Time-based computer access controls

• US 7,356,703 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hill, Timothy A., McMenamin, Marie Louise, Patrawala, Zakir S., Virani, Samira S., Chebolu, Anil Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron; Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEMMA, SAMSON B
• Application Number:
  US10/740,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 426/19, 426/7, 713/182, 713/600, 726/19, 726/7, 726/27
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for controlling computer access. Briefly described in architecture, some embodiments of such a system provide an access control unit to regulate user-access to a computer according to time restrictions specified in a user profile of a current user of the computer. The user profile for the current user of the computer indicates access times that the respective user is authorized to access the computer. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for controlling computer access, the system comprising:

a processor accessing at least one user profile for at least one respective user, each user profile indicating access times that the respective user is authorized to access a computer, including a time for accessing a particular local computer application of the computer, wherein each user profile is customizable for the respective user;

means for querying a remotely located server for a current time means for preventing manipulation of a local clock setting by preferring the current time obtained from the remote server;

means for comparing the current time to the time restrictions; and

the processor executing a control unit to regulate user-access to the computer according to the user profile of a current user of the computer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the access times include a specific time of day that the current user can access a particular computer application.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the access times include a duration of time that the current user can access a particular computer application.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the access times include a specific time of day that the current user can access an Internet web site.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the access times include a duration of time that the current user can access an Internet web site.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the access times include a specific time of day that the current user can access a content category.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the access times include a duration of time that the current user can access a content category.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each user profile is remotely stored on a database that is accessible by the World Wide Web.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanism for generating a request for permission to access information during a time period that has not been authorized.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

an Internet user interface to display information from the World Wide Web; and

means for accessing a database, wherein the Internet user interface displays a web page from the server that notifies the user that authorization to access the particular Internet site has been denied if the user is not authorized to access the Internet site during the time period, the web page providing the mechanism for generating a request.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for accessing a database, wherein the Internet user interface displays a web page from the server to create the at least one user profile, the user profile being stored on the server and the computer.

12. A method to control computer access, comprising:

creating at least one user profile restricting computer access according to time restrictions for at least one respective user including a time for accessing a particular local computer application of the computer;

storing the at least one user profile on a computer;

identifying a current user of the computer;

receiving a request from the current user for computer access;

querying a remotely located server for a current time;

preventing manipulation of a local clock setting by preferring the current time obtained from the remote server;

comparing the current time to the time restrictions;

checking the user profile of the current user to determine if the current user is authorized for the computer access at the current time; and

denying access to the Internet site if the current user is not authorized for computer access at the current time.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

requesting permission for computer access at a time period for which the current user is not authorized.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

remotely accessing the at least one user profile to configure the time restrictions wherein each user profile is remotely stored on a database that is accessible by the World Wide Web.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein an administrator of the computer creates the at least one user profile for other users of the computer.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the time restrictions include access times that the respective user of the user profile is authorized to access the computer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the access times include a specific time of day that the respective user can access a particular computer application.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the access times include a duration of time that the respective user can access a particular computer application.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the access times include a specific time of day that the respective user can access an Internet web Site.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the access times include a duration of time that the respective user can access an Internet web site.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the access times include a specific time of day that the respective user can access a content category.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the access times include a duration of time that the respective user can access a content category.

23. A computer memory storing processor executable instructions for performing a method of controlling access to a computer, the method comprising:

creating at least one user profile restricting computer access according to time restrictions for at least one respective user including a time for accessing a particular local computer application of the computer;

storing the at least one user profile on the computer;

identifying a current user of the computer receiving a request from the current user for computer access;

querying a remotely located server for a current time;

preventing manipulation of a local clock setting by preferring the current time, obtained from the remote server;

comparing the current time to the time restrictions;

checking the user profile of the current user to determine if the current user is authorized for the computer access at a current time; and

denying access to the Interact site if the current user is not authorized for computer access at the current time.

24. The computer memory of claim 23, the program further comprising:

requesting permission for computer access at a time period for which the current user is not authorized.

25. The computer memory of claim 23, the program further comprising:

remotely accessing the at least one user profile to configure the time restrictions wherein each user profile is remotely stored on a database that is accessible by the World Wide Web.

26. The computer memory of claim 23, wherein the time restrictions include access times that the respective user of the user profile is authorized to access the computer.

27. The computer memory of claim 26, wherein the access times a specific time of day that the respective user can access a particular computer application.

28. The computer memory of claim 26, wherein the access times include a duration of time that the respective user can access a particular computer application.

29. The computer memory of claim 26, wherein the access times include a specific time of day that the respective user can access an Internet web site.

30. The computer memory of claim 26, wherein the access times include a duration of time that the respective user can access an Internet web site.

31. The computer memory of claim 26, wherein the access times a specific time of day that the respective user can access a content category.

32. The computer memory of claim 26, wherein the access times include a duration of time that the respective user can access a content category.