Control of access to multimedia content
US8898691B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2007 |
| Grant date | Nov 25, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/64322
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A disclosed method of enabling a subscriber to control access to multimedia content received from a multimedia distribution network includes provisioning the network with an access control application. The application is operable to respond to an invocation by a member of a subscriber class by enabling at least one subscriber class function, wherein the subscriber class function enables the subscriber class member to define an access restriction for members of a controlled class. The application responds to an invocation by a member of the controlled class by enabling the controlled class member to access content not subject to the defined restrictions permitting the controlled class member to define preferences from content not subject to the defined restrictions. The definable preferences may include TV channel preferences and interactive games preferences. Restrictions may be defined based on channel identification, a rating associated with requested content, an elapsed viewing time, and a monetary charge.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.