Patent · US Expired

Encoder apparatus and decoder apparatus for a television signal having embedded viewer access control data

US5710815A · kind A · utility

201Cited by
26References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 7, 1995
Grant dateJan 20, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 7, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/454
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An encoding apparatus and an associated decoding apparatus for a television signal having embedded viewer access control data. A program category code is inserted into a television signal by the encoding apparatus, identifying at least one attribute of program content of an associated television program. An individual viewer may preclude receipt of television programming identified by a corresponding program category code as containing a program content attribute for which the individual viewer has chosen to preclude viewing. The decoding apparatus compares the program category code embedded within a television program with a user category code indicating at least one of the attributes of programming content for which the individual user has elected to preclude receipt of television programming. Viewing of the television signal is precluded when the television signal includes a program category code corresponding to the user category code.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.