System and method for enabling a remote control to automatically and dynamically set-up a V-chip

• US 20030046579A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Patrick H., Bordner, Elissa K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,266,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a remote control to automatically and dynamically set-up a V-chip in a consumer appliance. The remote control is configured with an ID code which ID code is transmittable to the consumer appliance. Within the consumer appliance is stored a plurality of V-chip parameter tables. The consumer appliance is responsive to the ID code transmittable by the remote control to select one of the plurality of V-chip parameter tables to be used by the V-chip to determine accessibility to programming.

Claims

1. In a consumer appliance having a V-chip, a method for enabling a remote control to be used to set-up the V-chip, comprising:

receiving a transmission from the remote control including a representation of an ID code; and

using the ID code received from the remote control to automatically select a level of filtering which the V-chip will use to limit accessibility to programming.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the consumer appliance has a plurality of V-chip parameter tables each mapped to a unique ID code and the method comprises causing the V-chip to use the parameters in the V-chip parameter table mapped to the ID code corresponding to the ID code which is received from the remote control to limit accessibility to programming.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising causing the V-chip to use the parameters in a predetermined one of the V-chip parameter tables when the consumer appliance is powered on as a result of a user interacting with a power button on the consumer appliance.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising using the parameters in the V-chip parameter table mapped to the ID code corresponding to the ID code which is received from the remote control to limit accessibility to programming until a transmission is received from a remote control having a representation of a new ID code and, thereafter, causing the V-chip to use the parameters in the V-chip parameter table mapped to the ID code corresponding to the new ID code which is received from the remote control to limit accessibility to programming

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmission from the remote control includes a representation of a command code and the method further comprises performing the operation indicated by the command code when not limited by the V-chip.

6. A readable media for use in a consumer appliance having a V-chip having instructions for enabling a remote control to be used to set-up the V-chip, the instructions performing steps comprising:

receiving a transmission from the remote control including a representation of an ID code; and

using the ID code received from the remote control to automatically select a level of filtering which the V-chip will use to limit accessibility to programming.

7. The readable media as recited in claim 6, wherein the consumer appliance has a plurality of V-chip parameter tables each mapped to a unique ID code and the instruction further cause the V-chip to use the parameters in the V-chip parameter table mapped to the ID code corresponding to the ID code which is received from the remote control to limit accessibility to programming.

8. The readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the V-chip to use the parameters in a predetermined one of the V-chip parameter tables when the consumer appliance is powered on as a result of a user interacting with a power button on the consumer appliance.

9. The readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the instructions provide for using the parameters in the V-chip parameter table mapped to the ID code corresponding to the ID code which is received from the remote control to limit accessibility to programming until a transmission is received from a remote control having a representation of a new ID code and, thereafter, causing the V-chip to use the parameters in the V-chip parameter table mapped to the ID code corresponding to the new ID code which is received from the remote control to limit accessibility to programming

10. The readable media as recited in claim 6, wherein the transmission from the remote control includes a representation of a command code and the instructions provide for performing the operation indicated by the command code when not limited by the V-chip.

11. A system for enabling a remote control to automatically and dynamically set-up a V-chip in a consumer appliance, comprising:

a remote control having an ID code which ID code is transmittable to the consumer appliance;

a plurality of V-chip parameter tables stored within the consumer appliance for use by the V-chip to determine accessibility to programming; and

programming within the consumer appliance responsive to the ID code transmittable by the remote control to select one of the plurality of V-chip parameter tables to be used by the V-chip.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, comprising a plurality of remote controls each assigned a unique ID code which is transmittable to the consumer appliance.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the remote control comprises a memory in which the ID code is stored.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the remote control comprises programming for allowing a user to set the ID code.

15. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the remote control comprises a physical address setting device by which the ID code is assigned to the remote control.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a key card for use in connection with the physical address setting device to assign the ID code to the remote control.