E-MAIL, TEXT, AND MESSAGE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130104246A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Howard R. Bear, Michael Blum, Richard Docter, Tim Dedecker
• Original Assignee: Howard R. Bear, Michael Blum, Richard Docter, Tim Dedecker
• Inventors: Blum, Michael, Dedecker, Tim, Bear, Howard R., Docter, Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/643,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20130104246A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/28
• 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 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for safe electronic communication for children. According to one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a method of monitoring e-mails, text messages, and other forms of electronic communication. In one embodiment, a software system monitors electronic messages for inappropriate content such as inappropriate words and excess skin flesh that would indicate that sexually explicit images are present in the message. If inappropriate content is detected, the message is first sent to a third party, usually a parent or guardian, for review and if acceptable to the third party, the message can be sent to the child. In another exemplary embodiment, the system and method of the present invention provides a calendaring system and points redemption system wherein points can be earned by children and redeemed for awards or merchandise.

Claims

1. A system for enabling a safe messaging environment, comprising:

a network interface communicating with a memory;

the memory communicating with a processor;

the processor, when executing a computer program performs operations comprising;

creating, by a processor, a child account associated with a parent account;

receiving, by the processor, a message directed to the child account;

analyzing, by the processor, the message based upon message content rules;

associating, by the processor, a message content status with the message;

determining, by the processor, that the sender of the message is unauthorized to communicate with the child;

redirecting, by the processor, the message to a parent review interface accessible by the parent account, wherein the parent review interface displays the message, the sender and is the content status;

receiving, by the processor and from. the parent account, an approval allowing the sender to communicate with the child; and

,

updating, by the processor, an attribute of the message to enable the message to be accessed by the child account.

2. A computerized method for enabling a safe messaging environment, comprising:

creating, by a computer, a child account associated with a parent account;

receiving, by the computer, a message directed to the child account;

analyzing, by the computer, the message based upon message content rules;

associating, by the computer, a message content status with the message;

determining, by the computer, that the sender of the message is unauthorized to communicate with the child;

redirecting, by the computer, the message to a parent review interface accessible by so the parent account, wherein the parent review interface displays the message, the sender and the content status;

receiving, by the computer and from the parent account, an approval allowing the sender to communicate with the child; and

, updating, by the computer, an attribute of the message to enable the message to be accessed by the child account.

3. An online portal system, comprising:

a network interface communicating with a memory;

the memory communicating with a processor;

the processor, when executing a computer program performs operations comprising;

presenting, by the processor, an online portal interface to a plurality of users;

receiving, by the processor, input of a task from a first user, wherein the input indicates at least one second user to assign the task, a due date for the task, and points associated with the task;

in response to receiving the task, displaying, by the processor, the task to the second user in a second user account view of the online portal;

receiving, by the processor and from the second user, task completion data;

in response to receiving the task completion data, displaying, by the processor, at least a portion of the task completion data to the first user in a first user account view of the online portal;

receiving, by the processor, from the first user, task approval data; and

,

crediting, by the processor, the second user account with at least one of the points associated with task and a number of points included in the task approval data.

4. A computerized method for enabling an online portal, comprising:

presenting, by the computer, an online portal interface to a plurality of users;

receiving, by the computer, input of a task from a first user, wherein the input indicates at least one second user to assign the task, a due date for the task, and points associated with the task;

in response to receiving the task, displaying, by the computer, the task to the second user in a second user account view of the online portal;

receiving, by the computer and from the second user, task completion data;

in response to receiving the task completion data, displaying, by the computer, at least a portion of the task completion data to the first user in a first user account view of the online portal;

receiving, by the computer, from the first user, task approval data; and

,

crediting, by the computer, the second user account with at least one of the points associated with task. and a number of points included in the task approval data.

An online portal system, comprising;

a network interface communicating with a memory;

the memory communicating with a processor;

the processor, when executing a computer program configured to;

present an online portal interface to a plurality of users;

receive input of a task from a first user, wherein the input indicates at least one second user to assign the task, a due date for the task, and points associated with the task;

in response to receiving the task, displaying the task to the second user in a second user account view of the online portal;

receive, from the second user, task completion data;

in response to receiving the task completion data, displaying at least a portion of the task completion data to the first user in a first user account view of the online portal;

receive, from the first user, task approval data; and

,

credit the second user account with at least one of the points associated with task and a number of points included in the task approval data.

5. A system for enabling a safe messaging environment, comprising:

a network interface communicating with a memory;

the memory communicating with a processor;

the processor, when executing a computer program configured to;

receive a request to send a text message, wherein the request includes a phone number;

determine a service provider associated with the phone number;

determine, based upon at least one of the phone number, the service provider and a recipient associated with the phone number, that the sender of the message is authorized to communicate with the recipient;

convert the phone number to an address compliant with text message gateway format associated with the service provider; and

,

send the message to the service provider using the address.