Parental controls customization and notification

• US 20040003071A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tan, Victor, Mathew, Ashvin J., Evans, Christopher A., Safa, Ahmad H., Hong, Linda I., Abbott, Laurel S., Beilinson, Craig A., Fravert, Harry J.W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,302,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]

Abstract

A method, system, and computer readable medium are provided for enabling a user and an administrator in a network environment to interactively customize administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions. The computer receives a user request to perform a blocked online action. The computer provides information about the pending request to the administrator and receives request resolution information from the administrator. The computer updates the administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions in accordance with the request resolution information.

Claims

1. A computer-implementable method for enabling a user and an administrator in a network environment to interactively customize the administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions, comprising:

receiving a user request to perform a blocked online action;

providing information about the pending request to an administrator;

receiving request resolution information from the administrator; and

updating administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions in accordance with the request resolution information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user request to perform a blocked online action includes detecting that the user has been blocked from performing an online action and, in response to detecting that the user has been blocked from performing the online action, prompting the user to submit the request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said blocked online action is one of:

(a) visiting a Web site;

(b) adding a new entry to an electronic mail address book;

(c) is adding a new entry to a Messenger Buddy list;

(d) is downloading a file;

(e) is having more time online;

(f) running an application;

(g) installing an application;

(h) viewing a movie;

(i) playing a game; and

(j) accessing a shared resource.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, prior to receiving a request for more time online:

determining that the user'"'"'s allowed time online is about to expire;

notifying the user that the allowed time online is about to expire; and

prompting the user to submit a request for more time online.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein information about the pending request is provided to the administrator by electronic mail.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein information about the pending request is provided to the administrator by instant messaging.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information provided to the administrator about the pending request comprises providing an element linked to a Web site;

and wherein;

in response to the administrator clicking on the linked element, navigating to the Web site; and

displaying information about the pending request.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the administrator with information about the pending user request includes providing an option for resolving the user'"'"'s pending request.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the administrator with information about the pending user request includes providing an option for reviewing the blocked action.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the request in a consent database.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the consent database resides in the network environment.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein storing the request includes obtaining and storing information associated with the request.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information associated with the request includes at least one of:

request identification;

user identification;

administrator identification;

information about the blocked online action;

address information for a resource on the network; and

request status information.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the administrator with information about the pending request includes:

detecting that the administrator is logging onto the network environment;

searching the consent database for a pending request from the user; and

if a pending request from the user is found, providing the administrator with information about the pending request from the consent database.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising updating the consent database in accordance with the request resolution information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the request is accepted and the consent database is updated to indicate that the request is accepted.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the request is denied and the consent database is updated to indicate that the request is denied.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising, after updating the consent database to correspond with the request resolution information, providing information about the resolved request to the user.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the resolved request information is provided to the user by electronic mail.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the resolved request information is provided to the user by instant messaging.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein providing information about the resolved request to the user further comprises:

detecting that the user is logging onto the network environment;

searching the consent database for a newly resolved request; and

if a newly resolved request is found in the consent database, obtaining information about the request resolution and providing the information obtained to the user.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the administrator controls for the user are included in a setting database.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the administrator controls for the user include a list of allowed actions and a list of blocked actions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the user request is accepted and wherein the action is added to the user'"'"'s allow list.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the user request is denied and wherein the action is added to the user'"'"'s block list.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein updating the administrator controls for the user further comprises:

detecting that the user is logging onto the network environment;

searching the consent database for a newly resolved request; and

if a newly resolved request is found in the consent database, downloading at least a portion of the administrator controls for the user in the setting database to the user'"'"'s local computer.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is the administrator'"'"'s child.

28. A computer-implementable method for enabling a user and an administrator in a network environment to interactively customize administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions, comprising:

receiving a request from the user to perform a blocked online action;

determining if the administrator is present;

if the administrator is present, receiving the administrator'"'"'s identification;

in response to receiving the administrator'"'"'s identification, authenticating the administrator without denying the user'"'"'s access to the network environment;

after authenticating the administrator, presenting the user'"'"'s request to the administrator and determining if the administrator accepts the user'"'"'s request; and

if the administrator accepted the user'"'"'s request, updating the administrator controls for the user to allow the previously blocked action.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising logging the administrator off of the network environment.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising allowing the user to perform the previously blocked action.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said previously blocked online action is one of:

(a) visiting a Web site;

(b) adding a new entry to an electronic mail address book;

(c) is adding a new entry to a Messenger Buddy list;

(d) is downloading a file;

(e) is having more time online;

(f) running an application;

(g) installing an application;

(h) viewing a movie;

(i) playing a game; and

(j) accessing a shared resource.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein receiving a request for more time online further comprises:

determining that the amount of time the user is allowed online is about to expire;

notifying the user that the restricted time online is about to expire; and

receiving a request from the user for more time online.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the user is the administrator'"'"'s child.

34. A computer-implementable method for enabling a user and an administrator in a network environment to interactively customize administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions, comprising:

tracking and storing the user'"'"'s allowed and blocked online actions;

generating a history summary report from the stored information;

providing the history summary report to the administrator;

receiving an administrator request to block the user from performing a first action indicated as being allowed in the history summary report; and

updating the administrator controls for the user to include blocking the first action.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving an administrator request to allow a second action indicated as being blocked in the history summary report; and

updating the administrator controls for the user to include allowing the second action.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising preventing the user from modifying the stored history summary information.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising clearing the stored information after generating the history summary report.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the history summary report is periodically generated.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the history summary report is generated in response to receiving an administrator request for the history summary report.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the history information includes information about one of:

(a) web sites the user was allowed to visit;

(b) web sites the user was blocked from visiting;

(c) electronic mail sent by the user;

(d) electronic mail that the user was blocked from sending;

(e) buddies with whom said user was allowed to have instant messenger conversations;

(f) buddies with whom said user was blocked from having instant messenger conversations;

(g) files the user was allowed to download;

(h) files the user was blocked from downloading;

(i) the user'"'"'s amount of time online;

(j) applications the user was allowed to run;

(k) applications the user was blocked from running;

(l) applications the user was allowed to install;

(m) applications the user was blocked from installing;

(n) movies the user was allowed to view;

(o) movies the user was blocked from viewing;

(p) games the user was allowed to play;

(q) games the user was allowed to play;

(q) shared resources the user was allowed to access; and

(r) shared resources the user was blocked from accessing.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the history summary report information is sorted by the frequency of the user'"'"'s online activity.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the user is the administrator'"'"'s child.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein said history summary report includes an option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising navigating to a Web site in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action included in the history summary report.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising sending an electronic mail message to a requested recipient in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising sending an electronic mail message to a messenger buddy in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising downloading a file in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

48. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

storing information about the administrator request to block the user from performing the first action and information about the administrator request to allow the user to perform the second action in a consent database.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the consent database resides in the network environment.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

detecting the user logging onto the network environment;

searching the consent database for a new administrator request; and

if a new administrator request is found, downloading at least a portion of the administrator controls to the user'"'"'s local computer.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising if a new administrator request is found, notifying the user of the new administrator request.

52. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for enabling a user and an administrator in a network environment to interactively customize administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions, the instructions when executed perform a process comprising:

(a) in response to receiving a user request to perform a blocked online action;

(i) providing information about the pending request to an administrator; and

(b) in response to receiving request resolution information from the administrator;

(i) updating the administrator controls for the user in accordance with the request resolution information.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein responding to receiving a user request to perform a blocked online action includes detecting that the user has been blocked from performing an online action and, in response to detecting that the user has been blocked from performing the online action, prompting the user to submit the request.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein said blocked online action is one of:

(a) visiting a Web site;

(b) adding a new entry to an electronic mail address book;

(c) adding a new entry to a Messenger Buddy list;

(d) downloading a file;

(e) having more time online;

(f) running an application;

(g) installing an application;

(h) viewing a movie;

(i) playing a game; and

(j) accessing a shared resource.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein providing the administrator with information about the pending request comprises:

providing an element linked to a Web site;

in response to the administrator clicking on the linked element, navigating to the Web site; and

displaying information about the pending request.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein providing the administrator with information about the pending user request includes providing an option for resolving the user'"'"'s pending request.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein providing the administrator with information about the pending user request includes providing an option for reviewing the blocked action.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, further comprising storing the request in a consent database.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the consent database resides in the network environment.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein storing the request in the consent database includes obtaining information associated with the request.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein providing the administration with information about the pending request includes:

detecting that the administrator is logging onto the network;

searching the consent database for a pending request from the user; and

if a pending request from the user is found, providing the administrator with information about the pending request from the consent database.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, further comprising updating the consent database in accordance with the request resolution information.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 62, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the request is accepted and the consent database is updated to indicate that the request is accepted.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 62, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the request is denied and the consent database is updated to indicate that the request is denied.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 62, further comprising, after updating the consent database to correspond with the request resolution information, responding to receiving request resolution from the administrator includes providing information about the resolved request to the user.

66. The computer-readable medium of claim 62, wherein providing information about the resolved request to the user further comprises:

detecting that the user is logging onto the network;

searching the consent database for a newly resolved request; and

if a newly resolved request is found in the consent database, obtaining information about the request resolution and providing the information obtained to the user.

67. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the administrator controls for the user are included in a setting database.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the administrator controls for the user include a list of allowed actions and a list of blocked actions.

69. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the user request is accepted and wherein the action is added to the user'"'"'s allow list.

70. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the user request is denied and wherein the action is added to the user'"'"'s block list.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein updating the user'"'"'s controls comprises:

detecting that the user is logging onto the network environment;

searching the consent database for a newly resolved request; and

if a newly resolved request is found in the consent database, downloading at least a portion of the administrator controls for the user in the setting database to a local computer associated with the user.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the user is the administrator'"'"'s child.

73. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for enabling a user and an administrator in a network environment to interactively customize administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions, the instructions when executed perform a process comprising, in response to receiving a request from the user to perform a blocked online action:

(a) determining if the administrator is present; and

(b) if the administrator is present;

(i) in response to receiving the administrator'"'"'s identification, authenticating the administrator without denying the user'"'"'s access to the network environment;

(ii) after authenticating the administrator, presenting the user'"'"'s request to the administrator and determining if the administrator accepts the user'"'"'s request; and

(ii) if the administrator accepted the user'"'"'s request, updating the administrator controls for the user to allow the previously blocked action.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 73, wherein the instructions when executed also log the administrator off of the network environment.

75. The computer-readable medium of claim 73, wherein the instructions when executed also allow the user to perform the previously blocked action.

76. The computer-readable medium of claim 75, wherein said previously blocked online action is one of:

(a) visiting a Web site;

(b) adding a new entry to an electronic mail address book;

(c) adding a new entry to a Messenger Buddy list;

(d) downloading a file;

(e) having more time online;

(f) running an application;

(g) installing an application;

(h) viewing a movie;

(i) playing a game; and

(j) accessing a shared resource.

77. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for enabling a user and an administrator in a network environment to interactively customize administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions, the instructions when executed perform a process comprising:

(a) tracking and storing the user'"'"'s allowed and blocked online actions;

(b) generating a history summary report from the stored information; and

(c) providing the history summary report to the administrator; and

(d) in response to receiving an administrator request to block the user from performing a first action indicated as being allowed in the history summary report, updating the administrator controls for the user to include blocking the first action.

78. The computer-readable medium of claim 77, further comprising, in response to receiving an administrator request to allow a second action indicated as being blocked in the history summary report, updating the administrator controls for the user to include allowing the second action.

79. The computer-readable medium of claim 77, wherein the instructions when executed also prevent the user from modifying the stored history summary information.

80. The computer-readable medium of claim 77, wherein the instructions when executed also clear the stored information after generating the history summary report.

81. The computer-readable medium of claim 77, wherein the history summary report is periodically generated.

82. The computer-readable medium of claim 77, wherein the history summary report is generated in response to receiving an administrator request for the history summary report.

83. The computer-readable medium of claim 77, wherein the history information includes information about one of:

(a) web sites the user was allowed to visit;

(b) web sites the user was blocked from visiting;

(c) electronic mail sent by the user;

(d) electronic mail that the user was blocked from sending;

(e) buddies with whom said user was allowed to have instant messenger conversations;

(f) buddies with whom said user was blocked from having instant messenger conversations;

(g) files the user was allowed to download;

(h) files the user was blocked from downloading;

(i) the user'"'"'s amount of time online;

(j) applications the user was allowed to run;

(k) applications the user was blocked from running;

(l) applications the user was allowed to install;

(m) applications the user was blocked from installing;

(n) movies the user was allowed to view;

(o) movies the user was blocked from viewing;

(p) games the user was allowed to play;

(q) games the user was allowed to play;

(q) shared resources the user was allowed to access; and

(r) shared resources the user was blocked from accessing.

84. The computer-readable medium of claim 77, wherein the history summary report information is sorted by the frequency of the user'"'"'s online activity.

85. The computer-readable medium of claim 77, wherein the user is the administrator'"'"'s child.

86. The method of claim 77, wherein said history summary report includes an option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

87. The computer-readable medium of claim 86, wherein the instructions when executed also navigate to a Web site in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action included in the history summary report.

88. The computer-readable medium of claim 86, wherein the instructions when executed also send an electronic mail message in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

89. The computer-readable medium of claim 86, wherein the instructions when executed also send an instant message in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

90. The computer-readable medium of claim 86, wherein the instructions when executed also download a file in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

91. The computer-readable medium of claim 77, further comprising storing information about the administrator request to block the user from performing the first action and information about the administrator request to allow the second action in a consent database.

92. The computer-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the consent database resides in the network environment.

93. The computer-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the instructions when executed also:

detect the user logging onto the network environment;

search the consent database for a new administrator request; and

if a new administrator request is found, download at least a portion of the administrator controls to the user'"'"'s local computer.

94. The computer-readable medium of claim 93, wherein if a new administrator request is found, the instructions when executed also notify the user of the new administrator request.

95. A computer-readable medium having a data structure stored thereon for use in enabling a user and an administrator in a network environment to interactively customize administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions, the data structure comprising:

a data element indicative of request identification information;

a data element indicative of user identification information;

a data element indicative of administrator identification information;

a data element indicative of information about a blocked online action;

a data element indicative of request status information; and

the data structure being used to create an entry in a consent database for a request to modify administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions.

96. A computer system for enabling a user and an administrator in a network environment to interactively customize administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions, the computer system comprising:

a setting database component for storing information about administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions; and

an administrator control component environment and for;

receiving a user request to perform a blocked online action;

providing information about the pending request to an administrator;

receiving request resolution information from the administrator; and

updating the administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions stored in the setting database with the request resolution information.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein receiving a user request to perform a blocked online action includes detecting that the user has been blocked from performing an online action and, in response to detecting that the user has been blocked from performing the online action, prompting the user to submit the request.

98. The system of claim 96, wherein providing information to the administrator about the pending request comprises:

providing an element linked to a Web site;

in response to the administrator clicking on the linked element, navigating to the Web site; and

displaying information about the pending request.

99. The system of claim 96, wherein providing the administrator with information about the pending user request includes providing an option for reviewing the blocked action.

100. The system of claim 96, further comprising:

a consent database component for storing information about a user request to perform a blocked online action, wherein the administrator control component also stores the request in the consent database.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein providing information about the pending request includes:

detecting that the administrator is logging onto the network environment;

searching the consent database for a pending request from the user; and

if a pending request from the user is found, providing the administrator with information about the pending request from the consent database.

102. The system of claim 100, wherein the administrator control component also updates the consent database with the request resolution information.

103. The system of claim 102, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the request is accepted and the consent database is updated to indicate that the request is accepted.

104. The system of claim 102, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the request is denied and the consent database is updated to indicate that the request is denied.

105. The system of claim 102, further comprising, after updating the consent database to correspond with the request resolution information, providing information about the resolved request to the user.

106. The system of claim 102, wherein providing information about the resolved request to the user includes:

detecting that the user is logging onto the network environment;

searching the consent database for a newly resolved request; and

if a newly resolved request is found in the consent database, obtaining information about the request resolution and providing the information obtained to the user.

107. The system of claim 102, wherein the information stored in the setting database component includes a list of allowed actions and a list of blocked actions.

108. The system of claim 102, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the user request is accepted and the administrator control component adds the action to the user'"'"'s allow list.

109. The system of claim 102, wherein the request resolution information includes an indication that the user request is denied and the administrator control component adds the action to the user'"'"'s block list.

110. The system of claim 102, wherein updating the administrator controls for the user in the setting database further comprises:

detecting that the user is logging onto the network environment;

searching the consent database for a newly resolved request; and

if a newly resolved request is found in the consent database, downloading at least a portion of the administrator controls for the user in the setting database to the user'"'"'s local computer.

111. A computer system for enabling a user and administrator of a network to interactively customize administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions, the computer system comprising:

a setting database component for storing information about the administrator controls being used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions; and

a administrator control component for;

receiving a request from the user to perform a blocked online action;

determining if the administrator is present;

if the administrator is present, receiving the administrator'"'"'s identification;

in response to receiving the administrator'"'"'s identification, authenticating the administrator without denying the user'"'"'s access to the network environment;

after authenticating the administrator, presenting the user'"'"'s request to the administrator and determining if the administrator accepts the user'"'"'s request; and

if the administrator accepted the user'"'"'s request, updating the administrator controls for the user to allow the previously blocked action.

112. The system of claim 111, wherein the administrator control component also logs the administrator off of the network.

113. The system of claim 111, wherein the administrator control component also allows the user to perform the action.

114. A computer system for enabling a user and administrator of a network to interactively customize the administrator controls used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions, the computer system comprising:

a setting database component for storing information about the administrators controls being used to filter the user'"'"'s online actions; and

an administrator control component for;

tracking and storing the user'"'"'s allowed and blocked online actions;

generating a history summary report from the stored information;

providing the history summary report to the administrator;

receiving an administrator request to block the user from performing a first action indicated as being allowed in the history summary report; and

updating the administrator controls for the user to include blocking the first action.

115. The system of claim 114, wherein the administrator control component also:

receives an administrator request to allow a second action indicated as being blocked in the history summary report; and

updates the administrator controls for the user to include allowing the second action.

116. The system of claim 115, wherein the administrator control component also prevents the user from modifying the stored history summary information.

117. The system of claim 115, wherein the administrator control component also clears the stored information after generating the history summary report.

118. The system of claim 115, wherein the administrator control component generates the history summary report periodically.

119. The system of claim 115, wherein the administrator control component generates the history summary report in response to receiving an administrator request for the history summary report

120. The system of claim 115, wherein the history information includes information about one of:

(a) web sites the user was allowed to visit;

(b) web sites the user was blocked from visiting;

(c) electronic mail sent by the user;

(d) electronic mail that the user was blocked from sending;

(e) buddies with whom said user was allowed to have instant messenger conversations;

(f) buddies with whom said user was blocked from having instant messenger conversations;

(g) files the user was allowed to download;

(h) files the user was blocked from downloading;

(i) the user'"'"'s amount of time online;

(j) applications the user was allowed to run;

(k) applications the user was blocked from running;

(l) applications the user was allowed to install;

(m) applications the user was blocked from installing;

(n) movies the user was allowed to view;

(o) movies the user was blocked from viewing;

(p) games the user was allowed to play;

(q) games the user was allowed to play;

(q) shared resources the user was allowed to access; and

(r) shared resources the user was blocked from accessing.

121. The system of claim 115, wherein the history summary report information is sorted by the frequency of the user'"'"'s online activity.

122. The system of claim 115, wherein the user is the administrator'"'"'s child.

123. The system of claim 115, wherein history summary report includes an option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

124. The system of claim 123, wherein the administrator control component also navigates to a Web site in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action included in the history summary report.

125. The system of claim 123, wherein the administrator control component also sends an electronic mail message in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

126. The system of claim 123, wherein the administrator control component also sends an instant message in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

127. The system of claim 123, wherein the administrator control component also downloads a file in response to the administrator selecting the option for reviewing an online action in the history summary report.

128. The system of claim 115, further comprising:

a consent database component for storing information about a user request to perform a blocked online action, wherein the administrator control component also stores information about the administrator request to block the user from performing the first action and information about the administrator request to allow the second action in a consent database.

129. The system of claim 128, wherein the consent database resides in the network environment.

130. The system of claim 128, wherein the administrator control component also:

detect the user logging onto the network environment;

search the consent database for a new administrator request; and

if a new administrator request is found, download at least a portion of the administrator controls to the user'"'"'s local computer.

131. The system of claim 128, wherein if a new administrator request is found, the administrator control component also notify the user of the new administrator request.