Patent US6144401A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6144401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Television schedule system with access control
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
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Filing: 1999-06-30
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Granted: 2000-11-07
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Expires: 2019-06-30
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Marcy Casement
- 👤 Andrew Burgess
- 👤 David Folker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:56
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: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of exercising access control over television programs comprising the steps of: inputting a first password; entering a criterion for blocking the television programs from being viewed; displaying a plurality of television program listings on a screen; selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; requesting a viewer to input 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 inputs a password that matches the first password responsive to the request; and restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of exercising access control over television programs comprising the steps of: inputting a first password; entering a criterion for blocking the television programs from being viewed; displaying a plurality of television program listings on a screen; selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; requesting a viewer to input 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 inputs a password that matches the first password responsive to the request; and restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 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 inputs a password that matches the first password responsive to a prompt; and selecting the criterion to enter from the list of criteria.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 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 inputs a password that matches the first 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 a matching password is input.
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
44 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step of unblocking the selected program 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
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for exercising access control over a television program comprising: a display screen; an input device for entering a first password and a criterion for blocking television programs from being viewed; a display processor for displaying a plurality of television program listings in a guide format on the screen; a pointing device for selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; a pop up window for prompting a viewer on the screen to enter a second password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion; and a processor for unblocking the selected program that meets the blocking criterion so it can be viewed or recorded if the viewer enters a second password that matches the first password, wherein the processor restores the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for exercising access control over a television program comprising: a display screen; an input device for entering a first password and a criterion for blocking television programs from being viewed; a display processor for displaying a plurality of television program listings in a guide format on the screen; a pointing device for selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; a pop up window for prompting a viewer on the screen to enter a second password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion; and a processor for unblocking the selected program that meets the blocking criterion so it can be viewed or recorded if the viewer enters a second password that matches the first password, wherein the processor restores the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 12, in which the display processor displays on the screen a list of criteria if the viewer enters a password that matches the first password and processes a selected criterion from the list of criteria.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 12, in which the display processor displays on the screen a prompt to the viewer to enter a password, displays on the screen a list of criteria if the viewer enters a password that matches the first password responsive to the prompt; and the processor processes a selected criterion from the list of criteria and prevents selection of another criterion until a matching password is entered.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12, in which the input device enters a program rating as a criterion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12, in which the input device enters a channel identification as a criterion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 16, in which the display processor further displays a lock symbol next to the channel identification in the program listings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12, in which the input device enters a time period as a criterion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 12, in which the input device enters a spending limit for pay-per-view programs as a criterion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 12, in which the processor verifies the password and prevents 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 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
An interactive program guide including a parental control system comprising: a display screen; an input device for entering a first password; means for entering a criterion for blocking the television programs from being viewed; means for displaying a plurality of television program listings on a screen; means for selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; means for requesting a viewer to input a 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 inputs a password that matches the first password responsive to the request; and means for restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
128 words
An interactive program guide including a parental control system comprising: a display screen; an input device for entering a first password; means for entering a criterion for blocking the television programs from being viewed; means for displaying a plurality of television program listings on a screen; means for selecting one of the displayed listings for viewing or recording; means for requesting a viewer to input a 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 inputs a password that matches the first password responsive to the request; and means for restoring the blocking criterion after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to.
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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) | 2003-11-07 | 2004-05-08 | 2004-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-07 | 2008-05-08 | 2008-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-07 | 2012-05-08 | 2012-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |