Systems and methods for providing parental control asset searching

Abstract

Systems and methods for searching for available assets permitted by parental controls are disclosed. Search results may include assets similar to a reference asset, which may be an asset the user has requested, but which is locked by parental control settings in force on the user equipment. Assets may be ranked according to their similarity, or relevance, to the requested asset, and they may be accessed directly from the search results. Systems and methods for accessing edited or censored versions of the requested asset are also disclosed. An edited content source may store multiple versions of certain assets available in the media system. The appropriate version of the asset may be accessed and presented to the user automatically depending on the user's parental control settings.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method for managing access to media assets, the method comprising:
 receiving, with a user input device, a request to access a media asset;   determining, using control circuitry, that the requested media asset exceeds or violates a parental control; and   in response to the determining, presenting, on a display device, a prompt comprising:
 an indication that the requested media asset is blocked; 
 an indication of a type of parental control corresponding to the parental control exceeded or violated by the requested media asset; and 
 an option to perform a media search for alternate media assets. 
   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 receiving, with the user input device, a user selection of the search option; and   searching for alternate media assets.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising presenting, on the display device, a list of alternate media assets. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the alternate media assets presented are sorted based on the relevance of each alternate media asset to the requested media asset. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising presenting, on the display device, a second prompt comprising a progress indicator for the search. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein searching for alternate media assets comprises searching for media assets that do not exceed or violate the parental control exceeded or violated by the requested media asset. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the prompt further comprises an option to cancel the prompt without searching for alternate media assets. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 receiving, with a user input device, a user selection of the cancel option; and   presenting, on the display device, an edited version of the requested media asset.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the prompt further comprises an option to enter a parental control access code. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 receiving, with the user input device, a user entry of an access code;   determining, using control circuitry, that the entered access code matches the parental control access code; and   presenting, on the display device, an unedited version of the requested media asset.   
     
     
         51 . A system for managing access to media assets, the system comprising:
 a user input device;   a display device; and   control circuitry configured to:
 receive, from the user input device, a request to access a media asset; 
 determine that the requested media asset exceeds or violates a parental control; and 
 in response to the determining, present, on the display device, a prompt comprising:
 an indication that the requested media asset is blocked; 
 an indication of a type of parental control corresponding to the parental control exceeded or violated by the requested media asset; and 
 an option to perform a media search for alternate media assets. 
 
   
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive, from the user input device, a user selection of the search option; and   search for alternate media assets.   
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to present, on the display device, a list of alternate media assets. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the alternate media assets presented are sorted based on the relevance of each alternate media asset to the requested media asset. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to present, on the display device, a second prompt comprising a progress indicator for the search. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to search for alternate media assets that do not exceed or violate the parental control exceeded or violated by the requested media asset. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the prompt further comprises an option to cancel the prompt without searching for alternate media assets. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive, from the user input device, a user selection of the cancel option; and   present, on the display device, an edited version of the requested media asset.   
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the prompt further comprises an option to enter a parental control access code. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive, from the user input device, a user entry of an access code;   determine that the entered access code matches the parental control access code; and   
       present, on the display device, an unedited version of the requested media asset.