Abstract:
In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses sequester content receiving content for use in an application; review the content; automatically sequester the content from the application based on the reviewing; and form a reason associated with the sequestering the content. In another embodiment, the methods and apparatuses receive content for use with an application; determine whether the content is one of acceptable content and unacceptable content; remove the unacceptable content from the application; form an explanation for the unacceptable content; and store the unacceptable content and the explanation in an off-line storage device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/472,690 filed on May 22, 2003, entitled “System for Sequestering Undesirable Online Assets” listing the same inventors, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to sequestering content and, more particularly, to automatically sequestering content.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    There has been a proliferation of on-line applications that utilize content uploaded by users. For example, there many electronic photo album and file sharing applications available to users over the Internet.  
           [0004]    In some instances, the electronic photo album applications allow the user to submit their own content to create their own photo album. In addition to submitting content, the submitter is also capable of formatting the content and creating their own customized electronic photo album by adding captions, positioning the content, adding backgrounds, and the like. In many instances, the submitter displays the customized electronic photo album to others. In some examples, the submitter can restrict access to the customized electronic photo album by others.  
           [0005]    The submitter typically agrees to a “terms of service” agreement with an operator of the application. The terms of service agreement usually informs the submitter that certain content is considered unacceptable for use with the application. Examples of unacceptable content includes pornography, obscene materials, copyrighted materials, illegal materials, and the like.  
           [0006]    Some operators of these on-line applications enforce their terms of service agreement in an ad hoc manner relying on spot checks of content or complaints from other users viewing unacceptable content. Other operators automatically check all content uploaded from submitters.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses sequester content receiving content for use in an application; review the content; automatically sequester the content from the application based on the reviewing; and form a reason associated with the sequestering the content. In another embodiment, the methods and apparatuses receive content for use with an application; determine whether the content is one of acceptable content and unacceptable content; remove the unacceptable content from the application; form an explanation for the unacceptable content; and store the unacceptable content and the explanation in an off-line storage device.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate and explain one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content. In the drawings,  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an environment within which the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content are implemented;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustrating one embodiment in which the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content are implemented;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a system, consistent with one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram consistent with one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram consistent with one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a flow diagram consistent with one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is an exemplary notification consistent with one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is an exemplary notification consistent with one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    The following detailed description of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content refers to the accompanying drawings. The detailed description is not intended to limit the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content. Instead, the scope of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content is defined by the appended claims and equivalents. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many other implementations are possible, consistent with the present invention.  
         [0018]    References to “content” includes data such as audio, video, text, graphics, and the like, that are embodied in digital or analog electronic form. References to “applications” includes programs accessible through a network such as the Internet for tasks such as word processing, audio output or editing, video output or editing, digital still photograph viewing or editing, file sharing, and the like, that are embodied in hardware and/or software.  
         [0019]    References to an “operator” include individuals, organizations, or entities that manage and maintain the applications. References to a “submitter” includes individuals, organizations, or entities that utilize the applications. References to a “user” refers to either the submitter or the operator.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an environment within which the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content are implemented. The environment includes an electronic device  110  (e.g., a computing platform configured to act as a client device, such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a paging device), a user interface  115 , a network  120  (e.g., a local area network, a home network, the Internet), and a server  130  (e.g., a computing platform configured to act as a server).  
         [0021]    In one embodiment, one or more user interface  115  components are made integral with the electronic device  110  (e.g., keypad and video display screen input and output interfaces in the same housing as personal digital assistant electronics (e.g., as in a Clie® manufactured by Sony Corporation). In other embodiments, one or more user interface  115  components (e.g., a keyboard, a pointing device (mouse, trackball, etc.), a microphone, a speaker, a display, a camera) are physically separate from, and are conventionally coupled to, electronic device  110 . The user utilizes interface  115  to access and control content and applications stored in electronic device  110 , server  130 , or a remote storage device (not shown) coupled via network  120 .  
         [0022]    In accordance with the invention, embodiments of sequestering content as described below are executed by an electronic processor in electronic device  110 , in server  130 , or by processors in electronic device  110  and in server  130  acting together. Server  130  is illustrated in FIG. 1 as being a single computing platform, but in other instances are two or more interconnected computing platforms that act as a server.  
         [0023]    The methods and apparatuses for sequestering content are shown in the context of exemplary embodiments of applications in which a user posts content on the application. In some embodiments, the submitter posts the content through the electronic device  110  and the network  120 . In some embodiments, the content posted by the submitter is utilized by the application which is located within the server  130 . Exemplary applications include a file sharing application, an electronic photo album application, and the like.  
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content automatically reviews the content provided by the submitter and prevents the application from accessing selected unacceptable content based on this review. In some instances, the selected unacceptable content is moved to an off-line storage and is unavailable to both the submitter that posted the selected unacceptable content and other third party users attempting to view the selected unacceptable content through the application. In other instances, the selected unacceptable content is returned back to the submitter or is made available to the application depending on the subject matter of the content.  
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content automatically records a reason to explain why the content is considered unacceptable. In some embodiments, this reason is documented and linked to the unacceptable content for future reference.  
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content automatically notifies the submitter that the content is unacceptable. In some embodiments, the submitter is also given the reason that the content is considered unacceptable.  
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content are located within the server  130 . In some embodiments, an operator monitors and provides instructions to the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content through the electronic device  110  and the network  120 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram illustrating an exemplary architecture in which the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content are implemented. The exemplary architecture includes a plurality of electronic devices  110 , a server device  130 , and a network  120  connecting electronic devices  110  to server  130  and each electronic device  110  to each other. The plurality of electronic devices  110  are each configured to include a computer-readable medium  209 , such as random access memory, coupled to an electronic processor  208 . Processor  208  executes program instructions stored in the computer-readable medium  209 . A unique user operates each electronic device  110  via an interface  115  as described with reference to FIG. 1.  
         [0029]    Server device  130  includes a processor  211  coupled to a computer-readable medium  212 . In one embodiment, the server device  130  is coupled to one or more additional external or internal devices, such as, without limitation, a secondary data storage element, such as database  240 .  
         [0030]    In one instance, processors  208  and  211  are manufactured by Intel Corporation, of Santa Clara, Calif. In other instances, other microprocessors are used.  
         [0031]    The plurality of client devices  110  and the server  130  include instructions for a customized application for sequestering content. In one embodiment, the plurality of computer-readable medium  209  and  212  contain, in part, the customized application. Additionally, the plurality of client devices  110  and the server  130  are configured to receive and transmit electronic messages for use with the customized application. Similarly, the network  120  is configured to transmit electronic messages for use with the customized application.  
         [0032]    One or more user applications are stored in memories  209 , in memory  211 , or a single user application is stored in part in one memory  209  and in part in memory  211 . In one instance a stored user application, regardless of storage location, is made customizable based on sequestering content as determined using embodiments described below.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a sequestering system  300 . The sequestering system  300  includes a review module  310 , a capture module  320 , a storage module  330 , an interface module  340 , and a control module  350 . In some embodiments, the control module  350  communicates with the review module  310 , the capture module  320 , the storage module  330 , and the interface module  340 .  
         [0034]    In one embodiment, the control module  350  coordinates tasks, requests and communications between the review module  310 , the capture module  320 , the storage module  330 , and the interface module  340 .  
         [0035]    In one embodiment, the review module  310  analyzes content via the capture module  320 . In many embodiments, the review module  310  is configured to analyze the content and identify undesirable content such as copyrighted material, pornographic material, violent material and the like. In some cases, this undesirable content is illegal or violates a terms of service agreement between the submitter and the application. For example, in one instance, the review module  310  analyzes and identifies content as being copyrighted material, because the review module  310  detects that the content contains a watermark. In other embodiments, the review module  310  is customized to identify any type of content.  
         [0036]    In another embodiment, the review module  310  is substituted with an operator that reviews the content and determines if the content is unacceptable.  
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the review module  310  also annotates the content that is found unacceptable. For example, in one instance, the review module  310  finds that the content is undesirable because the content is copyrighted. In this example, this content is annotated with a label “copyrighted material”.  
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the capture module  320  identifies specific content for use by the sequestering system  300 . In some embodiments, the capture module  320  identifies content that is posted by a submitter. In addition, the capture module  320  supplies content to the review module  310 .  
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the capture module  320  also identifies descriptive information associated with the content. For example, in one instance, the capture module identifies the location of the content within a photo album, the background color behind the content, a caption describing the content, and the like.  
         [0040]    In one embodiment, the off-line storage module  330  stores the content and associated information such that the content and associated information is not available to the submitter or the general public. In some embodiments, the associated information includes formatting information relating to the content and annotations which describe why the content is unacceptable.  
         [0041]    In one embodiment, the information stored within the off-line storage module  330  is encrypted. In addition, the content stored within the off-line storage module  330  is stored in an abbreviated form in some embodiments. For example, instead of the content being stored at fully resolution, the content is stored as a thumbnail.  
         [0042]    In one embodiment, the annotations explaining reasons why the content is unacceptable which are stored within the off-line storage module are made available to multiple applications. For example, when the annotations are shared with multiple applications, other applications are forewarned about unacceptable content originating from the submitter.  
         [0043]    In one embodiment, the interface module  340  receives instructions from an operator of the sequestering system  300 . For example, in one instance, the operator instructs the sequestering system  300  to return the content stored within the off-line storage module  330  to the submitter.  
         [0044]    In another embodiment, the interface module  340  displays content and information associated with the content to the operator. In some instances, the operator manually reviews content stored within the off-line storage module  330 .  
         [0045]    In yet another embodiment, the interface module  340  interacts with the submitter regarding the submitter&#39;s content that is considered unacceptable. For example, in one instance, the interface module  340  notifies the submitter when the submitter&#39;s content is considered unacceptable. In another instance, the submitter provides feedback to the sequestering system  300  regarding the submitter&#39;s content via the interface module  340 .  
         [0046]    In an additional embodiment, the interface module  340  interacts with other applications. For example, in some instances, when content that is submitted to an application from a submitter that is considered unacceptable, the interface module  340  instructs the application to remove the unacceptable content or prevent the unacceptable content from being utilized.  
         [0047]    The sequestering system  300  in FIG. 3 is shown for exemplary purposes and is merely one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content. Additional modules may be added to the system  300  without departing from the scope of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content. Similarly, modules may be combined or deleted without departing from the scope of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content.  
         [0048]    The flow diagrams as depicted in FIGS. 4, 5, and  6  are one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content. The blocks within the flow diagrams can be performed in a different sequence without departing from the spirit of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content. Further, blocks can be deleted, added, or combined without departing from the spirit of the methods and apparatuses for sequestering content.  
         [0049]    The flow diagram in FIG. 4 illustrates sequestering content according to one embodiment of the invention. In Block  410 , content is received. In one embodiment, the content is sensed by the capture module  320  (FIG. 3). In some instances, the submitter offers the content to be published or viewed on an application such as a file sharing program, a photo album, and the like.  
         [0050]    In Block  415 , the content is available for use by the application. In one embodiment, the content is published by the application such as a photograph within an electronic on-line photo album application. In another embodiment, the content is made available to others via a file sharing application.  
         [0051]    In Block  420 , the content is reviewed based on the subject matter of the content. In one embodiment, the content is analyzed by the review module  310  (FIG. 3). In many instances, the content is determined to be either acceptable or unacceptable based on a variety of criteria. For example, if the content is pornography or copyrighted, the content is considered unacceptable. In another example, the content is determined to be unacceptable based on a violation of the terms of service agreement.  
         [0052]    In Block  425 , the content is deemed either acceptable or unacceptable based on the review of the content in the Block  420 .  
         [0053]    If the content is considered acceptable, the content remains available to the application in Block  430 . For example, if the content is a photograph that was posted in an on-line album in the Block  415 , the photograph continues to be available within the Block  430 .  
         [0054]    If the content is considered unacceptable, the content is annotated with a reason that the content is unacceptable in Block  435 . In one instance, the reasons for the content being unacceptable include pornography, copyrighted material, illegal material, and the like.  
         [0055]    In Block  440 , the unacceptable content and the annotated reason are removed from the application and moved to an off-line storage facility. In one embodiment, the off-line storage facility is the off-line storage module  330  (FIG. 3). When the unacceptable content is removed from the application, the application cannot gain access to the unacceptable content. For example, if the unacceptable content is displayed within the submitter&#39;s electronic photo album by an electronic on-line photo album application, once the unacceptable content is removed, the application is notified; and the unacceptable content is no longer displayed within the submitter&#39;s electronic photo album.  
         [0056]    In Block  445 , the unacceptable content, the annotated reason, and any formatting information associated with the unacceptable content are stored in the off-line storage facility. In one embodiment, access to any content within the off-line storage facility is restricted to the operator. In other words, access to content within the off-line storage facility is not available to any applications, the submitter, or other third parties. In another embodiment, access to content within the off-line storage facility is available to others with authorization from the operator.  
         [0057]    The flow diagram in FIG. 5 illustrates notifying a submitter of unacceptable content according to one embodiment of the invention. In Block  520 , the user is notified that the submitter&#39;s content is unacceptable. The Block  520  is a continuation from the Block  445  in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the submitter is notified via an electronic mail message. In some embodiments, the notification identifies the particular content that is unacceptable. In other embodiments, the notification also includes the reason why the content is deemed unacceptable.  
         [0058]    Additionally, in some embodiments, the notification requests feedback from the submitter if the submitter wishes to dispute the classification of the unacceptable content and to clarify the nature of the content. For example, if the notification informs the submitter that the submitter&#39;s content appears to be copyrighted material. In this case, the submitter has several options such as not responding if the content is copyrighted; verifying that the submitter has permission to use this copyrighted material; and contesting that the content is not copyrighted.  
         [0059]    If feedback from the submitter is not received, the content, associated information, and reason for the content being unacceptable remain stored within the off-line storage and are not accessible to the submitter, any applications, or third parties as shown in Block  560 .  
         [0060]    In one embodiment, if feedback from the submitter is received, the content is reviewed again in light of the feedback from the submitter. In another embodiment, the content is reviewed by the operator. In yet another embodiment, the content is reviewed again by the review module  310 . If the content is considered to violate any laws in the Block  540 , the content and associated information remain stored within the off-line storage and are not accessible to the submitter, any applications, or third parties as shown in Block  560 . For example, in one instance, public display of pornography is a type of material which can violate the law. Violations of law can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and continually change.  
         [0061]    In another embodiment, the threshold in the Block  540  of violating the law is substituted by any standard determined by the operator that prevents the content from being returned to the submitter.  
         [0062]    If the content is found to not exceed a threshold as determined in the Block  540 , the content is reviewed for compliance with the terms of service as agreed upon by the submitter in Block  550 . For example, some terms of service agreements prohibit posting copyrighted works, files over a predetermined size, and the like. If the content is determined to violate the terms of service agreement but otherwise considered returnable content, the content is returned to the submitter with an additional notification to the submitter as shown in Block  570 .  
         [0063]    In another embodiment, the threshold in the Block  550  of violating the terms of service agreement is substituted by any standard determined by the operator that prevents the content from being posted by the application but returnable to the submitter.  
         [0064]    If the content is considered to conform to the terms of service agreement in the Block  550  and the threshold in the Block  540 , the content and associated information is recovered from the off-line storage and made available for use by applications as shown in Block  580 .  
         [0065]    For example, a photograph posted in an electronic photo album application is originally found unacceptable in the Block  425  and moved to the off-line storage such that the posted photograph was no longer available to the electronic photo album application in the Block  440 . The reason for the content being found unacceptable is documented and stored in the Block  435 .  
         [0066]    In this example, the submitter is notified in the Block  520  of the content being found unacceptable. However, this photograph was subsequently found acceptable because upon re-evaluation, the photograph conforms to legal standards and the “terms of service” in the Blocks  540  and  550 . In this example, this photograph and formatting information associated with the photograph is returned to the electronic photo album application so that the photograph is re-displayed in the electronic photo album application in the same format as originally specified by the submitter in the Block  580 .  
         [0067]    In one embodiment, the photograph is automatically re-displayed in the electronic photo album application without input from either the submitter or the operator.  
         [0068]    In another example, if the photograph was found to conform with legal standards (Block  540 ) but fails to conform to the terms of service agreement, the photograph is returned to the submitter in the Block  570 .  
         [0069]    The flow diagram in FIG. 6 illustrates interacting with a submitter regarding sequestering content according to one embodiment of the invention. In Block  610  content submitted by a submitter is found to be unacceptable.  
         [0070]    In Block  620 , an automated notification form is sent to the submitter identifying the unacceptable content and the reason for finding the content unacceptable. In addition, in some embodiments, the automated notification form also allows the submitter to make an inquiry regarding the unacceptable content. In FIG. 7, the automated notification form  700  is shown for exemplary purposes. The form  700  includes a title field  710  to identify the unacceptable content, a reason field  720  to indicate the reason for finding the content unacceptable, and an inquiry button  730  to allow the submitter to inquire further regarding the unacceptable content. In some embodiments, when the submitter selects the inquiry button  730 , an inquiry is automatically transmitted to initiate a review process.  
         [0071]    In Block  625 , the inquiry from the user regarding the automated notification form is received and the review process of the unacceptable content is initiated.  
         [0072]    In Block  630 , the submitter is sent a follow-up form which requests additional details from the submitter regarding the unacceptable content. In FIG. 8, a sample follow-up form  800  is shown. The form  800  includes a title field  810  to identify the unacceptable content, a reason field  820  to indicate the reason for finding the content unacceptable, and a justification field  830  to indicate the justification that the unacceptable content should be considered acceptable. In this example, the content is considered unacceptable, because the content is believed to contain copyrighted materials. Under the justification field  830 , the submitter is able to assert one of the following: the content does not contain copyrighted materials; the content contains copyrighted materials but the submitter has permission to utilize the copyrighted materials; or “other reason” which the submitter types in his/her own justification.  
         [0073]    In Block  640 , the follow-up form is received from the submitter.  
         [0074]    In Block  650 , the follow-up form is attached to the corresponding unacceptable content.  
         [0075]    In Block  660 , the unacceptable content is reassessed based on the follow-up form and the unacceptable content.  
         [0076]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. For example, the invention is described within the context of creating profiles for modifying digital images as merely one embodiment of the invention. The invention may be applied to a variety of other applications.  
         [0077]    They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed, and naturally many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.