Abstract:
A communication protocol particularly amenable to use by children enables communications over various communication protocols without the fear that the children will inappropriately communicate with unauthorized individuals. A list of authorized individuals that a given child may communicate with may be stored on a communication terminal. Before communications are allowed to proceed over a communication network such as the Internet, a check ensures that the intended recipient or sender is an appropriate authorized recipient or sender. A password protection scheme may be utilized to prevent the child from adding inappropriate contacts to the list of authorized individuals.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to communications between a plurality of processor-based systems.  
           [0002]    A variety of communication devices including walkie talkies are available for communications between various terminals. In some cases, the terminals are wired or wireless devices. Communication devices are also available which provide for infrared communications between terminals.  
           [0003]    In some cases, communication terminals may be used by children for play purposes. However, a problem may arise if the children are able to communicate with anyone. This is a problem with conventional Internet e-mail communications. By entering various chat/discussion groups, children may ultimately come into contact with undesirable persons who may attempt to misuse the access to the children provided through the communication network. While systems exist for controlling access to the communications network, there is really no way to enforce access limitations.  
           [0004]    Thus, conventionally, chat lines and other communication tools available through the Internet are somewhat uncontrolled. In some cases, a monitor may monitor chat sessions for inappropriate language and inappropriate conduct. Communication content can be controlled using commercially available application programs that screen for inappropriate language. However, such applications do not prevent inappropriate access to third parties.  
           [0005]    Thus, there is a need for way to implement a communication protocol, suitable for use by children that is capable of preventing contacts with unauthorized persons. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a handheld unit shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a flow chart for software that may be stored on a base station in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a flow chart for software that may be stored on a base station in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a flow chart for software that may be stored on a handheld unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a flow chart for software that may be stored on the server in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    Referring to FIG. 1, a communication system  10  may utilize a variety of communication protocols. For example, communications may be implemented using an electronic mail or chat session communication protocols over the Internet, as examples. In addition, communications may be implemented through wireless signals such as radio frequency or infrared signals.  
         [0013]    A handheld unit  14   a  may include a storage  38  that may store software. In one embodiment, the handheld unit  14   a  is a processor-based system with a signal transceiver or antenna  16  that implements two-way wireless communications with a base station  12   a  that also includes a signal transceiver or antenna  16 .  
         [0014]    Like the handheld unit  14   a , the base station  12   a  may be a processor-based system with a storage  36  that stores the software  42  and  50 . As one example, the base station  12   a  may be a desktop computer system and the handheld unit  14   a  may be a handheld, battery powered, wireless communication terminal. Similarly, the base station  12   a  may be a communication terminal that communicates with other terminals, such as the base station  12   b , over a link  22  via the Internet  20 .  
         [0015]    As one example, a chat session may be implemented by an instant messaging server  18 . The instant messaging server  18  may communicate with a plurality of base stations  12  over the Internet  20 . The instant messaging server  18  may include a storage  40  that stores software  80  for controlling its operation. Thus, a user holding the handheld unit  14   a  may communicate with a user holding the handheld unit  14   b  via a combination of communication protocols. A wireless protocol may be utilized between the handheld unit  14   a  and its associated base station  12   a . The base station  12   a  then may communicate over a link  22  to the Internet  20 . The link  22  may be a satellite communication system, a telephone line, or a cable communication system, as examples.  
         [0016]    The base station  12   a  may communicate with the instant messaging server  18  that provides a chat session accessible to both the base station  12   a  and the base station  12   b  over the Internet  20 . The base station  12   b  may then communicate, using a suitable wireless protocol, with the handheld unit  14   b . While only two users are illustrated, any number of users may be authorized to utilize the system in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0017]    The handheld unit  14   a , the base station  12   a  , the base station  12   b  and the handheld unit  14   b  may all constitute terminals in the communications system  10 . Access to these terminals may be controlled to prevent improper network access via any terminal. For example, children may use the handheld units  14  as toys to communicate with other children. Thus, it may be desirable to control the content of communications between these children and to prevent communications with unauthorized users such as adults who wish to unlawfully interact with children.  
         [0018]    To this end, the software  42 ,  50 ,  80  and  38  may implement a closed communication system. Only authorized terminals may be accessed from a given terminal. The potential communication targets may be limited through a password protection or other restrictive access scheme. That is, access to a list of authorized target handheld units  14   a , stored on base stations  12 , may be strictly controlled on a password protected basis. For example, a password protected stored list of authorized targeted contacts inaccessible to the child terminal user, is accessible only to their parents. The children may have a separate password protected ability to use the system without being able to modify the stored contact list. The stored contact list may be stored on the base stations  12  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, each handheld unit  14  can only communicate with those remote stations  12  that are authorized through a password protected list. While the list of appropriate terminals may be modified, it may only be modified upon password access to the stored list of appropriate terminals.  
         [0019]    The authorized terminals may be identified by appropriate identifiers. These identifiers may be encrypted in some cases. For example, a rolling code system may be used.  
         [0020]    Turning to FIG. 2, the handheld unit  14   a  may have a hand-sized housing  24 . A display screen  30  may display text messages of a few lines in length. In other embodiments, the messages may be in audible or graphical formats. An attachment device  34 , such as a key chain, may be provided on the housing  24  for example to make the unit  14  wearable. Other attachment devices  34  such as clips or velcro fasteners may also be used. In addition, control buttons  32  may control the transmission of messages. Scroll buttons  28  may control scrolling through the lines of text displayed on the screen  30 . A plurality of keys  42  may enable letters and symbols to be used to create outgoing text messages. While one format for a handheld unit  14  is illustrated in FIG. 2, a variety of other formats for the handheld unit  14  may be utilized as well including those using audible or graphical messages.  
         [0021]    Referring next to FIG. 3, the buddy list setup software  42  may be stored on each base station  12 . The buddy list setup software  42  is normally controlled by parents to prevent children from accessing unauthorized adults. Thus, buddy list access may be limited by requiring a restricted access medium such as a password protection system. At diamond  44 , a check determines whether an appropriate password has been received at the base station  12   a . The password may be entered through a conventional keyboard system using an associated graphical user interface. If so, a new communications network terminal may be identified through a user name as indicated in block  46 . The user name may then be correlated with an appropriate identifier that may be stored in a list associated with the software  42 . The identifier is then stored in association with the existing list of authorized communication terminals that may be referred to as the user&#39;s buddy list. In this way, a parent can add or remove terminals from the list of authorized terminals that a given terminal may access. Thus, the handheld unit  14   a  may access the base station  12   a  and attempt to communicate with others who are authorized or unauthorized, but the base station  12   a  enforces the list of authorized users through the software  42 . That is, communication with remote stations through the base station  12   a  is limited to those authorized persons identified through the software shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0022]    Access authorization passwords enable parental control of each authorized buddy on each child&#39;s contact or buddy list. Each child may have an individual authorization password that enables the child to initiate messages for transmission to the child&#39;s separately authorized contact. However, the child&#39;s password cannot be used to modify the child&#39;s buddy or contact list.  
         [0023]    The base station  12   a  may also include the initiate message software  50  stored on the storage  36  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. When an appropriate identifier is received, as determined in diamond  52 , a password request, made in the base station  12 , may be directed to the handheld unit  14 . When the handheld unit  14  provides the password to the base station  12 , a check at diamond  56  determines whether an appropriate password has been received. If so, the buddy list (which is stored on the base station  12   a ) may be recalled as indicated in block  58 . A check at diamond  60  determines whether the intended recipient already exists on the buddy list. If so, the message is sent to the appropriate buddy on the buddy list as indicated in block  62 .  
         [0024]    In some embodiments of the present invention, messages may be sent from the handheld unit  14   a  only upon activation of an appropriate password. As a result, if a child loses a handheld unit  14 , it may not be immediately utilized by unauthorized persons to make contact with various children on the child&#39;s buddy list.  
         [0025]    The software  64  stored on the storage  38  within the handheld unit  14 , in one embodiment, begins by checking to determine whether a message is entered using the keys  42  for example, as determined at diamond  66 . If so, the appropriate identifier for the indicated message recipient or group of recipients is sent to the base station  12  as indicated in block  68 . At diamond  70 , a check at the handheld unit  14  determines whether the base station  12  has acknowledged the message and its intended recipients as determined in diamond  70 . If so, the handheld unit  14  requests a password as indicated in block  72 . When the password is received, the password is then sent, as indicated in block  74 , to the base station  12   a . At block  76 , the handheld unit  14  awaits an acknowledgement from the base station  12   a  and once received, sends the appropriate message on to the base station  12   a , as indicated in block  78 , in one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]    Turning finally to FIG. 6, the software  80  stored on the instant messaging server  18  may implement a Internet Relay Chat (IRC) server in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. However, while conventional chat sessions may be set up in accordance with established IRC protocols, access to the chat server  18  may be controlled through the base stations  12  which limit the targets who may be addressed. That is, even if a child attempts to insert another addressee into the handheld unit  14   a , the base station  12   a  restricts outgoing communications to only those listed recipients authorized by the child&#39;s parents.  
         [0027]    Initially, a check at diamond  82  determines whether an identifier has been received from a base station  12 . If so, the identifier is acknowledged in an appropriate format as indicated in block  84 . Next, a check at diamond  86  determines whether a password has been received from the base station  12 . If so, and the password is correct, an acknowledgement may be provided as indicated at block  88 .  
         [0028]    Next, a check at diamond  90  determines whether a message has actually been received. If so, the buddy list is acquired and the message is then transmitted to the addressed buddy or buddies. Eventually, the buddy list may actually be provided from the base station  12   a  to the instant messaging server  18  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]    As a result, access to and communications between a plurality of children may be implemented in a relatively secure fashion. Software on the base station  12   a  may monitor for inappropriate words or content. When inappropriate words or content are utilized, they may be screened and deleted at the base station  12 . In addition, access to the list of authorized addressees is strictly controlled on a password protected basis implemented at the local base station  12   a  in one embodiment. Thus, a child&#39;s parents can provide the child with a handheld unit  14   a  that communicates with a particular base station  12   a.    
         [0030]    The base station  12   a  may be programmed to receive a uniquely identified communication from a handheld unit  14 . That is, the handheld unit  14   a  may only work with the base station  12   a  using the appropriate code, such as rolling code or digital tone coded signal, that is recognized by the base station  12   a . As a result, the base station  12   a  may limit those persons or terminals with which a particular handheld unit  14   a  may communicate.  
         [0031]    While the present invention has been described in connection with controlling outgoing communications, the same techniques may be used to control incoming communications. That is communications to a base station  12  may only be passed on to the handheld unit  14  if those communications originate from an authorized terminal.  
         [0032]    A user may use multiple terminals at the same time in some embodiments. For instance, a user may simultaneously use one or more audible links, text links and video links. Each of the links may be controlled to limit persons who may be contacted. The contact list may be stored in the unit  14 . The communication media may include the Internet as well as a telephone system, using telephones or pagers, and radio or wireless systems.  
         [0033]    While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention.