A system and method for enabling users to access blocked media.

Abstract

To provide a system and a method for enabling a user to access blocked media.SOLUTION: Systems and methods are provided herein for enabling a user to access a blocked media asset. These systems and methods allow a user to request that a parent, or another user, who can approve access to the blocked media asset approve access to the blocked media asset for viewing. The request may be transmitted as a notification to a mobile phone or another suitable device, such that the parent or the other user can approve the request, even when they may be remote from a requesting user. Both the requesting user and the user whose approval is required to unblock the media asset, are identified by the system based on an identifier associated with each user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims priority and the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,253, filed on February 9, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Background Art

[0002] Assuming a large number of contents available to modern TV viewers, parental control systems that enable filtering of content for viewing by users are becoming almost ubiquitous in electronic program guides (EPGs). For example, a parental control system gives parents the ability to determine what content their children can view when they are absent. Typically, a parental control system will have access codes that can be entered to block and unblock content. A child who tries to access a blocked program and does not know the access code will be unable to view the program. However, the strictness of content evaluation can result in blocking some programs that parents may find acceptable for their children to view. For example, parents may not agree on the evaluation of some programs. In this case, if the parents are not at home to enter the access code, the children may be unable to view the programs.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] Systems and methods for enabling a user to access blocked media assets are provided herein. These systems and methods enable a user to request that a parent or another user, who can authorize access to the blocked media assets, authorize access to the media assets for viewing. The request may be transmitted as a notification to a mobile phone or another suitable device, even if it is located remotely from the requesting user, so that the parent or other user authorizes the request. Both the requesting user and the user whose authorization is requested to unblock the media assets (i.e., the authorizer) may be identified by the system based on an identifier associated with each user. This informs the authorizer of the user who submitted the request. In addition, this also adds a layer of security, as the authorizer must input an identifier into the system to authenticate their identity before enabling the authorizer to unblock the programs for the requesting user.

[0004] In some aspects, the media guide application receives a first identifier associated with a first user from a first user device. For example, the media guide application receives first user input of the identifier. In some embodiments, the identifier includes any finite string such as numbers and letters. For example, the identifier may be "1234", "Joel23", or any other suitable identifier. In some embodiments, the identifier may be biometric data such as a retinal scan or fingerprint. In some embodiments, the media guide application stores the first identifier in memory associated with the first user device so that the first user device can automatically determine the first user without any input from the first user.

[0005] In some embodiments, the media guide application compares a first identifier received with a set of identifiers stored in the user profile index data structure. The media guide application may compare a first identifier received with a set of identifiers stored in the index data structure. The media guide application may associate a pointer to the user profile with each identifier in the index data structure. For example, the media guide application may compare the input identifier "Joe123" with an identifier stored in the index data structure. Depending on the comparison between the first identifier received and the set of identifiers stored in the index data structure, the media guide application determines whether the first identifier matches an identifier stored in the user profile index data structure. For example, if the media guide application determines that all characters in the received identifier match all characters in the stored identifier, the media guide application may return a boolean result indicating that the two identifiers match "true".

[0006] The media guide application receives requests to enable a first user to access media assets that are blocked for the first user. For example, the media guide application receives a request from the first user to view a media asset that meets pre-configured blocking criteria and is blocked for viewing by the first user. For example, the media guide application receives a request from the first user to obtain permission to view a media asset. In some embodiments, the media guide application remembers an indication that a program with a "TV-MA" rating may be blocked for the first user. The media guide application then blocks programs with a "TV-MA" or higher rating from being viewed by the first user. In some embodiments, the media guide application may automatically generate a notification containing the request when the first user selects blocked media.

[0007] The Media Guide application determines, within the first profile associated with the first user, any second user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media asset. For example, upon receiving a first user selection of a blocked media asset, the Media Guide application queries the first profile associated with the first user to determine if any user has the authority to authorize the first user to access the blocked media. For example, the Media Guide application may determine that a user account corresponding to the child's mother is designated as an account authorized to authorize the child to access the blocked media. If the Media Guide application does not determine any second user who has the authority to enable the first user to access the blocked media, the Media Guide application may display a notification to the first user that the request has failed and the media asset remains blocked.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first profile associated with the first user includes a data structure that stores the first user's age. For example, the media guide application may store that user "John" is 14 years old. Alternatively, or in addition, the first profile associated with the first user includes a data structure that stores a flag indicating whether the first user has the authority to authorize access to media assets. For example, the media guide application may store a flag indicating that user "John" does not have the authority to authorize access to the media asset he is attempting to access. Alternatively, or in addition, the first profile associated with the first user includes a data structure that stores social media accounts associated with the first user. For example, the media guide application may store that user "John" has a social media account with the handle name "JohnC13579". Alternatively, or in addition, the first profile associated with the first user includes a data structure that stores a telephone number associated with the first user. For example, the media guide application may remember that user "John" has a mobile phone with the phone number "123-456-1000". Alternatively, or in addition, a first profile associated with a first user includes a data structure that stores the email address associated with the first user. For example, the media guide application may remember that user "John" has the email account "JohnC@mail.usa". Alternatively, or in addition, a first profile associated with a first user includes a data structure that stores a list of the first user's viewing preferences. For example, the media guide application may remember that user "John" prefers to watch movies of the "horror" genre. Alternatively, or in addition, a first profile associated with a first user includes a data structure that stores a list of user profiles that have approval rights over the first user profile.For example, the media guide application may remember that users "Mother" and "Father," who can be identified by their profile identifiers, have the authority to authorize user "John" to access blocked media assets.

[0009] In some embodiments, the media guide application determines from a second profile associated with the second user whether a second user device is associated with the second user. Depending on the determination that a second user exists with the authority to authorize access, the media guide application accesses the second profile associated with the second user. The media guide application then queries the second profile with respect to the user device associated with the second user, and the second user may receive a notification containing a request from the first user. For example, the media guide application may determine that user "Mother" has the authority to authorize the first user to access media assets. The media guide application then accesses the profile associated with "Mother" and may query the data structure stored in the profile with respect to the user device associated with "Mother," such as a mobile phone.

[0010] In some embodiments, if the media guide application determines that no user device associated with a second user exists, the second user may receive a notification, and the media guide application may query the first profile associated with the first user for a third user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access media that is blocked. For example, if the media guide application queries a data structure in a profile associated with "Mother" for user devices and finds no user devices, the media guide application may attempt to determine, using the same or similar process as described above, whether there is any other user who can authorize the first user to access media assets.

[0011] Alternatively, or in addition, if the Media Guide application determines that a second user has not responded over a threshold amount of time, the Media Guide application may query the first profile associated with the first user for a third user who has the authority to authorize access to media that is blocked for the first user. For example, if the Media Guide application sends a notification to a user device stored in the profile corresponding to "Mother," but does not receive a response over a period of time (e.g., 5 minutes), the Media Guide application may determine another user who can enable access to the media asset, as described above, and send a notification to a user device stored in that profile (e.g., a user device stored as a variable in the profile "Dadl23").

[0012] In response to determining that a second user device is associated with the second user, the media guide application transmits a notification to the second user on the second user device associated with the second user that the first user is requesting access to a blocked media asset. The media guide application may transmit a notification to the second user device that includes an option for the second user to unblock the media asset. For example, the media guide application may transmit the notification to the mother's mobile phone.

[0013] In some embodiments, the media guide application generates content that helps inform the second user of their decision to unlock a media asset or to deny a request from a first user. For example, the media guide application may, as part of the notification, present the genre of the blocked media asset, such as "drama." Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may, as part of the notification, present a rating of the media asset, such as "TV-MA." Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may, as part of the notification, present a link to a webpage associated with the media asset, such as a movie homepage. Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may, as part of the notification, present a preview associated with the media.

[0014] Alternatively, or in addition, the Media Guide application may, as part of a notification, present personalized communications from the first user, such as any combination of text, images, videos, and audio, attempting to persuade the second user to unblock the media. Alternatively, or in addition, the Media Guide application may, as part of a notification, present an indication of why the media is blocked, such as a rating exceeding the current blocking criteria. For example, the Media Guide application may determine that a media asset is blocked because the first user is unable to view a "TV-MA" program and has a "TV-MA" rating, and may include this information in a notification to the second user.

[0015] The media guide application receives a second identifier associated with the second user from one of the second user device or another user device associated with the second user. For example, the media guide application receives a second user input of the second identifier. The second identifier may contain any finite string, such as numbers and letters. For example, the second identifier could be "1234" or "Moml23". In some embodiments, the media guide application may store the identifier in memory associated with the second user device so that the second user device automatically determines the second user without any input from the second user.

[0016] The media guide application determines whether the second identifier matches an identifier associated with the second profile. The media guide application compares the received identifier with identifiers stored in memory that are associated with multiple profiles. Depending on the determination of a match between the second identifier and the identifiers associated with the second profile, the media guide application may apply settings, permissions, and other data stored in the second profile to the second user device. For example, depending on the match between the input identifier and the identifier corresponding to the profile of "Mother" in memory, the media guide application may allow user "Mother" to unblock a program that the first user is requesting to access.

[0017] In response to determining that a second identifier matches an identifier associated with a second profile, the media guide application generates, for display purposes, an option to unblock a media asset for access by the first user on the first user's device. For example, in response to determining that a second identifier (e.g., "Moml23") matches an identifier associated with a second profile, the media guide application presents the user "Mother" with a selectable icon or other selectable feature indicating that the media asset the first user wishes to access will be unblocked.

[0018] In some embodiments, the media guide application generates options for communicating with a first user, along with an option for unblocking a media asset for display. For example, the media guide application may allow a second user to transmit a message asking the first user whether they have taken out the trash. The media guide application may enable two-way communication. For example, the first user may respond that they have taken out the trash and request that the media asset be unblocked.

[0019] Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may generate, for display purposes, an option to unblock a media asset, along with an option to authorize access to the media asset for a specified period. For example, the media guide application may generate, for display purposes, an option to unblock a media asset for a period specified by a second user (e.g., 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.). Depending on the second user's selection, the media guide application will unblock the program only for the period specified by the second user. Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may generate, for display purposes, an option to unblock different versions of the media, along with an option to unblock a media asset. For example, the media guide application may generate, for display purposes, a list of alternative versions of a media asset that may be appropriate for the first user (e.g., "non-sexual" or "director's cut"). Depending on the second user's selection of an alternative version, the media guide application will unblock that version of the media asset for access by the first user.

[0020] The media guide application unblocks media assets that are blocked for access by the first user on the first user's device, in response to receiving an option selection for unblocking the media asset. For example, after a second user authorizes the first user to access a media asset, the media guide application unblocks the media asset, allowing the first user to access it. In addition, if the second user specifies any conditions that accompany access to the media asset, as described in some embodiments, the media guide application may also implement those. For example, if the media guide application receives an indication from the second user that the first user should not watch television programs after 8 p.m., the media guide application will unblock the programs only until 8 p.m.

[0021] In some embodiments, the media guide application receives conditional permission from a second user to access a media asset if the permission criteria are met by the first user. For example, before the first user attempts to access the media asset, the media guide application receives input from the second user indicating that the media asset can be unblocked if the first user meets the permission criteria. The media guide application stores the permission criteria in a first profile associated with the first user in memory. Depending on the first user's selection of a blocked media asset, the media guide application determines that the permission criteria must be met before the media asset can be unblocked. The media guide application then generates a notification to the first user for display, along with the permission criteria that may require user input to be met. The permission criteria may be a message displayed by the media guide application prompting the first user to confirm that they have completed a specific task by pressing an "OK" button. In another embodiment, the permission criteria may require the first user to transmit a photograph or video to the second user to confirm that they have completed a specific task. Depending on whether the permission criteria are successfully met, the Media Guide application will unblock the media asset for access by the first user.

[0022] It should be noted that the systems and / or methods described above may be applied to, or used in accordance with, other systems, methods, and / or devices. For example, this application provides the following items. (Item 1) A method for enabling a user to access a blocked media asset, the method being: The steps include receiving a first identifier associated with a first user from a first user device, Receiving a request to enable the first user to access a media asset blocked for the first user Determining a second user associated with a second profile having the authority to approve access to the media asset for the first user within a first profile associated with the first user In response to determining the second user having the authority to approve access to the media asset for the first user Transmitting, on a second user device device associated with the second user, a notification to the second user that the first user has requested access to the media asset blocked for the first user Receiving a second identifier associated with the second user from one of a second user device device associated with the second user and another user device device Determining that the second identifier matches an identifier associated with the second profile In response to determining that the second identifier matches an identifier associated with the second profile Generating an option to unblock the media asset for access by the first user on the first user device device Unblocking the blocked media asset for access by the first user on the first user device in response to receiving a selection of the option to unblock the media asset A method comprising (Item 2) The first profile associated with the first user is The age of the first user and A flag indicating whether the first user has the authority to approve access to the media asset and A social media account associated with the first user, A phone number associated with the first user, An email address associated with the first user, A list of the viewing preferences of the first user, A list of user profiles having approval rights for the first user profile The method according to item 1, comprising a data structure for storing at least one of them. (Item 3) Comparing the first identifier with a plurality of identifiers associated with an account stored in an index data structure of user profiles, Determining that the first identifier matches an identifier associated with a first profile associated with the first user The method according to item 1, further comprising. (Item 4) Determining, from a second profile associated with the second user, whether a second user equipment device is associated with the second user; In response to determining that no user equipment device is associated with the second user, Determining, from a first profile associated with the first user, a third user having the authority to approve access of the first user to the media asset The method according to item 1, further comprising. (Item 5) The step of transmitting, on the second user equipment device, a notification to the second user that the first user has requested access to a blocked media asset, The genre of the media asset, The evaluation of the media asset, A link to a web page associated with the media asset, A preview associated with the media asset, Personalized communications from the aforementioned first user, Indications for the reason the aforementioned media assets were locked and The method described in item 1, comprising at least one of the following. (Item 6) The aforementioned first user, The written message and, Photos and video and Audio message and The method of item 5, which allows the notification to be personalized to include at least one of the following. (Item 7) The steps include determining that the second user is unable to respond to the notification, A step of determining a third user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, based on a first profile associated with the first user; A step of determining whether a third user device is associated with the third user from a third profile associated with the third user, In response to determining that a third user device is associated with the third user, The steps include transmitting a notification to the third user on the third user device that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset, The steps include receiving a third identifier associated with the third user from the third user device, The steps include determining whether the third identifier matches an identifier associated with the third profile, In response to determining that the third identifier matches an identifier associated with the third profile, the steps include generating an option for displaying the media asset for access by the first user on the first user device, In response to receiving an option selection for unblocking the media asset, the steps include: unblocking the blocked media asset for access by the first user on the first user's device; The method described in item 1, further including the method described in item 1. (Item 8) The step of determining that the second user is unable to respond to the notification further includes: The steps include determining that the threshold time for the second user to respond to the notification has been exceeded, The steps include determining that the second user device is unable to receive the notification, and The method described in item 7, which includes at least one of the following. (Item 9) Options for unblocking the blocked media assets for access by the first user on the first user device include: Options for communicating with the aforementioned first user, Options for authorizing access to the media assets for a specified period, Options for unblocking different versions of the aforementioned media asset and The method described in item 1, comprising at least one of the following. (Item 10) The steps include receiving a conditional permission from the second user to unblock the media asset if the permission criteria are met by the first user, The first user profile includes the step of storing permission criteria for unblocking the media asset, In response to receiving the selection of the media asset by the first user, the steps include determining whether the media asset requires the permission criteria to be met before unblocking the media asset, For display purposes, a step of generating the notice, wherein the notice identifies the permission criteria, The steps include receiving input from the first user that the permission criteria have been met, In response to receiving input that the permission criteria have been met, the steps include: unblocking the media asset for access by the first user; The method described in item 1, further including the method described in item 1. (Item 11) A system for enabling a user to access blocked media assets, wherein the system is Memory circuits and, Display circuit and A control circuit, wherein the control circuit is Receiving a first identifier associated with the first user from the first user device, The first user receives a request to enable the first user to access media assets that are blocked to the first user, Within the first profile associated with the first user stored in the memory circuit, a second user associated with a second profile is determined who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets. In response to determining the second user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, via a communication network, a notification is transmitted to the second user on a second user device associated with the second user that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset; Receiving a second identifier associated with the second user from one of the second user device associated with the second user and another user device, Determining whether the second identifier matches the identifier associated with the second profile, In response to determining that the second identifier matches the identifier associated with the second profile, For display purposes, the display circuit is used to generate an option for unblocking the media asset for access by the first user on the first user device, In response to receiving an option selection for unblocking the media asset, the blocked media asset is unblocked for access by the first user on the first user's device. A control circuit and A system equipped with these features. (Item 12) The memory circuit that stores the first profile associated with the first user also includes, The age of the first user mentioned above, A flag indicating whether the first user has the authority to authorize access to the media asset, The social media accounts associated with the aforementioned first user, The telephone number associated with the aforementioned first user, The email address associated with the aforementioned first user, The list of the first user's viewing preferences, The list of user profiles that have the authority to approve the first user profile and The system described in item 11, which includes a data structure that stores at least one of the following. (Item 13) The first identifier is compared with a plurality of identifiers associated with an account stored in the user profile index data structure stored in the memory circuit, Determining whether the first identifier matches the identifier associated with the first profile associated with the first user. A control circuit configured to perform The system described in item 11, further comprising the features described therein. (Item 14) From the second profile associated with the second user, determine whether the second user device is associated with the second user, In response to determining that none of the user devices are associated with the second user, From the first profile associated with the first user stored in the memory circuit, a third user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media asset is determined. A control circuit configured to perform The system described in item 11, further comprising the features described therein. (Item 15) On the second user device, the notification to the second user that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset, generated for display by the display circuit, The genre of the aforementioned media assets, The evaluation of the aforementioned media assets, Links to web pages associated with the aforementioned media asset, The preview associated with the aforementioned media asset, Personalized communications from the aforementioned first user, Indications for the reason the aforementioned media assets were locked and A system as described in item 11, which includes at least one of the following. (Item 16) The aforementioned first user, The written message and, Photos and video and Audio message and The system described in item 15, which can personalize the notification to include at least one of the following: (Item 17) Determining that the second user is unable to respond to the notification, From the first profile associated with the first user stored in the memory circuit, a third user is determined who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media asset. From the third profile associated with the third user stored in the memory circuit, it is determined whether the third user device is associated with the third user, In response to determining that a third user device is associated with the third user, via a communication network, a notification is transmitted to the third user on the third user device that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset; Receiving a third identifier associated with the third user from the third user device, Determining whether the third identifier matches the identifier associated with the third profile, In response to determining that the third identifier matches an identifier associated with the third profile, the display circuit generates an option to unblock the media asset for access by the first user on the first user device, In response to receiving an option selection for unblocking the media asset, the blocked media asset is unblocked for access by the first user on the first user's device. A control circuit configured to perform The system described in item 11, further comprising the features described therein. (Item 18) The step of determining that the second user is unable to respond to the notification further includes: Determining that the threshold time for the second user to respond to the notification has been exceeded, Determining that the second user device is unable to receive the notification and The system according to item 17, comprising at least one of the control circuits configured to perform the following: (Item 19) The option for unblocking the blocked media for access by the first user on the first user device is further, for display purposes, Options for communicating with the aforementioned first user, Options for authorizing access to the media assets for a specified period, Options for unblocking different versions of the aforementioned media asset and A display circuit configured to generate at least one of the following The system described in item 11, including the system described in item 11. (Item 20) The second user receives a conditional permission criterion for unblocking the media asset if the permission criterion is met by the first user, The first user profile stored in the memory circuit stores permission criteria for unblocking the media asset, Upon receiving the selection of the media asset by the first user, before unblocking the media asset, determine whether the media asset requires that the permission criteria be met, For display purposes, the display circuit is used to generate the notification, the notification identifying the permission criteria, Receiving input from the first user that the permission criteria have been met, In response to receiving input that the aforementioned permission criteria have been met, the media asset is unblocked for access by the first user. A control circuit configured to perform the following actions The system described in item 11, further comprising the features described therein. (Item 21) A system for enabling a user to access blocked media assets, wherein the system is Means for receiving a first identifier associated with a first user from a first user device, Means for receiving a request to enable the first user to access media assets that are blocked to the first user, A means for determining a second user associated with a second profile that has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, within a first profile associated with the first user; In response to determining the second user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, Means for transmitting to the second user, on a second user device associated with the second user, a notification that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset; Means for receiving a second identifier associated with the second user from one of the second user device associated with the second user and another user device, Means for determining whether the second identifier matches an identifier associated with the second profile, In response to determining that the second identifier matches the identifier associated with the second profile, For display purposes, means for generating an option to unblock the media asset for access by the first user on the first user device, In response to receiving an option selection for unblocking the media asset, means for unblocking the blocked media asset for access by the first user on the first user device, A system equipped with these features. (Item 22) The first profile associated with the aforementioned first user is: The age of the first user mentioned above, A flag indicating whether the first user has the authority to authorize access to the media asset, The social media accounts associated with the aforementioned first user, The telephone number associated with the aforementioned first user, The email address associated with the aforementioned first user, The list of the first user's viewing preferences, The list of user profiles that have the authority to approve the first user profile and The system described in item 21, including a data structure, using means for storing at least one of the following. (Item 23) Means for comparing the first identifier with a plurality of identifiers associated with an account stored in the user profile index data structure, Means for determining whether the first identifier matches an identifier associated with the first profile associated with the first user, and The system described in item 21, further comprising the features described therein. (Item 24) Means for determining whether a second user device is associated with the second user from a second profile associated with the second user, In response to determining that none of the user devices are associated with the second user, A means for determining a third user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, based on a first profile associated with the first user. The system described in item 21, further comprising the features described therein. (Item 25) On the second user device, means for transmitting to the second user a notification that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset is: The genre of the aforementioned media assets, The evaluation of the aforementioned media assets, Links to web pages associated with the aforementioned media asset, The preview associated with the aforementioned media asset, Personalized communications from the aforementioned first user, Indications for the reason the aforementioned media assets were locked and The method according to item 21, comprising means for producing at least one of the following. (Item 26) The aforementioned first user, The written message and, Photos and video and Audio message and The system described in item 25, which can personalize the notification to include at least one of the following. (Item 27) Means for determining that the second user is unable to respond to the notification, A means for determining a third user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, based on a first profile associated with the first user, Means for determining whether a third user device is associated with the third user from a third profile associated with the third user, In response to determining that a third user device is associated with the third user, On the third user device, means for transmitting to the third user a notification that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset, Means for receiving a third identifier associated with the third user from the third user equipment device, Means for determining whether the third identifier matches an identifier associated with the third profile, In response to determining that the third identifier matches an identifier associated with the third profile, means for generating an option to unblock the media asset for access by the first user on the first user device, In response to receiving an option selection for unblocking the media asset, means for unblocking the blocked media asset for access by the first user on the first user device, The system described in item 21, further comprising the features described therein. (Item 28) The means for determining that the second user is unable to respond to the notification further includes: Means for determining whether the second user has exceeded the threshold time for responding to the notification, Means for determining that the second user device is unable to receive the notification and A system as described in item 27, which includes at least one of the following. (Item 29) Options for unblocking the blocked media assets for access by the first user on the first user device include: Options for communicating with the aforementioned first user, Options for authorizing access to the media assets for a specified period, The system according to item 21, including means for generating at least one of the options for unblocking different versions of the media asset. (Item 30) Means for receiving from the second user a conditional permission criterion for unblocking the media asset if the permission criterion is met by the first user, Within the first user profile, there is a means for storing permission criteria for unblocking the media asset, In response to receiving the selection of the media asset by the first user, means for determining whether the media asset requires the fulfillment of the permission criteria before unblocking the media asset, For display purposes, means for generating the notification, wherein the notification includes means for identifying the permit criteria, Means for receiving input from the first user that the permission criteria have been met, In response to receiving input that the permission criteria have been met, means for unblocking the media asset for access by the first user and The system described in item 21, further comprising the features described therein. (Item 31) A non-transient machine-readable medium comprising memory with instructions encoded thereon for enabling a user to access blocked media assets, wherein the instructions are: A command for receiving a first identifier associated with a first user from a first user device, An instruction for receiving a request to enable the first user to access media assets that are blocked to the first user, Within the first profile associated with the first user, a command for determining a second user associated with a second profile that has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, In response to determining the second user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, An instruction for transmitting to the second user, on a second user device associated with the second user, a notification that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset; A command for receiving a second identifier associated with the second user from one of the second user device associated with the second user and another user device, Instructions for determining whether the second identifier matches an identifier associated with the second profile, In response to determining that the second identifier matches the identifier associated with the second profile, For display purposes, an instruction for generating an option to unblock the media asset for access by the first user on the first user device, Upon receiving the selection of an option to unblock the media asset, a command is issued to unblock the blocked media asset for access by the first user on the first user's device. A non-transient, machine-readable medium equipped with [a specific feature]. (Item 32) The first profile associated with the aforementioned first user is further contained within the data structure, The age of the first user mentioned above, A flag indicating whether the first user has the authority to authorize access to the media asset, The social media accounts associated with the aforementioned first user, The telephone number associated with the aforementioned first user, The email address associated with the aforementioned first user, The list of the first user's viewing preferences, The list of user profiles that have the authority to approve the first user profile and A non-transient machine-readable medium as described in item 31, which includes instructions for storing at least one of the following. (Item 33) The aforementioned instruction further states, An instruction for comparing the first identifier with a plurality of identifiers associated with an account stored in the user profile index data structure, Instructions for determining whether the first identifier matches the identifier associated with the first profile associated with the first user, and A non-transient machine-readable medium as described in item 31, comprising the features described above. (Item 34) The aforementioned instruction further states, A command for determining whether a second user device is associated with the second user, based on a second profile associated with the second user, In response to determining that none of the user devices are associated with the second user, A command to determine a third user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, from a first profile associated with the first user. A non-transient machine-readable medium as described in item 31, comprising the features described above. (Item 35) On the second user device, notification to the second user that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset further includes: To display the media assets, generate genres for the media assets, For display purposes, generate an evaluation of the media asset, For display purposes, generate a link to the webpage associated with the media asset, For display purposes, generate a preview associated with the media asset, For display purposes, generate personalized communications from the first user, To display, an indication of the reason why the media asset was locked is generated. A non-transient machine-readable medium as described in item 31, which includes instructions for performing the following actions. (Item 36) The aforementioned first user can personalize notifications, Transmitting written messages, Transmitting photos and Transmitting video and Transmitting audio messages and A non-transient machine-readable medium as described in item 35, further comprising instructions for performing the following actions. (Item 37) The aforementioned instruction further states, An instruction for determining that the second user is unable to respond to the notification, A command for determining a third user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, based on a first profile associated with the first user, A command for determining whether a third user device is associated with the third user from a third profile associated with the third user, In response to determining that a third user device is associated with the third user, An instruction to transmit to the third user on the third user device that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset, A command for receiving a third identifier associated with the third user from the third user equipment device, An instruction for determining whether the third identifier matches an identifier associated with the third profile, In response to determining that the third identifier matches an identifier associated with the third profile, an instruction for generating an option to unblock the media asset for access by the first user on the first user device, Upon receiving the selection of an option to unblock the media asset, a command is issued to unblock the blocked media asset for access by the first user on the first user's device. A non-transient machine-readable medium as described in item 31, comprising the features described above. (Item 38) The aforementioned instruction further states, A command for determining whether the threshold time for the second user to respond to the notification has been exceeded, A command for determining that the second user device is unable to receive the notification and A non-transient machine-readable medium as described in item 37, comprising the features described above. (Item 39) Options for unblocking the blocked media assets for access by the first user on the first user device are: For display purposes, generate options for communicating with the first user, To display, generate an option to authorize access to the media asset for a predetermined period of time, To display, generate an option to unblock different versions of the media asset. A non-transient machine-readable medium as described in item 31, which includes instructions for performing the following actions. (Item 40) The aforementioned instruction further states, A command from the second user to receive a conditional permission criterion for unblocking the media asset if the permission criterion is met by the first user, Within the first user profile, there is an instruction for storing permission criteria for unblocking the media asset, In response to receiving the selection of the media asset by the first user, an instruction is given to determine whether the media asset requires the permission criteria to be met before unblocking the media asset. For display purposes, a step of generating the notice, wherein the notice includes an instruction for identifying the permit criteria, A command to receive input from the first user indicating that the permission criteria have been met, In response to receiving input that the permission criteria have been met, a command is issued to unblock the media asset for access by the first user. A non-transient machine-readable medium as described in item 31, comprising the features described above. (Item 41) A method for enabling a user to access a blocked media asset, the method being: The steps include receiving a first identifier associated with a first user from a first user device, The steps include receiving a request that enables the first user to access media assets that are blocked to the first user, In response to determining that a second user has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, The steps include transmitting a notification to the second user on a second user device associated with the second user that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset, The steps include receiving a second identifier associated with the second user from one of the second user device associated with the second user and another user device, The steps include determining, based on the received second identifier, that the second user has the authority to authorize access to the media asset, In response to receiving a selection to unblock the media asset, the steps include: unblocking the blocked media asset for access by the first user on the first user's device; Methods that include... (Item 42) The age of the first user mentioned above, A flag indicating whether the first user has the authority to authorize access to the media asset, The social media accounts associated with the aforementioned first user, The telephone number associated with the aforementioned first user, The email address associated with the aforementioned first user, The list of the first user's viewing preferences, The list of user profiles that have the authority to approve the first user profile and The method according to item 41, further comprising a first profile associated with the first user, which includes at least one of the following. (Item 43) The steps include comparing the first identifier with a number of identifiers associated with an account stored in the user profile index data structure, The steps include determining whether the first identifier matches the identifier associated with the first profile associated with the first user, and The method described in any of items 41-42, further including the method described in any of items 41-42. (Item 44) A step of determining whether a second user device is associated with the second user from a second profile associated with the second user, In response to determining that none of the second user equipment devices are associated with the second user, The steps include determining a third user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, based on a first profile associated with the first user, and The method described in any of items 41-43, further including the method described in any of items 41-43. (Item 45) The step of transmitting to the second user on the second user device that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset is: The genre of the aforementioned media assets, The evaluation of the aforementioned media assets, Links to web pages associated with the aforementioned media asset, The preview associated with the aforementioned media asset, Personalized communications from the aforementioned first user, Indications for why the aforementioned media assets were blocked and A method according to any of items 41-44, which includes at least one of the following. (Item 46) The aforementioned first user, The written message and, Photos and video and Audio message and The method of item 45, which allows the notification to be personalized to include at least one of the following. (Item 47) The steps include determining that the second user is unable to respond to the notification, A step of determining a third user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, from a first profile associated with the first user, A step of determining whether a third user device is associated with the third user from a third profile associated with the third user, In response to determining that a third user device is associated with the third user, The steps include transmitting a notification to the third user on the third user device that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset, The steps include receiving a third identifier associated with the third user from the third user device, The steps include determining whether the third identifier matches an identifier associated with the third profile, In response to determining that the third identifier matches an identifier associated with the third profile, the steps include generating an option for displaying the media asset for access by the first user on the first user device, In response to receiving an option selection for unblocking the media asset, the steps include: unblocking the blocked media asset for access by the first user on the first user's device; The method described in any of items 41-46, further including the method described in any of items 41-46. (Item 48) The step of determining that the second user is unable to respond to the notification further includes: The steps include determining that the threshold time for the second user to respond to the notification has been exceeded, The steps include determining that the second user device is unable to receive the notification, and The method described in item 47, which includes at least one of the following. (Item 49) Options for unblocking the blocked media for access by the first user on the first user device include: Options for communicating with the aforementioned first user, Options for authorizing access to the media assets for a specified period, Options for unblocking different versions of the aforementioned media asset and A method according to any of items 41-48, including at least one of the following. (Item 50) The steps include receiving a conditional permission from the second user to unblock the media asset if the permission criteria are met by the first user, The first user profile includes the step of storing permission criteria for unblocking the media asset, In response to receiving the selection of the media asset by the first user, the steps include determining whether the media asset requires the permission criteria to be met before unblocking the media asset, For display purposes, a step of generating the notice, wherein the notice identifies the permission criteria, The steps include receiving input from the first user that the permission criteria have been met, In response to receiving input that the permission criteria have been met, the steps include: unblocking the media asset for access by the first user; The method described in any of items 41-49, further including the method described in any of the items 41-49. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0023] The above and other purposes and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent by considering the following detailed description, which is to be interpreted in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where similar reference letters refer to similar parts throughout.

[0024] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an illustrative representation of a parental control module for a media guide application according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows another illustrative representation of a parental control module for a media guide application according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows yet another illustrative representation of a parental control module for a media guide application according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] [Figure 4]Figure 4 shows yet another illustrative representation of a parental control module for a media guide application according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows yet another illustrative representation of a parental control module for a media guide application according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows yet another illustrative representation of a parental control module for a media guide application according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0030] [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows illustrative examples of display screens used when accessing media content, according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0031] [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows another illustrative example of a display screen for use when accessing media content, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a block diagram of an illustrative user device according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a block diagram of an illustrative media system according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0034] [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating illustrative steps for enabling a user to access blocked media assets, according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating a set of illustrative steps for determining, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a second user within a first profile associated with a first user, who has the authority to authorize the first user to access media assets.

[0036] [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating illustrative steps for determining whether a second user device is associated with a second user from a second profile associated with a second user, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0037] [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating illustrative steps for determining whether a second identifier matches an identifier associated with a second profile, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0038] Systems and methods for enabling a user to access blocked media assets are provided herein. These systems and methods enable a user to request that a parent or another user, who can authorize access to the blocked media assets, authorize access to the media assets for viewing. The request may be transmitted as a notification to a mobile phone or another suitable device so that the parent or other user can authorize the request, even if the request may be located remotely from the requesting user. Both the requesting user and the user whose authorization is requested to unblock the media assets (i.e., the authorizer) are identified by the system based on an identifier associated with each user. This informs the authorizer of the user who submitted the request. In addition, this also adds a layer of security, as the authorizer must input an identifier into the system to authenticate their identity before enabling the authorizer to unblock the programs for the requesting user.

[0039] As used herein, a “Media Guide Application” or “Interactive Media Guide Application” or sometimes “Media Guide Application” or “Guide Application” is an application that enables a user to consume and / or navigate media assets. In some embodiments, a Media Guide Application may be provided as an online application (i.e., provided on a website) or as a standalone application, such as on a server or on a user device. In some embodiments, a control circuit installed on various devices and platforms may execute the Media Guide Application, as described in more detail below. In some embodiments, the Media Guide Application and / or any instructions for performing any of the embodiments discussed herein may be encoded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium includes any medium capable of storing data. The computer-readable medium may be transient, including, but not limited to, propagating electrical or electromagnetic signals, or non-transient, including, but not limited to, volatile and non-volatile computer memory or storage devices such as hard disks, floppy disks, USB drives, DVDs, CDs, media cards, register memory, processor caches, and random access memory ("RAM").

[0040] Figure 1 shows illustrative representations of parental control modules for media guide applications according to several embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, representation 100 may represent an interface with a parental control module 102 of a media guide application used by a user to transmit a message to another user requesting access to a media asset that is currently blocked. Representation 100 may appear on one or more user devices (e.g., any of the devices listed in Figures 9-10 below). Furthermore, a media guide application may generate representation 100 or any of the features described therein using one or more of the processes described in Figures 11-14 below.

[0041] Figure 1 includes a display 100. The display 100 may appear on a display device (e.g., user device devices 1002, 1004, and / or 1006 (Figure 10)) below. Furthermore, a control circuit 904, as described below in relation to Figure 9, may be used to generate the display 100. The display 100 includes a parental control module 102 of the media guide application and indicates that the user has selected the media asset 104 "Game of Thrones" to view. For example, the media guide application receives a request from a first user to view the media asset 104. The media guide application determines the first user by storing a first identifier corresponding to the first user in a memory associated with the first user device (e.g., a storage device as described below in Figure 9) so that the first user device automatically determines the first user without any input from the first user. For example, the media guide application may remember that the device "John's TV" should always be associated with a user account for John, a user who can be identified by an identifier corresponding to the profile name "Johnl23".

[0042] The media guide application may determine that media asset 104 meets the blocking criteria for the first user. Continuing from the previous embodiment, the media guide application may store indications that media assets with “TV-MA” and higher ratings are blocked for “Johnl23”. The media guide application may also store indications that certain categories of media assets are blocked for John in a data structure stored in memory, which may be local or remote on another device or server, as further illustrated by Figure 9-10 below. For example, the data structure may be structured as an object of a class typical of object-oriented programming languages ​​such as C++. In this case, the class may be a “user profile” class that creates a general template for variables and constants stored in memory. The variables and constants may also include: • User's age • A flag indicating whether the user has permission to authorize access to media assets. • Social media accounts associated with the user. • Phone number associated with the user • Email address associated with the user • A list of the user's viewing preferences, and / or • List of user profiles that have approval authority over the current user profile

[0043] Each individual profile, such as the profile for "Johnl23," is an object of the User Profile class, and the variables and constants described are initialized with values ​​corresponding to the specific user. For example, a boolean value indicating whether a user can access media assets with a "TV-MA" rating may be set to "false" for the user profile "Johnl23." The media guide application then blocks media assets with a "TV-MA" rating, such as media asset 104, from being viewed by John, based on the information stored in the user profile corresponding to John.

[0044] Depending on the determination of whether the first user and the selected media asset should be blocked, display 100 includes a message 106 that informs the user of an identifier corresponding to a profile automatically received by the media guide application. For example, the media guide application may generate a message 106 indicating that the currently identified user is John based on the received identifier. In an alternative embodiment, message 106 may be selectable, and depending on the selection, the user may manually enter a different identifier similar to that described in Figure 3-4 using a user input interface such as the one described in Figure 9. For example, John's mother may be using his device and wish to access a media asset that is blocked to John. The media guide application may receive from John's mother an alternative identifier corresponding to a different stored profile that would be allowed access to a particular media asset that is not allowed access to John.

[0045] Display 100 also includes an indication 108 that the media asset is blocked. Continuing from the previous embodiment, the media guide application blocks media assets with a "TV-MA" rating, such as media asset 104, from being viewed by John, based on information stored in the user profile corresponding to John. The media guide application then generates an indication 108 on display 100 for display.

[0046] Display 100 also includes a notification 110 indicating that the media guide application is transmitting a request to user 112, who is authorized to authorize access, to enable access to media asset 104. For example, the media guide application may generate a display on display 100 indicating that the request has been sent to user 112 "Mother". The media guide application may determine which users are authorized to authorize access to the media asset for the first user based on information stored in the profile of the first user. For example, in the profile of "John123", the media guide application may store an identifier associated with a profile of the user, Mother, which may be "Mom1980", or similar identifiers that are authorized to authorize access to the media asset for "John123".

[0047] In some embodiments, the media guide application determines from a second profile associated with the second user whether a second user device is associated with the second user. For example, the media guide application may query a data structure stored in memory corresponding to the user profile of the mother for a user device on which the mother can receive requests. As described above, the user device may be stored in a variable located in an object corresponding to the profile for "Moml980". The media guide application may read data stored in this variable that contains information enabling the media guide application to contact the user device. For example, if the device is a mobile phone, the media guide application may read a phone number and transmit the request via text message. If the media guide application determines that there is no user device associated with the second user on which the second user can receive requests, the media guide application may again query the data structure associated with the first profile for another user who has the authority to authorize access to media that is blocked for the first user. For example, if no user device information is stored in the profile "Mom1980", the Media Guide application may query a data structure that stores user profiles associated with user "Johnl23" and has the authority to authorize access, thereby determining that "Dad1979" also has the authority to authorize access.

[0048] In some aspects of this disclosure, the media guide application, in response to a determination that a second user device is associated with a second user, transmits a notification to the second user on the second user device associated with the second user that the first user has requested access to a blocked media asset. For example, in response to a determination that a second user device is associated with a second user, the media guide application may transmit a notification to the second user device that the first user has requested access to a media asset that contains an option for the second user to unblock the media asset. For example, the media guide application may determine, as a result of the query, that the user, a mother, has a mobile phone, and may transmit the request to the mobile phone.

[0049] Alternatively, or in addition, if the media guide application determines that a second user has not responded over a threshold time period, the media guide application may query a data structure stored in memory that contains a first profile associated with the first user, relating to a third user who has the authority to authorize access to media that is blocked for the first user. For example, if the media guide application transmits a notification to a user device stored in the profile corresponding to the mother, but does not receive a response over a threshold period (e.g., 5 minutes), the media guide application may determine another user who can enable access to the media asset and transmit a request to a user device stored in its profile (e.g., a user device stored as a variable in the profile "Dadl979" as described above).

[0050] Figure 2 shows another illustrative representation of a parental control module of a media guide application according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, representation 200 may represent an interface with a parental control module 202 of the media guide application used by a user to authorize access to blocked media assets. Representation 200 may appear on one or more user devices (e.g., any of the devices listed in Figures 9-10 below). Furthermore, the media guide application may generate representation 200 or any of the features described therein using one or more of the processes described in Figures 11-14 below.

[0051] Figure 2 includes a display 200. The display 200 may appear on a display device (e.g., user device devices 1002, 1004, and / or 1006 (Figure 10)). Furthermore, a control circuit 904, as described below in relation to Figure 9, may be used to generate the display 200. The display 200 includes a parental control module 202 of the media guide application, indicating that the user is requesting that media asset 206 be unblocked. For example, the media guide application may present a request from a first user, John, to access media asset 206 "Game of Thrones".

[0052] In some aspects, the media guide application determines the second user by storing a second identifier corresponding to the second user in memory associated with the second user device, so that the second user device automatically determines the second user without any input from the first user. For example, the media guide application may remember that the device "Mother's Phone" should always be associated with a user account for a user named Mother, which can be identified by an identifier corresponding to the profile name "Mom1980". Display 200 includes a message 204 that informs the user of the identifier corresponding to the profile automatically received by the media guide application. For example, the media guide application may generate a message 204 indicating that the currently identified user is Mother based on the received identifier. In an alternative embodiment, the message 204 may be selectable, and depending on the selection, the user may be able to manually enter a different identifier similar to that described in Figure 3-4 using a user input interface such as the one described in Figure 9. For example, a user named Father may be using a device belonging to a user named Mother and may wish to switch profiles. The media guide application may receive alternative identifiers from the father that correspond to different stored profiles.

[0053] If the media guide application determines that the received second identifier does not correspond to a profile stored in the user profile index data structure, the media guide application may query the first profile associated with the first user again for another user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the blocked media. For example, after the media guide application determines that the identifier does not correspond to a profile, the media guide application may query the data structure containing users who have the authority to authorize access associated with the first profile. The media guide application may attempt to determine whether there are any other users who can authorize the first user to access the media assets using the same process as described in Figure 1 above.

[0054] The media guide application may, in response to a determination that a second identifier matches an identifier associated with a second profile, generate, for display purposes, an option to unblock a media asset for access by the first user on the first user device. For example, in response to a determination that the user of the device is the mother, based on the identifier "Mom1980" which points to a profile associated with the mother, the media guide application generates, for display purposes, a selectable icon 208 or other selectable feature on display 200 indicating that the media asset 206 that the first user wishes to access can be unblocked. The media guide application may also generate, for display purposes, an option to deny the request 210 on display 200. In some embodiments, the option to deny the request 210 may also be an option to close a notification, which acts as an implicit denial of the request.

[0055] The media guide application may, upon receiving the selection of option 208 for unblocking media asset 206, unblock media asset that is blocked for access by the first user on the first user's device. For example, after the user, the mother, authorizes access to the media asset by the user, John, the media guide application may unblock the media asset, allowing John to access it. Conversely, depending on the user, the mother's selection of option 210 for denial, media asset 206 will remain blocked and inaccessible to the user, John.

[0056] Figure 3 shows yet another illustrative representation of a parental control module of a media guide application according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, representation 300 may represent an interface with a parental control module 302 of the media guide application used by a user to authorize access to blocked media assets. Representation 300 may appear on one or more user devices (e.g., any of the devices listed in Figures 9-10 below). Furthermore, the media guide application may generate representation 300 or any of the features described therein by using one or more of the processes described in Figures 11-14 below.

[0057] Figure 3 includes a display 300. The display 300 may appear on a display device (e.g., user device devices 1002, 1004, and / or 1006 (Figure 10)). Furthermore, a control circuit 904, as described below in relation to Figure 9, may be used to generate the display 300. The display 300 includes a parental control module 302 of the media guide application that prompts the user to enter an identifier 304. The media guide application may receive user input of the identifier using a user input interface, as described in Figure 9. The identifier may include any finite string such as numbers and letters. For example, the identifier could be "1234" or "Joel23". In some embodiments, the identifier may be biometric data such as a retinal scan or fingerprint.

[0058] The media guide application matches user-entered identifiers with profiles stored in memory, as illustrated in detail in Figure 1. For example, upon receiving user input "John123", the media guide application may determine that the identifier "John123" matches the identifier of the profile stored in memory corresponding to the user John. Display 300 includes a message 310 that informs the user of the identifier corresponding to the profile received by the media guide application. For example, based on the received identifier, the media guide application may generate a message 310 indicating that the currently identified user is John.

[0059] The media guide application generates selectable options on display 300 to notify the approver 306. For example, depending on the user's selection of selectable option 306, the media guide application determines a second user to whom the request should be transmitted, as described in Figure 1 above. The media guide application may also generate selectable option 308 for display to not notify the approver. Depending on the user's selection of selectable option 308 using a user input interface as described in Figure 9, the media asset will remain blocked and the request will not be transmitted to the user.

[0060] In some embodiments, the selectable option 306 for requesting approval may further include an option for selecting a specific user authorized to approve access to the media asset to transmit the request from among multiple users authorized to approve access to the media asset. For example, John may know that his mother is unable to fulfill the request, and the media guide application may instead want to transmit the request to his father, who is listed in John's profile, also stored in memory, as a user authorized to approve access to the media asset for John. In some embodiments, the media guide application may select a user authorized to approve access to the media asset to transmit the request based on a flag indicating that the specific user is a default user in a profile associated with a first user. For example, in the profile corresponding to John, John's mother may be indicated as the default user for notifications, in which case the media guide application would transmit the notification to John's mother first.

[0061] The transmission of a request to authorize access by the media guide application is carried out as described in Figure 1 above. Display 300 also includes a notification 312 indicating that the media guide application is transmitting a request to enable access to the media asset to user 312, who is authorized to authorize access, as described in Figure 1 above. For example, the media guide application may generate a display on Display 100 indicating that the request has been sent to user 312 "mother".

[0062] Figure 4 shows yet another illustrative representation of a parental control module of a media guide application according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, representation 400 may represent an interface with a parental control module 402 used by a user to receive requests to authorize access to blocked media assets. Representation 400 may appear on one or more user devices (e.g., any of the devices listed in Figures 9-10 below). Furthermore, the media guide application may generate representation 400 or any of the features described therein by using one or more of the processes described in Figures 11-14 below.

[0063] Figure 4 includes a display 400. The display 400 may appear on a display device (for example, the following user device 1002, 1004, and / or 1006 (Figure 10)). Furthermore, a control circuit 904, as described below in relation to Figure 9, may be used to generate the display 400. The display 400 includes a parental control module 402 of the media guide application, and the user has media asset 404 "Game This indicates that the request is for access to "of Thrones". For example, the Media Guide application receives a notification containing a request from a first user 310 to view media asset 404, and prompts a second user 408 to identify the user before allowing the user to choose whether to approve the request in order to ensure that the person using the user's device is the person authorized to approve access to the media asset.

[0064] Display 400 includes a parental control module 402 that prompts the user to enter an identifier 408. The media guide application may receive user input of the identifier using a user input interface such as the one described in Figure 9. The identifier may contain any finite string of characters, such as numbers and letters. For example, the identifier could be "1234" or "Joel23".

[0065] The media guide application matches the received identifier entered by the user with the profile stored in memory, as illustrated in detail in Figure 1-2. For example, upon receiving the user input "Mom1980", the media guide application may determine that the identifier "Mom1980" matches the identifier in the profile stored in memory corresponding to user 410.

[0066] Display 400 includes a message 410 that informs the user of an identifier corresponding to a profile received by the media guide application. For example, based on the received identifier, the media guide application generates a message indicating that the currently identified user 410 is a mother. For display purposes, the media guide application generates a notification on display 400 that a first user desires to access a blocked media asset 412. For example, the media guide application generates a display indicating that a user named John desires to access "Game of Thrones". In some embodiments, the media guide application may generate for display purposes an option 414 to unblock the media asset for access by the first user on the first user's device, and an option 416 to deny the request and leave the media asset blocked. These options operate in the same manner as options 208 and 210 described in Figure 2.

[0067] Figure 5 shows yet another illustrative representation of a parental control module of a media guide application according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, representation 500 may represent an interface with a parental control module 502 of the media guide application used by a user to receive requests to authorize access to blocked media assets, along with additional information that may help the user decide whether to authorize the request. Representation 500 may appear on one or more user devices (e.g., any of the devices listed in Figures 9-10 below). Furthermore, the media guide application may generate representation 500 or any of the features described therein by using one or more of the processes described in Figures 11-14 below.

[0068] Figure 5 includes a display 500. The display 500 may appear on a display device (e.g., user device devices 1002, 1004, and / or 1006 (Figure 10)). Furthermore, a control circuit 904, as described below in relation to Figure 9, may be used to generate the display 500. The display 500 includes a parental control module 502 of the Media Guide application and indicates that the user is requesting access to a media asset 504. For example, the Media Guide application generates a notification 504 for display from a user, John, requesting access to the media asset "Game of Thrones".

[0069] The media guide application may, as illustrated in Figure 10, read data associated with blocked media assets from a data structure associated with the blocked media assets stored in the media guide data source via a communication network. For example, the data structure may include the media genre, the media rating, and / or links to the web pages associated with the media.

[0070] The media guide application may, for display purposes, generate a rating 506 of the media asset, such as "TV-MA," on display 500 as part of a notification. Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may, for display purposes, generate a genre 508 of the blocked media asset, such as "drama," on display 500 as part of a notification. Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may, for display purposes, generate an indication 510 on display 500 of the reason why the media asset is blocked. For example, the media guide application may determine, based on data stored in the first user profile, that the media asset is blocked because the first user cannot watch a "TV-MA" program and is rated as "TV-MA," and may include this information in a notification to the second user. Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may, for display purposes, generate a link 512 of a webpage associated with the media asset, such as an official homepage for a movie or television program, on display 500 as part of a notification. Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may generate a preview 514 associated with the media asset on display 500 as part of a notification for display purposes. For example, the media guide application may read the preview 514 associated with the media asset from a media content source via a communication network, as described in Figure 10.

[0071] Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may, for display purposes, generate a personalized communication 516 from the first user, such as text 520 and / or image 518, on display 500 as part of a notification. For example, user John might try to persuade his mother to unlock the media asset by showing an image of his recently cleaned room and explaining that he deserves access to the media asset because he has cleaned his room. Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may present the first user with selectable options 524 for transmitting a message. Depending on the selection of selectable option 524 by a second user using a user input interface as described in Figure 9, the media guide application receives a message from the second user using a user input interface as described in Figure 9 to the first user requesting access to the media asset. The media guide application then transmits the personalized communication to the first user's device using a communication network, as described in Figure 10. For example, John's mother might transmit a communication asking John if he has taken out the trash in addition to cleaning his room.

[0072] The media guide application may, for display purposes, generate an optional option 526 on display 500 as part of a notification to allow access to the media asset over a set amount of time. Depending on the selection of optional option 526, the media guide application may receive a user selection for the period during which the requesting user should be allowed to access the media. For example, the media guide application may receive an optional option 526 from John's mother to allow John access to the media asset for only two hours so that he goes to bed before it gets too late. Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may, for display purposes, generate an optional option on display 500 as part of a notification to allow access to the media asset for a specific time range 530, as opposed to two hours starting from the time a second user unblocks the media asset. Depending on the selection of optional option 530, the media guide application may receive a user selection for the start and end times for which the requesting user should be allowed to access the media. For example, the media guide application may receive an optional option 530 from John's mother to allow John access to the media asset from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. so that he goes to bed before it gets too late.

[0073] The media guide application may store a data structure, such as a C++ structure, within the first user profile, which contains variables referencing specific media assets that the first user is authorized to access, and any accompanying conditions that enable the first user to access them. The media guide application will set the variables in the data structure based on the selection of conditions requested by the second user for the first user to access the media assets. For example, in response to the media guide application receiving a selection of selectable option 530 and receiving a start time and an end time, the media guide application may set the variables "start" and "end" to the time selected by the user with the authority to authorize access. The media guide application will then check to ensure that the conditions are met before unblocking the media assets for access by the first user.

[0074] Alternatively, or in addition, the media guide application may generate a selectable option on display 500, as part of a notification, to allow access to an alternative version 528 of the media asset. Depending on the selection of the selectable option 528, the media guide application may receive a user selection of a particular version of the media asset that may be more appropriate for the requesting user to access. For example, John's mother may allow John to access a version of the media asset in which sexual depictions and nudity are hidden, which the media guide application may access from the media content source via a communication network, as illustrated in Figure 10.

[0075] The media guide application may generate, for display purposes, an option 522 for unblocking the media asset for access by the first user on the first user's device, and an option 532 for denying the notification and keeping the media asset blocked. These options operate in the same manner as options 208 and 210 described in Figure 2.

[0076] Figure 6 shows yet another illustrative representation of a parental control module of a media guide application according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, representation 600 may represent an interface with a parental control module 602 of a media guide application used by a user, along with permissions to control access to media assets in order to set conditional approval conditions for future access by another user. Representation 600 may appear on one or more user devices (e.g., any of the devices listed in Figures 9-10 below). Furthermore, a media guide application may generate representation 600 or any of the features described therein by using one or more of the processes described in Figures 11-14 below.

[0077] Figure 6 includes a display 600. The display 600 may appear on a display device (e.g., the following user device devices 1002, 1004, and / or 1006 (Figure 10)). Furthermore, a control circuit 904, as described below in relation to Figure 9, may be used to generate the display 600. The display 600 includes a parental control module 602 of the media guide application and indicates that user 604 “mother” has been identified based on an identifier, which may be stored in memory as described in Figure 1-2 or entered by the user as described in Figure 3-4.

[0078] In some aspects of this disclosure, the media guide application may receive a second user selection using a user input interface such as the one described in Figure 9, which has the authority to authorize a first user 606 to access a media asset. For example, the media guide application may receive a selection from John's mother (user "Mother"). The media guide application receives a selection of media asset 608 from the second user using a user input interface such as the one described in Figure 9. For example, the media guide application may receive a selection from John's mother for the media asset "Game of Thrones" to attach conditional approval conditions.

[0079] In some embodiments, the media guide application may receive a second user selection 610 of a period during which a first user is enabled to access the media assets. For example, the media guide application may receive user input from the second user of a start and end time during the day during which the first user is enabled to access the media assets. For example, the media guide application may receive a selection from John's mother for a start time of 6 p.m. and an end time of 8 p.m. In some embodiments, the media guide application may receive a selection of specific dates 612 to which the period 610 is applicable. The specific dates may refer to “all day,” “Monday to Friday only,” “specific dates,” or “other.” For example, the media guide application may receive a selection from John's mother for “all day Monday to Friday,” which means that John is enabled to access the media assets Monday through Friday during the period specified in 610.

[0080] In some embodiments, the media guide application may receive a second user input of a reminder message 614. The reminder message may comprise text, images, or other multimedia that can be displayed to the first user. For example, the media guide application may receive a text from John's mother asking John if he has cleaned his room and taken out the trash, which may then be displayed by the media guide application when John accesses a media asset. In some embodiments, the media guide application may generate an option on display 600 for requesting confirmation from the first user 616 for display. For example, if the media guide application receives a second user selection of "yes", the media guide application will receive the reminder message 614 and request an acknowledgment from the user that they understand.

[0081] In some embodiments, the media guide application may generate options on display 600 for selecting the form of confirmation 618 requested by the first user. For example, if the media guide application receives a "yes" selection for option 616 for requesting confirmation, the media guide application may receive an additional selection for option 618 for selecting the form of confirmation. For example, the media guide application may receive a second user selection requesting a "message," "photo," or "OK ​​selection." If the media guide application receives a "message" selection, it may request the first user to enter a text message, which is then transmitted to the second user before unblocking the media asset. If the media guide application receives a "photo" selection, it may request the first user to enter a photo, which is then transmitted to the second user before unblocking the media asset. If the media guide application receives an "OK selection," it may request the first user to acknowledge the reminder by selecting an selectable option labeled "OK" before unblocking the media asset.

[0082] In some embodiments, the media guide application may generate an option 620 on display 600 for displaying a notification to a second user when a first user attempts to access a media asset. For example, upon receiving a "yes" selection by the second user, the media guide application would transmit a notification to the second user when the first user attempts to access a media asset. The media guide application may transmit a notification that the first user is attempting to access a media asset regardless of whether the first user has successfully accessed the media asset by meeting the approval criteria. The media guide application may determine the user device associated with the second user by querying a data structure of a stored profile associated with the second user, as described in Figure 1-4.

[0083] The media guide application may store a data structure, such as a C++ structure, within the first user profile, as illustrated in Figure 5 above, which contains variables referencing specific media assets that the first user is authorized to access, and any accompanying conditions that enable access. The media guide application may set the variables in the data structure based on the selection of conditions requested by the second user for the first user to access the media assets. For example, in response to the media guide application receiving conditional authorization conditions for media asset 608, the media guide application may store the conditions associated with media asset 608 in the first profile within the data structure, as described above. For example, in response to the receipt of the selection of selectable option 610 and the receipt of start and end times, the media guide application may set the variables "start" and "end" to times selected by the user with the authority to authorize access. The media guide application may then check to ensure that the conditions are met before unblocking the media asset for access by the first user.

[0084] The amount of content available to users in any given content distribution system can be enormous. As a result, many users desire a media guide in the form of an interface that allows them to efficiently navigate content selection and easily identify the content they desire. Applications that provide such a guide are referred to herein as interactive media guide applications, but are sometimes also referred to as media guide applications or guide applications.

[0085] Interactive media guide applications may take various forms depending on the content they provide. One typical type of media guide application is an interactive television program guide. An interactive television program guide (sometimes referred to as an electronic program guide) is a well-known guide application that, among other things, enables a user to navigate between and identify many types of content or media assets. An interactive media guide application may generate a graphical user interface screen that enables a user to navigate between content and identify and select it. As used herein, the terms “media asset” and “content” should be understood to mean electronically consumable user assets, such as television programs, as well as pay programs, on-demand programs (such as in video-on-demand (VOD) systems), internet content (e.g., streaming content, downloadable content, webcasts, etc.), video clips, audio, content information, photographs, rotated images, documents, playlists, websites, articles, books, ebooks, blogs, chat sessions, social media, applications, games, and / or any other media or multimedia, and / or combinations thereof. A guide application also enables a user to navigate between content and identify it. As used herein, the term “multimedia” should be understood to mean content that utilizes at least two of the aforementioned distinct content forms, such as text, audio, images, video, or interactive content forms. Content may be recorded, played back, displayed, or accessed by a user's equipment device, and may also be part of a live performance.

[0086] Media guide applications and / or any instructions for performing any of the embodiments discussed herein may be encoded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium includes any medium capable of storing data. The computer-readable medium may be transient, including the propagation of electrical or electromagnetic signals, or non-transient, including volatile and non-volatile computer memory or storage devices such as hard disks, floppy disks, USB drives, DVDs, CDs, media cards, register memory, processor caches, and random access memory ("RAM").

[0087] With the advent of the internet, mobile computing, and high-speed wireless networks, users are now accessing media on user devices they didn't previously use. As used herein, the terms “user equipment device,” “user equipment,” “user device,” “electronic device,” “electronic equipment,” “media equipment device,” or “media device” should be understood to mean any device for accessing the aforementioned content, such as televisions, smart TVs, set-top boxes, integrated receiver decoders (IRDs) for satellite television, digital storage devices, digital media receivers (DMRs), digital media adapters (DMAs), streaming media devices, DVD players, DVD recorders, connected DVDs, local media servers, Blu-ray® players, Blu-ray® recorders, personal computers (PCs), laptop computers, tablet computers, webTV boxes, personal computer televisions (PC / TVs), PC media servers, PC media centers, handheld computers, landline telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, portable video players, portable music players, portable game consoles, smartphones, or any other television equipment, computing equipment, or wireless devices, and / or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the user equipment device may have a front screen and a rear screen, multiple front screens, or multiple angled screens. In some embodiments, the user device may have a front camera and / or a rear camera. On these user devices, the user may be able to navigate and identify identical content available through the television. As a result, a media guide may also be available on these devices. The guide provided may be for content available only through the television, content available only through one or more of the other types of user devices, or content available through both the television and one or more of the other types of user devices.The media guide application may be provided on the user's device as an online application (i.e., provided on a website), or as a standalone application or client. Various devices and platforms on which the media guide application can be implemented are described in more detail below.

[0088] One of the functions of the media guide application is to provide media guide data to the user. As used herein, the terms “media guide data” or “guide data” should be understood to mean any data related to content or data used to operate the guide application. For example, guide data may include program information, guide application settings, user preferences, user profile information, media lists, media-related information (e.g., broadcast times, broadcast channels, titles, content, rating information (e.g., parental control ratings, critic ratings, etc.), genre or category information, actor information, logo data of broadcaster or provider logos, etc.), media format (e.g., standard definition, high definition, 3D, etc.), on-demand information, blogs, websites, and any other types of guide data that help the user navigate between and identify their desired content selections.

[0089] Figure 7-8 shows illustrative display screens that may be used to provide media guide data. The display screens shown in Figure 7-8 may be implemented on any suitable user equipment device or platform. Although the displays in Figure 7-8 are illustrated as full-screen displays, they may also be fully or partially overlaid on the displayed content. Users may indicate their desire to access content information by selecting selectable options provided on the display screen (e.g., menu options, list options, icons, hyperlinks, etc.) or by pressing a dedicated button on a remote control or other user input interface or device (e.g., a “Guide” button). In response to user instructions, the media guide application may provide a display screen with media guide information organized in one of several ways, such as by time and channel in a grid, by time, by channel, by source, by content type, by category (e.g., movies, sports, news, children's programs, or other programming categories), or by other predetermined, user-defined, or other programming criteria.

[0090] Figure 7 shows an illustrative grid of a program list display 700 arranged by time and channel, which also allows access to different types of content within a single display. Display 700 may include a grid 702 with: (1) a column of channel / content type identifiers 704, where each channel / content type identifier (cell in the column) identifies a different channel or content type available; and (2) a row of time identifiers 706, where each time identifier (cell in the row) identifies the time slot of the program. Grid 702 also includes cells for program lists, such as program list 708, where each list provides the title of the program, provided above the channel and time associated with the list. Using a user input device, the user can select a program list by moving a highlight area 710. Information about the program list selected by the highlight area 710 may be provided in a program information area 712. Area 712 may include, for example, the program title, program content, the time the program is offered (if applicable), the channel on which the program is broadcast (if applicable), the program rating, and other desired information.

[0091] In addition to providing access to linear programming (e.g., content scheduled to be transmitted to multiple user devices at a given time and provided according to that schedule), the Media Guide application also provides access to non-linear programming (e.g., content accessible to user devices at any time and not provided according to a schedule). Non-linear programming may include content from different content sources, including on-demand content (e.g., VOD), internet content (e.g., streaming media, downloadable media, etc.), locally stored content (e.g., content stored on any of the aforementioned user devices or other storage devices), or other content without time constraints. On-demand content may include movies or any other content provided by a particular content provider (e.g., HBO ON DEMAND, which provides "The Sopranos" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm"). HBO ON DEMAND is a service mark owned by Time Warner Company LP and others, and THE SOPRANOS and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM are trademarks owned by Home Box Office, Inc. Internet content may include web events such as chat sessions or webcasts, or content available on demand as streaming content or downloadable content through internet websites or other internet access (e.g., FTP).

[0092] Grid 702 may provide media guide data for non-linear programming, including an on-demand list 714, a recorded content list 716, and an internet content list 718. A display that combines media guide data for content from different types of content sources is sometimes referred to as a “mixed media” display. Various permutations of the types of media guide data that can be displayed, different from display 700, may be based on user selection or guide application definition (e.g., displaying only recorded and broadcast lists, or only on-demand and broadcast lists). As illustrated, lists 714, 716, and 718 are shown as spanning the entire time period displayed within grid 702, indicating that selection of these lists may provide access to displays dedicated to the on-demand list, recorded list, or internet list, respectively. In some embodiments, these content type lists may be included directly in grid 702. Additional media guide data may be displayed in response to a user selecting one of the navigation icons 720 (the display may also be affected by pressing arrow keys on a user input device, similar to selecting a navigation icon 720).

[0093] Display 700 may also include a video area 722 and an optional area 726. The video area 722 may allow the user to view and / or preview programs that are currently available, will be available in the future, or have been available to the user. The content of the video area 722 may correspond to or be independent of one of the lists displayed in the grid 702. A grid display including a video area is sometimes referred to as a Picture-in-Guide (PIG) ​​display. PIG displays and their functions are described in more detail in U.S. Patent No. 6,564,378 by Satterfield et al., issued May 13, 2003, and U.S. Patent No. 6,239,794 by Yuen et al., issued May 29, 2001, which are incorporated herein by reference to them as a whole. PIG displays may be included in other media guide application display screens of embodiments described herein.

[0094] The options area 726 may allow the user to access different types of content, media guide application displays, and / or media guide application features. The options area 726 may be part of the display 700 (and other display screens described herein), or it may be invoked by the user by selecting an option on the screen or by pressing a dedicated or assignable button on a user input device. Selectable options within the options area 726 may also relate to features related to the program list in the grid 702, or they may include options available from the main menu display. Features related to the program list may include searching for other broadcast times or ways to receive programs, recording programs, enabling continuous recording of programs, setting programs and / or channels as favorites, purchasing programs, or other features. Options available from the main menu display may include search options, VOD options, parental control options, internet options, cloud-based options, device synchronization options, second screen device options, options for accessing various types of media guide data displays, options for subscribing to premium services, options for editing the user profile, options for accessing a browser overlay, or other options.

[0095] A media guide application may be personalized based on user preferences. A personalized media guide application allows users to customize its display and features to generate a personalized “experience” through the media guide application. This personalized experience may be generated by allowing users to input these customizations and / or by the media guide application monitoring user activity to determine various user preferences. Users may access these personalized guide applications by logging in or otherwise identifying themselves to the guide application. Customizations of the media guide application may be created according to a user profile. Customizations may include steps to modify presentation methods (e.g., display color scheme, text font size, etc.), the manner in which the content list is displayed (e.g., HDTV programs only or 3D programs only, user-specified broadcast channels based on favorite channel selection, sorting of channel displays, recommended content, etc.), desired recording features (e.g., recording or continuous recording for a specific user, recording quality, etc.), parental control settings, customized presentation of internet content (e.g., presentation of social media content, emails, electronically distributed articles, etc.), and other desired customizations.

[0096] The media guide application may allow users to provide user profile information, or it may automatically compile user profile information. The media guide application may monitor, for example, the content the user accesses and / or other interactions the user may have with the guide application. In addition, the media guide application may obtain all or part of other user profiles related to a particular user (e.g., from other websites on the internet that the user accesses, such as www.allrovi.com, from other media guide applications that the user accesses, from other interactive applications that the user accesses, from other user devices of the user, etc.), and / or obtain information about the user from other sources that the media guide application may access. As a result, a unified guide application experience can be provided to the user across different user devices of the user. This type of user experience will be described in more detail below in relation to Figure 10. Additional personalized media guide application features are described in more detail in U.S. Patent Application No. 2005 / 0251827 by Ellis et al., filed July 11, 2005; U.S. Patent No. 7,165,098 by Boyer et al., filed January 16, 2007; and U.S. Patent Application No. 2002 / 0174430 by Ellis et al., filed February 21, 2002, which are incorporated herein by reference to them as a whole.

[0097] Another display array for providing a media guide is shown in Figure 8. The video mosaic display 800 includes selectable options 802 for content information organized based on content type, genre, and / or other organizing criteria. In display 800, the TV list option 804 is selected, and therefore provides lists 806, 808, 810, and 812 as broadcast program lists. In display 800, lists may provide graphic images, including cover art, still images from content, previews of video clips, live video from content, or other types of content that show the user the content described by the media guide data in the list. Each graphic list may also be accompanied by text to provide further information about the content associated with the list. For example, list 808 may include one or more parts, including a media section 814 and a text section 816. The media section 814 and / or text section 816 may be selectable to view the content in full screen or to browse information related to the content displayed in the media section 814 (for example, to browse a list of channels on which the video will be shown).

[0098] The lists in display 800 are of different sizes (i.e., list 806 is larger than lists 808, 810, and 812), but all lists may be the same size if desired. Lists may be of different sizes or graphically highlighted to indicate the degree of interest to the user or to highlight certain content, as desired by the content provider or based on user preferences. Various systems and methods for graphically highlighting content lists are discussed, for example, in Yates' U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0153885, filed November 12, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in whole.

[0099] A user may access the content and media guide application (as well as its display screen as described above and below) from one or more of their user equipment devices. Figure 9 shows a generalized embodiment of an illustrative user equipment device 900. More specific implementations of the user equipment device are discussed below in relation to Figure 10. The user equipment device 900 may receive content and data via an input / output (hereinafter "I / O") path 902. The I / O path 902 may provide content (e.g., broadcast programs, on-demand programs, Internet content, content available over a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), and / or other content) and data to a control circuit 904, which includes a processing circuit 906 and a storage device 908. The control circuit 904 may use the I / O path 902 to send and receive commands, requests, and other suitable data. The I / O path 902 may connect the control circuit 904 (specifically, the processing circuit 906) to one or more communication paths (described below). I / O functionality may be provided by one or more of these communication paths, but to avoid making the diagram too complex, it is shown as a single path in Figure 9.

[0100] The control circuit 904 may be based on any suitable processing circuit, such as the processing circuit 906. As referred to herein, a processing circuit is understood to mean a circuit based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc., and may include a multicore processor (e.g., dual-core, quad-core, hexa-core, or any suitable number of cores) or a supercomputer. In some embodiments, the processing circuit may be multiple separate processors or processing units, for example, multiple processing units of the same type (e.g., two Intel Core i7 processors) or multiple different processors (e.g., Intel Core The configuration may be distributed across i5 and Intel Core i7 processors. In some embodiments, the control circuit 904 executes instructions for a media guide application stored in memory (i.e., storage 908). Specifically, the control circuit 904 may be instructed by the media guide application to perform the functions described above and below. For example, the media guide application may provide the control circuit 904 with instructions to generate a media guide display. In some implementations, any action performed by the control circuit 904 may be based on instructions received from the media guide application.

[0101] In a client-server based embodiment, the control circuit 904 may include a suitable communication circuit for communicating with a guide application server or other network or server. Instructions for performing the aforementioned functionality may be stored on the guide application server. The communication circuit may include a cable modem, an Integrated Digital Network (ISDN) modem, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem, a telephone modem, an Ethernet® card, a wireless modem for communication with other devices, or any other suitable communication circuit. Such communication may involve the Internet or any other suitable communication network or path (described in more detail in relation to Figure 10). In addition, the communication circuit may include a circuit that enables peer-to-peer communication between user equipment devices or communication between user equipment devices located at distant locations (described in more detail below).

[0102] The memory may be an electronic storage device provided as a storage device 908, which is part of the control circuit 904. As used herein, the terms “electronic storage device” or “storage device” should be understood to mean any device for storing electronic data, computer software, or firmware, such as random-access memory, read-only memory, hard drives, optical drives, digital video disc (DVD) recorders, compact disc (CD) recorders, Blu-ray® disc (BD) recorders, Blu-ray® 3D disc recorders, digital video recorders (DVRs, sometimes also called personal video recorders or PVRs), solid-state devices, quantum memory devices, game consoles, game media, or any other suitable fixed or removable storage devices, and / or any combination thereof. The storage device 908 may be used to store the various types of content described herein, as well as the aforementioned media guide data. Non-volatile memory may also be used (for example, to start boot-up routines or other instructions). Cloud-based storage, as described in relation to Figure 10, may be used to complement or replace the storage device 908.

[0103] The control circuit 904 may include video generation and tuning circuits such as one or more analog tuners, one or more MPEG-2 decoders or other digital decoding circuits, high-resolution tuners, or any other suitable tuning or video circuits, or combinations of such circuits. Encoding circuits (e.g., for converting radio, analog, or digital signals to MPEG signals for storage) may also be provided. The control circuit 904 may also include scaler circuits for converting content up and down to a preferred output format of the user device 900. The circuit 904 may also include digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion circuits for converting between digital and analog signals. The tuning and encoding circuits may be used by the user device to receive and display, play back, or record content. The tuning and encoding circuits may also be used to receive guide data. The circuits described herein, including, for example, tuning, video generation, encoding, decoding, encryption, decryption, scaler, and analog / digital circuits, may be implemented using software running on one or more general-purpose or specialized processors. Multiple tuners may be provided to accommodate simultaneous tuning functions (e.g., viewing and recording functions, picture-in-picture (PIP) functions, multiple tuner recording functions, etc.). If the storage device 908 is provided as a separate device from the user device 900, the tuning and encoding circuits (including multiple tuners) may be associated with the storage device 908.

[0104] The user may use the user input interface 910 to send commands to the control circuit 904. The user input interface 910 may be any suitable user interface, such as a remote control, mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touchpad, stylus input, joystick, voice recognition interface, or other user input interface. The display 912 may be provided as a standalone device or integrated with other elements of the user equipment device 900. For example, the display 912 may be a touchscreen or a touch-sensitive display. In such a situation, the user input interface 910 may be integrated with or combined with the display 912. The display 912 may be one or better than any of the following: liquid crystal displays (LCDs), amorphous silicon displays, low-temperature polysilicon displays, electronic ink displays, electrophoretic displays, active matrix displays, electrowetting displays, electrofluidic displays, cathode ray tube displays, light-emitting diode displays, electroluminescent displays, plasma display panels, high-performance addressing displays, thin-film transistor displays, organic light-emitting diode displays, surface-conductive electron-emitting device displays (SEDs), laser televisions, carbon nanotubes, quantum dot displays, interference modulator displays, or any other suitable device for displaying visual images. In some embodiments, the display 912 may be HDTV-compatible. In some embodiments, the display 912 may be a 3D display, and interactive media guide applications and any suitable content may be displayed in 3D. A video card or graphics card may generate output to the display 912. The video card may provide various functions such as accelerating the rendering of 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2 / MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors.The video card may be any of the aforementioned processing circuits related to the control circuit 904. The video card may be integrated with the control circuit 904. The speaker 914 may be provided as an integration with other elements of the user equipment device 900, or it may be a standalone unit. The audio components of video and other content displayed on the display 912 may be played through the speaker 914. In some embodiments, the audio may be delivered to a receiver (not shown) that processes and outputs the audio via the speaker 914.

[0105] The guide application may be implemented using any preferred architecture. For example, it may be a standalone application fully implemented on the user equipment device 900. In such an approach, the application's instructions are stored locally (e.g., in the memory device 908), and data for use by the application is downloaded periodically (e.g., from an out-of-band feed, from an internet resource, or using another preferred approach). The control circuit 904 may read the application's instructions from the memory device 908 and process the instructions to generate one of the displays discussed herein. Based on the processed instructions, the control circuit 904 may determine what action to take when input is received from the input interface 910. For example, moving the cursor up / down on the display may be indicated by the processed instructions when the input interface 910 indicates that the up / down button has been selected.

[0106] In some embodiments, the media guide application is a client-server based application. Data for use by a thick or thin client, implemented on the user device 900, is retrieved on demand by issuing a request to a server located remotely from the user device 900. In one embodiment of the client-server based guide application, the control circuit 904 runs a web browser that interprets web pages provided by the remote server. For example, the remote server may store instructions for the application in a storage device. The remote server may use a circuit (e.g., the control circuit 904) to process the stored instructions and generate the displays described above and below. The client device may receive the displays generated by the remote server and display the content of the displays locally on the device device 900. Thus, the processing of instructions is performed remotely by the server, while the resulting displays are provided locally on the device device 900. The device device 900 may receive user inputs via the input interface 910 and transmit those inputs to the remote server to process and generate the corresponding displays. For example, the device 900 may transmit a communication to a remote server indicating that the up / down button has been selected via the input interface 910. The remote server may process the command according to the input and generate an application display corresponding to the input (for example, a display to move the cursor up / down). The generated display is then transmitted to the device 900 for presentation to the user.

[0107] In some embodiments, the media guide application is downloaded, interpreted, or otherwise launched by an interpreter or virtual machine (launched by the control circuit 904). In some embodiments, the guide application may be encoded in ETV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF), received by the control circuit 904 as part of a preferred feed, and interpreted by a user agent launched on the control circuit 904. For example, the guide application may be an EBIF application. In some embodiments, the guide application may be defined by a set of Java®-based files, received and launched by a local virtual machine or other preferred middleware executed by the control circuit 904. In some of such embodiments (e.g., employing MPEG-2 or other digital media encoding schemes), the guide application may be encoded and transmitted, for example, in an MPEG-2 object carousel using MPEG audio and video packets of a program.

[0108] The user equipment device 900 in Figure 9 can be implemented in the system 1000 in Figure 10 as any other type of user equipment suitable for accessing content such as a user television device 1002, a user computer device 1004, a wireless user communication device 1006, or a non-portable game console. For simplicity, these devices may be collectively referred to herein as user equipment or user equipment devices, and may be substantially similar to the user equipment devices described above. A user equipment device on which a media guide application may be implemented may function as a standalone device or as part of a network of devices. In some embodiments, the media guide application may be run simultaneously by multiple user devices. Various network configurations of devices may be implemented and will be discussed in further detail below.

[0109] In relation to Figure 9, user equipment devices that utilize at least some of the aforementioned system features do not necessarily have to be classified simply as user television equipment 1002, user computer equipment 1004, or wireless user communication device 1006. For example, user television equipment 1002 may be internet-enabled, like some user computer equipment 1004, enabling access to internet content, while user computer equipment 1004 may include a tuner, like some television equipment 1002, enabling access to television programs. The media guide application may also have the same layout on various different types of user equipment, or it may be adapted to the display capabilities of the user equipment. For example, on user computer equipment 1004, the guide application may be provided as a website accessed by a web browser. In another embodiment, the guide application may be scaled down for wireless user communication device 1006.

[0110] In system 1000, typically there are more than one of each type of user equipment device, but to avoid making the diagram too complex, only one of each is shown in Figure 10. In addition, each user may use more than one type of user equipment device, and more than one of each type of user equipment device.

[0111] In some embodiments, user equipment devices (e.g., user television equipment 1002, user computer equipment 1004, wireless user communication device 1006) may be referred to as “second screen devices.” For example, the second screen device may complement the content presented on the first user equipment device. The content presented on the second screen device may be any suitable content that complements the content presented on the first device. In some embodiments, the second screen device provides an interface for adjusting the settings and display preferences of the first device. In some embodiments, the second screen device is configured to interact with other second screen devices or with social networks. The second screen device may be located in the same room as the first device, in a different room but in the same house or building as the first device, or in a different building than the first device.

[0112] Users may also configure various settings to maintain consistent Media Guide application settings across home and remote devices. These settings include the settings described herein, as well as favorite channels and programs, program preferences, display preferences, and other desired guide settings that the guide application uses to recommend programs. For example, if a user sets a channel as a favorite on their office PC, for example, on the website www.allrovi.com, the same channel will, if desired, appear as a favorite on the user's home devices (e.g., user television equipment and user computer equipment) and their mobile devices. Therefore, changes made on one user device, whether identical or different types of user devices, can alter the guide experience on another user device. In addition, changes made may be based on user setting inputs and user activity monitored by the guide application.

[0113] User equipment devices may be connected to the communication network 1014. That is, the user television equipment 1002, the user computer equipment 1004, and the wireless user communication device 1006 are connected to the communication network 1014 via communication paths 1008, 1010, and 1012, respectively. The communication network 1014 may be one or more networks, including the Internet, a mobile phone network, a mobile voice or data network (e.g., a 4G or LTE network), a cable network, a public switched telephone network, or other types of communication networks, or a combination of communication networks. Paths 1008, 1010, and 1012 may individually or together include one or more communication paths, such as a satellite path, a fiber optic path, a cable path, a path supporting Internet communications (e.g., IPTV), a free-space connection (e.g., for broadcast or other wireless signals), or any other suitable wired or wireless communication path, or a combination of such paths. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 10, path 1012 is drawn with a dashed line to indicate that it is a wireless path, and paths 1008 and 1010 are drawn with solid lines to indicate that they are wired paths (however, these paths may also be wireless paths, if desired). Communication with the user equipment device may be provided by one or more of these communication paths, but in Figure 10, they are shown as a single path to avoid making the drawing too complex.

[0114] Although no communication paths are depicted between user equipment devices, these devices may communicate directly with each other via communication paths such as those described above in relation to paths 1008, 1010, and 1012, as well as other short-range point-to-point communication paths such as USB cables, IEEE 1394 cables, wireless paths (e.g., Bluetooth®, infrared, IEEE 802-11x, etc.), or other short-range communication paths such as wired or wireless paths. BLUETOOTH® is a certification mark owned by Bluetooth SIG, INC. User equipment devices may also communicate directly with each other via indirect paths through communication network 1014.

[0115] System 1000 includes a content source 1016 and a media guide data source 1018, which are connected to a communication network 1014 via communication paths 1020 and 1022, respectively. Paths 1020 and 1022 may include any of the communication paths described above with respect to paths 1008, 1010, and 1012. Communication with the content source 1016 and the media guide data source 1018 may occur via one or more communication paths, but in Figure 10, they are shown as a single path to avoid making the diagram too complex. In addition, there may be more than one of each of the content source 1016 and the media guide data source 1018, but in Figure 10, only one of each is shown to avoid making the diagram too complex. (Different types of each of these sources are discussed below). If desired, the content source 1016 and the media guide data source 1018 may be integrated as a single source device. Although the communication between sources 1016 and 1018 and user equipment devices 1002, 1004, and 1006 is shown as occurring through the communication network 1014, in some embodiments sources 1016 and 1018 may communicate directly with user equipment devices 1002, 1004, and 1006 via communication paths (not shown), such as those described above in relation to paths 1008, 1010, and 1012.

[0116] Content source 1016 may include one or more types of content distribution equipment, including television distribution facilities, cable system headends, satellite distribution facilities, program sources (e.g., television broadcasters such as NBC, ABC, and HBO), intermediate distribution facilities and / or servers, internet providers, on-demand media servers, and other content providers. NBC is a trademark owned by National Broadcasting Company, Inc., and ABC is an American trademark. HBO is a trademark owned by Broadcasting Company, INC., and Home Box Office, Inc. Content Source 1016 may be a source of content (e.g., a television broadcaster, a webcast provider, etc.) or may not be a source of content (e.g., an on-demand content provider, an internet provider of broadcast program content for download, etc.). Content Source 1016 may also include a cable source, a satellite provider, an on-demand provider, an internet provider, an over-the-top content provider, or other content provider. Content Source 1016 may also include a remote media server used to store different types of content (including video content selected by the user) located remotely from any of the user equipment devices. Systems and methods for remote storage of content and for providing remotely stored content to user equipment are discussed in more detail in relation to U.S. Patent No. 7,761,892 filed July 20, 2010, by Ellis et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in whole.

[0117] The media guide data source 1018 may provide media guide data, such as the media guide data described above. The media guide data may be provided to the user equipment device using any preferred approach. In some embodiments, the guide application may be a standalone interactive television program guide that receives program guide data via a data feed (e.g., a continuous feed or trickle feed). Program scheduling data and other guide data may be provided to the user equipment on the sidebands of television channels using in-band digital signals, using out-of-band digital signals, or by any other preferred data transmission technology. Program scheduling data and other media guide data may be provided to the user equipment on multiple analog or digital television channels.

[0118] In some embodiments, guide data from media guide data source 1018 may be provided to the user's device using a client-server approach. For example, the user's device may pull media guide data from the server, or the server may push media guide data to the user's device. In some embodiments, a guide application client residing on the user's device may initiate a session with source 1018 and retrieve guide data as needed, for example, when the guide data is outdated or when the user's device receives a request from the user to receive the data. Media guides may be provided to the user's device at any preferred frequency (e.g., continuously, daily, at user-specified intervals, at system-specified intervals, in response to requests from the user's device, etc.). The media guide data source 1018 may provide the user's device devices 1002, 1004, and 1006 with the media guide application itself, or software updates for the media guide application.

[0119] In some embodiments, media guide data may include audience data. For example, audience data may include current and / or historical user activity information (e.g., content the user typically watches, when the user watches the content, whether the user interacts with social networks, when the user interacts with social networks and posts information, the type of content the user typically watches (e.g., pay TV or free TV), mood, brain activity information, etc.). Media guide data may also include subscription data. For example, subscription data may identify sources or services that a given user subscribes to and / or sources or services that a given user previously subscribed to but later discontinued access to (e.g., whether the user subscribes to a premium channel, whether the user added a premium level of service, whether the user accelerated their internet speed). In some embodiments, audience data and / or subscription data may identify patterns of a given user over a period of more than one year. Media guide data may include a model (e.g., a survivor model) used to generate a score indicating the likelihood that a given user will discontinue access to a service / source. For example, a media guide application may process audience data by combining subscription data with a model for generating values ​​or scores that indicate the likelihood of a given user terminating access to a particular service or source. In particular, a higher score may indicate a higher level of confidence that the user is likely to terminate access to a particular service or source. Based on the scores, the media guide application may generate advertisements that encourage users to maintain access to a particular service or source indicated by the score as one that the user is likely to terminate access to.

[0120] The media guide application may be, for example, a standalone application implemented on the user device. For example, the media guide application may be implemented as software or a set of executable instructions that can be stored in the storage device 908 and executed by the control circuit 904 of the user device 900. In some embodiments, the media guide application may be a client-server application, in which case only the client application resides on the user device, and the server application resides on a remote server. For example, the media guide application may be implemented partly as a client application on the control circuit 1004 of the user device 900, and partly on a remote server as a server application (e.g., media guide data source 1018) launched on the control circuit of the remote server. When executed by the control circuit of the remote server (e.g., media guide data source 1018), the media guide application may instruct the control circuit to generate a guide application display and transmit the generated display to the user device. The server application may instruct the control circuit of the media guide data source 1018 to transmit data for storage on the user device. The client application may instruct the control circuit of the receiving user device to generate a guide application display.

[0121] The content and / or media guide data delivered to user device 1002, 1004, and 1006 may be over-the-top (OTT) content. OTT content delivery enables Internet-enabled user devices, including any of the aforementioned user device devices, to receive content transmitted over the Internet, including any of the aforementioned content, in addition to content received via cable or satellite connection. OTT content is delivered via an Internet connection provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP), although third parties may also deliver content. The ISP may not be involved in viewing capacity, copyright, or redistribution of the content, and may only forward IP packets provided by the OTT content provider. Examples of OTT content providers include YouTube®, Netflix, and Hulu, which deliver audio and video via IP packets. YouTube® is a trademark owned by Google Inc., Netflix is ​​a trademark owned by Netflix, Inc., and Hulu is a trademark owned by Hulu, LLC. The OTT content provider may also, or alternatively, provide the aforementioned media guide data. In addition to content and / or media guide data, OTT content providers may deliver media guide applications (e.g., web-based or cloud-based applications), or content may be displayed by media guide applications stored on user devices.

[0122] The media guide system 1000 is intended to illustrate several approaches or network configurations, thereby allowing user equipment devices and sources of content and guide data to communicate with each other for the purpose of accessing content and providing media guides. The embodiments described herein may be applied in any one or part of these approaches, or in systems employing other approaches for distributing content and providing media guides. The following four approaches provide specific illustrations of the generalized embodiment shown in Figure 10.

[0123] In one approach, user equipment devices may communicate with each other within a home network. User equipment devices can communicate with each other directly via the short-range point-to-point communication scheme described above, via an indirect path through a hub or other similar device provided on the home network, or via the communication network 1014. Each of several individuals in a household may operate different user equipment devices on the home network. As a result, it may be desirable for various media guide information or settings to be transmitted between different user equipment devices. For example, as described in more detail in U.S. Patent Publication 2005 / 0251827 filed July 11, 2005, it may be desirable for a user to maintain consistent media guide application settings on different user equipment devices within a home network. Different types of user equipment devices within a home network may also communicate with each other and transmit content. For example, a user may transmit content from a user computer device to a portable video player or portable music player.

[0124] In the second approach, a user may have multiple types of user devices, thereby accessing content and obtaining media guides. For example, some users may have a home network accessed by both home and mobile devices. Users may control their home devices via a media guide application implemented on a remote device. For example, a user may access an online media guide application on a website via an office personal computer or a mobile device such as a PDA or web-enabled mobile phone. Users may control their home devices by configuring various settings (e.g., recording, reminders, or other settings) on the online guide application. The online guide may control the user's devices directly or by communicating with the media guide application on the user's home devices. Various systems and methods for communication between user device devices that are located remotely from one another are discussed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 8,046,801 of October 25, 2011, by Ellis et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0125] In the third approach, users of user devices inside and outside the home can communicate directly with the content source 1016 and use its media guide application to access the content. Specifically, within the home, users of user television equipment 1002 and user computer equipment 1004 may access the media guide application to navigate between and identify the desired content. Users may also use the wireless user communication device 1006 to access the media guide application outside the home to navigate between and identify the desired content.

[0126] In a fourth approach, user equipment devices may operate within a cloud computing environment and access cloud services. In a cloud computing environment, various types of computing services for content sharing, storage, or distribution (e.g., video sharing sites or social networking sites) are provided by a collection of network-accessible computing and storage resources referred to as the “cloud.” For example, the cloud may include a collection of server computing devices, which may be located in central or distributed locations, that provide cloud-based services, e.g., the Internet via a communication network 1014, to various types of users and devices connected via a network. These cloud resources may include one or more content sources 1016 and one or more media guide data sources 1018. In addition, or alternatively, remote computing sites may include other user equipment devices such as user television equipment 1002, user computer equipment 1004, and wireless user communication devices 1006. For example, other user equipment devices may provide access to stored copies of video or streamed video. In such embodiments, user equipment devices may operate in a peer-to-peer manner without communicating with a central server.

[0127] The cloud provides user devices with access to services such as content storage, content sharing, or social networking services, as well as access to any of the aforementioned content, among other embodiments. These services may be delivered within the cloud through a cloud computing service provider or through other providers of online services. For example, cloud-based services may include content storage services, content sharing sites, social networking sites, or other services through which user-supplied content is delivered for viewing by others on connected devices. These cloud-based services may enable user devices to store content in the cloud and receive content from the cloud, rather than storing and accessing content locally.

[0128] Users may record content using various content capture devices such as camcorders, digital cameras with video modes, audio recorders, mobile phones, and handheld computing devices. Users can upload content to a content storage service on the cloud either directly, for example, from user computer equipment 1004, or from a wireless user communication device 1006 having content capture features. Alternatively, users can first transfer content to a user device such as user computer equipment 1004. The user device storing the content may upload the content to the cloud using a data transmission service on the communication network 1014. In some embodiments, the user device itself is a cloud resource, and other user devices can directly access content from the user device where the user has stored the content.

[0129] Cloud resources may be accessed by a user device using, for example, a web browser, a media guide application, a desktop application, a mobile application, and / or any combination thereof of access applications. The user device may be a cloud client that relies on cloud computing for application delivery, or it may have some functionality without accessing cloud resources. For example, some applications launched on the user device may be cloud applications, i.e., applications delivered as a service over the internet, while other applications may be stored and launched on the user device. In some embodiments, the user device may receive content from multiple cloud resources simultaneously. For example, the user device may stream audio from one cloud resource while downloading content from a second cloud resource. Alternatively, the user device may download content from multiple cloud resources for more efficient downloading. In some embodiments, the user device may use cloud resources for processing operations, such as processing operations performed by processing circuits described in relation to Figure 9.

[0130] As used herein, the term "in response to" means "to be initiated as a result of." For example, a first action performed in response to a second action may include an intervening step between the first action and the second action. As used herein, the term "directly in response to" means "to be caused by." For example, a first action performed directly in response to a second action may not include an intervening step between the first action and the second action.

[0131] Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating illustrative steps for enabling a user to access blocked media assets, according to several embodiments of the present disclosure. Process 1100 may be used to determine whether another user has permitted the first user to access the blocked media in response to a request to access the blocked media. The term “another user” will be used herein to refer to any user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the blocked media. For example, two parents and grandparents may be designated as having the authority to authorize access to a child’s account. All three of these fall into the category of “another user” as described herein and, once stated, will become “other users.” Note that process 1100 or any step thereof may occur on or be provided by any of the devices shown in Figures 9-10. For example, process 1100 may be performed by a control circuit 904 as instructed by a media guide application (e.g., implemented on any of the devices illustrated and described in Figure 10).

[0132] Process 1100 begins at 1102, where the media guide application receives a first identifier associated with a first user from a first user device (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10). In some embodiments, the media guide application stores the identifier in a storage device 908. For example, when the media guide application runs on a particular user device (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10), the media guide application automatically receives the identifier because it is stored in the storage device 908. In other embodiments, the media guide application receives user input of the identifier using a user input interface 910. The identifier may contain any finite string such as numbers and letters. For example, the received identifier could be "1234" or "Johnl23". The media guide application then determines whether the identifier matches an identifier stored in the user profile index data structure, and if so, may access the profile.

[0133] Process 1100 may proceed to 1104, where the media guide application receives a request to enable a first user to access a media asset that is blocked for the first user. As illustrated in Figure 1-2 above, the media guide application stores individual profiles, such as a profile for "John123", in a data structure that may be stored in the storage device 908 or remotely in the media guide data source 1018. For example, the media guide application may store an object of a user profile class in which variables and constants are initialized with appropriate values ​​for a specific user (e.g., John). The media guide application may receive a request from the first user to access a media asset via the user input interface 910.

[0134] The media guide application then compares metadata associated with the media asset, such as its rating, with data stored in a data structure corresponding to the first user profile, to determine whether the media asset is blocked for the user. For example, the media guide application may receive a user request to access a program with a rating of "TV-MA". The media guide application may compare this rating with a threshold rating "TV-14" stored in a data structure corresponding to the first user profile. Since the rating of the requested program is higher than the rating stored in the first user profile, the media guide application may block the program and prevent the first user from accessing it.

[0135] In some embodiments, the media guide application then generates an option (e.g., 306) for transmitting a notification containing a request to access the media to another user via the communication network 1014 for display (e.g., on display 100 or 300). Depending on the selection of the option (e.g., 306) for transmission, process 1100 may proceed to 1106. In other embodiments, the media guide application may automatically transmit a notification requesting access to the media asset to another user without any further user input.

[0136] Process 1100 may proceed to 1106, where the media guide application uses a first profile associated with the first user to determine if there is another user authorized to authorize the first user to access media assets. The media guide application queries a data structure associated with the first profile, which may be stored in storage device 908 or remotely in media guide data source 1018, to determine if the user is specified to have the authority to authorize access. For example, the media guide application may declare a custom structure in an object-oriented programming language such as C++, which contains a string with an identifier for another user and a boolean value indicating whether the user has the authority to authorize the first user to access media assets. The media guide application may declare a structure “Approver” with the two types described above, and then execute a script to create an instance for each user authorized to authorize and store them in the first profile (for example, “Approver Mother” and “Approver Father,” each having the boolean value Approver = “True”). Alternatively, the media guide application may store users who are authorized to grant access as a list or vector within such a data structure.

[0137] The Media Guide application then determines whether a user authorized to authorize access exists, based on whether the query returns that a data structure containing users authorized to authorize access to media assets exists, is empty, or contains one or more user identifiers. If the data structure does not exist or is empty, the Media Guide application may determine that no other user authorized to authorize access exists. If the data structure contains one or more identifiers, the Media Guide application may determine that another user authorized to authorize access exists.

[0138] If process 1106 determines that there are no other users authorized to authorize access, process 1100 may proceed to 1120, where the media guide application returns a message indicating that the first user cannot access the media asset. For example, the media guide application may generate a display indicating that no notification can be delivered because no user authorized to authorize access is associated with the first user's account (e.g., on display 100 or 300).

[0139] In some embodiments, if the media guide application determines in 1106 that there is another user authorized to authorize access, process 1100 may take one or more additional steps between 1106 and 1108, as outlined in Figure 13, where the media guide application uses the profile associated with the other user to determine whether a user device (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10) is associated with the other user. The media guide application may read from the first profile an identifier associated with another user authorized to authorize access to the media asset. The media guide application then determines whether this identifier matches an identifier stored in an index data structure of user profiles, which may be stored in the storage device 908 or remotely in the media guide data source 1018, and if so, may access the profile. The media guide application then queries a data structure containing profiles of user devices (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10) associated with a user authorized to authorize access to the media asset, which may be able to receive notifications from the first user. As described in 1106, if the data structure does not exist or is empty, the media guide application determines that no user device associated with another user exists. If the data structure contains one or more identifiers, the media guide application determines that a user device associated with another user exists.

[0140] If process 1106 determines that there is a user authorized to authorize access, process 1100 may proceed to 1108, where the media guide application transmits a notification (e.g., 206 or 412) to the other user on the display (e.g., 200 or 400) of the first user requesting access to the blocked media asset. The media guide application may read contact information about the user equipment device associated with the other user from a data structure corresponding to the other user's profile and transmit a notification (e.g., 206 or 412) that the first user is requesting access to the blocked media asset. For example, the media guide application may read a telephone number for a wireless user communication device 1006 (e.g., a mobile phone) associated with the other user. The media guide application may then transmit the notification to the wireless communication device 1006 via text message.

[0141] Process 1100 may proceed to 1110, where the media guide application receives an identifier associated with another user from a user device associated with another user (e.g., one of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10). In some embodiments, the media guide application may store the identifier in storage device 908. For example, when the media guide application is running on a particular user device, the media guide application automatically receives the identifier because it is stored in storage device 908. In other embodiments, the media guide application may receive user input of the identifier using the user input interface 910. The identifier may contain any finite string of characters, such as numbers and letters. For example, the input identifier could be "1234" or "Moml980".

[0142] Process 1100 may proceed to 1112, where the media guide application determines whether an identifier associated with another user matches an identifier associated with the other user's user profile. As illustrated in Figure 1-2 above, the media guide application may store individual profiles, such as the profile for "Mom1980", in a data structure which may be stored in the storage device 908 or remotely in the media guide data source 1018. For example, the media guide application may store an instantiated object of a user profile class where variables and constants are initialized with values ​​appropriate for a specific user (e.g., mother). The media guide application may then compare this identifier with an identifier stored in the user profile index data structure to determine if a match exists. If a match exists, the identifier corresponds to a stored profile associated with another user. If no match exists, the identifier does not correspond to a stored profile.

[0143] If the identifier does not correspond to a stored profile, process 1100 may return to 1106, where the media guide application may use the first profile associated with the first user to determine another user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media asset. For example, if the media guide application determines that the user to whom the notification was sent is unable to correctly enter their identifier, the media guide application may attempt to determine another user to whom the notification should be transmitted. In some embodiments, the media guide application may receive multiple inputs from other users using the identifier user input interface 910 until a threshold number of inputs is reached, at which point the media guide application may attempt to determine if there is another user with the authority to authorize access. For example, the media guide application may receive up to five identifiers from one parent of a child that do not match any identifier stored in memory, at which point the media guide application may transmit a notification to the other parent if it also has the authority to authorize the child to access the media asset.

[0144] If the identifier corresponds to a stored profile, process 1100 may proceed to 1114, where the media guide application generates an option to unblock the media asset for access by the first user on the first user equipment device. The media guide application may, for display purposes (e.g., on display 200 or 400), generate an option (e.g., 208 or 414) to unblock the media asset for access by the first user on the first user equipment device (e.g., any of the user equipment illustrated and described in Figure 10) in response to a determination that the identifier of another user matches an identifier associated with the profile of another user. For example, in response to the Media Guide application determining that the user of the device is the mother based on an received identifier "Moml980" that points to a profile associated with the mother, the Media Guide application generates, for display (e.g., on display 200 or 400), within a notification (e.g., 206 or 412) that the first user desires access to a selectable icon (e.g., 208 or 414) or other selectable feature indicating that the user, the mother, can unblock the media assets.

[0145] Process 1100 may proceed to 1116, where the media guide application may receive an option selection for unblocking a media asset. The media guide application may store a data structure, such as a C++ structure, within the first user profile, as outlined in Figure 5-6, which contains a variable referencing a specific media asset that the first user is authorized to access, and any accompanying conditions that enable access to that media asset. For example, after another user has authorized the first user to access a media asset, the media guide application may unblock the media asset, enabling the first user to access it. In addition, if other users specify any accompanying conditions for accessing the media asset, the media guide application will implement those as well and store them in the data structure described above. For example, if the media guide application receives an indication from another user that the first user should not watch television programs after 8 pm, the media guide application will store and initialize the variable "end time" to "8 pm" and unblock programs only until 8 pm.

[0146] Process 1100 may proceed to 1118, where the media guide application unblocks media assets that are blocked for access by the first user on the first user device. For example, the media guide application may store a data structure, such as a C++ structure, within the first user profile, as described in Figure 5-6 above, which contains variables that reference specific media assets that the first user is authorized to access, and any accompanying conditions that enable access, and the first user may use the first user device (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10) to access the media assets in accordance with the conditions stored in the data structure.

[0147] Figure 12 is a flowchart of an illustrative set of steps for determining a second user who has the authority to authorize access to media assets to a first user within a first profile associated with the first user, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Process 1200 may be used to determine another user who can authorize access to media assets requested by the first user. Note that process 1200 or any step thereof may occur on or be provided by any of the devices shown in Figures 9-10. For example, process 1200 may be performed by a control circuit 904 (Figure 9) as instructed by a media guide application (e.g., implemented on any of the devices illustrated and described in Figure 10).

[0148] Process 1200 begins at 1202, where the media guide application initiates a process to determine another user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access media assets, using a first profile associated with the first user. For example, the media guide application may determine another user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access media assets by accessing the first profile, which is stored either in the storage device 908 or remotely in the media guide data source 1018 via the communication network 1014.

[0149] Process 1200 may proceed to 1204, where the media guide application compares the received first identifier with a plurality of identifiers stored within the index data structure of the user profile. The media guide application may compare the received identifier with either a plurality of identifiers stored within the index data structure in the storage device 908 or remotely in the media guide data source 1018 accessible via the communication network 1014. The media guide application may associate a pointer to the user profile with each identifier within the index data structure.

[0150] Process 1200 may proceed to 1206, where the media guide application determines whether the first identifier matches an identifier stored within the index data structure of the user profile. The media guide application may compare the contents of the received identifier and the identifier stored within the index data structure. For example, the received identifier may be stored as a string and compared with an identifier stored as a string within the index data structure. If the media guide application determines that all characters of the received identifier match all characters within the stored identifier, the media guide application may return a boolean value that the two identifiers "truly" match.

[0151] If the first identifier does not match an identifier stored within the index data structure of the user profile, process 1200 may proceed to 1208, where the media guide application returns a message that the first identifier does not correspond to the stored profile. In this case, the media guide application will be unable to determine a user with the authority to grant access to the first user because the first user does not have a profile. Therefore, the media asset will remain blocked for the first user.

[0152] If the first identifier matches the identifier stored in the index data structure of the user profile, process 1200 may proceed to 1210, where the media guide application accesses the first user profile. The media guide application may access the first user profile based on data stored with the matched identifier in the index data structure. For example, the media guide application may determine the data structure associated with the first user profile based on a pointer to a data structure associated with the identifier in the index data structure. The media guide application may then access the data structure corresponding to the first user profile.

[0153] Process 1200 may proceed to 1212, where the media guide application queries a data structure stored in memory that contains a first profile for another user who has the authority to approve access to media assets for the first user. For example, the media guide application may declare a structure in an object-oriented programming language such as C++ that contains an identifier and an indication of whether the user has the authority to approve access to media assets, as described in FIG. 11 above. The media guide application may then determine whether there is a user with the authority to approve access based on whether the query returns that the data structure containing users with the authority to approve access to media assets exists, is empty, or contains one or more identifiers of the user.

[0154] Process 1200 may proceed to 1214, where the media guide application determines whether the first profile contains another user authorized to authorize the first user to access media assets. The media guide application may determine whether the first profile contains another user based on the query in 1212. If the data structure does not exist or is empty, the media guide application determines that there is no other user authorized to authorize access. If the data structure contains one or more identifiers, the media guide application determines that there is another user authorized to authorize access.

[0155] If the first profile does not contain another user authorized to authorize access to the media asset, process 1200 may proceed to 1216, where the media guide application may return a message indicating that there is no user to unblock the media asset for access by the first user. In this case, the media guide application cannot find any user to transmit a notification to enable access to the media asset. Therefore, the media asset will remain blocked for the first user.

[0156] If the first profile contains another user authorized to authorize access to the media assets, process 1200 may proceed to 1218, where the media guide application returns an identifier associated with the other user authorized to authorize access to the media assets for the first user. For example, based on querying the profile associated with the user John (e.g., user 106), the media guide application may return "Mom1980" (e.g., identifier 112 for the user mother).

[0157] Figure 13 is a flowchart of an illustrative set of steps for determining whether a second user device is associated with a second user from a second profile associated with a second user, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Process 1300 may be used to determine whether there is a user device (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10) that can receive notifications from the first user to unblock media assets. Note that process 1300 or any of its steps may occur on or be provided by any of the devices shown in Figures 9-10. For example, process 1300 may be performed by a control circuit 904 (Figure 9) as instructed by a media guide application (e.g., implemented on any of the devices illustrated and described in Figure 10).

[0158] Process 1300 begins from 1302, where the media guide application starts a process to determine whether a user device is associated with another user, using a profile associated with another user. For example, the media guide application determines within the profile associated with another user that a user device associated with another user (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10) can be used to display a notification 206 from the first user (e.g., on display 200 or 400).

[0159] Process 1300 may proceed to 1304, where the media guide application reads another identifier corresponding to the first user profile from a data structure stored in memory. For example, the media guide application may read an identifier from a data structure corresponding to the first profile, which is stored in storage device 908 or remotely in media guide data source 1018 via communication network 1014. The media guide application may read the string "Mom1980" corresponding to another user.

[0160] Process 1300 may proceed to 1306, where the media guide application may determine whether the other identifier matches an identifier stored in the user profile index data structure. The media guide application may determine whether the retrieved other identifier matches an identifier stored in the user profile index data structure in the same manner as described in Figure 12 above. In short, the media guide application may compare the retrieved other identifier with several identifiers stored in the index data structure to determine if a match exists.

[0161] If another identifier does not match an identifier stored in the index data structure, process 1300 may proceed to 1308, where the media guide application returns a message indicating that the other identifier does not correspond to a stored profile. In this case, the media guide application is unable to determine a user device (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10) to transmit a notification to enable access to the media asset because no profile associated with the identifier exists, and will cause process 1300 to return "No". The media guide application may then attempt to determine if there is any other user with the authority to authorize access (e.g., process 1100 will return to 1106).

[0162] If another identifier matches an identifier stored in the index data structure, process 1300 may proceed to 1310, where the media guide application accesses the other user profile. The media guide application accesses the other user profile based on the data stored in the index data structure along with the matched identifier. For example, the media guide application determines the data structure associated with the other user profile based on a pointer to the data structure associated with the identifier in the index data structure. The media guide application then accesses the data structure corresponding to the other user profile.

[0163] Process 1300 may proceed to 1312, where the media guide application queries a data structure stored in memory that contains other user profiles relating to user device equipment associated with other users who may be able to receive notifications. For example, the media guide application may declare a structure in an object-oriented programming language such as C++, similar to that described in Figure 11 above, which contains a device identifier and contact information. For example, the contact information may be a mobile phone number or an email address. The media guide application may then determine whether there are any devices that may be able to receive notifications allowing other users to access blocked media, based on whether the query returns that the data structure for user device equipment associated with other users (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10) exists, is empty, or contains one or more user identifiers.

[0164] Process 1300 may proceed to 1314, where the media guide application determines whether the profile of the other user contains a user device associated with that user. Based on the query in 1314, the media guide application determines whether the other profile contains a user device associated with the other user (for example, any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10). If the data structure does not exist or is empty, the media guide application determines that no user device associated with the other user exists. If the data structure contains one or more identifiers, the media guide application determines that a user device associated with the other user exists.

[0165] If the profile of another user does not contain a user device associated with that user, process 1300 may proceed to 1316, where the media guide application returns a message indicating that no user device associated with the other user exists (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10). In this case, the media guide application will cause process 1300 to return "No" because it is impossible to transmit the notification since there is no stored user device that can receive it. The media guide application may then attempt to determine if there is any other user with the authority to authorize access (e.g., process 1100 will return to 1106).

[0166] If the profile of another user contains user device information associated with that user, process 1300 may proceed to 1318, where the media guide application returns an identifier for the user device information associated with the other user. For example, based on querying the profile associated with another user (e.g., mother), the media guide application may return an identifier "mother's phone" corresponding to a user device (e.g., one of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10).

[0167] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating illustrative steps for determining whether a second identifier matches an identifier associated with a second profile, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Process 1400 may be used to determine whether the received second identifier corresponds to an identifier of a profile stored in memory. Note that process 1400 or any step thereof may occur on or be provided by any of the devices shown in Figures 9-10. For example, process 1400 may be performed by a control circuit 904 (Figure 9) as instructed by a media guide application (e.g., implemented on any of the devices illustrated and described in Figure 10).

[0168] Process 1400 starts from 1402, where the media guide application initiates a process to determine whether other identifiers match identifiers associated with other user profiles. For example, the media guide application determines whether a user profile exists for another user by comparing the received identifier with an identifier stored in an index data structure, either in the storage device 908 or remotely in the media guide data source 1018 via the communication network 1014.

[0169] Process 1400 may proceed to 1404, where the media guide application may compare the received identifier with a plurality of identifiers stored in the user profile index data structure. Similar to the process described with respect to Figure 12 above for determining the first user profile corresponding to the first identifier, the media guide application may compare the received identifier with a plurality of identifiers stored in the index data structure, either in the storage device 908 or remotely in the media guide data source 1018 accessible via the communication network 1014. The media guide application may associate a pointer to the user profile with each identifier in the index data structure.

[0170] Process 1400 may proceed to 1406, where the media guide application determines whether the other identifier matches an identifier stored in the user profile index data structure. Similar to process 1200 described above for determining the first user profile corresponding to the first identifier, the media guide application may compare the contents of the received other identifier with the identifier stored in the index data structure. For example, the received other identifier may be stored as a string and compared with the identifier stored as a string in the index data structure. If the media guide application determines that all characters in the received other identifier match all characters in the stored identifier, the media guide application may return a boolean output indicating that the two identifiers match "true".

[0171] If the other identifier does not match any identifier stored in the user profile index data structure, process 1400 may proceed to 1408, where the media guide application returns that the other identifier does not correspond to a stored profile. In this case, the media guide application would be unable to authenticate whether the user authorized to provide access is currently using the user device from which the notification was transmitted (e.g., any of the user devices illustrated and described in Figure 10). The media guide application may then attempt to determine if any other user exists who is authorized to authorize access (e.g., process 1100 would return from 1114 to 1106).

[0172] If another identifier matches an identifier stored in the user profile index data structure, process 1400 may proceed to 1410, where the media guide application may return that the other identifier matches an identifier corresponding to another user profile. For example, the media guide application may determine the data structure associated with the other user profile based on a pointer to the data structure associated with the identifier in the index data structure. The media guide application may then access the data structure corresponding to the first user profile.

[0173] It should be considered that each step or description in Figures 11-15 may be used in conjunction with any other embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, the steps and descriptions described with respect to Figures 11-15 may be performed in an alternative order or in parallel to facilitate the objectives of the present disclosure. For example, each of these steps may be performed in any order, in parallel, or substantially simultaneously to reduce the delay or increase the speed of the system or method. Furthermore, it should be noted that any of the devices or apparatus discussed with respect to Figure 1-10 may be used to perform one or more of the steps in Figure 11-15.

[0174] The foregoing processes are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Those skilled in the art will understand that the steps of the processes discussed herein may be omitted, modified, combined, and / or rearranged, and that any additional steps may be performed without departing from the scope of the invention. More generally, the foregoing disclosure is intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Only the following claims are intended to set the boundaries of what the invention encompasses. Further, note that any features and limitations described in any one embodiment may be applied to any other embodiment herein, and that a flowchart or example relating to one embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment in a suitable manner, performed in a different order, or performed in parallel. Additionally, the systems and methods described herein may be performed in real time. Also note that the systems and / or methods described above may be applied to, or used in accordance with, other systems and / or methods.

Claims

1. A method for granting access to content restricted by parental controls, wherein the method is performed by a media guide application, Receiving a request to access media assets from a user's device used by the user, wherein the user's access to the media assets is restricted according to parental controls, To determine that the aforementioned request was received from the user, Determining that the media asset is blocked for the user, The present invention provides a conditional permission criterion for unblocking the media asset, wherein the conditional permission criterion unblocks one or more steps for submitting confirmation images relating to the media asset and the task by indicating a task to be performed by the user. Receiving the confirmation image from the user device, Based on the content of the aforementioned confirmation image, verify whether the task was performed by the user, In response to verifying that the aforementioned task has been performed, the media asset is unblocked for access by the user. Methods that include...

2. Determining that the aforementioned request was received from the user means Receiving the user identifier from the user device, The aforementioned identifier is compared with multiple identifiers in the user profile data structure, In response to determining that the identifier matches an identifier associated with the user's profile, it is determined that the request was received from the user. The method according to claim 1, including the method described in claim 1.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user is a first user, and the method further comprises determining from the first profile of the first user a second user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media asset, in response to determining that the media asset is blocked to the first user.

4. The aforementioned method, In response to determining the second user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, Receiving a second identifier associated with the second user from the second user's second user device, Comparing the second identifier with the identifier in the second profile of the second user, In response to determining that the second identifier matches the identifier in the second profile, an option is generated to transmit the conditional permission criteria to the first user's first user device for display on the second user device, In response to receiving the selection of the option for transmitting the conditional authorization criteria from the second user equipment device, an indication of the conditional authorization criteria is generated for display on the first user equipment device. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

5. The aforementioned method, From the second profile of the second user, determine whether any user device is associated with the second user, In response to determining that no user device is associated with the second user, a third user is determined from the first profile associated with the first user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

6. The method further includes transmitting a notification to the second user's user device indicating that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset. The aforementioned notice is, The genre of the media asset or the evaluation of the media asset, An indication showing the reason why the aforementioned media asset was blocked. The method according to claim 3, comprising at least one of the following.

7. The aforementioned method, To transmit a notification to the second user on the second user's device indicating that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset, The second user is determined to be unable to respond to the notification, From the first profile of the first user, a third user is determined who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, From the third profile of the third user, determine whether the third user device is associated with the third user, In response to determining that a third user device is associated with the third user, Transmitting to the third user on the third user device a notification indicating that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset, Receiving the conditional permission criteria from the third user device and The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

8. The determination that the second user is unable to respond to the notification is: The determination that the threshold time for the second user to respond to the notification has been exceeded, Determining that the second user device is unable to receive the notification The method according to claim 7, further comprising at least one of the following.

9. Verifying whether the aforementioned task was performed by the user is: The aforementioned confirmation image is transmitted to the second user's second user device, For display purposes, the confirmation image is generated on the second user device, Receiving a selection from the second user device to authorize the first user to access the media asset, The method according to claim 3, including the method described in claim 3.

10. A system for granting access to content restricted by parental controls, the system comprising a control circuit, the control circuit comprising: Receiving a request to access media assets from a user's device used by the user, wherein the user's access to the media assets is restricted according to parental controls, To determine that the aforementioned request was received from the user, Determining that the media asset is blocked for the user, The present invention provides a conditional permission criterion for unblocking the media asset, wherein the conditional permission criterion unblocks one or more steps for submitting confirmation images relating to the media asset and the task by indicating a task to be performed by the user. Receiving the aforementioned confirmation image, Based on the content of the aforementioned confirmation image, verify whether the task was performed by the user, In response to verifying that the aforementioned task has been performed, the media asset is unblocked for access by the user. A system configured to perform the following actions.

11. The aforementioned control circuit is Receiving the user identifier from the user device, The aforementioned identifier is compared with multiple identifiers in the user profile data structure, In response to determining that the identifier matches an identifier associated with the user's profile, it is determined that the request was received from the user. The system according to claim 10, further configured to determine that the request was received from the user.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the user is a first user, and the control circuit is further configured to determine, in response to determining that the media asset is blocked for the first user, a second user from the first user's first profile who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media asset.

13. The aforementioned control circuit is In response to determining the second user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, Receiving a second identifier associated with the second user from the second user's second user device, Comparing the second identifier with the identifier in the second profile of the second user, In response to determining that the second identifier matches the identifier in the second profile, an option is generated to transmit the conditional permission criteria to the first user's first user device for display on the second user device, In response to receiving the selection of the option for transmitting the conditional authorization criteria from the second user equipment device, an indication of the conditional authorization criteria is generated for display on the first user equipment device. The system according to claim 12, further configured to perform the following:

14. The aforementioned control circuit is From the second profile of the second user, determine whether any user device is associated with the second user, In response to determining that no user device is associated with the second user, a third user is determined from the first profile associated with the first user who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets. The system according to claim 12, further configured to perform the following:

15. The control circuit is further configured to transmit a notification to the second user's user device indicating that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset. The aforementioned notice is, The genre of the media asset or the evaluation of the media asset, An indication showing the reason why the aforementioned media asset was blocked. The system according to claim 12, comprising at least one of the following.

16. The aforementioned control circuit is To transmit a notification to the second user on the second user's device indicating that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset, The second user is determined to be unable to respond to the notification, From the first profile of the first user, a third user is determined who has the authority to authorize the first user to access the media assets, From the third profile of the third user, determine whether the third user device is associated with the third user, In response to determining that a third user device is associated with the third user, Transmitting to the third user on the third user device a notification indicating that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset, Receiving the conditional permission criteria from the third user device and The system according to claim 12, further configured to perform the following:

17. The aforementioned control circuit is The determination that the threshold time for the second user to respond to the notification has been exceeded, Determining that the second user device is unable to receive the notification The system according to claim 16, further configured to determine that the second user is unable to respond to the notification by at least one of the following:

18. The aforementioned control circuit is The aforementioned confirmation image is transmitted to the second user's second user device, For display purposes, the confirmation image is generated on the second user device, Receiving a selection from the second user device to authorize the first user to access the media asset, The system according to claim 12, further configured to verify whether the task was performed by the user.

Images