Television schedule system with access control
US5969748A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/4755
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
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. Criteria for blocking television programs from being viewed are entered by a user with a password. A television program listing is selected for viewing or recording from an on-screen program guide. A viewer is prompted on the screen to enter a password if the selected program meets the blocking criterion, If a viewer enters the appropriate password, the selected program that meets the blocking criterion is unblocked. The blocking criterion is restored after the program is over or the program is no longer tuned to. Furthermore, the user may set a limit on pay-per-view (PPV) spending to limit the purchase of PPV programs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.