Universal Media Firewall for Unified Parental Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current parental control systems for media content are ineffective and cumbersome, requiring separate devices for each media provider, leading to difficulty in filtering inappropriate content and managing settings across multiple platforms.

Innovation Solution

A universal media firewall that filters internet, television, radio, and cellular content at the home network perimeter, providing a single interface for parental control settings and authentication, allowing for unified filtering and auditing of incoming and outgoing content across multiple media providers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a separate parental control device is used for each media provider, then each provider's content can be controlled, but the device complexity and setup difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol capability across providersVSAvoidnumber of devices required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate parental control devices into a single unified device that interfaces with multiple media providers. The system merges the functionality of what would otherwise be separate control mechanisms into one centralized parental control unit, reducing the number of devices from multiple to one while maintaining control over all providers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The parental control device is designed with universal functionality to work with multiple different media providers through a standardized interface. The device can format parental controls into multiple protocols and communicate with various providers (cable, satellite, internet, telephone) through a single multi-functional unit, eliminating the need for provider-specific devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a separate parental control device is used for each media provider, then each provider's content can be controlled, but the setup and maintenance difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol capability across providersVSAvoidsetup and maintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If filtering is done by the ISP, then internet content can be controlled, but customization of filtered content becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent filtering effectivenessVSAvoidcustomization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a local parental control device as an intermediary between the ISP and the home network. This intermediary device receives content from the ISP and applies additional layer of filtering and customization locally, allowing parents to customize which content is blocked or allowed beyond what the ISP provides. The device acts as a mediator that enhances both the reliability of filtering and the customization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the parental control functionality into separate modular components that can be independently configured. The system divides filtering into different layers: ISP-level filtering and local device-level filtering. This segmentation allows customization at the local level while maintaining the baseline filtering provided by the ISP, enabling both reliable filtering and flexible customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If each television set requires a separate parental control device, then each can be individually controlled, but synchronization of settings and passwords becomes necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual device controlVSAvoidtime for synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The parental control device incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically synchronize settings across multiple output devices. When parental control parameters are changed, the system provides feedback loops that propagate these changes to all connected devices, eliminating manual synchronization requirements and reducing the time needed to maintain consistent settings across multiple televisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8166535B2Universal media firewall

Publication Date: 2012.04.24 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A universal media firewall allows a parent to control filtering of multiple media providers via a single firewall policy. The firewall(s) may be a stand-alone device or may be preformed with software on a home computer or at a remote site. Parental controls are accessible by the media provider so that media is filtered according to the parental settings prior to entering the home media network.