Method and apparatus for parental control of electronic messaging contacts for a child

• US 7,970,836 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen Digital Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Fréchette, Martin, Cooley, Shaun
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele; Krista M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eskandarnia; Arvin
• Application Number:
  US11/724,702
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32

Abstract

Method and apparatus for parental control of electronic messaging contacts of a child is described. One aspect of the invention relates to communication of an electronic message from sender to recipient over a text-based communication channel established between sender and receiver clients on a network. A host on the network is configured to generate a unique identifier for the sender and maintain a log for the recipient. A first proxy module is configured to receive the electronic message from the sender client, embed the unique identifier associated with the sender therein, and forward the electronic message towards the receiver client over the text-based communication channel. A second proxy module is configured to receive the electronic message from the text-based communication channel, remove the unique identifier from the electronic message, send the unique identifier to the host for storage in the log, and forward the electronic message to receiver client.

Claims

1. A method of receiving an electronic message from a sender, comprising:

receiving the electronic message over a text-based communication channel in a network, the electronic message having a unique identifier for the source embedded therein;

removing the unique identifier from the electronic message;

passing the electronic message to a client for presentation of the electronic message to an intended recipient;

sending the unique identifier, removed from the electronic message, to a host on the network for storage in a log for the intended recipient of the electronic message; and

obtaining registration information associated with the sender from the host in response to a request for the registration information from a first custodian associated with the intended recipient, the registration information being selected by the host based on the unique identifier in the log, wherein the registration information includes information for contacting a second custodian associated with the sender such that the first custodian is enabled to communicate with the second custodian without compromising the identity of the sender or the intended recipient, wherein the first custodian has custodial control over the intended recipient, and wherein the second custodian has custodial control over the sender.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intended recipient is a minor child and wherein the first custodian is a parent or guardian of the minor child.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the text-based communication channel comprises an instant messaging (IM) channel, and wherein the electronic message comprises an instant message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message comprises a hypertext markup language (HTML) message, and wherein the unique identifier comprises an attribute of a tag in the HTML message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is appended to the electronic message as text, the text having a color that matches a background color of the client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is encoded in the electronic message using text-in-text steganography coding.

7. A method of sending an electronic message from a sender, comprising:

sending registration information for the sender to a host on a network, the registration information not compromising the identity of the sender;

receiving a unique identifier from the host in response to the registration information;

receiving an electronic message generated by the sender using a client;

embedding the unique identifier in the electronic message; and

sending the electronic message to an intended recipient over a text-based communication channel in the network, wherein a first custodian associated with the intended recipient obtains the registration information associated with the sender from the host in response to a request for the registration information, the registration information is selected by the host based on the unique identifier, and wherein the registration information includes information for contacting a second custodian associated with the sender such that the first custodian is enabled to communicate with the second custodian without compromising the identity of the sender or the intended recipient, wherein the first custodian has custodial control over the intended recipient, and wherein the second custodian has custodial control over the sender.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sender is a minor child and wherein the second custodian is a parent or guardian of the minor child.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the text-based communication channel comprises an instant messaging (IM) channel, and wherein the electronic message comprises an instant message.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic message comprises a hypertext markup language (HTML) message, and wherein the step of embedding comprises inserting the unique identifier as an attribute of a tag in the HTML message.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of embedding comprises:

identifying a background color of a client at the destination; and

appending the unique identifier to the electronic message as text, the text having a color that matches the background color.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of embedding comprises encoding the unique identifier in the electronic message using text-in-text steganography coding.

13. A system for communication of an electronic message from a sender to an intended recipient over a text-based communication channel established between sender and receiver clients on a network, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

generate a unique identifier for the sender and maintain a log for the intended recipient;

receive the electronic message from the sender client, embed the unique identifier associated with the sender therein, and forward the electronic message towards the receiver client over the text-based communication channel; and

receive the electronic message from the text-based communication channel, remove the unique identifier from the electronic message, send the unique identifier, removed from the electronic message, to the host for storage in the log, obtain registration information associated with the sender from the host in response to a request for the registration information from a first custodian associated with the intended recipient, the registration information being selected by the host based on the unique identifier in the log, and forward the electronic message to receiver client, wherein the registration information includes information for contacting a second custodian associated with the sender such that the first custodian is enabled to communicate with the second custodian without compromising the identity of the sender or the intended recipient, wherein the first custodian has custodial control over the intended recipient, and wherein the second custodian has custodial control over the sender; and

at least one memory, coupled to the at least one processor, configured to provide the at least one processor with instructions.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a first control client configured to send registration information to the sender with the host and receive the unique identifier from the host in response to the registration information, the registration information not compromising the identity of the sender.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a second control client configured to send a query to the host;

wherein the host is further configured to obtain the registration information based on the unique identifier in the log and forward the registration information to the second control module in response to the query.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the sender and receiver clients are instant messaging (IM) clients, wherein the text-based communication channel is an IM channel, and wherein the electronic message is an instant message.