US5485518A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic media program recognition and choice
Assignee: Yellowstone Environmental Science Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-30
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Granted: 1996-01-16
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Expires: 2013-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for electronic media program recognition and choice are disclosed. The invention allows parental control of the individual television programs (e.g., series, episodes, or individual music videos) and radio programs that can be viewed or listened to by young children. The invention can be practiced without the need for or reliance on a Government or industry-wide program rating system or a "V-chip" approach. The invention automatically locks out (blocks) all programs that have not been determined by the parent to be suitable for child viewing. Suitable programs are unlocked and viewable whenever they are broadcast. Means are provided for implementing two strategies for discrimination among TV programs. Signal processing means and signal recognition software are relied upon in situations wherein program identification information is not encoded in the composite television signal. Two approaches to signal recognition are provided: video signal (e.g., title screen) recognition and audio signal (e.g., theme song) recognition. In event that Extended Data Service (EIA-608) data are available the capability to read and recognize program identifiers (e.g., names) is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Hunter
- 👤 Frank M. Stewart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/09; H04H60/14; H04H60/16; H04H60/35; H04H60/37; H04H60/56; H04H60/58; H04H60/59; H04H60/61; H04H60/65; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/454; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/166
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising the steps of locking out all programs, scanning available broadcast channels, inputting at least one program choice to a memory means, sampling at least one signal of at least one suitable program, obtaining at least one signature of said at least one suitable program, storing in the memory means said at least one signature of said at least one suitable program, scanning a plurality of broadcast channels, sampling at least one signal of at least one unidentified program, obtaining at least one signature of said at least one unidentified program, comparing said at least one signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of at least one suitable program, and making at least a portion of said suitable program available to a player.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for electronic media program recognition and choice comprising the steps of locking out all programs, scanning available broadcast channels, inputting at least one program choice to a memory means, sampling at least one signal of at least one suitable program, obtaining at least one signature of said at least one suitable program, storing in the memory means said at least one signature of said at least one suitable program, scanning a plurality of broadcast channels, sampling at least one signal of at least one unidentified program, obtaining at least one signature of said at least one unidentified program, comparing said at least one signature of at least one unidentified program with at least one signature of at least one suitable program, and making at least a portion of said suitable program available to a player.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one signature is selected from a group consisting of a video signal signature, and an audio signal signature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said video signal signature is selected from a group consisting of an encoded signal, and a signal that is not encoded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the audio signal signature is a digitally processed program theme song signature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said encoded signal is at least one encoded signal selected from a group consisting of a program name signal, a program duration signal, and a lack of a warning of potentially objectionable program content.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said signal warning of objectionable program content is at least one signal selected from a group consisting of a lack of a warning of violent program content, a lack of a warning of program content involving nudity, a lack of a warning of strong language program content, and a lack of a warning of program content involving drug use.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said program is not broadcast.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing step occurs periodically during the scanning of said channels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing step occurs once during each program and information concerning the channel and timing of programs thus recognized is used to determine when the comparing step is to be accomplished next.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
134 words
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.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
134 words
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.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
122 words
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.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
122 words
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.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising switching said player back to the channel from which it was switched after an unsuitable program ceases.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
156 words
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.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
156 words
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.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
147 words
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.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
147 words
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.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
135 words
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.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
135 words
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.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
88 words
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.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
88 words
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.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means for scanning a plurality of electronic media transmissions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein both means for deriving a signature from a signal comprising a digital signal processor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein both means for deriving a signature from a signal comprises a signal decoder.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the signal decoder is a programmable digital signal processor selected from the group consisting of a line twenty-one acquisition and display, a programmable video signal processor, a closed caption control device, and a microcontroller for closed caption systems.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-15 | 1999-07-17 | 2000-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-15 | 2003-07-17 | 2004-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-15 | 2007-07-17 | 2008-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |