The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 2006
Filed:
Nov. 21, 2002
Valentina Sessa, Romas, IT;
Pia Toro, Romas, IT;
Valentina Sessa, Romas, IT;
Pia Toro, Romas, IT;
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method () for detecting excessive use of a data processing system, such as a computer or a video game, is disclosed. In a first embodiment of the invention, the method estimates () the length of a period of continuous use of the system, typically a computer. When the estimated period reaches a pre-set threshold value, a warning is provided to the user (), in order to discourage he or she from looking at the monitor. In a different embodiment of the invention, the system (typically a video game) is disabled when its usage during the current day reaches a further pre-set threshold value. In this way, parents may limit the daily usage of video games by their children.