Parental control system for use in connection with account-based internet access server
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling use of services provided by an account based access server, the apparatus configured to communicate with a plurality of users where each of the users are associated with a user computing device, the apparatus comprising:
- a user database having data representing a plurality of user accounts, wherein a user account is associated with at least one of the plurality of users;
a relational data structure to maintain a relationship between the user account and at least one other user account, the relational data structure including at least one user account identified as a parent account and at least one user account identified as a child account;
logic to verify parental status of the parent account with respect to the child account; and
logic to limit access to a user of the child account that is associated with the parent account, where such limitations are determined, at least in part, based on a selection made by a user of the parent account.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An access server controls use of services in an account based access server and includes a database of users, a data structure associating users identified as parents with parent accounts, users identified as children with child accounts and associating parent accounts with child accounts in family accounts. The access server includes logic for verifying parental status of a parent account with respect to a child account and logic for limiting access to a user using a child account that is associated with a family account, where such limitations are determined, at least in part, based on selections made by a user of a parent account associated with the family account.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling use of services provided by an account based access server, the apparatus configured to communicate with a plurality of users where each of the users are associated with a user computing device, the apparatus comprising:
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a user database having data representing a plurality of user accounts, wherein a user account is associated with at least one of the plurality of users;
a relational data structure to maintain a relationship between the user account and at least one other user account, the relational data structure including at least one user account identified as a parent account and at least one user account identified as a child account;
logic to verify parental status of the parent account with respect to the child account; and
logic to limit access to a user of the child account that is associated with the parent account, where such limitations are determined, at least in part, based on a selection made by a user of the parent account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31)
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28. An apparatus for controlling use of services provided by an account based access server, the apparatus configured to communicate with a plurality of users where each of the users are associated with a user computing device, the apparatus comprising:
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a user database having data representing a plurality of user accounts, wherein a user account is associated with at least one of the plurality of users;
a relational data structure to maintain a relationship between the user account and at least one other user account, the relational data structure including at least one user account identified as a parent account and at least one user account identified as a child account;
logic to verify parental status of the parent account with respect to the child account; and
logic to permit one or more parent account access to the child account associated with the one or more parent account, based on a selection made by a user of the one or more parent accounts.
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32. A method for controlling a sub-account, the method using an access server coupled to a control account and a database, the access server configured to communicate with a user computer system executing a user interface operated by a human user and further configured to effect a modification of the sub-account, wherein the user interface includes a display device and a user input device, wherein the user computer system executing the user interface includes a processor and a memory coupled to the user interface, wherein the user computer system is coupled to a network for transferring information to the access server, the method comprising:
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accepting signals from the user input device to access the sub-account associated with the control account;
presenting to the user of the control account one or more preferences, where the one or more preferences are associated with the sub-account;
selecting at least one preference; and
transferring information associated with the selected preference over the network to cause the sub-account to be modified. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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45. A method for preventing creation of an unrestricted user account by an unauthorized user, the method using an access server coupled with a database, the access server configured to communicate with a user computer system executing a user interface operated by a human user and further configured to detect an unauthorized attempt to create the unrestricted account, wherein the user interface includes a display device and a user input device, wherein the user computer system executing the user interface includes a processor coupled to the user interface, wherein the user computer system is coupled to a network for transferring information to the access server, the method comprising:
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accepting signals from the user input device to determine if a user meets at least one minimum requirement;
determining that the user fails to meet the at least one minimum requirement;
accepting signals from the user input device to verify that the at least one minimum requirement is met;
determining that the at least one minimum requirement of the user has not been verified;
accepting signals from the user input device to determine that the user is associated with a sub-account;
determining that the user is associated with a sub-account; and
denying formation of the new unrestricted account.
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51. An apparatus for controlling use of services in an account based access server, the apparatus configured to communicate with a plurality of users where each of the users are associated with a user computing device, the apparatus comprising:
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means for accessing data, the data representing a plurality of user accounts, wherein a user account is associated with at least one of the plurality of users;
means for maintaining a relationship between the user account and at least one other user account, wherein the relationship includes at least one user account identified as a parent account and at least one user account identified as a child account;
means for verifying parental status of the parent account with respect to the child account; and
means for limiting access to a user of the child account that is associated with the parent account, where such limitations are determined, at least in part, based on a selection made by a user of the parent account.
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52. An apparatus for controlling use of services in an account based access server, the apparatus configured to communicate with a plurality of users where each of the users are associated with a user computing device, the apparatus comprising:
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means for accessing data, the data representing a plurality of user accounts, wherein a user account is associated with at least one of the plurality of users;
means for maintaining a relationship between the user account and at least one other user account, wherein the relationship includes at least one user account identified as a parent account and at least one user account identified as a child account;
means for verifying parental status of the parent account with respect to the child account; and
means for permitting one or more parent access to the child account associated with the one or more parent account, based on a selection made by a user of a parent account.
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53. A method for controlling a sub-account, the sub-account is configured to have limited user access to resources provided by a content manager, wherein the access to the content is controlled by a control account, the method comprising:
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accessing the control account;
accessing the sub-account associated with the control account;
providing to the user of the control account one or more preferences;
associating at least one preference with the sub-account; and
modifying the sub-account according to the information associated with the at least one preference. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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55. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, wherein the computer data signal is used to control a sub-account, the sub-account being configured to have limited user access to content, wherein the access to the content is controlled by a control account, the computer data signal comprising:
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program code to access the control account;
program code, responsive to the control account, to access the sub-account associated with the control account;
program code to provide to the user of the control account one or more preferences;
program code to associate at least one preference with the sub-account; and
program code to modify the sub-account responsive to the information associated with the at least one preference.
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Specification