Method for accessing an additional content with parental control

Abstract

The invention applies relates to the access to an additional content related to a main content from a player having an Internet access and being designed so as to allow the setting of parental levels. In a preferred embodiment the main content is stored on a disc edited withwith links toward the additional contents. When the disc is in place in the player, such a link can be established to access to the additional content. The invention applies when such an access is subject to a user identification. The invention consists in adding to the user identification process a step for recovering the parental level applicable to the user and adapting the offer made to the user depending on the recovered parental level.

1 . A method for controlling a user access is to an additional content related to a main content, from a player designed so as to allow the setting of at least a parental level, said method comprising a user identification step for identifying said user, said user identification step comprising a parental level recovery step for recovering a parental level set in said player and applicable to said user, and an access control step for controlling said user access depending on the recovered parental level.  
     
     
         2 . A user access control method as claimed in  claim 1 , said method being applicable to registered users for which a user identifier and a parental level are stored in a user information database, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a user identifier input provided by a user, and    recovering the parental level to be applied to said user by searching said user identifier input in said user information database.    
     
     
         3 . A portable carrier storing a program comprising instructions for implementing a user access control method as claimed in one of claims  1  or  2 , when said program is executed by a processor.  
     
     
         4 . A server comprising storage means storing a program comprising instructions for implementing a user access control method as claimed in one of claims  1  or  2  when said program is executed by a processor.  
     
     
         5 . A player comprising processing means for executing a program comprising instructions for implementing a user access control method as claimed in  claim 1 , when a portable carrier storing said program is present in said player.  
     
     
         6 . A player comprising processing means and storage means, said storage means storing a user information database intended to be used when executing a program comprising instructions for implementing a user access control method as claimed in  claim 2 , when said program is executed by said processing means.  
     
     
         7 . A system comprising a player, a transmission network, and a server, said player comprising setting means for setting at least a parental level, sending means for sending to said server via said transmission network a user request for access to an additional content related to a main content, said server comprising user identification means for identifying the user who sent a user request, said user identification means comprising parental level recovery means for recovering a parental level set in said player and applicable to said user, and access control means for controlling said user access depending on the recovered parental level.