Parental Control Graphical User Interface

Abstract

Improved graphical user interfaces and methods suitable for restricting the availability of media items and/or podcasts are disclosed. The graphical user interfaces are particularly useful for a system that provides purchase and distribution of media in a client-server environment.

1 . A client computing device adapted to execute an application program that presents a graphical user interface on a display device of the client computing device, the application program having capability to subscribe to, receive and playback media content from a plurality of media sources, said graphical user interface comprising:
 an application program window generated by the application program, said application program window presents user-selectable parental controls, said application program window concurrently including at least:
 a list of selectable program utility items including at least a selectable parental utility item, 
 a list of selectable parental control items available to configure restrict or disable access to one or more media sources, and 
 a selectable locking item for disabling unauthorized access to the list of selectable parental control items, 
   wherein the list of selectable parental control items includes a restrict explicit content selectable item for restricting access to media items containing explicit content from at least one of the one or more media sources.   
   
   
       2 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the one or more media sources is an online media store. 
   
   
       3 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein those media items from the at least one of the one or more media sources that contain explicit content are identified using an explicit content tag. 
   
   
       4 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 3 ,
 wherein said application program window is configured to display one or more media items that have been received at the client device or are available to be received at the client device, and   wherein if the restrict explicit content selectable item is selected, the one or more media items are hidden and not display by said application program window.   
   
   
       5 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the list of selectable parental control items includes at least one selectable media source item for selectively disabling at least one of the one or more media sources. 
   
   
       6 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one selectable media source item includes at least a disable store selectable item for disabling access to or viewing of media items available from an online store. 
   
   
       7 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 6 ,
 wherein said application program window is configured to display one or more media items that have been received at the client device or are available to be received at the client device from the online store, and   wherein if the disable store selectable item is selected, the one or more media items are hidden and not display by said application program window.   
   
   
       8 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one selectable media source item includes at least a disable podcast selectable item for selectively disabling reception of podcasts. 
   
   
       9 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 8 ,
 wherein said application program window is configured to display one or more podcasts that have been received at the client device or are available to be received at the client device, and   wherein if the disable podcast selectable item is selected, the one or more podcasts are hidden and not display by said application program window.   
   
   
       10 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of selectable media source items further includes a disable shared music selectable item for disabling sharing of music files between computers. 
   
   
       11 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the selectable locking item, when selected, disables access to the list of selectable parental control items. 
   
   
       12 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein when the list of selectable parental control items is disabled, then the list of selectable parental control items is visible but grayed out. 
   
   
       13 . A client computing device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein an authorized user can thereafter unlock the list of selectable parental control items using a password, thereby enabling access to the list of selectable parental control items. 
   
   
       14 . A method for implementing parental controls using an application program operating on a client device, the application program having capability to receive and playback media content from one or more media sources, said method comprising:
 displaying a list of selectable program utility items having a selectable parental control item;   receiving a first user selection of the selectable parental control item;   displaying, in response to the first user selection, a list of selectable items available for restriction at the client device;   displaying a selectable locking item for disabling unauthorized access to the list of selectable items available for restriction;   receiving a second user selection of one of the list of selectable items available for restriction;   distinctively displaying the one of the selectable items in the list of selectable items available for restriction that the user has selected via the second user selection;   receiving a third user selection of the selectable locking item;   displaying the list of the first selectable items with the list of selectable items available for restriction being locked in response to the third user selection,   wherein the list of selectable items available for restriction includes a restrict explicit content selectable item for restricting access to media items containing explicit content from at least one of the one or more media sources.   
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the list of selectable items available for restriction includes one or more restrict sources selectable items for selectively disabling at least one of the one or more media sources. 
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the one or more restrict sources selectable items include at least a disable store selectable item for disabling access to or viewing of media items available from an online store. 
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the one or more restrict sources selectable items include at least a disable podcast selectable item for selectively disabling access to podcasts. 
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more restrict sources selectable items further includes a disable shared music selectable item for disabling sharing of music files between computers. 
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the selectable locking item disables access to the list of selectable items available for restriction. 
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein when the list of selectable items available for restriction is disabled, then the list of selectable items available for restriction is visible but grayed out. 
   
   
       21 . A method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein an authorized user can unlock the list of selectable items available for restriction using a password. 
   
   
       22 . Computer program product including executable computer code tangibly stored thereon for implementing parental controls at a client device, the executable computer code being part of an application program having capability to receive and playback media content from one or more media sources, said computer program product comprising:
 computer code for displaying a list of selectable program utility items having a selectable parental control item;   computer code for receiving a first user selection of the selectable parental control item;   computer code for displaying a list of selectable parental control items available for disablement or restriction at the client device;   computer code for displaying a selectable locking item for disabling unauthorized access to the list of selectable parental control items;   computer code for receiving a second user selection of one of the selectable parental control items in the list of selectable parental control items, wherein the list of selectable parental control available for disablement or restriction includes a restrict explicit content selectable item for restricting access to media items containing explicit content from at least one of the one or more media source;   computer code for distinctively displaying the one of the selectable parental control items in the list of selectable parental control items that the user has selected via the second user selection;   computer code for receiving a third user selection of the selectable locking item;   computer code for displaying the list of selectable parental control items being locked in response to the third user selection; and   computer readable medium for storing the computer code.