Method and apparatus for reproducing videograms based on program ratings

• US 6,347,183 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Hyun-Jeong
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUY THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/144,348
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/94, 386/95, 386/125, 386/126, 713/200, 380/202
• US Class Current: 386/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9201 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal

Abstract

A video record/playback apparatus for reproducing a video recording medium containing a videogram performs a playback operation of the video recording medium, based on comparison of a program rating corresponding to the videogram and a user rating code determined by a user. In this video record/playback apparatus, a key input unit is used for inputting at least one user rating code and a program rating code corresponding to the videogram. A recording/reproduction unit records the input program rating code on the video recording medium and reproduces the video recording medium. A rating code insertion/separation unit inserts the program rating code into the videogram to be recorded on the video recording medium and separates the program rating code from the video signal supplied from the recording/reproduction unit. A storage unit stores the input at least one user rating code. A controller compares the program rating code from the recording/reproduction unit with the stored at least one user rating code and controls the operation of the recording/reproduction unit to perform a playback operation of the video recording medium according to the comparison result.

Claims

1. A process of restricting playback of a video recording medium containing a videogram, said video recording medium being a video cassette tape (VCT) or digital versatile disc (DVD), said videogram having a plurality of frames, said process comprising the steps of:

in response to a manual indication of a program rating code input by a user, recording a program rating code indicating a program rating for a videogram in an interval of the recording medium accommodating storage of a video signal for additional information about a VCT or a DVD;

storing from among a plurality of user rating codes at least one user rating code corresponding to a user rating determined by a superintendent;

making a first comparison between said program rating code recorded on the video recording medium and one of said user rating codes defining a class of viewers of the videogram and another of said user rating codes representing a current viewer of the videogram;

making a frame-by-frame comparison between said program rating code recorded on the video recording medium and a different one of said user rating codes defining a class of viewers of the videogram and another of said user rating codes representing a current viewer of the videogram; and

performing a playback operation of the video recording medium in accordance with the comparison for each video frame of the videogram by allowing or suppressing video display of said videogram on a frame-by-frame basis.

2. An apparatus for restricting playback of a video recording medium containing a videogram, said videogram having a plurality of frames, said video recording medium being a video cassette tape (VCT) or a digital versatile disc (DVD), said apparatus comprising:

a key input unit enabling a user to input user rating codes and to input a program rating code for the videogram;

a recording/reproduction unit for recording the input program rating code on the video recording medium and reproducing a video signal reflective of the videogram recorded on the video recording medium;

a rating code insertion/separation unit for inserting the program rating code into the videogram to be recorded on the video recording medium and separating the program rating code from the video signal supplied from the recording/reproduction unit, said rating code insertion/separation unit adapted for storing said program rating code in a vertical blanking interval of a video signal of a VCT or in a user data interval of a DVD;

a memory storing the user rating codes; and

a controller regulating access to viewing of videograms reproduced by said apparatus on a basis of a first comparison between said program rating code and one of said user rating codes defining a class of viewers of videograms reproduced by said apparatus and another of said user rating codes representing a current viewer of videograms reproduced by said apparatus, and a second comparison between the program rating code a different one of said user rating codes defining said class of viewers and said user rating codes representing said current viewer.

3. An apparatus for restricting playback of a video recording medium containing a videogram, said videogram having a plurality of frames, said apparatus comprising:

a video recording medium bearing a program rating code indicative of a videogram carried by the medium;

a reader for reading the program rating code indicated on the video recording medium;

a key input unit enabling a supervisor of said apparatus to input at least one user rating code defining a class of viewers of videograms reproduced by said apparatus, and enabling a user of said apparatus to input a user rating code representing a current viewer of videograms reproduced by said apparatus;

a reproducing unit for reproducing a video signal corresponding to the videogram from the video recording medium;

a storage unit for storing the input at least one user rating code; and

means for indicating and storing the program rating code, for each frame; and

a controller regulating access to viewing of videograms reproduced by said apparatus on a basis of a comparison between said at least one user rating code and said user rating code representing a current viewer, and controlling reproduction of the videogram by allowing or suppressing said reproduction of the videogram by comparing the program rating code and the at least one user rating code, for each frame of the videogram on a frame-by-frame basis.

4. An apparatus for restricting playback of a video recording medium containing a videogram, said medium having associated therewith a program rating code for the videogram, said apparatus comprising:

a stage indicating a program rating code associated with one of a video signal representing the videogram or the video recording medium;

a key input unit enabling a supervisor of said apparatus to input at least one user rating code defining a class of viewers of videograms reproduced by said apparatus, and enabling a user of said apparatus to input a user rating code representing a current viewer of videograms reproduced by said apparatus;

a reproducing unit for reproducing a video signal reflective of the videogram from the video recording medium;

a memory storing said input of at least one user rating code; and

a controller making a first comparison of said at least one user rating code and said user rating code representing a current viewer, and making a second comparison of said program rating code received from the reader with the at least one user rating code stored in said memory and controlling the reproducing unit to perform a playback operation of the video recording medium according to the first and second comparisons.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said program rating code is a barcode and said stage is a barcode reader.