METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ACCESSING INAPPROPRIATE MEDIA AVAILABLE TO A COMPUTER-BASED MEDIA ACCESS SYSTEM

• US 20120042391A1
• Filed: 08/11/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Media Rights Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Media Rights Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: RISAN, Hank
• Application Number:
  US12/854,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20120042391A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• 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 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8405 represented by keywords

Abstract

A method for protecting children from accessing inappropriate media available to a computer-based media access system according to one embodiment is described. The method comprises configuring a usage compliance mechanism with at least one restricted media identifier which identifies the inappropriate media. The method further includes determining that a child is attempting to access an instance of media and comparing that instance of media with the restricted media identifier. When the instance of media matches the restricted media identifier, the child is denied access to the instance of media.

Claims

1. A method for protecting children from accessing inappropriate media available to a computer-based media access system, said method comprising:

configuring a usage compliance mechanism with at least one restricted media identifier, wherein said restricted media identifier identifies said inappropriate media;

determining that a child is attempting to access an instance of media;

comparing said instance of media with said restricted media identifier; and

when said instance of media matches said at least one restricted media identifier, denying said child access to said instance of media.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said restricted media identifier is selected from a list available from at least one internet provider.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said restricted media identifier is selected from a list provided by said usage compliance mechanism.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of configuring further comprises:

enabling an access mechanism in said usage compliance mechanism that requires inputting at least one user identifier in order to activate said usage compliance mechanism.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said user identifier identifies said child.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said user identifier identifies a user who is restricted from accessing said instance of media.

7. The method as recited in claim 4 where said user identifier is that of an authorized person.

8. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said access mechanism includes requiring a password corresponding to said user identifier.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of determining further comprises:

monitoring said computer-based media access system for at least one indicator of a request to access an instance of media.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said at least one indicator is selected from the group consisting of a bus message on bus of said computer-based media access system indicating:

a compact disk (CD) drive access, a digital versatile disk (DVD) drive access, a video cassette recorder (VCR) access, and an Internet access.

11. A computer-based media access system for use by a child, said system comprising:

a computer system configured to display multimedia via a media display device;

a media access device;

a data entry device, and

a usage compliance mechanism configured to restrict access to media available to said media access device to protect said child from accessing inappropriate media.

12. The computer-based media access system of claim 11 wherein said media access device comprises a network device configured to access the Internet.

13. The computer-based media access device of claim 12 wherein said network device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone modem;

a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem;

a network interface, and a wireless modem.

14. The computer-based media access system of claim 11 wherein said media access device is selected from the group consisting of:

a compact disk (CD) drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD) drive, a video cassette recorder (VCR), and a digital camera.

15. The computer-based media access system of claim 11 wherein said data entry device is selected from the group consisting of:

a keyboard;

a mouse; and

a microphone.

16. The computer-based media access system of claim 11 wherein said media display device comprises a video display and at least one speaker.

17. The computer-based media access system of claim 11 wherein said usage compliance mechanism further comprises:

a component for comparing at least one restricted media identifier with an instance of media availed to said computer-based media access device;

a controllable switch element controlling a signal path from said media access mechanism to said media display device wherein said controllable switch element selectively controls said signal path in response to said comparing.