 Television graphical user interface having channel and program sorting capabilities |
| What is claimed is: 1. A television (TV) system comprising: a CPU, and a TV monitor controlled by ... |
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| Synchronization in video conferencing |
| In accordance with the present invention, computer hardware, software and communications ... |
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| Video cassette recorder protection system |
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| Semiconductor exposure device |
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| Line driving system according to the characteristic of a transmission medium |
| OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a reference numeral 1 indicates a setup signal ... |
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| Multi-coding apparatus |
| According to the invention, there is provided a multi-coding apparatus, comprising: a plurality of ... |
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| Statistical multiplexer for recording video |
| The invention is directed to a statistical multiplexing apparatus for permanently recording a ... |
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| Video transmission device and its method |
| In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide a video transmission device and ... |
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| Priority-based statistical multiplexer-hub |
| FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an exemplary system in accordance with the present invention. The ... |
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| System and method for persistence vector based rate assignment |
| In a system or method according to an embodiment of the invention, a resource is shared among a set ... |
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"V-chip" preset criteria
| Details |
Inventors: Whitelaw, Jeffrey G.;
Assignee: Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. (Irvine, CA)
Primary Examiner: Miller; John
Assistant Examiner: Hoye; Michael W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for allowing a user to supervise personal exposure to a program exhibited by a consumer electronics device, such as a television system. The consumer electronics device includes "V-chip" circuitry that analyzes a signal and either blocks or passes the signal based on certain content-based criteria. In this connection, a user can program the "V-chip" circuitry with the preset content-based criteria in the form of preset content-based specification sets, which are stored in the consumer electronics device by the manufacturer. The preset content-based specification sets specify either allowable or objectionable content within a program signal received by the consumer electronics device. The "V-chip" circuitry receives a content-based indicator set, which is indicative of the actual content of the program signal. One of the preset content-based specification sets is conveniently selected by a user. The "V-chip" circuitry then compares the content-based indicator set with the selected preset content-based specification set when the program signal is received by the consumer electronics device. Based on this comparison, the "V-chip" circuitry either passes the signal to an output device for transformation of the signal into the program, or blocks the signal from being sent to the output device. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION This present invention comprises novel methods, apparatuses and systems for supervising personal exposure to a consumer electronics device, such as a television system, by reviewing programs for a selected content threshold in accordance with preset criteria.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a method for supervising personal exposure to a consumer electronics device is provided.
In the method, one or more preset content-based specification sets are permanently stored in the consumer electronic device, such as a television system.
The preset content-based specification sets are preferably stored in the consumer electronics device by the manufacturer.
Each of the preset content-based specification sets specifies either the allowable or objectionable content of user discernible information output by the consumer electronics device, and includes a rating, such as a television rating and/or movie rating, and a subject matter category, such as violence, sexual situations, and so on.
One of the one or more content-based specification sets can then be selected by a user (preferably, a parent) to limit exposure to the user discernible information output by the consumer electronics device.
In the case of a television system, the user discernible information may represent itself as a picture and sound.
By way of nonlimiting example, selection of the one or more content-based specification sets can be accomplished through a menu system or a dedicated function key.
Although, in the preferred method, the user may customize a content-based specification set, the provision of preset content-based specification sets, from which the user can select, allows the user a simpler option to limit the exposure to the user discernible information.
To make the process even more simple, only a single preset content-based specification set can be stored in the consumer electronics device.
When the consumer electronics device is used, a signal, such as a television program signal, is received, which, without intervention, would be transformed into user discernible information for exhibition to a user
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