Television schedule system with access control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of limiting a number of times viewers must enter passwords when applying parental controls that control access to television programs, the method comprising:
- receiving, via a data stream, television schedule information for a plurality of television programs;
generating for display, on a television, television program listings based on the television schedule information for the plurality of television programs;
receiving, via an input device, a viewer request to schedule a television program for automatic, unattended recording, wherein the television program is scheduled for transmission on a channel;
after receiving the viewer request to schedule the television program for automatic, unattended recording, receiving, via the input device, a viewer request to block the channel;
in response to receiving the viewer request to block the channel, storing a record of a block on the channel;
without further user input, comparing the record to television schedule information for the television program to determine that the channel on which the television program is scheduled for automatic, unattended recording is blocked; and
without requiring a viewer to enter a password to confirm the automatic, unattended recording of the television program, not blocking the scheduled recording of the television program.
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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
15 Claims
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1. A method of limiting a number of times viewers must enter passwords when applying parental controls that control access to television programs, the method comprising:
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receiving, via a data stream, television schedule information for a plurality of television programs; generating for display, on a television, television program listings based on the television schedule information for the plurality of television programs; receiving, via an input device, a viewer request to schedule a television program for automatic, unattended recording, wherein the television program is scheduled for transmission on a channel; after receiving the viewer request to schedule the television program for automatic, unattended recording, receiving, via the input device, a viewer request to block the channel; in response to receiving the viewer request to block the channel, storing a record of a block on the channel; without further user input, comparing the record to television schedule information for the television program to determine that the channel on which the television program is scheduled for automatic, unattended recording is blocked; and without requiring a viewer to enter a password to confirm the automatic, unattended recording of the television program, not blocking the scheduled recording of the television program. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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2. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions recorded thereon for limiting a number of times viewers must enter passwords when applying parental controls that control access to television programs, the instructions comprising:
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an instruction for receiving, via a data stream, television schedule information for a plurality of television programs; an instruction for generating for display, on a television, television program listings based on the television schedule information for the plurality of television programs; an instruction for receiving, via an input device, a viewer request to schedule a television program for automatic, unattended recording, wherein the television program is scheduled for transmission on a channel; an instruction for receiving, via the input device, a viewer request to block the channel after receiving the viewer request to schedule the television program for automatic, unattended recording; an instruction for storing a record of a block on the channel in response to receiving the viewer request to block the channel; an instruction for comparing, without viewer input, the record to television schedule information for the television program to determine that the channel on which the television program is scheduled for automatic, unattended recording is blocked; and an instruction for not blocking the scheduled recording of the television program without requiring a viewer to enter a password to confirm the automatic, unattended recording of the television program. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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3. A system for limiting a number of times viewers must enter passwords when applying parental controls that control access to television programs, the system comprising:
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memory configured to store records of blocks on channels; and a processor configured to; receive, via a data stream, television schedule information for a plurality of television programs; generate for display, on a television, television program listings based on the television schedule information for the plurality of television programs; receive, via an input device, a viewer request to schedule a television program for automatic, unattended recording, wherein the television program is scheduled for transmission on a channel; receive, via the input device, a viewer request to block the channel after receiving the viewer request to schedule the television program for automatic, unattended recording; storing, in the memory, a record of a block on the channel in response to receiving the viewer request to block the channel; compare, without further user input, the record to television schedule information for the television program to determine that the channel on which the television program is scheduled for automatic, unattended recording is blocked; and not block the scheduled recording of the television program without requiring a viewer to enter a password to confirm the automatic, unattended recording of the television program. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification