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US5969748A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Television schedule system with access control
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-29
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Granted: 1999-10-19
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Expires: 2016-05-29
Abstract
Abstract 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. Criteria for blocking television programs from being viewed are entered by a user with a password. A television program listing is selected for viewing or recording from an on-screen program guide. A viewer is prompted on the screen to enter a password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion, If a viewer enters the appropriate password, the selected program that meets the blocking criterion is unblocked. The blocking criterion is restored after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to. Furthermore, the user may set a limit on pay-per-view (PPV) spending to limit the purchase of PPV programs.
Inventors
- 👤 Marcy Casement
- 👤 Andrew Burgess
- 👤 David Folker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/45; H04N21/454; H04N21/41; H04N21/4104; H04N21/4135; H04N21/43; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/462; H04N21/47211; H04N21/47214; H04N21/475; H04N21/4751; H04N21/4753; H04N21/4755; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0882; H04N7/0887; H04N7/10; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of exercising access control over television programs comprising the steps of: entering a criterion for blocking the television programs from being viewed; displaying a plurality of television program listings in a guide format on a screen; selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; prompting a viewer to enter a password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion; unblocking the selected program that meets the blocking criterion so it can be viewed or recorded if the viewer enters the password responsive to the prompt; re-blocking the selected program if a different program is tuned to; and restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of exercising access control over television programs comprising the steps of: entering a criterion for blocking the television programs from being viewed; displaying a plurality of television program listings in a guide format on a screen; selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; prompting a viewer to enter a password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion; unblocking the selected program that meets the blocking criterion so it can be viewed or recorded if the viewer enters the password responsive to the prompt; re-blocking the selected program if a different program is tuned to; and restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step of entering a criterion comprises: displaying on the screen a list of criteria if the viewer enters the password responsive to the prompt; and selecting the criterion to enter from the list of criteria.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step of entering a criterion comprises: displaying on the screen a prompt to the viewer to enter a password; displaying on the screen a list of criteria if the viewer enters the password responsive to the prompt; selecting the criterion to enter from the list of criteria; removing the list of criteria from the screen after the criterion has been entered; and preventing selection of another criterion until the password is reentered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step of entering a criterion enters a program rating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step of entering a criterion enters a channel identification.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of displaying a lock symbol next to the channel identification in the program listings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step of entering a criterion enters a time period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step of entering a criterion enters a spending limit for pay-per-view programs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of tuning to the selected program for viewing or recording without prompting the viewer to enter the password if the selected program does not meet the blocking criterion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, in which the unblocking step comprises the step of unblocking all of the blocked programs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step of entering the password comprises verifying the password and preventing the viewer from entering the password for a predetermined period of time if the password was entered incorrectly for a predetermined number of attempts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, in which the password can be changed by the viewer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for exercising access control over a television program comprising: a display screen, means for entering a criterion for blocking television programs from being viewed; means for displaying a plurality of television program listings in a guide format on the screen; means for selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; means for prompting a viewer on the screen to enter the password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion; means for unblocking the selected program that meets the blocking criterion so it can be viewed or recorded if the viewer enters the password responsive to the prompt; means for re-blocking the selected program if a different program is tuned to; and means for restoring the blocking after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for exercising access control over a television program comprising: a display screen, means for entering a criterion for blocking television programs from being viewed; means for displaying a plurality of television program listings in a guide format on the screen; means for selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; means for prompting a viewer on the screen to enter the password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion; means for unblocking the selected program that meets the blocking criterion so it can be viewed or recorded if the viewer enters the password responsive to the prompt; means for re-blocking the selected program if a different program is tuned to; and means for restoring the blocking after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 13, in which the means for entering a criterion comprises: means for displaying on the screen a list of criteria if the viewer enters the password responsive to the prompt; means for selecting the criterion to enter from the list of criteria; and means for restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 13, in which the means for entering a criterion comprises: means for displaying on the screen a prompt to the viewer to enter a password; means for receiving and recognizing the password; means for displaying on the screen a list of criteria if the viewer enters the password responsive to the prompt; means for selecting the criterion to enter from the list of criteria; means for removing the list of criteria from the screen after the criterion has been entered; and means for preventing selection of another criterion until the password is reentered.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-18 | 2003-04-19 | 2003-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-18 | 2007-04-19 | 2007-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-18 | 2011-04-19 | 2011-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |