System and method of a web browser with integrated features and controls

• US 7,222,309 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Earthlink LLC (EarthLink Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: EarthLink Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, David, Chupin, Fabrice, Redkey, David, Jarol, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US10/379,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 715/848, 715/757, 715/849, 715/853, 715/854, 715/763, 715/765, 709/213, 709/229
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

A web browser for Internet access distinguishes between client users and supervisory users. Supervisory users are authorized to create or modify local content access settings to Internet resources that are stored in data structures. Client users are prevented from accessing these local content access settings. When a client user logs on, the local content access settings are retrieved from a local data structure and additional content access control information is retrieved from a remote data structure. Modules coordinate local and remote content access settings to regulate client access to Internet resources. Client access is readily modified through the setting of local content access settings by a local supervisor and by the selection of the remote site(s) contacted for additional content access control information. An interactive agent assists client users during Internet access.

Claims

1. An all-in-one module for Internet access stored in a computer readable-medium and executed in a computer device comprising:

a first module for identifying a client user,

a second module for identifying a supervisory user,

a third module for creating or modifying local content access settings for Internet/Intranet tesouroes and a local data structure for storing said settings, wherein

said third module is not accessible for creating or modifying local content access settings to said client user;

a fourth module for accessing one or more remote data structures having one or more remote content access controls to Internet resources;

a fifth module for coordinating local control settings retrieved from said local data structure with said one or more remote content access controls, wherein said fifth module controls said client user'"'"'s access to Internet/Intranet resources;

a first interactive agent to provide audible and visual prompts to said client user for access of Internet/Intranet resources; and

a second interactive agent to provide audible and visual prompts to said supervisory user for creating said local content access settings.

2. The all-in-one module of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first agent and the second agent is animated.

3. An integrated web browser for Internet access stored in a computer readable-medium and executed in a computer device comprising:

a web access module operable to retrieve and display web pages;

a chat module integrated with the web access module and accessible from the web access module;

an email module integrated with the web access module and accessible from the web access module; and

a content access control module operable to restrict content displayed by the web access module, the chat module, or the email module, the content access control module operable to identify a client user and a supervisory user wherein restrictions on content accessible to the client user is are set by the supervisory user via the integrated web browser.

4. The integrated web browser of claim 3 wherein the web access module is accessible with one click by the client user from the email module.

5. The integrated web browser of claim 3 wherein the web access module is accessible with one click by the client user from the chat module.

6. The integrated web browser of claim 3 wherein the chat module is accessible with one click by the client user from the web access module.

7. The integrated web browser of claim 3 wherein the chat module is accessible with one click by the client user from the email module.

8. The integrated web browser of claim 3 wherein the email module is accessible with one click by the client user from the web access module.

9. The integrated web browser of claim 3 wherein the email module is accessible with one click by the client user from the chat module.

10. The integrated web browser of claim 3 further comprising a word search feature that provides additional information on a selected word displayed by the chat module, the email module, or the web access module.

11. The integrated web browser of claim 3, wherein the content access control module is configured by the supervisory user via a graphical-user interface.

12. The integrated web browser of claim 11, wherein the content access control module restricts the client user from accessing a select web-site.

13. The integrated web browser of claim 11, wherein the content access control module restricts the client user from executing a chat module enabled function.

14. The integrated web browser of claim 11, wherein the content access control module restricts the client user from executing an email module enabled function.

15. The integrated web browser of claim 11, wherein the content access control module restricts the client user from exposure to at least one profane word.

16. The integrated web browser of claim 11, further comprising a security agent configured to instruct the supervisory user.

17. The integrated web browser of claim 16, wherein the security agent provides an audible explanation.