Inappropriate site management software

• US 6,065,055 A
• Filed: 04/20/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackbird Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Cornerpost Software LLC
• Inventors: Hughes, Patrick Alan, Elswick, Paul Blair
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US09/062,637
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 707/9, 709/200, 709/202, 709/203, 709/210, 709/211, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/225, 709/227, 709/229, 709/232, 713/200, 713/201, 713/202
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A method and system for controlling access to a database, such as the Internet. Said system is optimized for networks and works with a proxy server. Undesirable content from the World Wide Web (WWW) is filtered through a primary "Filter List" and is further aided by a Uniform Resource Locator keyword search. Depending on the threshold sensitivity setting which is adjusted by the administrator, a certain frequency of attempts to access restricted material will result in a message being sent to an authority figure.

Claims

1. A method for restricting the access of specified network users to specific types of files on a multi-user network;

said network including a number of separate network sites comprising the steps of;

a) creating a filter list to establish which network sites should be excluded from access to a specified network user as undesirable;

b) scanning network site identification and location indicia and;

c) directly notifying a system monitor of attempts by said specified network user to access undesirable networks sites.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method of creating said filter list includes the further steps of acquiring undesirable site identifiers by entering chat channels and recording every undesirable site identifier posted in said channels for addition to said filter list.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said method includes the further step of using an automated process to record said site identifiers.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said method includes the further step of updating the filter list at predetermined intervals by adding identified sites.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said method includes the further step of reviewing character elements of a target network site indicia to locate character elements which indicate an undesirable network site and preventing access to said undesirable network site.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said method includes the further step of alerting a system monitor when the number or frequency of attempts by said network user to access undesirable sites reaches a preset threshold set by said system monitor.

7. An automated method of determining undesirable sites for the purpose of creating a filter list of said undesirable sites comprising the steps of:

connecting to a site identified as undesirable;

determining all sites linked to said undesirable site;

defining all said linked sites as undesirable sites and making a record of the identification of said linked sites and;

identifying said linked sites as undesirable in said filter list.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said method includes the further step of automating the process of determining the identification of said linked sites.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said method includes the further step of automatically updating the filter list on predetermined intervals using newly acquired identification of said linked sites.

10. An automated method of determining undesirable sites for the purpose of creating a filter list of said undesirable sites comprising the steps of:

a) joining a chat channel identified as involving an undesirable topic;

b) determining all sites posted in said channel;

c) defining all said posted sites as undesirable and making a record of the identification of said posted sites and;

d) identifying said posted sites as undesirable in said filter list.