Method and apparatus for preventing access to inappropriate content over a network based on audio or visual content

• US 20030126267A1
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pace PLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Brodsky, Tomas, Gutta, Srinivas, Dagtas, Serhan
• Application Number:
  US10/029,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20030126267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for restricting access to electronic media objects having objectionable content. The disclosed access control system prevents a user from accessing objectionable content based on an analysis of the audio or visual information associated with the content. For example, image processing techniques are employed to dynamically detect nudity, violence, or other identified inappropriate content in an image associated with an electronic media object. In addition, speech recognition techniques can be employed to dynamically detect one or more predefined stop words in audio information associated with an electronic media object. When a user first attempts to access an electronic media object, the audio or visual content (or both) of the electronic media object is analyzed to determine if the electronic media object contains any predefined inappropriate content. The inappropriate content may be defined, for example, in accordance with user-specific access privileges. The user is prevented from accessing the electronic media object if the content analysis determines that the electronic media object contains one or more predefined inappropriate content items, such as nudity, sexually explicit material, violent content or bad language.

Claims

1. A method for preventing access to an electronic media object, comprising:

analyzing at least one of audio and image information associated with said electronic media object; and

preventing a user from accessing said electronic media object if said analyzing step determines that said electronic media object contains one or more predefined inappropriate content items.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a user profile indicating the Internet browsing privileges of a user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said user profile indicates categories of content that a user may access.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of comparing said electronic media object to said Internet browsing privileges of a user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing speech recognition on said electronic media object to determine if said electronic media object includes one or more predefined stop words.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing image processing on said electronic media object to determine if said electronic media object includes nudity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said nudity is determined by identifying human skin.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing image processing on said electronic media object to determine if said electronic media object includes sexually explicit images.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing image processing on said electronic media object to determine if said electronic media object includes violent images.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic media object is obtained from a network connection.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic media object is generated in real-time by a camera.

12. A system for preventing access to an electronic media object, comprising:

a memory for storing computer readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory (110), said processor configured to;

analyze at least one of audio and image information associated with said electronic media object; and

prevent a user from accessing said electronic media object if said analyzing step determines that said electronic media object contains one or more predefined inappropriate content items.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to store a user profile indicating the Internet browsing privileges of a user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said user profile indicates categories of content that a user may access.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said processor is further configured to compare said electronic media object to said Internet browsing privileges of a user.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to perform speech recognition on said electronic media object to determine if said electronic media object includes one or more predefined stop words.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to perform image processing on said electronic media object to determine if said electronic media object includes nudity.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said nudity is determined by identifying human skin.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to perform image processing on said electronic media object to determine if said electronic media object includes sexually explicit images.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to perform image processing on said electronic media object to determine if said electronic media object includes violent images.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein said electronic media object is obtained from a network connection.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein said electronic media object is generated in real-time by a camera.

23. An article of manufacture for preventing access to an electronic media object, comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a step to analyze at least one of audio and image information associated with said electronic media object; and

a step to prevent a user from accessing said electronic media object if said analyzing step determines that said electronic media object contains one or more predefined inappropriate content items.

24. A system for preventing access to an electronic media object, comprising:

means for analyzing at least one of audio and image information associated with said electronic media object; and

means for preventing a user from accessing said electronic media object if said analyzing step determines that said electronic media object contains one or more predefined inappropriate content items.