Customized user interface for subordinate users

• US 8,768,965 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kimball, Jeffrey David, Wassom, John Thurston Jr., Dolan, Christina Ann Rank
• Primary Examiner(s): FILIPCZYK, MARCIN R
• Application Number:
  US13/613,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 707/707, 707/709, 707/726, 707/734, 707/783, 707/784, 707/737, 707/738, 715/741, 715/745
• US Class Current: 707/784
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A user interface including one or more references to content is customized. Several user profiles are provided from which a user may be associated. Each user profile includes user profile information. The user profile associated with a user to whom a user interface will be provided is accessed. A user interface is configured for the user, based at least in part upon the user profile accessed as being associated with the user. Access to content is enabled based on user manipulation of the configured user interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating a first access level with a master user;

associating a second access level with a subordinate user based on input by the master user, the subordinate user differing from the master user;

upon receiving a first user identifier associated with the master user, automatically customizing, using at least one processor, a user interface to present to the master user based on the first access level by adding a first toolbar control to a toolbar of the user interface as a toolbar button, the toolbar button being directly selectable from the toolbar and providing access to a service, an application, a webpage, or content when selected; and

upon receiving a second user identifier associated with the subordinate user, automatically customizing, using at least one processor, the user interface to present to the subordinate user based on the second access level by excluding the toolbar button from the toolbar of the user interface.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising customizing the user interface to present to the subordinate user including the first toolbar control as a menu choice in a drop-down menu of the user interface, the menu choice being selectable upon selection of the drop-down menu.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first toolbar control comprises one or more links to one or more websites.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first toolbar control provides access to one or more services.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the one or more services comprise one or more of website browsing, email, chat sessions, or file downloading.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein customizing the user interface to present to the subordinate user based on the second access level further comprises excluding the first toolbar control from the user interface.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a request to create an account for the subordinate user from the master user while the master user is logged in.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising associating the second user identifier and a password with the subordinate user.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising presenting the user interface customized to resent to the subordinate user upon a login using the second user identifier and the password.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the input comprises an age of the subordinate user.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising customizing the user interface to present to the subordinate user by including a first drop-down menu in the toolbar, the first drop-down menu having a first plurality of menu choices selected based on the second access level, the first plurality of menu choices being selectable upon selection of the first drop-down menu.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising customizing the user interface to present to the master user by including a second drop-down menu in the toolbar, the second drop-down menu having a second plurality of menu choices selected based on the first access level, the second plurality of menu choices being selectable upon selection of the second drop-down menu, wherein the first plurality of menu choices differs from the second plurality of menu choices.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the first drop-down menu is represented in the toolbar by a first icon; and

the second drop-down menu is represented in the toolbar by a second icon, the second icon differing from the first icon.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to perform steps comprising:

associating a first access level with a master user;

associating a second access level with a subordinate user based on input by the master user, the subordinate user differing from the master user;

upon receiving a first user identifier associated with the master user, automatically customizing, using at least one processor, a user interface to present to the master user based on the first access level by adding a first toolbar control to a toolbar of the user interface as a toolbar button, the toolbar button being directly selectable from the toolbar and providing access to a service, an application, a webpage, or content when selected; and

upon receiving a second user identifier associated with the subordinate user, automatically customizing the user interface to present to the subordinate user based on the second access level by excluding the toolbar button from the toolbar of the user interface.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 14, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to receive a request to create an account for the subordinate user from the master user while the master user is logged in.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to associate the second user identifier and a password with the subordinate user.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to present the user interface customized to present to the subordinate user upon a login using the second user identifier and the password.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to customize the user interface to present the subordinate user by including the first toolbar control as a menu choice in a drop-down menu of the user interface, the menu choice being selectable upon selection of the drop-down menu.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 18, wherein the first toolbar control comprises one or more links to one or more websites.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, the first toolbar control provides access to one or more services.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the one or more services comprises one or more of website browsing, email, chat sessions, or file downloading.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, wherein customizing the user interface to present to the subordinate user based on the second ac access level further comprises excluding the first toolbar control from the user interface.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22, wherein the input comprises an age of the subordinate user.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 14, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to customize the user interface to present to the subordinate user by including a first drop-down menu in the toolbar, the first drop-down menu having a first plurality of menu choices selected based on the second access level, the first plurality of menu choices being selectable upon selection of the first drop-down menu.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 24, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to customize the user interface to present to the master user by including a second drop-down menu in the toolbar, the second drop-down menu having a second plurality of menu choices selected based on the first access level, the second plurality of menu choices being selectable upon selection of the second drop-down menu, wherein the first plurality of menu choices differs from the second plurality of menu choices.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, wherein:

the first drop-down menu is represented in the toolbar by a first icon; and

the second drop-down menu is represented in the toolbar by a second icon, the second icon differing from the first icon.

27. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

associate a second access level with a master user;

associate a second access level with a subordinate user based on input by the master user, the subordinate user differing from the master user;

upon receiving a first user identifier associated with the master user, automatically customize a user interface to present to the master user based on the first access level by adding a first toolbar control to a toolbar of the user interface as a toolbar button, the toolbar button being directly selectable from the toolbar and providing access to a service, an application, a webpage, or content when selected; and

upon receiving a second user identifier associated with the subordinate user, automatically customize the user interface to present to the subordinate user based on the second access level by excluding the toolbar button from the toolbar of the user interface.

28. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to customize the user interface by including the first toolbar control as a menu choice in a drop-down menu of the user interface, the menu choice being selectable upon selection of the drop-down menu.

29. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the first toolbar control comprises one or more links to one or more websites.

30. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the first toolbar control provides access to one or more services.

31. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the one or more services comprises one or more of website browsing, email, chat sessions, or file downloading.

32. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to customize the user interface to present to the subordinate user based on the second access level by excluding the first toolbar control from the user interface.

33. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to receive a request to create an account for the subordinate user from the master user while the master user is logged in.

34. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to associate the second user identifier and a password with the subordinate user.

35. The system as recited in claim 34, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to present the user interface customized to present to the subordinate user upon a login using the second user identifier and the password.

36. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the input comprises an age of the subordinate user.

37. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to customize the user interface to present to the subordinate user by including a first drop-down menu in the toolbar, the first drop-down menu having a first plurality of menu choices selected based on the second access level, the first plurality of menu choices being selectable upon selection of the first drop-down menu.

38. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to customize the user interface to present to the master user by including a second drop-down menu in the toolbar, the second drop-down menu having a second plurality of menu choices selected based on the first access level, the second plurality of menu choices being selectable upon selection of the second drop-down menu, wherein the first plurality of menu choices differs from the second plurality of menu choices.

39. The system as recited in claim 38, wherein:

the first drop-down menu is represented in the toolbar by a first icon; and

the second drop-down menu is represented in the toolbar by a second icon, the second icon differing from the first icon.