System for targeted advertisement, personal editing and parental control in a television network

• US 20020073421A1
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gutman Levitan, Howard B. Krass
• Original Assignee: Gutman Levitan, Howard B. Krass
• Inventors: Krass, Howard B., Levitan, Gutman
• Application Number:
  US09/732,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• 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 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A system for automatic personal editing of television programs based on viewer'"'"'s information privately stored in viewer'"'"'s computerized television receivers. The system, when activated, protects viewers, first of all children, filtering out everything that is unacceptable or useless. The filtering is carried out on three levels: blocking television programs, blocking some parts of the programs and replacing some parts by alternative video fragments. In particular, the system replaces a television commercial meaningless for a viewer by a commercial that may be of certain interest to the viewer. Another application is an improvement in management of controversial matter such as sex and violence. Depending on viewer'"'"'s preferences the system replaces a certain scene by a commercial or restores such a scene if it has been replaced by a commercial in a program edited for broadcast television. The replacement technique uses basic channels for transmission of primary versions of television programs and auxiliary channels for transmission of alternative video fragments intended for replacement of some parts of the primary versions. A computerized receiver makes a decision on a replacement comparing viewer'"'"'s information with information on the primary and alternative parts.

Claims

1. A system for selective protection of television viewer against television programs containing controversial materials, said protection based on viewer'"'"'s information stored in viewer'"'"'s receiver, said system comprising:

means for transmitting a timetable file with descriptive and time/channel data of scheduled television programs prior to transmission of the programs, said descriptive data specifying controversial materials contained in the programs;

a channel selector for selection of television programs at viewer'"'"'s end;

means for receiving said timetable file at viewer'"'"'s end; and

control means storing viewer'"'"'s data specifying controversial materials unacceptable for viewer, said control means coupled to said means for receiving timetable file and said channel selector and operative for obtaining said descriptive and time/channel data of scheduled television programs, using the time/channel data for determining which television program is transmitted on a currently selected channel, comparing the descriptive data of the television program with said viewer'"'"'s data and making a decision on a presentation of the program to viewer or blocking said channel selector for preventing the presentation.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said viewer'"'"'s information stored in viewer'"'"'s receiver is specified by parents for their children for providing parental control.

3. A system for a selective protection of television viewer against controversial materials in television programs said protection based on viewer'"'"'s information stored in viewer'"'"'s receiver, said system comprising:

means for transmitting a timetable file with descriptive and time/channel data of scheduled television programs prior to transmission of the programs, said data specifying parts of the television programs containing controversial materials;

a channel selector for selection of television programs at viewer'"'"'s end;

means for receiving said timetable file at viewer'"'"'s end; and

control means storing viewer'"'"'s data specifying controversial materials unacceptable for viewer, said control means coupled to said means for receiving timetable file and said channel selector and operative for obtaining said descriptive and time/channel data of scheduled television programs, using the time/channel data for determining which television program is transmitted on a currently selected channel and which part of the program containing a controversial material will be running next, comparing the descriptive data of that part with said viewer'"'"'s data and making a decision on a presentation of the part to viewer or blocking said channel selector at the time of transmission of the part for preventing the presentation.

4. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said viewer'"'"'s information stored in viewer'"'"'s receiver is specified by parents for their children for providing parental control.

5. A system for delivery of different versions of the same television program depending on viewer'"'"'s information stored in viewer'"'"'s receiver, comprising:

basic channels for transmitting primary versions of television programs containing some parts, defined as primary components, that may be replaced by alternative video fragments, defined as alternative components, for producing alternative versions of those television programs;

auxiliary channels for transmitting said alternative components;

means for transmitting a timetable file with descriptive and time/channel data of scheduled primary and alternative components wherein each primary component is linked to its alternative components and alternative components are scheduled for transmission simultaneously with corresponding primary component;

means for receiving said timetable file;

a channel selector; and

control means coupled to said means for receiving timetable file and said channel selector, said control means storing viewer'"'"'s data and operative for obtaining said descriptive and time/channel data of scheduled primary and alternative components, using the time/channel data for determining which primary component will be running on a currently selected basic channel and which alternative components are available for replacement of that primary component, comparing said viewer'"'"'s data with said descriptive data of primary and alternative components, making a decision on a presentation of the primary component to viewer or a replacement of the primary component by an alternative component and, when a decision on a replacement is made, switching said channel selector at the time of transmission of the primary component from the basic channel to an auxiliary channel on which a selected alternative component is transmitted for replacing the primary component by the alternative component.

6. A system as defined in claim 5 and further comprising a separate channel selector for selecting said auxiliary channels and a recorder connected to the channel selector for recording said alternative components wherein alternative components are transmitted and, if selected, recorded prior to transmission of corresponding primary component, and played back at the time of transmission of the primary component for replacing the primary component by a selected alternative component.

7. A system as defined in claim 5, wherein said primary and alternative components are television commercials.