# US 10,373,241 B2 · Parental control method and apparatus for media service system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,373,241 B2 - Document ID: US10373241B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/768,721 - Filed: 2013-07-25 - Published: 2015-12-31 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: InterDigital CE Patent Holdings, SAS - Applicants: Interdigital Ce Patent Holdings - Inventors: Jagjeet Singh Khalsa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10373241B2 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0637: {requiring approval before final submission, e.g. parental approval} - G06F 21/62: Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules - H04N 21/4227: {Providing} Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work - H04N 21/441: Acquiring end-user identification {, e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card} - H04N 21/4751: {for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children} - G06F 2221/2149: Restricted operating environment - H04N 21/47202: {for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method and apparatus for parental control of purchases by a child of the parent are described including transmitting a notification to the parent that the child of the parent is attempting to make an online purchase, receiving verification that the parent is authorized to approve the online purchase, transmitting a screen to the parent's receiving device for the parent's approval or disapproval of the purchase and receiving the parent's approval or disapproval. Also described are a method and apparatus for a parent to pre-select online media content purchases of a child of the parent including receiving a request to access a parental control system, receiving verification that the parent is authorized to approve the online purchase, generating and rendering a program guide including media content titles and media content ratings and receiving parental selection of media content approved for purchase by the child. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for control of purchases by first person responsible for a second person, said method comprising, at a parental control system: transmitting a notification to a computing device of said first person that said second person is attempting to make an online purchase from a media delivery service; receiving verification that said first person is authorized to approve said online purchase; transmitting a screen to said first person's computing device for said first person's approval or disapproval of said purchase; receiving said first person's approval or disapproval, wherein said screen posts a query to said computing device of said first person to determine if said first person wants to review comments of other authorized users' on said attempted online purchase; receiving said first person's response to said query; and transmitting, to the first person's computing device, a supplemental screen displayable on a display of the first person's computing device, including said other authorized users' comments on said attempted online purchase responsive to said first person's response to said query; and receiving said first person's approval or disapproval based on information in said supplemental screen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said verification is via one of a password, security questions and biometric data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said attempted online purchase is media content. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein, when said first person's response to said query is negative, a supplemental query is transmitted to said computing device of said first person to determine if said first person wants to review trailer for media content that said second person is attempting to purchase online and the method further comprises: receiving said first person's response to said supplemental query; and transmitting a further supplemental screen, displayable on the first person's computing device, including said trailer for said media content of said attempted online purchase responsive to said first person's response to said supplemental query; and receiving said first person's approval or disapproval based on information in said further supplemental screen. ### Claim 5 An apparatus for control of purchases by first person responsible for a second person, comprising: a communications interface configured for: transmitting a notification to said first person that said second person is attempting to make an online purchase from a media delivery service; receiving verification that said first person is authorized to approve said online purchase; transmitting a screen to said first person's receiving device for said first person's approval or disapproval of said purchase; receiving said first person's approval or disapproval; a generate display module configured for posting a query on a screen to said first person to determine if said first person wants to review other authorized users' comments on said attempted online purchase, said generate display module being in bi-directional communication with said communications interface; and wherein said communications interface is further configured for: receiving said first person's response to said query; transmitting a supplemental screen including said other authorized users' comments on said attempted online purchase responsive to said first person's response to said query; and receiving said first person's approval or disapproval based on information in said supplemental screen. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said verification is via one of a password, security questions and biometric data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said attempted online purchase is media content. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, when said first person's response to said query is negative, a supplemental query is transmitted to said first person to determine if said first person wants to review trailer for media content that said second person is attempting to purchase online and said communications interface is further configured for: receiving said first person's response to said supplemental query; and transmitting a further supplemental screen including said trailer for said media content of said attempted online purchase responsive to said first person's response to said supplemental query; and receiving said first person's approval or disapproval based on information in said further supplemental screen.