Handling of program ratings for digital television
First Claim
1. A method for obtaining rating data, comprising:
- receiving a digital data transmission carrying at least one program (200);
identifying a home jurisdiction of a receiver that receives the digital data transmission (210);
determining whether rating data is provided in the digital data transmission for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction (220);
using the rating data for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction, if available, to determine whether to block display of the at least one program; and
if the rating data for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction is not available, using rating data that is provided in the digital data transmission for the at least one program for a foreign jurisdiction (230) to determine whether to block display of the at least one program.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
When a digital data transmission such as a digital television transmission is received by a receiver (100), the receiver attempts to locate parental rating data for a program in the transmission for a home country or jurisdiction (105, 220) in which the receiver is located. If the home jurisdiction rating data is available, it is used to control blocking of the program (270). If the home jurisdiction rating data is not available, rating data is obtained from the transmission for a foreign jurisdiction to control blocking of the program (270). If ratings for multiple foreign jurisdictions are available, the highest, most strict rating (240), may be used to control blocking of the program.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for obtaining rating data, comprising:
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receiving a digital data transmission carrying at least one program (200);
identifying a home jurisdiction of a receiver that receives the digital data transmission (210);
determining whether rating data is provided in the digital data transmission for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction (220);
using the rating data for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction, if available, to determine whether to block display of the at least one program; and
if the rating data for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction is not available, using rating data that is provided in the digital data transmission for the at least one program for a foreign jurisdiction (230) to determine whether to block display of the at least one program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A program storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method for obtaining rating data, the method comprising:
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receiving a digital data transmission carrying at least one program (200);
identifying a home jurisdiction of a receiver that receives the digital data transmission (210);
determining whether rating data is provided in the digital data transmission for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction (220);
using the rating data for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction, if available, to determine whether to block display of the at least one program; and
if the rating data for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction is not available, using rating data that is provided in the digital data transmission for the at least one program for a foreign jurisdiction (230) to determine whether to block display of the at least one program.
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13. A receiver, comprising:
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means for receiving (102) a digital data transmission carrying at least one program;
means (103, 105) for identifying a home jurisdiction;
means (103) for determining whether rating data is provided in the digital data transmission for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction (103);
means (103) for using the rating data for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction, if available, to determine whether to block display of the at least one program; and
means (103) for using rating data that is provided in the digital data transmission for the at least one program for a foreign jurisdiction to determine whether to block display of the at least one program, if the rating data for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction is not available.
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14. A receiver, comprising:
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a tuner (102) for receiving a digital data transmission carrying at least one program; and
a control (103) associated with the tuner and configured to;
(a) identify a home jurisdiction, (b) determine whether rating data is provided in the digital data transmission for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction, (c) use the rating data for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction, if available, to determine whether to block display of the at least one program, and (d) use rating data that is provided in the digital data transmission for the at least one program for a foreign jurisdiction to determine whether to block display of the at least one program, if the rating data for the at least one program for the home jurisdiction is not available.
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Specification