Reverse DNS Lookup for Age-Based Content Restriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for age and region content restrictions on the internet, such as credit card verification and client-side filtering, are inadequate as they require multiple verifications, are not effective for non-subscription sites, and lack control over user compliance, leading to potential inadvertent access by minors or restricted regions.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing reverse DNS lookup to encode user parameters like age in a zone file, allowing content providers to determine user restrictions before content delivery, shifting the burden of verification from clients to ISPs and content providers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If credit card verification is used for age restriction, then content access control is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to repeated verification requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent access controlVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by encoding user parameters (age, location) in advance in the reverse DNS zone file before content access occurs. When a user connects to the network, their age and location information is already prepared and stored in the DNS infrastructure, allowing content providers to perform a single reverse DNS lookup to retrieve pre-encoded parameters, eliminating the need for repeated credit card verifications while maintaining reliable access control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the reverse DNS zone file as an intermediary between the user and content provider. Instead of direct credit card verification between user and content provider, the system uses the DNS infrastructure as a mediator that stores and transmits user parameters. The zone file acts as a trusted intermediary that contains pre-verified age and location information, simplifying the interaction while maintaining control reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If client-side filtering software is deployed, then inadvertent access to restricted content is reduced, but control over compliance is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinadvertent access to restricted contentVSAvoidcompliance verification

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional client-side filtering approach by moving the filtering capability to the content provider side. Instead of relying on client software to block restricted content, the system uses server-side reverse DNS lookup to proactively identify user age and location parameters before content delivery. This inversion allows content providers to control compliance verification directly while preventing inadvertent access, eliminating the monitoring difficulties associated with client-side solutions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If reverse DNS lookup with encoded parameters is implemented, then content distribution compliance is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent distribution complianceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by making the reverse DNS zone file serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same zone file that traditionally stores only domain name to IP address mappings is enhanced to also store user parameters (age, location, parental control settings). This multi-functionality allows the existing DNS infrastructure to handle both address resolution and content compliance verification without adding separate complex systems, improving reliability while managing complexity through resource consolidation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the DNS infrastructure to automatically provide compliance verification services. The zone file self-updates with user parameters through automated processes (such as DHCP interactions or administrative interfaces), and content providers automatically retrieve this information through standard reverse DNS lookups. This self-service capability reduces manual intervention and system complexity while maintaining high compliance reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10104058B2Content restriction compliance using reverse DNS lookup

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 SHUSTER GARY STEPHEN

AI summary

A method for alerting Internet content providers of the age or other personal information of a computer user, which includes receiving a reverse DNS lookup query from an Internet content provider; and providing the age information of the computer user, in addition to a host name, from a reverse map zone file in response to the request. The personal information may be used by the content provider to select appropriate content for the requesting host, for example for complying with content restrictions. A system of alerting an Internet content provider of the age or other personal information of a computer user is also provided.