Enabling restricted communications between a plurality of users

• US 20020103862A1
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Burr, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US09/773,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103862A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

A communication protocol particularly amenable to use by children enables communications over various communication protocols without the fear that the children will inappropriately communicate with unauthorized individuals. A list of authorized individuals that a given child may communicate with may be stored on a communication terminal. Before communications are allowed to proceed over a communication network such as the Internet, a check ensures that the intended recipient or sender is an appropriate authorized recipient or sender. A password protection scheme may be utilized to prevent the child from adding inappropriate contacts to the list of authorized individuals.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

enabling communications between a first terminal and selected second terminals;

enabling the storage of a modifiable list of second terminals that the first terminal is able to communicate with; and

enabling the ability to modify said list to be restricted.

2. The method of claim 1 including communicating between a first terminal and a base station and forwarding communications from said first terminal to said base station on to said second terminals.

3. The method of claim 1 including enabling communications between a first terminal that is a handheld unit and said base station using a wireless communication protocol.

4. The method of claim 3 including communicating between said base station and said second terminals at least in part over the Internet.

5. The method of claim 4 including exchanging text messages between said first terminal and selected second terminals.

6. The method of claim 1 including communicating between said first terminal and said selected second terminals through a chat server.

7. The method of claim 6 including storing said modifiable list of second terminals in said base station.

8. The method of claim 7 including blocking communications, from said handheld unit, received by said base station and preventing those communications from proceeding to a second terminal not listed in said modifiable list.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the ability to modify said list to be restricted includes enabling a requirement for a password to obtain access to said list.

10. The method of claim 1 including requiring a password to initiate an outgoing transmission from said first terminal.

11. An article comprising a medium storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to:

enable communications between a first terminal and selected second terminals;

enable the storage of a modifiable list of second terminals that the first terminal is able to communicate with; and

enable restrictions on the ability to modify said list.

12. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to communicate with a first terminal and forward communications from said first terminal to said second terminal.

13. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable communications between a first terminal that is a handheld unit using a wireless communication protocol.

14. The article of claim 13 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to communicate with said second terminals at least in part over the Internet.

15. The article of claim 14 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to exchange text messages between a first terminal and selected second terminals.

16. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to communicate between said first terminal and said selected second terminals through a chat server.

17. The article of claim 16 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to store said modifiable list of second terminals.

18. The article of claim 17 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to block communications from said handheld unit and prevent those communications from proceeding to a second terminal not listed in said modifiable list.

19. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to enable a requirement for a password to obtain access to said list.

20. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to require a password to initiate an outgoing transmission from said first terminal.

21. A system comprising:

a processor-based device; and

a storage coupled to said processor-based device storing instructions that enable communications between a first terminal and selected second terminals, enable the storage of a modifiable list of second terminals that the first terminal is able to communicate with and enable restrictions on the ability to modify said list.

22. The system of claim 21 including a wireless interface.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable said device to communicate with a first terminal and forward communications from said first terminal to said second terminal.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable communications between a first terminal that is a handheld unit using a wireless communication protocol.

25. The article of claim 24 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable the processor-based device to communicate with said second terminals at least in part over the Internet.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable the processor-based system to exchange text messages between a first terminal and selected second terminals.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable the device to communicate between said first terminal and selected second terminals through a chat server.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable the device to store said modifiable list of second terminals.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable the device to block communications from said handheld unit and prevent those communications from proceeding to a second terminal not listed in said modifiable list.

30. The system of claim 21 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable the device to require a password to obtain access to said list.