may be slid from side to side onto the smart device 10 to at least partially cover the home button 140, or the like, of the smart device 10. In some embodiments, a predetermined mark 350 (e.g., a QR code, a given user's fingerprint) is applied on the side of the slide lid 355 which is in close proximity to the smart device 10 when the slide lid 355 is slid from side to side onto the smart device 10.

[0043] The predetermined mark 355 is applied to a portion of the slide lid 355 that covers the home button 140, or the like, such that the predetermined mark 350 can be scanned by a sensor (e.g., fingerprint scanner) embedded in conjunction with the home button 140, or the like, in the smart device 10. Further, in FIG. 3C, it should be noted that, for illustrative purposes, the predetermined mark 350 is shown to be applied on the side of the slide lid 355 facing away towards the user of the smart device 10. However, in actual application, as discussed above, the predetermined mark 350 is applied on the side of the slide lid 355 which is in close proximity to the surface of the smart device 10 when the slide lid 355 is slid onto the smart device 10.

[0044] FIG. 4 provides an illustration of an embodiment 400 of the software application ("app") and its various modules utilized to provide restricted access mode on the smart device 410. As described earlier, in some embodiments, the app is used in conjunction with a removable pad kit 100 to invoke and provide the restricted access mode on the smart device 410 when the removable pad kit 100 is attached to the smart device 410. In some embodiments, the app and its various modules are installed on the smart device 410 as an Access Management Application 420 ("AMA"). The AMA 420 can be utilized to configure the level of access a given user is allowed on the smart device 410.

[0045] In some embodiments, the AMA can be utilized to create and manage multiple user profiles, where each user profile provides a predefined level of access to the smart device 410. In some embodiments, a user can invoke any of the user profiles, using one of the input means associated with the smart device 410, to implement a restricted access mode on the smart device 410 as defined in the invoked user profile. In some embodiments, each user profile can be associated with a particular predefined mark (e.g., QR code, a fingerprint of a given user), allowing the AMA 420 to implement a restricted access mode of a specific user profile when a predefined mark associated with the specific user profile is detected.

[0046] In some embodiments, the user profiles module 440 can be utilized to create and configure one or more user profiles. Each user profile can include an associated user identification information to identify the profile. In some embodiments, the user profiles module 440 manages the user identification information associated with each user profile. Further, the user profiles module 440 performs the matching process when identifying the specific user profile associated with a received identification information. In some embodiments, the user identification information gathered and managed by the user profiles module 440 can include a combination of a picture of a user, a fingerprint of the user, a voice id of the user, a unique pin number known to the user, any personal identification information, etc.

[0047] For example, a fingerprint of a given user can be applied to a removable pad kit 100 as the predefined mark 250 on the removable pad kit 100. The predefined mark 250 can be one of the many marks utilized by AMA 420 to detect the attachment of the removable pad kit to the smart device 410. Further, the fingerprint can be stored in association with a specific user profile on the AMA 420, where the specific user profile can be utilized by the AMA 420 to invoke a predefined level of access to the smart device 410.

[0048] When the remove pad kit 100 is attached to the smart device 410, the AMA 420 can detect the pad kit's 100 attachment to the smart device 410 by scanning the fingerprint (i.e. the predefined mark) on the pad kit 100. Further, the AMA 420 can utilize the user profiles module 440 to match the scanned fingerprint to an associated user profile, when available, and apply the access restrictions associated with the matched user profile. In some embodiments, when a match is not found between the scanned predefined mark 250 and the identification information stored in the various user profiles, the AMA 420 restricts access to the smart device 410 based on a profile set as the default profile (e.g., a child user's profile) on the smart device 410.

[0049] In some embodiments, AMA 420 includes an allowed applications module 430 that can be utilized to create a list of software applications that can run/be executable on the smart device 410. In some embodiments, the allowed applications module 430 allows a user to create and associate a specific list of allowed software applications for each of the user profiles managed by AMA 420. In some embodiments, the user profiles and the specific list of allowed applications can be associated using one of the many user identification information.

[0050] In some embodiments, the allowed applications module 430 provides an interface with a list of installed software applications on the smart device 410. The interface can be utilized by a user to select and create the list of allowed software applications. In some embodiments, the allowed applications module 430 allows a user to create a negative list of software applications, where the software applications names in the negative list will be prevented from executing on the smart device 410. In some embodiments, the list of allowed software applications can include user provided (e.g., by entering as text) names of software application, regardless of whether the software application is installed on the smart device 410.

[0051] In some embodiments, the AMA 420 includes a content filter module 480 to impose restrictions on the kind of content accessible through the smart device 410. The content filter module 480 includes features that allow content to be restricted based on a combination of one or more content restriction parameters. The one or more content restriction parameters could include age based restriction (i.e. restrict content suitable to a given age group), content category based restriction (e.g., restrict out any content related to violence for child users), ratings based restriction, source based restriction (e.g., restrict content to Disney.RTM. related content), etc. In some embodiments, the content filter module 480 allows specific values to be set for the content restriction parameters for each user profile managed by AMA 420, allowing for custom use restriction to be imposed on each of the users of the smart device 410.

[0052] In some embodiments, the AMA 420 includes sensor settings module 470 that allows the various sensors included within the smart device 410 to be configured for use by the AMA 420 for determining when to activate the restricted access mode. As discussed earlier, in some embodiments, the AMA 420 utilizes the fingerprint scanner included in the smart device 410, e.g., within the home button 490, or like, of the smart device 410, to detect the removable pad kit 100 and activate the restricted access mode. In some embodiments, the sensor settings module 470 can be utilized to set the one or more predefined marks 250 (e.g., using pictures of the predefined marks 250) which trigger the activation of the restricted access mode when detected using one or more sensors on the smart device 410.

[0053] In some embodiments, the sensor settings module 470 can further be utilized to set various parameters associated with each of the sensors utilized by AMA 420 when determining whether to activate the restricted access mode. For instance, the periodicity of scan using the fingerprint scanner to scan for the predefined marks 250 can be configured using the sensor settings module 470. In some embodiments, a built-in camera can be configured to periodically take pictures of the users of the smart device 410, where the AMA 420 can utilize user identification information, e.g., pictures of users, to determine the user of the smart device 410 at any given instance and apply access restrictions dynamically. The sensor settings module 470 can be utilized to set the periodicity of pictures to be taken by the camera. Other sensor related settings that can enhance the effectiveness of the sensors can be configured using the sensor settings module 470.

[0054] In some embodiments, the AMA 420 includes an Access Profile Management ("APM") module 450 that enables usage restrictions to be placed on the allowed software applications (e.g., the list of software applications that are on the allowed list of software applications). In some embodiments, the usage restrictions include disabling control buttons within a given application (e.g., disable a "settings" button of the given application which provides access to the settings/configuration of the given application).

[0055] In some embodiments, the usage restrictions include disabling regions of the touchscreen display from responding to user input. For example, when playing a game on the smart device 410 with a touchscreen 415, one or more control buttons that control operation of the game might be displayed to the user. Such control buttons, when touched, might navigate the user away from playing the game and require additional steps to return the player back to playing the game.

[0056] In many instances, such control buttons are clustered in a region of the display screen or spread across the display screen. When a child is playing a game with many such control buttons displayed on the screen, the child might accidently hit one of the control buttons and navigate away from the game, requiring an adult help to return back to the game. In such instances, by designating regions of the screen, which are displaying such control buttons, from responding to user input when in restricted access mode, any accidental tapping of the control buttons by the child can be avoided.

[0057] In some embodiments, the AMP module 450 can be utilized to designate/mark the regions within the displayed interface of a given application that are to be disabled to any user input when the given application is being used in the restricted access mode. Briefly turning to FIG. 6A-6B, FIG. 6A illustrates the displayed interface 660 of the game Candy Crush.RTM. on a smart device 610 before the restricted access mode is enabled. FIG. 6B illustrates the displayed interface 660 of the game Candy Crush.RTM. on the smart device 610 after the restricted access mode is enabled. A region 670 of the displayed interface 660 is covered with a transparent layer to indicate the region of the displayed interface 660 that has been disabled from responding to any user input when in the restricted access mode.

[0058] Returning to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the AMP module 450 includes a create profile module 455 that can be utilized to create the region for any given application. In some embodiments, the create profile module 455 can be utilized to invoke an application and capture the display interface of a given application. The create profile module 455 can then be utilized to mark the regions within the captured display interface of the given application that are to be displayed. In some embodiments, a user can designate the region by drawing the region on the captured display interface.

[0059] In some embodiments, the user can designate the region by picking one or more points on the captured display interface, where the points can be utilized to estimate a region to disable in the captured display interface. The AMP module 450 stores the designated region as a region profile in association with the displayed interface of the given software application. In some embodiments, the AMP module 450 includes a download profile module 460 that can be utilized to download preconfigured region profiles for a given application.

[0060] For example, an application developer of a given application can provide preconfigured region profiles. Such region profiles can be downloaded and stored in the AMP module 450 using the download profile module 460. In some embodiments, the AMP module 450 includes an edit profile module 465 that allows a user to edit the region profiles as needed. For example, a downloaded region profile might be very restrictive and the user may ease the restriction by reducing the regions designated to be disabled.

[0061] In some embodiments, the AMP module 450 stores these various region profiles in association with user profiles, where specific region profiles associated with a given user profile are applied to a given application only when the user associated with the given user profile is using the smart device 410. In some embodiments, when the restrictive mode is invoked, the AMP module 450 detects whether an application is active (i.e., the display interface of the application is displayed on the smart device 410).

[0062] When the AMP module 450 determines an application to be active, the AMP module 450 searches the stored region profiles to see whether any region profiles are available for the current display interface of the active application. When a region profile is identified, the AMP module 450 works in conjunction with the OS of the smart device 410 and the active application to implement a restricted access region within the active application.

[0063] In some embodiments, AMA 420 works in coordination with AMP module 450 to implement the region profile to active applications. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate one embodiment of how the AMP module 450 working in conjunction with the AMA 420 can detect a removable pad kit 630 and apply a region profile 670 to an active application 660. Briefly turning to FIGS. 6A-6B, FIG. 6A illustrates the displayed interface 660 of the game Candy Crush.RTM. on a smart device's 610 display screen 650 before a removable pad kit 630 (with predefined marking (not shown)) is closed down and locked into the carrying case 620. As discussed earlier, in one embodiment, the AMA 420 utilizes the fingerprint scanner embedded within the home button 640 to detect the removable pad kit 630 when the removable pad kit 630 is closed down on the smart device 610.

[0064] FIG. 6B illustrates the displayed interface 660 of the game Candy Crush.RTM. on the smart device's 610 display screen 650 after the removable pad kit 630 has been closed down on the smart device 610. The displayed interface 660 of the game Candy Crush.RTM. includes a transparent region 670 that marks the portion of the displayed interface 660 that has been disabled to user input/touch. The region 670 is automatically applied to the displayed interface 660 of the active application (i.e. Candy Crush.RTM.) after the removable pad kit 630 was detected without requiring any additional steps by the user (e.g., voice command invocation of AMA 420, pin number based authentication to invoke region 670, etc.).

[0065] Returning to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, AMA 420 works in coordination with AMP module 450 to implement the region profile to active applications. When AMA 420 detects a removable pad kit 250, AMA 420 invokes the AMP module 450 to determine whether a region profile can be applied to restrict access to the smart device 410. AMP module 450 interacts with the OS of the smart device 410 to determine the active application executing on the smart device 410. AMP module 450 utilizes the identification information of the active application and any display interface of the application to determine whether any associated region profile is available for the display interface. When AMP module 450 identifies such a region profile, the AMP module 450 works in conjunction with the OS of the smart device 410 and the active application to implement a restricted access region within the active application.

[0066] FIG. 5A-5B provide an illustration of one embodiment of how the allowed applications module 430 working in conjunction with the AMA 420 can detect a removable pad kit 630 and provide a restricted use mode, including a restricted list of applications to a user of the smart device 510. In some embodiments, a user of the smart device 510 invokes AMA 420 using an input means (e.g., a touchscreen display of the smart device 510) to activate the restricted access mode of the smart device.

[0067] For example, in a smart device 510 with a touchscreen display, a user of the smart device 510 can invoke AMA 420 by touching an icon associated with AMA 420. AMA 420 would then activate a restricted access mode on the smart device 510. In another example, a user of the smart device 510 could utilize a microphone included within the smart device 510 to communicate with AMA 420 (or another intermediate app, e.g., Siri.RTM. on Apple iPhone.RTM.) through voice commands. AMA 420 could be configured to launch the restricted access mode of the smart device based on voice commands.

[0068] In some embodiments, AMA 420 is configured to utilize one or more sensors included within the smart device 510 to detect the removable pad kit 550 attached to the smart device 510 and activate the restricted access mode on the smart device 510. In some embodiments, the sensor could be a fingerprint scanner included within the smart device 510. As discussed above with reference to FIG. 2A-2B, AMA 420 can utilize a fingerprint scanner included within the home button 560, or like, to detect the presence of the removable pad kit 550, attached to the smart device through a carrying case 540, when the pad kit 550 is closed down on the smart device 510. AMA 420 maintains the device 510 in restricted access mode till the removable pad kit 550 is removed (i.e., not detectable by the sensor) or the user of the smart device 510 disables the mode using one of the input means.

[0069] In some embodiments, AMA 420 activates the restricted access mode when the removable pad kit 550 is detected. In some embodiments, AMA 420 utilizes any parental control settings setup in the smart device 510 to implement the restricted access mode. For example, if the smart device 510 includes device usage restriction features, e.g., content filter, duration of use, etc., AMA 420 activates those restrictions when the removable pad kit 450 is detected. In some embodiments, AMA 420 activates the restrictions by transferring control to an operating system ("OS"), executing on the smart device, which controls the restricted functions.

[0070] In some embodiments, AMA 420 implements the restricted access mode on the smart device. by restricting the number of other software applications accessible/executable on the smart device 510 when the

[0071] In some embodiments, the allowed applications module 430 working in conjunction with the AMA 420 can detect a removable pad kit 630 and provide a restricted list of applications to a user of the smart device 510. FIG. 5A illustrates the content 430 displayed on the smart device's 410 display screen 420 before the removable pad kit 450 (with the predefined mark (not shown)) is closed down on the smart device 410 and locked into the carrying case 440. The smart device 410 is functioning in the normal access mode without any access restrictions, allowing access to installed software applications, e.g., camera 430a, clock 430b, etc.

[0072] FIG. 5B illustrates the content 435 displayed on the smart device's 410 display screen 420 after the removable pad kit 450 is closed down on the smart device 410 and detected by AMA 420 using the fingerprint scanner embedded within the home button 460, or like, on the smart device 410. In some embodiments, AMA 420 working in conjunction with AMP 450 determines if an active application is executing on the smart device 510. When AMP 450 does not detect an active application, AMA 420 works in conjunction with the allowed applications module 430 to determine the list of applications to provide a given user of the smart device 510 under the restricted access mode.

[0073] In FIG. 5B, when a child user is detected, the allowed applications module 430 limits the list of applications to those already chosen for the child user in a list stored in the allowed applications module 430. The child user is limited to accessing a restricted list of content 435 that includes access to child related applications, e.g, PBS KID.RTM. 435a, Disney.RTM. Channel 435b, etc. As discussed above, AMA 420 continues to monitor whether the removable pad kit 450 is attached to the smart device 510 to determine whether to continue maintaining the smart device 510 in a restricted mode access. In some embodiments, when AMA 420 fails to detect the removable pad kit 450, the application restriction is removed and the content display is returned to the normal content screen 430 with normal mode of access.

[0074] Turning now to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a method 700 for implementing a restricted mode access. In some embodiments, the method 700 may be implemented on a smart device 10 to implement a restricted mode access. At block 705, a scan for a predetermined mark is performed periodically. At block 710, based on the data gathered from the scan at block 710, a determination is made whether a removable pad kit is attached to a smart device. If no removable pad kit is detected, control transfers to block 715. At block 715, the smart device is operated in normal access mode (without any restrictions) and the control is transferred back to block 705.

[0075] If a removable pad kit is detected at block 710, control transfers to block 720. At block 720, a determination is made whether an active application is running. If an active application is running on the smart device, control transfers to block 725. At block 725, the displayed interface of the active application is determined. At block 730, a search is performed to identify whether any region profile associated with the displayed interface is available. At block 735, a determination is made whether the search for region profile resulted in a match. When a match is found, control transfers to block 740. At block 740, the region profile is applied to the displayed interface of the active application to disable portions of the interface from responding to user inputs. Control is then transferred back to block 705.

[0076] When a match is not found, control transfers to block 745. At block 745, a generic region profile based on the active application's attributes is utilized to disable portions of the interface from responding to user inputs. Control is then transferred back to block 705. At block 720, if no active application was found running on the smart device, the control transfers to block 750. At block 750, a list of allowed software applications that a user of the smart device can utilize in the restricted access mode is determined. At block 755, icons to one or more of the software applications on the allowed list is displayed on the smart device. Control is then transferred back to block 705.

[0077] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a computer system as may be used to implement features of some embodiments of the disclosed technology. The computing system 800 may include one or more central processing units ("processors") 805, memory 810, input/output devices 825 (e.g., keyboard and pointing devices, display devices), storage devices 820 (e.g., disk drives), and network adapters 830 (e.g., network interfaces) that are connected to an interconnect 815. The interconnect 815 is illustrated as an abstraction that represents any one or more separate physical buses, point to point connections, or both connected by appropriate bridges, adapters, or controllers. The interconnect 815, therefore, may include, for example, a system bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or PCI-Express bus, a HyperTransport or industry standard architecture (ISA) bus, a small computer system interface (SCSI) bus, a universal serial bus (USB), IIC (I2C) bus, or an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 1394 bus, also called "Firewire".

[0078] The memory 810 and storage devices 820 are computer-readable storage media that may store instructions that implement at least portions of the described technology. In addition, the data structures and message structures may be stored or transmitted via a data transmission medium, such as a signal on a communications link. Various communications links may be used, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, or a point-to-point dial-up connection. Thus, computer readable media can include computer-readable storage media (e.g., "non transitory" media) and computer-readable transmission media.

[0079] The instructions stored in memory 810 can be implemented as software and/or firmware to program the processor(s) 805 to carry out actions described above. In some embodiments, such software or firmware may be initially provided to the processing system 800 by downloading it from a remote system through the computing system 800 (e.g., via network adapter 830).

[0080] The technology introduced herein can be implemented by, for example, programmable circuitry (e.g., one or more microprocessors) programmed with software and/or firmware, or entirely in special-purpose hardwired (non-programmable) circuitry, or in a combination of such forms. Special-purpose hardwired circuitry may be in the form of, for example, one or more ASICs, PLDs, FPGAs, etc.

[0081] Reference in this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not for other embodiments.

[0082] The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotation marks. The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaning of a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the same context, whether or not it is highlighted. It will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than one way. One will recognize that "memory" is one form of a "storage" and that the terms may on occasion be used interchangeably.

[0083] Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, nor is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any term discussed herein is illustrative only, and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification.

[0084] Without intent to further limit the scope of the disclosure, examples of instruments, apparatus, methods and their related results according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are given below. Note that titles or subtitles may be used in the examples for convenience of a reader, which in no way should limit the scope of the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control.

[0085] The above description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. Further, various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the technology is not limited except as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for locking a smart device to control a user's access of the smart device, the method comprising: fitting a removable pad to a smart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-display portion, the removable pad covering a portion of the non-display portion, the non-display portion including one or more buttons to control operation of the smart device, the non-display portion further including a sensor; detecting the fitting of the removable pad to the smart device using the sensor; and activating a restricted access mode to control the user's access of the smart device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: changing the position of the removable pad relative to the sensor, the change causing the sensor to not detect the fitting of the removable pad to the smart device; and deactivating the restricted access mode on the smart device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: attaching the removable pad in conjunction with a toggle mechanism to a carrying case of the smart device, the toggle mechanism for switching the removable pad between a first setting and a second setting relative to the sensor, wherein: the first setting enables detection of the fitting of the removable pad to the smart device, the second setting prevents detection of the removable pad, the toggle mechanism is configured such that the first setting is a restricted access state tending to prevent toggling from the first setting to the second setting.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second setting enables operation of the one or more buttons by providing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons, wherein the first setting prevents operation of the smart device via the one or more buttons by preventing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the restricted access mode does not require an access control authentication.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the sensor is embedded in conjunction with the one or more buttons.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more buttons include a home sensor of the smart device, wherein the sensor includes the fingerprint scanner embedded in conjunction with the home button.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the sensor is a camera included within the smart device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the detection of the fitting of the removable pad to the smart device using the sensor further includes: scanning, using the fingerprint scanner, for any markings covering the fingerprint scanner; and activating the restricted access mode when a particular marking is detected, wherein the particular marking is placed on a portion of the removable pad covering the fingerprint scanner in the first setting.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the restricted access mode further includes: restricting user's access to a subset of one or more applications available through the smart device; and restricting the user's access to one or more control buttons of a given application on the smart device, the one or more control buttons visible through the display portion of the smart device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the restricted access mode further includes imposing a user access restriction on one or more control buttons of an active application being utilized by the user of the smart device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the removable pad is one of a flip-up lid, or a sliding lid, or a rolling lid.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the smart device is one of a smart phone or a tablet computing device.

14. The method of claim 3, further comprising: providing a connection mechanism to the carrying case to enable the user to selectively attach the removing pad to the carrying case to convert the carrying case to an access restriction kit.

15. An access restriction kit to control a user's access of a smart device, the kit comprising: an attachment mechanism for attaching the access restriction kit to the smart device, the smart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-display portion, wherein the non-display portion includes one or more buttons that control operation of the smart device, the non-display portion further including a sensor; a removable pad connected to the attachment mechanism, the removable pad having a first setting and a second setting, the first setting enabling detection of the connection of the removable pad to the attachment mechanism, the second setting preventing the detection of the removable pad, the detection being performed by the sensor; and a toggle mechanism for switching the removable pad between the first setting and the second setting relative to the sensor, the toggle mechanism configured such that the first setting is a restricted access state tending to prevent toggling from the first setting to the second setting.

16. The access restriction kit of claim 15, wherein detection of the connection of the removable pad by the sensor activates a restricted access mode to control the user's access of the smart device.

17. The access restriction kit of claim 15, wherein changing the position of the removable pad relative to the sensor causes the sensor to not detect the fitting of the removable pad to the smart device, wherein the restricted access mode on the smart device is deactivated when the removable pad is not detected.

18. The access restriction kit of claim 15, wherein the second setting enables operation of the one or more buttons by providing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons, wherein the first setting prevents operation of the smart device via the one or more buttons by preventing physical access to the user to tap on the one or more buttons.

19. The access restriction kit of claim 16, wherein activation of the restricted access mode does not require an access control authentication.

20. The access restriction kit of claim 15, wherein the sensor is embedded in conjunction with the one or more buttons.

21. The access restriction kit of claim 20, wherein the one or more buttons include a home sensor of the smart device, wherein the sensor includes the fingerprint scanner embedded in conjunction with the home button.

22. The access restriction kit of claim 15, wherein the attachment mechanism, the removable pad, and the toggle-mechanism are part of a carrying case for the smart device.

23. The access restriction kit of claim 22, wherein the carrying case further includes a connection element, the connection element configured such that the user can selectively attach the removable pad to the connection mechanism, enabling the user to selectively convert the carrying case to the access restriction kit by attachment of the removable pad.

24. The access restriction kit of claim 15, wherein the removable pad is connected to the attachment mechanism such that the removable pad is a flip-up lid hinged to the attachment mechanism, the flip-up lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the flip-up lid is flipped down onto the smart device.

25. The access restriction kit of claim 15, wherein the removable pad is a sliding lid that is configured to slide relative to the attachment mechanism, the sliding lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the sliding lid is slid onto the smart device.

26. The access restriction kit of claim 15, wherein the smart device is one of a smart phone or a tablet computing device.

27. A carrying case for a smart device, the carrying case comprising: a base feature for protecting a rear surface of the smart device; a front feature coupled to the base feature and configured to cover at least a portion of a front surface of the smart device, the smart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-display portion, the non-display portion further including a sensor, wherein the non-display portion includes one or more buttons that control operation of the smart device, wherein a user's tapping on at least one of the one or more buttons of the smart devices affects content displayed within the display portion of the smart device; a removable pad optionally connected to the carrying case by attachment using a connection element, the removable pad having a first setting and a second setting, the first setting enabling detection of the connection of the removable pad to the connection element, the second setting preventing the detection of the removable pad, the detection being performed by the sensor; and the connection element configured such that a given user can selectively attach the removable pad to the connection mechanism, enabling the user to selectively convert the carrying case to a restricted access kit by attachment of the removable pad, the removable pad having a first setting and a second setting relative to the sensor, the toggle mechanism configured such that the first setting is a restricted access state tending to prevent toggling from the first setting to the second setting.

28. The carrying case of claim 27, wherein the removable pad is connected to the carrying case such that the removable pad is a flip-up lid, the flip-up lid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on the home button when the flip-up lid is flipped down onto the smart device.

29. The carrying case of claim 28, wherein a first end portion of the flip-up lid is a pivot mechanically connected to the carrying case and a second end is configured to toggle between a flip-up state and a flip-down state, the flip-up state allowing physical access to the one or more buttons and the flip-down state preventing physical access to the one or more buttons in the non-display portion of the smart device.

30. The carrying case of claim 29, wherein the flip-up lid, upon operation in a flip-up state, is configured to support the smart device in a substantially upright position.