V-Chip plus +: in-guide user interface apparatus and method for programmable blocking of television and other viewable programming, such as for parental control of a television receiver

• US 20040128681A1
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Douglas Macrae, Jacques Hugon, Kenneth Hancock, Ward Thomas
• Original Assignee: Douglas Macrae, Jacques Hugon, Kenneth Hancock, Ward Thomas
• Inventors: Hancock, Kenneth, Ward, Thomas, Hugon, Jacques, Macrae, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US10/682,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20040128681A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• 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 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system for restricting access to television programs comprising an input for accepting cursor movement and selection commands. In one embodiment, the system displays a list of television viewers to be selected to limit their television program viewing based on a selecting blocking criterion. The system further includes means for blocking or allowing viewing of television programs based on time or dollar allowance when a selection command is entered into the input.

Claims

1. A method for budgeting television viewing for a plurality of viewers, the method comprising:

selecting a viewer from the plurality of viewers;

entering a password;

displaying a list of television viewing budgeting choices;

selecting a television viewing budgeting choice from the displayed television viewing budgeting choices; and

controlling a receiver for displaying television programs for the selected viewer, responsive to the selected television viewing budgeting choice.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for particular time ranges.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for particular days of the week.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for all days.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer based on dollar allowance for a period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising temporarily overriding the selected television viewing budgeting choice.

7. A system for budgeting television viewing for a plurality of viewers comprising:

means for selecting a viewer from the plurality of viewers;

means for entering a password;

means for displaying a list of television viewing budgeting choices;

means for selecting a television viewing budgeting choice from the displayed television viewing budgeting choices; and

means for controlling a receiver for displaying television programs for the selected viewer, responsive to the selected television viewing budgeting choice.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for particular time ranges.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for particular days of the week.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for all days.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer based on dollar allowance for a period of time.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for temporarily overriding the selected television viewing budgeting choice.

13. A method for blocking television viewing by time, the method comprising:

displaying a list of television time blocking choices;

selecting a first day of the week from the displayed television time blocking choices;

selecting a first time rage for the selected first day of the week;

selecting a second day of the week from the displayed television time blocking choices;

selecting a second time rage for the selected second day of the week; and

controlling a receiver for displaying television programs responsive to the selected first and second days of the week and the respective first and second time ranges.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising temporarily overriding the selected first and second days of the week and the respective first and second time ranges.