Bizarre Patents
A method for inducing cats to exercise consists of directing a beam of invisible light produced by a hand-held laser apparatus onto the floor or wall.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7401232 | Content playback apparatus method and program and key management apparatus and system A key management apparatus which can be used to encrypt/decrypt content data in a content playback device includes a storing unit for storing a secret key, a key information decrypting unit for decrypting encrypted key information and an updating unit operable to up... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7370343 | Electronic program guide with blackout features An interactive television program guide for supporting programming blackouts is provided. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may unschedule the reminding and recording of blacked-out programs that have been scheduled by a user for remindin... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7362213 | Method and apparatus for remotely controlling a plurality of devices Disclosed is a method for controlling usage times for at least one device, including the steps of: (a) identifying a device to be controlled; (b) utilizing the device by a user; (c) tracking a device usage value for the device as the user utilizes the device; and (d... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7319407 | Display unit for refrigerator A display unit for a refrigerator is provided. The display having a TV receiving function is installed at a front surface of a refrigerator door. A mounting panel with a plurality of speaker holes formed therein is also installed around an edge of the display. A spe... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7313803 | Ratings control system with temporary override capability and store-recall feature A video signal processing system for producing an output signal suitable for coupling to a display device to produce a displayed image, the video processing system having a system which blocks viewing of programs which are broadcast with ratings or spending informat... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7284275 | Information playback apparatus method and recording medium The invention provides an information playback apparatus and method by which enjoyment of a DVD can be restricted with certainty. A disk ID of a DVD video whose enjoyment is to be restricted and a password are stored in a corresponding relationship to each other in ... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7210158 | Program signal blocking system An apparatus and a method for preventing a user from bypassing a viewer blocking system using program related information, such as content ratings, included in a program signal. The present invention prevents the user from exploiting the time delay associated with d... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7183507 | Appliance having a timer A timer for an appliance is activated by the appliance user to display elapsed time on a time display device mounted on and/or integral with the appliance. The timer may be initialized by a separate initialization mechanism or simultaneously with the user activating... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7098772 | Method and apparatus for remotely controlling a plurality of devices Disclosed is a method for controlling usage times for at least one device, including the steps of: (a) identifying a device to be controlled; (b) utilizing the device by a user; (c) tracking a device usage value for the device as the user utilizes the device; and (d... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7027768 | Method and systems using a set-top box and communicating between a remote data network and a wireless communication network Disclosed are methods and systems for connecting a set-top box (STB) to the Internet over existing and future wireless networks, combining television with wireless Internet access. A conventional television is used in combination with a STB that has a wireless or wi... | 04/11/2006 |
| 6919795 | Method and apparatus for keeping a check on the storage time for goods in a storage Method and an apparatus for registering and supervision of the positions and time of storage of articles entered into a cabinet or other delimited space. A preferred fields of application is refrigerators in which one or several cameras at selected occasions take pi... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6839090 | Video reproduction apparatus A video reproduction apparatus includes a video player 3 which reproduces a video signal, a V-chip signal for restricting a display of a specific image being added to the video signal; a video processing circuit 5 which processes the video signal from ... | 01/04/2005 |
| 6687907 | Prevention of broadband cable service theft Detecting tampering of an incoming cable to which a network interface unit (NIU) is connected by testing for the reflected signal that is present when the signal being transmitted to the head end is not connected to a properly terminated coaxial cable. In... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6175718 | Apparatus and method for controlling viewing of video signals An apparatus and method for controlling viewing of video programs. The apparatus includes a signal unit for receiving and processing a video signal, a decoding unit for decoding a grade code of a video program contained in the video signal, a key input un... | 01/16/2001 |
| 6115057 | Apparatus and method for allowing rating level control of the viewing of a program An apparatus is provided for allowing rating level control of the viewing of a program. The apparatus includes a device for entering a desired rating level for controlling the viewing of a program, a device for extracting rating data from a program video ... | 09/05/2000 |
| 6115534 | Software carrier whose play can be controlled by the software publisher A system for playing a selected one of multiple audio tracks recorded in synchronized fashion with a motion picture on an optical disk. The optical disk has encoded on it a mixing master music and effects ("M&E") track, or a switching master M&E track. In... | 09/05/2000 |
| 5969774 | Programmable remote control transmitter A programmable remote control transmitter has a programming mode and a controlling mode and is used to control electric devices such as television sets. The remote control transmitter has a memory for storing a limited number of remote control codes. Ther... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5886730 | Security system for disabling an electronic device A security system is provided including an electronic device allowing the use thereof during normal operation, a lock button adapted to transmit a lock signal upon the depression thereof, and an alphanumeric keypad for allowing the entry of a password. Fu... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5250767 | Television receiver signal blocking system A television receiver signal blocking system is provided which includes a television receiver, a television signal source and a television signal blocking mechanism therebetween. The television signal blocking mechanism includes a box from which electrica... | 10/05/1993 |
| 5053884 | Control apparatus for selectively inhibiting looking/listening in CATV terminal equipment A control apparatus for selectively inhibiting looking/listening in CATV terminal equipment is provided in which an identity number may be inputted for allowing looking/listening even when a changeover switch is set in a looking/listening inhibited state.... | 10/01/1991 |
| 5051837 | Home entertainment equipment control apparatus Home entertainment equipment control apparatus for limiting user access and limiting operation time. In various embodiments, the apparatus may limit the allowed operation time for one user or several specified users. In a more sophisticated embodiment, th... | 09/24/1991 |
| 4993066 | Method for television scrambling A method and device for inexpensively and efficiently controlling the distribution of pay-per-access information services is disclosed including varying scrambling methods and user exchangeable cards.... | 02/12/1991 |
| 4809013 | Television contest-entering device The invention relates to a television contest-entering device for the tamperproof recording and storing of entries in television contests. Such a handy device can be mailed, for example, to all interested televiewers before the progam is broadcast, thus p... | 02/28/1989 |
| 4768229 | Restrictive access control system A restrictive access control system includes a 3-state switch for controlling the operating mode of the system and limiting tuning access to only designated channels. Tuning information is provided to a microprocessor via a control panel keyboard for stor... | 08/30/1988 |
| 4543606 | Security device for cable television An electrical circuit that interrupts normal operation of a cable television channel selection box responsive to unauthorized entry into the box. A closure means is mounted about its periphery by a plurality of screw members that must be removed in a pred... | 09/24/1985 |
| 4528589 | Method and system for subscription television billing and access A subscription television system and method in which billing information regarding programs actually viewed by a subscriber of the system is accumulated over non-dedicated telephone lines. A scrambled television program signal containing a block of televi... | 07/09/1985 |
| 4443815 | Wired program distribution system tamper detector A wired program distribution tamper detection circuit useful in CATV including pay T.V. systems which is connected in the subscriber drop cable between the trunk and a subscriber's pay T.V. security device, e.g. descrambler, filter, or converter, or T.V. ... | 04/17/1984 |
| 4375651 | Selective video reception control system A system for controlling a channel/band selective microcomputer programmed indirect frequency synthesis tuner is disclosed. Separate groups of VHF, UHF or CATV channels are programmed by means of a key switch having various positions of engagement corresp... | 03/01/1983 |
| 4371979 | Method and apparatus for affording selective access to additional television channels An improved device is operatively associated with a rentable television to enable a viewer to select access to rental channels in addition to free channels. To view the rental channels, the viewer need only depress the channel change selector switch for a... | 02/01/1983 |
| 4313132 | Cable TV security means Security means for cable television operators includes an enabling circuit which is located outside of the subscriber premises and is connected in circuit through the television cable with the power supply of the subscriber's cable television converter lo... | 01/26/1982 |
| 4232396 | Television channel lock-out apparatus A television channel lock-out apparatus utilizes a plurality of individual circuits, each comprising at least one impedance element in series with a switch. The individual series of circuits are all disposed in parallel and are connected to a single switc... | 11/04/1980 |
| 4183057 | Actuating system for a rental television A television system specially constructed for rental use. Such a television system generally includes a key actuated switching system. When the key actuated system is turned on, it enables the televsion to be normally operated. Often, however, there is a ... | 01/08/1980 |
| 4012583 | Pay TV control system A simple recyclable key and locking system for enabling a pay TV converter is disclosed. The key is a small tag such as might be attached to the room key of a hotel room and is to be turned in with the room key. The TV viewing key is inserted into a locki... | 03/15/1977 |
