Abstract:
According to an aspect of an embodiment, an information processing apparatus for restricting accesses of websites comprises: a storage unit for storing information of access restricted websites; and a processor for performing a process of access permission comprising the steps of: receiving a request of access to one of the websites from a user; determining whether the requested websites is restricted or not by reference to the stored information of the access restricted websites; warning the user when the request has been made for the access to one of the restricted websites; and permitting the access to said one of the restricted websites upon confirmation of the warning by the user and reporting the access of the restricted websites to an administrator.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a filtering technique for restricting access to a Website. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Information processing terminals such as personal computers (PCs) are capable of accessing Website content on the Internet so that the users of information processing terminals can view the content. Some of Website content is undesirable. Therefore, it is necessary to restrict access to Websites (uniform resource locators (URLs): addresses on the Web) that contain content decided to be undesirable and released undesirable content. 
         [0005]    For such Website access restriction, the following patent documents are present: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2004-362031, 2003-283549, and 2004-120574, and PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. 2003-532184. 
         [0006]    In conventional Website filtering apparatuses, filtering software determines whether content is harmful. However, even Websites that filtering software has blocked because of their harmful content may sometimes be given permission of access. In this case, the administrator must execute complicated exception registration work. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    According to an aspect of an embodiment, an information processing apparatus for restricting accesses of websites comprises: a storage unit for storing information of access restricted websites; and a processor for performing a process of access permission comprising the steps of: receiving a request of access to one of the websites from a user; determining whether the requested websites is restricted or not by reference to the stored information of the access restricted websites; warning the user when the request has been made for the access to one of the restricted websites; and permitting the access to said one of the restricted websites upon confirmation of the warning by the user and reporting the access of the restricted websites to an administrator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a personal computer (PC) according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the hardware of the PC; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an external view of the PC; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of a local DB; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of an example of a browsing history table; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of an example of an access denying keyword table; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of a dialog screen; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of an access report screen; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a diagram of a browsing history check screen; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart of the overall procedure for permitting or restricting access to a Website; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart for a procedure of accessing and filtering a Website; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart for another procedure of accessing and filtering a Website; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart for the procedure of viewing history information; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart for the procedure of restricting access; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a diagram of a PC network system according to a second embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is a diagram of an example of a local DB according to another embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  is a diagram of an example of a portable terminal according to another embodiment; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  is a diagram of an example of a PDA according to another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
       [0026]    A first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows a personal computer according to the first embodiment. 
         [0027]    The personal computer (PC)  2  is an example of an apparatus, a method, and a program for filtering Websites, a recording medium in which the filtering program is stored, and a Website filtering system. The PC  2  constitutes a computer system or a user information terminal which provides the user with the opportunity of reconsideration of site viewing without administrator involvement while maintaining filtering effects of the filtering program, thereby allowing the user to view Websites by user&#39;s own decision. 
         [0028]    The PC  2  does not require receiving means for receiving the reason of access and a determination section for determining whether to permit the access individually according to the reason. Accordingly, the PC  2  prevents complication of the processing structure and improves the effects of restricting undesirable sites. 
         [0029]    The PC  2  is a client unit connected to one or a plurality of Web servers  6  via the Internet  4  to allow Web sites set up on the Web servers  6  to be viewed. The Internet  4  is an example of a computer network having a plurality of computers which are information sources. 
         [0030]    To achieve the filtering function including generating a dialog screen and a viewing warning message when the user selects a restricted Website, recording or reporting the viewing to the administrator, and checking the access record by the administrator, the PC  2  includes a Web browser  8 , a processing section  10 , a local database (DB)  12 , and a network communication section  14 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    The Web browser  8  is browsing software for browsing the content (the content of data or files) of Websites. The processing section  10  is an operation part generated by execution of a filtering program. The local DB  12  is a file, a file group, or a database system constructed of data in a storage section  24  (see  FIG. 2 ). The network communication section  14  is means for communication or exchange of data with the Websites on the Internet  4 . In this embodiment, the network communication section  14  takes charge of exchanging content of the Websites in response to a user request. The network communication section  14  may be configured to communicate with an access point of a wireless local area network (LAN) by radio or communicate with a mobile radio system station or the like. 
         [0032]    The processing section  10  is a Web server and includes a display-screen generating section  16 , a filtering-determination processing section  18 , an input-determination processing section  20 , and a database (DB) searching and editing section  22 . The display-screen generating section  16  generates, in response to a user&#39;s access request, a dialog screen for receiving input for reconsideration of the user&#39;s access request and shifting to access. The dialog screen displays a warning message for the user. 
         [0033]    The filtering-determination processing section  18  is means for determining from the URL of the Website whether a requested Website is restricted. The result of determination causes the display-screen generating section  16  to generate the dialog screen. The URL of the Website is stored in the local DB  12 . The URL is restricted by the administrator as necessary. The restriction is set for each URL. 
         [0034]    The input-determination processing section  20  is processing means for determining various inputs including an access request from the user and access restriction from the administrator. The DB searching and editing section  22  searches the data in the local DB  12  and edits search data. The edited data is stored in the local DB  12 . 
         [0035]    Referring next to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the hardware of the PC  2  will be described.  FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the hardware of the PC  2 , and  FIG. 3  is an external view of the PC  2 . In  FIG. 2 , the same components as those of  FIG. 1  are given the same reference numerals. 
         [0036]    To achieve the above-described filtering function, the PC  2  includes a storage section  24 , an operation input section  26 , a display section  28 , a network communication section  14 , and a processor  30 . The functional components are connected together by a bus  31 . The storage section  24  is a recording medium, which includes a program storage section  32 , a data storage section  34  and a random-access memory (RAM)  36 . The program storage section  32  is a hard disk, in which an operating system (OS), access restricting software, filtering software which is one example of the invention and so on are stored. The data storage section  34  stores various information to form the local DB  12 . The information includes information of Website browsing history, communication history, and report to the administrator. The RAM  36  is a work area, which configures the processing section  10  of the filtering apparatus in the PC  2  together with the processor  30  by execution of a filtering program. The processor  30  is means for executing the OS and application programs, which includes a central processing unit (CPU) or a micro processor unit (MPU) and configures the processing section  10  together with the RAM  36 . 
         [0037]    The operation input section  26  is an input unit including a keyboard and a mouse. The display section  28  is an output unit including a screen display section such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), which is used to display image date taken from Websites, dialog screens, warnings and so on. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, the PC  2  has first and second casings  38  and  40 , which are opened or closed with a hinge  42 . The first casing  38  has the operation input section  26 , and the second casing  40  has the display section  28 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the local DB  12  will be described.  FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of tables in the local DB  12 . In  FIG. 4 , the same components as those of  FIG. 1  are given the same reference numerals. 
         [0040]    The local DB  12  holds a white URL table  44 , a black URL table  46 , a browsing history table  48 , and an access denying keyword table  50 . The white URL table  44  stores the URLs of accessible Websites. The black URL table  46  stores the URLs of inaccessible Websites. Registration to the black URL table  46  causes access restriction. The browsing history table  48  stores the record of the Websites that the user viewed. The access denying keyword table  50  stores keywords for determining whether to block the Website. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the browsing history table  48  will be described.  FIG. 5  is a diagram of an example of the browsing history table  48 . In  FIG. 5 , the same components as those of  FIG. 1  are given the same reference numerals. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the browsing history table  48  has title boxes  52  and information boxes  54 . The title boxes  52  provide user name  56 , date  58 , time  60 , title  62 , thumbnail  64 , and URL  66 . The title  62  is title information indicative of Website content. The thumbnail  64  is a sample image indicative of content, such as a screen shot of the top page, which is provided from a Website. The thumbnail  64  is for the user to guide Websites, which generally represents the intention of Websites. The thumbnail  64  is therefore useful information in knowing the characteristics of Websites and as the material for determining whether the site presented by the thumbnail  64  is harmful. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the access denying keyword table  50  will be described.  FIG. 6  shows an example of the access denying keyword table  50 . In  FIG. 6 , the same components as those of  FIG. 1  are given the same reference numerals. 
         [0044]    The access denying keyword table  50  has title boxes  68  and information boxes  70 . The title boxes  68  provide denying keyword  72 , category  74 , and URL  76 . The denying keyword  72  stores words or the like that are used to determine whether to block access. The category  74  stores the fields or the like in which the words are used. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a dialog screen and a warning message will be described.  FIG. 7  shows a dialog screen. In  FIG. 7 , the same components as those of  FIGS. 2 and 3  are given the same reference numerals. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the display section  28  displays a dialog screen  78  in response to an access request to a restricted Website. The dialog screen  78  displays a warning and an inquiry and receives dialog input, on which a warning message  80  and an access inquiry  82  are displayed. 
         [0047]    In this case, the warning message  80  is
       “Access to this Web content is restricted and is recorded and reported to the administrator.”       
 
         [0049]    The-access inquiry  82  is
       “Do you wish to continue?”       
 
         [0051]    There are a YES button  84  indicative of shifting to access and a NO button  86  indicative of denying shifting to access under the access inquiry  82 . 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , an access report screen will be described.  FIG. 8  is a diagram of an access report screen. In  FIG. 8 , the same components as those of  FIGS. 2 and 3  are given the same reference numerals. 
         [0053]    When the administrator boots up the PC  2 , the display section  28  displays a report screen  88 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The report screen  88  displays a report message  90  and a confirmation inquiry  92 . The report screen  88   90  and the confirmation inquiry  92  are as follows:
       “A Website browsing history has been added. Will you confirm it?”       
 
         [0055]    There are a YES button  94  and a No button  96  under the confirmation inquiry  92 . When the YES button  94  is clicked on, the screen shifts to a browsing history check screen  98  (see  FIG. 9 ), and when the No button  96  is clicked on, the report screen  88  is canceled. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the browsing history check screen  98  will be described.  FIG. 9  is a diagram of an example of the browsing history check screen  98 . In  FIG. 9 , the same components as those of  FIGS. 2 and 3  are given the same reference numerals. 
         [0057]    The display section  28  displays the browsing history check screen  98  for administrator&#39;s check of browsing history, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The browsing history check screen  98  displays the browsing history of the local DB  12  to configure a dialog screen for selection of restricted access. 
         [0058]    In this case, the browsing history check screen  98  displays a browsing history list  100 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The browsing history list  100  has title boxes  102  and information boxes  104 . The title boxes  102  provides selection of restricted access  106 , user name  108 , date  110 , time  112 , title  114 , thumbnail  116 , and URL  118 . The selection of blocking  106  has check boxes  120  for selecting normally blocking of the URL  118 . When the check boxes  120  are checked, a normally blocked URL is selected. 
         [0059]    There is a send button  122  under the browsing history list  100 . When the send button  122  is clicked on with a cursor, the normally blocked URL is transferred to the black URL table  46 , and its blocking is set. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 , and  14 , the procedure for permitting or restricting access to a Website will be described.  FIG. 10  is a flowchart of the overall procedure for permitting or restricting access to a Website.  FIG. 11  is a flowchart for a procedure of accessing and filtering a Website.  FIG. 12  is a flowchart for another procedure of accessing and filtering a Website.  FIG. 13  is a flowchart for the procedure of viewing history information.  FIG. 14  is a flowchart for the procedure of restricting access. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the procedure for permitting or restricting access to a Website will be described. When the PC  2  receives a Website access request from the user (step S 1 ), the PC  2  determines whether the requested Website is restricted. If it is restricted, a dialog screen and a warning message are displayed to inquire of the user whether he/she makes access (step S 2 ). The dialog screen displays, if it is a restricted Website, the warning message  80  that the Website is restricted and the access is recorded and reported to the administrator. The user is thus given a good opportunity to reconsider the access to the Website by the warning message  80 . As a result, if the user gives up the access to the Website, the procedure is completed. If the procedure moves to access, the user can access the Website and thus obtain necessary content (step S 3 ). That is, the user can obtain desired information timely under the condition that the access is recorded and reported to the administrator. 
         [0062]    When the user has moved to access, the PC  2  records its access (step S 4 ), and sends the access record to the administrator using the report screen  88  (see  FIG. 8 ) (step S 5 ). The administrator boots up the PC  2 , and shifts the report screen  88  to the browsing history check screen  98  (see  FIG. 9 ) to allow check of the access record (step S 6 ). Thus, the administrator can check the content of the browsing history check screen  98 . Then, the PC  2  determines whether access to the Website is restricted (step S 7 ), wherein when it is not restricted (step S 7 : NO), the Website can be accessed, so that the procedure moves to step S 3 , and when it is restricted (step S 7 : YES), the Website is blocked (step S 8 ), and the administrator of the PC  2  gives a warning and an instruction to the user (step S 9 ). 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the procedure for accessing and filtering Website will be described. The user inputs the URL of a desired Website using the Web browser  8  (step S 11 ). The input URL is sent to the Web server  6  on the Internet  4  via the network communication section  14  (a in  FIG. 1 , step S 12 ). The network communication section  14  receives the page data of the desired site from the Web server  6  (step S 13 ). The network communication section  14  sends the page data to the filtering-determination processing section  18  (b in  FIG. 1 , step S 14 ). The filtering-determination processing section  18  determines whether the received page data contains access denying keywords, that is, access denying keywords  72  on the access denying keyword table  50  of the local DB  12  (step S 15 ). If the filtering-determination processing section  18  determines that the received page data contains no access denying keywords  72  (step S 15 : NO), the filtering-determination processing section  18  sends the page data to the Web browser  8 , and permits access to the Website (c in  FIG. 1 , step S 16 ). 
         [0064]    If the filtering-determination processing section  18  determines that the received page data contains the access denying keywords  72  (step S 15 : YES), the filtering-determination processing section  18  stores the received page data, together with additional information (URL, date, etc.) in the browsing history table  48  which is the browsing history region of the local DB  12  (d in  FIG. 1 ), thereby holding the page data (step S 17 ). The filtering-determination processing section  18  sends data indicative of the warning message  80  on the dialog screen  78  (see  FIG. 7 ) to the Web browser  8  via the display-screen generating section  16  (h in  FIG. 1 , step S 18 ). 
         [0065]    When the user clicks on the YES button  84  or the NO button  86  on the dialog screen  78  to select whether to access the Website (e in  FIG. 1 ), the input-determination processing section  20  determines the input (step S 19 ). If the input-determination processing section  20  determines that the input indicates access (the YES button  84  has been clicked on), the input-determination processing section  20  gives a display instruction to the filtering-determination processing section  18  (f in  FIG. 1 ) to send the page data held in the browsing history table  48  to the Web browser  8 , thereby permitting access to the Website (c in  FIG. 1 , step S 20 ). The DB searching and editing section  22  searches through the data in the local DB  12 , edits the search data, and stores the edited data in the local DB  12  (i in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0066]    In contrast, if the input-determination processing section  20  determines that the input indicates no access (the NO button  86  has been clicked on), the input-determination processing section  20  sends non-display screen data to the Web browser  8  using the display-screen generating section  16 , and blocks access to the Website (g in  FIG. 1 , step S 21 ). In this case, the non-display screen may display “denied” as an indication that access has been denied. 
         [0067]    In the procedure, the Web browser  8  determines whether to send the data to the Web server  6  according to whether the data indicative of whether to the Website can be accessed has an Internet address or a local address. 
         [0068]    The local DB  12  has the white URL table  44  and the black URL table  46 . Thus, in place of determination using access denying keywords, it is also possible that the URLs on the white URL table  44  and/or the black URL table  46  are compared with the URL of the desired Website, and when they match, the page is displayed (or not displayed). For example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , when the user inputs the URL of the Website (step S 31 ), the input-determination processing section  20  determines whether the URL matches a URL on the black URL table  46  (step S 32 ), wherein if they match (step S 32 : YES), the Website is blocked (step S 33 ), and if they do not match (step S 32 : NO), the Website can be accessed (step S 34 ). 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , viewing of history information will be described.  FIG. 13  is a flowchart of an example of the procedure for the administrator to view history information. 
         [0070]    The administrator inputs a predetermined local address of the PC  2  for the administrator from the Web browser  8  (step S 41 ). The Web browser  8  sends the URL to the input-determination processing section  20  and, depending on the screen, receives various parameter information together with the URL (step S 42 ). The input-determination processing section  20  determines whether the received data has a history information access request (step S 43 ). If the input-determination processing section  20  recognizes the history information access request (step S 43 : YES), the DB searching and editing section  22  searches the local DB  12  and edits the search results, and sends the history list data on the report screen  88  (see  FIG. 8 ) to the Web browser  8  via the display-screen generating section  16  (step S 44 ). 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , the setting of restricted access (denied access) will be described.  FIG. 14  is a flowchart of an example of the procedure for selecting restricted access from history information. 
         [0072]    The administrator selects normally blocked Websites from the browsing history list  100  on the browsing history check screen  98  (see  FIG. 9 ), and checks check boxes  120  corresponding to them, and clicks on the send button  122  (step S 51 ). Upon reception, the input-determination processing section  20  searches the local DB  12  for the URLs of the selected Websites, and saves the URLs in the black URL table  46  on the local DB  12  (step S 52 ). As a result, the Websites are blocked. 
         [0073]    The features and advantages of the first embodiment will be listed below and its modifications will be given.
       [1] If the user wishes to access the URL of Web content that is determined by the Web filtering function or set by the administrator to be undesirable, instead of unconditionally denying the access, the warning message  80 , such as “Access to this Web content is restricted and is recorded and reported to the administrator.” “Do you wish to continue?”, is given. Thus, the user himself/herself can decide a risk that the browsing history is reported to the administrator. Accordingly, the effect of restricting access to undesirable sites serves as access filtering.   [2] Since the display of a warning message and the storage of the history are performed at the same time, access to undesirable sites can be restricted as in accessing the sites in front of the administrator. If the user selects “access”, the browsing history information is stored using the Web filtering function, for which the basic function of the Web browser  8  can be used in the first embodiment without additional special function.   [3] The administrator can freely check the history information. Accordingly, if the user wishes to access an undesirable site, the administrator can give a warning and an instruction, and block the undesirable site using the access deny registration function, thus completely blocking further access.   [4] Since user&#39;s Website browsing history is automatically stored, the administrator can easily view the stored information, allowing the administrator to check any time what content the user viewed.   [5] If the browsing history contains an undesirable site, the administrator can add the information on the site to the denied Website list to block it. Thus, the undesirable site or content in the undesirable site can be blocked without checking.   [6] A user&#39;s access request is accepted under the condition that the access is recorded and/or reported to the administrator. Accordingly, if the user wishes to access Website content that is blocked by filtering software, the user can view the Website content without the involvement of the administrator to obtain necessary information.   [7] Since Website browsing history is automatically stored, the administrator can easily view the stored information, preventing the user from accessing undesirable content.   [8] Awareness about the standard of undesirable sites can be met between the user and the administrator, so that user&#39;s Internet literacy can be improved. Particularly, when the user is under age, decision on harmfulness can be made through communication with user&#39;s parents.   [9] Not only unconditional block of access but also restriction or cancellation of access to undesirable sites by user&#39;s decision can be made. Furthermore, access to undesirable Websites can be mentally prevented. The filtering system can protect children and young people from undesirable Websites and Web content through the mediation of user&#39;s decision while respecting user&#39;s originality.       
 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0083]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , a second embodiment of the invention will be described.  FIG. 15  is a diagram of a PC network system according to the second embodiment. In  FIG. 15 , the same components as those of  FIG. 1  are given the same reference numerals. 
         [0084]    In the first embodiment, the PC  2  that is a user terminal is configured as a filtering apparatus, and is shared by the user and the administrator. In the second embodiment, a proxy server  300  has the filtering function so that the filtering function as in the first embodiment is achieved by the proxy server  300 . 
         [0085]    The PC network system  200  is a network system in which PCs  211  and  212 , such as client PCs  1  and  2 , and the proxy server  300  are networked via the Internet  4 . The PC  211  includes a Web browser  801  and a network communication section  141 . The PC  212  includes a Web browser  802  and a network communication section  142 . The proxy server  300 , like the PC  2  (see  FIG. 1 ), includes the processing section  10 , the local DB  12 , and the network communication section  14 . 
         [0086]    This configuration can also prevent unrestricted access to an undesirable Website responding to a user&#39;s request under the condition that the access is recorded and reported to the administrator, and improve the Internet literacy of the user. 
       Other Embodiments 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
             [1] The local DB  12  of the above embodiments may further have a denied access candidate table  124 , as shown in  Fig. 16 , in which an blocked site candidate list is added, and at the next access, information on undesirable sites may be presented to the user or, a conversation with the user about the harmfulness of the Website may be given so that the user can add the undesirable site to the blocked URL list of the black URL table  46  according to the user&#39;s own decision. The configuration of registering restriction according to user&#39;s own decision improves the Internet literacy of the user. 
             [2] In the above embodiments, browsing history is added on the screen of the PC  2 . Instead, it may be informed to the mobile terminal of the administrator, such as a PC or a mobile phone by e-mail using the communications function of the PC  2 . 
             [3] In the above embodiments, the blocking of access is set on the browsing history check screen using a common PC or another PC. Instead, the blocking of access and the checking of browsing history may be made by remote control using the remote control function of a mobile terminal such as a PC or a mobile phone. 
             [4] In the above embodiments, the PC  2  is taken as an example. Instead, as shown in  FIG. 17 , a mobile terminal  400  such as a mobile phone may be used. In this case, the mobile terminal  400  is connected to the Web servers  6  via a base station  402  using a radio communication function. Such a configuration can also prevent unrestricted access to undesirable sites responding to a user&#39;s request under the condition that the access is recorded and/or reported to the administrator. 
             [5] As shown in  FIG. 18 , a personal digital assistant (PDA)  500  may be used. In this case, the PDA  500  is connected to the Web servers  6  via the base station  402  using a radio communication function. Such a configuration can also prevent unrestricted access to undesirable sites responding to a user&#39;s request under the condition that the access is recorded and/or reported to the administrator. 
             [6] In the above embodiments, an access request is accepted under the condition that the access is recorded and/or reported to the administrator. Instead, it may be accepted under the condition that the access is recorded or reported to the administrator. 
             [7] In the above embodiments, the PC  2 , the mobile terminal  400 , and the PDA  500  are taken as examples of a device capable of accessing Websites. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those devices and can be applied to any devices having communications capability and that can obtain content from Websites. 
           
         
       
     
         [0094]    The foregoing embodiments provide the following advantages:
       [1] When the user viewed a restricted Website, the administrator can be informed of what Website the user viewed from one or both of the access record and its record.   [2] When the user gives a request to access a restricted Website, the user is informed of the condition that the access is accepted when the access is recorded and/or reported to the administrator. This makes the user realize the intention of the administrator again and gives a good opportunity to reconsider the access to the undesirable Website, which prevents access to undesirable Websites, thus improving the availability of Web content.       
 
         [0097]    The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the embodiments.