Automatic censorship of video programs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automatic censorship method for automatically censoring broadcast programs, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring broadcasts originating from at least one source;
generating a classification message describing a program being monitored;
conveying said classification message to a data message transmitting station which is normally transmitting message information;
temporarily suspending transmission of said message information being transmitted by said data message transmitting station responsive to receiving said classification message;
transmitting said classification message while said message information is suspended, on a same channel as a channel on which said message information is usually transmitted;
resuming transmitting said message information when said classification message transmitting is complete;
receiving said classification message at a plurality of receiving stations;
decoding said classification message; and
according to functions selected by the operator at the receiving station, controlling the reception, display, audition or recording of the classified programs.
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Abstract
A system for controlling reception or recording of television broadcasts according to censorship classifications. One or more persons monitoring broadcasts nominate a classification and cause an appropriate signal to be generated and transmitted to viewers'"'"' homes by means of a radio transmission network also used for transmission of other data signals, such as a pocket paging system. Means are provided to ensure that classification signals are transmitted with priority over paging signals or other non-time-critical data.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An automatic censorship method for automatically censoring broadcast programs, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring broadcasts originating from at least one source; generating a classification message describing a program being monitored; conveying said classification message to a data message transmitting station which is normally transmitting message information; temporarily suspending transmission of said message information being transmitted by said data message transmitting station responsive to receiving said classification message; transmitting said classification message while said message information is suspended, on a same channel as a channel on which said message information is usually transmitted; resuming transmitting said message information when said classification message transmitting is complete; receiving said classification message at a plurality of receiving stations; decoding said classification message; and according to functions selected by the operator at the receiving station, controlling the reception, display, audition or recording of the classified programs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automatic censorship method for automatically censoring broadcast programs, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring broadcast originating from at least one source; generating a classification message describing a program being monitored; conveying said message to a data message transmitting station; temporarily suspending transmission of any other data being transmitted by said data message transmission station; transmitting said classification message; receiving said classification message at a plurality of receiving stations; decoding said message; and according to functions selected by the operator at the receiving station, controlling the reception, display, audition or recording of the classified programs; wherein the step of generating a classification message describing a program being monitored is performed by a plurality of persons, each of whom enters a perceived classification into a comparator adapted to generate a classification output according to the classification entered by a majority of said persons. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. Automatic broadcast program censorship means comprising:
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means for monitoring broadcasts originating from at least one source; means for generating a classification message describing a program currently being monitored; means for conveying said classification message to a data message transmitting station which is normally transmitting message information; a controller equipped to temporarily suspend transmission of said message information being transmitted by said data message transmitting station responsive to receiving said classification message; radio transmitter means for transmitting said classification message while said message information is suspended, on a same channel as said message information is usually transmitted and resuming transmitting said message information when said classification message transmitting is complete; a receiver which receives said classification message; means to decode said classification message; and means for controlling the reception, display, audition or recording of the classified programs according to functions selected by the operator at the receiving station. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. Automatic broadcast program censorship means comprising:
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means for monitoring broadcasts originating from at least one source; means for generating a classification message describing a program currently being monitored; means for conveying said message to a data message transmitting station; a controller equipped to temporarily suspend transmission of any other messages being transmitted by said data message transmitting station; a receiver which receives said classification message; means to decode said message; and means for controlling the reception, display, audition or recording of the classified programs, according to functions selected by the operator at the receiving station, wherein said means for generating a classification message describing a program currently being monitored comprises; a plurality of accepting stations, each of which accepts a perceived classification into selection means; and a comparator adapted to receive input from said selection means and to generate a classification output according to the classification entered by a majority of said stations. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A data transmitter comprising:
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means for receiving non-time-critical data signals to be transmitted to remote data message receiving terminals; means for receiving a classification signal descriptive of a broadcast program; radio transmission means for transmitting said received non-time-critical data signals in the absence of received classification signals; and controller equipped, on receipt of a classification signal, to suspend temporarily transmission of non-time-critical data signals and to cause said classification signal to be transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A data transmitter comprising:
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means for receiving non-time-critical data signals to be transmitted to remote data message receiving terminals; means for receiving a classification signal descriptive of a broadcast program; radio transmission means for transmitting said received non-time-critical data signals; and a controller equipped, on receipt of a classification signal, to alter some aspect of non-time critical data signals being transmitted based on said classification signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification