Device-specific content delivery
View Patent ↗Devices of an individual's device-sphere recognize risky or undesirable behavior requested by devices outside of the device-sphere and allow the user to prevent the behavior. The user's decision is stored and used to protect all devices of the user's device-sphere from similar risky behavior from the outside devices. If the choice is made for all devices of the user's device-sphere, the choice is broadcast to other devices of the user's device-sphere such that other devices can benefit from the choice made by the user.
1. A method for preventing behavior in a user's device when the behavior is requested by a remotely located device through a computer network, the method comprising:
determining that the behavior is predetermined to be potentially undesirable;
determining whether the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed, is prohibited, or is neither allowed nor prohibited;
determining whether or not one or more other devices used by the user comprise an additional one or more devices of the user's device-sphere;
upon a condition in which the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed, performing the behavior;
upon a condition in which the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is prohibited, refusing to perform the behavior; and
upon a condition in which the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is neither allowed nor prohibited:
using an output device of the user's device, informing the user of the behavior requested by the remotely located device;
receiving, through an input device of the user's device, a signal generated by the user representing a choice of whether to allow or deny the behavior;
upon a condition in which the choice is to allow the behavior:
recording that the remotely located device is allowed to perform the behavior; and
performing the behavior; and
upon a condition in which the choice is to deny the behavior:
recording that the remotely located device is not allowed to perform the behavior;
and
refusing to perform the behavior; and
determining whether the choice is applicable to one or more other devices used by the user as part of the user's device-sphere; and
upon a condition in which the choice is applicable to one or more other devices used by the user as part of the user's device-sphere, communicating the choice to each of the one or more other devices used by the user as part of the user's device-sphere.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein informing the user of the behavior requested by the remotely located device comprises:
determine a physical location of the remotely located device; and
informing the user of the physical location of the remotely located device.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein informing the user of the behavior requested by the remotely located device comprises:
informing the user of a type of the behavior.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein determining whether the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed, is prohibited, or is neither allowed nor prohibited comprises:
requesting, from each of one or more other devices used by the user as part of the user's
device-sphere, data specifying whether the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed or prohibited.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein determining whether the behavior,
when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed, is prohibited, or is neither allowed
nor prohibited comprises:
requesting, from each of one or more other devices used by the user as part of the user's
device-sphere, data specifying whether the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed or prohibited.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein informing the user of the behavior requested by the remotely located device comprises:
informing the user of a type of the behavior.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein determining whether the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed, is prohibited, or is neither allowed nor prohibited comprises:
requesting, from each of one or more other devices used by the user as part of the user's device-sphere, data specifying whether the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed or prohibited.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed, is prohibited, or is neither allowed nor prohibited comprises:
requesting, from each of one or more other devices used by the user as part of the user's device-sphere, data specifying whether the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed or prohibited.