MOBILE UNIT PARENTAL CONTROL

• US 20080256641A1
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lo, Charles N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,046,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1011 to devices
• 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 2221/2117 User registration
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

Parents can desire to limit content viewable upon a mobile device and a universal integrated circuit card can be programmed to limit viewing upon the mobile device. A user completes a service request form that includes an allowable view threshold for content upon the mobile device. The request can transfer to a service provider, sometimes via a base station. A subscription manager can forward the threshold back to the mobile device and the mobile device can program the threshold upon secure storage. When content is received, it can be compared against the threshold and a determination can be made on if the content is allowable to view in light of the threshold.

Claims

1. A method for managing content viewing upon a mobile device, comprising:

comparing a rating of content against a threshold retained upon secure storage; and

formulating if the content can be viewed based upon a result of the comparison between the content rating and the retained threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the content from a service provider.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising authenticating the content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a command set for programming the secure storage concerning the threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising programming the secure storage in accordance with the received command set.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting a form that includes the threshold, the command set for programming is based upon the threshold included upon the form.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising collecting the form.

8. The method of claim 7, the collected form is supplied from a content service provider.

9. The method of claim 1, formulating if the content can be viewed:

allowing the content to be viewed if the comparison is successful;

or

denying the content to be viewed if the comparison is unsuccessful.

10. The method of claim 9, a successful comparison is that the content rating is equal to or lesser than the threshold or a successful comparison is that the content rating is lesser than the threshold.

11. An apparatus that operates in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to compare a rating of content against a threshold retained upon secure storage and formulate if the content can be viewed based upon a result of the comparison between the content rating and the retained threshold; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a receiver that obtains the content from a service provider.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising authenticating the content.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a receiver that attains a command set for programming the secure storage concerning the threshold.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a programmer that codes the secure storage in accordance with the received command set.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising transmitter that conveys a form that includes the threshold, the command set for programming is based upon the threshold included upon the form.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a collector that gathers the form.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, the gathered form is supplied from a content service provider.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, an implementer allows the content to be viewed if the comparison is successful or denies the content to be viewed if the comparison is unsuccessful.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, a successful comparison is that the content rating is equal to or lesser than the threshold or a successful comparison is that the content rating is lesser than the threshold.

21. A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates viewing remote content on a mobile device, comprising:

means for comparing a rating of content against a threshold retained upon secure storage; and

means for formulating if the content can be viewed based upon a result of the comparison between the content rating and the retained threshold.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for receiving the content from a service provider.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising authenticating the content.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for receiving a command set for programming the secure storage concerning the threshold.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for programming the secure storage in accordance with the received command set.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for transmitting a form that includes the threshold, the command set for programming is based upon the threshold included upon the form.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for collecting the form.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, the collected form is supplied from a content service provider.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for allowing the content to be viewed if the comparison is successful;

or

means for denying the content to be viewed if the comparison is unsuccessful.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, a successful comparison is that the content rating is equal to or lesser than the threshold or a successful comparison is that the content rating is lesser than the threshold.

31. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for comparing a rating of content against a threshold retained upon secure storage; and

code for formulating if the content can be viewed based upon a result of the comparison between the content rating and the retained threshold.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, the computer-readable medium further comprising code for receiving the content from a service provider.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, the computer-readable medium further comprising code for authenticating the content.

34. The computer program product of claim 31, the computer-readable medium further comprising code for receiving a command set for programming the secure storage concerning the threshold.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, the computer-readable medium further comprising code, for programming the secure storage in accordance with the received command set.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, the computer-readable medium further comprising code for transmitting a form that includes the threshold, the command set for programming is based upon me threshold included upon the form.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, the computer-readable medium further comprising code for collecting the form.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, the collected form is supplied from a content service provider.

39. The computer program product of claim 31, the computer-readable medium further comprising code for:

allowing the content to be viewed if the comparison is successful;

or

denying the content to be viewed if the comparison is unsuccessful.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, a successful comparison is that the content rating is equal to or lesser than the threshold or a successful comparison is that the content rating is lesser than the threshold.

41. A method that facilitates programming upon secure storage a threshold to regulate content viewing, comprising:

reading the threshold from communication provided by an auxiliary entity; and

generating a command set for the secure storage to implement the read threshold, the generated command set is used to program the threshold upon the secure storage.

42. The method of claim 41, the auxiliary entity is a content service provider, the secure storage is a universal integrated circuit card, the secure storage is located upon a mobile device capable of viewing content, or a combination thereof.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising obtaining the communication from the auxiliary entity.

44. The method of claim 41, further comprising determining a mobile device that is to have the secure storage programmed.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising sending the command set to the determined mobile device.

46. An apparatus that operates in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to read a threshold from communication provided by an auxiliary entity, and a generate a command set for secure storage to implement the read threshold, the generated command set is used to program the threshold upon the secure storage; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, the auxiliary entity is a content service provider, the secure storage is a universal integrated circuit card, the secure storage is located upon a mobile device capable of viewing content, or a combination thereof.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising an obtainer that collects the communication from the auxiliary entity.

49. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising a determiner that concludes a mobile device that is to have the secure storage programmed.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising a sender that transmits the command set to the determined mobile device.

51. A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates programming upon secure storage a threshold to regulate content viewing, comprising:

means for reading the threshold from communication provided by an auxiliary entity; and

means for generating a command set for the secure storage to implement the read threshold, the generated command set is used to program the threshold upon the secure storage.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, the auxiliary entity is a content service provider, the secure storage is a universal integrated circuit card, the secure storage is located upon a mobile device capable of viewing content, or a combination thereof.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means for obtaining the communication from the auxiliary entity.

54. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means for determining a mobile device that is to have the secure storage programmed.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising means for sending the command set to the determined mobile device.

56. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for reading the threshold from communication provided by an auxiliary entity; and

code for generating a command set for the secure storage to implement the read threshold, the generated command set is used to program the threshold upon the secure storage.

57. The computer program product of claim 56, the auxiliary entity is a content service provider, the secure storage is a universal integrated circuit card, the secure storage is located upon a mobile device capable of viewing content, or a combination thereof.

58. The computer program product of claim 56, the computer-readable medium further comprising code for obtaining the communication from the auxiliary entity.

59. The computer program product of claim 56, the computer-readable medium further comprising code for determining a mobile device that is to have the secure storage programmed.

60. The computer program product of claim 59, the computer-readable medium further comprising code for sending the command set to the determined mobile device.