IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,568,276
Granted Patent B2
US 12,568,276 · App. 18/222,746 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Systems and methods for notifying a user when activity exceeds an authorization level

Inventor: Danielle Gonzalez (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc.
H04N21/4542G06F11/3438H04N21/44218H04N21/44226H04N21/4532H04N21/45457H04N21/4751H04N21/4756
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,568,276
App. No.
18/222,746
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for generating a notification when activity exceeds an authorization level are provided. A determination is made as to whether content currently being presented to a first user exceeds an authorization level associated with the first user. In response to determining that the content exceeds the authorization level, the content being presented is monitored to determine whether the content meets a criterion. An amount of time the content being presented meets the criterion is measured. In response to determining that the amount of time exceeds a threshold, a communication is transmitted to a second user indicating that the content currently being presented to the first user exceeds the authorization level.

Claims (70)

1 . A method comprising:

generating for display a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises:

(a) a first identifier of a first content type and a first user interface (UI) element for receiving a first UI selection of a first time limit for the first content type; and

(b) a second identifier of a second content type and a second UI element for receiving a second UI selection of a second time limit for the second content type;

in response to determining, based on metadata of content currently being presented, that the content currently being presented matches one of the first content type or the second content type:

incrementing, at a first rate, at least one of: (a) a first timer corresponding to the first time limit, or (b) a second timer corresponding to the second time limit;

performing real-time video analysis of a portion of the content currently being presented to identify a visual attribute of the portion of the content; and

based on the identifying the visual attribute using the real-time video analysis:

incrementing, at a second rate that is greater than the first rate, the at least one of: (a) the first timer corresponding to the first time limit, or (b) the second timer corresponding to the second time limit; and

in response to determining that the first timer exceeds the first time limit or that the second timer exceeds the second time limit, causing a notification to be presented for display on a user device, wherein the notification indicates that at least one of the first time limit or the second time limit has been exceeded, and preventing playback of at least one of the first content type or the second content type on the user interface.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to the generating for display the first identifier and the second identifier, receiving a UI selection of the first content type and the second content type.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first content type is associated with a first level of parental control rating and wherein the second content type is associated with a second level of parental control rating.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to the incrementing one of the first timer or the second timer, performing at least one of:

receiving the first UI selection of the first time limit via the first UI element; or

receiving the second UI selection of the second time limit via the second UI element.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the causing the notification to be presented for display further comprises:

transmitting the notification via at least one of: an e-mail, an SMS message, an MMS message, a text message, an audio call, or a video call.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein preventing playback comprises pausing content playback.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein preventing playback comprises muting content playback.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first content type is animation;

the second content type is realistic depiction; and

the visual attribute of the portion of the content is a depiction of nudity.

9 . A system comprising:

control circuitry configured to:

generate for display a user interface (UI), wherein the user interface comprises:

(a) a first identifier of a first content type and a first UI element for receiving a first UI selection of a first time limit for the first content type; and

(b) a second identifier of a second content type and a second UI element for receiving a second UI selection of a second time limit for the second content type;

in response to determining, based on metadata of content currently being presented, that the content currently being presented matches one of the first content type or the second content type:

increment, at a first rate, at least one of: (a) a first timer associated with the first time limit, or (b) a second timer corresponding to the second time limit;

perform real-time video analysis of a portion of the content currently being presented to identify a visual attribute of the portion of the content; and

based on the identifying the visual attribute using the real-time video analysis:

increment, at a second rate that is greater than the first rate, the at least one of: (a) the first timer corresponding to the first time limit, or (b) the second timer corresponding to the second time limit; and

input/output circuitry configured to:

in response to determining that the first timer exceeds the first time limit or that the second timer exceeds the second time limit, cause a notification to be presented for display, wherein the notification indicates that at least one of the first time limit or the second time limit has been exceeded, and preventing playback of at least one of the first content type or the second content type on the user interface.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

prior to the generating for display the first identifier and the second identifier, receive a UI selection of the first content type and the second content type.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first content type is a first level of parental control rating and wherein the second content type is a second level of parental control rating.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

prior to the incrementing one of the first timer or the second timer:

receive the first UI selection of the first time limit via the first UI element; and

receive the second UI selection of the second time limit via the second UI element.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the input/output circuitry is further configured to cause the notification to be presented for display by:

transmitting the notification via at least one of: an e-mail, an SMS message, an MMS message, a text message, an audio call, or a video call.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein preventing playback comprises at least one of: pausing content playback or muting content playback.

15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:

instructions that when executed by control circuitry cause the control circuitry to:

generate for display a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises:

(a) a first identifier of a first content type and a first user interface (UI) element for receiving a first UI selection of a first time limit for the first content type; and

(b) a second identifier of a second content type and a second UI element for receiving a second user UI selection of a second time limit for the second content type;

in response to determining, based on metadata of content currently being presented, that the content currently being presented matches one of the first content type or the second content type:

increment, at a first rate, at least one of (a) a first timer associated with the first time limit, or (b) a second timer corresponding to the second time limit;

perform real-time video analysis of a portion of the content currently being presented to identify a visual attribute of the portion of the content; and

based on the identifying the visual attribute using the real-time video analysis:

increment, at a second rate that is greater than the first rate, the at least one of: (a) the first timer corresponding to the first time limit, or (b) the second timer corresponding to the second time limit; and

instructions that when executed by the control circuitry cause the input/output circuitry to:

in response to determining that the first timer exceeds the first time limit or that the second timer exceeds the second time limit, cause a notification to be presented for display, wherein the notification indicates that at least one of the first time limit or the second time limit has been exceeded, and preventing playback of at least one of the first content type or the second content type on the user interface.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the control circuitry cause the control circuitry to:

prior to the generating for display the first identifier and the second identifier, receive a UI selection of the first content type and the second content type.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first content type is a first level of parental control rating and wherein the second content type is a second level of parental control rating.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the control circuitry cause the control circuitry to:

prior to the incrementing one of the first timer or the second timer:

receive the first UI selection of the first time limit via the first UI element; and

receive the second UI selection of the second time limit via the second UI element.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 ,

wherein the instructions that cause the input/output circuitry to cause the notification to be presented for display further cause the input/output circuitry to:

transmit the notification via at least one of: an e-mail, an SMS message, an MMS message, a text message, an audio call, or a video call.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein preventing playback comprises at least one of: pausing content playback or muting content playback.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069085/0599 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2023
From: GONZALEZ, DANIELLE
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 064293/0817 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 18, 2023
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 064293/0853 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 18, 2023
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 064293/0888 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 18, 2023
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 064293/0946 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17842630 · Jun 16, 2022
Continuation 17091219 · Nov 6, 2020
Continuation 16017172 · Jun 25, 2018
Continuation 15384455 · Dec 20, 2016
Continuation 14187565 · Feb 24, 2014
Related Publication 20230362443A1 · Nov 9, 2023
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