System and method of supervisory control

A tangible recording medium comprising a computer program product that when executed on a computer implements the steps of:

• setting, at a remote device, at least a first usage control parameter for at least a first account associated with access to content on a class of entertainment devices;
• monitoring, at an entertainment device of the class of entertainment devices, which account or accounts are active on the entertainment device;
• detecting a number or type of input peripherals operably coupled to the entertainment device;
• obtaining, at the entertainment device, the at least first usage control parameter set for the at least first account;
• and
• restricting usage of content on the entertainment device responsive to the at least first usage control parameter;
• wherein at least one of the at least a first usage control parameter for at least the first account relates to the restriction of usage of content responsive to the number or type of input peripherals operably coupled to the entertainment device.

An entertainment device, comprising:

• a log-in processing unit adapted to allow plural accounts to log in on the entertainment device;
• a monitoring processing unit adapted to monitor which account or accounts are active on the entertainment device;
• a detecting processing unit adapted to detect a number or type of input peripherals operably coupled to the entertainment device;
• a transmitter adapted to transmit notification of which account or accounts are active on the entertainment device to a push server;
• a receiver adapted to receive at least a first usage control parameter of at least one account active on the entertainment device from the push server;
• and
• a restriction processing unit adapted to restrict usage of content on the entertainment device responsive to the at least first usage control parameter;
• wherein at least one of the at least a first usage control parameter for at least the first account relates to the restriction of usage of content responsive to the number or type of input peripherals operably coupled to the entertainment device.

A push server, comprising

• an account database adapted to hold data for a plurality of accounts associated with respective access to content on a class of entertainment devices;
• a receiver adapted to receive, from a remote device, at least a first usage control parameter set for at least a first account;
• an association processing unit adapted to associate the at least the first usage control parameter with the at least the first account in the plurality of accounts held by the push server;
• a receiver adapted to receive notification from an entertainment device that the first account is active on the entertainment device;
• and
• a transmitter adapted to transmit to the entertainment device the at least the first usage control parameter set for the at least the first account;
• wherein at least one of the at least a first usage control parameter for at least the first account relates to the restriction of usage of content responsive to the number or type of input peripherals operably coupled to the entertainment device.

A remote device, comprising

• an account selection processing unit adapted to select at least a first account associated with access to content on a class of entertainment devices;
• a setting processing unit adapted to set at least a first usage control parameter for the at least a first account;
• and
• a transmitter adapted to transmit an indication of each selected account and the respective at least the first usage control parameter for each selected account to a push server;
• wherein at least one of the at least the first usage control parameter for at least the first account relates to restriction of usage of content responsive to a number or type of input peripherals operably coupled to a given entertainment device.