Method for controlling access to a data communication network, with user identification

• US 7,162,734 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gestweb SPA
• Original Assignee: Gestweb SPA
• Inventors: Vinati, Felice, Vinati, Samuele, Berardinelli, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Song; Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US09/880,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20020056049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 713200-202, 713/176, 713/179, 713/156, 713/161, 713/175, 713/182, 707/9, 709/225, 709/200, 709/203, 709217-219, 709/229, 705/14, 726 1- 5, 726 16- 19, 726 27- 29
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method for controlling access to a data communication network, comprising the steps of:

• • upon connection of a user to a data communication network, making available on the network an age identifier which is suitable to define the age of the user who wishes to make the connection;
  • entering, on the part of the user, the address of a site of interest which the user intends to visit, the address being automatically associated with the age identifier made available on the network; and
  • allowing the user to perform the network connection on the basis of the reading of the age identifier associated with the address keyed in by the user, and steering accordingly the network navigation of the user.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a user'"'"'s access to a computer network, the method comprising:

establishing by a service provider a connection to a data communication network for said user;

providing over said network a user age identifier which is suitable to define said user'"'"'s age, wherein said step of providing said user age identifier includes transmitting to at least one of a site, said service provider and said user, age information related to said age identifier;

receiving by said user a network address of a site to which the user intends to connect;

automatically associating said network address with said age identifier; and

allowing said user to connect to said site as a function of said age identifier.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing over said network said user age identifier includes verifying data regarding said user and comparing said data with a database which contains profiles of users registered with a service provider suitable to provide said connection.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing over said network a user age identifier further comprises receiving from said user said age identifier in a network navigation program used by said user to connect to said data communication network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of allowing said user to connect to said site includes unrestricted network navigation when said age identifier reveals said user is an adult user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said age identifier is associated with said site keyed in by said user directly by a network navigation program used by said user.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of allowing said user to connect to said site includes controlling network navigation if said age identifier reveals said user is a minor.