Television schedule system with access control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of exercising access control over television programs comprising the steps of:
- inputting a first password;
entering a criterion for blocking the television programs from being viewed;
displaying a plurality of television program listings on a screen;
selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording;
requesting a viewer to input 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 inputs a password that matches the first password responsive to the request; and
restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a television schedule system with a user interface which allows a user to control access to television programs by time, rating, content, and/or channel. Furthermore, the user may set a limit on pay-per-view (PPV) spending to limit the purchase of PPV programs.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of exercising access control over television programs comprising the steps of:
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inputting a first password; entering a criterion for blocking the television programs from being viewed; displaying a plurality of television program listings on a screen; selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; requesting a viewer to input 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 inputs a password that matches the first password responsive to the request; and restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for exercising access control over a television program comprising:
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a display screen; an input device for entering a first password and a criterion for blocking television programs from being viewed; a display processor for displaying a plurality of television program listings in a guide format on the screen; a pointing device for selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; a pop up window for prompting a viewer on the screen to enter a second password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion; and a processor for unblocking the selected program that meets the blocking criterion so it can be viewed or recorded if the viewer enters a second password that matches the first password, wherein the processor restores the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An interactive program guide including a parental control system comprising:
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a display screen; an input device for entering a first password; means for entering a criterion for blocking the television programs from being viewed; means for displaying a plurality of television program listings on a screen; means for selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; means for requesting a viewer to input a password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion; means for unblocking the selected program that meets the blocking criterion so it can be viewed or recorded if the viewer inputs a password that matches the first password responsive to the request; and means for restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
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Specification