Patent Publication Number: US-11653059-B2

Title: Content presentation control

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Children may be prevented from consuming mature content by removing or blocking the mature content from a content item. Portions of video with mature content may be removed or obscured and inappropriate language may be replaced with other sounds. Although often effective to prevent children from consuming certain types of content, these methods may prevent access to mature content by persons for whom that mature content may be more appropriate. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following summary presents a simplified summary of certain features. The summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key or critical elements. 
     Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for preventing and/or discouraging access by children and/or other persons to restricted content and/or other information. Different users may be able to hear sounds at different frequencies. Some users may have different and/or better hearing and may be able to hear sounds at different frequencies, for example higher frequencies, than other users. Users may also wish to discourage and/or prevent other users from consuming restricted content without disrupting the experience of users that may be permitted to consume the restricted content. A sound output at a high frequency, for example, may be used to disrupt the viewing experience of a user that is not permitted to consume restricted content. The high frequency sound may cause the user that is not permitted to consume restricted content to leave an environment where the content item is output. The high frequency sound may be inaudible to users that are permitted to consume restricted content. The high-frequency sound may discourage and/or prevent some users from consuming restricted content without disrupting the user experience of other users. 
     These and other features and advantages are described in greater detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Some features are shown by way of example, and not by limitation, in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like numerals reference similar elements. 
         FIG.  1    shows an example communication network. 
         FIG.  2    shows hardware elements of a computing device. 
         FIG.  3    shows an example system that may be used to protect content. 
         FIG.  4    is a flow chart showing an example method for content protection. 
         FIG.  5    is a flow chart showing an example method for configuring the frequency of deterrent audio. 
         FIG.  6    is a sequence diagram showing an example method for content protection. 
         FIG.  7    is a sequence diagram showing an example method for protecting voice calls. 
         FIG.  8    is a sequence diagram showing an example method for preventing panic during an emergency. 
         FIGS.  9 A- 9 C  show example user interfaces for configuring deterrent audio. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, show examples of the disclosure. 
     It is to be understood that the examples shown in the drawings and/or discussed herein are non-exclusive and that there are other examples of how the disclosure may be practiced. 
       FIG.  1    shows an example communication network  100  in which features described herein may be implemented. The communication network  100  may comprise one or more information distribution networks of any type, such as, without limitation, a telephone network, a wireless network (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G network, a WiFi IEEE 802.11 network, a WiMAX network, a satellite network, and/or any other network for wireless communication), an optical fiber network, a coaxial cable network, and/or a hybrid fiber/coax distribution network. The communication network  100  may use a series of interconnected communication links  101  (e.g., coaxial cables, optical fibers, wireless links, etc.) to connect multiple premises  102  (e.g., businesses, homes, consumer dwellings, train stations, airports, etc.) to a local office  103  (e.g., a headend). The local office  103  may send downstream information signals and receive upstream information signals via the communication links  101 . Each of the premises  102  may comprise devices, described below, to receive, send, and/or otherwise process those signals and information contained therein. 
     The communication links  101  may originate from the local office  103  and may comprise components not shown, such as splitters, filters, amplifiers, etc., to help convey signals clearly. The communication links  101  may be coupled to one or more wireless access points  127  configured to communicate with one or more mobile devices  125  via one or more wireless networks. The mobile devices  125  may comprise smart phones, tablets or laptop computers with wireless transceivers, tablets or laptop computers communicatively coupled to other devices with wireless transceivers, and/or any other type of device configured to communicate via a wireless network. 
     The local office  103  may comprise an interface  104 . The interface  104  may comprise one or more computing device(s) configured to send information downstream to, and to receive information upstream from, devices communicating with the local office  103  via the communications links  101 . The interface  104  may be configured to manage communications among those devices, to manage communications between those devices and backend devices such as servers  105 - 107 , and/or to manage communications between those devices and one or more external networks  109 . The interface  104  may, for example, comprise one or more routers, one or more base stations, one or more optical line terminals (OLTs), one or more termination systems (e.g., a modular cable modem termination system (M-CMTS) or an integrated cable modem termination system (I-CMTS)), one or more digital subscriber line access modules (DSLAMs), and/or any other computing device(s). The local office  103  may comprise one or more network interfaces  108  that comprise circuitry needed to communicate via the external networks  109 . The external networks  109  may comprise networks of Internet devices, telephone networks, wireless networks, wired networks, fiber optic networks, and/or any other desired network. The local office  103  may also or alternatively communicate with the mobile devices  125  via the interface  108  and one or more of the external networks  109 , e.g., via one or more of the wireless access points  127 . 
     The push notification server  105  may be configured to generate push notifications to deliver information to devices in the premises  102  and/or to the mobile devices  125 . The content server  106  may be configured to provide content to devices in the premises  102  and/or to the mobile devices  125 . This content may comprise, for example, video, audio, text, web pages, images, files, etc. The content server  106  (or, alternatively, an authentication server) may comprise software to validate user identities and entitlements, to locate and retrieve requested content, and/or to initiate delivery (e.g., streaming) of the content. The application server  107  may be configured to offer any desired service. For example, an application server may be responsible for collecting, and generating a download of, information for electronic program guide listings. Another application server may be responsible for monitoring user viewing habits and collecting information from that monitoring for use in selecting advertisements. Yet another application server may be responsible for formatting and inserting advertisements in a video stream being transmitted to devices in the premises  102  and/or to the mobile devices  125 . The local office  103  may comprise additional push, content, and/or application servers, and/or other types of servers. Although shown separately, the push server  105 , the content server  106 , the application server  107 , and/or other server(s) may be combined. The servers  105 ,  106 ,  107 , and/or other servers, which may also or alternatively be located in the external network  109 , may be computing devices and may comprise memory storing data and also storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the server(s) to perform steps described herein. 
     An example premises  102   a  may comprise an interface  120 . The interface  120  may comprise circuitry used to communicate via the communication links  101 . The interface  120  may comprise a modem  110 , which may comprise transmitters and receivers used to communicate via the communication links  101  with the local office  103 . The modem  110  may comprise, for example, a coaxial cable modem (for coaxial cable lines of the communication links  101 ), a fiber interface node (for fiber optic lines of the communication links  101 ), twisted-pair telephone modem, a wireless transceiver, and/or any other desired modem device. One modem is shown in  FIG.  1   , but a plurality of modems operating in parallel may be implemented within the interface  120 . The interface  120  may comprise a gateway  111 . The modem  110  may be connected to, or be a part of, the gateway  111 . The gateway  111  may be a computing device that communicates with the modem(s)  110  to allow one or more other devices in the premises  102   a  to communicate with the local office  103  and/or with other devices beyond the local office  103  (e.g., via the local office  103  and the external network(s)  109 ). The gateway  111  may comprise a set-top box (STB), digital video recorder (DVR), a digital transport adapter (DTA), a computer server, and/or any other desired computing device. 
     The gateway  111  may also comprise one or more local network interfaces to communicate, via one or more local networks, with devices in the premises  102   a . Such devices may comprise, e.g., display devices  112  (e.g., televisions), other devices  113  (e.g., a DVR or STB), personal computers  114 , laptop computers  115 , wireless devices  116  (e.g., wireless routers, wireless laptops, notebooks, tablets and netbooks, cordless phones (e.g., Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone—DECT phones), mobile phones, mobile televisions, personal digital assistants (PDA)), landline phones  117  (e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol—VoIP phones), and any other desired devices. Example types of local networks comprise Multimedia Over Coax Alliance (MoCA) networks, Ethernet networks, networks communicating via Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces, wireless networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15, Bluetooth), networks communicating via in-premises power lines, and others. The lines connecting the interface  120  with the other devices in the premises  102   a  may represent wired or wireless connections, as may be appropriate for the type of local network used. One or more of the devices at the premises  102   a  may be configured to provide wireless communications channels (e.g., IEEE 802.11 channels) to communicate with one or more of the mobile devices  125 , which may be on- or off-premises. 
     The mobile devices  125 , one or more of the devices in the premises  102   a , and/or other devices may receive, store, output, and/or otherwise use assets. An asset may comprise a video, a game, one or more images, software, audio, text, webpage(s), and/or other content. 
       FIG.  2    shows hardware elements of a computing device  200  that may be used to implement any of the computing devices shown in  FIG.  1    (e.g., the mobile devices  125 , any of the devices shown in the premises  102   a , any of the devices shown in the local office  103 , any of the wireless access points  127 , any devices with the external network  109 ) and any other computing devices discussed herein (e.g., the user device  305 , the content device  310 , the user device  705 , etc.). The computing device  200  may comprise one or more processors  201 , which may execute instructions of a computer program to perform any of the functions described herein. The instructions may be stored in a non-rewritable memory  202  such as a read-only memory (ROM), a rewritable memory  203  such as random access memory (RAM) and/or flash memory, removable media  204  (e.g., a USB drive, a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD)), and/or in any other type of computer-readable storage medium or memory. Instructions may also be stored in an attached (or internal) hard drive  205  or other types of storage media. The computing device  200  may comprise one or more output devices, such as a display device  206  (e.g., an external television and/or other external or internal display device) and a speaker  214 , and may comprise one or more output device controllers  207 , such as a video processor or a controller for an infra-red or BLUETOOTH transceiver. One or more user input devices  208  may comprise a remote control, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen (which may be integrated with the display device  206 ), microphone, etc. The computing device  200  may also comprise one or more network interfaces, such as a network input/output (I/O) interface  210  (e.g., a network card) to communicate with an external network  209 . The network I/O interface  210  may be a wired interface (e.g., electrical, RF (via coax), optical (via fiber)), a wireless interface, or a combination of the two. The network I/O interface  210  may comprise a modem configured to communicate via the external network  209 . The external network  209  may comprise the communication links  101  discussed above, the external network  109 , an in-home network, a network provider&#39;s wireless, coaxial, fiber, or hybrid fiber/coaxial distribution system (e.g., a DOCSIS network), or any other desired network. The computing device  200  may comprise a location-detecting device, such as a global positioning system (GPS) microprocessor  211 , which may be configured to receive and process global positioning signals and determine, with possible assistance from an external server and antenna, a geographic position of the computing device  200 . 
     Although  FIG.  2    shows an example hardware configuration, one or more of the elements of the computing device  200  may be implemented as software or a combination of hardware and software. Modifications may be made to add, remove, combine, divide, etc. components of the computing device  200 . Additionally, the elements shown in  FIG.  2    may be implemented using basic computing devices and components that have been configured to perform operations such as are described herein. For example, a memory of the computing device  200  may store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor  201  and/or one or more other processors of the computing device  200 , cause the computing device  200  to perform one, some, or all of the operations described herein. Such memory and processor(s) may also or alternatively be implemented through one or more Integrated Circuits (ICs). An IC may be, for example, a microprocessor that accesses programming instructions or other data stored in a ROM and/or hardwired into the IC. For example, an IC may comprise an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) having gates and/or other logic dedicated to the calculations and other operations described herein. An IC may perform some operations based on execution of programming instructions read from ROM or RAM, with other operations hardwired into gates or other logic. Further, an IC may be configured to output image data to a display buffer. 
       FIG.  3    shows an example system  300  that may be used for preventing and/or discouraging access by persons to a controlled type of content. One such type of a controlled content is content that is restricted to children or minors. Some content, such as restricted content, may be inappropriate for some users to consume (e.g., view, listen to, read, etc.). For example, an underage user of the system  300  may be considered too young to view an R rated movie. An adult user of the system  300  may wish to consume a content item and at the same time discourage and/or prevent an underage user (e.g., a user that satisfies an age threshold, a user that is below a particular age, etc.) from consuming the content item or a portion of the content item. The system  300  may be configured to detect whether an underage user is present in an environment (e.g., a room) where the content item is to be output and the system  300  may output deterrent audio together with the content item&#39;s audio. The deterrent audio may be audible to the underage user and may be inaudible to an adult user that is permitted to consume the content item. The audio may cause discomfort to the minor user and may cause the minor user to leave the environment where the content item is being output. By playing a sound that is audible to minor users and/or causes discomfort to minor users, but that is inaudible to adult users, the system may discourage and/or prevent minor users from consuming restricted content (e.g., explicit, graphic, content deemed to be inappropriate by a supervising user, etc.). The deterrent audio may allow an adult user to enjoy the content item without any disruptions that typical censors might cause (e.g., by bleeping out words, cutting scenes, etc.). 
     A sound may be audible to a younger user and inaudible to an older user if the sound is output at a sufficiently high frequency. The human ear comprises hair cells used to detect sound. As a person ages, hair cells may be destroyed and may make it harder for the person to hear sounds output at higher frequencies. For example, a person of any age may be able to hear a sound at or below 8,000 Hertz (Hz), a person under the age of 50 years may be able to hear a sound at or below 12,000 Hz, a person under the age of 40 years may be able to hear a sound at or below 15,000 Hz, a person under the age of 30 years may be able to hear a sound at or below 16,000 Hz, a person under the age of 24 years may be able to hear a sound at or below 17,000 Hz, and/or a person under the age of 20 years may be able to hear a sound at or below 19,000 Hz. Deterrent audio may be output at a high frequency (e.g., around 20,000 Hz) to deter younger users from consuming content. For example, the deterrent audio may be overlaid with the content audio. This may make it uncomfortable for a younger user of the system  300 , who may be able to hear that deterrent audio, to remain in the environment where the content item is output but still allow older users, who may be unable to hear the deterrent audio, to consume a content item without experiencing discomfort caused by the deterrent audio. 
     The system  300  may comprise a user device  305 , a gateway device  310 , and the content server  106 . The user device  305  and the gateway device  310  may be connected (e.g., via WiFi, Bluetooth, cable, etc.). The user device  305  may comprise one or more computing devices and/or other components (e.g., a display screen configured to output video, and/or speakers configured to output audio). For example, the user device  305  may comprise one or more of the mobile device  125 , the other device  113 , the personal computer  114 , the laptop computer  115 , the wireless device  116 , and/or other computing devices. The user device  305  may comprise a display screen, television, tablet, smart phone, computer, streaming device, or any other device capable of outputting audio and/or video of a content item. The gateway device  310  may be configured to provide access to the Internet for the user device (e.g., via the external network  209 ). The gateway device  310  may comprise, for example, the interface  120 , and/or the gateway  111 . Additionally or alternatively, the user device  305  may be able to access the Internet without the assistance of the gateway device  310  (e.g., the user device  305  may access the Internet using 4G, Long-Term Evolution, 5G New Radio, or other communication method). 
     The user device  305  and the gateway device  310  may communicate with the content server  106  via the external network  209 . The user device  305  may request a content item from the content server  106  and may output the content item to one or more users within an environment (e.g., a household, a living room, or any other location where one or more users are within hearing distance of the output content item). The user device  305  may be configured to output a deterrent audio (e.g., overlaid with audio of the content audio) to deter underage users from consuming content items or a portion of a content item. A deterrent audio overlaid with audio of the content item may, for example, comprise the audio (e.g., sound track) for the content item with the deterrent audio added to and/or superimposed on the audio for the content item. A user (e.g., a child) able to hear the deterrent audio may hear the audio for the content item and the deterrent audio. A user (e.g., an adult) unable to hear the deterrent audio may hear only the audio for the content item. The deterrent audio may be output to prevent a user from consuming controlled (e.g., restricted) content in the content item. The controlled content may be imagery (e.g., images with or without audio, video with or without audio, etc.). The deterrent audio may comprise output to prevent a user from viewing restricted imagery (e.g., explicit images, graphic images, images deemed to be inappropriate by a supervising user, etc.) and/or audio. 
     The user device  305  may store a plurality of audio files that enable the user device  305  to output sounds that are at a frequency (e.g., 20,000 Hz, 19,000 Hz, or any other frequency described above) that can be heard by underage users but that are inaudible to other users. The sound may be designed to cause discomfort to underage users and make it difficult for the underage user to remain in the environment where the content item is being output (and/or may make it difficult for the underage user to clearly hear the audio for the content item) and thus may discourage and/or prevent the underage user from consuming the content item (e.g., or a portion of the content item that comprises restricted content). If the gateway device  310  or other computing device is set to block certain channels/services unless a parental access code is entered, entry of that code may cause deterrent audio to be output for all content associated with that channel/service. One or more services/channels may be designated as channels for which deterrent audio should be output for all content received via those one or more services/channels. 
     The gateway device  310  may cause a content item to be output, in a premises (e.g., a living room, a house, a park, etc.), via the user device  305 . The gateway device  310  (e.g., or other device  113 ) may determine whether the content item or a portion of the content item comprises restricted content. The gateway device  310  may add deterrent audio to the audio of the content item, for example, if restricted content is detected in the content item. Preventing and/or discouraging access is discussed in more detail in connection with  FIGS.  4 - 9    below. 
       FIG.  4    shows an example method  400  for preventing and/or discouraging access by children and/or other persons to inappropriate content and/or other information. The example method  400  may be performed using any device described in connection with  FIGS.  1 - 3   . Although one or more steps of the example method  400  are described for convenience as being performed by the user device  305  and/or the content server  106 , one, some, or all of such steps may be performed by the gateway device  310 , or one or more other computing devices, and steps may be distributed among one or more computing devices, including any computing devices such as those described in connection with  FIGS.  1 - 3   . One or more steps of the example method  400  may be rearranged, modified, repeated, and/or omitted. 
     At step  405 , user preferences for deterrent audio may be received (e.g., via one or more user interfaces such as described in connection with  FIGS.  9 A- 9 C ). For example, a user (e.g., an administrator) may input the user&#39;s preferences into the user device  305 . The user preferences may be set by an administrator (e.g., a parent) and underage users may be unable to change the preferences (e.g., the preferences may require a password to be changed). The preferences may indicate when or in what situations a deterrent audio (e.g., for deterring underage users from consuming a portion of a content item) should be output by the user device  305 . The preferences may indicate one or more types of content that certain users (e.g., underage users) are allowed to consume and/or one or more types of content (e.g., restricted content) that those users are not allowed to consume. Restricted content may comprise one or more content types that have been designated as inappropriate for one or more groups of younger persons. Restricted content may comprise content types and/or content showing violence, content showing sexual activity, content showing nudity, content showing drug/alcohol/tobacco use, content comprising adult language (e.g., profanity) and/or other content. For example, the preferences may indicate that one underage user is allowed to consume content (e.g., or a content type) with swearing or other language, but is not allowed to consume content with graphic violence. For example, the user preferences may indicate that a particular user is not allowed to consume a content item that is rated above a threshold (e.g., the content item is rated at or above PG-13 and indicates that it comprises violent content). User preferences may indicate that a user is not allowed to consume content that is rated for an age that is older than the user&#39;s age. For example, if a user is 16 years old, the preferences may indicate that the user is not allowed to consume a content item that is rated TV-17. As an additional example, if a user is under the age of 13, the user preferences may indicate that the user is not allowed to view a content item that is rated PG-13. 
     At step  410 , the frequency of the deterrent audio may be configured (e.g., via one or more user interfaces such as described in connection with  FIGS.  9 A- 9 C ). Step  410  may comprise any step discussed in connection with  FIG.  5    below. The deterrent audio may be configured separately for each user. For example, the deterrent audio may be configured for each user in a household and/or each user below an age threshold (e.g., 18 years, 16 years, etc.). For example, the user device  305  or content server  106  may determine that an appropriate frequency for the deterrent audio is 20,000 Hz for a user that is age 12 years and that an appropriate frequency for the deterrent audio is 19,000 Hz for a user that is age 16 years. 
     At step  415 , a content item may be requested. The user device  305  may send a request, to the content server  106 , for a content item. The request may be sent based on a selection made by a user. The content server  106  may send the requested content item to the user device  305  for output. At step  420 , the user device  305  may determine the next portion of the content item requested in step  415  that should be output. For example, the user device  305  may generate a video stream comprising the content item and may begin by determining the first portion of the video stream for output in an environment. The next portion of the content item may be determined based on a segment of the content item that is identified by a manifest file. The manifest file may indicate locations of content data for segments (e.g., a 1 second segment, a 4 seconds segment, etc.) of the content item. The next portion of the content item may be determined based on an interval of time. For example, the content item may be split into portions that are four seconds long. The next portion may be the next four second portion of the content item. 
     At step  425 , whether deterrent audio should be output selectively may be determined. Outputting the deterrent audio selectively may comprise outputting the deterrent audio during one or more portions of the content item. Outputting the deterrent audio selectively may comprise outputting the deterrent audio while restricted content is output and/or a threshold time prior to output of restricted content, but not when non-restricted content is output. For example, outputting the deterrent audio selectively may comprise outputting the deterrent audio during sex, violence, or other scenes of a 2 hour movie, but not during scenes that have no restricted content. Outputting deterrent audio for the duration of a content item may comprise continuously outputting the deterrent audio for the entire 2 hours of the movie. The user device  305  may determine whether the deterrent audio should be output selectively (e.g., throughout the duration of the content item or only during certain portions of the content item) based on user preferences. The user device may determine that deterrent audio should not be output selectively, for example, if the user that selected the content item has indicated in user preferences that the deterrent audio should be output throughout the duration of the content item. For example, a user may deem a content item too risky for an underage user to inadvertently see a portion of the content item and therefore may want the deterrent audio to be output for the entire duration of the content item. 
     Alternatively, the user device may determine that deterrent audio should not be output selectively, for example, if more than a threshold percentage (e.g., 60%, 30%, 20%, etc.) of the content item contains restricted content or material that may be inappropriate for an underage user. Metadata for a content item may indicate the percentage of scenes that comprise restricted content. The user device  305  may compare the threshold percentage with the percentage indicated by the metadata to determine whether deterrent audio should be output for the duration of the content item. The user device  305  may determine that deterrent audio should be output for the duration of the content item, for example, if the percentage indicated in the metadata exceeds the threshold percentage. Alternatively, locations within the content item may be tagged with information indicating that the location comprises restricted content (e.g., metadata may comprise tags indicating locations of violence, sexual, language or other restricted content). The user device  305  may determine that deterrent audio should be output for the duration of the content item, for example, if the quantity of restricted content tags exceeds a threshold quantity (e.g., 2, 5, 10, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the user device  305  may non-selectively add deterrent audio to the audio of an entire content item based on information such as rating (e.g., if R, MA, PG-13, NC-17, etc.) of the content item. 
     If it is not determined that the deterrent audio should be output selectively, step  430  may be performed, and the deterrent audio may be output for the duration of the content item (e.g., deterrent audio may be overlaid with all of the audio corresponding to the content item). Alternatively, the user device  305  may determine that deterrent audio should be output selectively, for example, if a user preference may indicates that deterrent audio should be output selectively. Step  435  may be performed, for example, if the user device  305  determines that deterrent audio should be output selectively. 
     At step  435 , whether an underage user is present may be determined. Step  435  may be optionally performed. If step  435  is omitted, step  440  (described below) may be performed if it is determined in step  425  that deterrent audio should be selectively output. In step  435 , the user device  305  may determine that an underage user is present, for example, if it is able to detect an underage user. The user device  305  may comprise one or more microphones (e.g., a microphone array) that are configured to receive voice audio from one or more users. The user device  305  may be configured to recognize voices in the voice audio and/or determine the age of a user based on the voice audio. The user device  305  may use the voice audio to determine an age of each user within an environment where the content item is being output. For example, the user device  305  may have access to a voice profile of each user in a household. The user device  305  may match voice data detected in the environment with one or more voice profiles to determine users present in the environment. A voice profile may indicate an age of a user and if the voice profile is determined to be a match with received voice audio, the user device  305  may determine that the user is present in the environment. Additionally or alternatively, the user device  305  may use a machine learning model to perform voice recognition to identify a user. An identified user may have an associated profile that indicates the age of the identified user. Alternatively, the user device  305  may use a machine learning model to determine the age of a detected voice. For example, the machine learning model may be trained to determine an age of a human based on voice audio received from the human (e.g., without matching the voice data to a profile). 
     The user device  305  may compare the age with user preferences (e.g., preferences of the user that selected the content item) and/or the content item to determine whether there is an underage user present in the environment. For example, if user preferences indicate that a user under the age of 15 is not permitted to consume violent content items, the user device determines that a 14-year-old user is present, and the content item requested in step  415  comprises one or more violent scenes, the user device may determine that an underage user is present. Additionally or alternatively, the user device  305  may compare the age of a user with a rating of the content item to determine whether there is an underage user in the environment. The user device  305  may determine that there is an underage user present, for example, if there is a user determined to be under the age of 17 and the content item has an R rating. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the user device  305  may use WiFi disruption to determine whether an underage user is present. The user device  305 , the gateway device  310 , and/or one or more other computing devices may be configured to detect radio waves (e.g., WiFi) and may detect locations of one or more users based on radio waves reflected off of the one or more user&#39;s bodies. Each user may have their own user profile (e.g., an indication of how radio waves reflect off the user&#39;s body) that may be identifiable by the user device  305  and/or the gateway device  310 . Each user profile may indicate the age of a user. The user device  305  and/or gateway device  310  may determine that an underage user is present if the profile of a user below a threshold age (e.g., 18 years, 13, years, etc.) is detected within a threshold distance of the user device and/or gateway device  310 . Additionally or alternatively, infrared sensors or emitters may be used to determine an underage user based on an infrared profile of a user. Additionally or alternatively, the user device  305  and/or gateway device  310  may determine an age of a user based on the size of the user. The user&#39;s size may be determined based on the reflection of radio waves from the user&#39;s body. The user device  305  and/or gateway device  310  may determine that an underage user is present if the size of a user is below a threshold size (e.g., below 5 feet, less than 100 pounds, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the user device  305  may comprise one or more infrared sensors and the one or more infrared sensors may be used to determine whether an underage user is present. The user device  305  may use an infrared sensor to determine the temperature of each user that is nearby the user device  305 . Users of different ages may have different temperatures and younger users may tend to have higher body temperatures. For example, a user between the ages of 0-3 years may have a temperature of 97.5-100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, a user between the ages of 3-10 years may have a temperature of 97.0-100.0 degrees Fahrenheit, and a user between the ages of 11-65 years may have a temperature of 96.6-99.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The user device may determine that the user is underage and that an underage user is present, for example, if a temperature determined for a user is above a threshold temperature (e.g., above 99.7 degrees Fahrenheit). 
     Additionally or alternatively, the user device  305  may use detection zones to determine whether an underage user is present. The user device  305  may comprise a motion detector or a camera (or otherwise may be configured to communicate with a motion detector or a camera) that is able to detect whether a person is in a particular location (e.g., a detection zone) or has moved through a particular location. A user may use (e.g., via a user interface) the user device  305  to indicate a detection zone (or multiple detection zones). For example, the user may indicate that the doorway to a room where the user device is located should be a detection zone. The user device  305  may determine that an underage user is present if an object is present in or near the doorway (e.g., the detection zone indicated by the user). For example, a child may be watching the user device  305  from the doorway while the child&#39;s parents are watching a movie. The user device  305  may use one or more machine learning models (e.g., a convolutional neural network, etc.) to determine whether a person in the detection zone is underage. For example, a machine learning model may be trained using a dataset comprising images labeled as adults and images labeled as children. Based on the training, the machine learning model may be able to distinguish a user as underage or not. The user device  305  may record one or more images (e.g., an image, three images, video, etc.) of the detection zone and may use the one or more images as input into the machine learning model. The user device may determine that an underage user is present, for example, if the model indicates that an underage user (e.g., a child) is present in the detection zone. 
     If it is determined that no underage user is present, step  465  may be performed and the next portion of the content item (e.g., determined in step  420 ) may be output. If an underage user is determined to be present, step  440  may be performed. At step  440 , whether the scene information corresponding to the content item indicates that the next portion determined in step  420  comprises restricted content may be determined. The content item may comprise information about one or more portions or scenes of the content item. The information may indicate what occurs during the portion of the content item. The information may indicate whether the portion contains any restricted content. For example, information may indicate that the portion comprises violence, sexual, language, or other restricted content. Each portion of the content item may be tagged with information indicating whether the portion comprises any restricted content and/or the type of restricted content that the portion comprises. For example, each portion of content item (e.g., 1 second portions identified by a manifest) may have a corresponding metadata file that includes markers/tags/other indications of content type applicable to that content item portion. The metadata may comprise closed captioning data, insertion triggers, and/or other data indicating restricted content. Metadata for each portion may be examined and compared against types of restricted content and/or user preferences received in step  405 . The user device  305  may determine that the next portion comprises restricted content, for example, if there is a match between the metadata and the user preferences (e.g., the metadata indicates that the next portion comprises sexual content and the user preferences indicate that sexual content is restricted content). The metadata may indicate multiple restricted content types applicable to a single portion of content. For example, the metadata may indicate that a portion comprises violent content and inappropriate language. By indicating multiple types of restricted content for a single portion, deterrent audio may be output during that single portion if any of one of the multiple restricted content types is designated by user preferences (e.g., as received in step  405 ). 
     Step  455  may be performed, for example, if the user device  305  determines that scene information corresponding to the next portion (e.g., determined in step  420 ) indicates that the next portion comprises restricted content. Step  445  may be performed, for example, if the user device  305  determines that the scene information does not indicate that the next portion comprises restricted content. 
     At step  445 , whether closed captioning corresponding to the next portion indicates that the next portion comprises restricted content may be determined. Some content items may not have scene information indicating locations or portions of the content item that comprise restricted content. Instead of or in addition to using scene information, the user device  305  may determine locations with restricted content based on the closed captioning of the content item. For example, the user device  305  may determine that closed captioning for the next portion comprises gunshots or explosions and may determine that the next portion comprises restricted content that is violent. The user device  305  may analyze the words in the closed captioning and compare the words with a list of words that are deemed restricted (e.g., as may be indicated by user preferences). The user device  305  may determine that the closed captioning indicates that the next portion comprises restricted content, for example, if a word in the closed captioning matches a word in the list of restricted content words. If the user device  305  determines that that closed captioning indicates that the portion comprises restricted content, step  455  may be performed. Alternatively, step  450  may be performed. 
     At step  450 , whether schedule information indicates that deterrent audio should be output may be determined. The user device  305  may have access to a user&#39;s schedule information. The schedule information may indicate one or more times when the user is permitted to consume a content item. For example, a user that is a student may be permitted to consume content items during only certain times of the day such as after 7 pm. The user device  305  may compare the schedule information with the current time to determine whether a deterrent audio should be output. For example, if it is 5 pm and the schedule, for a user within hearing range of the user device  305 , indicates that content items may only be consumed after 7 pm, the user device may determine that deterrent audio should be output. The deterrent audio may be output to discourage and/or prevent the user from consuming content outside of times designated by the user&#39;s schedule (e.g., to encourage the user to complete homework before 7 pm). Step  455  may be performed, for example, if schedule information indicates that deterrent audio should be output. Otherwise, step  465  may be performed. 
     At step  455 , a deterrent audio may be determined. The deterrent audio may be determined based on users present in the environment and which users should be deterred from the environment. Determining a deterrent audio may comprise determining a frequency of the deterrent audio. A frequency may be determined such that the deterrent audio will deter only users that are not permitted to consume the content (e.g., because the users are underage users and/or because a schedule of a user does not permit the user to consume the portion of the content item). The frequency may be such that users that are permitted to consume the portion of the content item will not be able to hear the deterrent audio. For example, there may be a 7-year-old user, a 12-year-old user, a 16-year-old user, and a 23-year-old user in an environment where the content item is being output. User preferences may indicate that the 7-year-old and the 12-year-old user are not permitted to consume the content item. The user device  305  may determine that a frequency of 21,000 Hz may be heard by the 12-year-old user and the 7-year-old user, but not by the 16-year-old user or the 23-year-old user. Additionally or alternatively, determining the deterrent audio may comprise determining a volume level of the deterrent audio. A volume level of the deterrent audio may be determined based on the severity of the restricted content. For example, deterrent audio for a portion of a content item comprising mild language may have a lower volume level, whereas deterrent audio for a portion of a content item comprising graphic violence may have higher volume level. The deterrent audio may be a continuous tone or a non-continuous tone that is output at the determined frequency. The deterrent audio may have the same intensity (e.g., volume level) as the audio of the content item, or some percentage (e.g., 50%, 75%, 150%, 300%, etc.) of the intensity of the audio of the content item. 
     At step  460 , the deterrent audio determined in step  455  may be output. The deterrent audio may be output within a threshold quantity of time (e.g., 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, etc.) prior to output of the next portion determined in step  420 . The deterrent audio may be output prior to the output of the portion of the content so that there is enough time to cause an underage user to leave the environment where the content item is being output. The deterrent audio may be output for a minimum amount of time (e.g., as indicated by user preferences). For example, the deterrent audio may be output for 1 minute, 3 minutes, 10 minutes or some other minimum quantity of time. Additionally or alternatively, the deterrent audio may be output during the entire duration of the next portion of the content item. This may discourage and/or prevent an underage user from returning to the environment at a time when restricted content is being output. The deterrent audio may be stored on the user device  305 . Alternatively, a manifest file corresponding to the content item may indicate a location (e.g., a Uniform Resource Identifier) of the deterrent audio. 
     At step  465 , the next portion determined in step  420  may be output in the environment. The output may comprise video and/or audio output. Steps  420 - 465  may be repeated multiple times (e.g., until the content item has finished, the user has turned off the content item, or started consuming a different content item). 
       FIG.  5    shows an example method  500  for configuring deterrent audio. The method may be performed multiple times (e.g., once for each user in a household) to determine an appropriate frequency for each user in an environment. The method  500  may comprise outputting a deterrent audio, receiving feedback from a user, and adjusting the frequency until the user is unable to hear the deterrent audio. A computing device (e.g., the user device  305 ) may be able to determine at what frequency a deterrent audio can be output so that the user is not bothered by the deterrent audio. That computing device may also determine which frequency can be used to deter the user and/or other users from consuming a content item. Although one or more steps of the example method  500  are described for convenience as being performed by the user device  305  and/or the content server  106 , one, some, or all of such steps may be performed by one or more other computing devices, and steps may be distributed among one or more computing devices, such as those described in connection with  FIGS.  1 - 4   . One or more steps of the example method  500  may be rearranged, modified, repeated, and/or omitted. The example method  500  may be performed as part of step  410  of  FIG.  4   . 
     At step  505 , a deterrent audio may be output to a user. The deterrent audio may start at a low frequency that any user may be expected to be able to hear (e.g., 8,000 Hz). At step  510 , whether the deterrent audio is audible to the user may be determined. For example, the user may input an indication via the user device  305  that the deterrent audio is audible. Step  520  may be performed, for example, if the deterrent audio is not audible. Step  515  may be performed, for example, if the deterrent audio is audible. 
     At step  515 , the frequency of the deterrent audio may be adjusted. The user device  305  may increase the frequency, for example, if the user was able to hear the deterrent audio (e.g., in step  510 ). The frequency may be increased by a threshold amount (e.g., 100, Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, etc.). Step  505  may be repeated, for example, using the adjusted frequency as the frequency for the deterrent audio. Steps  505 - 515  may be repeated until the frequency is adjusted high enough so that the user is unable to hear the deterrent audio. Step  520  may be performed for example, if it is determined that the deterrent audio is not audible in step  510 . At step  520 , the frequency of the deterrent audio may be stored (e.g., in the user device  305 , at the content server  106 , or other database) and may be used to deter people (e.g., underage users) from consuming content that the user is consuming. Additionally or alternatively, the user device  305  may store the frequency that is just below the frequency that was not audible to the user in step  510 . For example, a user may be able to hear the deterrent audio if the frequency is 14,000 Hz (e.g., as determined in step  510 ). At step  515 , the user device may adjust the frequency to 14,500 Hz and the next time step  510  is performed, the user may be unable to hear the deterrent audio. The user device  305  may store both the 14,000 Hz frequency and the 14,5000 Hz frequency for later use. The user device  305  may determine that the 14,000 Hz frequency may be used to deter the particular user from consuming a content item. Additionally or alternatively, the user device  305  may determine that the 14,500 Hz frequency may be used, for example, if the user has selected a content item, to deter other users from consuming the content item. One or more computing devices (e.g., the user device  305 ) may store data linking determined frequencies with particular users (e.g., user identifiers) and/or ages of those particular users. 
       FIG.  6    shows an example method  600  for preventing and/or discouraging access by children and/or other persons to inappropriate content and/or other information. Although one or more steps of the example method  600  are described for convenience as being performed by the user device  305  and/or the content server  106 , one, some, or all of such steps may be performed by one or more other computing devices, and steps may be distributed among one or more computing devices, including any computing devices such as those described in connection with  FIGS.  1 - 5   . One or more steps of the example method  600  may be rearranged, modified, repeated, and/or omitted. 
     At step  605 , the user device  305  may send a request for a content item to the content server  106 . The request may be sent as described above in connection with step  415  of  FIG.  4   . At step  610 , the content server  106  may mark restricted content locations in the requested content item. The content server  106  may insert tags into a manifest file of the content item. A tag may indicate what occurs in a corresponding scene or portion of the content item. For example, the tag may indicate that the portion comprises restricted language, violence, sexual content, or other restricted content. 
     At step  615 , the content server  106  may store a location (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator) of a deterrent audio in a manifest file for the content item. Alternatively, the functions of step  615  may be performed elsewhere in the process, for example, at a packager or player. At step  620 , the content server may send the content item to the user device  305 . The content item may comprise video, primary audio, secondary audio, and/or metadata. The metadata may comprise a rating of the content item, closed captioning, and/or insertion triggering (e.g., for placement of advertisements). The content item may comprise a manifest file that indicates a location of a deterrent audio file. At step  625 , the user device  305  may cause output of the deterrent audio (e.g., as described above in connection with step  460  of  FIG.  4    above) and/or the content item or a portion of the content item (e.g., as described above in connection with step  465  of  FIG.  4   ). 
       FIG.  7    shows an example method  700  for preventing and/or discouraging access by children and/or other persons to inappropriate content and/or other information. Although one or more steps of the example method  700  are described for convenience as being performed by the user device  305  and/or the user device  701  (e.g., the user device  701  may comprise one or more of the mobile device  125 , the other computing device  113 , the personal computer  114 , the laptop computer  115 , the wireless device  116 , and/or other computing devices), one, some, or all of such steps may be performed by one or more other computing devices, and steps may be distributed among one or more computing devices, including any computing devices such as those described in connection with  FIGS.  1 - 6   . One or more steps of the example method  700  may be rearranged, modified, repeated, and/or omitted. 
     At step  703 , the user device  305  may determine a frequency for deterrent audio. The frequency may be determined for a specific user of the user device  305 . For example, if the user device  305  is a smart phone, the frequency may be determined for the owner of the smart phone. The frequency may be determined as described above in connection with  FIG.  5   . At step  705 , the user device  305  may establish a connection with the user device  701  for a voice call. The voice call may comprise a phone call, a video conference or chat, or other exchange of audio between the user device  305  and the user device  701 . 
     At step  710  the user device  305  may receive a selection of a privacy mode setting. For example, a user of the user device  305  may input a selection of a privacy mode on the user device  305 . The privacy mode may be selected because the user wants to discourage and/or prevent one or more other users from listening to a conversation in which the user is engaged. At step  715 , the user device  701  may send audio to the user device  305  (e.g., the audio may comprise a portion of a conversation). At step  720 , the user device  305  may output the audio sent in step  715  and deterrent audio. The deterrent audio may be output at the frequency determined in step  703 . For example, an adult user may be engaged in a conversation, via the user device  305  and via the user device  701 , with the adult user&#39;s spouse. The adult user&#39;s children may be nearby, and the adult user may not want them to hear a portion of the conversation. After receiving selection of a privacy mode setting on the user device  305 , the user device  305  may cause a deterrent audio that is customized to the adult user (e.g., the adult user may be unable to hear the deterrent audio, and any user younger or with better hearing than the adult user may be able to hear the deterrent audio) may be output by the user device  305 . The deterrent audio may be unpleasant to the adult user&#39;s children and may cause them to move away from the user device  305  and/or discourage and/or prevent them from hearing the portion of the conversation. 
       FIG.  8    shows an example method  800  for avoiding panic during an emergency. Some environments such as senior centers, nursing homes, memory care units, or other locations may have large numbers of older users. These environments may also have one or more younger users or caretakers (e.g., nurses, assistants, chefs, janitors, or other workers). With typical alarm systems (e.g., that play loud sounds for everyone to hear), older users in the environment may become distressed and may panic. This may make it more difficult for caretakers to assist the older users in addressing the emergency event (e.g., evacuating the environment). Instead of a traditional alarm, a high frequency alarm may be used to notify caretakers of an emergency event. The high frequency alarm may allow the caretakers to hear the alarm, and the older users may be unable to hear the alarm. This may allow the caretakers to address the emergency event without potential interference from panicked older users. Although one or more steps of the example method  800  are described for convenience as being performed by the user device  305 , the sensor  801 , and/or the audio output device  802 , one, some, or all of such steps may be performed by one or more other computing devices, and steps may be distributed among one or more computing devices, including any computing devices such as those described in connection with  FIGS.  1 - 7   . One or more steps of the example method  800  may be rearranged, modified, repeated, and/or omitted. 
     At step  804 , sensor information may be sent by the sensor  801  to the user device  305 . The sensor  801  may comprise a camera, a door sensor, a window sensor, a motion detector, a flood sensor, a smoke detector a carbon monoxide detector, gas leak sensors, or any other type of sensor. The sensor information may indicate whether the sensor  801  has detected an emergency event. The one or more sensors may send information to the user device  305 , for example, if an emergency event is detected. The information may indicate the type of emergency (e.g., break-in, someone has escaped, etc.). 
     At step  805 , an emergency event may be determined. An emergency event may comprise a break-in, fire, flood, or movement of any type of object including people and animals (e.g., an emergency event may include a user leaving an area that the user is not permitted to leave), a gas leak or any other type of event. The emergency event may comprise a health emergency (e.g., a user is unconscious, having trouble breathing, has a stroke, heart attack or other health emergency). The user device  305  may be communicatively coupled with the sensor  801  and may receive the sensor information sent in step  804 . The user device  305  may analyze the sensor information to confirm whether an emergency event has been detected. 
     At step  810 , the user device  305  may determine users present in the environment associated with the emergency event. The user device  305  may determine users present in the environment as described in connection with step  435  of  FIG.  4   . The user device  305  may detect voice audio corresponding to each user in the environment and may use the voice audio to identify each user. Alternatively, the user device  305  may use the voice audio to determine an approximate age of each user in the environment. 
     At step  815 , a frequency for an alarm may be determined. The user device  305  may determine a frequency that is inaudible to older users within the environment but audible to caretakers in the environment. For example, if a threshold percentage of the caretakers are below the age of 60 and a threshold percentage of the older users are above the age of 80 years, the user device  305  may determine a frequency of 11,000 Hz. Alternatively, the user device  305  may assume that the caretakers are below an age threshold (e.g., 50, 65, 70, etc.) and may determine a frequency that is expected to be able to be heard by people of the threshold age and younger (e.g., 12,000 Hz if the threshold age is 50). 
     At step  820 , the user device  305  may cause output of an alarm. The user device  305  may send information to the audio output device  802  to cause output of the alarm. For example, the information may indicate the emergency event determined in step  805  and/or the frequency determined in step  815 . At step  825 , the audio output device  802  may output an alarm at the frequency determined in step  815 . Audio corresponding to the alarm may comprise a description of the emergency event. For example, the audio may comprise an indication that a particular door was opened, a fire has been detected, or other information corresponding to the emergency event. 
       FIGS.  9 A- 9 C  show example user interfaces for configuring deterrent audio. The example user interfaces may be used in connection with the method of  FIG.  4    (e.g., step  410 ) or any other aspect described in connection with  FIGS.  3 - 8   . Referring to  FIG.  9 A , the user field  905  may indicate a particular user for whom one or more deterrent audio settings may apply. The settings shown in fields  915 - 940  may be applied by a computing device (e.g., the user device  305  or the gateway device  310 ), for example, if indicated by the enable deterrent audio field  910  (e.g., if the enable deterrent audio field  910  is checked) and/or if the user indicated by the user field  905  is detected by the computing device (e.g., as described in connection with step  435  of  FIG.  4   ). The user device  305  may cause output of deterrent audio, for example, if violent content is about to be output by the user device  305 , the violence field  915  is checked, and the user indicated by the user field  905  is detected by the user device  305 . In a similar manner, a user may specify that deterrent audio should be output for sexual content and/or language if the corresponding sexual content field  920  and/or the language field  925  is checked. The rating field  930  may indicate that deterrent audio should be output, for example, if a content item is at or above a particular rating and the user indicated by the user field  905  is detected (e.g., the user is nearby or within hearing distance of the computing device). For example, a user (e.g., a parent or supervisor of the user indicated in the user field  905 ) may set the rating field  930  to PG-13 or higher. Based on this setting, the computing device may output deterrent audio, for example, if a content item rated at PG-13 or higher (e.g., TV-17, R, etc.) is being output and the user indicated by the user field  905  is detected by the computing device (e.g., the computing device detects that the user is nearby, the computing device receives audio corresponding to the user&#39;s voice, etc.). The services/channels field  935  may indicate services and/or channels for which deterrent audio should be output (e.g., if the user indicated in the user field  905  is detected while a content item from an indicated service and/or channel is being output). 
     Referring to  FIG.  9 B , a user (e.g., a parent or supervisor of the user indicated by the user field  905 ) may set a deterrent audio schedule  940  for the user indicated in the user field  905 . The schedule  940  may indicate when deterrent audio should be output for the user indicated in the user field  905 . For example, the deterrent audio may be output at particular times of the day if a content item is being output. This may discourage the user indicated in the user field  905  from consuming the content item and may encourage the user to perform other tasks (e.g., homework, exercise, reading, etc.). For example, the schedule  940  may indicate that deterrent audio should be output to discourage the user indicated in the user field  905  from consuming a content item before 7 pm on weekdays and between 9 am and 7 pm on weekends. 
     Referring to  FIG.  9 C , a user (e.g., a parent or supervisor of the user indicated by the user field  905 ) may adjust the frequency of the deterrent audio for the user indicated in the user field  905 . A sliding bar  950  may be used to adjust the frequency of the deterrent audio that is output by the user device  305 . The user device  305  may output deterrent audio at the adjusted frequency, for example, if the user indicated in the user field  905  is detected and one or more other settings or user preferences indicates that the deterrent audio should be output (e.g., as described above in connection with  FIGS.  3 - 8   ). 
     Although examples are described above, features and/or steps of those examples may be combined, divided, omitted, rearranged, revised, and/or augmented in any desired manner. Various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this description, though not expressly stated herein, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not limiting.