KR20040100194A - Apparatus and Method to control personal computer systems and usage state of the Internet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A parent device for controlling use of a computer and the Internet, and a method thereof are provided to enable a parent to easily monitor/control computer use of children by making a user computer normally operated when a USB(Universal Serial Bus) module or a smart card is connected to the user computer and enabling the parent to inquire a computer use status of the children after login. CONSTITUTION: The device comprises a control terminal(13) and a control tool(12) installed to the user computer(10). The control terminal is used when the parent allows the children to use the user computer, and comprises a USB module(20) or a card reader(30) handling the smart card(31). The USB module comprises a USB communication part, a memory part storing schedule data, and a USB controller.

Description

Apparatus and Method to control personal computer systems and usage state of the Internet}

The present invention relates to a parental control device and method for a computer and the Internet, and more particularly, to allow the user computer to operate only when a control terminal such as a USB module or a smart card is mounted on the user computer, and the parent logs in as a guardian. It also allows you to track your computer usage, so that you can effectively monitor and control your child's computer use.

As high-performance computers and high-speed Internet services are widely provided, children are using too many computers or exposed to various harmful environments through the Internet. In particular, they are exposed to many harmful environments through internet services related to games, chats, pornography, etc., and parents can see how their children are using computers for reasons of not working or being proficient in the Internet. It is not easy to monitor and control.

The problem of neglected schoolwork and exposure to harmful environments for children who are not adults is not only a problem in individual families, but also a social problem. Therefore, even parents who are not familiar with online services such as computers or the Internet will need a means to enable them to easily monitor / control their children's computer use and monitor exposure to various harmful environments.

Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, the user computer to operate normally only when the USB module or smart card, etc. that can be easily carried or managed by the parent connected to the user computer, the parent as a guardian Its purpose is to make it easy for parents to monitor and control their children's computer usage by allowing them to log in and view their children's computer usage.

In order to achieve the above object, the parental control method for a computer and the Internet according to the present invention comprises the steps of processing to set the user authentication information and password; Determining whether user authentication information can be read from a schedule control terminal connected to the user computer; Receiving a password from a user when the user authentication information can be read from the control terminal as a result of the determination; And as a result of the determination, the user authentication information cannot be read from the control terminal, or the user authentication information read from the control terminal does not match the preset user authentication information, or the password entered by the user And stopping the operation of the user computer if it does not match the preset password.

Parental control apparatus for a computer and the Internet according to the present invention, a control terminal connected to a predetermined port of the user computer; And installed in the user computer, processing to set certain user authentication information, determine whether the user can access the control terminal to read the user authentication information, and cannot access the control terminal or the And control means for stopping the operation of the user computer when the user authentication information read from the control terminal does not match the preset user authentication information.

The control terminal can be preferably implemented using a card reader that can access a USB module or a smart card mounted in the USB port of the user computer.

The password may be divided into a parental password and a child password.

At this time, at least one of information related to the time of using the user computer and URL information accessed by the user computer is stored and managed, and information related to the usage time according to a request of a user logged in through the guardian password. If you print out the URL information, you can get a better understanding of your child's computer usage.

In addition, the user authentication information, password, information related to the time of use of the computer, various information such as Internet usage information may be configured to record on the USB terminal or the smart card itself.

1 is an embodiment of a parental control method for a computer and the Internet according to the present invention;

2 is an embodiment of a parental control apparatus for a computer and the Internet according to the present invention;

3 is an embodiment of the operation of the control means,

Figure 4 is an example of the screen configuration associated with the installation of the program for the control means,

5 is an example of a screen for setting a password;

6 is an example of a process for logging in using a parental password;

7 is an example of a screen lock and unlock process;

8 is an example of a screen configuration for providing computer usage time information;

9 shows an example of a screen configuration for providing access URL information.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: user computer 12: control means

13: control terminal 20: USB module

30: card reader 31: smart card

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the parental control method for a computer and the Internet according to the present invention will be described in detail.

First, the process is performed so that the user can set certain user authentication information and password (S41). Step S41 is a procedure that can be performed at any point in time, such as when the user first sets user authentication information or password, or when changing a preset password.

The present invention is made using a control terminal that can be easily carried and managed by the guardian, the control terminal is preferably using a USB (USB: Universal Serial Bus) module or a card reader that can access a smart card Can be configured. Therefore, the user authentication information means information indicating the authority to use the smart card accessed by the corresponding USB module or the card reader, and is distinguished from a password which means login authority to the user's computer.

For example, when using a USB module as a control terminal, the USB module ID may be used as user authentication information. When using a smart card, the schedule card information recorded on the smart card is used as user authentication information. Can be used. The user authentication information may be configured to be changed by the user, or may be configured to be set as unique information in advance when the control terminal is purchased. Such user authentication information may be stored and managed in a USB terminal or a smart card.

Step S41 corresponds to a preliminary procedure for monitoring / controlling the use of the user computer according to the present invention, and the process of controlling the actual user computer is performed as steps S42 to S47 as described below.

First, it is determined whether the control terminal is connected to the user computer and whether the user authentication information can be read from the control terminal (S42). In the example of the USB terminal, it is a process of determining whether the USB terminal is mounted in the user computer. When the user authentication information can be read from the control terminal, the user authentication information is read from the USB module or the smart card (S43), and a password is input (S44).

If the user authentication information read in step S43 matches the user authentication information previously set in step S41, and the password input by the user in step S44 matches the password set in step S41 (S45), the user computer is turned on. Normal operation (S46).

However, the user authentication information cannot be read from the control terminal (S43), or the user authentication information read from the control terminal does not match the user authentication information preset in step S41, or the password entered by the user in step S44. If does not match the password set in step S41, the operation of the user computer is stopped (S47).

Here, the process of stopping the operation of the user computer can be configured in various ways, the present invention is not limited to a specific technique of how to stop the user computer. For example, pinning to the initial screen of the user's computer, stopping a further image with a specific image displayed on the screen, such as a screen saver, or input from an input device such as a keyboard / mouse You can use techniques such as ignoring this.

The password can be set separately by the password for the guardian and the password for the child, and may provide the schedule information to the guardian, especially when logged in through the password for the guardian.

As an example, it stores / manages information regarding the time spent using the user's computer and URL information accessed by the user's computer, and displays information related to the user's use time or URL information when requested by a user logged in through a password for the guardian. Or output to an output device such as a printer.

Each step described above may be preferably performed by a computer program installed in a user computer. Therefore, the present invention also covers a computer-readable recording medium that records a computer program capable of executing each of the steps described above.

Referring to FIG. 2, a parental control device (hereinafter referred to as parental control device) related to a computer and the Internet according to the present invention will be described in detail. The parental control device includes a control terminal 13 and a user computer 10. The control means 12 installed in the configuration can be preferably carried out.

Here, the user computer 10 means any computer system such as a desktop computer or a notebook computer. The control terminal 13 is used when a guardian allows a child to use a computer. The control terminal 13 may be configured as a card reader 30 capable of handling the USB module 20 or the smart card 31. have. In the case of using a card, the card reader 30 may be fixed to the user computer 10, and the parent only needs to manage the smart card 31.

The USB module 20 is connected to the user computer 10 via a connector or a connection line to communicate with the USB communication unit, memory unit for storing certain data, and the user computer 10 through the USB communication unit using USB communication technology. And a USB controller which communicates with and stores and manages schedule data in the memory unit. Since the technology related to the USB module or the smart card is a well known technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The control means 12 may be implemented as a computer program installed in the user computer 10, and preferably implemented.

Referring to FIG. 3, the control means 12 processes the user to set certain user authentication information and a password (S31). Step S31 may be performed at any point in time, such as when the user sets the user authentication information and password for the first time after purchasing the parental control device or when the user wants to change the preset user authentication information and password. The meanings of the user authentication information and the password are as described above. The function performed in step S31 is a function for presetting.

On the other hand, the control means 12 performs its function according to the following procedure to control the user computer (10).

First, it is determined whether the control terminal 13 is connected to the user computer 10 and whether the control terminal 13 can be accessed (S32), and if access is possible, from the control terminal 13 Read the user authentication information (S33). If the user authentication information read in step S33 matches the user authentication information previously set in step S31, the user computer is operated normally (S35). However, when it is determined in step S32 that the control terminal 13 cannot be accessed or the user authentication information read from the control terminal 13 in step S33 does not match the user authentication information preset in step S31. The operation of the user computer 10 is stopped (S36). Here, stopping the operation of the user computer is as described above.

These steps S32 to S36 are performed not only when the user computer 10 is booted, but also by accessing a communication port to which the control terminal 13 is connected at a periodic or constant event occurrence even when the user computer 10 is already running. You can do it.

In addition, the control means 12 receives and stores a predetermined password from the user, and manages it, so that it is used as login information of the user computer 10 itself apart from user authentication information which means the right of use of the control terminal 13 itself. Can be configured to At this time, the control means 12 is the user computer 10 only when the USB module 20 is mounted, or the user correctly inputs the password in the state in which the smart card 31 is mounted on the card reader (30). Control to operate normally.

Passwords can be composed of a variety of letters, numbers, special characters, etc., and can be managed separately by a guardian password and a child password. Then, while the corresponding smart card 31 is mounted on the USB module 20 or the card reader 30, the guardian can log in to the user computer 10 in the guardian mode and the child in the child mode.

The password may be stored in various storage means (eg, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a CD-ROM, etc.) of the user computer 10, but the USB module 20 may be used to block the possibility that children can access the password. Or it is desirable to store in the smart card 31. In this case, the control means 12 accesses the USB module 20 or the smart card 31 when the user authentication information and the password are input, and pre-sets the password and USB module 20 or the smart card 31 input by the user. The passwords you set are compared against each other.

Each embodiment described above allows parents to control their children's computer use. However, from a parent's point of view, if they can look up information on how their children use a computer and know how their children are using the computer, they can use it for their guidance.

In this embodiment, the control means 12 stores and manages information relating to the time of using the computer and the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) information that the computer has previously accessed. The operation time of the computer can be calculated by using a timer built in each computer, and the URL information accessed by the user can be easily implemented since the user can refer to the URL details recorded in the 'Internet Temporary' directory.

In addition, the control unit 12 may display the information related to the time of using the computer and the URL information that the computer has previously connected to the screen or print to the printer according to the request of the logged-in user through the password for the guardian. At this time, each information may be configured to be stored in the USB module 20 or the smart card (31).

An example of a user interface associated with a computer program that serves as the control means 12 will now be described to aid in understanding the present invention. Hereinafter, a description will be given through an example of using a USB module as a control terminal, but it is obvious that the smart card can be executed through a similar interface.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the installation of a computer program is started, the user can specify an installation directory, and after specifying a type of installation such as 'typical', 'compact', and 'custom' as in the general program installation method, Copy all necessary files to your computer's hard disk drive to complete the installation. When copying, it is preferable to display the progress of the file copy so that the user can know the progress.

Referring to FIG. 5, an example of setting a password for a first time user (guardian) allows a user to input user authentication information by inputting an ID of a USB module itself, and inputs a Windows logon ID, a password, and a parent's password. Receive. After saving the user authentication information and password, if the computer requires a reboot to run the computer program, the system is rebooted.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the parent logs in, a login window appears when the user attempts to log in. If the USB module is not currently mounted, a message for mounting the USB module is output. According to this message, when the parent inserts the USB module into the USB port of the user's computer, the parent's password should be entered.In case the normal password is entered, the information that the parent can look up (screen lock, use time view, access URL view) Etc.). However, when the child is logged in, the information provided only to the parent is not provided, and when the child logs in with the normal child ID, the computer only runs the computer normally.

In an embodiment using a smart card, if the smart card cannot be accessed through the card reader, a message for inputting the smart card may be output. When the parent inputs the smart card through the card reader, the parent is prompted. If the password is entered, and the normal password is entered, it provides information (screen lock, usage time view, access URL view, etc.) that can be viewed by the parent.

Referring to FIG. 7, an example of locking and releasing the screen is described. When the USB module is detached, the screen is locked (or computer locked), and is currently locked and a message to install the USB module is output. After that, when the user inserts the USB module into the USB port, a login window for entering the login information of the parent or child can appear. That is, the driving decision of the user computer according to whether the USB module is mounted may be made not only at the time of booting the computer but also after booting.

In an embodiment using a smart card, when the smart card is detached, a screen lock (or computer lock) state is entered, and the device is currently locked and outputs a message for inputting the smart card to release. After that, when the user enters the smart card through the card reader, a login window for entering the login information of the parent or the child may appear.

Referring to FIG. 8, a user logged in through a parent's password may select a menu of a use time view, and when this menu is selected, time related information of a child using a computer is provided.

Referring to FIG. 9, a user who logs in through a parent's password may select a menu of an access URL view, and if this menu is selected, provides information on URLs that a child accesses. The use time information and the URL information may be output on the screen, or may be printed through a printer.

Meanwhile, Internet service providers such as Korea Telecom (KT) provide children with a service (hereinafter referred to as blocking service) that automatically blocks harmful sites. In order to use the blocking service, each user enters into a contract with the corresponding Internet service provider, which prevents access to any harmful site through the contracted user's Internet line. That is, the use of harmful sites is blocked regardless of whether the parent uses the computer or the child uses the user's computer.

However, sites that provide adult information and the like may be harmful only to minor children, and many sites are free of defects for use by parents. In order to use these sites from the parent's point of view, it is not inconvenient to cancel the blocking service contract and re-contract each time they try to use the site. However, in the parental control method and apparatus according to the present invention, parents and children can be distinguished from the login, so if the parent is logged in, the blocking service is automatically released and if the child is logged in, the blocking service is automatically provided. As a result, blocking services will be very convenient.

For this embodiment, when the user logs in, the control means includes information identifying whether the user logged in using the parent password or the child password, and schedule information identifying the user. It can be configured to send automatically to servers (eg KT's server). Then, the server of the Internet service provider may set whether to provide the blocking service by switching the blocking service providing state of the user on or off according to the received contents. Accordingly, the user can use the harmful site blocking service provided by the Internet service provider very conveniently.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously modified and implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

According to the present invention, a guardian such as a parent can control / monitor a child's computer use with a computer use right. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the negative effects of learning activities due to the long-term Internet use of the child due to the spread of high-speed Internet in the home, and to induce the healthy use of the child of the Internet. In addition, the Internet operators can reduce the Internet traffic, improve the quality of service and reduce the capital investment.

Claims (19)

In the method for monitoring and controlling the use of the user computer and the Internet using a computer program installed on the user computer, Processing to set certain user authentication information and a password; Determining whether user authentication information can be read from a schedule control terminal connected to the user computer; Receiving a password from a user when the user authentication information can be read from the control terminal as a result of the determination; And As a result of the determination, the user authentication information cannot be read from the control terminal, or the user authentication information read from the control terminal does not match the preset user authentication information, or the password entered by the user is determined. And a step of stopping the operation of the user computer if it does not match a preset password. The method of claim 1, The control terminal is a USB module mounted to a USB port of the user computer, and determines whether the USB module ID (ID) stored in the USB module can be read as the user authentication information to the computer and the Internet. Parental control method. The method of claim 1, The control terminal is a card reader connected to a predetermined port of the user computer, the computer and the Internet characterized in that it is determined whether the user information recorded on the smart card can be read as the user authentication information through the card reader. Parental control method for. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The password is a parental control method for a computer and the Internet, characterized in that divided into a parental password and a child password. The method of claim 4, wherein Storing and managing one or more pieces of information related to time spent using the user computer and URL information accessed by the user computer; And And a step of outputting information related to the usage time or URL information according to a request of a user logged in through the guardian password. A control terminal connected to a predetermined port of the user computer; And Installed in the user computer, processing to set certain user authentication information, determine whether the user can access the control terminal to read the user authentication information, and cannot access the control terminal or control And control means for stopping the operation of the user computer when the user authentication information read from the user terminal does not match the preset user authentication information. The method of claim 6, The control terminal is a parental control device for a computer and the Internet, characterized in that the USB module is connected to the USB port of the user computer. The method of claim 6, And the control terminal is a card reader connected to a predetermined port of the user computer and capable of reading or writing schedule information from a smart card. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, The control means processes the user to set a predetermined password, and the user computer to operate normally only when the password entered by the user matches the set password in a state in which the control terminal can be accessed. Parental controls for computers and the Internet, characterized in that controlling. The method of claim 9, The password is a parental control device for a computer and the Internet, characterized in that divided into a parental password and a child password. The method of claim 10, And the password is stored in a predetermined digital information recording medium accommodated in the control terminal or the control terminal. The method of claim 11, The control means stores and manages at least one of information related to the time of use of the computer and information of the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to which the computer is connected, and at the request of the user logged in through the guardian password. Parental controls for computers and the Internet, characterized by outputting information. The method of claim 12, Parental control apparatus for a computer and the Internet, characterized in that information relating to the time spent using the computer and URL information accessed by the computer are stored in the digital information recording medium. The method of claim 10, The control means, when a normal password is input, information for identifying whether the input password is for a guardian or a child, and information for identifying the user to the corresponding Internet service provider to the server of the corresponding Internet service provider. Parental control device for a computer and the Internet, characterized in that configured to transmit automatically. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program capable of executing each step described in claim 1. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program capable of executing each step described in claim 2. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program capable of executing each step described in claim 3. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program capable of executing each step described in claim 4. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program capable of executing each step described in claim 5.