Systems and methods for cloud-based network control

A cloud server, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein
• instructions stored in the memory are executable to:
• receive an access request from a residential home, a local network router at the residential home having received the access request from a client device on the local network, the client device initiating the access request to obtain access to a website or application blocked by the local network router;
• generate overview information that describes the website or application related to the access request, the overview information being generated for presentation on an authorizing device;
• send an authorization request to the authorizing user, the authorization request comprising the overview information and the access request including a uniform resource locator of the website or a name of the application, thereby enabling the authorizing user to see information related to the access sought to be obtained;
• send a client message to the client device to inform a user of the client device about a status of the access request while the access request is pending, wherein the client message comprises a name of the website or application, a client user name, a client device name, an authorizing user name and a timer that is started when the access request is received;
• receive an authorization response from the authorizing user;
• send the authorization response to the residential home, enabling the local network router at the residential home to act on the access request from the client device on the local network;
• and
• update the client message to reflect the status of the access request in response to receiving the authorization response from the authorizing user.

A method comprising:

• receiving an access request from a client device on a local network to obtain access to a website or application blocked by a local network router;
• sending, from the local network at a residential home, the access request to a cloud server outside of the local network, wherein the cloud server generates overview information that describes the website or application related to the access request, the overview information being generated with for presentation on an authorizing device, and sends an authorization request comprising the overview information and the access request including a uniform resource locator of the website or a name of the application to an authorizing user, thereby enabling the authorizing user to see information related to the access sought to be obtained;
• sending a client message to the client device to inform a user of the client device about a status of the access request while the access request is pending, wherein the client message comprises a name of the website or application, a client user name, a client device name, an authorizing user name and a timer that is started when the access request is received;
• receiving on the local network at the residential home, from the cloud server, an authorization response provided by the authorizing user;
• acting on the access request based on the authorization response;
• and
• updating the client message to reflect the status of the access request in response to receiving the authorization response from the authorizing user.

A router, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein
• instructions stored in the memory are executable to:
• receive an access request from a client device on a local network to obtain access to a website or application blocked by the router;
• send, from the local network at a residential home, the access request to a cloud server outside of the local network, wherein the cloud server generates overview information that describes the website or application related to the access request, the overview information being generated for presentation on an authorizing device, and
• sends an authorization request comprising the overview information and the access request including a uniform resource locator of the website or a name of the application to an authorizing user, thereby enabling the authorizing user to see information related to the access sought to be obtained;
• send a client message to the client device to inform a user of the client device about a status of the access request while the access request is pending, wherein the client message comprises a name of the website or application, a client user name, a client device name, an authorizing user name and a timer that is started when the access request is received;
• receive on the local network at the residential home, from the cloud server, an authorization response provided by the authorizing user;
• act on the access request based on the authorization response;
• and
• update the client message to reflect the status of the access request in response to receiving the authorization response from the authorizing user.