Patent US5828402A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5828402A
Expired / Lapsed
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Method and apparatus for selectively blocking audio and video signals
Assignee: Quarterhill Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-05
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Granted: 1998-10-27
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Expires: 2016-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus block the reception of television programming which meets specified criteria. Data packets describing television programming are broadcast with the television signal. The data packets include at least packets which contain category information specifying a level in one or more multi-level categories and/or label information specifying labels applied to the program content of the signal. Data packets in an incoming video signal are detected by a blocking apparatus and compared to preferences stored in non-volatile memory in the blocking apparatus. If the contents of the data packets match or exceed the stored preferences then the video signal is blocked. The apparatus is field configurable. Configuration information specifying the rating scheme is transmitted to the apparatus. The methods of the invention are extremely flexible and allow several different rating systems to be used simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy David Collings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/454; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/4542; H04N21/47; H04N21/475; H04N21/4755; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0887; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A video program transmission method for enabling a viewer to receive information useful for selectively blocking the viewing of television programming, said method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a plurality of television channels to a viewer; b) for each said channel in a first group of one or more of said channels, embedding program information comprising at least a value representing a level in first multi-level category of a first informational scheme for a program being transmitted on said each channel; c) for each said channel in a second group of one or more of said channels, embedding program information comprising at least a value representing a level in second multi-level category of a second informational scheme for a program being transmitted on said each channel; and, d) transmitting to said viewer first and second sets of configuration information, said first set of configuration information comprising at least a value representing a number of levels in said first multi-level category and descriptive names for said category and one or more of said levels in said first category according to said first informational scheme, said second set of configuration information comprising at least a number of levels in said second multi-level category and descriptive names for said second category and one or more of said levels in said second category according to said second informational scheme.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A video program transmission method for enabling a viewer to receive information useful for selectively blocking the viewing of television programming, said method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a plurality of television channels to a viewer; b) for each said channel in a first group of one or more of said channels, embedding program information comprising at least a value representing a level in first multi-level category of a first informational scheme for a program being transmitted on said each channel; c) for each said channel in a second group of one or more of said channels, embedding program information comprising at least a value representing a level in second multi-level category of a second informational scheme for a program being transmitted on said each channel; and, d) transmitting to said viewer first and second sets of configuration information, said first set of configuration information comprising at least a value representing a number of levels in said first multi-level category and descriptive names for said category and one or more of said levels in said first category according to said first informational scheme, said second set of configuration information comprising at least a number of levels in said second multi-level category and descriptive names for said second category and one or more of said levels in said second category according to said second informational scheme.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of embedding program information comprises, embedding in each of said television channels program information relevant to that television channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of embedding configuration information comprises embedding in each of said television channels program information relevant to that television channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said step of embedding said program information in each of said television channels comprises encoding and transmitting said program information as XDS data in said each television channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of embedding said configuration information in each of said television channels comprises encoding and transmitting said configuration information as XDS data in said each television channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said step of encoding and transmitting said configuration information comprises transmitting a separate XDS data packet containing the name of each of said levels in said informational scheme to which said configuration information relates.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
262 words
A method for selectively blocking video signals, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving first configuration information embedded in a first television channel, said first configuration information describing a first informational scheme, said first configuration information specifying, at least, numbers of levels in a first group of one or more multi-level categories of labels, in said first informational scheme; b) storing said first configuration information in a memory; c) receiving second configuration information embedded in a second television channel, said second configuration information describing a second informational scheme, said second configuration information specifying, at least, numbers of levels in a second group of one or more multi-level categories of labels, in said second informational scheme; d) storing said second configuration information in said memory; e) storing in said memory user preference information for each of said categories in each of said first and second informational schemes; f) receiving a first video signal comprising embedded information specifying at least, either one of said first or second informational schemes, and current levels in each of said one or more categories in said specified informational scheme; g) extracting said embedded information and comparing said extracted information with said stored preference information for said specified informational scheme; h) if the result of said comparison indicates that said first video signal should not be displayed, blocking said first video signal from being displayed on a video display; and, i) if the result of said comparison indicates that said first video signal should be displayed, allowing said first video signal to be displayed on said video display.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
262 words
A method for selectively blocking video signals, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving first configuration information embedded in a first television channel, said first configuration information describing a first informational scheme, said first configuration information specifying, at least, numbers of levels in a first group of one or more multi-level categories of labels, in said first informational scheme; b) storing said first configuration information in a memory; c) receiving second configuration information embedded in a second television channel, said second configuration information describing a second informational scheme, said second configuration information specifying, at least, numbers of levels in a second group of one or more multi-level categories of labels, in said second informational scheme; d) storing said second configuration information in said memory; e) storing in said memory user preference information for each of said categories in each of said first and second informational schemes; f) receiving a first video signal comprising embedded information specifying at least, either one of said first or second informational schemes, and current levels in each of said one or more categories in said specified informational scheme; g) extracting said embedded information and comparing said extracted information with said stored preference information for said specified informational scheme; h) if the result of said comparison indicates that said first video signal should not be displayed, blocking said first video signal from being displayed on a video display; and, i) if the result of said comparison indicates that said first video signal should be displayed, allowing said first video signal to be displayed on said video display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of receiving said first configuration information comprises tuning to a first television channel and receiving embedded information comprising said first configuration information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of receiving said second configuration information comprises tuning to a second television channel and receiving embedded information comprising said second configuration information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said first configuration information comprises descriptive text for two or more levels in each of said first group of categories and said second configuration information comprises descriptive text for two or more levels in each of said second group of categories.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of storing said user preference information comprises displaying on a display said descriptive text for labels in said first informational scheme and accepting from a user, and storing, user preference information for said first informational scheme said user preference information comprising a threshold level for each of said categories in said first informational scheme.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said step of storing said user preference information comprises setting a threshold level for a first category in said second informational scheme to a value equal to a threshold level set for a first category in said first informational scheme.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of storing said first configuration information comprises storing in a first record in said memory a pointer to a second record containing a name for said first informational scheme.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said step of storing said first configuration information comprises storing in said second record pointers to a set of one or more third records, each of said one or more third records containing a name of a category in said first informational scheme.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of storing said first configuration information comprises storing in each of said third records pointers to a set of two or more fourth records, each of said two or more fourth records containing a name of a level in said category of said first informational scheme and a numeric value for said level.
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