Programmable video channel controller
First Claim
1. A receiver which is tunable to any of a plurality of modulated carrier signals, said receiver comprising a tuner local oscillator the frequency of which is determined by a control circuit responsive to a user input indicating the selection of a modulated carrier signal to which the receiver should tune, and a non-volatile memory connected to said control circuit for storing information, and a real time clock connected to said control circuit for providing current time, said control circuit being responsive to a user entered channel viewing matrix which is stored in said non-volatile memory and is compared to information provided by said real time clock, said user entered channel viewing matrix defining times of certain channels of which said control circuit will be prohibited from allowing said receiver to tune, said control circuit comprising a control means for automatically changing channels to the next valid channel if the current channel is or becomes invalid, and a data entry means for entering information into said user entered channel viewing matrix, whereby said receiver will only allow viewing of television programs as defined in said user entered channel viewing matrix.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A receiver which is tunable to any of a plurality of modulated carrier signals, said receiver comprising a tuner local oscillator the frequency of which is determined by a control circuit responsive to a user input indicating the selection of a modulated carrier signal to which the receiver should tune, and a non-volatile memory connected to said control circuit for storing information, and a real time clock connected to said control circuit for providing current time, said control circuit being responsive to a user entered channel viewing matrix which is stored in said non-volatile memory and is compared to information provided by said real time clock, said user entered channel viewing matrix defining times of certain channels of which said control circuit will be prohibited from allowing said receiver to tune, said control circuit comprising a control means for automatically changing channels to the next valid channel if the current channel is or becomes invalid, and a data entry means for entering information into said user entered channel viewing matrix, whereby said receiver will only allow viewing of television programs as defined in said user entered channel viewing matrix.
124 Citations
14 Claims
- 1. A receiver which is tunable to any of a plurality of modulated carrier signals, said receiver comprising a tuner local oscillator the frequency of which is determined by a control circuit responsive to a user input indicating the selection of a modulated carrier signal to which the receiver should tune, and a non-volatile memory connected to said control circuit for storing information, and a real time clock connected to said control circuit for providing current time, said control circuit being responsive to a user entered channel viewing matrix which is stored in said non-volatile memory and is compared to information provided by said real time clock, said user entered channel viewing matrix defining times of certain channels of which said control circuit will be prohibited from allowing said receiver to tune, said control circuit comprising a control means for automatically changing channels to the next valid channel if the current channel is or becomes invalid, and a data entry means for entering information into said user entered channel viewing matrix, whereby said receiver will only allow viewing of television programs as defined in said user entered channel viewing matrix.
-
8. A method for supervising video viewing comprising the steps of:
-
(a) displaying a menu system for enabling a user to program a user entered channel viewing matrix; (b) programming said user entered channel viewing matrix for specific times of channels which are to be prohibited from viewing; (c) monitoring channel usage to ensure that prohibited channels as defined in said channel viewing matrix will not be viewed; (d) changing channels to the next valid channel if the current channel is or becomes invalid. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification