Abstract:
The system of the present invention generally allows a first user, the adult, to interact in the manner of a character facade with a second user, the child, via computer connections to a webserver. The webserver generally includes a processor with a memory/storage device that holds a character interaction program which supports a registration website and a character website. The processor operates with the program to receive a message from the child user, to notify the adult user of the received message via electronic mail, to receive a reply from the adult user, and to present the reply to the child user as though coming from a character rather than the adult user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to systems enabling remote parent-child interaction, and more particularly, to a secure method for allowing parents to interact with their children anonymously using the internet and world wide web as a tool. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The growing popularity of the internet increases a parent&#39;s desire to locate safe and fun websites for their children&#39;s use. Parents naturally want to prevent their children from using websites that link to undesirable content (pornography, violence, etc.). Likewise, parents also wish to prevent their children from interacting with strangers in an online chat room or discussion group. 
     Previous attempts to limit children&#39;s access to the internet have mostly involved software programs like Surfwatch or Net Nanny. These programs have allowed a child to freely browse the world wide web, but have blocked access to prohibited websites that are listed in prohibited site libraries that are updated periodically. This method works adequately for screening undesirable content, but does nothing to provide high quality, safe websites for children. 
     Websites that provide interesting interactive features like chat rooms or discussion groups have been notoriously insecure environments. Children who locate one of these websites may find themselves chatting with older children or adults who may take advantage of their vulnerability. Some of these chat rooms are moderated, e.g. America Online offers moderated chatrooms for children. However, many parents are still likely to feel uncomfortable allowing their young children to access such sites. While online conversations are interesting and educational, there is currently no safe way for parents to monitor and participate in these interactions. 
     In view of the above, there is a need for a safe “destination” for children that can provide a variety of high-quality entertainment and educational content while allowing the parent to anonymously be involved in customizing the internet experience for their child. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The needs above are in large measure met by the system for character-child interaction with adult character control of the present invention. The system generally allows a first user, the adult, to interact in the manner of a character facade with a second user, the child, via computer connections to a webserver. The webserver generally includes a processor with a memory/storage device that holds a character interaction program which supports a registration website and a character website. The processor operates with the program to receive a message from the child user, to notify the adult user of the received message via electronic mail, to receive a reply from the adult user, and to present the reply to the child user as though coming from a character rather than the adult user. 
     The system further allows the adult user to register and enter personal information about the child user which can then be utilized by the character in interacting with the child user. Additionally, the system implements various measures of security. For instance, both the adult and child user must enter some type of login, password, or other type of serial identification, which is checked against valid identifications, to obtain access to the registration and character websites. Further, upon initial log-in and/or registration the webserver writes a cookie file to the user&#39;s hard drive. Upon a second entry to the websites, the webserver verifies, by checking the cookie file, that the user is entering the website from the same computer used for initial log-in and/or registration. If not, access is denied. 
     A method of the present invention provides for a computer facilitating the interaction of an adult user with a child user in the manner of a character facade by utilizing the following steps: (1) allowing the child user to input a message into the computer; (2) notifying the adult user of the input message; (3) allowing the adult user to input into the computer a reply to the message; and (4) the computer displaying the reply to the child user as though coming from a character. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting the relationship between a user&#39;s computer and a webserver that hosts a registration website and a character website of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an overview of the operation of the system of the present invention; the interactions and relationships between the registration website and the character website are shown. 
     FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting the process for adult user registration. 
     FIG. 4 is an example of a webpage that might be used for adult user registration. 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting child user log-in to the character website and the submission of questions to the character website. 
     FIG. 6 is an example of a webpage that might be used for child user questions. 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting how an adult user may respond to the questions submitted by a child user to the website character. 
     FIG. 8 is a flowchart depicting how the child may retrieve answers/messages from the character website. 
     FIG. 9 is an example of a web page that might be used to retrieve answers/messages from the character. 
     FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an expanded system of the present invention incorporating a plurality of character webservers. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The system for character-child interaction with adult character control  10  of the present invention is depicted in FIG.  1 . As shown, in the most basic form, system  10  generally comprises a user&#39;s computer  12 , in this case a family&#39;s personal computer with dial-up access to the internet  14 , and a character webserver  16 , connected to the internet  14 , which preferably host&#39;s a registration website  18  and a character website  20 . Character webserver  16  incorporates a processor with a memory and/or storage device for storing the programs which control operation of registration website  18  and character website  20 . Character webserver  16  communicates with a database  22  which stores individual user data. 
     I. System Overview 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a general overview of the operation of system  10  is presented. To initiate system  10  for operation, an adult user, e.g. a parent, must connect to the internet, indicated by arrow  101 , and reach registration website  18  homepage, indicated by block  102 , preferably by entering the registration website&#39;s address. Once reaching the home page of registration website  18 , the adult user logs-in to the site and registers a child user to have access to character website  20 , indicated by block  103 . 
     With adult user log-in complete, the child user may connect to the internet, as indicated by arrow  104 , and access character website  20 , indicated by block  105 . Note that in this instance, and throughout the remainder of the present application, the character referred to is Santa Claus, however, it should be noted that any other character identity may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Once reaching the homepage of character website  20 , the child user may log-in to character website  20 , indicated by block  106 . The child user may now submit messages and/or questions to the character, block  107 . 
     Upon the child user submitting messages and/or questions to the character, the adult user is notified by e-mail of this action, block  108 . At this point, the adult user accesses registration website  18  and responds to the child&#39;s message and/or question, as though they were the character, themselves, block  109 . Upon the child&#39;s next visit to character website  20 , the child is greeted with the character&#39;s response, block  110 . 
     II.A. System Detail-Adult User Registration 
     Each of the blocks of FIG. 2 which make up system  10 , will now be described in more detail with reference to flow charts and example web pages. Adult user log-in and registration, block  103  from FIG. 2, is depicted in detail in FIG.  3 . As FIG. 3 indicates, the adult user has learned of system  10  via various forms of advertising or promotional materials and, upon learning of system  10 , preferably calls a toll free number, or uses other appropriate data access methods, to obtain a unique password, block  200 . Upon obtaining the password, the adult user visits the home page of registration website  18  wherein the adult is prompted to enter their unique password, block  202 . 
     The password is submitted to webserver  16  utilizing a website application that compares the password against its database  22  to determine if the password is indeed valid, block  204 . If the password is not valid, the adult user is notified of a password error, block  206  and returned to the home page of registration website  18  for re-entry of the password, block  202 . The user may phone for assistance if necessary. If the password is valid, the adult registration process continues whereby the adult&#39;s password is indicated as “redeemed” within database  22  and a cookie file is written to the adult user&#39;s hard disk of their computer, block  208 . The cookie file allows registration website  18  and character website  20  to identify the specific computer from which the adult user has enrolled. 
     Further, upon entering a valid password, the adult user is presented with a registration screen. A sample registration screen  210 , presented by way of non-limiting example, is shown in FIG. 4 for the character of Santa Claus. Screen  210  provides numerous data fields  212  into which data may be entered about the adult user and about the future child user. Certain data fields are character specific, in other words are directly relevant to the interaction the character will have with the child user. In this case, the data field of the child&#39;s favorite toy is especially relevant to the Santa Claus character. In this specific character registration screen, the adult user is requested to enter the parent&#39;s full name, the parent&#39;s e-mail address, the mother&#39;s first name, the father&#39;s first name, the child&#39;s first name, the child&#39;s last name, the child&#39;s age, the child&#39;s birthday, the child&#39;s favorite toy, the child&#39;s login name and the child&#39;s password. Of course, additional and/or other questions, e.g. siblings&#39; names, pets&#39; names, friends&#39; names, grandparents&#39; names, special interests, may be entered to additionally customize the child user&#39;s experience, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. All data entered is stored in database  22 . 
     Referring once again to FIG. 3, upon completing the registration screen, the adult user submits the entered data to webserver  18  wherein all data entered is stored in database  22 , block  214 . After submission of the data, webserver  16  returns a child&#39;s login and password or verification of a previously entered child&#39;s login and password. The adult user is then prompted to enter a login identification and password. The adult user&#39;s login and password are also stored in database  22 . The adult user&#39;s login and password may be used by the adult user to re-visit registration website  18  to update the registration data and/or respond to the child user&#39;s messages and/or questions. 
     II.B. System Detail—Child User Log-in and Use 
     With adult registration now complete, the child user may login to character website  20 . FIG. 5 provides an overview of how the child user interacts with character website  20  in flowchart format, and provides the details behind blocks  105 ,  106 ,  107 , and  108  of FIG.  2 . Referring now to FIG. 5, block  300 , the child user is preferably aided by the adult user in accessing the character website  20  via their computer  12  by entering the website address. Upon reaching character website  20 , the child user is prompted for their login name and password. The login name and password are then submitted to webserver  16  which accesses database  22  (database  22  is shared by registration website  18  and character website  20 ) to verify that the child user s login name and password are indeed valid, block  302 . If the child user&#39;s login name and/or password are not valid, the child user is notified of the error and notified to ask for adult assistance, block  304 . They are then returned to the log-in screen and prompted to re-enter their log-in and password, block  300 . 
     If the child user&#39;s login and password are valid, a cookie file is written to the child user computer&#39;s hard drive, block  306 . This cookie file stores information about the child user that is used to personalize each character website page that they visit and is also preferably used to provide security. Specifically, without a valid cookie file, no other user may see any of the child user&#39;s personalized pages nor any of the child user&#39;s messages from the character. 
     Further, with a valid login and password, the child user may enter any of the pages of character website, each of which will greet the child user with their name and other appropriate personalized data as retrieved from database  22 . Each character website is preferably specific and relevant to the character providing at least one page where the child user may enter a message or ask a question of the character, block  308 . Other character website pages are also preferably included. For example, with reference to a Santa Claus character website, game pages, wish list pages, and pages providing a tour of Santa&#39;s workshop are preferably included. Numerous types of personalized character website pages may be included without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 provides a specific sample screen, by way of non-limiting example, of a character website message page  310 , in this case a Santa Claus message screen. Message screen  310  provides a blank box into which a typed message may be entered. A submission button  314  is provided for sending the message to the character. Referring once again to FIG.  5  and block  316 , upon submission of the child user&#39;s message, the message is saved to database  22  and an e-mail alert that the child user has sent a message to a character is sent to the adult user. The e-mail address is obtained from the data stored in database  22 . Upon submitting their message, the child user may logout of, or otherwise exit, character website  18 , block  318 . Of course, the child user is not required to submit a message but rather may just play at accessing their personalized website pages. 
     II.C. System Detail—Adult User Response to Child User Message 
     With the child user&#39;s message and/or questions submitted to the character, the adult user is notified via e-mail of the message submission. FIG. 7 provides an overview of how the adult user interacts with registration website  20  in flowchart format to respond to the child user&#39;s message submission, and provides the details behind block  109  of FIG.  2 . Referring now to FIG. 7, block  400 , the adult user receives e-mail notification that the child user has sent a message to a character. 
     In response to notification, the adult user accesses the internet and enters the address for the registration website  18  wherein the adult user is prompted to enter their login and password, block  402 . Upon submission of the adult user&#39;s login and password to webserver  16 , webserver  16  accesses database  22  and compares the login and password against valid login and passwords, block  404 . If the login and/or password are not valid, the adult user is preferably notified of the error and that they may call for assistance, block  406 , then returned to login screen for re-entry of login and password, block  402 . 
     If the login and password are valid, the website application running on character webserver  16  verifies the cookie file on the adult user&#39;s hard drive to ensure that the adult user is entering registration website  18  from the same computer from which initial adult user registration was completed, block  408 . If the cookie file of the present computer does not match the stored information of the cookie file from the original computer, access to registration website  18  is denied and the adult user is informed that they are only allowed entry from the computer from which adult user registration took place, block  410 . As such, even if a stranger were to find the adult user&#39;s login and password, they would be denied access to registration website  18  unless entering the website from the original registration computer; this feature of system  10  provides an additional security level. 
     If the login and password are valid, and, as well, the adult user has entered from the original registration computer, i.e. cookie files match, the adult user is granted entry to registration website  18  and directed to a message display page wherein the child user&#39;s message, as correlated to the adult user&#39;s login and password, is retrieved from database  22  and displayed to the adult user, block  412 . The adult user may then type a response to the child user&#39;s message and/or questions, preferably responding in a manner consistent with the character. The adult user then submits their response whereby it is written to database  22  and stored for later display to the child user, block  414 . The adult user then preferably logs out, or otherwise exits, registration website  18 , block  416 . 
     It should be noted that if the child user has an e-mail address, the adult user may choose to e-mail the response to the child user, the e-mail sent is identified with a character&#39;s e-mail address, provided by the website application, rather than the adult user&#39;s personal address to maintain the adult user&#39;s anonymity and upkeep the character facade. 
     II.D. System Detail—Child User Retrieving Adult User Response 
     With the adult user&#39;s response submitted and stored, the child user may once again log onto to the character website  20  and obtain the responses. FIG. 8 provides an overview of how the child user may retrieve the submitted responses in flowchart format, and provides the details behind block  110  of FIG.  2 . Referring now to FIG. 8, block  500 , the child user once again obtains access to the internet via their computer and enters the address of character website  20 . Upon arriving at the home page of character web site  20 , the child user is prompted to enter their login and password. Once submitted the login and password are compared with stored logins and passwords in database  22  to determine their validity, block  502 . If the login and/or password are not valid, the child user is notified of an error and notified that they should ask for adult assistance, block  504 . The child user is then returned to the login screen and prompted to re-enter their login and password, block  500 . 
     If the login and password are valid, the website application running on character webserver  16  verifies the cookie file on the child user&#39;s hard drive to ensure that the child user is entering character website  20  from the same computer from which initial child user log-in was complete, block  504 . If the cookie file of the present computer does not match the stored information of the cookie file from the original computer, access to character website  20  is denied and the child user is informed that they need to access character website from their original log-in computer and that they should ask for adult assistance. As such, even if a stranger were to find the child user&#39;s log-in and password, they would be denied access to character website  20  unless entering the website from the original child user log-in computer; this feature of system  10  provides an additional security level similar to that provided for adult user&#39;s. 
     If the login and password are valid, and, as well, the child user has entered from their initial log-in computer, i.e. cookie files match, the child user is granted access to character web site  20  where they may once again go through the various website pages which have been personalized to the child user based on the information stored in database  22 . Specifically, the child may go to the message response page of character website  20  where they find the response to their message/questions that they had submitted earlier, block  506 . FIG. 9 depicts a sample message response page  506 , provided by way of non-limiting example, wherein the adult user, posing as the character Santa Claus, has submitted a response for the child to read. The message is posted within a blank box  508  area. Returning now to FIG.  8  and block  510 , the child user may now submit a new message and/or questions and the cycle continues by notifying the adult user by e-mail. Once finished with their activities on character website  18 , the child user may logoff, or otherwise exit, the website, block  512 . 
     III. Expanded System 
     The above system  10  has been described with reference to a single character site, with, of course, the possibility of many adult users and child users accessing the single character registration site  18  and character site  20 , respectively. However, system  10  may be expanded to include numerous characters. Referring to FIG. 10, a character expanded system  10  is depicted. In character expanded system  10 , the adult user preferably uses their personal computer  12  to access the internet  14  and enters the address for registration website  18 . Upon reaching webserver  16  and registration website  18 , the adult user is prompted to enter all pertinent information, as described earlier above, and is preferably provided with the option of selecting a plurality of character webservers  16 , each having their own registration website  18  and character website  20  to which their child or children may have access. Note that while each character webserver  16  has a registration website  18 , the adult user need not register individually at each registration website  18  if more than one character website is desired. Rather, registering at a single registration website  18  and therein selecting additional character websites completes registration for all desired character websites  20 . This is due to the circumstance that each of character webservers  16  share or have access to database  22  whereby they may obtain all personalized data entered by the adult user. 
     As such, the child user&#39;s personalized information is presentable on all character websites that the adult user has selected. Preferably, the child user is provided with a single login and password that works on all adult user selected character websites  18 . 
     Further, the above system  10  has been described with reference to a fanciful character such as Santa Claus. However, it should be noted that any type of character may be used, the point is to maintain adult anonymity while allowing the adult user to substantially maintain control over what internet information their child has access to. It should further be noted that the character need not be a “fun” character but may be a tutor, providing the child user with hints on their homework and helping them through educational games. The character might be utilized with online puzzles or games wherein the child user may submit questions to obtain hints, clues, or strategies in solving a puzzle. Another application for system  10  is that of a pen-pal, wherein the child user corresponds with an imaginary friend or a storybook character. 
     Moreover, while the above system  10  has been described with respect to an adult user as registrant and a child user as the character interactor, system  10  may be used between two adults or two children without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof; therefore, the illustrated embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.