Method and apparatus for content filtering

Abstract

A method for filtering content makes use of local filtering agents for end users, and a portal to a network of human reviewing resources. Local filtering agents request content classification for unclassified content. The portal routes requests from local agents to available human reviewing resources. A content classification is provided by the reviewing resources, and may be saved in association with a content identifier for future use. The method permits human review of content within a short period after review is requested. In an embodiment of the invention, a centrally-located switch is provided for controlling filtering levels at one or more user terminals.

1 . A method for content filtering, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of requests for review of various content items, wherein each of the various content items is accessible via a wide area network;   transmitting the plurality of requests for review to a reviewing resource that comprises a network-connected device configured to present content to a human reviewer; and   associating individual ones of the various content items with at least one respective classification provided by the reviewing resource based on review of the respective content items by the human reviewer.   
     
     
         2 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the respective classifications associated with the individual ones of the various content items to a plurality of filtering agents. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respective classifications associated with the individual ones of the various content items are usable by a filtering agent to determine if a user is blocked from accessing one or more types of content associated with one or more of the various content items. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respective classifications associated with the individual ones of the various content items are usable by a filtering agent to determine if a user having a given one of a plurality of access levels is permitted to access one or more of the various content items. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respective classifications associated with the individual ones of the various content items are usable by a filtering agent to compare a user profile with one or more defined categories of content to determine if a user corresponding to the user profile should be blocked from accessing content belonging to the one or more defined categories of content. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating individual ones of the various content items with at least one respective classification provided by the reviewing resource includes two or more human reviewers each agreeing on the at least one respective classification. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing one or more classifications of the various content items along with one or more URLs corresponding to the various content items. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising updating a classification database in response to a more recent review of a previously reviewed content item. 
     
     
         28 . A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that are executable by a processor of a computer system to cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a plurality of requests for review of various content items, wherein each of the various content items is accessible via a wide area network;   transmitting the plurality of requests for review to a reviewing resource that comprises a network-connected device configured to present content to a human reviewer; and   associating individual ones of the various content items with at least one respective classification provided by the reviewing resource based on review of the respective content items by the human reviewer.   
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the operations further comprise causing one or more requests for content from an end user to be filtered, wherein said filtering is based on a profile for the end user having one or more associated categories. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more associated categories of the profile include a category associated with an age of the end user. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the operations further comprise causing one or more category-based Internet content filtering rules to be applied to one or more requests for content. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the operations further comprise causing alternative content to be presented to an end user in response to a determination that given content should be filtered based on a classification determined, at least in part, by one or more human reviewers. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the operations further comprise associating one or more other content items with a particular classification based on an automatic determination made by the computer system without human review. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the operations further comprise associating at least two different classifications with a particular one of the various content items based on review by the human reviewer. 
     
     
         35 . A network device, comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the network device to perform operations comprising:
 associating a respective content access level with each one of a plurality of client devices, wherein the respective content access level is chosen from two or more defined levels of access; and 
 in response to a request for content received from a given one of the plurality of client devices, determining whether to provide the content based, at least in part, on one or more human-determined attributes of the content and the respective content access level for the given one of the plurality of client devices. 
   
     
     
         36 . The network device of  claim 35 , wherein said determining includes examining a URL of an individual web page to determine if content on the individual web page should be filtered. 
     
     
         37 . The network device of  claim 35 , wherein the network device is configured to provide network access to the plurality of client devices. 
     
     
         38 . The network device of  claim 35 , wherein the two or more defined levels of access include a level of access for children and a level of access for adults. 
     
     
         39 . The network device of  claim 35 , wherein said determining includes applying one or more category-based Internet content filtering rules to the request for content.