System for character-child interaction with adult character control

• US 6,785,824 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geoffrey J. Grassle
• Original Assignee: Geoffrey J. Grassle
• Inventors: Grassle, Geoffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Revak, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/389,560
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/234, 709/204-207, 713/200-202, 345/700, 345/751-753
• US Class Current: 726/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00

Abstract

The system of the present invention generally allows a first user, the adult, to interact in the manner of a character facade with a second user, the child, via computer connections to a webserver. The webserver generally includes a processor with a memory/storage device that holds a character interaction program which supports a registration website and a character website. The processor operates with the program to receive a message from the child user, to notify the adult user of the received message via electronic mail, to receive a reply from the adult user, and to present the reply to the child user as though coming from a character rather than the adult user.

Claims

1. A system for allowing a first, adult-controlled user interface to interact in the manner of a character facade with a second, child-controlled user interface via a computer, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to said storage device;

said storage device storing a program for controlling said processor; and

said processor operative with said program to;

receive a message from said second, child-controlled user interface;

notify, by electronic mail, said first, adult-controlled user interface of the received message;

receive a reply to said received message from said first, adult-controlled user interface; and

present said reply to said second, child-controlled user interface in the manner of a child-identifiable, fictional character facade;

wherein said first, adult-controlled user interface provides said reply and wherein said second, child-controlled user interface sees said reply as coming only from said child-identifiable fictional character.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor operative with said program to receive personal data from an adult user through said first, adult-controlled user interface about a child user of said second, child-controlled user interface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said processor operative with said program to present at least a portion of said personal data to said child user of said second child-controlled user interface in said manner of said child-identifiable character facade.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor operative with said program to verify that an adult user of said first, adult-controlled user interface should have access to said program.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the verification occurs by comparing a first user-entered password with a stored password.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the verification occurs by comparing a first user'"'"'s cookie file with a stored file.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor operative with said program to verify that said second, child-controlled user interface should have access to said program.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the verification occurs by comparing a second user-entered password with a stored password.

9. A method for using a computer to facilitate the interaction of a first, adult-controlled user interface with a second, child-controlled user interface in the manner of a character facade, comprising the steps of:

said second, child-controlled user interface providing a message to said computer;

said computer notifying said first, adult-controlled user interface of the provided message by electronic mail;

said first, adult-controlled user interface providing a reply to said message to said computer in the manner of a child-identifiable, fictional character facade; and

said computer displaying said reply through said second, child-controlled user interface in the manner of said child-identifiable, fictional character facade, wherein said second, child-controlled user interface sees said reply as coming only from the fictional character.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of said first, adult-controlled user interface providing personal data about a child user of said second, child-controlled user interface to said computer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of said computer displaying at least a portion of said personal data to said child user of said second, child-controlled user interface in the manner of said child-identifiable character facade.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of said computer verifying that an adult user of said first, adult-controlled user interface should have access to said computer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of said computer verifying comprises comparing a first user-entered password with a stored password.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of said computer verifying comprises comparing a first user cookie file with a stored file.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of said computer verifying that a child user of said second, child-controlled user interface should have access to said computer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of said computer verifying comprises comparing a second-user entered password with a stored password.

17. A system for allowing a first, adult-controlled user interface to interact in the manner of a character facade with a second, child-controlled user interface via a computer, comprising:

storage means for storing data and for storing a program means; and

processor means for processing data, said processor means connected to said storage means;

said program means for controlling said processor means, said processor means operative with said programming means for;

receiving a message from said second, child-controlled user interface;

notifying, by electronic mail, said first, adult-controlled user interface of the received message;

receiving a reply to said received message from said first, adult-controlled user interface; and

presenting said reply to said second, child-controlled user interface in the manner of a child-identifiable, fictional character facade, wherein said second child-controlled user interface sees said reply as coming only from the fictional character.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said processor means operative with said programming means for receiving personal data from said first, adult-controlled user interface about a child user of said second, child-controlled user interface.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor means operative with said programming means for presenting at least a portion of said personal data to said child user of said second, child-controlled user interface in said manner of said child-identifiable, character facade.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said processor means operative with said programming means for verifying that an adult user of said first, child-controlled user interface should have access to said programming means.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the verification occurs by comparing a first user-entered password with a stored password.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the verification occurs by comparing a first user'"'"'s cookie file with a stored file.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein said processor means operative with said programming means for verifying that a child user of said second, child-controlled user interface should have access to said programming means.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the verification occurs by comparing a second user-entered password with a stored password.