US5548345A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video viewing censoring supervision system
Assignee: Music Corp
•
Filing: 1995-01-05
•
Granted: 1996-08-20
•
Expires: 2015-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A TV/video viewing supervision system that enables a supervisor, typically a parent controlling children's viewing, to selectably preprogram the hours, programs and/or channels of television, VCR, cable TV, satellite TV and/or game viewing that are allowed and/or blocked from viewing. The system features a channel/time matrix that can be programmed with a keypad-controlled cursor of a hand-held remote unit to set up a viewing schedule for future time period, for example a coming week.
Inventors
- 👤 James M. Brian
- 👤 Joseph N. Jackson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4314; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47214; H04N21/475; H04N21/4751; H04N21/482; H04N21/4821; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A TV/video viewing supervision system, connected in combination with a TV/video system including a viewing screen and video signal source means, for enabling an authorized user, to control viewing time of selected channels, by another, comprising: a hand held remote control unit; and a controller unit, controlled by said hand-held remote control unit, having; a cable-compatible electrically controllable television tuner receiving input from the signal source means; a microprocessor controlled from said hand held remote control unit controlling said tuner in a manner to enable said authorized user by entering commands on said remote control unit, to control allowance and blocking of viewing of one or more selected channels during a predetermined time period; graphic display generating means in said controller unit operating in conjunction with a microcontroller enabling said authorized user to view time and channels displayed on the viewing screen as a two-dimensional matrix of set-up cells, said microprocessor and said remote control unit being made able to display in each cell a symbol indicating a commanded action chosen from a group including blocking, clearing or VCR recording and enabling a selected channel for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A TV/video viewing supervision system, connected in combination with a TV/video system including a viewing screen and video signal source means, for enabling an authorized user, to control viewing time of selected channels, by another, comprising: a hand held remote control unit; and a controller unit, controlled by said hand-held remote control unit, having; a cable-compatible electrically controllable television tuner receiving input from the signal source means; a microprocessor controlled from said hand held remote control unit controlling said tuner in a manner to enable said authorized user by entering commands on said remote control unit, to control allowance and blocking of viewing of one or more selected channels during a predetermined time period; graphic display generating means in said controller unit operating in conjunction with a microcontroller enabling said authorized user to view time and channels displayed on the viewing screen as a two-dimensional matrix of set-up cells, said microprocessor and said remote control unit being made able to display in each cell a symbol indicating a commanded action chosen from a group including blocking, clearing or VCR recording and enabling a selected channel for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for video viewing supervision using a remote control unit and a controller unit, both with a keypad, used for supervising viewing of video on a video displaying device during a supervised viewing mode, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a selection matrix on said video displaying device, said selection matrix having individual cells corresponding to time of the day and video tuning channel allowing a user to control viewing of selected time and channel; transmitting supervision requests, said supervision requests being displayed on graphically displayed said selection matrix displayed on said video displaying device, said transmitting being performed by said remote control unit; receiving supervision requests from said remote control unit as input through said graphically displayed selection matrix displayed on said video displaying device, said receiving being performed by said controller unit; storing said supervision requests in said controller unit; and controlling viewing of said video displaying device when said controller unit is in said supervised viewing mode.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for video viewing supervision using a remote control unit and a controller unit, both with a keypad, used for supervising viewing of video on a video displaying device during a supervised viewing mode, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a selection matrix on said video displaying device, said selection matrix having individual cells corresponding to time of the day and video tuning channel allowing a user to control viewing of selected time and channel; transmitting supervision requests, said supervision requests being displayed on graphically displayed said selection matrix displayed on said video displaying device, said transmitting being performed by said remote control unit; receiving supervision requests from said remote control unit as input through said graphically displayed selection matrix displayed on said video displaying device, said receiving being performed by said controller unit; storing said supervision requests in said controller unit; and controlling viewing of said video displaying device when said controller unit is in said supervised viewing mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of transmitting supervision requests comprises the step of transmitting supervision requests of blocking viewing of said video displaying device at one or more predetermined time, said supervision requests made by blocking out said individual cells corresponding to one or more time at which viewing is to be blocked.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of transmitting supervision requests comprises the step of transmitting supervision requests of blocking viewing of said video displaying device on one or more predetermined channel, said supervision requests made by blocking out said individual cells corresponding to one or more channel on which viewing is to be blocked.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of displaying further comprises the step of storing screen displays having said selection matrix, said storing performed by a storage device in said controller unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of displaying further comprises the step of storing commands corresponding to various user commands, said commands issued by a microprocessor in said controller unit, said commands being issued to a graphic generating means in said controller unit, said storing performed by a second storage device in said controller unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of displaying further comprises the step of issuing said commands to retrieve said screen displays from said storage device, said retrieval performed by said graphic generating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of controlling further comprises the steps of: interrupting reception of video signal if said supervision requests is for blocking viewing, and if said video viewing device is set to a channel at a time for which blocking was requested in said supervision requests, said interrupting performed by a RF switch in said controller unit; and displaying a default screen stored in said storage device displaying a message indicating that viewing is being blocked.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of controlling further comprises the steps of: setting video viewing device to a channel requested in said supervision request at a requested time, if said supervision request is for showing a predetermined channel at a predetermined time, said setting performed by said controller unit; and blocking viewing of any other channels, said blocking performed by said control unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
177 words
A video viewing supervision system, connected in combination with a video system including a viewing screen and video signal source means, for enabling an authorized user, to control viewing time of selected channels by another comprising: an input means for accepting inputs of the commands from said user for the system; a cable-compatible electrically controllable tuner receiving input from the signal source means; a microprocessor controlling said tuner in a manner to enable said authorized user by entering commands on said input means, to control allowance and blocking of viewing of one or more selected channels during a predetermined time period; graphic display generating means in said controller unit operating in conjunction with a microcontroller enabling said authorized user to view time and channels displayed on the viewing screen as a two-dimensional matrix of set-up cells, said microprocessor and said remote control unit being made able to display in each cell a symbol indicating a commanded action chosen from a group including blocking, clearing or VCR recording and enabling a selected channel for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
177 words
A video viewing supervision system, connected in combination with a video system including a viewing screen and video signal source means, for enabling an authorized user, to control viewing time of selected channels by another comprising: an input means for accepting inputs of the commands from said user for the system; a cable-compatible electrically controllable tuner receiving input from the signal source means; a microprocessor controlling said tuner in a manner to enable said authorized user by entering commands on said input means, to control allowance and blocking of viewing of one or more selected channels during a predetermined time period; graphic display generating means in said controller unit operating in conjunction with a microcontroller enabling said authorized user to view time and channels displayed on the viewing screen as a two-dimensional matrix of set-up cells, said microprocessor and said remote control unit being made able to display in each cell a symbol indicating a commanded action chosen from a group including blocking, clearing or VCR recording and enabling a selected channel for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for video viewing supervision using a remote control unit and a controller unit, both with a keypad, used for supervising viewing of video on a video displaying device during a supervised viewing mode, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a selection matrix on said video displaying device, said selection matrix having individual cells corresponding to time of the day and video tuning channel allowing a user to control viewing of selected time and channel; transmitting supervision requests, said supervision requests being displayed on graphically displayed said selection matrix displayed on said video displaying device, said transmitting being performed through the keypad; receiving supervision requests from the keypad as input through said graphically displayed selection matrix displayed on said video displaying device, said receiving being performed by said controller unit; storing said supervision requests in said controller unit; and controlling viewing of said video displaying device when said controller unit is in said supervised viewing mode.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for video viewing supervision using a remote control unit and a controller unit, both with a keypad, used for supervising viewing of video on a video displaying device during a supervised viewing mode, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a selection matrix on said video displaying device, said selection matrix having individual cells corresponding to time of the day and video tuning channel allowing a user to control viewing of selected time and channel; transmitting supervision requests, said supervision requests being displayed on graphically displayed said selection matrix displayed on said video displaying device, said transmitting being performed through the keypad; receiving supervision requests from the keypad as input through said graphically displayed selection matrix displayed on said video displaying device, said receiving being performed by said controller unit; storing said supervision requests in said controller unit; and controlling viewing of said video displaying device when said controller unit is in said supervised viewing mode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4081754A
Cited
US4228543A
Cited
US4620229A
Cited
US5001554A
Cited
US5168372A
Cited
US5373324A
Cited
US5382983A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-20 | 2000-02-19 | 2000-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-20 | 2004-02-19 | 2004-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-20 | 2008-02-19 | 2008-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |