Age-restricted website service with parental notification

• US 20080222271A1
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cary Spires
• Original Assignee: Cary Spires
• Inventors: Spires, Cary
• Application Number:
  US12/012,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20080222271A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

An age-restricted website service accessed only by a proprietary browser software program operated by an authorized child or teenager. When loaded into the user'"'"'s computer, an icon is loaded onto the desktop and all other browser icons are removed. When activated, the browser program only connects to the service'"'"'s host computer. The service provides access to an interactive network of web forums, photos, blogs, chats and logs and emails safe for small children. During setup, a signup menu is displayed that includes a plurality of questions completed by the new member requesting information regarding the name of the member, the age of the member, name of the member'"'"'s parent or guardian, the mailing address of the parent or guardian, the telephone number and email address of the member'"'"'s parent or guardian. After the menu questionnaire is completed and submitted, the member'"'"'s parent or guardian is then contacted by U.S. Postal Restricted Receipt service requiring a signature and positive identification. The representative may also send the parent or guardian an email confirming that the account for the new member has been authorized. Once the account has been authorized verbally and via email the chosen user name and temporary password for the new member is mailed to the parent or guardian. The age of the member is limited to 7 to 17 years. Also, the passwords are all members are changed annually.

Claims

1. An age-restricted website service, comprising:

a. a wide area computer network;

b. a server connected to said wide area computer network, said server including a host side program capable of communicating with a proprietary browser program on a remote computer;

c. a plurality of remotes computer each including a desktop display and with a proprietary browser program capable of connecting and communicating with said server, said browser program creating an icon on said desktop display and removes all existing browser programs from the desktop of said remote computer; and

,

d. a plurality of membership data files located on said server, each said membership data file containing the name of a user between the ages of 7 and 17, the name of the parent or guardian of the user, the telephone number of the parent or guardian of the user and the email address of the parent or guardian, and the physical mailing address of the parent or guardian.

2. A method for preventing contact with a minor child over a computer connected to a wide area network, comprising the following steps:

a. selecting a server connected to a wide area computer network;

b. installing an age-restricted hosting program into said server, said hosting program being linked to a membership data file containing the personal information of authorized users between a selected age range between 7 and 17 years of age, and the parental or guardian contact information fore each user;

c. installing a client side proprietary browser software program into a remote computer capable of connecting to said wide area computer network, said browser software program includes a signup module in which a user enters his or her name, age, email, parent or guardian name, email address, telephone number, and mailing address which are then transmitted to said server;

d. reviewing the age information of said user to determine if the age of the user is within the selected age range listed in the hosting program; and

,

e. contacting the parent or guardian of the user via a U.S. Postal Restriction Receipt to verify and obtain signature of the parent or guardian authorizing the new user to connect to said server.