Method and apparatus for selectively accessing programs in a parental control system
OwnerCarolynn Rae Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rating limit is set corresponding to first user input and an exception to the rating limit is set corresponding to a second user input. Information for specifying the rating of a program and for identifying the program is received. The rating is compared with the stored rating limit and it is determined using the information for identifying the program whether an exception from the rating limit for the program has been set. Access to the program is controlled in response to the results of the comparing and checking of the received information.
Claims17
A method for selectively controlling access to programs, comprising:
- setting a rating limit corresponding to a first user input;
- setting an exception to said rating limit corresponding to a second user input;
- receiving information for identifying a program and for specifying a rating of said program;
- comparing said rating of said program with said stored rating limit;
- determining whether an exception to said rating limit has been set for said program identified by said received program identifying information;
- and
- controlling access to said program in response to the results of the steps of comparing and determining.
A method for selectively controlling the viewing of television programs, comprising:
- setting rating limits in a parental control system for television programs corresponding to first user inputs, wherein said rating limits generally define whether television programs are to be blocked or are enabled for viewing;
- setting exceptions from said rating limits for certain television programs corresponding to second user inputs;
- storing said rating limits and exceptions from said rating limits for certain television programs;
- receiving television programs with embedded information for specifying recommended ratings and for identifying said television program;
- extracting said embedded information;
- comparing said recommended ratings with said stored rating limits;
- checking with said information for identifying said television program whether an exception from said rating limits for certain television programs has been set;
- blocking the viewing of a specific television program either if said rating limits indicate that said specific television program is to be blocked and no exception from said rating limits for said specific television program is set or if said exception from said rating limits indicate that said specific television program is to be blocked;
- and
- enabling the viewing of a television program either if said rating limits indicate that said specific television program is not to be blocked and no exception from said rating limits for said specific television program is set or if said exception from said rating limits indicate that said specific television program is not to be blocked.
Apparatus for selectively controlling access to programs, comprising:
- means for setting a rating limit corresponding to a first user input;
- means for setting an exception to said rating limit corresponding to a second user input;
- means for receiving information for identifying a program and for specifying a rating of said program;
- means for comparing said rating of said program with said stored rating limit;
- means for determining whether an exception to said rating limit has been set for said program identified by said received program identifying information;
- and
- means for controlling access to said program in response to the results of the steps of comparing and determining.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.