US2004128681A1PendingUtilityA1

V-Chip plus +: in-guide user interface apparatus and method for programmable blocking of television and other viewable programming, such as for parental control of a television receiver

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Priority: Sep 16, 1998Filed: Oct 9, 2003Published: Jul 1, 2004
Est. expirySep 16, 2018(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Kenneth S. HancockThomas E. WardDouglas B. MacraeJacques Hugon
H04N 21/4755H04N 21/47H04N 21/4316H04N 7/163H04N 21/4751H04N 21/4532H04N 7/0887
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Claims

Abstract

A system for restricting access to television programs comprising an input for accepting cursor movement and selection commands. In one embodiment, the system displays a list of television viewers to be selected to limit their television program viewing based on a selecting blocking criterion. The system further includes means for blocking or allowing viewing of television programs based on time or dollar allowance when a selection command is entered into the input.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for budgeting television viewing for a plurality of viewers, the method comprising: 
 selecting a viewer from the plurality of viewers;    entering a password;    displaying a list of television viewing budgeting choices;    selecting a television viewing budgeting choice from the displayed television viewing budgeting choices; and    controlling a receiver for displaying television programs for the selected viewer, responsive to the selected television viewing budgeting choice.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for particular time ranges.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for particular days of the week.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for all days.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer based on dollar allowance for a period of time.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising temporarily overriding the selected television viewing budgeting choice.  
     
     
         7 . A system for budgeting television viewing for a plurality of viewers comprising: 
 means for selecting a viewer from the plurality of viewers;    means for entering a password;    means for displaying a list of television viewing budgeting choices;    means for selecting a television viewing budgeting choice from the displayed television viewing budgeting choices; and    means for controlling a receiver for displaying television programs for the selected viewer, responsive to the selected television viewing budgeting choice.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for particular time ranges.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for particular days of the week.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer for all days.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the selected television viewing budgeting choice blocks television program viewing for the selected viewer based on dollar allowance for a period of time.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising means for temporarily overriding the selected television viewing budgeting choice.  
     
     
         13 . A method for blocking television viewing by time, the method comprising: 
 displaying a list of television time blocking choices;    selecting a first day of the week from the displayed television time blocking choices;    selecting a first time rage for the selected first day of the week;    selecting a second day of the week from the displayed television time blocking choices;    selecting a second time rage for the selected second day of the week; and    controlling a receiver for displaying television programs responsive to the selected first and second days of the week and the respective first and second time ranges.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising temporarily overriding the selected first and second days of the week and the respective first and second time ranges.

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