Parental controls

• US 9,741,022 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blazer And Flip Flops, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Blazer And Flip Flops, Inc.
• Inventors: Ziskind, Benjamin Harry, Bass, Joshua David, Sahadi, Scott Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Su, Sarah
• Application Number:
  US14/633,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20150244725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26, 726 27, 726 28, 726 2, 726 21
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A web service platform to improve end-user engagement in a captive audience environment. Mobile and web-based clients allow application users to authorize and approve usage of entitlements of other users, including their children, based upon preconfigured rules and the proximity between the user requesting and the user approving authorization to use the entitlement.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access, the method comprising:

receiving an entitlement access request at an access control system from a venue device within a venue and associated with the venue in response to the venue device retrieving ticket information from a first user device associated with a first user, the entitlement access request associated with access to a physical area within the venue for the first user;

identifying at the access control system that a distance between a location of the first user device associated with the first user and a location of a second user device associated with a second user exceeds a previously specified distance;

sending an authorization request message from the access control system to the second user device via a network connection in response to receipt of the entitlement access request at the access control system and in response to the identification that the distance between the location of the first user device and the location of the second user device exceeds the previously specified distance;

receiving an entitlement access authorization at the access control system from the second user device via the network connection following transmission of the authorization request message to the second user device; and

permitting the first user to access the physical area within the venue in response to receipt of the entitlement access authorization at the access control system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user is a child, and wherein the second user is at least one of a parent or legal guardian.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a distance configuration message at the access control system from the second device, the distance configuration message identifying the previously specified distance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical area is the venue, and wherein permitting the first user to access the physical area includes permitting the first user to enter the venue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical area is a ride area, and wherein permitting the first user to access the physical area includes permitting the first user to ride the ride.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical area is a transportation service area, and wherein permitting the first user to access the physical area includes permitting the first user to use the transportation service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entitlement access request is also associated with digital content, further comprising permitting a third device to transmit digital content to the first user device in response to receipt of the entitlement access authorization at the access control system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the entitlement access request is also associated with digital content, further comprising permitting a third device to output the digital content to the first user in response to receipt of the entitlement access authorization at the access control system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein permitting the first user to access the physical area includes transmitting an authorization indication from the access control system to an operator device, thereby triggering a visual indicator to be displayed to an operator via the operator device, the visual indicator indicating that access is to be permitted.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein permitting the first user to access the entitlement includes transmitting an authorization indication from the access control system to an entryway control system, thereby triggering an entryway to open via the entryway control system.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an entitlement configuration message at the access control system from the second device, the entitlement configuration message identifying a second entitlement, and identifying that the access control system is to automatically reject the first user from accessing the second entitlement upon receiving a second entitlement access request associated with the second entitlement from the first user device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an entitlement configuration message at the access control system from the second device, the entitlement configuration message identifying a second entitlement, and identifying that the access control system is to automatically permit the first user to access the second entitlement upon receiving a second entitlement access request associated with the second entitlement from the first user device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization request message includes text.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization request message includes audio.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the access control system the location of the first user device from the first user device; and

sending a location message from the access control system to the second user device via the network connection, wherein the location message identifies the location of the first user device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the venue device is communicatively coupled to a ticket reader device, and wherein the venue device retrieves the ticket information from the first user device by reading the ticket information from a display screen of the first user device via the ticker reader device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the ticket information at the access control system from the venue device; and

verifying the authenticity of the ticket at the access control system based on the ticket information.

18. A system for controlling access, the system comprising:

a communication transceiver that receives an entitlement access request from a venue device within a venue and associated with the venue in response to the venue device retrieving ticket information from a first user device associated with a first user, the entitlement access request associated with access to a physical area within the venue for the first user;

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor causes the system to;

identify that a distance between a location of the first user device associated with the first user and a location of a second user device associated with a second user exceeds a previously specified distance,

transmit an authorization request message to the second user device via a network connection in response to receipt of the entitlement access request and in response to the identification that the distance between the location of the first user device and the location of the second user device exceeds the previously specified distance,

receive an entitlement access authorization from the second user device via the network connection following transmission of the authorization request message to the second user device, and

permit the first user to access the physical area within the venue in response to receipt of the entitlement access authorization.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the communication transceiver further receives a distance configuration message from the second device, the distance configuration message identifying the previously specified distance.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for controlling access, the method comprising:

receiving an entitlement access request at an access control system from a venue device within a venue and associated with the venue in response to the venue device retrieved ticket information from a first user device associated with a first user, the entitlement access request associated with access to a physical area within the venue for the first user;

identifying at the access control system that a distance between a location of the first user device associated with the first user and a location of a second user device associated with a second user exceeds a previously specified distance;

sending an authorization request message from the access control system to the second user device via a network connection in response to receipt of the entitlement access request at the access control system and in response to the identification that the distance between the location of the first user device and the location of the second user device exceeds the previously specified distance;

receiving an entitlement access authorization at the access control system from the second user device via the network connection following transmission of the authorization request message to the second user device; and

permitting the first user to access the physical area within the venue in response to receipt of the entitlement access authorization at the access control system.