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"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Ken Olsen, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation ; 1977
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8176511 | Method for providing user information and broadcast receiving apparatus using the same A broadcast receiving apparatus and a method for providing user information are provided. The broadcast receiving apparatus transmits user information stored in a storage medium to a broadcast station. Therefore, a user may participate in data broadcasting more conv... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8104057 | Method for setting TV environment through user authentication and apparatus thereof A method and apparatus for setting a TV operation environment for users submitting authorizing passwords. The method of setting a user environment of a television (TV) includes displaying a plurality of icons of Identifications (IDs) for respective users, each of th... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8006260 | Apparatus and method for parental control using V-chip plus+ and master password 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 th... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7996861 | Flexible interface for secure input of pin code The present invention concerns a system (10) and a process for authenticating a PIN code of a user in an interactive information system in order to run an application. It comprises input means (15) for PIN code entry, security manager means (13)... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7971214 | Electronic device with an antitheft function and method for preventing theft of electronic devices The present invention is a television receiver that includes a memory that stores a first lock release code, an input device to input a second lock release code, a comparing portion to compare the second lock release code to the first lock release code, and a contro... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7853970 | Method for selective display of television programmes As television programs increases, it becomes necessary to find means for rapidly accessing the users' preferred programs. Furthermore, television programs are addressed to different types of users such as children and adults. The proposed system processes a program ... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7802278 | Method and apparatus for permitting a potential viewer to view a desired program A method and system prevents a potential viewer, such as a child, from viewing programming under certain conditions. For example, a programming receiver may be set up to prevent a child from viewing programming having a rating outside of an authorized rating limit, ... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7784071 | Method and apparatus for linking a plurality of user devices to a service location A method for enabling at least one of a plurality of user devices to provide a service flow is described. In one example, a code is transmitted to a home identification device (HID) to be combined with an HID identification number. The combined response, which is co... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7568208 | Method and apparatus for using a single password set in an integrated television system A method and apparatus for controlling access to programing that is available from multiple programming sources. One embodiment is an integrated terrestrial and satellite television system having a single password set such that a user can enter a single password to ... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7444413 | Authorization access controlled content exchange Authorization access controlled content exchange can be implemented, for example, in a multimedia content distribution environment when individual client devices are capable of storing content. A content index is maintained for each client device that reflects the c... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7441037 | Authorization access controlled content exchange Authorization access controlled content exchange can be implemented, for example, in a multimedia content distribution environment when individual client devices are capable of storing content. A content index is maintained for each client device that reflects the c... | 10/21/2008 |
| 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 |
| 7373656 | Automatic configuration for portable devices The present invention relates to a portable device configured to interact with any number of host computing devices. In operation, the portable device will initially appear to a host computing device as a known device type. The host computing device will be configur... | 05/13/2008 |
| 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 |
| 7370026 | Method and apparatus for providing personalized supplemental programming A method and apparatus for providing personalized supplemental programming is provided. In one embodiment, the invention can include searching text for a keyword, the text associated with primary programming to be provided to an element of an entertainment system, a... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7367040 | View restriction method, view restriction setting method, receiver, and device and programs for setting view restriction A view restriction method surely blocks a program voluntarily designated by a viewer from view. When a restricted program is designated by the viewer (step S1), receiver identification information for identifying a receiver of a viewer is associated with the ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7363346 | Reliably storing information across multiple computers such as in a hive of computers Disclosed are mechanisms for reliably storing information across multiple computers networked together, where each of these computers may or may not be a hive node of a hive. This information includes multiple information units. At least one protection unit is gener... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7322038 | Program guide system for recording television programs An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television ... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7315881 | Scheduler apparatus employing a gopher agent that sends e-mail messages for use in a television receiver In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7296283 | Two-tiered authorization and authentication for a cable data delivery system Apparatus for a cable television subscriber to log onto a computer network with a modem over an upstream path using a USERID and password. The network validates the subscriber USERID and subscriber password with a stored database of valid USERIDs and associated pass... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7293277 | Remote control unit for intelligent digital audiovisual reproduction systems The invention relates to a remote control unit for intelligent digital audiovisual reproduction systems, comprising storage means, payment means, a sound control circuit, display means and a metal chassis wherein said remote control unit comprises a distant radio fr... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7286655 | Service accounting system and method The present invention is related to a service accounting system containing one or more classified service accounts, in particular for mobile/cellular services. More specifically, a service accounting system connected to a main accounting system, part of a main accou... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7281261 | Remotely accessing and programming a set top box Systems and methods for remotely programming a set top box and for remotely scheduling an event on a set top box. A set top box includes a server that allows an access device to access the set top box over an always on connection between the set top box and a networ... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7275163 | Asynchronous configuration One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing access to digital services. Configuration information that has been transmitted asynchronously is received in a security component (that is configured to c... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7272846 | System and method for detecting and reporting cable modems with duplicate media access control addresses The detection of devices with duplicate media access controller (MAC) addresses in a cable network. A cable modem (CM) having a MAC address is connected by the cable network to a cable modem termination system (CMTS) having a gateway interface address. A centralized... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7251329 | Method and system for providing secure subscriber content data A personalized smart card stores therein public and private cryptography keys stored which are used to securely request and receive subscriber content data from a service provider, utilizing a remote control device. ... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7231131 | Apparatus for generating content codes for audiovisual programs by multiple viewers An apparatus for generating content codes for the scenes of a program includes a scene detector that detects the start of new scene, and a selector that allows a group of viewers to enter or select one or more content codes for the scene, the content codes being rel... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7213064 | Methods and systems for job-based accounting The present invention relates to an automated, mobile method for remotely managing the resources of a job-based business through real-time allocation of the resources among a set of user-defined virtual spending accounts. The method enables the user to establish two... | 05/01/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7207053 | Method and apparatus for locally targeting virtual objects within a terminal A method and an apparatus are used to target virtual objects to subscribers in a television delivery system. Programs are selected and virtual object locations are defined in the selected programs. The virtual objects available for targeting are categorized and the ... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7190266 | Pre-installed appliance with warning system and methods of operation A limited-use appliance, such as a garage door operator or a home network bridge device, is disclosed which has at least one input device for generating an input signal and a controller associated with the input device and receiving the input signal. The controller ... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7168084 | Method and apparatus for targeting virtual objects A method and an apparatus are used to target virtual objects to subscribers in a television delivery system. Programs are selected and virtual object locations are defined in the selected programs. The virtual objects available for targeting are categorized and the ... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7158954 | System and method for processing protected video information A method and apparatus of encouraging distribution, registration, and purchase of free copyable software and other digital information which is accessed on a User's System via a Programmer's Program. Software tools which can be incorporated into a Programmer's Progr... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7159232 | Scheduling the recording of television programs A television receiving system displays an advertisement for a future television program. If the future television program is identified as recordable, the system also displays an option to set a reminder for the advertised program and/or an option to record the adve... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7155733 | System and method for expiration reminders of rentable media offerings The invention can be viewed as a system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes adding a ... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7150031 | System and method for reminders of upcoming rentable media offerings The invention can be viewed as a system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes adding a ... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7142814 | Automatic Bluetooth inquiry mode headset The present invention provides a Bluetooth enabled headset/master unit set which allows easy pairing of Bluetooth devices. The miniature headset of the present invention may be of a reduced size and weight due to the ease of pairing/authentication. Pairing of... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7131132 | Automatic access denial A method for limiting access to a device to a particular authorized user. The method includes; obtaining visual data related to the appearance of a user of the device; processing the visual data to determine when the particular authorized user is present; allowing i... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7127733 | System for bi-directional voice and data communications over a video distribution network The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for bi-directional communications of voice, data, and alarms, and simultaneous transmission of video signals over a single cable such as coax. In more particular, it applies to a communications system that util... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7111320 | System and method for personalized remote control of an interactive television system An interactive television system for providing personalized remote control is disclosed. Each user or remote control of the interactive television system may be associated with a different control-to-function map. The control-to-function maps may be personalized for... | 09/19/2006 |
