Apparatus and method for parental control using V-Chip plus+ and master password

• US 9,392,332 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Leung, Wing P., Mankovitz, Roy J., Yuen, Henry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US14/104,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20140196074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 725 28- 31, 725 34- 36, 709217-232
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• 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 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method and apparatus for exercising access control over television programs using a parental control user interface that has different functions is provided. The method requires a password to enter into a master mode for obtaining access to all the functions of the parental control user interface. Once in the master mode, the user may enter a criterion for blocking a television program from being viewed or recorded or the user can override an already blocked television program.

If a user, not in the master mode, attempts to watch or record a program that meets the blocking criterion and the program does not meet the overriding criterion, a prompt is provided to the user to enter the password. Upon entering a correct password, the program is unblocked.

Claims

1. A method of exercising access control over a media asset based on a first blocking criterion and second blocking criterion, the method comprising:

receiving, using control circuitry, the first blocking criterion associated with a rating set by a viewer and a second blocking criterion associated with a rating factor set by the viewer;

receiving, using the control circuitry, a rating code associated with a rating of the media asset and a rating factor code associated with content of the media asset, wherein the rating factor code is associated with the content of the media asset without specifically identifying the media asset;

blocking access to the media asset, using the control circuitry, if the rating code satisfies the first blocking criterion and the rating factor code satisfies the second blocking criterion; and

permitting, using the control circuitry and without requiring a password, access to the media asset if the rating code satisfies the first blocking criterion and the rating factor code does not satisfy the second blocking criterion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rating code is associated with a TV rating and the rating factor code is associated with content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the rating code is one of TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, TV-MA, and UNRATED, and wherein the rating factor code comprises a content rating associated with at least one of violence, sexual explicitness, coarse language, and suggestive dialogue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first blocking criterion is satisfied if the rating code exceeds a predefined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second blocking criterion is satisfied if the rating factor code exceeds a predefined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first blocking criterion and the second blocking criterion are received from the viewer via selections from an on-screen menu.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

entering a master mode of operation responsive to receiving, using the control circuitry, the password; and

permitting access to the media asset, while in the master mode of operation, regardless of whether the rating code satisfies the first blocking criterion.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the master mode remains in effect until the viewer exits the master mode or a time delay expires.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first blocking criterion and the second blocking criterion are specified in a parental control review list.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second blocking criterion is associated with a time allowance, the method further comprising:

overriding, using the control circuitry, the blocking of the media asset regardless of the rating factor code, if the time allowance is not exceeded.

11. A system for exercising access control over a media asset based on a first blocking criterion and second blocking criterion, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

receive the first blocking criterion associated with a rating set by a viewer and the second blocking criterion associated with a rating factor set by the viewer;

receive a rating code associated with a rating of the media asset and a rating factor code associated with content of the media asset, wherein the rating factor code is associated with the content of the media asset without specifically identifying the media asset; and

access control circuitry configured to;

block access to the media asset if the rating code satisfies the first blocking criterion and the rating factor code satisfies the second blocking criterion; and

permit, without requiring a password, access to the media asset if the rating code satisfies the first blocking criterion or the rating factor code does not satisfy the second blocking criterion.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the rating code is associated with a TV rating and the rating factor code is associated with content.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the rating code is one of TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, TV-MA, and UNRATED, and wherein the rating factor code comprises a content rating associated with at least one of violence, sexual explicitness, coarse language, and suggestive dialogue.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first blocking criterion is satisfied if the rating code exceeds a predefined threshold.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the second blocking criterion is satisfied if the rating factor code exceeds a predefined threshold.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first blocking criterion and the second blocking criterion are received from the viewer via selections from an on-screen menu.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the access control circuitry is further configured to:

enter a master mode of operation responsive to receiving the password; and

permit access to the media asset, while in the master mode of operation, regardless of whether the rating code satisfies the first blocking criterion.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the master mode remains in effect until the viewer exits the master mode or a time delay expires.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first blocking criterion and the second blocking criterion are specified in a parental control review list.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the second blocking criterion is associated with a time allowance, and the access control circuitry is further configured to:

override the blocking of the media asset, regardless of the rating factor code, if the time allowance is not exceeded.