Systems and methods for providing parental control features in video mosaic environments

• US 10,045,087 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Radloff, Jon P., White, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tesfaye, Aklil M
• Application Number:
  US14/218,149
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2147 Locking files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing parental control support in video mosaic environment are disclosed. Upon receiving a request for a video mosaic page, screen data, which may include parental control information, is received. The screen data may identify the video assets in the video mosaic page. A determination is made whether the video assets in the video mosaic page are locked or unlocked by parental controls in force on the user equipment. Locked assets may be masked and individually unlocked upon verification of a parental control access code or PIN. Unlocked assets may be presented in cells, or windows, in the video mosaic page and may also be individually locked and subsequently masked. A separate set of parental control settings may be maintained for video mosaic pages or the mosaic parental control commands may be resolved with system parental control settings.

Claims

1. A method for displaying assets in a video mosaic, the method comprising:

receiving a first user request to change a parental control lock status of a channel;

in response to receiving the first user request, while a first video mosaic is displayed, determining that a first video asset in the first video mosaic is associated with the channel, wherein the first video mosaic includes a first plurality of videos that includes the first video asset;

causing a second video mosaic to be automatically displayed, wherein the causing comprises at least one of masking and unmasking the video asset in the second video mosaic, wherein the second video mosaic includes a second plurality of videos that includes the first video asset;

receiving a second user request to change a parental control lock status of a second video asset;

in response to receiving the second user request, determining a reason for a current parental control lock status of the second video asset; and

causing to be displayed an unlock option based on the determining.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parental control lock status is based on at least one of a source identifier, a channel identifier, a rating, and a title.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein video assets in the first video mosaic screen are selected from a group consisting of a live broadcast program, a video-on-demand (VOD) asset, a pay-per-view (PPV) asset, a digital video recorder (DVR) asset, a Webcast, a preview, an advertisement, an interactive game, and an interactive application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the masking the first video asset comprises removing the first video asset from the first video mosaic.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising one of repositioning and resizing video assets in the second video mosaic screen in response to receiving the user request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein masking the first video asset comprises causing one or an icon, text, and graphic to be displayed in place of the first video asset.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein masking the first video asset comprises masking the first video asset in response to receiving a parental control access code input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user request is a request to unlock the channel.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

causing a parental control access code prompt to be displayed in response to receiving the user request to unlock the channel;

receiving a user input in response to displayed prompt; and

validating the received user input.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the user request to unlock the channel is a user request to unlock at least one rating associated with the channel.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the user request to unlock the channel is a user request to unlock at least one title associated with the channel.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the user request is a user request to lock the channel.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

causing a parental control access code prompt to be displayed in response to receiving the user request to lock the channel;

receiving a user input in response to displayed prompt; and

validating the received user input.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the user request to lock the channel is a user request to lock at least one rating or title associated with the channel.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising redefining screen data associated with the first video asset in response to receiving the user request to change the parental control lock status of the channel.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the screen data defines actions in response to a user selection of at least one of the plurality of video assets in the first video mosaic.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first video mosaic and the second video mosaic is generated remotely from the user.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the parental control lock status is changed for a predetermined duration of time.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third user request to change a parental control lock status of a third video asset; and

in response to receiving the third user request, causing to be displayed an unlock option to change the parental control lock status of the channel.

20. A system for displaying assets in a video mosaic, the system comprising:

input interface circuitry; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive, via the input interface circuitry, a first user request to change a parental control lock status of a channel;

in response to receiving the first user request, while a first video mosaic is displayed, determine that a first video asset in the first video mosaic is associated with the channel, wherein the first video mosaic includes a first plurality of videos that includes the first video asset;

cause a second video mosaic to be automatically displayed, wherein the causing comprises at least one of masking and unmasking the first video asset in the second video mosaic, wherein the second video mosaic includes a second plurality of videos that includes the first video asset;

receive, via the input interface circuitry a second user request to change a parental control lock status of a second video asset;

in response to receiving the second user request, determining a reason for a current parental control lock status of the second video asset; and

cause to be displayed an unlock option based on the determining.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the parental control lock status is based on at least one of a source identifier, a channel identifier, a rating, and a title.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein video assets in the first video mosaic screen are selected from a group consisting of a live broadcast program, a video-on-demand (VOD) asset, a pay-per-view (PPV) asset, a digital video recorder (DVR) asset, a Webcast, a preview, an advertisement, an interactive game, and an interactive application.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the masking the first video asset comprises removing the first video asset from the first video mosaic.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reposition and resize video assets in the second video mosaic screen in response to receiving the user request.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein masking the first video asset comprises causing one or an icon, text, and graphic to be displayed in place of the first video asset.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein masking the first video asset comprises masking the first video asset in response to receiving a parental control access code input.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the user request is a request to unlock the channel.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

cause a parental control access code prompt to be displayed in response to receiving the user request to unlock the channel;

receive a user input in response to displayed prompt; and

validate the received user input.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the user request to unlock the channel is a user request to unlock at least one rating associated with the channel.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the user request to unlock the channel is a user request to unlock at least one title associated with the channel.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein the user request is a user request to lock the channel.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

cause a parental control access code prompt to be displayed in response to receiving the user request to lock the channel;

receive a user input in response to displayed prompt; and

validate the received user input.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the user request to lock the channel is a user request to lock at least one rating or title associated with the channel.

34. The system of claim 20, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to redefine screen data associated with the first video asset in response to receiving the user request to change the parental control lock status of the channel.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the screen data defines actions in response to a user selection of at least one of the plurality of video assets in the first video mosaic.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein at least one of the first video mosaic and the second video mosaic is generated remotely from the user.

37. The system of claim 20, wherein the parental control lock status is changed for a predetermined duration of time.

38. The system of claim 20, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a third user request to change a parental control lock status of a third video asset; and

in response to receiving the third user request, cause to be displayed an unlock option to change the parental control lock status of the channel.