CUSTOMIZED USER INTERFACE BASED ON USER PROFILE INFORMATION
A user interface including one or more references to content is customized. Several user profiles are provided from which a user may be associated. Each user profile includes user profile information. The user profile associated with a user to whom a user interface will be provided is accessed. A user interface is configured for the user, based at least in part upon the user profile accessed as being associated with the user. Access to content is enabled based on user manipulation of the configured user interface.
1 . A method of customizing a user interface, the method comprising:
providing several user profiles from which a user may be associated, each user profile comprising user profile information;
accessing the user profile associated with a user to whom a user interface will be provided;
configuring a user interface for the user based at least in part upon the user profile accessed as being associated with the user, the user interface including one or more references to content; and
enabling access to content based on user manipulation of the configured user interface.
2 . The method of claim 1 in which the user profile information comprises age.
3 . The method of claim 1 in which the user profile information comprises a level of maturity.
4 . The method of claim 3 in which the level of maturity comprises a child maturity level.
5 . The method of claim 3 in which the level of maturity comprises a young teen maturity level.
6 . The method of claim 3 in which the level of maturity comprises a mature teen maturity level.
7 . The method of claim 3 in which the level of maturity comprises an adult maturity level.
8 . The method of claim 3 in which the level of maturity is selected based upon configuration data associated with an identity of the user.
9 . The method of claim 1 in which configuring the user interface comprises populating the user interface with pre-designated references to content based upon the user profile.
10 . The method of claim 9 in which enabling access to content comprises blocking access to other than the pre-designated references.
11 . The method of claim 1 in which configuring the user interface comprises automatically configuring the user interface.
12 . The method of claim 1 in which configuring the user interface comprises configuring the user interface in response to a user action.
13 . The method of claim 1 in which configuring the user interface comprises configuring the user interface in anticipation of user navigation to the user interface.
14 . The method of claim 1 in which configuring the user interface comprises configuring the user interface in response to user navigation to the user interface.
15 . The method of claim 1 in which enabling access to content comprises customizing a set of user interface controls displayed to the user.
16 . The method of claim 1 in which enabling access to content comprises customizing a pointer associated with a user interface control.
17 . The method of claim 16 in which the appearance of the user interface control is not changed.
18 . The method of claim 1 in which the user profile information is supplied by a master user.
19 . The method of claim 18 in which the user is the master user.
20 . The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the user profile.
21 . - 60 . (canceled)