CONTROL SETTINGS

• US 20150350220A1
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Espinosa, Christopher D., Sanders, Christopher John, Ioveva, Maria D.
• Application Number:
  US14/724,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20150350220A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1074 for supporting data block transmission mechanisms file transfer H04L67/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1076 Resource dissemination mechanisms or network resource keeping policies for optimal resource availability in the overlay network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

One or more user accounts can be linked together to form a group of linked user accounts. A designated primary user account in the group of linked user accounts can be enabled to modify control settings for the subordinate user accounts in the group of linked user account. The control settings can dictate restrictions on the subordinate user accounts. For example, the control settings can define restrictions on the type of content that can be accessed, purchases that can be made, storage space allocated to the subordinate user account, etc. In some embodiments, the primary user account can be enabled to establish a set of control settings for a client device associated with the group of linked user accounts. The set of control settings can dictate restriction on content accessed by the client device and usage of the client device such as restrictions on phone calls, messages, data usage, etc.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, from a first client device, while the first client device is authorized on a primary user account, a first set of control settings for a first subordinate user account linked to the primary user account, wherein the first set of control settings define restrictions on the first subordinate user account;

receiving, by the processor, from a second client device, while the second client device is authorized on the first subordinate user account, a first content request, wherein the first content request requests access to a first content item;

determining, by the processor, from the first set of control settings, that the first subordinate user account is restricted from accessing the first content item; and

denying, by the processor, the first content request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first client device, while the second client device is authorized on the first subordinate user account, a second content request, wherein the second content request requests access to a second content item, different than the first content item;

determining, from the first set of control settings, that the first subordinate user account is authorized to access the second content item; and

granting the second content request, wherein access to the second content item is provided to the second client device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the second client device, while the second client device is authorized on a user account that is not linked to the primary user account, a third content request, wherein the third content request requests access to the first content item; and

granting the third content request, wherein access to the first content item is provided to the second client device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first client device, while the first client device is authorized on the primary user account, a second set of control settings for the second client device, wherein the second set of control settings define restrictions on the second client device;

receiving, from the second client device, while the second client device is authorized to access a user account that is not linked to the primary user account, a fourth content request, wherein the fourth content request requests access to the first content item;

determining, from the second set of control settings, that the second client device is restricted from accessing the first content item; and

denying the fourth content request.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting the second set of control settings to the second client device, wherein the second client device determines whether to allow content requests based on the second set of control settings.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a third set of control settings for a second subordinate user account that is linked to the primary user account, wherein;

the third set of control settings is generated based on an age of a user associated with the second subordinate user account, and

the third set of control settings define restrictions on the second subordinate user account;

receiving, from a third client device, while the third client device is authorized on the second subordinate user account, a fifth content request, wherein the fifth content request requests access to a third content item;

determining, from the third set of control setting, that the second subordinate user account is restricted from accessing the third content item; and

denying the fifth content request.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

upon a determination that the age of the user associated with the second subordinate user account has changed, generated an updated third set of control setting for the second subordinate user account, wherein the updated third set of control settings;

is generated based on an updated age of the user associated with the second subordinate account,

define restrictions on the second subordinate account, and

replace the third set of control settings;

receiving, from the third client device, while the third client device is authorized on the second subordinate user account, a sixth content request, wherein the sixth content request requests access to the third content item;

determining, from the updated third set of control setting, that the second subordinate user account is authorized to access the third content item; and

granting the sixth content request, wherein access to the third content item is provided to the third client device.

8. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive, from a first client device, while the first client device is authorized on a primary user account, a first set of control settings for a first subordinate user account linked to the primary user account, wherein the first set of control settings define restrictions on the first subordinate user account;

receive, from a second client device, while the second client device is authorized on the first subordinate user account, a first content request, wherein the first content request requests access to a first content item;

determine, from the first set of control settings, that the first subordinate user account is authorized to access the first content item; and

grant, the first content request, wherein access to the first content item is provided to the second client device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

receive, from the first client device, while the second client device is authorized on the first subordinate user account, a second content request, wherein the second content request requests access to a second content item, different than the first content item;

determine, from the first set of control settings, that the first subordinate user account is restricted from accessing the second content item; and

deny the second content request.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

receive, from the second client device, while the second client device is authorized on a user account that is not linked to the primary user account, a third content request, wherein the third content request requests access to the second content item; and

grant the third content request, wherein access to the second content item is provided to the second client device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

receive, from the first client device, while the first client device is authorized on the primary user account, a second set of control settings for the second client device, wherein the second set of control settings define restrictions on the second client device;

receive, from the second client device, while the second client device is authorized to access a user account that is not linked to the primary user account, a fourth content request, wherein the fourth content request requests access to the first content item;

determine, from the second set of control settings, that the second client device is restricted from accessing the first content item; and

deny the fourth content request.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

transmit the second set of control settings to the second client device, wherein the second client device determines whether to allow content requests based on the second set of control settings.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

generate a third set of control settings for a second subordinate user account that is linked to the primary user account, wherein;

the third set of control settings is generated based on an age of a user associated with the second subordinate user account, and

the third set of control settings define restrictions on the second subordinate user account;

receive, from a third client device, while the third client device is authorized on the second subordinate user account, a fifth content request, wherein the fifth content request requests access to a third content item;

determine, from the third set of control setting, that the second subordinate user account is restricted from accessing the third content item; and

deny the fifth content request.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first client device, while the first client device is authorized on a first subordinate user account, a first set of control settings for the first subordinate user account, wherein;

the first subordinate user account is linked to a primary user account,

the first set of control settings were set by the primary user account, and

the first set of control settings define restrictions on the first subordinate user account;

receiving, by the first client device, while the first client device is authorized on the first subordinate user account, a first request, wherein the first request requests to perform a first action;

determining, by the first client device, from the first set of control settings, that the first subordinate user account is restricted from performing the first action; and

denying, by the first client device, the first request.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the first client device, while the first client device is authorized on the first subordinate user account, a second request, wherein the second request requests to perform a second action, different than the first action;

determining, from the first set of control settings, that the first subordinate user account is authorized to perform the second action; and

granting the second request.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the first client device, while the first client device is authorized on a first user account that is not linked to the primary user account, a third request, wherein the third request requests to perform the first action; and

executing the third request.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, by the first client device, a first authorization request to authorize the first client device on the first user account that is not linked to the primary user account;

receiving, from the primary user account, a verification approving the first authorization request; and

granting the first authorization request, resulting in the first client device being authorized on the first user account that is not linked to the primary user account.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the first client device, a second authorization request to authorize the first client device on a second user account that is not linked to the primary user account; and

upon a determination that a verification approving the second authorization request was not received from the primary user account, denying the second authorization request.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the first client device, a second set of control settings, wherein;

the second set of control settings were set by the primary user account, and

the second set of control settings define restrictions on the first client device;

receiving, by the first client device, while the first client device is authorized on a second user account, a fourth request, wherein;

the second user account is not linked to the primary user account, and

the fourth request requests to perform a third action;

determining, from the second set of control settings, that the first client device is restricted from performing the third action; and

denying the fourth request.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a client computing device, cause the client computing device to:

receive, while the client computing device is authorized on a first subordinate user account, a first set of control settings for the first subordinate user account, wherein;

the first subordinate user account is linked to a primary user account,

the first set of control settings were set by the primary user account, and

the first set of control settings define restrictions on the first subordinate user account;

receiving, while the client computing device is authorized on the first subordinate user account, a first request, wherein the first request requests to perform a first action;

determine, from the first set of control settings, that the first subordinate user account is restricted from performing the first action; and

deny, the first request.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further cause the client computing device to:

receive, while the client computing device is authorized on the first subordinate user account, a second request, wherein the second request requests to perform a second action, different than the first action;

determine, from the first set of control settings, that the first subordinate user account is authorized to perform the second action; and

grant the second request.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further cause the client computing device to:

receive, while the client computing device is authorized on a first user account that is not linked to the primary user account, a third request, wherein the third request requests to perform the first action; and

executing the third request.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions further cause the client computing device to:

receive a first authorization request to authorize the client computing device on the first user account that is not linked to the primary user account;

receive, from the primary user account, a verification approving the first authorization request; and

grant the first authorization request, resulting in the client computing device being authorized on the first user account that is not linked to the primary user account.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further cause the client computing device to:

receive, a second authorization request to authorize the client computing device on a second user account that is not linked to the primary user account; and

upon a determination that a verification approving the second authorization request was not received from the primary user account, deny the second authorization request.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions further cause the client computing device to:

receive a second set of control settings, wherein;

the second set of control settings were set by the primary user account, and

the second set of control settings define restrictions on the client computing device;

receive, while the first client device is authorized on a second user account, a fourth request, wherein;

the second user account is not linked to the primary user account, and

the fourth request requests to perform a third action;

determine, from the second set of control settings, that the client computing device is restricted from performing the third action; and

deny the fourth request.

26. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, from a first client device, while the first client device is authorized on a primary user account, a message to enforce default control setting on a first subordinate user account, wherein;

the first subordinate user account is linked to the primary user account, and

the primary user account is authorized to enforce control setting on the first subordinate user account; and

generating, by the processor, a set of default control settings based on an age of a user of the first subordinate user account, wherein the set of default control settings define restrictions of the first subordinate user account.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving, from a second client device, while the second client device is authorized on the first subordinate user account, a first content request, wherein the first content request requests access to a first content item;

determining, from the set of default control setting, that the first subordinate user account is restricted from accessing the first content item; and

denying the first content request.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining, that the age of the user of the first subordinate user account has changed, generating an updated set of default control settings for the first subordinate user account, wherein the updated set of default control settings are generated based on an updated age of the user of the first subordinate user account, and the updated set of default control settings replace the set of default control settings to dictate restriction on the first subordinate user account.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

receiving, from the second client device, while the second client device is authorized on the first subordinate user account, a second content request, wherein the second content request requests access to the first content item;

determining, from the updated set of default control setting, that the first subordinate user account is not restricted from accessing the first content item; and

granting the second content request.