Interactive video distribution systems – Access control or blocking
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-26
2001-05-08
Faile, Andrew (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Access control or blocking
C725S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230320
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a television receiver employing a V chip system and a method of temporarily releasing viewing restriction in the television receiver employing the V chip system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the United States, a V chip system has been introduced in order to automatically make it impossible to view programs which parents do not desire their children to view. In Japan, the introduction of the V chip system is also being examined.
In the V chip system, ratings such as “violent” and “sexual” are respectively given to television programs, and the program to be broadcast as well as rating information relating to the program to be broadcast is sent out. Currently, the rating information is sent out utilizing a vertical blanking period of a video signal. On the other hand, a V chip for identifying ratings is incorporated into a television receiver, so as to make it automatically impossible to view programs respectively having ratings designated by the parents.
That is, the television receiver employing the V chip system is provided with means for identifying a rating on the basis of rating information sent with a program accompanied by the rating information, means for causing parents to set a rating such that a program having the rating is to be inhibited from being viewed by their children, and means for inhibiting the program having the rating set by the parents from being broadcast in addition to a normal television receiver.
The type of rating is defined by an MPAA (Motion Pictures Association of America) system and a TVPG (TV Parental Guidance) system which are defined by EIA (Electronic Industries Association) 744.
In the television receiver employing the V chip system, a person who has set a rating such that a program having the rating is inhibited from being viewed may, in some cases, temporarily release viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating.
In order to release the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating, however, the contents of the set rating must be changed, which operation is troublesome. In order to return the contents of the set rating to the original state after the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating is released, the rating setting must be performed again, which operation is troublesome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver employing a V chip system which can release a viewing restriction based on the contents of a rating set such that a program having the rating is inhibited from being viewed without changing the contents of the set rating and can make the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating valid with the contents of the set rating at the time of releasing the viewing restriction maintained as it is, and a method of temporarily releasing viewing restriction in the television receiver employing a V chip system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver employing a v chip system which can release viewing restriction based on the contents of a rating set such that a program having the rating is inhibited from being viewed without changing the contents of the set rating and can make, after the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating is released, the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating valid before releasing the viewing restriction by turning the power of the television receiver off, and a method of temporarily releasing viewing restriction in the television receiver employing a V chip system.
A method of temporarily releasing viewing restriction in a first television receiver employing a V chip system according to the present invention comprises the steps of causing a user to enter a viewing restriction release command when the user desires to temporarily release viewing restriction based on the contents of a rating set such that a program having the rating is inhibited from being viewed; making the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating invalid with the contents of the set rating held when the viewing restriction release command is entered; causing the user to enter a viewing restriction return command when the user desires to return the viewing restriction; and making the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating valid when the viewing restriction return command is entered.
A method of temporarily releasing viewing restriction in a second television receiver employing a V chip system according to the present invention is comprises the steps of causing a user to enter a viewing restriction release command when the user desires to temporarily release viewing restriction based on the contents of a rating set such that a program having the rating is inhibited from being viewed; making the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating invalid with the contents of the set rating held when the viewing restriction release command is entered; and making, in a case where the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating is invalid when a power-off command is entered, the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating valid, and then turning the power off.
A first television receiver employing a V chip system according to the present invention comprises entry means for entering a command to release viewing restriction based on the contents of a rating set such that a program having the rating is inhibited from being viewed without changing the contents of the set rating; means for making the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating with the contents of the set rating held when the command to release the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating is entered; entry means for entering a command to make the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating valid; and means for making the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating valid when the command to make the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating valid is entered after the viewing restriction is released.
A second television receiver employing a V chip system according to the present invention comprises entry means for entering a command to release viewing restriction based on the contents of a rating set such that a program having the rating is inhibited from being viewed without changing the contents of the set rating; means for making the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating invalid with the contents of the set rating held when the command to release the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating is entered; and means for making, in a case where the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating is invalid when a power-off command is entered, the viewing restriction based on the contents of the set rating valid, and then turning the power off.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5485518 (1996-01-01), Hunter et al.
patent: 5969748 (1999-10-01), Casement et al.
patent: 5973683 (1999-10-01), Cragun et al.
patent: 5978920 (1999-11-01), Lee
patent: 5995133 (1999-11-01), Kim
patent: 5995160 (1999-11-01), Rumreich
patent: 6020882 (2000-02-01), Kinghorn et al.
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Faile Andrew
Sanyo Electric Co,. Ltd.
Tran Hai V.
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