US5751335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Viewing restricting method and viewing restricting apparatus
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1996-02-23
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Granted: 1998-05-12
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Expires: 2016-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for securely restricting the viewing of television programs. When a television program has been received along with rating data associated with a rating of the television program; length data associated with a length of the program, a microcomputer determines whether the rating data are higher than a predetermined viewing restricting level. If the rating data have been found higher, a muting circuit mutes the television program until it ends with reference to the television program length data, and the program corresponding to the rating data is outputted from a tuner.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Shintani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/09; H04H60/14; H04H60/15; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/44; H04N21/4405; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4623; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, comprising steps of: determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; and muting said program corresponding to said rating until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, comprising steps of: determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; and muting said program corresponding to said rating until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, comprising: determination means for determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; calculating means for calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; mute means for muting said program; and control means for controlling said mute means and said calculating means to mute said program corresponding to said rating until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, comprising: determination means for determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; calculating means for calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; mute means for muting said program; and control means for controlling said mute means and said calculating means to mute said program corresponding to said rating until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, wherein said program is demodulated and output by an output apparatus that includes a channel map with channel information relating said program to a corresponding channel, comprising steps of: determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; and eliminating said channel information relating said program to said corresponding channel with said rating from said channel map until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, wherein said program is demodulated and output by an output apparatus that includes a channel map with channel information relating said program to a corresponding channel, comprising steps of: determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; and eliminating said channel information relating said program to said corresponding channel with said rating from said channel map until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, comprising: demodulating means for demodulating said program and for obtaining said rating, said broadcast length time, and said start time of said program; memory means for memorizing a channel map containing channel information relating said program to a corresponding channel; determination means for determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; calculating means for calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; and elimination means for eliminating said channel information relating said program to said corresponding channel with said rating from said channel map memorized in said memory means until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, comprising: demodulating means for demodulating said program and for obtaining said rating, said broadcast length time, and said start time of said program; memory means for memorizing a channel map containing channel information relating said program to a corresponding channel; determination means for determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; calculating means for calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; and elimination means for eliminating said channel information relating said program to said corresponding channel with said rating from said channel map memorized in said memory means until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus for restricting viewing of a program according to claim 4, further comprising preparing means for preparing a channel index with information for selecting programs on respective channels, wherein said elimination means eliminates said information for selecting said program on its corresponding channel with said rating from said channel index until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus for restricting viewing of a program according to claim 4, wherein said program is transmitted with an electric and program guide, and said elimination means eliminates said channel information relating said program to said corresponding channel with said rating from said electric program guide until said end time of said program when said determination means determines that said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for restricting viewing of a first program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said first program and first identification data for identifying said first program, and a second program which is transmitted with second identification data for identifying said second program, comprising steps of: determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; muting said first program corresponding to said rating when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition; and memorizing said first identification data of said first program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition, wherein when a subsequently transmitted second identification data is equal to said first identification data, said second program corresponding to said second identification data is muted.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for restricting viewing of a first program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said first program and first identification data for identifying said first program, and a second program which is transmitted with second identification data for identifying said second program, comprising steps of: determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; muting said first program corresponding to said rating when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition; and memorizing said first identification data of said first program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition, wherein when a subsequently transmitted second identification data is equal to said first identification data, said second program corresponding to said second identification data is muted.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus to restrict viewing of a first program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said first program and first identification data for identifying said first program, and a second program which is transmitted with second identification data for identifying said second program, comprising: determination means for determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; mute means for muting said first program and said second program; control means for controlling said mute means to mute said first program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition and for controlling said mute means to mute said second program when said second identification data is equal to said first identification data; and memory means for memorizing said first identification data of said first program corresponding to said rating when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition, wherein when a subsequently transmitted second identification data is equal to said memorized first identification data, said control means controls said mute means to mute said second program corresponding to said second identification data.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus to restrict viewing of a first program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said first program and first identification data for identifying said first program, and a second program which is transmitted with second identification data for identifying said second program, comprising: determination means for determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition; mute means for muting said first program and said second program; control means for controlling said mute means to mute said first program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition and for controlling said mute means to mute said second program when said second identification data is equal to said first identification data; and memory means for memorizing said first identification data of said first program corresponding to said rating when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition, wherein when a subsequently transmitted second identification data is equal to said memorized first identification data, said control means controls said mute means to mute said second program corresponding to said second identification data.
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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) | 2001-05-11 | 2001-11-10 | 2002-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-11 | 2005-11-10 | 2006-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-11 | 2009-11-10 | 2010-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |