Systems and methods for using guardian proximity to control computing activities of children

• US 8,281,366 B1
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: McCorkendale, Bruce, Cooley, Shaun
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US12/579,093
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 726 2- 7, 726/9, 726 16- 21, 713182-186
• 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 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for using guardian proximity to control computing activities of children. The method may include determining that a child is attempting to access a computing system and determining whether a guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system. The method may also include limiting the child'"'"'s access to one or more resources of the computing system if the guardian of the child is not in proximity of the computing system and permitting the child to access the one or more resources of the computing system if the guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for using guardian proximity to control computing activities of children, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

determining that a child is attempting to access a computing system;

determining whether a guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system;

determining whether a parental-control key is connected to the computing system, the parental-control key comprising a USB dongle;

limiting the child'"'"'s access to one or more resources of the computing system if the parental-control key is not connected to the computing system;

permitting the child to access the one or more resources of the computing system if the parental-control key is connected to the computing system and the guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system comprises:

using a proximity sensor to detect the presence of a proximity device carried by the guardian.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein using a proximity sensor to detect the presence of a proximity device carried by the guardian comprises

using the proximity sensor to detect the presence of an electronic key fob carried by the guardian.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:

the parental-control key comprises the proximity sensor.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:

the proximity sensor comprises a radio-frequency-identification reader.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:

the electronic key fob carried by the guardian comprises an automobile key.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the proximity device carried by the guardian comprises at least one of:

a badge carried by the guardian;

a card carried by the guardian;

a piece of jewelry worn by the guardian.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

determining whether the guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system comprises using a proximity sensor to detect the presence of a proximity device carried by the guardian;

the parental-control key comprises the proximity sensor.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining that the child is attempting to access the computing system comprises at least one of:

determining that the child is attempting to log onto the computing system;

determining that the child is attempting to access a resource of the computing system.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

limiting the child'"'"'s access to the one or more resources of the computing system comprises prohibiting the child from accessing the Internet;

permitting the child to access the one or more resources of the computing system comprises permitting the child to access the Internet.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system comprises at least one of:

using face-recognition technology to identify the guardian;

using speaker-recognition technology to identify the guardian.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system comprises:

using a global-positioning-system device to determine a location of the guardian of the child.

13. A system for using guardian proximity to control computing activities of children, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

an access module programmed to direct the processor to determine that a child is attempting to access a computing system;

a proximity module programmed to direct the processor to determine whether a guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system;

a parental-control key that comprises a USB dongle;

a parental-control module programmed to direct the processor to;

limit the child'"'"'s access to one or more resources of the computing system if the parental-control key is not connected to the computing system;

permit the child to access the one or more resources of the computing system if the parental-control key is connected to the computing system and the guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a proximity sensor in communication with the proximity module and configured to detect proximity of the guardian.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a proximity sensor programmed to detect the presence of a proximity device carried by the guardian, wherein the parental-control key comprises the proximity sensor.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium comprising one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

determine that a child is attempting to access a computing system;

determine whether a guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system;

determine whether a parental-control key is connected to the computing system, the parental-control key comprising a USB dongle;

limit the child'"'"'s access to one or more resources of the computing system if the parental-control key is not connected to the computing system;

permit the child to access the one or more resources of the computing system if the parental-control key is connected to the computing system and the guardian of the child is in proximity of the computing system.