Electronic media program recognition and choice
First Claim
1. A method for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising the steps oflocking out all programs,scanning available broadcast channels,inputting at least one program choice to a memory means,sampling at least one signal of at least one suitable program,obtaining at least one signature of said at least one suitable program,storing in the memory means said at least one signature of said at least one suitable program,scanning a plurality of broadcast channels,sampling at least one signal of at least one unidentified program,obtaining at least one signature of said at least one unidentified program,comparing said at least one signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of at least one suitable program, andmaking at least a portion of said suitable program available to a player.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for electronic media program recognition and choice are disclosed. The invention allows parental control of the individual television programs (e.g., series, episodes, or individual music videos) and radio programs that can be viewed or listened to by young children. The invention can be practiced without the need for or reliance on a Government or industry-wide program rating system or a "V-chip" approach. The invention automatically locks out (blocks) all programs that have not been determined by the parent to be suitable for child viewing. Suitable programs are unlocked and viewable whenever they are broadcast. Means are provided for implementing two strategies for discrimination among TV programs. Signal processing means and signal recognition software are relied upon in situations wherein program identification information is not encoded in the composite television signal. Two approaches to signal recognition are provided: video signal (e.g., title screen) recognition and audio signal (e.g., theme song) recognition. In event that Extended Data Service (EIA-608) data are available the capability to read and recognize program identifiers (e.g., names) is also provided.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising the steps of
locking out all programs, scanning available broadcast channels, inputting at least one program choice to a memory means, sampling at least one signal of at least one suitable program, obtaining at least one signature of said at least one suitable program, storing in the memory means said at least one signature of said at least one suitable program, scanning a plurality of broadcast channels, sampling at least one signal of at least one unidentified program, obtaining at least one signature of said at least one unidentified program, comparing said at least one signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of at least one suitable program, and making at least a portion of said suitable program available to a player.
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10. A method for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising the steps of
locking out all programs except programs on channels that broadcast only suitable programs, obtaining at least one signature of a suitable program, storing in a memory means said at least one signature of a suitable program, scanning at least selected broadcast channels, sampling the signal of at least one unidentified program, obtaining a signature of at least one unidentified program, comparing said signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of a suitable program, and making at least a portion of said suitable program available to a player, wherein said at least one signature of a suitable program and said signature of at least one unidentified program are obtained from signals that are not coded or encoded.
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11. A method for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising the steps of
locking out all programs, obtaining at least one signature of a suitable program, storing in a memory means said at least one signature of a suitable program, scanning at least selected broadcast channels, sampling a signal of at least one unidentified program, obtaining a signature of at least one unidentified program, comparing said signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of a suitable program, and switching a player to a channel having a suitable program, wherein said at least one signature of a suitable program and said signature of at least one unidentified program are obtained from signals that are not coded or encoded.
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13. An apparatus for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising:
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means for locking out all programs, means for scanning available broadcast channels, means for inputting at least one program choice to a memory means, means for sampling at least one signal of at least one suitable program, means for obtaining at least one signature of said at least one suitable program, means for storing in the memory means said at least one signature of said at least one suitable program, means for scanning a plurality of broadcast channels, means for sampling at least one signal of at least one unidentified program, means for obtaining at least one signature of said at least one unidentified program, means for comparing said at least one signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of at least one suitable program, and means for making at least a portion of said suitable program available to a player.
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14. An apparatus for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising:
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means for locking out all programs except programs on channels that broadcast only suitable programs, means for obtaining at least one signature of a suitable program, means for storing in a memory means said at least one signature of a suitable program, means for scanning at least selected broadcast channels, means for sampling the signal of at least one unidentified program, means for obtaining a signature of at least one unidentified program, means for comparing said signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of a suitable program, and means for making at least a portion of said suitable program available to a player, wherein said at least one signature of a suitable program and said signature of at least one unidentified program are obtained from signals that are not coded or encoded.
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15. An apparatus for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising:
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means for locking out all programs, means for obtaining at least one signature of a suitable program, means for storing in a memory means said at least one signature of a suitable program, means for scanning at least selected broadcast channels, means for sampling a signal of at least one unidentified program, means for obtaining a signature of at least one unidentified program, means for comparing said signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of a suitable program, and means for switching a player to a channel having a suitable program, wherein said at least one signature of a suitable program and said signature of at least one unidentified program are obtained from signals that are not coded or encoded.
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16. The apparatus for enabling automatic electronic media program choice comprising
means for locking out a plurality of electronic media programs, means for deriving a first signature from a signal of a suitable program, means for deriving a second signature from a signal of an unknown program, means for comparing said first and second signatures, and means for unlocking an electronic media program whereby said program is capable of being played, wherein said first signature and said second signature are obtained from signals that are not coded or encoded.
Specification