DNS Intermediary for Mobile Content Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Children using internet-capable cellular devices may access unsuitable content without parental supervision, and are exposed to inappropriate content through IP network connections, necessitating a means to control and restrict access.
Innovation Solution
A system that controls internet access by managing Domain Name System (DNS) queries, checking a database to determine if access to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is permitted, and blocking DNS lookups for unauthorized content, thereby restricting access to only approved internet content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If children are provided with internet-capable cellular devices for safety and convenience, then parental peace of mind and child safety are improved, but the risk of accessing unsuitable or inappropriate content increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a parental control system that acts as an intermediary between the child's cellular device and the internet. This system monitors and controls DNS queries, blocking access to inappropriate content while allowing legitimate internet usage. The intermediary mechanism enables parental supervision without completely restricting internet access, thus maintaining both safety and operational capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If DNS lookup is blocked for unauthorized content, then access to inappropriate material is prevented, but the ability to access legitimate internet content may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing selective DNS blocking rather than universal internet restriction. The parental control system analyzes individual DNS queries and applies different treatment: blocking unauthorized domains while permitting authorized ones. This localized approach to content control maintains internet access flexibility for appropriate content while preventing access to unsuitable material.
3Reliability
If a comprehensive content filtering system is implemented to block all inappropriate content, then child safety is improved, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex content filtering functionality from the child's cellular device and relocates it to a separate parental control system. The mobile device only needs to send DNS queries to the control system, which then determines whether to block or permit access. This extraction reduces the complexity and processing requirements of the child's device while maintaining comprehensive content safety through the dedicated control system.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for controlling cellular access to data services from a mobile device such as a cellular telephone or PDA. The wireless network monitors IP traffic to and from the mobile device. Attempts to access an data service are checked to determine whether the requested access is authorized. Access to the data service is granted subject to the authorization. Access to the mobile device from external sources is also restricted.