Apparatus and method for blocking audio/visual programming and for muting audio

• US 8,935,717 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clearplay Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Clearplay Incorporated
• Inventors: Jarman, Matthew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): RABOVIANSKI, JIVKA A
• Application Number:
  US10/971,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20060277564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,735 Days
• Field of Search: 725/28, 725/31, 725/32
• US Class Current: 725/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4396 by muting the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A program blocking application that blocks programming for one or more possible users, based on various criteria associated with the program. A program word muting application that selectively mutes context specific words as a function of program specific criteria.

Claims

1. A method for blocking one or more programs amongst a plurality of programming options, the method comprising:

receiving an audio/video programming signal comprising a plurality of programs, wherein each program is associated with an audio signal;

receiving an indication of at least one blocking word;

receiving an indication to block viewing of an entire program containing the at least one blocking word in the audio signal associated with any of the plurality of programs; and

blocking display of any of the plurality of programs corresponding with an audio signal including the at least one blocking word.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the operation of:

analyzing a close captioning stream associated with the audio signal to determine whether the at least one blocking word is used in the program.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the operation of:

receiving an indication of at least one blocking word by way of means for establishing at least one blocking word filter.

4. An processor apparatus for blocking one or more programs amongst a plurality of programming options, the processor apparatus arranged to perform the operations of claim 1.

5. The processor of claim 4 selected from the group comprising:

a cable-set top box processor, a satellite set-top box processor, a television processor, an audio receiver processor, and a personal video recorder processor.

6. A method of muting a word in a program audio signal comprising:

identifying a word in the audio signal for muting, the word having a first meaning and a second meaning, wherein the first meaning of the word is indicated as being objectionable to a viewer of a program and the second meaning of the word is indicated as being not objectionable to the viewer;

identifying at least one program characteristic of the program indicative of context of use of the word such that context would suggest the first meaning or the second meaning;

muting the particular word when it is associated with the first meaning as a function of whether the word is used in a program having the at least one characteristic; and

not muting the particular word when it is associated with the second meaning.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the operation of:

identifying a word in the audio signal for muting, the word having a first meaning and a second meaning, the first and second meanings being a function of the context of use of the word.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes a start time of the program.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes an end time of the program.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes a channel associated with the program.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes at least one word of the program title.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes a topic associated with the program.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes information text associated with the program.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes a person associated with the program.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes a rating of the program.

16. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes a day that the program is scheduled for availability.

17. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes a word used in an audio signal associated with the program.

18. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes a closed captioning availability indicator associated with the program.

19. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one program characteristic of the program includes a stars rating for the program.