Systems and Methods for Identity-Based Communication Gate for Social Networks

• US 20090183226A1
• Filed: 01/11/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth J. Cardita, Thomas M. Dean
• Original Assignee: Kenneth J. Cardita, Thomas M. Dean
• Inventors: Dean, Thomas M., Cardita, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,918,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2151 Time stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that provide for control of online communication services, including social networks and video games. In some embodiments, parents of children engaging in activities using online communication services can control who their child can engage in communications with, while using online communication services. In some embodiments, parents can monitor potentially problematic communications between their child and other subscribers of an online communication service. Thus, subscribers of online communication services can be prevented from misrepresenting themselves or concealing important information, including age and gender.

Claims

1. A system for providing certified parental control of online social networks and video games, the system comprising:

a database comprising at least one entry associated with a set of control limits for a child, said set of control limits corresponding to categories of persons said child may communicate with;

a certification server configured to communicate with an online communication server over a network to provide access to said database, the certification server comprising a server application that (a) registers and certifies a parent, (b) registers and certifies a child, and (c) receives and stores control limits in said database;

wherein the certification server is configured to respond to a parental control request from said online communication server that matches an entry in the database associated with a child by checking whether a subscriber is within said categories of persons said child may communicate with; and

wherein

said online communication server is configured to filter, enable, or disable a subscriber communication from said subscriber to said child depending on the response from the certification server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first person comprises a parent.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said second person comprises a child.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second server comprises a gaming server.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said second server comprises a social network server.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said control limits comprises a minimum age and a maximum age.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said control limits further comprises a gender.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said control limits further comprises times when communication is not enabled.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said second server further comprises a monitoring application that logs communications from said third person to said second person.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said monitoring application notifies said first person of potential problems in said logged communications.

2. A system for providing certified parental control of an interactive application, the system comprising:

a database comprising at least one entry associated with a set of control limits for a child, said set of control limits corresponding to categories of persons said child may communicate with;

a certification server configured to communicate with a client over a network to provide access to said database, the certification server comprising a server application that (a) registers and certifies a parent, (b) registers and certifies a child, and (c) receives and stores control limits in said database;

wherein the certification server is configured to respond to a parental control request from said client that matches an entry in the database associated with a child by checking whether a subscriber is within said categories of persons said child may communicate with; and

wherein said client is configured to filter, enable, or disable a subscriber communication from said subscriber to said child depending on the response from the certification server.

3. A system for providing certified parental control of an online communication service, the system comprising:

a database comprising at least one entry associated with a set of control limits for a second person, said set of control limits corresponding to categories of persons said second person may communicate with;

a first server configured to communicate with a second server over a network to provide access to said database, the first server comprising a server application that (a) registers and certifies a first person, (b) registers and certifies a second person, and (c) receives and stores control limits in said database;

wherein the first server is configured to respond to a parental control request from said second server that matches an entry in the database associated with a second person by checking whether a third person is within said categories of persons said second person may communicate with; and

wherein said second server is configured to enable, disable, or filter a third party communication from said third person to said second person depending on the response from the first server.

13. A system for providing certified parental control of online communication services, the system comprising:

a client configured to communicate with a certification server; and

wherein

said client is configured to filter, enable or disable a subscriber communication from a subscriber to a child depending on the response from said certification server.

14. A computer-implemented method of providing certified parental control for online social networks and video games, the method comprising:

registering and certifying a first person;

registering and certifying a second person;

registering and certifying a third person;

receiving and storing in a database a set of control limits from said first person, said set of control limits associated with categories of persons said second person may communicate with;

receiving a third party communication over a network from a third person directed to said second person;

checking whether said third person is within said associated categories of persons said second person may communicate with; and

in response to said checking, filtering, enabling, or blocking said third party communication from said third person.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first person comprises a parent.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said second person comprises a child.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said network comprises a video gaming network.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said network comprises an online social network.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said control limits comprises a minimum age and a maximum age.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said control limits further comprises a gender.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said control limits further comprises days when communication is not enabled.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising monitoring communications from said third person to said second person such that communications are logged.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said monitoring notifies said first person of potential problems in said logged communications.

24. A computer-implemented method of providing certified parental control of an interactive application, the method comprising:

receiving and storing in a database a set of control limits from a first person, said set of control limits associated with categories of persons a second person may communicate with;

receiving a communication to said second person from a third person; and

in response to receiving said communication, automatically checking in said database whether said third person is not within the categories of persons said second person may communicate with; and

wherein the checking inhibits unauthorized communications to the second person from the third person.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said first person comprises a parent.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said second person comprises a child.

27. A computer-implemented method of providing certified parental control for online communication services, the method comprising:

receiving and storing in a database a set of control limits from a first person, said set of control limits associated with categories of persons a second person may communicate with;

receiving a communication to said second person from a third person; and

in response to receiving said communication, automatically checking in said database whether said third person is within the categories of persons said second person may communicate with; and

wherein the checking allows authorized communications to the second person from the third person.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said first person comprises a parent.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said second person comprises a child.

30. A computer-implemented method of providing certified parental control for online communication services, the method comprising:

receiving a third party communication over a network from a third person directed at a child;

checking whether said third person is within associated categories of persons said child may communicate with; and

in response to said checking, filtering, enabling, or blocking said third party communication from said third person.