SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PARENTAL CONTROL LIMITS FROM CONTENT PROVIDERS TO MEDIA CONTENT

• US 20160269778A1
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Maskatia, Imran, Rubinstein, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,615,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/005 for the hiring of content carriers, e.g. of DVDs or CDs reverse vending for box-like objects such as videocassettes G07F7/069
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/069 by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• 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 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/4532 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup

Abstract

System and Method of filtering and modifying access to media content based on parental control limits are provided. The method for filtering media content includes receiving authentication information for a content provider, authenticating to the content provider, importing parental control limits from the content provider, storing the received parental control limits in a customer profile, and filtering the media content based on the parental control limits to produce a filtered list of the media content. The method for modifying access to media content includes authenticating to a customer profile with a unique customer identifier, retrieving parental control limits from the customer profile, and modifying access to the media content based on the retrieved parental control limits. Changes in the parental control limits at a content provider may be detected and updated in the customer profile.

Claims

1. A method of accessing media content based on at least one of a plurality of parental control limits in a customer profile, the customer profile stored in a customer profile database connected to a second content provider processor of a second content provider independent from and not affiliated with a first content provider, the method comprising:

receiving a unique customer identifier at the second content provider processor of the second content provider for accessing a first parental control limit stored in a second customer profile within a second customer profile database within a second memory associated with the second content provider processor;

wherein the first parental control limit was previously imported from a first memory associated with a first content provider processor for the first content provider;

authenticating to the second customer profile based on the unique customer identifier;

retrieving the first parental control limit from the second customer profile, wherein the first parental control limit was imported from the first content provider and generated at the first content provider by a customer associated with the first and second customer profiles prior to being imported; and

,

filtering the media content based on the first parental control limit stored within the second customer profile to produce a filtered list of the media content; and

,

modifying access to the media content based on the first parental control limit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the first parental control limits comprises one or more of a television content rating, a film content rating, a video game content rating, a channel lock, a title restriction, an actor restriction, a time limitation, a time of day limitation, a functionality limitation, a purchase limitation, a do not list restriction, a content description restriction, or a metadata display restriction.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving authentication information for each of a plurality of content providers;

authenticating to each of the plurality of content providers based on the received authentication information;

receiving a plurality of parental control limits from each of the plurality of content providers; and

storing the plurality of parental control limits received from each of the plurality of content providers in the second customer profile.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein

modifying access to the media content comprises;

retrieving the first parental control limit from the second customer profile;

determining an initial access list of the media content, wherein the initial access list comprises the media content prior to application of the first parental control limit; and

restricting access to the media content on the initial access list that is restricted by the first parental control limit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein restricting access of the media content on the initial access list comprises restricting viewing of the media content, if the first parental control limits restricts viewing of the media content.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein restricting access of the media content on the initial access list comprises modifying a description of the media content, if the first parental control limit restricts viewing the description of the media content.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the media content comprises a media article distributable from an article dispensing machine, wherein the media article comprises at least one of a digital video disc, a Blu-ray disc, or a video game; and

determining the initial access list comprises querying an inventory database for availability of the media article at the article dispensing machine, the inventory database connected to the processor.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the media content comprises a media selection at the first content provider, wherein the media selection comprises at least one of a video on demand, a streaming video, a downloadable video, a streaming video game, or a downloadable video game; and

determining the initial access list comprises determining an availability of the media selection based on an access permission for the media selection in a customer subscription for one of the plurality of the first content providers.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the unique customer identifier from one or more of an article dispensing machine, an electronic device, and an A/V display interface.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in any of the plurality of parental control limits at the first content provider; and

,

updating the plurality of parental control limits in the customer profile with the detected change in any of the plurality of parental control limits.

11. A system for interfacing with a first content provider processor and memory associated with a first content provider, and for accessing media content based on at least one of a plurality of parental control limits, comprising:

a second content provider processor and memory associated with a second content provider, wherein a second customer profile is stored in a customer profile database within the second content provider memory connected to the second content provider processor of the second content provider independent from and not affiliated with a first content provider, wherein computer program code stored in the second content provider memory is configured to;

receive a unique customer identifier for accessing a first parental control limit stored in the second customer profile within the second customer profile database within the second memory associated with the second content provider processor;

wherein the first parental control limit was previously imported from the first content provider memory associated with the first content provider processor for the first content provider;

authenticate to the second customer profile based on the unique customer identifier;

retrieve the first parental control limit from the second customer profile, wherein the first parental control limit was imported from the first content provider and generated at the first content provider by a customer associated with the first and second customer profiles prior to being imported; and

,

filter the media content based on the first parental control limit stored within the second customer profile to produce a filtered list of the media content; and

,

modify access to the media content based on the first parental control limit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of the first parental control limits comprises one or more of a television content rating, a film content rating, a video game content rating, a channel lock, a title restriction, an actor restriction, a time limitation, a time of day limitation, a functionality limitation, a purchase limitation, a do not list restriction, a content description restriction, or a metadata display restriction.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer program code stored in the second content provider memory is further configured to:

receive authentication information for each of a plurality of content providers;

authenticate to each of the plurality of content providers based on the received authentication information;

receive a plurality of parental control limits from each of the plurality of content providers; and

store the plurality of parental control limits received from each of the plurality of content providers in the second customer profile.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer program code which modifies access to the media content is further configured to:

retrieve the first parental control limit from the second customer profile;

determine an initial access list of the media content, wherein the initial access list comprises the media content prior to application of the first parental control limit; and

restrict access to the media content on the initial access list that is restricted by the first parental control limit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer program code which restricts access of the media content on the initial access list is further configured to:

restrict viewing of the media content, if the first parental control limits restricts viewing of the media content.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer program code which restricts access of the media content on the initial access list is further configured to:

modify a description of the media content, if the first parental control limit restricts viewing the description of the media content.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the media content comprises a media article distributable from an article dispensing machine, wherein the media article comprises at least one of a digital video disc, a Blu-ray disc, or a video game;

and wherein the computer program code which determines the initial access list is further configured to;

query an inventory database for availability of the media article at the article dispensing machine, the inventory database connected to the second content provider processor.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the media content comprises a media selection at the first content provider, wherein the media selection comprises at least one of a video on demand, a streaming video, a downloadable video, a streaming video game, or a downloadable video game;

and wherein the computer program code which determines the initial access list is further configured to;

determine an availability of the media selection based on an access permission for the media selection in a customer subscription for one of the plurality of the first content providers.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer program code stored in the second content provider memory is further configured to receive the unique customer identifier from one or more of an article dispensing machine, an electronic device, and an A/V display interface.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein computer program code stored in the second content provider memory is further configured to:

receive a detection of a change in any of the plurality of parental control limits at the first content provider; and

,

update the plurality of parental control limits in the customer profile with the detected change in any of the plurality of parental control limits.