Rating of message content for content control in wireless devices

Abstract

Systems, methodologies, and devices are described that facilitate filtering content sent to a mobile device(s) by a content provider via a core network. A content provider can determine a content rating for content, and/or the core network and/or mobile device can determine or infer a content rating for unrated content from a content provider, based in part on predefined content rating criteria. A mobile device user can specify a desired content rating preference for the mobile device. A filter(s) respectively associated with the core network and/or mobile device can filter the content based in part on the content rating of the content and the content rating preference of the mobile device to which the content is being sent. Content that does not meet a content rating threshold can be filtered out and stored in a secure content folder accessible using a security code or discarded.

1 . A method that facilitates communication associated with a mobile device, comprising:
 obtaining unrated content at a core network from a content provider;   evaluating, by the core network, the unrated content to associate the unrated content with a content rating based at least in part on a set of content rating criteria; and   inserting the content and the content rating into a message that is sent to at least one mobile device to facilitate filtering content sent to the at least one mobile device by the content provider.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is a modified short message service (SMS) message comprising the content rating that is contained in at least one of an additional short message service (SMS) rating parameter, an additional enhanced messaging service (EMS) rating header, a rating field in the body of the at least one message or any combination thereof, wherein the rating field is identified by one or more keywords. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of content rating criteria relates to at least one of nature of language in content, nature of audio content, nature of visual content or any combination thereof, wherein content that is more adult-oriented is given a higher content rating than content that is less adult-oriented based at least in part on the set of content rating criteria. 
     
     
         4 . A core network in a wireless communications system, comprising:
 a memory that retains instructions for:
 obtaining unrated content from a content provider; 
 evaluating the unrated content to associate the unrated content with a content rating based at least in part on a set of content rating criteria, and 
 inserting the content and the content rating into a message that is sent to at least one mobile device to facilitate filtering content sent to the at least one mobile device by the content provider; and 
   a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.   
     
     
         5 . A core network for communication associated with a mobile device, comprising:
 means for obtaining unrated content from a content provider;   means for evaluating the unrated content to associate the unrated content with a content rating based at least in part on a set of content rating criteria; and   means for inserting the content and the content rating into a message that is sent to at least one mobile device to facilitate filtering content sent to the at least one mobile device by the content provider.   
     
     
         6 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a core network, cause the core network to perform operations, the instructions comprising:
 code for causing at least one computer to obtain unrated content from a content provider;   code for causing at least one computer to evaluate the unrated content to associate the unrated content with a content rating based at least in part on a set of content rating criteria; and   code for causing at least one computer to insert the content and the content rating into a message that is sent to at least one mobile device to facilitate filtering content sent to the at least one mobile device by the content provider.   
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein the set of content rating criteria relates to at least one of nature of language in content, nature of audio content, nature of visual content or any combination thereof, wherein content that is more adult-oriented is given a higher content rating than content that is less adult-oriented based at least in part on the set of content rating criteria. 
     
     
         8 . The core network of  claim 4 , wherein the message is a modified short message service (SMS) message comprising the content rating that is contained in at least one of an additional short message service (SMS) rating parameter, an additional enhanced messaging service (EMS) rating header, a rating field in the body of the at least one message or any combination thereof, wherein the rating field is identified by one or more keywords. 
     
     
         9 . The core network of  claim 4 , wherein the set of content rating criteria relates to at least one of nature of language in content, nature of audio content, nature of visual content or any combination thereof, wherein content that is more adult-oriented is given a higher content rating than content that is less adult-oriented based at least in part on the set of content rating criteria. 
     
     
         10 . The core network of  claim 5 , wherein the message is a modified short message service (SMS) message comprising the content rating that is contained in at least one of an additional short message service (SMS) rating parameter, an additional enhanced messaging service (EMS) rating header, a rating field in the body of the at least one message or any combination thereof, wherein the rating field is identified by one or more keywords. 
     
     
         11 . The core network of  claim 5 , wherein the set of content rating criteria relates to at least one of nature of language in content, nature of audio content, nature of visual content or any combination thereof, wherein content that is more adult-oriented is given a higher content rating than content that is less adult-oriented based at least in part on the set of content rating criteria. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein the message is a modified short message service (SMS) message comprising the content rating that is contained in at least one of an additional short message service (SMS) rating parameter, an additional enhanced messaging service (EMS) rating header, a rating field in the body of the at least one message or any combination thereof, wherein the rating field is identified by one or more keywords. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retrieving one or more contact lists associated with the at least one mobile device;   determining whether the content provider is included in the one or more contact lists,   wherein the message containing the content and the content rating is sent to the at least one mobile device in response to a determination that the content provider is included in the one or more contact lists.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more contact lists include a list of contacts with which the at least one mobile device has initiated contact within a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more contact lists include a list of contacts that have initiated contact with the at least one mobile device within a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         16 . The core network of  claim 4 , wherein the memory further retains additional instructions for:
 retrieving one or more contact lists associated with the at least one mobile device;   determining whether the content provider is included in the one or more contact lists,   wherein the message containing the content and the content rating is sent to the at least one mobile device in response to a determination that the content provider is included in the one or more contact lists.   
     
     
         17 . The core network of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more contact lists include a list of contacts with which the at least one mobile device has initiated contact within a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         18 . The core network of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more contact lists include a list of contacts that have initiated contact with the at least one mobile device within a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         19 . The core network of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 means for retrieving one or more contact lists associated with the at least one mobile device;   means for determining whether the content provider is included in the one or more contact lists,   wherein the message containing the content and the content rating is sent to the at least one mobile device in response to a determination that the content provider is included in the one or more contact lists.   
     
     
         20 . The core network of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more contact lists include a list of contacts with which the at least one mobile device has initiated contact within a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         21 . The core network of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more contact lists include a list of contacts that have initiated contact with the at least one mobile device within a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 code for causing at least one computer to retrieve one or more contact lists associated with the at least one mobile device;   code for causing at least one computer to determine whether the content provider is included in the one or more contact lists,   wherein the message containing the content and the content rating is sent to the at least one mobile device in response to a determination that the content provider is included in the one or more contact lists.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more contact lists include a list of contacts with which the at least one mobile device has initiated contact within a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more contact lists include a list of contacts that have initiated contact with the at least one mobile device within a threshold period of time.