Controlling Screen Time Based on Context

Abstract

A computer-implemented technique controls consumption of applications by a supervisee (e.g., a child). The technique detects when a supervisee attempts to interact with an application. In response, the technique receives context input signals that describe a current context affecting the supervisee. The technique then generates an output result based on the current context information and a set of rules expressed by rule logic. The technique then controls interaction by the supervisee with the application based on the output result. In one implementation, the technique automatically generates the rule logic, which may correspond to a set of discrete rules and/or a machine-trained model that implicitly expresses the rules. At least some of the rules specify amounts of time allocated to the supervisee for interaction with the plural applications in plural contexts. According to another illustrative aspect, the technique uses a machine-trained model to automatically classify a new application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for controlling interaction by supervisees with applications, comprising:
 detecting that a particular supervisee is attempting to access a particular application in a current context; and   blocking or permitting interaction by the particular supervisee with the particular application based on a particular time limit value that specifies an amount of time that the particular supervisee is permitted to interact with the particular application in the current context,   the particular time limit value being one of plural time limit values generated by rule logic, the plural time limit values describing respective amounts of times in which the particular supervise is permitted to interact with different application categories in different contexts,   the plural time limit values having been automatically generated by enumerating different instances of input information respectively describing the different contexts, and using the rule logic to assign the plural time values to the different instances of input information, and   at least two instances of input information of the different instances of input information identifying different locations at which the supervisee is able to interact with the different application categories.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , where the rule logic is implemented by a machine-trained model. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule logic is implemented by a set of rules. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the particular application is automatically assigned to one or more application categories by application-classifying logic. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule logic automatically and dynamically varies the plural time limit values as the particular supervisee ages. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the plural time limit values are presented in a report. 
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented system for controlling interaction by supervisees with applications, comprising:
 hardware logic circuitry, the hardware logic circuitry including: (a) one or more hardware processors that perform operations by executing machine-readable instructions stored in a memory, and/or (b) one or more other hardware logic units that perform the operations using a collection of configured logic gates, the operations including:   providing a report to a user, the report describing plural time limit values that specify respective amounts of time in which a particular supervisee is permitted to interact with different application categories in different contexts,   the plural time limit values having been automatically generated by enumerating different instances of input information respectively describing the different contexts, and using rule logic to assign the plural time values to the different instances of input information,   at least two instances of input information of the different instances of input information identifying different locations at which the supervisee is able to interact with the different application categories, and   the time limit values specified in the report being accessible to usage-controlling logic to govern interaction by the particular supervisee with different applications identified in the report.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 7 , where the rule logic is implemented by a machine-trained model. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 7 , wherein the rule logic is implemented by a set of rules. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 7 , wherein the each application of the different applications is automatically assigned to one or more application categories by application-classifying logic. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 7 , wherein the report is configured to present the plural time values using different user interface presentations for different respective selectable filter factors, wherein selection of one of the filter factors causes presentation of a particular user interface presentation that enables the user to view the plural time values with respect to the different application categories. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 11 , wherein the particular user interface presentation also identifies one or more applications, of the different applications, that are associated with each application category of the different application categories. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 11 , wherein selection of another of the filter factors causes presentation of another user interface presentation that enables the user to view the plural time values with respect to different locations. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein the other user interface presentation shows maps of regions to which the plural time limit values apply. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 11 , wherein selection of another of the filter factors causes presentation of another user interface presentation that enables the user to view the plural time values with respect to the different applications. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 7 , wherein the rule logic generates different sets of time values for different supervisees in different age brackets. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 7 , wherein the rule logic automatically and dynamically varies the plural time limit values as the particular supervisee ages. 
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable storage medium for storing computer-readable instructions, one or more hardware processors executing the computer readable instructions to perform a method that comprises:
 automatically assigning application categories to different applications; and   automatically generating plural time limit values that specify respective amounts of time in which a particular supervisee is permitted to interact with the different application categories in different contexts,   said automatically generating including enumerating different instances of input information respectively describing the different contexts, and using rule logic to assign the plural time values to the different instances of input information,   at least two instances of input information of the different instances of input information identifying different locations at which the supervisee is able to interact with the different application categories, and   the time limit values specified in the report being accessible to usage-controlling logic to govern interaction by the particular supervisee with different applications identified in the report.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein said automatically generating is performed using a machine-trained model. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein said automatically generating is performed using a set of rules.