Electronic media program recognition and choice

A method for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising the steps of

• locking out all programs except programs on channels that broadcast only suitable programs,
• obtaining at least one signature of a suitable program,
• storing in a memory means said at least one signature of a suitable program,
• scanning at least selected broadcast channels,
• sampling the signal of at least one unidentified program,
• obtaining a signature of at least one unidentified program,
• comparing said signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of a suitable program, and
• making at least a portion of said suitable program available to a player,
• wherein said at least one signature of a suitable program and said signature of at least one unidentified program are obtained from signals that are not coded or encoded.

A method for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising the steps of

• locking out all programs,
• obtaining at least one signature of a suitable program,
• storing in a memory means said at least one signature of a suitable program,
• scanning at least selected broadcast channels,
• sampling a signal of at least one unidentified program,
• obtaining a signature of at least one unidentified program,
• comparing said signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of a suitable program, and
• switching a player to a channel having a suitable program,
• wherein said at least one signature of a suitable program and said signature of at least one unidentified program are obtained from signals that are not coded or encoded.

An apparatus for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising:

• means for locking out all programs,
• means for scanning available broadcast channels,
• means for inputting at least one program choice to a memory means,
• means for sampling at least one signal of at least one suitable program,
• means for obtaining at least one signature of said at least one suitable program,
• means for storing in the memory means said at least one signature of said at least one suitable program,
• means for scanning a plurality of broadcast channels,
• means for sampling at least one signal of at least one unidentified program,
• means for obtaining at least one signature of said at least one unidentified program,
• means for comparing said at least one signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of at least one suitable program, and
• means for making at least a portion of said suitable program available to a player.

An apparatus for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising:

• means for locking out all programs except programs on channels that broadcast only suitable programs,
• means for obtaining at least one signature of a suitable program,
• means for storing in a memory means said at least one signature of a suitable program,
• means for scanning at least selected broadcast channels,
• means for sampling the signal of at least one unidentified program,
• means for obtaining a signature of at least one unidentified program,
• means for comparing said signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of a suitable program, and
• means for making at least a portion of said suitable program available to a player,
• wherein said at least one signature of a suitable program and said signature of at least one unidentified program are obtained from signals that are not coded or encoded.

An apparatus for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising:

• means for locking out all programs,
• means for obtaining at least one signature of a suitable program,
• means for storing in a memory means said at least one signature of a suitable program,
• means for scanning at least selected broadcast channels,
• means for sampling a signal of at least one unidentified program,
• means for obtaining a signature of at least one unidentified program,
• means for comparing said signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of a suitable program, and
• means for switching a player to a channel having a suitable program,
• wherein said at least one signature of a suitable program and said signature of at least one unidentified program are obtained from signals that are not coded or encoded.

The apparatus for enabling automatic electronic media program choice comprising

• means for locking out a plurality of electronic media programs,
• means for deriving a first signature from a signal of a suitable program,
• means for deriving a second signature from a signal of an unknown program,
• means for comparing said first and second signatures, and
• means for unlocking an electronic media program whereby said program is capable of being played,
• wherein said first signature and said second signature are obtained from signals that are not coded or encoded.