Android Question need advice...

[Cableguy]

I have been prompted this question:

"How can I limit the time and have a repport of the apps used by my three sons on the familly tablet, knowing that, each weekday they are alowed 20mins/each and on weekends its an hour/each. I also would like to disable 'user' account after a specific hour of the day, say 22h, and to prevent playstore and user apk instalation"

I thought imediatly on a kioske kind of app, but... From forum readding, it limits the usage of the tablet to the kioske app itself, it would be useless...

Ideas anyone???

 

[lemonisdead]

Hi,

Why not trying with the device administrator library http://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/device-administrator-library.19208/

Running a service perhaps could you change the password for a specific time. Lock the screen when the usage time is over.

 

[Beja]

I would apply Murphy's Law #16 which says:
"You are free to stop using the tabs at 22:00, but you are not free to use it after that."

 

[Erel]

@lemonisdead suggestion is interesting and worth checking.

You should create a foreground service that runs all the time. You can use PhoneEvents to know when the device screen is on. When they reach the limit use a solution similar to the kiosk solution to block the tablet.

 

[Cableguy]

Hi,

Why not trying with the device administrator library http://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/device-administrator-library.19208/

Running a service perhaps could you change the password for a specific time. Lock the screen when the usage time is over.

Thanks for the advice, been away for so long I don't even know what's been released lib wise.

 

[Cableguy]

I would apply Murphy's Law #16 which says:
"You are free to stop using the tabs at 22:00, but you are not free to use it after that."

I already tried that one but then the third Murphy's law comes into service with the " yet another 5minutes"... And two hours later those 5 minutes are still in service

 

[Cableguy]

So...

I've been playing around a bit with the famous "family tablet", and to my surprise, thou its the same base version as my phablet from ASUS®, it has the possibility of creating users accounts, which my phablet has not...
So my question is, can I detect when one the non-admin users have logging successfully to their account, and how to do so (pointers)?

Thanks

 

[Mark Read]

@Cableguy, this sounds similar to an app I made for my children. A service runs all the time and has a start at boot service as well. Outwith the times which I set, the flight mode is turned on and all internet capability is stopped. With the newer versions, I think this function will not work but with 2.7 it worked fine. I also hide the application in a spoof antivirus screen so that they would only see this screen. With an admin password the rest of the app was visible. If its any use to you, you can have the code. Regards

 

[Cableguy]

@Cableguy, this sounds similar to an app I made for my children. A service runs all the time and has a start at boot service as well. Outwith the times which I set, the flight mode is turned on and all internet capability is stopped. With the newer versions, I think this function will not work but with 2.7 it worked fine. I also hide the application in a spoof antivirus screen so that they would only see this screen. With an admin password the rest of the app was visible. If its any use to you, you can have the code. Regards

Thanks Mark...

At the moment I'm just rying to figure out the best strategy...
I need to lock the user out after their "time credit" is used up for the day...

This far my strat is as follows...
Service start when user logs in
Check last log in
Re set time credit
If time used up, lock screen

I have to figure up how to know wich user has logged in!

 

[Mark Read]

How about creating an app which runs at boot and forces the user to login? The logged in user name is stored in a text file somewhere. The time a user is logged in could also be in the file and is updated accordingly after each login. Just a thought!

 

[Cableguy]

Quote="mark35at, post: 247695, member: 27408"]How about creating an app which runs at boot and forces the user to login? The logged in user name is stored in a text file somewhere. The time a user is logged in could also be in the file and is updated accordingly after each login. Just a thought![/quote]
Its the main ideia... my problem how will/should the app act when screen-off mode...

 

[Mark Read]

Its the main ideia... my problem how will/should the app act when screen-off mode...

I could imagine that you use a timer to log the "used" time. When the screen is off, then the tablet or whatever is not being used and the timer should pause. Should be possible in a service. Is this what you mean?

 

[Cableguy]

I was thinking more on doing some time operations...
Like establishing the time the user logs in, then verify the amount of time still on credit and create a timed screen lock, all within a single service

 

[Informatix]

Instead of trying to block or limit the use with a technical trick, which is a bit difficult and not always working as expected (my 4 y.o. kid is able to defeat any basic child lock on an unrooted device as most of these apps cannot handle properly the Home and History buttons), I think that you should try to bother the user as much as possible. A nag screen triggered by a service (and of course relaunched if it is dismissed) is probably a good way to say "Stop". Even if you restart the device, even if you tap the home button or the history button of the tablet, whatever can be launched, there's always be a big message popping up on screen preventing the normal use and explaining clearly that the time is elapsed. On this screen, you could place an EditText asking for a password, which would unlock a session for another account, for another period of time. That supposes that your screen has to be bullet-proof, with nothing in the notification bar and an obscure name and a dull icon in the app list. I already saw little fingers playing with settings without even knowing how to read.