# US 2014/0196074 A1 · Apparatus and method for parental control using v-chip plus+ and master password

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- Number: US 2014/0196074 A1
- Document ID: US20140196074A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/104,925
- Filed: 2013-12-12
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 1996-04-01
- Assignees: Gemstar Development Corporation
- Applicants: Gemstar Development Corporation
- Inventors: Wing P. Leung; Roy J. Mankovitz; Henry C. Yuen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196074A1

## CPC

- H04N 21/4753: {for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password (cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08)}
- H04N 7/0887: {for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals}
- H04N 7/163: {by receiver means only}
- H04N 21/4314: {for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid}
- H04N 21/4316: {for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window}
- H04N 21/441: Acquiring end-user identification {, e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card}
- H04N 21/4532: {involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)}
- H04N 21/47: End-user applications
- H04N 21/4751: {for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children}
- H04N 21/4755: {for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre (retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306)}
- H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for exercising access control over television programs using a parental control user interface that has different functions is provided. The method requires a password to enter into a master mode for obtaining access to all the functions of the parental control user interface. Once in the master mode, the user may enter a criterion for blocking a television program from being viewed or recorded or the user can override an already blocked television program. If a user, not in the master mode, attempts to watch or record a program that meets the blocking criterion and the program does not meet the overriding criterion, a prompt is provided to the user to enter the password. Upon entering a correct password, the program is unblocked.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-9. (canceled)

### Claim 10

A method of exercising access control over a media asset based on a blocking criterion and an unblocking criterion, the method comprising:
receiving, using control circuitry, a first code associated with a rating of the media asset and a second code associated with content of the media asset;
blocking the media asset, using the control circuitry, if the first code satisfies the blocking criterion;
overriding, using the control circuitry, the blocking of the media asset if the second code satisfies the unblocking criterion, wherein the second code is associated with the content of the media asset without specifically identifying the media asset; and
permitting, using the control circuitry and without requiring a password, access to the media asset.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the first code is associated with a TV rating code and the second code is associated with a content code.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the first code is one of TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, TV-MA, and UNRATED, and wherein the second code comprises a content rating associated with at least one of violence, sexual explicitness, coarse language, and suggestive dialogue.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the blocking criterion is satisfied if the first code exceeds a predefined threshold.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the unblocking criterion is satisfied if the second code is below a predefined threshold.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the blocking criterion and the unblocking criterion are received from a user via selections from an on-screen menu.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
entering a master mode of operation responsive to receiving, using the control circuitry, the password; and
permitting access to the media asset, while in the master mode of operation, regardless of whether the first code satisfies the blocking criterion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the master mode remains in effect until the user exits the master mode or a time delay expires.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the blocking criterion and the unblocking criterion are specified in a parental control review list.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the unblocking criterion is associated with a time allowance, the method further comprising:
overriding, using the control circuitry, the blocking of the media asset regardless of the second code, if the time allowance is not exceeded.

### Claim 20

A system for exercising access control over a media asset based on a blocking criterion and an unblocking criterion, the system comprising:
control circuitry configured to:
receive a first code associated with a rating of the media asset and a second code associated with content of the media asset; and
access control circuitry configured to:
block the media asset if the first code satisfies the blocking criterion;
override the blocking of the media asset if the second code satisfies the unblocking criterion, wherein the second code is associated with the content of the media asset without specifically identifying the media asset; and
permit, without requiring a password, access to the media asset.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the first code is associated with a TV rating code and the second code is associated with a content code.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the first code is one of TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, TV-MA, and UNRATED, and wherein the second code comprises a content rating associated with at least one of violence, sexual explicitness, coarse language, and suggestive dialogue.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the blocking criterion is satisfied if the first code exceeds a predefined threshold.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the unblocking criterion is satisfied if the second code is below a predefined threshold.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the blocking criterion and the unblocking criterion are received from a user via selections from an on-screen menu.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the access control circuitry is further configured to:
enter a master mode of operation responsive to receiving the password; and
permit access to the media asset, while in the master mode of operation, regardless of whether the first code satisfies the blocking criterion.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The system of claim 26, wherein the master mode remains in effect until the user exits the master mode or a time delay expires.

### Claim 28 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein at least one of the blocking criterion and the unblocking criterion are specified in a parental control review list.

### Claim 29 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the unblocking criterion is associated with a time allowance, and the access control circuitry is further configured to:
override the blocking of the media asset, regardless of the second code, if the time allowance is not exceeded.