Individualized program guide based on system and user constraints
OwnerMark Alan Schultzinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Control of access to video content is achieved by filtering information identifying the available video content according to one or more applicable profiles and then delivering to an authorized user only the filtered results for the information in a form such as an electronic program guide. In this way the filtered results in the exemplary electronic program guide represent only the content items that meet the profile criteria. Content information, which fails to meet the filtering criteria, can be blocked or scrambled or deleted from the exemplary electronic program guide as a further constraint prior to delivery of the filtered set of information to the authorized user.
Claims16
A method for controlling access to content, the method comprising:
- receiving a user request for electronic program guide information, wherein the user request identifies a user associated with the request;
- comparing the user identification with at least one stored profile for at least one of the user and a system used to send the request;
- filtering the electronic program guide information using at least one of the at least one user profile and the system profile to generate a filtered set of electronic program guide information;
- and
- blocking access to content associated with the electronic program guide information that is not included in the filtered set.
A system for controlling access to content, comprising:
- at least one content source for providing content;
- a gateway for:
- receiving a user request for electronic program guide information, wherein the user request identifies a user associated with the request;
- comparing the user identification with at least one stored profile for at least one of the user and a system used to send the request;
- filtering the electronic program guide information using at least one of the at least one user profile and the system profile to generate a filtered set of electronic program guide information;
- and
- blocking access to content associated with the electronic program guide information that is not included in the filtered set;
- and
- at least one playout device for rendering received content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.