Viewing restricting method and viewing restricting apparatus
US5751335A · kind A · utility
80Cited by
7References
8Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 12, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 23, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/4623
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for securely restricting the viewing of television programs. When a television program has been received along with rating data associated with a rating of the television program; length data associated with a length of the program, a microcomputer determines whether the rating data are higher than a predetermined viewing restricting level. If the rating data have been found higher, a muting circuit mutes the television program until it ends with reference to the television program length data, and the program corresponding to the rating data is outputted from a tuner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.