Electronic Permission Slips for Controlling Access to Multimedia Content

• US 20130091586A1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scott, Charles Varnon, Cansler, James Leonard, Mukerji, Ankur, White, Scott Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,108,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

An administrator controls viewer access to restricted multimedia programs using electronic permission slips. In response to a viewer'"'"'s request to view a restricted multimedia program, the viewer may initiate the generation of an electronic permission slip that is sent to an electronic device associated with the administrator. The electronic permission slip may include text-based information, graphical information, audio information, and the like. The electronic permission slip may enable input of permission data regarding whether the viewer is allowed to receive the blocked program. In response to the administrator granting permission, a service provider network allows the viewer to access the restricted multimedia program.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A method, comprising:

receiving a request from a user to access a multimedia program, wherein the multimedia program includes digital television content blocked for the user;

in response to receiving the request from the user, generating a media item selection interface; and

sending an electronic permission slip to an administrator device associated with an administrator, wherein the electronic permission slip includes;

the media item; and

an identification of the multimedia program;

wherein the electronic permission slip prompts the administrator for user access approval.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the media item includes a voice message.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein sending the electronic permission slip includes sending a short message service communication.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the media item includes synthesized speech.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving telephone generated tone inputs as an indication of the user access approval.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising generating a graphical user interface with voting buttons.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein sending the electronic permission slip to the administrator device includes sending an email.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

sending the electronic permission slip to an Internet-based account of the administrator.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the media item includes an electronic text message.

32. A computer readable storage medium including processor executable instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

responsive to receiving a user request to access a restricted multimedia program;

generating a media item selection interface;

sending a permission slip to an administrator device, wherein the permission slip includes;

an identification of the restricted multimedia program; and

a media item,

wherein the permission slip requests administrator authorization to view the restricted multimedia program; and

responsive to the administrator indicating authorization, unblocking the restricted multimedia program for the user.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the operations include:

communicating a denial of the authorization to the user when the administrator denies the authorization.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein sending the permission slip includes sending a short message service text communication.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein sending the permission slip includes sending an email to an email address of the administrator.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 32, the identification of the restricted multimedia program includes synthesized speech.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the operations include:

receiving audio input from the administrator device;

performing voice recognition on the audio input;

based on the voice recognition, identifying words in the audio input; and

interpreting the words to determine whether the administrator grants the authorization.

38. A system for processing electronic permission slips, the system comprising:

a processor;

a computer readable storage medium, accessible to the processor, including processor executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

generating a media item selection interface to choose a media item selected from;

a text message, an email message, a voice message, and a synthesized speech message;

generating a permission slip, wherein the permission slip includes;

an identifier of a restricted multimedia program requested by the user; and

the media item,

sending the permission slip to the administrator; and

receiving permission data from the administrator and, based on the permission data, controlling access by the user to the restricted multimedia program.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the permission slip is sent to the administrator in email format.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the permission slip is sent to the administrator in short message system format.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the permission data includes text content.