Method and computer program product for implementing parental supervision for internet browsing

• US 6,745,367 B1
• Filed: 09/27/1999
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Day, Paul Reuben, Cragun, Brian John, Bates, Cary Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Sanjiv
• Assistant Examiner(s): YUAN, ALMARI ROMERO
• Application Number:
  US09/406,438
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 707/501.1, 707/513, 709/229, 709/224, 709/225, 715/501.1, 715/513
• US Class Current: 715/205
• 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

Abstract

A method and computer program product are provided for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing. A user profile record is maintained. A universal resource locator (URL) is identified. Approval is determined for the identified URL. The URL is displayed according to the user profile record. A view record is created and the screen is optionally captured at prescribed events and time intervals. The user profile record includes a display level, a URL history capture, and trust lists. The display level includes approved, monitored and restricted options. The URL history capture includes approved, monitored and restricted options and defined threshold values. Trusted URLs are allowed to delegate trust to links on their pages. URLs are allowed to inherit trust from a trusted URL. A supervised user may create an explanation for a bad choice to a history record. The trust lists include a list of approved web sites.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing comprising the steps of:

maintaining a user profile record;

said user profile record including a display level;

said display level including an approved option, a monitored option and a restricted option;

identifying a universal resource locator (URL);

determining approval for said Identified URL; and

displaying said URL according to a selected display level in said user profile record and said determined approval for said URL; and

responsive to said monitored option and said determined approval for said URL being approved or monitored, displaying said URL; and

capturing at least one application image being displayed for said URL and creating a view record;

said view record including said URL and said at least one captured application image.

2. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of displaying said URL includes the step of creating a history record according to said user profile record.

3. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 1 wherein said user profile record includes a URL history capture, said URL history capture including an approved option, a monitored option and a restricted option and defined threshold values.

4. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 1 wherein said user profile record includes at least one trust list;

said trust list including a list of approved web sites.

5. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 1 wherein said user profile record includes a trusted URL;

and at least one other URL being allowed to inherit trust from said trusted URL;

said at least one other URL including each URL directly linked to said trusted URL.

6. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of maintaining said user profile record includes the step of displaying a user profile editor and receiving a user administrator selections for said user profile record.

7. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of determining approval for said identified URL includes the steps of checking a trusted list for said identified URL and responsive to finding said identified URL in said trusted list, setting approval to approved.

8. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 7 further includes the step of creating a history record according to said user profile record.

9. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of determining approval for said Identified URL includes the steps of checking a trusted list for said identified URL, responsive to not finding said identified URL in said trusted list, checking a restricted list.

10. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 9, responsive to not finding said identified URL in said restricted list, checking for said URL selected as a hyperlink and checking an inheritance left value.

11. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 10, further includes the step of creating a history record responsive to said user profile record.

12. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of creating said view record includes the steps of checking said user profile record for an entire screen selection and responsive to said entire screen selection, loading said entire screen.

13. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of creating said view record includes the steps of identifying a timer event and responsive to said timer event, capturing said view record.

14. A computer implemented method for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 1 includes the steps of receiving an explanation from a monitored user, and creating a view record and capturing said explanation.

15. A computer program product for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing, said computer program product including a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said instructions, when executed by said computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of:

displaying a user profile editor and receiving administrative settings for a user profile record;

said user profile record including a display level;

said display level including an approved option, a monitored option and a restricted option;

loading said user profile record for Internet browsing;

identifying a universal resource locator (URL);

determining approval for said identified URL;

displaying said URL according to a selected display level in said user profile record and said determined approval for said URL; and

capturing at least one application image being displayed for said URL; and

creating a view record;

said view record including said URL and said at least one captured application image displayed for said URL.

16. A computer program product for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 15 wherein said instructions, when executed by said computer, further cause the computer to perform the steps of:

displaying a trust list editor and receiving administrative selections to add, remove and edit a list of trusted URLs.

17. A computer program product for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 16 wherein said instructions, when executed by said computer, further cause the computer to perform the steps of:

displaying a trust list editor and receiving administrative selections to add, remove and edit a list of restricted URLs.

18. A computer program product for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 15 wherein said instructions, when executed by said computer, further cause the computer to perform the steps of:

displaying a history viewer for reviewing URL history records.

19. A computer program product for implementing supervision functions for Internet browsing as recited in claim 15 wherein said instructions, when executed by said computer, further cause the computer to perform the steps of:

displaying a history viewer for reviewing view history records.