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Television schedule system with access control

  • US 5,969,748 A
  • Filed: 05/29/1996
  • Issued: 10/19/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of exercising access control over television programs comprising the steps of:

  • entering a criterion for blocking the television programs from being viewed;

    displaying a plurality of television program listings in a guide format on a screen;

    selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording;

    prompting a viewer to enter a password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion;

    unblocking the selected program that meets the blocking criterion so it can be viewed or recorded if the viewer enters the password responsive to the prompt;

    re-blocking the selected program if a different program is tuned to; and

    restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.

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