Content restriction compliance using reverse DNS lookup

• US 9,705,867 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary S. Shuster
• Original Assignee: Gary S. Shuster
• Inventors: Shuster, Gary Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US14/869,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20160021088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security

Abstract

A method for alerting Internet content providers of the age or other personal information of a computer user, which includes receiving a reverse DNS lookup query from an Internet content provider; and providing the age information of the computer user, in addition to a host name, from a reverse map zone file in response to the request. The personal information may be used by the content provider to select appropriate content for the requesting host, for example for complying with content restrictions. A system of alerting an Internet content provider of the age or other personal information of a computer user is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a zone file of a DNS server to encode data for determining eligibility of a network node to receive requested content, the method comprising:

providing a network connection for a node having a defined network address;

determining at least one user parameter indicating eligibility to receive content at the network address via the network connection; and

encoding the at least one user parameter in a zone file, wherein the at least one user parameter is encoded as text characters in a text field of a pointer record for a user associated with the network address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one user parameter comprises demographic information for one or more users that receive content via the network connection at the network address.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating an identity of one or more users that receive content via the network connection at the network address.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising requesting the at least one user parameter for determining eligibility to receive content via the network connection from a user that receives content via the network connection at the network address.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one user parameter comprises demographic information for one or more users with access to the DNS server via the node.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one user parameter comprises age information for one or more users with access to the DNS server via the node.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the age information comprises a birthdate.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the age information comprises a numerical age.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the age information comprises an indicator whether the one or more users are under a designated age.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing updates and/or modifications to the at least one parameter on the DNS server.

11. A system, comprising:

a server;

a memory operably coupled to the server,

the memory comprising instructions configured to;

provide a network connection for a node having a defined network address;

determine at least one user parameter indicating eligibility to receive content at the network address via the network connection; and

encode the at least one user parameter as text characters in a text field of a pointer record of a DNS zone file for a user associated with the network address, wherein, in addition to the pointer record, the zone file comprises at least one of a text record, a location record and an encryption key.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising instructions to encode the at least one user parameter comprising demographic information for a user communicating via the network address.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising instructions to authenticate an identity of a user communicating with the server via the network address.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising instructions to request the at least one user parameter for determining eligibility to receive content from a user that receives content via the network connection at the network address.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising instructions to encode the at least one user parameter comprising age information for a user communicating via the network address.

16. A method for configuring a zone file of a DNS server to encode data for determining eligibility of a network node to receive the requested content, the method comprising:

identifying a network node having a defined network address;

determining one or more user parameters indicating eligibility to receive content at the network address via the network connection; and

encoding the one or more user parameters in a zone file for the network address, wherein the one or more user parameters are encoded as text characters in a text field of a pointer record for a user associated with the network address and wherein the zone file is deleted if a user account associated with the network address is terminated.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more user parameters permit unrestricted access to content at the network address.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more user parameters are obtained from the administrator at a time of account set-up.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising updating, by the administrator, one or more of the user parameters at a time after account set-up.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more user parameters comprises age information for each person in the administrator'"'"'s household with access to the server via the node.