System and method for subscriber controlled signal blocking
May 20, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesInteractive video method and apparatus Multi-channel television converter for conventional and interactive signals Integrated television services system User programmable entertainment method and apparatus Viewer discretion television program control system System for composing multimedia signals for interactive television services System and method of capturing encoded data transmitted over a communications network in a video system Rating-dependent parental lock-out for television reception Program verification for cable television at a consumer location Digital data encoding in video signals using data modulated carrier signals at non-peaks in video spectra InventorsApplicationNo. 082240 filed on 05/20/1998US Classes:725/28, Of specific program (e.g., based on program rating)380/202, Having origin or program ID380/240Including addressed decoder control signalExaminersPrimary: Kostak, Victor R.Assistant: Bahgi, Habte Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassH04N 007/16AbstractA technique for the blocking of individual programs and/or portions of programs transmitted in a source signal, e.g., a cable television signal. In particular, individual programs and/or portions of programs within a class of programs are blocked, while allowing for the viewing of certain other programs even within the same programming class. The transmitted source signal contains individual programs having a transparent program identifier and/or transparent content identifier associated with individual programs in the source signal transmission. As the source signal enters, e.g., a particular subscriber location, the source signal is monitored in accordance with a program viewing profile defined by the subscriber. That is, particular ones of the programs and/or portion thereof available in the source signal transmission supplied to the subscriber can either be unblocked, i.e., viewable, or blocked, i.e., unviewable, at the discretion of the subscriber. The blocking of particular ones of the programs and/or portion thereof is accomplished as a function of the transparent program identifier and/or transparent content identifier associated with a program which is embedded in the video and/or audio component of the source signal. The transparent identifiers are transmitted concurrently with the individual program as the source signal is received at the subscriber location. Advantageously, the subscriber is given complete control and selectivity over which programs and/or portions thereof are viewed, e.g., by children of the subscriber.Other References
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