FAMILY ACCOUNTS FOR AN ONLINE CONTENT STORAGE SHARING SERVICE

• US 20150348185A1
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Coffman, Patrick L., Frost, Megan M., Ioveva, Maria Dimitrova
• Granted Patent: US 10,789,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A computing device provides methods and workflow for setting up a shared family account on a content storage system, including the creation of accounts for child family members. A computing device supports the creation of a family account using an account on the content storage system associated with an adult family member acting as a family organizer. The family organizer can designate a specific account as a purchase account for allowing other family member to purchase content from content servers associated with the content storage system. The family organizer can invite other adult family members to join the shared family account. The family organizer can create new accounts on the content storage system for child family members, and can designate access and purchase restrictions for such child family members. Family members have access to shared storage content, as well as services such as family calendar, group messaging, and device location.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display;

displaying a first screen to initiate setup of a family account at an online content storage system that is to be shared between family members;

responsive to an input on the first screen initiating setup of the family account, displaying an identifier of a family organizer and an indication of an source account of the family organizer with the online content storage system to be used as the family account;

displaying at least one account to be selected as a purchase account for the family account, wherein purchases of content items by any family member having access to the family account are stored on the online content storage system in association with the family account, and can be accessed by any other family member having access to the family account;

responsive receiving an input selecting an account as the purchase account, displaying credit card information associated with the purchase account;

responsive to an input confirming the credit card information, sending to the online content storage system an indication to associate the credit card number for the purchase account with the family account; and

displaying a list of family members having access to the family account, an indication of the credit card number associated with the family account, and a user interface element to add a family member to the family account.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an account to which the family organizer is currently logged in, and preselecting as the purchase account the currently logged in account of the family organizer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying credit card information further comprises requesting from the online content storage system a credit card number associated with the purchase account.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a user interface element to create an account identifier for a child family member on the online content storage system.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

responsive to selection of the user interface element to create an account identifier for a child family member;

displaying an input field for receiving a credit card verification number for a credit card number associated with the family account;

responsive to receiving an input that matches an actual credit card verification number of the credit card number associated with the account, proceeding with the creation an account identifier of an account for the child family member by displaying input fields for receiving identification information for the child family member;

responsive to receiving an input that does not match the actual card verification number of the credit card number associated with the account, terminating the creation of the account identifier of the account for the child family member, and displaying a list of family members having access to the family account, wherein the list of family members does not include the family child member.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user name as an account identifier for a new account of a child family member;

providing the user name to the online content storage system creating the new account for the child family member;

receiving from the online content storage system an account identifier for the child family member wherein the account identifier operates as an email address of the child family member with the online content storage system; and

displaying the account identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a control for receiving an input selectively enabling the online content storage system to transmit to an adult family member associated with the family account, prior to a purchase of content by the added family member, a message indicating the content being to be purchased by the added family member and indicating that the adult family member has an option to approve the purchase prior to the purchase being processed and the content downloaded to a computing device of the added family member.

8. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display;

displaying input field for receiving an identifier of the family member to be added to the family account at an online content storage system, wherein the family account is shared between family members;

responsive to receiving the identifier of the family member to be added to the family account, transmitting the identifier to the online content storage system;

receiving from the online content storage system a confirmation that the family member has a previously established individual account with an a content server associated with the online content storage system, and responsive to the confirmation displaying the identifier of the family member in a distinguished manner;

receiving a password from the family member, and transmitting the password to the online content storage system for verification; and

responsive to receiving from the online content storage system an indication that the password of the family member has been verified and the family member has added to the family account, displaying a list family members having access to the family account, the list of family members including the added family member.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying a user interface element to a cause an email to be sent to an email address of the family member to invite the family member to join the family account;

responsive to selection of the user interface element;

transmitting to the online content storage system a message to send an email to the email address of the family member to invite the family member to join the family account; and

displaying a list of family members associated with the family account, the list of family members including the invited family member, and an indication that the online content storage system is awaiting confirmation from the invited family member to join the family account.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

responsive to receiving from the online content storage system an indication that the added family member is within a predetermined age range;

displaying a first user interface element configured to receive a confirmation that the added family member is authorized to purchase online content from an online content source; and

displaying a second user interface element configured to receive a confirmation that at least one adult family member is to receive a message from the online content storage system prior to each purchase by the added family member identifying the content being to be purchased by the added family member and indicating that the family organizer has an option to approve the purchase.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying an indication that the added family member is automatically associated with a shared family calendar service associated with the family account.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying an indication that the added family member is automatically associated with a group messaging service associated with the family account.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying an indication that the added family member is automatically associated with a device location service associated with the family account.

14. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display;

displaying an input field for receiving an identifier of the family member to be added to a family account at an online content storage system that is shared between family members;

responsive to receiving the identifier of the family member to be added to the family account, determining an age of the family member to be added to the family account;

responsive to the age of the family member being less than a predetermined age limit, selecting one of a plurality of content access and purchase restriction templates to be associated with the family member;

displaying an indication of the selected content access and purchase restriction template; and

applying the selected content access and purchase restriction template to the account of the added family member.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

responsive to the added family member accessing the family account, determining a current age of the added family member;

responsive the current age of the added family member having changed, determining a content restriction template to be applied to the account of the family member based on the current age of the family member and a current country; and

applying the determined content restriction template to the account of the family member, the content restriction template restricting access and purchase to online content from a content source.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying for each of a plurality of content sources a control for selecting whether allow or restrict access to the content source by the added family member;

displaying a control for selecting a country from a plurality of countries, each country associated with set of content ratings; and

displaying at least a portion of the set of content ratings for a selected country for applying to restrict the access of the added family to the content source.

17. A method, comprising:

at an online content storage system;

receiving from a computing device of a user an account identifier of account of the user on the online content storage system;

selecting an account of the user to be used as a shared family account, and providing to the computing device an indication of the selected account to be used as the family account;

receiving from the computing device of the user a confirmation of the selected account;

receiving from the computing device of the user a selection of an account of the user to be used as a purchase account associated with the family account;

determining credit card information associated with the purchase account, wherein purchases of content items by any family member having access to the family account are stored on the online content storage system in association with the family account, and can be accessed by any other family member having access to the family account; and

responsive to receiving from the computer device an input confirming the credit card information, associating the purchase account with the shared family account, such that purchases of content items by any family member having access to the family account are charged to the credit card associated with the purchase account.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving from the computing device an indication to create an account identifier for a child family member for the family account;

receiving from the computing device a credit card verification number for the credit card number associated with the family account;

determining whether the received credit card verification number matches an actual credit card verification number of the credit card number associated with the account;

responsive to received credit card verification number matching the actual credit card verification number creating an account identifier for an account of the child family member, and providing the account identifier for the child family member to the computing device; and

responsive to received credit card verification number not matching the actual credit card verification number creating an account identifier for the child family member, terminating the creation of an account identifier for the child family member.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving from the computing device an input selectively enabling the online content storage system to require a real time approval from a computing device of an adult family member of a purchase of content by the child family member using the purchase account associated with the family account, prior to the purchase being processed and the content downloaded to a computing device of the added family member; and

configuring an account of the child family member to require the real time approval of purchases of content by the child family member.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display, cause the electronic device to perform the steps of:

displaying a first screen to initiate setup of a family account at an online content storage system that is to be shared between family members;

responsive to an input on the first screen initiating setup of the family account, displaying an identifier of a family organizer and an indication of an source account of the family organizer with the online content storage system to be used as the family account;

displaying at least one account to be selected as a purchase account for the family account, wherein purchases of content items by any family member having access to the family account are stored on the online content storage system in association with the family account, and can be accessed by any other family member having access to the family account;

responsive receiving an input selecting an account as the purchase account, displaying credit card information associated with the purchase account;

responsive to an input confirming the credit card information, sending to the online content storage system an indication to associate the credit card number for the purchase account with the family account; and

displaying a list of family members having access to the family account, an indication of the credit card number associated with the family account, and a user interface element to add a family member to the family account.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display, cause the electronic device to perform the steps of:

displaying input field for receiving an identifier of the family member to be added to the family account at an online content storage system, wherein the family account is shared between family members;

responsive to receiving the identifier of the family member to be added to the family account, transmitting the identifier to the online content storage system;

receiving from the online content storage system a confirmation that the family member has a previously established individual account with an a content server associated with the online content storage system, and responsive to the confirmation displaying the identifier of the family member in a distinguished manner;

receiving a password from the family member, and transmitting the password to the online content storage system for verification; and

responsive to receiving from the online content storage system an indication that the password of the family member has been verified and the family member has added to the family account, displaying a list family members having access to the family account, the list of family members including the added family member.

22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display, cause the electronic device to perform the steps of:

displaying an input field for receiving an identifier of the family member to be added to a family account at an online content storage system that is shared between family members;

responsive to receiving the identifier of the family member to be added to the family account, determining an age of the family member to be added to the family account;

responsive to the age of the family member being less than a predetermined age limit, selecting one of a plurality of content access and purchase restriction templates to be associated with the family member;

displaying an indication of the selected content access and purchase restriction template; and

applying the selected content access and purchase restriction template to the account of the added family member.

23. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display, cause the electronic device to perform the steps of:

receiving from a computing device of a user an account identifier of account of the user on the online content storage system;

selecting an account of the user to be used as a shared family account, and providing to the computing device an indication of the selected account to be used as the family account;

receiving from the computing device of the user a confirmation of the selected account;

receiving from the computing device of the user a selection of an account of the user to be used as a purchase account associated with the family account;

determining credit card information associated with the purchase account, wherein purchases of content items by any family member having access to the family account are stored on the online content storage system in association with the family account, and can be accessed by any other family member having access to the family account; and

responsive to receiving from the computer device an input confirming the credit card information, associating the purchase account with the shared family account, such that purchases of content items by any family member having access to the family account are charged to the credit card associated with the purchase account.

24. A electronic device comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more programs stored in the memory for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs instructions, which when executed by the electronic device with a display, cause the electronic device to perform the steps of;

displaying a first screen to initiate setup of a family account at an online content storage system that is to be shared between family members;

responsive to an input on the first screen initiating setup of the family account, displaying an identifier of a family organizer and an indication of an source account of the family organizer with the online content storage system to be used as the family account;

displaying at least one account to be selected as a purchase account for the family account, wherein purchases of content items by any family member having access to the family account are stored on the online content storage system in association with the family account, and can be accessed by any other family member having access to the family account;

responsive receiving an input selecting an account as the purchase account, displaying credit card information associated with the purchase account;

responsive to an input confirming the credit card information, sending to the online content storage system an indication to associate the credit card number for the purchase account with the family account; and

displaying a list of family members having access to the family account, an indication of the credit card number associated with the family account, and a user interface element to add a family member to the family account.

25. A electronic device comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more programs stored in the memory for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs instructions, which when executed by the electronic device with a display, cause the electronic device to perform the steps of;

displaying input field for receiving an identifier of the family member to be added to the family account at an online content storage system, wherein the family account is shared between family members;

responsive to receiving the identifier of the family member to be added to the family account, transmitting the identifier to the online content storage system;

receiving from the online content storage system a confirmation that the family member has a previously established individual account with an a content server associated with the online content storage system, and responsive to the confirmation displaying the identifier of the family member in a distinguished manner;

receiving a password from the family member, and transmitting the password to the online content storage system for verification; and

responsive to receiving from the online content storage system an indication that the password of the family member has been verified and the family member has added to the family account, displaying a list family members having access to the family account, the list of family members including the added family member.

26. A electronic device comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more programs stored in the memory for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs instructions, which when executed by the electronic device with a display, cause the electronic device to perform the steps of;

displaying an input field for receiving an identifier of the family member to be added to a family account at an online content storage system that is shared between family members;

responsive to receiving the identifier of the family member to be added to the family account, determining an age of the family member to be added to the family account;

responsive to the age of the family member being less than a predetermined age limit, selecting one of a plurality of content access and purchase restriction templates to be associated with the family member;

displaying an indication of the selected content access and purchase restriction template; and

applying the selected content access and purchase restriction template to the account of the added family member.

27. A electronic device comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more programs stored in the memory for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs instructions, which when executed by the electronic device with a display, cause the electronic device to perform the steps of;

receiving from a computing device of a user an account identifier of account of the user on the online content storage system;

selecting an account of the user to be used as a shared family account, and providing to the computing device an indication of the selected account to be used as the family account;

receiving from the computing device of the user a confirmation of the selected account;

receiving from the computing device of the user a selection of an account of the user to be used as a purchase account associated with the family account;

determining credit card information associated with the purchase account, wherein purchases of content items by any family member having access to the family account are stored on the online content storage system in association with the family account, and can be accessed by any other family member having access to the family account; and

responsive to receiving from the computer device an input confirming the credit card.