Interactive video distribution systems – Access control or blocking – Of specific program
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-26
2001-11-20
Hsia, Sherrie (Department: 2614)
Interactive video distribution systems
Access control or blocking
Of specific program
C725S027000, C348S569000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321381
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the controlled use of television receivers and particularly to parental control of the use of television receivers and associated equipment such as cable boxes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Parental control is presently available in some television receivers, video cassette recorders, and cable boxes on a limited basis. In these devices, certain channels may be locked out. However, the locking out of channels does not prevent children from spending excessive time watching television instead of studying or doing other things. Other devices limit the amount of time, but do not provide for selective viewing to prevent viewing of undesirable programs. One example of parental control at the television receiver is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,623 to Bonneau et al. A local oscillator for electronically tuning the television is controlled by a phase lock loop which is responsive to the output signal from a microprocessor. The microprocessor provides the output signal only if the selected channel has not been inhibited. To inhibit a channel for a period of time, the user enters a lockout code which is stored in a non-volatile memory. The memory provides one input to the microprocessor which is compared to the input by a user selecting a channel to be viewed. The microprocessor determines whether the selected channel is one of the inhibited channels and, if it is, does not generate the necessary signal for tuning to that channel.
Another prior art patent that discloses the blocking out of selected channels is U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,107 to John J. Hayes. The parental control disclosed in the Hayes patent is provided in a converter box. In this system, if the access code is forgotten, the converter box has to be taken to the business office of the CATV system to have the memory purged of the blocked-out channel information and the access code, and a new access code must be entered. In the Hayes device, only selected channels can be clocked which does not allow the selected blocking of particular programs in a channel.
In general, the present state of the art concerning parental control suffers from a number of drawbacks. In particular, the control is very limited and does not provide a parent the broad control desirable for controlling the viewing or use of a television by a child.
Some cable channels are scrambled and must be decoded by a cable box before being sent to a television tuned to channel
3
or channel
4
. In this case, controlling the tuning of the television is ineffective, because the television is always tuned to channel
3
or
4
. Even if a particular channel is blocked in the cable box or converter box, this does not provide the parent selective control over programs within a channel.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for apparatus and methods for improved parental control of television use to provide a parent broad control for both blocking unacceptable programs and/or selecting acceptable programs that are available for viewing. There is also a need in the art for improved parental control of multiple televisions attached to a common signal source.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, apparatus and methods for improved parental control of television viewing are provided.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes means for blocking the viewing of programs, each having a program identifier, coupled to a television signal source and having a first output, cable box means for converting television signals coupled to the first output of the means for blocking, and means for selecting programs to be blocked coupled to the means for blocking.
In a specific embodiment the means for blocking further comprises means for decoding and expanding a compressed code, representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of a channel, a date, a time-of-day, and a length for a program.
In another specific embodiment the apparatus further includes a clock for providing an output as a function of time coupled to the means for decoding and expanding, and the means for decoding and expanding a compressed code into channel, date, time-of-day and length performs the decoding and expanding as a function of the clock output.
In another specific embodiment the means for decoding and expanding the compressed code into channel, date, time-of-day and length further comprises means for converting the compressed code into a binary number, means for reordering the bits in the binary number to obtain a reordered binary compressed code, means for grouping the reordered binary compressed code into channel, date, time and length priority numbers, and means for using the channel, date, time and length priority numbers to derive the channel, date, time-of-day and length.
In yet another specific embodiment the means for blocking further comprises processor means for controlling the blocking of programs, a memory for authorized identification numbers coupled to the processor means, means coupled to the processor means for comparing the authorized identification numbers to an entered identification code, a memory for storing the program identifiers of selected programs to be blocked coupled to the processor means, and means for determining that a stored selected program identifier has a pre-determined relationship with a second output.
In a specific embodiment the means for determining further comprises a clock having date and time-of-day coupled to the second output.
In another specific embodiment the means for determining further comprises a program identifier coupled to the second output and retrieved from a signal from the television signal source.
In another specific embodiment the means for selecting programs to be blocked further comprises a remote controller, and means for receiving compressed codes via a telephone coupled to the remote controller.
In another specific embodiment the means for blocking comprises means for filtering from the output a channel for the length of time for the selected program to be blocked upon the occurrence of the pre-determined relationship.
In another specific embodiment the means for filtering comprises a plurality of filter means, each for blocking a channel in the television signal from the television signal source upon the occurrence of the pre-determined relationship.
In another specific embodiment the means for blocking further comprises means for jamming a channel for the length of time for the selected program to be blocked upon the occurrence of the pre-determined relationship.
In yet another specific embodiment the means for jamming further comprises means for time multiplexing the means for jamming among a plurality of channels for selected programs to be simultaneously blocked upon the occurrence of the pre-determined relationship.
In another specific embodiment the means for jamming comprises a noise signal added to a channel to be blocked.
In yet another specific embodiment the means for jamming comprises a low frequency signal added to a channel to be blocked.
In a specific embodiment the means for blocking further comprises a key lock coupled to the processor means for choosing between blocking the selected programs or not blocking the selected programs.
In another specific embodiment the apparatus includes a first tamper proof connector for coupling the television signal source to the means for blocking.
In another specific embodiment the apparatus further includes a television receiver wherein the means for blocking is integral to the television receiver.
In yet another specific embodiment the means for blocking comprises means for filtering from the output a channel upon the occurrence of the pre-determined relationship.
In another specific embodiment the means for filtering comprises a plurality of filter means, each for blocking a channel in the television signal from the television signal source upon the occurrence of the pre-determined relationship.
In another specific embodiment the me
Kwoh Daniel S.
Mankovitz Roy J.
Yuen Henry C.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Gemstar Development Corporation
Hsia Sherrie
LandOfFree
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