Video cassette recorder protection system

• US 5,214,556 A
• Filed: 02/04/1992
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph J. Kilbel
• Original Assignee: Joseph J. Kilbel
• Inventors: Kilbel, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sniezek, Andrew L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Won Tae C.
• Application Number:
  US07/830,987
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 360/60, 360/33.1, 360/69, 360/71, 360/137, 380/5
• US Class Current: 360/137
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/07 on containers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/08714 Auxiliary features sensing such features G11B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/28 Indicating or preventing prior or unauthorised use, e.g. cassettes with sealing or locking means, write-protect devices for discs write-protect devices for tapes G11B23/042, G11B23/08714; dummy cassettes for locking in the drive G11B33/005
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/30 with provision for auxiliary signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/78 using magnetic recording H04N5/91 takes precedence ; mechanical details in so far as non typical for television circuitry G11B5/00

Abstract

A video protection system that allows selective control of video viewing, providing for the selection of video cassette programs according to ratings or other information provided on the video cassette. The protection system includes means by which viewing may be discriminated against according to ratings or other information applied to the exterior of the video cassette tape as by a label. An sensor, such as an optical sensor placed within a VCR to read the label having rating or other pertinent information is provided. A key lock mechanism or the like is utilized for selecting the viewing level. Associated circuitry is provided which may form part of a VCR or be provided as a separate unit to enable use with existing VCRs. The processing circuitry enables discrimination against viewing if the rating on video tape or the like does not match or fall below a preselected level set in the circuitry by the user.

Claims

1. A protection system to establish selective playback capability for use with a video display system comprising:

information containing means positioned on a housing associated with video material to be viewed on said video display system, said information containing means including information relating to one of at least three rating levels representative of the rating of said video material,

sensing means comprises of at least one optical sensor fixedly associated with said video display system to detect and read said information containing means and generate a control signal corresponding to said one rating level of the said at least three rating levels of said video material from said information containing means,

rating selection means allowing a user to independently and selectively pre-select one of said at least three rating levels wherein said pre-selected rating level will determine the rating of said video material which can be viewed on said video display system, said rating selection means generating a reference signal corresponding to said pre-selected rating level;

processing means to receive said control signal from said sensing means and said reference signal from said rating selection means for comparison of said control signal to said reference signal and wherein said processing means is coupled to said video display system and will prevent viewing of video material having a rating level indicated by said information containing means which is above said pre-selected rating level;

wherein said information containing means is positioned on said housing at a predetermined position which is readable by said sensing means, and said sensing means detects the presence of said information containing means such that if no information containing means is present, said processing system will prevent viewing of video material on said video display system, and,

wherein said at least one optical sensor transmits a light signal against a portion of said information containing means to be reflected back and detected, wherein the reflected signals will provide on/off signals dependent on said portion of said information containing means from which said reflected signals are received to generate said control signal representative of said rating of said video material.

2. A protection system as in claim 1, wherein said information containing means comprises a label to be positioned on a video tape cassette and having optically readable indicia thereon to be sensed by said sensing means when said video cassette tape is in its operative position within a video cassette recording machine, and wherein said sensing means comprises three optical sensors, each of which will generate a signal, and which together will yield eight combinations corresponding to eight different rating levels.

3. A protection system as in claim 1, further comprising said rating selection means comprises, switch means to select one of said at least three rating levels in said processing means to be compared with said control signal.

4. A protection system as in claim 1, wherein

said processing means comprises a computer means having a control system to compare said control signal and said reference signal to enable initiation of said protection system.

5. A protection system as in claim 1, further comprising a timer means associated with said processing means to enable viewing of said video material which is rated higher than said preselected rating for a limited amount of time when initiated.

6. A protection system as in claim 1, wherein

the protection system is associated with a video cassette recorder and said processing means acts to interrupt the RF output of said video cassette recorder upon initiation of said protection system to prevent viewing of said video material.

7. A protection system as in claim 1, further comprising

display means coupled to said processing means to display the indication of the rating of said video material from said information containing means and, as well as said preselected rating set in said processing means,

user input switches to modify operation of said processing means.

8. A protection system as in claim 1, wherein

said sensing means is incorporated into a video cassette recorder to sense said information containing means positioned on a video cassette tape,

said processing means is provided in a separate housing structure and coupled with said sensing means by electrical cable so as to provide a protection system to be retrofit into existing video cassette recorders.

9. A protection system as in claim 1, wherein

said video display system is a video cassette recorder, said housing is associated with a video cassette tape having video material of a predetermined rating level, and said information containing means is a label placed at a predetermined position on said video cassette tape such that said sensing means will read said information containing means when said video cassette tape is in a playback position in said video cassette recorder.

10. A protection system as in claim 9, wherein

said label comprises a series of optically detectable white and black zones, wherein said zones will provide binary code signals to be utilized by said processing means giving an indication of the rating of said video material.