Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TELEVISION APPARATUS HAVING
A RATING LIMIT SETTING FEATURE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for utilizing television signals
and, more particularly, to a television apparatus capable of utilizing program
rating information transmitted along with a television signal.
Background of the Invention
Today, television programming for the home viewer is available from
many sources such as, terrestrial broadcasting, cable (CATV) distribution,
satellite broadcasting (e.g. DBS) or the like. The television programming may
be provided in an analog and/or digital format. In all cases, the television
programming includes audio and video information for a plurality of channels
and may also include other information, for example, closed captioning,
stock/data tickers, program guide listings or the like. This other information
or auxiliary data is coded into the television signal, sometimes in the
vertical
blanking interval (VBI).
The various television program sources available today provide a great
variety of television programming. Unfortunately, some of the television
programming contains content that may not be suitable for all viewers. Such
objectionable content may include strong language, sex or sexual content,
violence, and/or the like. Of course, there are varying degrees of
objectionable content relative to each category, as well as other various
content categories.
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In response to a need for parents and others to censure or control
objectionable content that may be viewed by children or others, the auxiliary
data transmitted with the television signal may include program content rating
information (e.g. "V-chip" information). The program content rating
information can be used to inform a viewer of a level of various categories of
content for a particular program. Program content rating information may also
be used to control the viewing of television programs. A viewing profile
containing program rating limits set by a viewer is maintained by the
television. The viewing profile is used by the television to determine if a
program is suitable for the viewer based on the content rating
settings/preferences stored in the profile as compared to the content ratings
of a program. If the program has a content rating exceeding that of the
content rating preferences, the program is blocked from view. Else, the
program may be watched.
Currently, however, the only way to develop and adjust the profile
rating settings/preferences is to traverse through lengthy content profile
menus and select to manually block or not block based on each type of
ratings information. For example, the user has to explicitly go through the
list
of ratings strings (i.e. language, violence, sexual content, etc.) and various
levels for each category, and choose to block or not block the program based
on each one. This is time consuming for the viewer, both during initial set-up
of and modification to the content ratings profile. The viewer is also
required
to perform a number of keystrokes on the remote. Further, the viewer may
not know in advance whether to block or not block based on the various levels
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of content alone, without having viewed a program having a certain content
rating. Thus, the viewer is constrained to making a number of blind decisions.
Summar~of the Invention
The present invention is a television apparatus operable to process a
television signal having content ratings data and allow a viewer to set a
rating
limit for future programs based on the content ratings of a current program.
In one form, the present invention is a method of processing an input
signal. The method includes processing an input signal for determining a
rating associated with a current program provided by the input signal. A
rating limit is the set in response to the rating associated with the current
program. The method further includes preventing program content of a
second program occurring subsequent to the first program from being
provided to a user in response to a rating of the second program exceeding
the rating limit.
In another form, the present invention is an input signal processing
apparatus. The input signal processing apparatus includes means for
processing an input signal for determining a rating associated with a current
program provided by the input signal, means for setting a rating limit in
response to the rating of the current program, and means for preventing
program content of a second program occurring subsequent to the current
program from being provided to a user in response to a rating of the second
program exceeding the rating limit.
In yet another form, the present invention is a television apparatus
including processing circuitry operable to determine a rating associated with
a
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current program provided by a television signal, means for setting a rating
limit corresponding to the rating of the current program upon receipt of user
input, and means for providing a user with a selectable option to either
prevent program content of a second program provided by a television signal
occurring subsequent to the current program from being provided to a user in
response to a rating of the second program exceeding the rating limit, or
allow
program content of a second program provided by a television signal
occurring subsequent to the current program to being provided a user in
response to a rating of the second program being less than the rating limit.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Reference to the following description of the present invention should
be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system in which the present
invention may be utilized;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the television apparatus of Fig. 1 showing
an on-screen display of a program content rating menu in accordance with
the principles of the present invention; and
Fig. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for carrying out the
principles of the present invention.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts
throughout the several views.
Detailed Description of the Invention
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W ith reference to Fig. 1, there is depicted a system, generally
designated 10, in which the present invention may be utilized. It should
initially be appreciated that the system 10 and the various components
thereof are only exemplary of an environment/application in which the present
invention may be utilized. Therefore, it should be understood that
components and/or systems other than those particularly shown and
described herein may utilize the principles presented herein.
The system 10 has an antenna or signal source 12 that receives
and/or outputs television signals. It should be appreciated that the
antenna/signal source 12 is representative of any type of television signal
receptor/source such as a terrestrial antenna for digital and/or analog
television signals, a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) dish, a cable
television
system (CATV), or the like. The antenna 12 is in communication with a
television signal receiver (i.e. a television apparatus that may or may not
includes a display) or television apparatus 14 via a communication channel or
line 16. The television signal typically includes a plurality of channels of
audio
and video information. As well, the television signal typically includes
auxiliary
data such as content ratings for the various programs on each channel.
The television apparatus 14 may or may not include an integral display
20 for showing the video portion of a selected channel. As well, the
television
apparatus 14 may or may not include an integral audio system (not shown)
for reproducing the audio portion of the selected channel. The television
apparatus 14 includes appropriate processing circuitry/logic 18 that is
adapted/operable to receive the television signal, tune to a particular
channel,
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decode/demodulate the television signal including the decoding of auxiliary
information, and perform other television signal processing.
On-Screen Display (OSD) circuitry/logic 22 is also provided in the
television apparatus 14 for generating on-screen display of information
including, but not limited to, channel number, date, time, stored channel
names, programming/setup menus, program guides, banners and various
types of menus including a program content rating menu. Memory 32 is also
provided for storing various information as necessary and/or appropriate for
the operation of the television apparatus 14 including a program content
viewing profile further discussed below.
An exemplary remote control 26 may be used to provide input from a
viewer or user to the television apparatus 14 in order to turn the television
apparatus 14 on or off, change channels, increase or lower the audio volume,
access the various menus, make selections on the various menus, and the
like. The volume is increased by pressing or selecting (collectively,
selecting)
the volume up (VOL+) button, while the volume is decreased by selecting the
volume down (VOL-) button. Changing the channel may be accomplished by
selecting either the channel up (CH+) button or the channel down (CH-)
button. A keypad (not shown) is also typically provided for inputting a
channel
number directly, or for other purposes.
The remote control 26 generates a control signal or signals upon the
viewer selecting or pressing a button that are transmitted to and received by
a
remote detector circuitry/logic 24 in the television apparatus 14.
Transmission of the control signals) may be provided by an Infrared (IR)
generator in the remote control 26, a radio frequency (RF) generator in the
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remote control 26, or any other wireless means. The remote detector 24
includes receiver circuitry/logic complementary to the transmission
circuitry/logic of the remote control 26 to receive and decode the control
signal(s). Control of the various television receiver functions may be
accomplished via traditional "front panel" means on the television apparatus
14.
The remote control 26 further includes a navigation keypad 28 having
up, down, left, and right arrows such that a cursor or the like generated and
shown on the display 20 may be controlled by the viewer. A joystick or the
like (not shown) may serve the same purpose as the navigation keypad 28.
The remote also includes a selection (SELECT) button such that any menu
choice or the like on the display 20 may be selected, typically when that
choice is highlighted or the like, typically via the navigation keypad 28. It
should be appreciated that the typical remote includes a plurality of other
buttons or keys (not shown) to control or provide selection to the various
functions and/or features of the television apparatus 14.
As indicated above, the television apparatus 14 is operable to receive
and decode program content rating data or information from the input
television signal. The program content rating information may be displayed
on the display 20. The content rating data may also be stored in memory 32
and/or processed in any manner by the processing circuitry/logic 18. It is
not,
however, necessary that the content rating information be shown on the
display 20 but may be an option. If the program content rating information is
shown on the display 20, it may be in association with the program currently
being viewed. As well, program content rating information may be provided in
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association with a program guide listing. In addition to advising (showing)
the
viewer of the program content ratings, the television apparatus 14 may also
use the program content ratings to block particular programs from being
viewed and/or allow the viewing of particular programs. This is typically
accomplished in conjunction with a program content viewing profile, or
viewing profile for short.
The television signal receiver 14 is operable to store content rating
information in the viewing profile within the memory 32. The viewing profile
may be initially created in response to a program content rating profile set-
up
menu shown on the display 20 and accessed via the remote control 26.
Through the set-up menu, the viewer may input levels (ratings) for each
content category. The viewer indicates what levels are appropriate for
viewing (i.e. not blocking) and what levels are inappropriate for viewing
(i.e.
blocking).
During viewing, the processing circuitry/logic 18 checks the content
rating of a current program with the content ratings of the viewer profile. If
the
content rating of one or more of the categories of the current program
exceeds or is higher (contains more) than the content rating of the
corresponding content category in the viewing profile, the program will be
blocked. If the content ratings of a current program is lower or less
(contains
less) than the corresponding content ratings of the viewing profile, the
program will not be blocked from the viewer. It should be appreciated that the
above is only exemplary of a manner in which program content ratings may
be used to block and not block current programs. Variations on the above are
possible regarding when programs are blocked and not blocked.
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The viewing profile, however, may or may not initially be set up as
explained above. In any case, in accordance with an aspect of the present
invention, when a program is currently being viewed, the viewer has the
option of updating (or creating) the viewing profile to match or coincide with
the program content ratings for the various categories of the current program.
If the viewer decides that the current program is suitable or appropriate for
viewing, the viewer can select a "view" button, menu choice, or the like from
the remote control 26 via a banner or menu shown on the display 20. The
program content rating profile is then updated (or created) with the program
content ratings for the current program such that any subsequent program
having program content ratings equal to or less than those of the current
program (now stored in the program viewing profile) will be allowed to be
viewed (i.e. not blocked). If the viewer decides that the current program is
not
suitable or appropriate for viewing, the viewer can select a "block" button,
menu choice, or the like, again from the remote control 26 or via a banner or
menu shown on the display 20. The program content rating profile is then
updated (or created) with the program content ratings for the current program
such that any subsequent program having program content ratings that are
equal to or greater than those of the current program (now stored in the
viewing profile) will not be allowed for viewing (i.e. blocked). This may be
provided on a per category basis or on all categories as a whole. Thus, in
accordance with the above, the viewer can easily block or not block the
viewing of future programs based on the content rating attributes of an actual
(current) program, rather than having the viewer select to block or not block
future programs blindly.
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Referring now to Fig. 2, there is depicted the television apparatus 14
wherein the display 20 is showing a program content rating menu 30. The
menu 30 may be displayed in response to the viewer selecting a rating limit
setting button on the remote control 26 during program viewing, or by moving
a cursor shown on the display 20 onto a banner or the like that includes a
selection for accessing the present rating limit feature. Other means for
showing the menu 30 may be used. As well, the menu choices may be
provided in a banner on the display 20.
Once the menu 30 is shown, the viewer can select to allow viewing of
future programs having the same or less content ratings for each category by
selecting the View button. The viewer can alternatively select to prevent or
block viewing of future programs having the same or greater content ratings
for each category by selecting the Block button. In addition to exiting the
menu 30 via an "Exit" button or selection, the menu 30 may cease to be
displayed upon timing out (i.e. no activity within a predetermined time
period).
As well, the viewer also has the option of selecting to enable (via the
"Enable"
button or selection) the present feature or to disable (via the "Disable"
button
or selection) the present feature. The Disable mode may have one or several
functions. In one Disable mode, the setting of a rating limit is disabled. In
another mode, the television apparatus 14 will allow any program to be
viewed, regardless of any previously set rating limit. The Enable mode serves
to return the television apparatus 14 back to the ability to set a rating
limit
and/or prevent the viewing of any program exceeding the rating limit.
Alternatively, the remote may have buttons or keys thereon that correspond to
the buttons or menu choices shown in Fig. 2 for directly accessing the present
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features. As well, it should be appreciated that the program content rating
menu 30 may be shown as an overlay, transparent or not, over the program
currently being watched.
It should be appreciated that a different menu may be shown on the
display 20 that provides for the viewing or blocking of future programs per
category for the current program such that more control may be maintained
over the viewing of subsequent programs. With this feature, the viewer can
alternatively choose between View or Block based on the content ratings of
the current program on a category by category basis.
While there are various types of rating systems (i.e. categories,
content, levels, etc.) that may be in use and utilized by the present
invention,
there are two rating systems in current practical use. One rating system or
schema is utilized for television programs in general (i.e. sitcoms, news and
news shows, general programming, etc.), while another rating system or
schema is used for movies. The first rating system provides the user with the
ability to block or allow programming based on an entire, overall rating
category (such as TV-MA) or block or allow programming based on certain
aspects (content) of that rating (such as TV-PG with Sex). This rating system
allows wide flexibility or control in allowing the user to separately block
various
aspects within each overall rating category. In this manner the user can, for
example, block TV-MA Sex but allow TV-14 Sex. An exemplary profile table
based on the first rating system may look like the following:
Sex Violence Lanctuaae
TV-MA B B B B
TV-PG B B V V
TV-14 V V V V
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(B- Block, V- View)
The second rating schema (generally utilized for movies) is more basic
such that it provides the user the ability to Block or View based only on the
MPAA ratings, and not on individual categories. For example, the user can
block R and PG-13 programs/movies, but allow PG and G programs/movies.
Another aspect of the present invention is the realization that a
particular program currently being watched, and to be used as a model for the
present rating limit setting feature, may not have the "perfect" content
ratings.
That is, a particular program may not embody a combination of content
category levels which a viewer might want to set. For example, a current
program may have a level "3" (out of an arbitrary scale of "5", with "5" being
the highest or the most amount of the particular content for the particular
category, and a "1" being the lowest or least amount of the particular content
for the particular category) for violence, while having a "4" for sexual
content
and a "2" for language. The viewer might choose to allow the viewing of the
program because there is "2" for language. This would, however, possibly
change the category content rating for violence and sexual content. In view
of this, the present rating limit feature may provide an OSD message asking
the viewer to confirm the changing of the various category ratings. This may
not be necessary when the change is from a "higher" rating to a "lower"
rating.
The above, however, may be alleviated by the per category menu
schema. In another form, a "disregard" may be provided to indicate that all
categories (blanket changing) are to be changed to the content ratings of the
current program.
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Additionally, the program content menu may provide for the viewer to
modify a particular viewer's content rating profile, where multiple viewer
profiles are provided. Various schemes may allow a "tree" or "parent-child"
viewing profile arrangement in order to set and/or control a child's program
viewing, while leaving an adult's program viewing to his/her discretion. The
viewing profile may also be suspended for a period of time, or for a
particular
show. The program content rating menu may include the above-discussed
selections with respect to various viewing profiles.
Operation
Next, a flowchart, generally designated 50, depicted in Fig. 3, is
referenced to describe a method of use in accordance with the principles
presented herein. The instructions for the present method are stored in the
memory 32 of the television apparatus 14 and executed by the processing
circuitry/logic unit 18. It should be appreciated that the flowchart 50 and
the
method described herein in association with the flowchart 50 is only
exemplary of a method to carry out the principles presented herein.
The software routines (i.e. instructions) may be implemented by any
means as is known in the art, and in any programming language. Various
programming approaches such as procedural, object oriented, or artificial
intelligence techniques may be employed.
The steps of the flowchart 50 may be implemented by one or more
software routines, processes, subroutines, modules, etc. It should be
appreciated that the flowchart 50 is illustrative of merely a broad logical
flow
of a method in accordance with the principles of the present invention and
that steps may be added to, or taken away from, the flowchart 50 without
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departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, the order of
execution of steps in the flowchart 50 may be changed without departing from
the scope of the present invention. Additional considerations in implementing
the method described by the flowchart 50 in software may dictate changes in
the selection and order of steps. Some considerations are event handling by
interrupt driven, polled, or other schemes. A multiprocessing or multitasking
environment could allow steps to be executed essentially concurrently.
The television apparatus 14 receives a television signal that includes
television programming and program rating data, block 52. During viewing
the television, a user selects or tunes into a program to watch, block 54. The
user may decide to allow (view) or prevent (block) the future viewing of
television programs based on the ratings) of the current program being
watched, block 56. The user may decide to use the currently viewed program
as a "model" program with regard to its ratings) either during the viewing of
the current program, or within a short time period thereafter. Once the user
has made the decision to view or block, the user activates either the content
rating menu (see Fig. 2) via the input device 26 or presses an appropriate
"view" or "block" key/button on the input device 26, block 58. The television
apparatus 14 then updates the rating profile stored therein accordingly, block
60. Thereafter, all subsequent programs may either be viewed or blocked
from viewing based on the ratings) of the subsequent program relative to the
ratings) of the previous program (i.e. the updated rating profile).
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design
and/or configuration, the present invention can be further modified within the
spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to
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cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general
principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures
from
the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art
to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the
appended claims.
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