Method for changing a rating code with a macro function key and receiving apparatus having a function for blocking out a program

• US 5,995,133 A
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wi-LAN Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Company Limited (Dayou Holdings Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Seong-Ouk
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERHE, ALEXANDER B
• Application Number:
  US09/191,339
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 348/5.5, 348/1, 348/4, 348/7, 348/9, 348/10, 348/460, 348/461, 348/465, 348/473, 348/474, 348/476, 348/553, 348/563, 348/569, 348/570, 348/725, 348/732, 348/731, 348/734, 348/906, 340/825.35, 340/825.03, 340/825.04
• US Class Current: 725/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie

Abstract

A received television program is blocked out when a rating of the program is not within a scope of a preset rating. The preset rating code can be easily changed with a macro function key. A function of the macro function key is registered, and a rating code corresponding to the registered macro function key is read out. The read-out rating code is compared with a preset rating code. If the read-out rating code is within the scope of the preset rating code, the preset rating code is replaced with the read-out rating code. Otherwise, a user is requested to input user'"'"'s identification. When the user inputs the user'"'"'s identification, this user'"'"'s identification is compared with a registered identification. If the inputted user'"'"'s identification is identical to the registered identification, the preset rating code is replaced with the read-out rating code. The macro function key can give the user convenience in setting a blocking-out rating code.

Claims

1. A method for changing a rating code with a macro function key, said method comprising the steps of:

(i) registering a macro function key;

(ii) reading out a rating code corresponding to the registered macro function key;

(iii) comparing a preset rating code with the read out rating code;

(iv) changing the preset rating code of the macro function key into the read out rating code when the read out rating code is not out of scope of the preset rating code;

(v) requesting a user'"'"'s identification when the read out rating code is out scope of the preset rating code;

(vi) comparing the inputted identification with a pre-registered identification; and

(vii) changing the preset rating code into the read out rating code when the inputted identification is identical with the pre-registered identification.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (i) comprises the substeps of:

(i-1) selecting a macro function key mode;

(i-2) displaying a screen for setting the macro function key; and

(i-3) setting the macro function key, the identification and the rating code on the screen for setting the macro function key.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rating code of the macro function key consists of a function code and a number code.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the respective macro function keys are different from each other.

5. A receiving apparatus having a function for blocking out a program, said apparatus comprising:

a receiving section for receiving a broadcast signal from a selected channel to output a video signal and an audio signal;

an audio circuit section for processing the audio signal from said receiving section to output a sound;

a video circuit section for processing the video signal from said receiving section to output a video;

a decoder for reading out a program rating signal from the video signal and for decoding the read out program rating signal to output a rating code;

a command inputting section for setting a macro function key and/or the rating code and for executing an input of a password and/or the macro function key;

a memory for storing a rating code information and a user'"'"'s identification corresponding to the macro function key; and

a control section for recording the rating code information and the user'"'"'s identification corresponding to the macro function key inputted through said command inputting section, for reading out a rating code corresponding to a registered macro function key from said memory, for comparing a preset rating code with the read out rating code, for changing the preset rating code of the macro function key into the read out rating when the read out rating code is not out of scope of the preset rating code, for requesting the user'"'"'s identification when the read out rating code is out of scope of the preset rating code, for comparing the inputted identification with a pre-registered identification, and for changing the preset rating code of the macro function key into the read out rating code when the inputted identification is identical with the pre-registered identification.