TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a technique for allowing an operator to exercise control of content utilized by a user.

BACKGROUND ART Advances in communications technology now allow individuals to obtain content in the form of movies, television programs, games and the like from a variety of sources. Today, an individual can obtain content from a one or more of a plurality of content delivery networks, including those operated by cable television providers, satellite television purveyors, and telecommunications carriers, as well over the top content providers such as the M-Go content delivery service from Technicolor, Culver City, CA. Unfortunately, not all content is suitable for all audiences, and particularly, young audiences. For that reason, content creators, such as movie studios and game manufacturers provide their content with a rating to identify its suitability for various audiences. For example, movie studios apply ratings to their content established by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). For television programs, the MPAA, along with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) have jointly established a rating system, whereas the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has established a rating system for video games.

The content ratings that accompany movies, television programs and electronic games provide a useful tool for allowing parents, guardians and others ("operators")who operate in loco parentis with regard to a child ("a user") to control content usage. For purposes of discussion, the term "child" includes a biological or adopted child or any child under the supervision of a "parent" as defined herein.

Using such content ratings, a parent can block their child or children from accessing inappropriate content, for example, content that has a violent or adult theme. For this reason, many content delivery networks and Over-the-Top content providers afford operators the ability to block content for viewing by a user based on content ratings. While automatic content blocking works well, this approach does not afford flexibility regarding differences among parents as to what they deem suitable content for their child or children. For example, not all parents may consider content rated "PG-13" suitable for teenage children. Thus, a parent could choose to block all content rated "PG-13" even though most of such content may prove suitable, thus unnecessarily restricting such content.

Alternatively, a parent could to permit all content rated "PG-13" even though their child or children might occasionally consume content their parent(s) consider inappropriate.

Alternatively, a patent could authorize alternative media in place of simply blocking presented content.

Thus, a need exists for a technique for affording parental control of content that affords flexibility.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT PRINCIPLES Briefly, in accordance with an aspect of the present principles, a method for enabling control over content delivery commences by receiving a request for content from a user. Thereafter, the eligibility of the user to receive the content is determined in accordance with at least one profile characteristic. If the user is not deemed eligible based on said at least one - profile characteristic (e.g., the user is too young), then an operator is provided auxiliary content (e.g., a trailer or the like) descriptive of the requested content for evaluation. The distribution of the content to the user is conditioned upon approval of the main content by the operator following evaluation thereby of the associated auxiliary content. Otherwise, delivery of the requested main content is blocked. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 depicts a block schematic diagram of an exemplary system for enabling control over content delivery in accordance with the present principles;

FIGURE 2 depicts a block schematic diagram of an exemplary first device for receiving content from the system of FIG. 1 ;

FIGURE 3 depicts a block schematic diagram of an exemplary Second Screen Device for receiving content from the system of FIG. 1 ; and FIGURE 4 depicts in flow chart form the steps of a method in accordance with an aspect of the present principles for enabling control of content delivery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGURE 1 depicts a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a system 100 for delivering content and, in particular, for enabling control over the delivery of such content to a user (e.g., a child) under the control of an operator (e.g., a parent) accordance with the present principles. The term "parent" as used herein refers to one of a biological or adoptive parent, a guardian or other individual vested with parental authority (i.e., acting in in loco parentis) with respect to a child or children whether biological or adopted, or related by blood or marriage, or simply under supervision of a "parent" as defined herein. The terms parent and child can also refer to a person acting in a supervisory capacity over a child in the absence of any biological or family relationship.

In accordance with an aspect of the present principles, the system 100 has the capability of delivering two kinds of content. The first kind of content, hereinafter, referred to as main content typically comprises one or more audio- visual presentations, including, but not limited to movies, television programs, streaming video or games, for example, that originate from a Content Source 102. The second kind of content, referred to auxiliary content, comprises one or video, audio, text, video games, applications, and/or other information descriptive of the main content. Each piece of auxiliary content associated with a piece of main content typically takes the form of a trailer as is well known in art the associated with that piece of main content. A trailer typically comprises one or more scenes of the main content and/or other descriptive material that can serve as a synopsis of the main content to allow an operator user (e.g. , a parent) to ascertain the suitability of the main content for a user (e.g., a child) under the control of the operator.

The Content Source 102 can deliver main content in at least two formats. For example, the Content Source 102 can deliver main content in the form of "broadcast" main content of the type formatted for terrestrial broadcast by a Broadcast Affiliate Manager 104, typically a national television broadcast network, such as those operated by American Broadcasting Company (ABC), National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Columbia

Broadcasting System (CBS), etc. The Broadcast Affiliate Manager 104 can collect and store broadcast main content and can schedule delivery of such broadcast main content over a delivery network 106, which can include a wired or wireless communications network or a combination of over-the-air (OTA), cable television and/or satellite communication networks.

The Content Source 102 can also deliver main content in the form of special main content such as premium or pay-per-view content or other type of on-demand content otherwise not provided to the Broadcast Affiliate Manager 104. For example, such special content can include first run movies offered to subscribers in response to their request (e.g., pay-per-view), or on a subscription basis. Such special main content can also include archived episodes of television shows provided to the Broadcast Affiliate Manager 104. In addition, the special main content can include video games as well. The Content Source 102 provides such special content to a Special Content Manager 110, which can comprise a service provider, such as an Internet website, affiliated with a content provider, broadcast service, or network delivery service (e.g., cable television or satellite provider or

telecommunications carrier). The Special Content Manager 110 can also incorporate Internet files for delivery with such special main content through an over the top service such as Netflix, Amazon and/or the M-GO content delivery service from Technicolor, Inc. as an example. In practice, the Special Content Manager 110 has the ability to receive

communications from operators and users of the system 100 by way of the Internet or other communications networks (e.g., telephony networks, whether wired or wireless). Rather than have the Special Content Manager 110 serve this role, the system 100 could include a dedicated communications interface (not shown).

In practice, the Special Content Manager 110 delivers special main content (and associated Internet files) over a separate delivery network 112, which can include a Wide- Area Network (WAN), Local- Area Network (LAN ) and/or a high-speed broadband communications network, including, but not limited to, the Internet. Note that the main content provided by the Broadcast Affiliate Manager 104 could undergo delivery using all or part of delivery network 112. Similarly, main content requested from the Special Content Manager 110 could undergo delivery using all or part of delivery network 106. In addition, the delivery of main content could occur directly via the network 112 without the need for the Special Content Manager 110. In addition, the Special Content Manner 110 has the capability of providing auxiliary content associated with the main broadcast content provided by the Broadcast Affiliate Manager 104 as described hereinafter.

Both the Broadcast Affiliate Manager 104 and the Special Content Manager have access to a database 111 that stores profiles of individuals entitled to access the system 100 (e.g., operators and users). Each individual requesting content typically has profile (e.g., an account) associated with that individual, including various profile characteristics, which can include one or more of the following: credit card or other billing information, correspondence information (e-mail and/or physical address), authorized receiving devices, content preferences, and authorized clients (users). Thus, for example, an operator (e.g., a parent) who has a profile stored in the profile 111 database maintained by the system 100 of FIG. 1 can list or her child or children as authorized clients, thus making each child eligible to request content as a user. The profile of each authorized client (e.g., each user) can have a content rating restriction and/or pay-per view restriction. Alternatively, such content restrictions could be stored locally at the Content Receiving Device 108. The content delivery technique of present principles makes use of such restrictions to allow an operator (e.g., a parent) to control the main content requested by a user (e.g., a child) over which the operator has control.

In practice, an operator, such as a parent, can enter data to establish his or her profile in a variety of ways. For example, an operator could make use of his or her Content

Receiving Device 108 to enter such information, either by using a remote control for that device, or by using a Second Screen Device 117 as described hereinafter. Alternatively, an operator could enter such information via another device (for example, a computer, cell phone, or table) via a network connection (not shown) to the system 100 via the Special Content Manager 110, or other mechanism (not shown) having the ability to access and store such information in the profile database 111.

At a local premise, such as a home or the like, operators (e.g., parents) and users (e.g., children) will employ a Content Receiving Device 108 to access content (both main and auxiliary content) via one or both of the networks 106 and 112. The Content Receiving Device 108 will process such content for subsequent display on a Display Device 114, such as a television set or the like. In this way, the operator and a user can "consume" or "utilize" content. The Content Receiving Device 108, described greater in detail in FIG. 2, can take many forms, such as a set-top box, gateway, modem or the like. Moreover, the functionality of the Content Receiving Device 108 could reside in devices such as a digital video player (DVR), personal computer, television set, etc. Further, the Content Receiving Device 108 could act as entry point, or gateway, for a home network (not shown) that includes additional devices configured as either client or peer devices in such home network. The Content Receiving Device 108 processes the content received via one or both the networks 106 and 112 based on preferences of, and commands from, operators and users. The Content Receiving Device 108 can include a storage device, such as a hard drive or optical disk drive (not shown), for recording and playback.

The Content Receiving Device 108 can interface with the second-screen device 117, described in detail with respect to FIG. 3. The second-screen device 117 allows an operator or user to control both the Content Receiving Device 108 and the Display Device 114.

Further, the second-screen device 117 also has the capability to display the same main content or auxiliary content in synchronism with the main content displayed on the Display Device 114. Further, the second-screen device 117 allows the operator or user to interact with the main content. For subsequent reference, the Content Receiving Device 108 constitutes a "first" Content Receiving Device, whereas the second-screen device 117 constitutes a "second" Content Receiving Device.

FIG. 2 depicts a block schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the Content Receiving Device 108 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the Content Receiving Device 108 includes an input signal receiver 202 that receives content (main as well as auxiliary content) via the networks 106 and 112 shown in FIG. 1. The input signal receiver 202 can comprise one of several known receiver circuits used for receiving, demodulating and decoding the received content. An input stream processor 204 receives the decoded content and performs the final signal selection and processing, including separation of video from audio in the decoded main content. The input stream processor 204 supplies the audio to an audio processor 206, which generates an audio signal for receipt by an audio interface 208 that provides an audio signal to the Display Device 114 of FIG. 1, or other device(s) (not shown) for audio reproduction. Typically, the audio interface 208 generates an analog audio signal. Alternatively, the audio interface 208 could generate a digital signal. Additionally, the audio processor 206 supplies audio signals to a storage device 212 for storage.

The input stream processor 204 also provides a video output signal to a video processor 210, which undertakes signal conversion to provide a video signal of the appropriate format for storage in the storage device 212 and for display. A display interface 218 interfaces the video processor 210 to the Display Device 114 of FIG. 1. The storage device 212 stores audio and video for later retrieval and playback of under the control of a controller 214 in accordance with commands received by the user through a user interface 216 and/or a touch panel interface 222. The user interface 216 can provide an interface to a touch panel (not shown) separate from, or integrated with the Display Device 114 of FIG. 1. Additionally, the user interface 216 provides the mechanism by which the second-screen device 117 of FIG. 1 (as well as other devices) can interface to the controller 214. The storage device 212 can comprise be a hard disk drive, one or more large capacity integrated electronic memories, such as static RAM (SRAM), or dynamic RAM (DRAM), or an interchangeable optical disk storage system such as a compact disk (CD) drive or digital video disk (DVD) drive.

The controller 214 controls the operation of the Content Receiving Device 108. To that end, the controller 214 has bus interconnection to the input stream processor 204, the audio processor 206, the video processor 210, the storage device 212, the user interface 216 and the touch panel interface 222. The controller 214 manages the conversion process for converting the input stream signal into a signal for storage on the storage device 212 and/or display. The controller 214 also manages the retrieval and playback of the stored content.

The controller 214 also has a bus interconnection to a control memory 220 (e.g., one or more volatile and/or non-volatile memories, including RAM, SRAM, DRAM, ROM, Programmable ROM (PROM), flash memory, Electronically Programmable ROM (EPROM), electronically erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), etc.), for storing information and instruction code for the controller 214. The control memory 220 can also store a database of elements, such as graphic elements, for generating a graphical user interface for display to the user on the Display Device 114 of FIG. 1.

In practice, the second-screen device 117 can take a variety of forms. For example, the second-screen device 117 could take the form of a tablet device, such as the Apple I-Pad, or Samsung Galaxy Note tablet. Alternatively, the second-screen device 117 could take the form of a smart phone or laptop computer or any other similar device that can send and receive data as well as display of such data. A block schematic diagram of an exemplary second-screen device 117, in the form of a smart phone, appears in FIG. 3. The second-screen device 117 of FIG. 3 includes an application processor 300, which controls overall operation of the device. To that end, the application processor 300 has a connection to a memory block 301 , which can include one or more of the following types of memory (not shown), flash card, mobile DRAM, Memory Multi Chip Package (MCP), and Multimedia Card Memory (MMC), which collectively store the operating system for the application processor as well as application programs and data.

The application processor 300 interfaces with a baseband processor 302, which connects to an antenna 304. The baseband processor 302 includes circuitry (not shown) for receiving and transmitting RF signals within the frequency range designated for cellular communication to allow the second-screen device 117 to operate as a cellular telephone for voice and/or data communication. The application processor 300 also interfaces with a wireless access block 306 that connects to an antenna 308. The wireless access block 306 operates in a manner similar to the baseband processor 302 to receive and transmit RF signals, except that the wireless access block operates in both the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi frequency band. Both the wireless access block 306 and the baseband processor 302 can communicate information from the device user, such as a request for main content, or approval of a main request by another user. Further, the wireless access block 306 and the baseband processor 302 each affords the second screen device 117 the ability to readily download content, including, but not limited to auxiliary content.

The second-screen device includes a display screen 310, typically an LCD or OLED screen, driven by the application processor 300 via a display driver circuit 312. In addition to its display functionality, the screen 310 has a data input capability to allow an operator to touch the screen to enter data to the application processor 300 via a touch screen interface 314.

The application processor 300 interfaces with an audio codec 316 connected to a microphone 318 and a speaker 320. The audio codec 316 processes voice signals from the microphone 318 for receipt by the application processor 300 to allow the user of the second- screen device to enter voice commands as well as converse with another caller when the second-screen device operates as a cell phone. The audio codec also process signals from the application processor 300 for audio reproduction by the speaker 320.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second-screen device 117 of FIG. 3 also includes an image sensor, typically in the form of a CMOS image sensor 322, coupled to the application processor 300. In an optional embodiment, the image sensor 322 could be configured to accept user input in the form of gestures. The application processor 300 can store images captured by the image sensor 322 in the memory bank 301 for future recall and/or

transmission by one of the baseband processor 302 or the wireless access block 306. A power source, in form of a rechargeable battery provides power to the application processor 300 for its use and for distribution to the other elements within the second-screen device 117.

In practice, the wireless access block 306 of the second-screen device 117 of FIG. 3 advantageously communicates with touch panel interface 222 of the content receive device instead of Wi-Fi as the communications protocol. In this way, a user using the second-screen device 117 of FIG. 3 can enter commands via the touch screen functionality of the screen 310 to control the Content Receiving Device 108 while viewing content displayed on the screen 310. In addition, the user using the second-screen device 117 could also enter voice commands through the microphone 318 to control the Content Receiving Device 108 of FIG. 2.

As discussed above, each piece of main content stored in the Content Source 102 of FIG. 1 has a content rating specifying the suitability of the content for different audiences. Using the content rating for a particular piece of main content, a parent can determine the suitability of that content for consumption by his or her child or children. Such content ratings only provide general guidance and parents often will make their own decisions as to the suitability of an individual piece of main content. In some instances, a parent might choose to block all main content having a certain content level (e.g., "PG-13" or "R") and above even though certain main content bearing such a rating might prove suitable for children.

In accordance with an aspect of the present principles, parental control over content delivery with greater flexibility can be achieved by conditioning the delivery of main content to a child or children (e.g., user(s) upon review of auxiliary content associated with that main content by a parent (e.g., an operator). In the context of the parental control technique of the present principles, an operator can use the auxiliary content to judge the suitability of the associated main content a user. Like each piece of main content, each associated piece of auxiliary content has a content rating, usually in the form of accompanying metadata, although the content rating can also be embedded within content in the form of a watermark, audio information, video information (such as Line 21), and the like.

In operation, a parent can place content restrictions on his or her children by entering appropriate commands to the system 100 for storage in the profile database 111 to limit delivery of content based on content rating. In this regard, an operator can program the Content Receiving Device 108 employed by one or more users (e.g., children) under the operator' s control to require each user identify himself or herself to the Content Receiving Device. The Content Receiving Device 108 could possess a local profile database (not shown) for storing operator content restrictions for local users (e.g., children). Using its local profile information, the Content Receiving Device 108 could determine the suitability of the main content provided by the Broadcast Affiliate Manager 104 for a user or content requested by a user from the Special Content Manager 110. Upon finding the content initially unsuitable because of the user' s age lies below that of the rating of the main content, the Content Receiving Device 108 could condition delivery of such main content following an operator' s approval of such main content following the operator' s review of the auxiliary content associated with the requested main content.

In the absence of the Content Receiving Device 108 having a local user profile database, the operator would enter such restrictions into the Profile database 111 in a manner discussed previously. Upon receipt of operator identification information from the Content Receiving Device 108, the Broadcast Affiliate Manager 104 can determine whether the identified local user can receive the main content scheduled for broadcast by accessing the Profile database 111 to determine whether the local user meets the appropriate criterion to receive the broadcast main content. If the user the cannot receive such content because the user is, for example, too young, delivery of such main content can still occur, conditioned upon operator (e.g., parental) review of the associated auxiliary content.

In a similar manner, the Special Content Manager 110 can determine whether the identified local user can receive main content he or she requested by accessing the Profile database 111 to determine whether the user meets the appropriate criterion to receive the requested content. In practice, the user typically makes a request for content through the Content Receiving Device 108 of FIG. 1, either directly, such as via the device remote control (not shown), or via the Second Screen Device 117 of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the user could make use of other devices for this purpose, such as a computer, cellphone or tablet, for example having the ability to communicate that request to the Content Receiving Device 108 for communication to the Special Content Manager 110 of FIG. 1. Under some

circumstances, the user could make the request to the Special Content Manager 110 directly. If the user the cannot receive such content because the user is, for example, too young, delivery of such main content can still occur, conditioned upon operator review of the associated auxiliary content as described in greater detail below.

In some instances, a parent will allow his or her child or children to obtain

automatically main content having a content rating at or below the age of the requesting child. Thus, for example, a parent could set a profile characteristic for his or her child age 16 or older that allows for delivery of content rated "G", "PG" or "PG-13" but not "R", "MA" or "NC-17" or content which has no rating at all. Alternatively, some parents want the ability approve the main content requested by their children on a case-by-case basis even if the child's age exceeds the minimum age associated with the content rating. To that end, the content delivery with parental control technique of the present principles affords a parent the ability to preview content requested by his or her child or children.

FIGURE 4 depicts in flow chart form the steps of a method practiced by the system 100 of FIG, 1 for parental control of content delivery. The method commences by receipt of a request from content from a user (e.g., a child) during step 400 of FIG. 4. The request can include scheduled broadcast main content from the Broadcast Affiliate Manager 104 of FIG. 1 or on-demand content from the Special Content Manager 110 of FIG. 1. The user typically makes such a request directly via the Content Receiving Device 108 of FIG. 1 (via its remote control) or via the Second Screen Device 117 of FIG. 1. The user could also make that request through other means as discussed. Next, a determination is made with the user is eligible to receive the main content during step 402. In practice, the eligibility depends on the rating of the requested main content and the user's age although other factors such as the sensitivity of the certain content can be used in accordance with the exemplary principles. As described, verification of the user's eligibility can occur at the Content Receiving Device 108 provide that the device maintains a local user profile. Otherwise, verification can occur using the profile information stored in the Profile database 111 of FIG. 1. Upon a determination that the user (e.g., the child) is eligible to receive the requested content, then delivery of the requested content occurs during step 404 and the process will await another content request.

However, if the user lacks eligibility to receive the requested content, (e.g., the child remains too young for the requested main content based on its content rating), the content delivery process of FIG. 4 enables an operator (e.g., a parent) to authorize content delivery to the child as follows. Following a determination during step 402 that the lacks eligibility to receive the requested main content, then the system 100 of FIG. 1 provides the operator (the parent) with auxiliary content associated with the requested main content during step 406. By viewing the auxiliary content, the operator (e.g., the parent) can determine the suitability of the requested main content for consumption by the user (e.g., the child) during step 408.

Review of the auxiliary content by the operator can occur in different ways. For example, consider the scenario during which a parent and his or her child or children currently watch the Display Device 114 of FIG. 1 together in the same room. Under such

circumstances, the operator (e.g., the parent) can use the remote control (not shown) of the Content Receiving Device 108 of FIG. 1 or he or she can use the Second Screen Device 117 of FIG. 1 to validate his or her presence. Having signaled his or her presence, the operator can then enter a command to approve or disapprove the auxiliary content. Other mechanisms exist for enabling a parent to signal his or her presence. For example, the Content Receiving Device 108 could make use of a camera (not shown) or the like for detecting the image of the operator to validate his or her presence. Further, the Content Receiving Device 108 could also interface with various near field communications devices (not shown) that detect the presence of the operator as well as receive a command therefrom indicating the operator' s approval or disapproval of the requested main content. Alternatively, the Content Receiving Device 108 could also make use of speech recognition to detect the presence of the operator to receive a command indicating approval or disapproval of the requested main content.

Assuming that the Content Receiving Device 108 has verified the presence of the operator and further possesses the ability to distinguish between commands entered by the operator and the user, approval or disapproval of the requested content could take the form of a simple "yes" or "no" response from the operator (e.g., the parent). To provide for greater security, approval by operator of the requested main content could require entry a password or personal identification number (PIN). The display of auxiliary content typically occurs in the context of a contemporaneous request for main content for one-time viewing (including a rental) or permanent acquisition by way of a purchase or the like. The display of the auxiliary content can also occur in the context of a preview operation, whereby the operator can determine the suitability of a piece of main content for later consumption.

As discussed above, the operator (e.g., the parent) usually views auxiliary content at the same location where the user (e.g., the child) has made the main content request, namely the location of the Content Receiving Device 108 and the Display Device 114. However, the content delivery technique of the present principles can operate even when the operator remains distant from where the user makes the content request. When an operator expects to remain distant from the user, the operator will alert the system 100 to update his or her profile stored in the Profile database 111 to send the auxiliary content to an alternate destination for viewing on a device other than the display device 114 of FIG. 1 or the second screen device 117. For example, the operator could request that the system 100 send alternate content to the operator's communication device 120 of FIG. 1, illustratively depicted as a smart telephone having a structure comparable to that described in FIG. 3 for the second screen device 117. The communications device 120 could take other forms, such as a computer or tablet for example, as long as such a device has the ability to communicate with the system 100. Using his or her communications device 120, an operator can receive auxiliary content from the system 100 for viewing, after which the operator can signal his or his approval or disapproval, typically by entering a password or PIN.

In practice, the different pieces of auxiliary content associated with a given piece of main content will have a content rating suitable for all audiences. However, in some instance, a piece of auxiliary content associated with a piece of main content could take the form of a "red-band" trailer, e.g., a trailer having a content rating only suitable for a restricted audience, (e.g., a "R", or "NC-17" content rating). Whether to display auxiliary content in the form of a red-band trailer will depend on different factors. For example, the content delivery system 100 could choose not to display auxiliary content in the form of a red-band trailer but only display auxiliary content suitable for all audiences. Alternatively, the content delivery system 100 could choose to display or not display auxiliary content in the form of a red-band trailer based on operator preferences stored in Profile database 111 of FIG. 1.

Assuming an operator (e.g., a parent) has selected to receive auxiliary content in the form of a red-band trailer, the system 100 will typically provide the operator with the auxiliary content having the most-restrictive content rating first if multiple pieces of auxiliary content exist for a given piece of main content. Thus, an operator will receive auxiliary content in the form of a red band trailer first before seeing auxiliary content having less restrictive content ratings (e.g., "PG" or "PG-13"). Auxiliary content can also take the form of a different medium, for instance instead of receiving a video trailer of a piece of main content, audio, such music or a video game associated with the main content can be provided.

In practice, not only will an operator receive the piece of auxiliary content having the most restrictive content rating first, the operator will also receive the piece of auxiliary content having the longest length first. Thus, if a piece of main content has four different pieces of associated auxiliary content, the operator will receive auxiliary content having the most restrictive content rating and longest length first, followed by the next most-restrictive content rated and next longest length piece of auxiliary content and so on. The more restrictive the content rating and the longer the length of the auxiliary content, the better opportunity the operator will have to evaluate the main content associated with that auxiliary content. A piece of auxiliary content corresponding to a "teaser" trailer would not provide as much information as would an extended length piece of auxiliary content. In addition to providing the operator with auxiliary content, the system 100 could also provide feedback from others who have viewed the main content under consideration. Various sources current exists that provide such feedback, including www.rottenappless.com. The content delivery technique of the present principles has been described in the context of content, such as movies or television programs, delivered from one of the Broadcast Affiliate Manager or the Special Content Manager 110. However, the content delivery technique can also apply to other content form other content sources as well, including but not limited to images and static media delivered over a LAN/WAN network (including the Internet) from web sites or the like either to the Content Receiving Device 108 or another device (not shown). Rather than use content ratings to restrict content, the content delivery technique of the present principles could condition content delivery from sources restricted by an operator upon review of auxiliary content by the operator as described previously. In the same manner that an operator would enter content rating restrictions, the operator could enter content site restrictions. Thus, when a user requests main content from a restricted source, that source (or another source), will send a piece of auxiliary content for review by the operator who after reviewing such auxiliary content will approve or disapprove access to the restricted site.

Further, while the content delivery technique has been described generally in the context of a parent child relation, the technique is equally applicable for other situations in which a need exists to restrict content delivery to a user, for example a penal institution, mental health facility, school or the like, in which supervisory personnel (e.g., an operator) needs to control content consumption.

The foregoing describes a technique for supervisory control of content delivery.