Realtime Approval Control

• US 20070180100A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Biggs, Todd, Looi, Mark, Carlson, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/275,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20070180100A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

Real time approval control systems and methods are provided. In at least some embodiments, a presence-based network is utilized to provide a parent or other adult who is in a position to approve or deny a request, more timely access to information to facilitate the decision-making process.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting a triggering event associated with a person whose on-line actions are being monitored by a person with approval authority; and

attempting to notify, via a presence-based network, said person with approval authority of the triggering event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of attempting to notify is performed by attempting to notify said person with approval authority via an instant messaging application.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising implementing an approval process in which approval of a request associated with the triggering event can be given or denied.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the act of implementing the approval process redirects to a parental control service.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the act of implementing the approval process redirects to a parental control service, wherein the parent control service comprises a web page that is presented to said person with approval authority.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the act of implementing the approval process comprises including, in a notification that is provided to said person with approval authority, instrumentalities by which approval can be given or denied.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of attempting to notify comprises, in an event a notification cannot be sent via the presence-based network, attempting to notify using another means of notification.

8. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 1.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting a triggering event associated with a person whose on-line actions are being monitored by a person with approval authority;

notifying, via a presence-based network, said person with approval authority of the triggering event, wherein said notifying comprises enabling said person with approval authority to start an approval conversation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of enabling an approval conversation comprises using a conversation window that is rendered by an instant messaging application.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of enabling an approval conversation comprises using a conversation window that is rendered by an instant messaging application, and wherein said approval conversation is initiated by a bot that is a contact in a contact list of said instant messaging application.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said approval conversation comprises a text exchange.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said approval conversation does not comprise a text exchange.

14. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 9.

15. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement a method comprising:

responsive to a triggering event associated with a person whose on-line actions are being monitored by a person with approval authority being detected, receiving, from a parental control robot (bot), a notification that prompts said person with approval authority to engage in an instant messaging conversation;

starting an instant messaging conversation with the parental control bot by opening a conversation window; and

receiving, via the conversation window, a description of a request associated with the triggering event and a description of how to respond to approve or deny the request.

16. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the parental control robot is a contact in a contact list associated with an instant messaging application that provides said conversation window.

17. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein said instant messaging conversation is a textual conversation.

18. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein said instant messaging conversation is not a textual conversation.

19. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 further comprising presenting, as part of the conversation window, a text communication window in which said person with approval authority can type in an approval or denial.

20. A computing device embodying the one or more computer-readable media of claim 15.