System and method of managing content

• US 20060168610A1
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Noil Williams, Alyssa Lenorah, Sullivan, Marc Andrew, Kortum, Philip Ted, Cansler, James L. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/043,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168610A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• 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 21/4755 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Systems and methods can be implemented to allow restricted content to be available using an apparatus within a system, while still protecting the privacy or one or more users. Metadata regarding restricted content may not be displayed if the user so desires or if other users do not have proper access. In this manner, visitors of the user or the user'"'"'s own children may not be aware that restricted content is available. Metadata regarding the restricted data is not displayed.

Claims

1. A method of managing content available using an apparatus, the method comprising:

accessing metadata regarding content available at the apparatus, wherein;

first metadata comprises a first identifier for a first portion of the content that is designated only for a restricted audience; and

second metadata comprises a second identifier for a second portion of the content that is not designated solely for the restricted audience;

determining a metadata viewing state relating to access to the first metadata, wherein;

when the metadata viewing state is in a first state, a first display signal includes the first and second metadata, but does not include all of the content associated with the first or second metadata; and

when the metadata viewing state is in a second state, the first display signal includes the second metadata but does not include the first metadata or all of the content associated with any of the first and second metadata.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the first and second metadata in response to determining the metadata viewing state before sending the first display signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a content viewing state related to access to the content; and

when the content viewing state is in a first state, a second display signal includes at least part of the first portion of the content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein when the content viewing state is in a second state, the first portion of the content is not displayed by the display subsystem.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein when the content viewing state is in a second state, no second display signal is generated.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein when the content viewing state is in a second state, the method further comprises blocking the second display signal before the second display signal is displayed using the display subsystem.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method does not include masking at least a part of the first metadata.

8. A method of managing content available using an apparatus, the method comprising:

accessing metadata regarding content available at the apparatus, wherein;

the apparatus contains no portion of the content that is designated only for a restricted audience; and

the metadata comprises an identifier for the content, that is not designated solely for the restricted audience;

determining a metadata viewing state relating to access to the first metadata,

wherein when the metadata viewing state is in a first state, a first display signal includes an indicator that no portion of the content within the apparatus is designated only for a restricted audience.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein when the metadata viewing state is in a second state, the first display signal includes the metadata but does not include the indicator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein when the metadata viewing state is in the first state, the first display signal also includes the metadata, but does not include all of the content associated with the metadata.

11. A method of managing content at an apparatus, the method comprising:

determining a viewing state regarding access to the content and metadata of the content within the apparatus, wherein the content comprises a first portion that is designated only for a restricted audience, and the metadata comprises first metadata that includes a first identifier corresponding to the first portion of the content; and

when the viewing state is in a first state, sending a display signal to a display subsystem, wherein;

the first state corresponds to a selection allowing the first portion of the content, the first metadata, or a combination thereof to be displayed; and

the display signal includes the first portion of the content, the first metadata, or a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein when the viewing state is in a second state, none of the first metadata and the first portion of the content are displayed using the display subsystem.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein when the viewing state is in the second state, no display signal is generated corresponding to the first metadata or the first portion of the content.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein when the viewing state is in the second state, the method further comprising blocking the second display signal before the second display signal is displayed using the display subsystem.

15. A system for managing content, the system comprising:

a metadata access engine that is configured to access metadata regarding content available at the system, wherein;

first metadata comprises a first identifier for a first portion of the content that is designated only for a restricted audience; and

second metadata comprises a second identifier for a second portion of the content that is not designated solely for the restricted audience;

a metadata viewing state engine that is configured to determine a metadata viewing state relating to access to the first metadata, wherein;

when the metadata viewing state is in a first state, a first display signal includes the first and second metadata, but does not include all of the content associated with the first or second metadata; and

when the metadata viewing state is in a second state, the first display signal includes the second metadata but does not include the first metadata or all of the content associated with any of the first and second metadata; and

a display subsystem configured to receive the first display signal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the metadata viewing state engine is further configured to filter the first and second metadata in response to determining the metadata viewing state before sending the first display signal.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a content viewing state engine configured to:

determine a content viewing state related to access to the content; and

when the content viewing state is in a first state, a second display signal includes at least part of the first portion of the content.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein when the content viewing state is in a second state, the first portion of the content is not displayed by the display subsystem.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein when the content viewing state is in a second state, the content viewing state engine is configured not to generate a second display signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein when the content viewing state is in a second state, the display subsystem is configured to block the second display signal.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the display subsystem is not configured to mask at least a part of the first metadata.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the content includes one or more movies, one or more broadcast programs, one or more pictures, or a combination thereof.

23. A system for managing content available using an apparatus, the system comprising:

a metadata access engine that is configured to access metadata regarding the content, wherein;

the apparatus contains no portion of the content that is designated only for a restricted audience; and

metadata comprises an identifier for the content, that is not designated solely for the restricted audience;

a metadata viewing state engine that is configured to determine a metadata viewing state relating to access to the first metadata, wherein when the metadata viewing state is in a first state, a first display signal includes an indicator that no portion of the content within the apparatus is designated only for a restricted audience; and

a display subsystem configured to receive the first display signal.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein when the metadata viewing state is in a second state, the first display signal includes the second metadata but does not include the first metadata or all of the content associated with any of the first and second metadata.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein when the metadata viewing state is in the first state, the first display signal also includes the second metadata, but does not include all of the content associated with the first or second metadata.

26. A system comprising:

content stored within an apparatus, the content comprising a first portion that is designated only for a restricted audience, and metadata comprising first metadata that includes a first identifier corresponding to the first portion of the content;

a viewing state engine configured to;

determine a viewing state regarding access to the content and metadata of the content within the apparatus; and

when the viewing state is in a first state, send a display signal to a display subsystem, wherein;

the first state corresponds to a selection allowing the first portion of the content, the first metadata, or a combination thereof to be displayed;

the display signal includes the first portion of the content, the first metadata, or a combination thereof; and

a display subsystem configured to receive the display signal.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein when the viewing state is in a second state, none of the first metadata and none of the first portion of the content can be displayed by the display subsystem.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein when the viewing state is in the second state, the viewing state engine is configured not to generate the display signal.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein when the viewing state is in the second state, the display subsystem is further configured to block the display signal.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the content includes one or more movies, one or more broadcast programs, one or more pictures, or a combination thereof.