Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02516944 2010-11-15
TELEVISION RECEIVER AND METHOD FOR SINGLE-
SELECTION VIEWING CONTROL OF THE TELEVISION RECEIVER
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to television and other broadcast
systems, and, in particular to a television receiver and a method for single-
selection viewing control of the television receiver.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many systems for providing viewing control, frequently referred to as
"parental control", of television broadcast programming are well known in the
1o art.
As shown in FIG. 1. such systems are generally configured to control
display of selected programs on a television 20 using a remote control unit 22
which is used to send control signals directly to television 20 or to a
separate
controller such as a set top box, video cassette recorder, or tuner 24, for
example, all of which are well known in the art. The television signal may be
a
broadcast signal 21 or a broadband signal 23. The television signals 21,23 are
modulated computer readable signals that generally include embedded
information, as is well known in the art.
One problem with most viewing control systems is their complexity and
the effort required to understand and configure them. Many parents/guardians
do not have the knowledge, interest or time to navigate multiple layers of
complex menus to properly configure the viewing control system to screen
programs rated by a plurality of different rating systems. As is well
understood
in the art, an effective viewing control system may have to screen programs
based on three or more different rating systems. For example, a television
receiver located near the United States or Canadian borders may receive
programming rated by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA
ratings); Canadian English Television Ratings (CE-TV); Canadian French
Television Ratings (CF-TV); and United States Television Ratings (US-TV).
Obviously, configuring a viewing control system to properly screen programs
rated by all of these ratings systems is not a trivial task.
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There therefore exists a need for a television receiver and a method for
single-selection viewing control of the television receiver that permits
simple,
rapid, accurate, and complete configuration of the receiver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a television receiver
and a method for single-selection viewing control of the television receiver
that
permits simple, rapid, accurate and complete configuration of a viewing
control
system.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided
to a method of enabling single-selection viewing control of television
programs
received by a television receiver, comprising: provisioning a memory of the
television receiver with computer readable code that stores single-selection
program blocking table data comprising a generic description of program
content with which a rating level is associated across each of at least two
correlated program rating systems used to rate the television programs in a
geographical area in which the television receiver is to receive the
television
programs, and an index respectively associated with each of the generic
descriptions; provisioning the memory of the television receiver with computer
readable code that creates a user interface which permits a user to view the
single-selection program blocking table and to input one of the indexes to
configure the television receiver to control the viewing of the television
programs; and provisioning the television receiver with computer readable code
that translates the one of the indexes into corresponding rating codes
associated with each of the at least two correlated rating systems, and saves
the respective rating codes as user preference blocking information used to
control viewing of the television programs.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a
television receiver, comprising: computer readable memory that stores rating
system correlation data comprising rating codes associated with at least two
rating systems used to rate television programs, the rating codes being
arranged in predetermined correlated sets; computer readable memory that
stores computer program code for generating and displaying a single-selection
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program blocking table containing a plurality of indexes and a generic program
rating description associated with each index, each index being associated
with
one of the predetermined correlated sets of rating codes, the user interface
permitting a user to input one of the indexes to configure the television
receiver
to control viewing of television programs received by the television receiver;
and
computer readable memory for storing computer program code that translates
the one of the indexes into a corresponding set of the correlated rating
codes,
and saves the set of the correlated rating codes as user preference blocking
information used to control the viewing of the television programs.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention there is provided
a computer readable memory tangibly embodying computer readable code,
comprising: data for filling or modifying a single-selection correlation table
comprising an index and a generic description of each of a plurality of
television
program blocking levels used to control the viewing of television programs
received by a television receiver in a given geographic region; and data for
filling or modifying a correlated program blocking table comprising a column
for
each of a plurality of rating systems used in the geographic region and a row
for
each of a plurality of correlated rating code sets respectively associated
with
respective ones of the program blocking levels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further features. and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with
the
appended drawings, in which:
Fig. I is a schematic diagram of a prior art system used to configure
program viewing control of a television receiver;
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a portion of display control circuitry
used to control the display of television programs using a program viewing
control system in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary program viewing control
menu for the system in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a single-selection program blocking
display for exercising program viewing control in accordance with the
invention;
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Fig. 5 is an exemplary implementation of the single-selection program
blocking display shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is an exemplary display of the results of selecting a blocking level
that is displayed to a person using single-selection program viewing control
in
accordance with the invention;
Fig. 7 is an exemplary display of a correlated program blocking table in
accordance with the invention to permit fine-tuned control of program viewing
in
accordance with the invention;
Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a display of a screen that permits a
1o user to build a personal correlated program blocking table in accordance
with
the invention;
Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a personal correlated program blocking
table constructed by a user of the system in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a display of the correlated program
blocking table showing programs to be blocked by the personal correlated
program blocking table shown in Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of a screen display that permits a user to
select content codes used to further control program viewing using the system
in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of a screen display that permits a user to
further control the viewing of television programs by program category using
the
system in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 13 is a flow chart illustrating the implementation of the program
viewing control menu shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 14 is a flow chart showing an implementation of the enter/edit
master control personal identification number (PIN) function shown as item 1
of
the menu shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 15 is a flow chart showing an implementation of the enter/edit log-in
PINs shown as item 2 of the menu shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 16 is a flow chart showing an implementation of single-selection
program blocking shown as item 3 in the menu shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 17 is a flow chart showing an implementation of a method for
building a personal correlated program blocking table shown in Figs. 7-10;
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Fig. 18 is a flow chart showing an implementation of blocking programs
by program content codes as shown in Fig. 11;
Fig. 19 is a flow chart showing an implementation of blocking programs
by program category codes as shown in Fig. 12; and
FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing an implementation of a correlation
information download to a television receiver in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention.
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are
identified by like reference numerals.
1o DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The invention provides a television receiver and a method to permit a
parent, guardian or other authority to simply, rapidly and reliably configure
a
viewing control system to consistently screen programs based on selected
criteria using rating correlation data provided with or to the system. The
rating
correlation data includes information about each rating system used in a
geographical region, e.g. Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA); United
States Television (US-TV); Canadian English (CE-TV) and Canadian French
(CF-TV) television rating systems. Rating systems are sometimes referred to in
the art as "rating informational schemes", or simply "informational schemes".
In
2o accordance with the invention, the rating correlation data further includes
"rating
level descriptors" assigned to each level in a single-selection program
blocking
table, and a correlated program blocking table storing all of the rating codes
in
correlated sets respectively identified by an index, as will be explained
below in
detail.
The rating correlation data may be provided by rating service providers,
government agencies, broadcasters or television manufacturers who analyze
different rating systems to determine a most appropriate correlation between
the
various rating systems used to rate programs broadcast to a given geographical
region. It is envisioned that the most appropriate correlation will be
established
3o as a standard that is universally adopted in each geographic region.
Correlation data may be supplied to a television receiver by any
method, including: pre-configuration by the television manufacturer; download
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from a portable memory device; data imbedded in a broadcast, telecast,
satellite, or radio signal; or via a data packet network such as the Internet,
all of
which are known in the art.
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of part of program display control circuitry
30 of a television receiver 20 configured in accordance with the invention.
Fig.
2 is not intended to represent all the circuitry required to receive, process
and
display television signals, as that circuitry is so well known in the art that
any
person skilled in the art is familiar with each of the components required to
receive, process, block and/or display a television signal received via
broadcast,
io satellite transmission, cable, broadband transmission or portable memory.
As is
well known in the art, the television receiver 20 includes a processor 32 used
to
process television signals and to control the display thereof. The processor
32
operates using program code stored in non-volatile memory 34, which may
include read-only memory (ROM), electronically erasable programmable
memory (ERPOM) or any other non-volatile memory known in the art. Stored in
non volatile-memory 34 are components of the system in accordance with the
invention. Those components include program viewing control logic 38; user
preference information 40; single-selection program blocking (SSPB) table 41;
correlated program blocking (CPB) table 42; and, content and category blocking
tables 44, the configuration and use of all of which will be explained below
in
detail. As is well known in the art, the processor 32 stores data and program
information in volatile/cache memory 36 which is used for working storage.
Information in the single-selection program blocking table 41 and the
correlated program blocking table 42 may be subject to change for any one of
various reasons. For example, a rating system is changed, a new rating system
is added, or the like. The single-selection program blocking table 41 and the
correlated program blocking table 42, as well as any other program rating
information used by the television receiver 20 to extract program rating codes
or
to screen broadcast programs can be dynamically updated. As explained
above, the update information can be received in any one of a number of ways,
e.g. embedded in a broadcast signal. When received, the update information is
temporarily stored in volatile/cache memory 36, e.g. RAM memory, and
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subsequently processed and stored in non-volatile memory 34, e.g. EEPROM,
all of which is effected using methods known in the art.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary program viewing control
menu displayed on a television monitor connected to the television receiver 20
shown in Fig. 1. The program viewing control menu in accordance with this
embodiment of the invention provides four options to the user. Namely: 1)
Enter/edit master control personal identification number (PIN); 2) Enter/edit
log-
in PINs; 3) Single-selection program blocking; and 4) Content code and
program category blocking options. Each of these functions will be explained
below in detail.
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a display screen 60 presented to a user
who selects option 3 from the menu shown in Fig. 3. The display screen 60
displays a single-selection program blocking table 62 that includes a first
column 64 and a second column 66. The first column 64 displays a plurality of
indexes, for example numbers 1, X ... xn used to select a corresponding rating
level descriptor displayed in column 66. The rating level descriptors are
created
by one of the authorities noted above to provide a generic description of the
program content with which the rating level is associated across each of the
correlated rating systems used to rate television programs in the geographical
area where the television receiver 20 is being configured to screen programs.
In
this embodiment of the invention, the user has an option of selecting a
blocking
level by pressing a corresponding number key on the remote control unit 22
shown in Fig. 1 or pressing the <up arrow> to display a correlated program
blocking table or a <down arrow> to exit, as will be explained below in more
detail with reference to Fig. 14. As will be understood by those skilled in
the art,
the input and menu navigation keys described in this document are exemplary
only and other keys can be used for the same purpose.
Fig. 5 shows an exemplary implementation of the single-selection
program blocking table shown in Fig. 4. In this example, 8 blocking levels are
provided. Column 64 therefore contains the numbers 1-8 to permit a user to
select one of the blocking levels. Associated with each of the numbers 1-8 is
corresponding text tailored to provide a generic description of rating levels
provided by various rating systems used to rate programs broadcast to a given
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geographical region. The text shown in Fig. 5 is exemplary and not intended to
represent a system that may be implemented.
Fig. 6 is an exemplary display 70 that graphically illustrates to the user
the results of having selected a blocking level from the display 60 shown in
Fig.
5. In this example, the user selected blocking level 5. Consequently, the
columns 64, 66 of the single-selection program blocking table 62 beginning
with
row 5 are displayed in red, or any other desired highlight, to graphically
illustrate
to the user the effects of the selection. As will be understood by those
skilled in
the art, once a level is selected, all programs rated at that level or at a
higher
1o level are blocked unless a personal identification number (master PIN) is
entered to override the program blocking. As shown in Fig. 6 from the display
70 the user is permitted to press the <menu> key to save the selection and
exit,
or to press the <down arrow> to return to the single-selection program
blocking
display shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a display in accordance with the
embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5 when the user selects the option
of
displaying the correlated program blocking table 42. In accordance with the
invention, users are provided with an option of constructing their own
personal
correlated program blocking table. In order to simplify this process, only one
row of the personal correlated program blocking table needs to be constructed
as shown in Fig. 8. This permits sophisticated users to establish their
personal
preferred correlation between the various rating systems. If the user selects
this
option from the display 60 shown in Fig. 5 to display the correlated program
blocking table by pressing the <up arrow>, the display 80 shown in Fig. 7 is
presented. The display 80 may be presented in conjunction with a notice 82
advising that the correlated program blocking table has been constructed by
experts to represent what is considered to be the most appropriate correlation
between all rating systems that may used in the user's geographical region.
It should be noted that the rating systems shown in Fig. 7, as well as the
correlations between the rating systems, are exemplary only and not intended
to
be optimal, endorsed or implemented in a functional embodiment of the instant
invention. As will be noted, an index 86 is associated with each row of the
correlated program blocking table shown in Fig. 7. Likewise an index 88 is
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associated with each column. In one embodiment, the indexes 86, 88 are used
to build the personal correlated program blocking table 90, an example of
which
is shown in Fig. 8. Each row of the correlated program blocking table 80
represents a predetermined set of different rating codes. As will be further
noted, the correlated blocking table 80 includes one or more columns 68
reserved for future use. The reserved columns 68 are reserved for any new
rating system that may be implemented in the future and supplied to the
television receiver by way of download from any one of various media well
known in the art. Preferably, unused reserved columns 68 are not displayed to
the parent/guardian configuring viewing control.
The personal correlated program blocking table 90 shown in Fig. 8
includes one column for each rating system used in a particular geographical
region and one row to accept a respective rating code for each of the
respective
columns. The user enters their preference for each column using the remote
control unit 22 shown in Fig. 1 to key a pair of the indexes 86,88 into each
column. The <left arrow> and <right arrow> keys are used to move from
column to column in a manner well known in the art.
Fig. 9 shows an example of a personal correlated program blocking
table 90 created by a user. As will be explained below in more detail, when
the
user enters the indexes 86,88 such as, for example "1, 1" for the MPAA rating
system, the indexes are translated into a corresponding rating code that is
displayed in the personal correlated program blocking table 90 shown in Fig.
9.
Consequently, the indexes 1, 1 are translated and a (G) that is displayed in
the
first column of the personal correlated program blocking table 90. Likewise, a
2,
2 entered in column 2 translates into "TV-Y7" that is displayed in column 2,
and
so on. After the personal correlated program blocking table 90 has been
created, the user has the option of pressing the <up arrow> to view the
blocking
results (see Fig. 8).
A display of the program blocking resulting from the personal correlated
program blocking table 90 illustrated in Fig. 9 is shown in Fig. 10. Those
programs that will be blocked as a result of the personal correlated program
blocking table 90 shown in Fig. 9 are highlighted, to graphically illustrate
to the
user the results to their selection. After the table 92 is displayed, the user
has
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the option of pressing the <menu> key to save their personal correlated
program blocking table 90 and exit or pressing the <down arrow> key to exit
without saving the table.
As is well understood in the art, some parents/guardians find that rating
systems alone are not adequate to meet their program blocking needs.
Consequently, certain rating authorities also provide program content codes
that
rate programs for content such as sex; foul, crude or abusive language;
violence; and/or nudity; etc. In addition, some broadcasters provide codes
that
identify the types of programs that generally fall into the excluded category,
1o which are normally unrated. In particular, those codes may identify
programs in
the categories of: varieties; sports; news; documentaries; talk shows; music
videos; etc. Consequently, one embodiment of the system in accordance with
the invention further provides users with an option of blocking programs by
program content code as shown in Fig. 11 and by program category code as
shown in Fig. 12. If the user selects option 4 from the menu shown in Fig. 3,
the
tables 94 and 96 are displayed on the user's television screen. In accordance
with one embodiment, by default each program content code is associated with
a variable "Y" indicating that program screening will be effected for any
program
bearing an unblocked rating code if the program is associated with a program
content code that indicates that the program contains scenes containing sex,
language, violence or nudity. The user can change those options using the <up
arrow> to toggle any of the categories from "Y" to "N" indicating that no
blocking
of programs rated with an unblocked rating code will occur, even if such
content
codes are associated with the unblocked program.
Program viewing control by category code in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention permits the parent/guardian to exercise selective
control over the display of programs that are generally unrated, but are
classified by a category code. Using this option, the parent/guardian can
permit
a viewer to display an unrated program if the program signal includes a
program
category code corresponding to a permitted category. The default program
category codes are set to "Y", indicating that no blocking of any unrated
program with one of the program category codes occurs unless the user
explicitly changes the default. Once the user has made his selection, in
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accordance with one embodiment the user can press the <menu> key to exit
and save their selections or press the <down arrow> key at any time to exit,
as
will be explained below in more detail.
Fig. 13 is a flow chart illustrating an implementation of the viewing
control menu shown in Fig. 3. In accordance with this embodiment, the viewing
control menu is displayed in step 100 and the system monitors input to
determine whether the <menu> key has been pressed (step 102). If so, the
system exits the menu and returns to, for example, an initial set up menu (not
illustrated). If the input is not the <menu> key, it is determined in step 104
whether the input equals (1) and if so, the program branches to performing
master control PIN input (step 106) and then returns to input monitoring. If
the
input is determined not to be (1) in step 104, the system determines (step
108)
whether a master control PIN has been stored in the non-volatile memory 34
(Fig. 2) because none of the remaining functions on the menu can be performed
until a master control PIN has been created. Consequently, if the system
determines that a master control PIN does not exist, an error message is
displayed in step 110 and the system then returns to input monitoring. If the
master control PIN exits the system determines whether the input equals "2"
(step 112), and if so performs log-in PIN input (step 114). In accordance with
the invention, a plurality of log-in PINs can be input if the television
receiver 30
supports viewer log-in. This permits a program blocking table to be created
for
each of a plurality of log-in PINs and the program blocking codes that are
used
to block programs depend on the log-in PIN, in a manner known in the art.
Consequently, all of the functionality described above can be associated with
a
particular log-in PIN, as will be described in more detail below.
If it is determined in step 112 that the input is not equal to (2), the input
is tested to determine whether it equals (3) (step 116). If so, the system
performs single-selection program blocking processing (step 118). The system
then returns to input monitoring. If not, the input is monitored (step 120) to
3o determine whether it equals "4" and if so, the system performs
category/content
code blocking processing (step 122) and then returns to input monitoring. If
any
other key is pressed, that key is ignored.
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Fig. 14 is a flow chart illustrating an implementation of master control
PIN input. In step 130, a master control PIN input screen (not shown) is
displayed. The system then collects input (step 132) and it is determined
whether the master control PIN has a required length (step 134). If not, an
error
message is displayed such as "Master control PIN must be 6 characters or
more in length" (step 136). The program then branches to step 142 to
determine whether the <down arrow> has been pressed to return to the menu
50 shown in Fig. 3. Otherwise, it is determined in step 138 whether the <menu>
key has been pressed, which indicates that the user wishes to save the master
io control PIN. If so, the master control PIN is saved in step 140 and program
returns to the menu. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the
program may further include steps that require the user to re-input the master
control PIN for purposes of verification.
Fig. 15 is a flow chart illustrating one implementation of the menu 50
function (2) shown in Fig. 3 for creating log-in personal identification
numbers
(PINs). In step 150 the system displays a log-in PIN input screen (not shown)
and collects user input in step 152. In step 154 it is determined whether the
PIN
has the required length, as explained above with reference to Fig. 14. If not,
an
error message is displayed (step 156) and the system determines in step 164
whether the <down arrow> has been pressed. If so, the system returns to the
main menu shown in Fig. 3. Otherwise, the system branches back to step 152
to collect user input. If the input PIN has the required length, the system
determines in step 158 whether the <menu> key has been selected and if so
saves the log-in PIN (step 160). The system then displays an option to input
another PIN (step 162) and if that option is selected returns to step 152.
Otherwise the system returns to the main menu. As will be understood by those
skilled in the art, each log-in PIN may optionally be associated with a user
name
or other identification and each log-in PIN input may be verified by requiring
the
user to re-input the same PIN in a manner well known in the art.
Fig. 16 is a flow chart illustrating the process of single-selection
program blocking shown in Figs. 5 and 6. When the user selects option (3) from
the menu 50 shown in Fig. 3, the system requests master control PIN input
(step 170) and determines in step 172 whether the input matches the master
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control PIN stored in the non-volatile memory 34 (Fig. 2). If it does not, an
error
message is displayed (step 174) and it is determined in step 176 whether the
down arrow is selected. If so, the program returns to the display of the menu
50. Otherwise, the program once again request master control PIN input (step
170). As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the number of
iterations
of this loop may be limited to no more than 3, for example.
If the master control PIN is correctly input, the program branches to step
178 where the system determines whether any log-in PINs have been stored in
the non-volatile memory 34. If so, the system displays an option that permits
the user to input a log-in PIN with which the program blocking information is
to
be associated. If that option is selected, log-in PIN input and verification
is
performed (step 180) in a manner well known in the art. In either case, the
program branches to a display of the single-selection blocking screen shown in
Fig. 5 (step 182). The system then monitors for user input. In step 184 it is
determined whether the <down arrow> has been selected. If so, the system
returns to the menu 50. If not, it is determined in step 186 whether the input
is
greater than or equal to "1" or less than or equal to "n", the range of
selection
that can be made from the single-selection blocking table shown in Fig. 5
(step
186). If the input is not in that range, it is determined in step 188 whether
the
input equals an <up arrow> (step 188). If so, the program performs correlated
program blocking table display processing step 190, which will be explained in
more detail with reference to Fig. 17. The program then returns to the main
menu. If the input is within the expected range as determined in step 186, the
index input by the user is translated into a row of the single-selection
blocking
table and the blocking table is highlighted and displayed as shown in Fig. 6.
The system then monitors input to determine whether the menu key is
selected (step 194). If so, the system retrieves the correlated program
blocking
table (CPB table 42) from the non-volatile memory 34 (step 196) and translates
the blocking index to the respective rating codes (step 198) the system then
saves the user preference blocking information (step 200) and returns to the
main menu. If it is determined in step 194 that the <menu> key was not
selected, the system determines in step 202 whether the <down arrow> was
selected. If so, the system returns to the main menu without saving user
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preference information. Otherwise, the system returns to step 182 and
continues to monitor user input.
Fig. 17 is a flow chart illustrating the correlated program blocking table
display processing. As explained above with reference to Figs. 7-10, the
system provides a user with an option of creating a personal correlated
program
blocking table 90 in order to provide the flexibility that sophisticated users
may
desire. This option may be selected from the display by selecting the <up
arrow>. When that selection is made, in this embodiment the system requires
re-input of the master control PIN (step 210) and the master control PIN is
1o verified in step 214. If the master control PIN is incorrectly input, an
error
message is displayed in step 216 and the system monitors input to determine
whether the <down arrow> key is selected (step 218) as explained above with
reference to Fig. 16. Optionally, the re-input of the master control PIN is
not
required.
In any event, the system requests whether the personal blocking
correlation is to be associated with a log-in PIN (step 220) if so, log-in PIN
input
and verification is performed (step 222). In either case, the correlated
program
blocking table (see Fig. 7) is displayed (step 224). The system then monitors
input to determine whether the input is greater than or equal to "1,1" and
less
than or equal to "n,n", i.e. within the allowed range. If so, the user input
is
translated and the corresponding rating code is displayed in the proper column
of the personal correlated program blocking table 90, as explained above with
reference to Fig. 8. The system then returns to monitoring user input.
If the input is not numeric as determined in step 226 or not within
range, the system determines in step 230 whether the <down arrow> key was
selected. If not, it is determined in step 232 whether the <up arrow> key was
selected. If not, the system displays an out of range error message (step 234)
and returns to monitoring user input. If the <up arrow> key was selected in
step
232, it is determined in step 236 whether the personal correlated program
3o blocking table 90 is full, i.e. whether each column has been assigned a
rating
code. If not, a message is displayed, such as "Please complete your personal
correlated program blocking table" (step 238) and the program returns to
monitoring user input in step 226. If the table 90 is determined to be
completed
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in step 236, the system highlights and displays the correlated program
blocking
table 92 as shown in Fig. 10. The system then monitors user input to determine
whether the down arrow is selected (step 242). If so, it returns to the main
menu without saving the personal correlated program blocking table 90. As will
be understood by those skilled in the art, the system may ask the user if they
wish to exit without saving their changes.
It is then determined in step 244 whether the <menu> key was selected.
If not, the system returns to monitoring user input. If so, the system saves
the
user preference blocking information to the non-volatile memory 34 (step 246)
io and returns to the menu 50 shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 18 is a flow chart illustrating one implementation of the invention for
performing program blocking by content codes shown in Fig. 11. If item 4 is
selected from the main menu shown in Fig. 3, the system requests master
control PIN input (step 250) and determines in step 252 whether the input PIN
matches the master control PIN stored in the non-volatile memory 34. If there
is
no match, an error message is displayed (step 254) and it is determined in
step
256 whether the <down arrow> key was pressed. If not, another request for the
master control PIN is displayed and steps 250 and 252 are repeated. If the
master control PIN is correctly input, the user is queried in step 258 to
determine whether the content code blocking option is to be associated with a
log-in PIN. If so, the system performs log-in PIN input and verification (step
260). In either case, the system displays the content blocking table 94 shown
in
Fig. 11 (step 262). The system then monitors user input to determine whether
the <up arrow> key was pressed. If the user presses the <up arrow> key, the
system determines which column in the content blocking table 94 has been
changed, changes the displayed value, which may be a change from "Y" to "N",
or vice versa, and displays the new value in the appropriate column (step 270)
the system then returns to monitoring user input. If the <up arrow> key was
not
pressed in step 268, the system determines whether the <menu> key was
selected (step 272). If so, the system saves the user preference program
content blocking codes in the non-volatile memory 34 (step 276) and returns to
the main menu shown in Fig. 3. If the menu key was not selected, the system
determines whether the <down arrow> key was pressed (step 274). If so, the
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system returns to the menu 50. If not, the system returns to monitoring user
input.
Fig. 19 illustrates an implementation of the system in accordance with
the invention when the user elects to allow program display by program
category code by using the category code table 96 shown in Fig. 12. When
item 4 from the menu 50 shown in Fig. 3 is selected, the system requests and
verifies the master control PIN input and determines whether the category
codes selected are to be associated with a log-in PIN in the same way as
described above with reference to Fig. 18 (steps 280-290). After appropriate
io verifications are made, the system displays the program category code table
96
shown in Fig. 12 (step 292). The system then monitors user input to determine
whether the <up arrow> key has been pressed (step 294). If so, the system
determines the column changed and replaces the displayed value with the new
value as explained above with reference to Fig. 18 (step 296). If the <up
arrow>
key was not selected, the system determines in step 298 whether the <menu>
key was selected. If the <menu> key was selected, the system saves the user
preference program category blocking codes (step 302) and returns to the main
menu 50. If the <menu> key was not selected, the system determines whether
the <down arrow> key was selected (step 300). If not, the system returns to
monitoring user input. If so, the system returns to the main menu 50.
Fig. 20 is a flow chart illustrating one implementation of a method in
accordance with the invention for handling downloaded correlation data
received by the display control circuitry 30 shown in Fig. 2. In step 300, the
downloaded correlation data is received by the display control circuitry 30.
The
downloaded correlation data may include data for filing or modifying either
the
single-selection program blocking table 41; the correlated program blocking
table 42; or the content and category blocking tables 44 (Fig. 2). The
downloaded correlation data may also include information about how and/or
where program rating codes are embedded in a program signal, or any other
information required to process, decode, or interpret program rating codes,
program content codes or program category codes. As explained above, the
correlation data may be embedded in a television signal; embedded in a
satellite direct broadcast signal; received via a coaxial cable connection; or
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received from a portable memory device, such as a CD Rom, a memory stick,
or the like.
The received correlation data is stored in volatile memory (step 302)
such as DRAM. After the received data is stored in volatile memory, the
processor 32 examines the received data and determines whether the single-
selection program blocking table (SSPB 41), the correlated blocking table (CPB
42), the content code and/or category code tables 44 must be updated in
response to the data, and all required updates are effected (step 304). The
processor 32 then examines the non-volatile memory 34 to determine whether
user preference information 40 has been stored (step 306). If not, no further
processing is required and the program ends.
If it is determined in step 306 the user preference information has been
stored, the processor 32 determines in step 308 whether log-in PINs have also
been stored. If so, the processor 32 retrieves user preference information
associated with the first log-in PIN (step 310). The processor 32 then
determines whether a personal correlated program blocking table 90 (see Figs.
8 and 9) has been created (step 312) if not, the processor 32 translates user
preference information into program blocking codes associated with the updated
table(s) (step 318). The new program blocking codes are then stored in non-
volatile memory as user preference information 40 (step 320) and then it is
determined in step 322 if another log-in PIN exits. If not, the program ends.
Otherwise, the program returns to step 312.
If it is determined in step 312 that a personal correlated program
blocking table 90 exits, it is determined in step 314 whether the downloaded
correlation data included information associated with a new rating system. In
other words, it is determined in step 314 whether a new rating system has been
added to the correlated program blocking table 42. If this is the case, the
processor 32 generates a message that is displayed requesting the master
controller to review all personal correlated program blocking tables (step
316).
3o The processor 32 may be programmed to generate and display this message,
for example, each time the television receiver is switched on until menu item
(3)
is selected from the viewing control menu 50 (see Fig. 3). In any event, the
processor 32 then translates the user preference information into program
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blocking codes by mapping from existing user preference information to the new
rating system codes which are arranged in correlated sets with prior existing
codes as explained above (step 318). As also explained above, thereafter the
processor 32 stores the new program blocking codes in non-volatile memory
(step 320) and it is determined in step 322 whether another
log-in PIN exits. If so, the program returns to step 312. Otherwise the
program
ends.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the rating codes and
the optional content and category codes selected by the user are used by the
1o system in a manner well known in the art to effect program screening. The
methods for transmitting such codes and effecting program screening are very
well understood.
Likewise, as will be understood by any person skilled in the art, and
explained above, methods for downloading or updating program rating codes,
program content blocking codes and program category codes are likewise well
known to those skilled in the art. The invention applies to any rating system
and
is adequately flexible to be adapted to use in any geographical region,
regardless of the number of rating systems that may be used in that
geographical region.
The system provides a simple, quickly configured, reliable program
viewing control system that is easily configured by even the least
sophisticated
of parents/guardians.
The embodiment(s) of the invention described above is(are) intended to
be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be
limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
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