Parental blocking system in a DVD integrated entertainment system
First Claim
1. A method for selectively permitting a user to play a DVD disc received at a DVD player, the method comprising the steps of:
- ascertaining whether the DVD disc lacks parental management information;
establishing an identity of the user; and
selectively permitting access to the information stored on the DVD disc based on the established identity of the user, if the DVD disc is ascertained to lack the parental management information.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A purchaser of DVD unit establishes a list of users who may access the DVD unit, and corresponding restrictions that apply to each user. When a user attempts to play a DVD disc, the unit examines the DVD disc for parental management information. If the DVD disc does not contain the parental management information, then the unit will only permit access if the user has no content restrictions. If the DVD disc does contain the parental management information, then the unit will compare it to the restrictions applicable to the user. Where the parental management information indicates that the material exceeds the restrictions applicable to the user, the unit will not play the DVD disc.
43 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for selectively permitting a user to play a DVD disc received at a DVD player, the method comprising the steps of:
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ascertaining whether the DVD disc lacks parental management information; establishing an identity of the user; and selectively permitting access to the information stored on the DVD disc based on the established identity of the user, if the DVD disc is ascertained to lack the parental management information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for selectively permitting access to information stored on a DVD disc received at a DVD player, the method comprising the steps of:
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ascertaining whether the DVD disc lacks parental management information; and selectively permitting access to the information stored on the DVD disc in response to user input of a first code, if the DVD disc is ascertained to lack the parental management information. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for automatically permitting access to information stored on a DVD disc, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing restriction information associated with users of the DVD player; retrieving parental management information stored on the DVD disk; and automatically permitting access to the information stored on the DVD disc if the parental management information does not violate the stored restriction information associated with each of the users of the DVD player. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for selectively permitting a user to access information stored on a DVD disc received at a DVD player, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor for controlling functionalities of the DVD player; and a memory unit coupled to the processor for storing access restrictions associated with users of the DVD player, the memory unit further for storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to; ascertain whether the DVD disc lacks parental management information; establish an identity of the user; and selectively permit access to the information stored on the DVD disc based on the established identity of the user, if the DVD disc is ascertained to lack the parental management information. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for automatically permitting access to information stored on a DVD disc, the apparatus comprising:
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circuitry for performing functionalities of the DVD player; a processor for controlling the circuitry; and a memory unit coupled to the processor for storing restriction information associated with users of the DVD player, the memory unit further for storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to; retrieve parental management information stored on the DVD disk; and automatically permit access to the information stored on the DVD disc if the parental management information does not violate the stored restriction information associated with each of the users of the DVD player. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An apparatus for selectively permitting a user to play a DVD disc received at a DVD player, the apparatus comprising:
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an identifier for establishing an identity of the user; a reader for determining whether the DVD disc contains parental management information; and access circuitry coupled to the reader and the identifier for selectively permitting access to information stored on the DVD disc based on the established identity of the user, if the DVD disc does not include the parental management information. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification