111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 US006701523Bl

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,701,523 Bl Hancock et ai. (45) Date of Patent: Mar. 2,2004

(54) V-CHIP PLUS+IN-GUIDE USER INTERFACE 5,583,576 A 12/1996 Perlman et al. APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR 5,610,653 A 3/1997 Abecassis PROGRAMMABLE BLOCKING OF (List continued on next page.) TELEVISION AND OTHER VIEWABLE PROGRAMMING, SUCH AS FOR PARENTAL FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS CONTROL OF A TELEVISION RECEIVER WO WO 97/46016 12/1997 (75) Inventors: Kenneth Hancock, Mashua, NH (US); Thomas Ward, Bedford, MA (US); OTHER PUBLICATIONS Douglas Macrae, Weston, MA (US); Tony Atherton; Living with the V-chip; Entertainment, The Jacques Hugon, Bedford, MA (US) Ottawa Citizen, Sunday, Mar. 9, 1996, pp. F1-F2, Section F, Ottawa, Canada. (73) Assignee: Index Systems, Inc., Tortola (VG) Glen Dickson, How's it Work? The V--chip is based on ( *) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this Closed-captioning Technology, Boradcasting & Cable, Feb. patent is extended or adjusted under 35 12, 1996, p. 24. U.S.c. 154(b) by 0 days. John Urquhart, Canada Orders TV Industry to Devise Rating System for Use With the V-Chip, The Wall Street Journal, (21) Appl. No.: 09/398,963 Friday Mar. 15, 1996, A7C, USA. Statute, Sec. 551. Parental Choice In Television Program­ (22) Filed: Sep. 16, 1999 ming. Related U.S. Application Data Primary Examiner-John Miller (60) Provisional application No. 60/100,575, filed on Sep. 16, 1998. Assistant Examiner-Michael W. Hoye (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker & Hale, (51) Int. CI? ...... H04N 7/16; H04N 5/445; LLP G06F 3/00; G06F 13/00 (57) ABSTRACT (52) U.S. CI...... 725/25; 725/27; 725/28; 725/30; 725/44; 725/45; 725/46 A system for restricting access to television programs com­ (58) Field of Search ...... 725/25, 27, 28, prising an input for accepting cursor movement and selec­ 725/30, 44, 45, 46 tion commands. The system includes a display that depicts a two dimensional matrix composed of rows and columns of (56) References Cited tiles, wherein either the rows of tiles or the columns of tiles correspond to overall program ratings and either the rows of U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS tiles or the columns of tiles correspond to specific program 4,896,354 A 1/1990 Inagaki et al. content indications and depicts highlighting of individual 4,930,160 A 5/1990 Vogel tiles or groups of tiles based on the cursor movement 5,045,947 A 9/1991 Beery commands. The system further includes means for blocking 5,068,734 A 11/1991 Beery or allowing viewing of television programs based on the 5,335,079 A 8/1994 Yuen et al. overall program ratings and specific content ratings of the 5,382,983 A 1/1995 Kwoh et al. rows and columns corresponding the highlighted tiles when 5,465,113 A 11/1995 Gilboy a selection command is entered into the input. 5,485,518 A 1/1996 Hunter et al. 5,548,345 A 8/1996 Brian et al. 5,550,575 A 8/1996 West et al. 13 Claims, 26 Drawing Sheets

BLOCK CLEAR GUIDEPLUS+

I PIP WINDOW I HELP TEXT

SORT SCHEDULE ~~.vCHI~~ MESSAGES FOR USER' #1 KIDS MASTER PASSWORD:( ) TV AD WINDOW 1 RATING~T CODE S L V 0 114 CODE - TV-Y TV-Y7 TV-G

1 110 • TV PG TV AD WINDOW 2 TV-14~ '---100 '---102 TV-W;W;; UNRATED~

112,--, US 6,701,523 Bl Page 2

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5,973,683 A * 10/1999 Cragun et al...... 345/719 6,037,969 A * 3/2000 Lim et al...... 380/221 5,619,653 A * 4/1997 Kawauchi ...... 709/213 6,072,520 A 6/2000 Yuen et al. 5,710,815 A * 1/1998 Ming et al...... 380/241 5,828,402 A 10/1998 Collings 5,969,748 A 10/1999 Casement et al. * cited by examiner •d rJl FIG.t • ~ .....~ ~ G-CODE ..... COMMAND = COMMAND CDTL G-CODE SIGNAL I 58 CONTROLLER DECODER 56 11 RECEIVER

1 CABLE ~ ~ CH.SIGNAL :"l 1 ~N 1 N C C ~ i IC®ITPC

1 NORMAL 'JJ. ~~ ~-----, ~~G-CODE r-----..L..----, ~=­ 7 II 8 9 I 1 TELETEXT .....~ ON 1 DECODER '""" 4 "5 6 I AND o....., : STORAGE N 1 "2 3 I 0'1

L II 0 v I 1 L ______~ ICABLE CHI [ -- -I L 52 I SET II MENU I e <10[> \Jl PROGRAM TPC -..CJ\ I II I -.....l V Q I POWER II ENTER I i-o" ~ 1J. N ~ ~ i-o" •d rJl FIC.2 • ~ BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+1 .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW V-CHIP PLUS+ HELP TEXT ~ ~ :"l N ~ SORT I SCHEDULE VCHIP+ I MESSAGES I N C C ~

'JJ.

~=­ TV AD WINDOW 1 GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK .....~ N ....,o N ~}JiM~W~ 0'1 BY CHANNEL~ BY' TI'M'E' i~\LLoWANCE BY $ ALLOWANCE~ e TV AD WINDOW 2 SET PASSWORDS~ rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q i-o" 1J. N ~ ~ i-o" •d rJl FIG. 3 • BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT I SCHEDULE v/hVCHIP+/~ MESSAGES ~N N C C ~

TV AD WINDOW 1 'JJ. GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK ~=­ .....~ ~ o...., N ~'~'~iYi_ 0'1 BY' TI'M'E' 'AL'LOWAN/CE BY $ ALLOWANCE~ TV AD WINDOW 2 e rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 4 • FINISHED CLEAR GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT I SCHEDULE V/ hVCHIP+/h1 MESSAGES ~N N C C ~ DEFAULT USER PASSWORD CONFIRM TV AD WINDOW 1 'JJ. /MASTER ~=- .....~ X'l///;# 1 KIDS ~ 0...., N #2 BAM BAM 0'1 ~#3 PEBBLES' /#4 WILMA~' e TV AD WINDOW 2 ~///~rflll \Jl -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" #8 1J. d N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 5 • CHANGE CLEAR GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT I SCHEDULE ~~VCHIP+/hi MESSAGES I ~N cN C ~

USER CONFIRM TV AD WINDOW 1 'JJ. /MASTER ~=- .....~ #1 KIDS Ul 0...., #2 BAM BAM N #3 PEBBLES' 0'1 #4 WILMA~ #5 FRED/ ~ TV AD WINDOW 2 e ~~~_ rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 6 • BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l ~N I SORT SCHEDULE f0///VCHIP+/ ~ MESSAGES N C C ~

'JJ. TV AD WINDOW 1 ~=­ GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK .....~ 0'1 ....,o N rffl_ 0'1 BY' TI'M'[' 'ALLoWANCE BY $ ALLOWANCE~ e TV AD WINDOW 2 rJ'l SET PASSWORDS~ -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 7 • BLOCK CLEAR GUIDEPLUS+ ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT SCHEDULE I'i"hVCHIP+/ ~ MESSAGES ~N N C FOR USER C <~t .KID~) ~ MASTER PASSWORD: ~~

TV AD WINDOW 1 'JJ. ~=­ .....~ -..J TV-Y////AU o...., N '//////~~/~ // 0'1 TV-Y7~B //////~ TV-G L ///// ~/ TV-14//V ////////;:;/ TV AD WINDOW 2 TV-MA//D e rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •~ rJJ. FIG. 8 • BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW V-CHIP PLUS+ HELP TEXT

~ ~ :-'l SORT I SCHEDULE I VCHIP+ I MESSAGES I ~N N C C ~

/ TV AD WINDOW 1 'JJ. BLOCK/UNBLOCK ~=­ .....~ 00 ....,o ~{'~j~I~W~ N BY CHANNEL~ 0'1 /BY' TI'ME "ALLoWANCE BY $ ALLOWANCE% TV AD WINDOW 2 SET e PASSWORDS~ rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 9 • ~ BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+! .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT ~ ~ :"l ~N SORT SCHEDULE hVCHIP+/.01 MESSAGES N I f'l' c C ~

'JJ.

~=­ TV AD WINDOW 1 GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK .....~ \C o...., N 0'1

BY'W~ TI'ME' 'ALLoWANCE BY $ ALLOWANCE~ TV AD WINDOW 2 e SET PASSWORDS~ rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. • to ~ AM/PM CLEAR GUIDEPLUS+ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT ~ ~ :"l SORT SCHEDULE ~~VCHIP////i MESSAGES ~N N C C FOR USER: ( #2 BAM BAM ) ~ MASTER PASSWORD:~~~~ 'JJ.

TV AD WINDOW 1 ~=­ .....~ c'""'" o...., N 0'1 FROM: 8:00 PM ////// TO: 7:00// "-----_"--"----<-~:.....<:J TV AD WINDOW 2 e rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIC.tt • BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW V-CHIP PLUS+ HELP TEXT

~ ~ SORT I SCHEDULE I VCHIP+ I MESSAGES I :-'l ~N N C C ~

TV AD WINDOW 1 GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK 'JJ. ~=­ .....~ '""'" o....,'""'" N ~~'~~1_ 0'1 BY' TI'M'E' 'ALLoWANCE BY $ ALLOWANCE% TV AD WINDOW 2 SET PASSWOROS~ e /: rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d FIG. 12 rJl • BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT SCHEDULE ~~VCHIP_+:m MESSAGES ~N N C C ~

'JJ.

TV AD WINDOW 1 I ~=- ~GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK .....~ '""'"N ....,0 N 0'1

BY~~ TIME ALLOWANCE BY $ ALLOWANC~ e TV AD WINDOW 2 I rJ'l ~SET PASSWORDS/~ -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 13 • ~ BLOCK CLEAR GUIDEPLUS+ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT ~ ~ :"l ~N SORT SCHEDULE MESSAGES N C C ~ FOR USER:

MASTER PASSWORD: 'JJ. TV AD WINDOW 1 ~=­ .....~

~'""'" o...., ~~~~fs%1~'2:·~~~.~·~j~g~N~8~~~ N 0'1 f------il ,CHILDREWCBS. 7~PBS.44/:D~~HB02 Ppv~~~g~Jf~~~I*~~~~I...... ~ .... ;W~.;i% .. ... FOX.1~ElCL ~ESPN~Iy1:rv e TV AD WINDOW 2 rJ'l f;J,E?~,. 7~~Rl)YS0fQQP,%NI~~ -..CJ\ ""-l NBC.14~TOON/~HGTV%QVC Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl 14 • FIG. ~ BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW V-CHIP PLUS+ HELP TEXT ~ ~ :"l ~N SORT I SCHEDULE VCHIP+ I MESSAGES N C C ~

'JJ.

TV AD WINDOW 1 ~=­ GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK .....~

~'""'" o...., N ~·~··fi&1_ 0'1 BY' TI'ME' 'AL'LOWANCE BY $ ALLOWANCE~ TV AD WINDOW 2 e SET PASSWORDS~ rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl • FIG.t5 ~ BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT ~ ~ :"l ~N SORT SCHEDULE ~hVCHIP+/~ MESSAGES N I c C ~

'JJ.

~=­ TV AD WINDOW 1 .....~ Ul'""'" o...., N 0'1

e TV AD WINDOW 2 rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 16 • ~ ADD TIME CLEAR GUIDEPLUS+ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT ~ ~ :"l ~N SORT SCHEDULE MESSAGES N C C ~ FOR USE R: <.I77-'-7--;;;-;;-:~~:...;....:,L,

MASTE R PAS SW 0 R0: 17'7'7c...r:-h.LhL-.,L,4.+.,L..,. 'Jl TV AD WINDOW 1 ~=­ .....~ 0'1'""'" 8 HRS. o...., ~/////~ 2 HRS. N '////// 0'1 2 HRS. ////// 2 HRS. / / / / / / 2 HRS. ////// 2 HRS. ////// e TV AD WINDOW 2 2 HRS. rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d 17 rJl FIG. • BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW V-CHIP PLUS+ HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT I SCHEDULE VCHIP+ I MESSAGES ~N N C C ~

1V AD WINDOW 1 'JJ. GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK ~=­ .....~

-..J'""'" ~,~JWTt~~ o...., N BY CHANNEL~ 0'1 BY , TI'M'E ' 'ALLoWANCE BY $ ALLOWANCE~ TV AD WINDOW 2 e SET PASSWORDS~ rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG.f8 • ~ BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT ~ ~ :"l ~N SORT SCHEDULE f// //VCHIP+// ~ MESSAGES N C C ~

'JJ.

TV AD WINDOW 1 ~=­ GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK .....~ 00'""'" o...., N ~t~iM~W~ 0'1 BY CHANNEL~ BY' TI'ME' 'ALLoWANCE TV AD WINDOW 2 e SET PASSWOROS~~ rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 19 • ADD DOLLARS CLEAR GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT I SCHEDULE ~~VCHIP+/~ MESSAGES ~N N C C ~ FOR USER:

'JJ.

TV AD WINDOW 1 ~=­ .....~

\C'""'" o...., N 0'1

e TV AD WINDOW 2 rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIC.20 • BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW V-CHIP PLUS+ HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT I SCHEDULE VCHIP+ I MESSAGES ~N N C C ~

TV AD WINDOW 1 'JJ. GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK ~=­ .....~ N C ....,o ~}I@tw~ N BY CHANNEL~ 0'1 BY 'TI'M'[' 'ALLoWANCE BY $ ALLOWANCE~ TV AD WINDOW 2 e SET PASSWORDS~ rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIC.21 • ~ BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT ~ ~ :"l ~N SORT I SCHEDULE V/~VCHIP+/~ MESSAGES N C C ~

'JJ.

~=­ TV AD WINDOW 1 .....~ N BY RATINGS o....,'""'" BY' 'tfME'o/~ N """",,/m 0'1 BY CHANNEL ,.. ,.. " ,.. ,. " " ,.. , " ", " ;- ,.. ,.. ,.. BY TIME ALLOWANCE BY $ ALLOWANCE% e TV AD WINDOW 2 SET rJ'l PASSWOROS~ -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 22 • BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+ ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT SCHEDULE ~.VCHIP~ij;2 MESSAGES ~N I N C C ~

'JJ.

TV AD WINDOW 1 ~=­ .....~ N N o FOR USER: ...., <~~) N MASTER PASSWORD: ~ 0'1

I

e TV AD WINDOW 2 rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N --- ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 23 • BLUE GREEN GUIDEPLUS+I ~ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT I SCHEDULE V //VCHIP+/~ MESSAGES ~N N C C ~ GLOBAL BLOCK/UNBLOCK

'JJ.

TV AD WINDOW 1 ~=­ ~}~i~T~w~ .....~ N BY ~ CHANNEL~ o...., BY' TI'M'E' 'ALLoWANCE N 0'1 BY $ ALLOWANCE~ SET PASSWORDS~ TV AD WINDOW 2 e rJ'l -..CJ\ USER <~) ""-l Q PASSWORD: I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG.24A • ~ BLOCK CLEAR GUIDEPLUS+ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT SCHEDULE ~VCHI~~ MESSAGES ~N I N C #1 KIDS C FOR USER: ~ MASTER PASSWORD:( ) TV AD WINDOW 1 'JJ. f.--- ~=- RATING CODE S L V D 114 .....~ CODE N ~ ~ TV-Y 0...., N TV-Y7 0'1 TV-G 110 TV-PG ~ W~ TV AD WINDOW 2 vTV' 1'4~ '--100 ~102 e vTV~MA:~ rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l ~UNRAtEb?:0 Q ( I--" 1J. 112 N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIC.24B • ~ BLOCK CLEAR GUIDEPLUS+ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT ~ ~ :"l ~N SORT SCHEDULE MESSAGES N C C FOR USER: ~ MASTER PASSWORD~ > 'JJ. TV AD WINDOW 1 ~=­ .....~ MPAA N Ul RATING CODE o...., N G 0'1 PG PG-13 e TV AD WINDOW 2 rJ'l -..CJ\ ""-l Q I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" •d rJl FIG. 25 • BLOCK CLEAR ~ GUIDEPLUS+ .....~ ~ .....= PIP WINDOW HELP TEXT

~ ~ :"l SORT j SCHEDULE ~VCHI~~ MESSAGES ~N N C #1 KIDS C FOR USER: ~ MASTER PASSWORD~ ) TV AD WINDOW 1 'JJ. ALL DAYS ~=­ ~ WEEKENDS ..... N WEEKDAYS 0'1 ....,o vSCHOOL DAYS% N MON 0'1 TUES FROM:I 3:00 PM WED TO: 6:00 PM I TV AD WINDOW 2 THURS e FRI rJ'l SAT -..CJ\ ""-l SUN Q - I--" 1J. N ~ ~ I--" US 6,701,523 Bl 1 2 V-CHIP PLUS+IN-GUIDE USER INTERFACE will disagree with the rating systems and think that whatever APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR exclusion programming they do will block out desirable PROGRAMMABLE BLOCKING OF programs while not blocking out undesirable programs. TELEVISION AND OTHER VIEWABLE Accordingly, improvements on the V-Chip system are PROGRAMMING, SUCH AS FOR PARENTAL 5 needed. One improvement to the V-Chip system is using CONTROL OF A TELEVISION RECEIVER apparatus and method as described in co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/076,290 filed on Feb. RELATED APPLICATIONS 27,1998, titled V-Chip Plus: Parental Control Apparatus and Method, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Appli­ reference as if set forth in full herein. cation No. 60/100,575 filed Sep. 16, 1998. The disclosure of 10 Picture-in-picture Display of Television Programs U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/100,575 and 60/085, 401 are incorporated herein by reference as if fully stated For a number of years, television receivers have been here. equipped with picture-in-picture (PIP) capability. In PIP format, the moving, real time images of one television FIELD OF THE INVENTION 15 channel are displayed on the background of the screen and the moving, real time images of another television channel The present invention relates generally to television and are displayed in a PIP window overlaid on a small area of the other viewable programming systems, and more background. Because two channels are simultaneously dis­ particularly, to an apparatus and method that provides an played by the television receiver, two tuners are required. In-Guide user interface for programmable blocking of view­ 20 The viewer enters the PIP mode by pressing a PIP key on the able programs, such as for parental control of a television viewer's controller. Then, the viewer can change either the receIver. channel of the background or the channel of the PIP by resetting the appropriate tuner. To reverse the background BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION and PIP images, the viewer simply presses a SWAP key. To 25 collapse the PIP window, the viewer again presses the PIP The V-Chip System key. A system has been proposed in the United States and Electronic Television Guides endorsed by the U.S. Congress commonly known as the Television program guides help television viewers select V-Chip System. The system involves using the vertical programs to watch. Such television program guides list the blanking interval ("VEl") of a standard television signal to 30 available television programs by day of the week, time of include a code which indicates one or more rating factors for day, channel, and program title (text-based television pro­ the program then being aired. These rating factors can gram guides). For many years, text-based television program include ratings similar to those promulgated by the Motion guides have been published in hard copy form. More Picture Association of America (e.g. G, PG, PG-13, R, recently, as illustrated by Levine Pat. No. 4,908,713, text­ NC-17) and numerical ratings of individual categories of 35 based television program guides have begun to take an program nature such as violence, language, nudity and electronic form. In other words, the schedule of program sexual content. A consumer V-Chip television system would listings is stored in an electronic memory connected to the allow a consumer to program his or her television system to television receiver. The program listings are recalled from exclude programs according to their preferred levels of one memory by the viewer on command for display on the or more of these rating criteria or alternatively could be 40 television screen. Without PIP technology, text-based tele­ programmed to permit only programs having certain levels vision program guides overlay the real-time image of the of content according to these rating categories. program being received by the television tuner. A problem with the V-Chip system, as recognized in an Still Image Picture Augmentation of Text-Based article by T. Atherton, entitled "Living With the V-Chip," Television Programs The Ottawa Citizen, Entertainment, Section F, pp. F1-F2 45 Despite the prevalence of text-based television program (Saturday, Mar. 9, 1996), is that the perceived utility of the guides, many viewers prefer to make their program selec­ V-Chip system to a consumer depends on whether the tions by switching the television tuner from channel to consumer agrees with the subjective ratings contained in the channel in order to observe on the screen the program being VEl for most, if not all, programs. The author of this article, received on the respective channels. This process is some­ who purportedly has been involved in a "Beta-test" of the 50 times called "grazing." V-Chip system in Canada, gives two illustrative examples in Emanuel Pat. No. 5,161,019 discloses an automated form his article. First, "trash-talk" shows are rated at the lowest of channel grazing. A preselected group of channels are possible level for violence and the next lowest level for sequentially scanned by switching, the tuner of the televi­ language and sex categories, even though these shows often sion receiver from channel to channel. A still image of the contain verbal violence, physical confrontations and graphic 55 program received on each channel is stored in a memory. verbal sexual discussions. Second, utilizing the overall rat­ After all the channels have been scanned, the still images ing system to exclude this type of program, such as exclud­ from all of the channels are simultaneously displayed on the ing all programs with a rating above PG, results in the television screen. This process gives the viewer more infor­ blocking out of many programs which the author considers mation about the program choices in addition to that obtain­ appropriate for viewing and does not wish blocked out, such 60 able from a textual television program guide, namely still as the movie Forrest Gump. Although some people may images of the actual programs are displayed. disagree with the author's judgment of the relative harm and worth of particular television programs, the article Simultaneous PIP Display of Real-Time Program illustrates, at least, that regardless of how much the ratings Images and Electronic Television Program providers will be able to adjust and fine tune their ratings 65 Schedule Guides system, based upon the majority of consumers' wishes, there In one embodiment of the invention described in will remain a significant portion of the consumer public who co-pending PCT Application PCT/US95/11173 for Method US 6,701,523 Bl 3 4 and Apparatus for Displaying Television Programs and FIG. 7 is a television screen in PIP format displaying the Related Text, the disclosures of which are hereby incorpo­ V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "By Ratings" inter­ rated by reference as if set forth in full herein, real-time face screen and sample viewer-defined blocking selections; images of a television program can be displayed in the PIP FIG. 8 is a television screen in PIP format displaying window. Simultaneously, a television viewer can use a PIP 5 confirmation that Ratings Blocking has been set by RED format for display of television program listings from a highlighting on the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface program schedule data base in the background. The viewer Main Blocking Menu of the "By Ratings" option; can select a particular program from the displayed current FIG. 9 is a television screen in PIP format displaying a television program listing and cause the corresponding real­ viewer selection from the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Inter­ time program images to appear in the PIP window. In 10 face Main Blocking Menu of the "By Time" option: another embodiment of the invention described in FIG. 10 is a television screen in PIP format displaying the co-pending PCT Application PCT/US95/11173, a television V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "By Time" interface viewer can use a PIP format for display of future television screen and sample viewer-defined blocking selections; program listings from a program schedule data base in the FIG. 11 is a television screen in PIP format displaying background and moving images of a video clip of one of the 15 program listings in the background display selected for confirmation that Time Blocking has been set by RED example by a cursor. highlighting on the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface Main Blocking Menu of the "By Time" option; SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION FIG. 12 is a television screen in PIP format displaying a The present invention is directed to an apparatus and 20 viewer selection from the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Inter­ method that provides for a user interface for programmable face Main Blocking Menu of the "By Channel" option; blocking, such as for parental control, of viewable programs, FIG. 13 is a television screen in PIP format displaying the such as programs that can be viewed on a television receiver. V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "By Channel" inter­ A memory provides storage of information relating to view­ face screen and sample viewer-defined blocking selections; able programming and user defined blocking instructions. A 25 FIG. 14 is a television screen in PIP format displaying microprocessor generates a blocking command as a function confirmation that Channel Blocking has been set by RED of the information stored in memory. A blocking circuit, highlighting on the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface such as a blocking circuit which passes a baseband televi­ Main Blocking Menu of the "By Channel" option; sion video signal to a television display, provides blocking FIG. 15 is a television screen in PIP format displaying a of the video signal in response to the blocking command. 30 viewer selection from the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Inter­ face Main Blocking Menu of the "By Time Allowance" DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS option; These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the FIG. 16 is a television screen in PIP format displaying the present invention will become better understood with regard V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "By Time Allowance" to the following description, appended claims, and accom­ 35 interface screen and sample viewer-defined blocking selec- panying drawings where: tions; FIG. 1 is a schematic showing one embodiment of an FIG. 17 is a television screen in PIP format displaying apparatus according to the present invention with parental confirmation that By Time Allowance Blocking has been set control circuitry embedded in a video cassette recorder; by RED highlighting on the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User FIG. 2 is a television screen in PIP format displaying 40 Interface Main Blocking Menu of the "By Time Allowance" password-based options of the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User option; Interface Main Blocking Menu to block programs by FIG. 18 is a television screen in PIP format displaying a Ratings/content codes, Time, Channel, Time Allowance, viewer selection from the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Inter­ Pay-Per-View dollar Allowance and individual programs as 45 face Main Blocking Menu of the "By $ Allowance" option; selected from the program schedule grid guide or by input­ FIG. 19 is a television screen in PIP format displaying the ting compressed codes such as a PlusCode ™ which is a V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "By $ Allowance" compressed code used by Gemstar Development Corpora­ interface screen and sample viewer-defined blocking selec­ tion's VCR Plus+@ systems and which presently appear in tions; television calendars and may be used to identify particular 50 FIG. 20 is a television screen in PIP format displaying programs; FIG. 1 also displays the Global Block/Unblock confirmation that By $ Allowance Blocking has been set by option which may be used by the Master/Administrator to RED highlighting on the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Inter­ temporarily override blocking instruction to allow face Main Blocking Menu of the "By $ Allowance" option; unblocked viewing and to then re-establish blocking instruc­ FIG. 21 is a television screen in PIP format displaying a tions; 55 viewer selection from the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Inter­ FIG. 3 is a television screen in PIP format displaying a face Main Blocking Menu of the "Global Block/Unblock" viewer selection from the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Inter­ option; face Main Blocking Menu of the "Set Passwords" option; FIG. 22 is a television screen in PIP format displaying the FIG. 4 is a television screen in PIP format displaying the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "Global Block/ V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "Set Password" inter- 60 Unblock" interface screen and sample viewer input of user face screen and sample viewer-defined users; identification and password; FIG. 5 is a television screen in PIP format displaying the FIG. 23 is a television screen in PIP format displaying a V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "Set Password" inter­ sample V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface Main Block­ face screen and a sample viewer-defined password selection; ing Menu format that will appear after any Time Allowance FIG. 6 is a television screen in PIP format displaying a 65 or $ Allowance blocking has been set; viewer selection from the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Inter­ FIG. 24a is a television screen in PIP format displaying an face Main Menu of the "By Ratings" option; alternative embodiment of the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User US 6,701,523 Bl 5 6 Interface "By Ratings" interface screen for TV Ratings television, satellite television, the Internet, the World Wide Codes and Content Codes in grid format with sample Web, and all other electronic Ad information networks and viewer-defined blocking selections; electronic viewable programming delivery systems. FIG. 24b is a television screen in PIP format displaying an Selection of options, functions, actions, programs, alternative embodiment of the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User 5 channels, logos and all other selection criteria in this inven­ Interface "By Ratings" interface screen for MPAA Ratings tion applies equally to all methods of selection whether by Codes in grid format with sample viewer-defined blocking a television viewer's remote control device, by keyboard, by selections; and voice activation, by speech recognition, by motion FIG. 25 is a television screen in PIP format displaying an activation, by motion recognition, by mouse, by trac-ball, by alternative embodiment of the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User 10 touch pad, and/or by all other cursor-control devices. Interface "By Time" interface screen and sample viewer­ One embodiment of the present invention allows the defined blocking selections. viewer, while simultaneously viewing real time television The accompanying drawings are in color. Color is used in programming, to block, or enable, program viewing using the Detailed Description of the Invention to describe certain password-based category blocking selection criteria includ- features of the invention; the description of color-designated 15 ing Global blockinglunblocking, and blocking By Ratings, features corresponds to the accompanying drawings. The By Time, By Channel, By Time Allowance, and By $ colored drawings and the color-corresponding description is Allowance. "By Grid Guide Selection" blocking allows the used as a method of description of a particular embodiment viewer to view real time images of simultaneously broadcast of the present invention. The present invention is not limited programs, and to view video and sound clips of future by the particular colors used herein to describe the invention. 20 programs, listed in an electronic program schedule guide and to set blockinglenablement instructions for individual DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IRE programs, by channel, and/or by time slot. INVENTION After the viewer has selected, as described below, the One embodiment of the present invention uses PIP display 25 television program viewing blocking/enablement function formatting to provide a password-protected programmable ("V-ChipPlus+"), the viewer's screen displays the V-Chip viewer interface to block or enable television program Plus +In-Guide User Interface Main Blocking Menu (the viewing, such as for parental control of television viewing. "Main Blocking Menu"). FIG. 1 shows a V-Chip Plus+In­ A parental control system is described in U.S. Pat. No. Guide User Interface Main Blocking Menu to block pro- 5,382,983, which is hereby incorporated he reference as if 30 grams by Ratings/content codes, Time, Channel, Time set forth in full herein. Such parental control systems include Allowance, Pay-Per-View dollar Allowance and individual circuitry for providing parental control of the use of a programs as selected from the program schedule grid guide television receiver. As shown in FIG. 1, the circuitry is or by inputting compressed codes such as a PlusCode™ generally embedded within a VCR 50 connected between a which is a compressed code used by Gemstar Development television signal input 52 and a television monitor or display 35 Corporation's VCRPlus+@ systems and which presently 54. The parental control circuitry may be controlled by an appear in television calendars and may be used to identify input or remote controller 56 sending a command signal 58 particular programs. FIG. 1 also displays the Global Block/ to the circuitry to permit the user to select either by inclusion Unblock option which may be used by the Master/ or exclusion the particular source and/or programs, Administrator to temporarily override blocking instruction channels, dates and times available for television viewing. 40 to allow unblocked viewing and to then re-establish block­ Co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application titled ing instructions. The Main Blocking Menu further provides V-Chip Plus: Parental Control Apparatus and Method, the for viewer selection of the Set Passwords option. disclosures of which have been previously incorporated by The viewer can enter the Main Blocking Menu in a reference as if set forth in full herein, describes a preferred number of ways. One embodiment is that the viewer, at embodiment of the invention disclosed therein as allowing 45 some point in time after turning on the viewer's television the viewer consumer to override the operation of the V-Chip receiver, presses a dedicated key on a remote control device. system or particular programs contained in consumer pro­ In another embodiment, the viewer enters the Main Block­ grammable enable-over-ride lists and blocking-over-ride ing Menu by selecting the Blocking Option from the lists. GuidePlus+Grid Guide option bar, causing the Main Block- The present invention is not limited to the PIP television 50 ing Menu to be displayed in the background window of the display format environment. The present invention applies PIP display (the "PIP embodiment"). The PIP embodiment is equally to all devices that display viewable programming reflected throughout the figures to this patent application. If electronically, including but not limited to devices such as "By Time Allowance" and/or "By $ Allowance" blocking television, digital television, PCTV's, and PC's. instructions have been set, the Main Blocking Menu will Furthermore, the present invention applies equally to all 55 appear when the viewing device, such as a television, is viewable electronic programming display formats, turned on. including, but not limited to: display formats that provide In other embodiments, the viewer could enter the Main partial or complete overlay menus; display formats that Blocking Menu in other ways, including but not limited to: allow icons to be displayed on the screen to allow for 1.) The viewer presses a menu key on the viewer's remote selection of multiple functions, such as program viewing 60 control device that would enter a selection menu for various blocking/enablement, to be simultaneously displayed on the programming features for the viewer's particular viewing television screen; and display formats that allow the viewer device, such as a television. Program view blocking/ to move the location of the viewing window for the program enablement would be an option on the viewing device's viewing blocking/enablement selection menus. selection general menu. The viewer could then select pro­ Still further, the present invention applies to all viewable 65 gram view blocking/enablement from the general menu; 2.) programming delivery systems and media, including but not The viewer selects a program viewing blockinglenablement limited to conventional television broadcast, cable icon on the viewer's viewing device screen by, for instance, US 6,701,523 Bl 7 8 moving a cursor to the location of the icon and indicating In the PIP embodiment, the viewer inputs a password for selection of the program viewing blockinglenablement func­ each "User" using the digit keys of the viewer's remote tion. control device and/or the scroll down alphabet menu In another embodiment, the viewer can enter the "Block­ described above. FIG. 4 shows a television screen in PIP ing Mode" while in the TV Guide Plus+Grid Guide (the 5 format displaying the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "Grid Guide embodiment") or similar electronic program "Set Password" interface screen. FIG. 4 shows a sample viewing scheduling guide (the "Grid Guide"). Co-pending viewer-defined password selection. A password is not set U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/053/330, until the viewer types the password a second time in the titled EPG with Advertising Messages, the disclosures of Confirm tile for the user specified. which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in 10 The viewer with the most restrictive Ratings/content full herein, describes as grid guide 22 such an electronic settings is automatically set as the default. The default program viewing scheduling guide. In the Grid Guide viewer's settings will be used when the television is turned embodiment, the viewer enters the "Blocking Mode" by on after the viewer has input the settings. selecting the Blocking Mode function, from for instance, the There may be more than one Master viewer. There may be option bar of the Grid Guide. 15 more than one Administrator viewer. One embodiment of In another embodiment, the viewer would enter Plus­ the invention would recognize a hierarchy of viewers. The Code ™ numbers of programs to be blocked. hierarchy would allow a Master viewer to set blocking From the Main Blocking Menu, the viewer can select instructions for all viewers. The hierarch would allow an from options that allow the viewer to block or enable 20 Administrator viewer to set blocking instructions for all viewing of programs globally, or to block or enable viewing viewers at a hierarchical level below that of the setting of programs by Ratings/content codes, Time, Channel, Time Administrator. Only the viewer designated as a Master or Allowance, Pay-Per-View dollar Allowance and By Grid Administrator viewer will have the capability to use the Guide Selection from an electronic television program Global Block/Unblock function. In one embodiment, only schedule grid guide. Once the viewer has set blocking 25 the highest ranking Master viewer would be allowed the instructions, the blocking instruction database is updated capability to use the Global BlocklUnblock function. and is accessed by a program viewing blocking system, such Once the viewer completes entering "User" names and as is claimed in co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Appli­ passwords, the viewer must press the Blue action "Finished" cation No. 60/076,290 filed Feb. 27, 1998, titled V-Chip button on the Guide Plus+screen bar to enter the alpha name Plus: Parental Control Apparatus and Method, the disclo- 30 into the password database. User names and passwords are sures of which have been previously incorporated by refer­ not entered into the viewer database until the viewer selects ence as if set forth in full herein. The program viewing the Blue action "Finished" button. The viewer can select the blocking system uses the database program viewing block­ Blue action "Finished" button after entering each name and ing instructions to block a particular user from viewing after confirming each password. Alternatively, the viewer programs as directed by the blocking instructions. 35 may enter a plurality of names and passwords before select­ In one embodiment, the viewer selects a particular option ing the Blue action "Finished" button. Alternatively, the from the Main Blocking Menu by using the arrow keys on viewer can press the Green action button to clear the the viewer's remote control device to move the highlight bar password or alphabetic name inputs so that the viewer can up or down the Main Blocking Menu selections and by begin inputting the user/password information again. The pressing an Enter key, or some other similarly functional 40 viewer that is designated as the "Master/Administrator" can key, to select the highlighted option. turn global settings on or off. Once the viewer has completed entering "User" names Setting User-level Passwords and passwords, the viewer can return to the Main Blocking V-Chip Plus+provides password-based options to block Menu by using the up/down arrow keys to highlight programs by Ratings/content codes, Time, Channel, Time 45 V-CHIP+on the menu bar. Allowance, $ Allowance, and by individual program as Blocking from the Grid Guide selected from a program schedule. FIG. 2 shows a television screen in PIP embodiment format displaying a viewer selec­ In one embodiment, the viewer enters the Grid Guide to tion from the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface Main identify particular programs to be blocked at the user level. Blocking Menu of the "Set Passwords" option. Turning to 50 Once in the Grid Guide, the viewer would enter the Blocking FIG. 3, a television screen is shown in PIP format displaying Mode by, for example, using the viewer's remote control the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "Set Password" device to select a Block/Unblock action button on the Grid interface screen and sample viewer-defined users. An alpha­ Guide. Once in the Grid Guide Blocking Mode, the Master/ numeric password with a plurality of numeric digits may be Administrator would navigate through the schedule of pro- set up for a plurality of users. ss grams as provided by the Grid Guide system, such as using Viewer names can be input by highlighting a "User" tile the up/down and left/right arrow keys on the viewer's in the Set Password interface screen. The "user" tiles in FIG. remote control device. 2 are shown as blue tiles. The viewer can then input the user Real time images of real time programs highlighted by the name by pressing the Blue "Alpha" button on the Guide viewer in the Grid Guide will be shown in the PIP or other Plus+display bar and by then using the up/down arrow keys 60 window of the television screen. Co-pending PCT Applica­ on the viewer's remote control device to scroll up and down tion PCT/US95/11173 for Method and Apparatus for Dis­ the pull down alphabet menu and selecting the appropriate playing Television Programs and Related Text, the disclo­ alphabetic characters. In this manner, the viewer selects the sures of which have been previously incorporated by alphabetic characters comprising each viewer's name. To reference as if set forth in full herein, describes one embodi- designate another viewer's name, the viewer uses the 65 ment that provides for the display of real-time images of a up/down arrow keys on the viewer's remote control device television program in the PIP window while simultaneously to highlight another blue "User" tile. providing that the television viewer can use a PIP format for US 6,701,523 Bl 9 10 display of television program listings from a program sched­ The Master/Administrator presses the Blue action button ule data base in the background. The viewer can select a on the Guide Plus+task bar to select a particular Rating or particular program from the displayed current television Content code to be blocked. When the Master/Administrator program listing and cause the corresponding real-time pro­ selects a particular Rating or Content code to be blocked, the gram images to appear in the PIP window. 5 tile for that particular code turns red. If the Master/ Video and sound clips of future-scheduled programs Administrator wants to enable a blocked Rating or Content highlighted by the viewer in the Grid Guide will be shown code, the Master/Administrator selects that particular Rating in the PIP or other window of the television screen. or Content code and presses the Blue action button on the Co-pending PCT Application PCT/US95/11173, the disclo­ Guide Plus+task bar, which will return the tile for the sures of which have been previously incorporated by refer- 10 particular Rating or Content code to green. FIG. 6 shows a ence as if set forth in full herein, describes as one embodi­ television screen in PIP format displaying the V-Chip Plus+ ment the use by a television viewer of a PIP format for In-Guide User Interface "By Ratings" interface screen and display of future television program listings from a program sample viewer-defined blocking selections. FIG. 6 also schedule data base in the background and moving images of a video clip of one of the program listings in the background demonstrates the Help Text explanation for the highlighted display selected, for example, by a cursor. 15 Rating code, "NC-17." Pressing the Green action button on The viewer selects a particular program, channel logo, or the Guide Plus+ Task Bar clears all settings on this screen. time slot to be blocked by one selection method, for An alternative embodiment of the "By Ratings" interface instance, using the viewer's remote control device to point is represented in FIGS. 23a and 23b. FIG. 23a demonstrates to and select a program, channel or time slot. The viewer's the use of a "By Ratings" grid for TV ratings codes and selection would be reflected by color coding or other high- 20 content codes. FIG. 23b demonstrates the use a "By Rat­ lighting method. ings" interface for MPAA Ratings Codes. Then, the viewer sets instructions to block the particular In FIG. 23a, all possible TV Ratings Codes ("TV-Y", program, channel logo, and/or time slot, using, for instance, "TV-Y7", etc.) are listed, in this case, on the left side of the the viewer's remote control device to select a blocking grid 110. Alternatively, MPAA Rating codes, other rating action button on the Grid Guide. Pressing the Blue action 25 codes or combinations of different rating codes, such as button will block viewing of the highlighted program. When MPAA and TV Ratings Codes may be used in the place of blocking a particular program, the viewer could further just TV Ratings Codes. Also listed is a grid row for select another action to request the following blocking "Unrated" programs 112. That is, the Master/Administrator options: 1.) block a particular episode of a program by title can chose to block all programs that are not rated. All for all occurrences of that program on a particular day for all 30 possible TV Content Codes, ("S" for Sex, "V" for Violence, channels and all times ("Daily Blocking"); 2.) block all "L" for Language, etc.) or a subset thereof are listed, in this occurrences of that program by title for the week for all case, across the top of the grid 114. Each grid tile represents channels and all time slots ("Weekly Blocking"); 3.) block a particular combination of a TV Ratings Code and a TV all occurrences of that program by title for all channels and Content Code. The Master/Administrator uses the up/down all time slots ("All Blocking"); and/or 4.) block a particular 35 and left/right arrow keys on the viewer's remote control channel at a particular time slot. device to highlight a grid tile. When the appropriate grid tile In a Grid Guide embodiment of the present invention, the is highlighted, the Master/Administrator presses the Blue Grid Guide would show the program title and rating and/or action button on the Guide Plus+task bar to select that content information. particular Rating/Content Code grid tile to be blocked. Ratings or Content Code Blocking 40 When the Master/Administrator selects a particular Rating/ The "Master/Administrator" user/viewer can block a Content Code grid tile to be blocked, the grid tile for that selected user's access by ratings or content codes. FIG. 5 particular code turns red, or some other color to indicate shows a television screen in PIP format displaying a viewer selection of that tile. In FIG. 23a, tiles 100 and 102 are have selection from the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface been highlighted, selected and turned red (or some other Main Blocking Menu of the "By Ratings" option. 45 color) to indicate they have been selected. Thereafter, pro­ grams that are rated TV-PG and have either L or V content After entering the "By Ratings" interface screen, the codes will be blocked. Master/Administrator selects a user from the user pull down menu. The user pull down menu lists all of the users entered In addition to selecting individual tiles, entire rows or in the user database. The Master/Administrator uses the 50 columns are highlighted for possible selection by moving up/down arrow keys on the Master/Administrator's remote the highlighted tile with the up/down and left/right arrow control device to scroll up and down the user pull down keys on the viewer's remote control device to the header row menu. The Master/Administrator selects a particular user's 114 or header (first) column 110. Thus, entire TV Ratings name. The Master/Administrator must then enter the appro­ Codes rows or entire TV Content Codes can be selected with priate password for the Master/Administrator. When the 55 on press of the Blue action button. password is accepted, the password tile turns green. Pass­ If the Master/Administrator wants to enable a blocked word acceptance is required to allow the Master/ Rating/Content Code grid tile, the Master/Administrator Administrator access to the Rating/Content tiles. selects that particular Rating or Content Code grid tile and The Master/Administrator then uses the up/down arrow presses the Blue action button on the Guide Plus+task bar, keys to scroll through the various Rating and Content codes. 60 which will return the grid tile for the particular Rating/ The Rating or Content code tile that can be selected is the tile Content Code tile to green. that is highlighted in blue. The V-Chip Help Text portion of If the uppermost, leftmost tile is highlighted, the entire the Guide Plus+screen provides help explanations for the grid of tiles can be selected by one press of the Blue action feature currently highlighted by the remote control selection. button. This selection allows the Master/Administrator to The V-Chip Help Text provides an explanation of each 65 select the tiles that the Master/Administrator wants to allow Rating or Content code as the Rating or Content code tile is rather than selecting the tiles that the Master/Administrator highlighted. want to block. US 6,701,523 Bl 11 12 Currently, TV Content codes do not apply to MPAA for each user subsequently selected. Changes are accepted Rating Codes. Accordingly, FIG. 23b demonstrates that the when the Master/Administrator leaves the "By Time" inter­ Master/Administrator can chose any of the MPAA Rating face screen by returning to the Main Blocking Menu. Code grid tiles to select that Rating Code for blocking/ Once the viewer has completed entering "By Time" enablement. As with FIG. 23a, FIG. 23b provides a grid tile 5 blocking and/or enablement instructions, the viewer can to block/enable unrated programs. return to the Main Blocking Menu by using the up/down The Master/Administrator can then select another user arrow keys to highlight V-CHIP+ on the menu bar. The "By name and set Ratings and Content code blocking and/or Time" tile on the Main Blocking Menu will be RED, enablement instructions for each user subsequently selected. indicating that Time Blocking instructions have been set. Changes are accepted when the Master/Administrator leaves 10 FIG. 10 shows a television screen in PIP format displaying the "By Ratings" interface screen by returning to the Main confirmation that Time Blocking has been set by RED Blocking Menu. highlighting on the V-Chip Plus+ln-Guide User Interface Once the viewer has completed entering "By Rating" Main Blocking Menu of the "By Time" option. blocking and/or enablement instructions, the viewer can FIG. 24 is a television screen in PIP format displaying an return to the Main Blocking Menu by using the up/down 15 alternative embodiment of the V-Chip Plus+ln-Guide User arrow keys to highlight V-CHIP+ on the menu bar. The "By Interface "By Time" interface screen and sample viewer­ Ratings" tile on the Main Blocking Menu will be RED, defined blocking selections. FIG. 24 provides for the des­ indicating that Ratings Blocking instructions have been set. ignation by the Master/Administrator of time-sensitive cat- FIG. 7 shows a television screen in PIP format displaying egories such as "School Days," "Weekdays," "Weekends" confirmation that Ratings Blocking instructions have been 20 and/or particular days of the week As an example of"School set by RED highlighting on the V-Chip Plus +In-Guide User Day" blocking, if the Master/Administrator blocks the time Interface Main Blocking Menu of the "By Ratings" option. frame from 8 pm to 7 am of a School Day, then the "By Time" Blocking designated time frame is blocked for Sunday through Thurs­ The Master/Administrator can set user-level instructions day. On the other hand, if the Master/Administrator blocks to block program viewing for particular time ranges, for 25 the time frame from 3 pm through 6 pm for School Days, particular days of the week, or for "All Days." FIG. 8 shows then the designated time frame is blocked for Monday a television screen in PIP format displaying a viewer selec­ through Thursday. As an example of "Weekend" blocking, if tion from the V-Clip Plus+ln-Guide User Interface Main the Master/Administrator blocks the time frame from 6 am Blocking Menu of the "By Time" option. By selecting the through 8 am for Weekends, then the designated time frame "By Time" option, the user enters the "By Time" interface 30 is blocked for Saturday and Sunday. If the time frame from screen. FIG. 9 shows a television screen in PIP format 6 pm through 7 pm is blocked for Weekends, then the displaying the V-Chip Plus+ln-Guide User Interface "By designated time frame for Friday, Saturday and Sunday Time" interface screen and sample viewer-defined blocking would be blocked. The Master/Administrator can further selections. designate blocking for Weekdays (Monday through Friday). 35 Further, a "Saturday/Sunday" option may be offered as an In the "By Time" interface screen, the Master/ Administrator selects a user from the user pull down menu. alternative the to the "Weekend" time frame where the The user pull down menu lists all of the users entered in the "Weekend" time frame generally tracks and is the opposite user database. The Master/Administrator uses the up/down of the "School Days" time periods. Of course, it is possible to have "School Days" and "Weekends" delineated so that arrow keys on the Master/Administrator's remote control 40 device to scroll up and down the user pull down menu. The they overlap in some areas while neither cover other specific Master/Administrator selects a particular user's name. The time periods. Further, "School Days" may further be split into "School Days" and "School Nights," where "School Master/Administrator must then enter the appropriate pass­ word for the Master/Administrator. When the password is Days" generally refers to Monday-Friday days, while accepted, the password tile turns green. Password accep- 45 "School Nights" generally refers to Sunday-Thursday tance is required to allow the Master/Administrator access to nights. the Day of the Week and time range tiles. The use of "School Days" (or "School Days" and "School In the "By Time" interface screen, the Master/ Nights") and "Weekdays" also applies equally to the TV Administrator uses the up/down arrow keys to scroll through allowance embodiment described above in addition to the the various days of the week, or to select the "All Days" 50 blocking functions. feature: The Master/Administrator can then enter time range In an alternative embodiment, Holidays, such as national blocking instructions for the particular day of the week, or or state holidays, are included in the "Weekend" and for "All Days." The Master/Administrator enters time "School Days" groupings. Thus, in the United States, the ranges using the numeric keys on the Master/ Sunday night before Memorial Day (last Monday in May) Administrator's remote control device. The Master/55 would not be part of "School Days" when it otherwise would Administrator then selects the am/pm tile and uses the Blue be. The list of Holidays that would affect the "School Days" action button on the Guide Plus+task bar to select a.m. or and "Weekend" groupings is included into the system by any p.m. designation for the identified time range. After the known data delivery method, including, but not limited to, Master/Administrator sets blocking instructions for a time being included in a factory installed memory, being down- range for a particular day, that day (or the "All Days") tile 60 loaded over the VBI, a radio signal or other transmission, turns RED. Pressing the Green action button on the Guide being downloaded from the Internet or other computer Plus+task bar clears all setting on this screen. The V-Chip network and being keyed in by the Master/Administrator. Help Text portion of the Guide Plus+screen provides help In another alternative embodiment, the School Days/ explanations for the feature currently highlighted by the Weekend, or any other generic time periods are combined remote control selection. 65 with other search criteria to search an electronic program The Master/Administrator can then select another user guide (EPG) of the type disclosed in PCT Application name and set Time blocking and/or enablement instructions PCT/US95/11173. Thus, a theme search for "Educational US 6,701,523 Bl 13 14 shows" might be restricted to "School Days" where a theme "By Time Allowances" Blocking search for "Cartoons" may be restricted to "Weekends." The Master/Administrator can set user-level viewing time In another alternative embodiment, the Master/ allowances for each user by day of the week or for an entire Administrator can choose to block according to Weekend, week. Television viewing will be blocked if the daily Weekdays, or specific days of the week. In this embodiment, 5 viewing time by the viewing user exceeds the time allow­ the Weekend category is defined to be Saturday and Sunday; ance for the particular day of the week for that user. Weekdays are defined to be Monday through Friday. In this Television viewing will be blocked if the summation of the alternative embodiment, neither the Weekend nor the Week­ daily viewing time by the viewing user exceeds the weekly day categories are time-sensitive. time allowance for that user. FIG. 14 shows a television 10 screen in format displaying a viewer selection from the "By Channel" Blocking PIP V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface Main Blocking Menu The Master/Administrator can set user-level instructions of the "By Time Allowance" option. to block program viewing for particular channels, for a By selecting the "By Time Allowance" option, the user group of channels by category, or for a group of shows by 15 enters the "By Time Allowance" interface screen. FIG. 15 "Theme." FIG. 11 shows a television screen in PIP format shows a television screen in PIP format displaying the displaying a viewer selection from the V-Chip Plus+In­ V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface "By Time Allowance" Guide User Interface Main Blocking Menu of the "By interface screen and sample viewer-defined blocking selec­ Channel" option. tions. By selecting the "By Channel" option, the user enters the In the "By Time Allowance" interface screen, the Master/ "By Channel" interface screen. FIG. 12 shows a television 20 Administrator selects a user from the user pull down menu. screen in PIP format displaying the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide The user pull down menu lists all of the users entered in the User Interface "By Channel" interface screen and sample user database. The Master/Administrator uses the up/down viewer-defined blocking selections. arrow keys on the Master/Administrator's remote control In the "By Channel" interface screen, the Master/ 25 device to scroll up and down the user pull down menu. The Administrator selects a user from the user pull down menu. Master/Administrator selects a particular user's name. The The user pull down menu lists all of the users entered in the Master/Administrator must then enter the appropriate pass­ user database. The Master/Administrator uses the up/down word for the Master/Administrator. When the password is arrow keys on the Master/Administrator's remote control accepted, the password tile turns green. Password accep- device to scroll up and down the user pull down menu. The 30 tance is required to allow the Master/Administrator access to Master/Administrator selects a particular user's name. The the Time Allowance tiles. Master/Administrator must then enter the appropriate pass­ In the "By Time Allowance" interface screen, the Master/ word for the Master/Administrator. When the password is Administrator uses the up/down and left/right arrow keys to accepted, the password tile turns green. Password accep­ scroll through the various days of the week and to set time tance is required to allow the Master/Administrator access to 35 allowances for the particular days and for the entire week. the Channel and Theme tiles. The Master/Administrator uses the Blue action button on the In the "By Channel" interface screen, the Master/ Guide Plus+task bar to select each day of the week, or the Administrator uses the up/down and left/right arrow keys to entire week, for which a time allowance is to be set. The scroll through the various channels and "Themes." The Master/Administrator presses the Blue action button on the Master/Administrator uses the Blue action button on the 40 Guide Plus+task bar to allow input of time allowance. Time Guide Plus+task bar to select each channel or Theme to be allowance is then entered using the numeric keys of the blocked, or enabled. The tile for a blocked channel or Theme Master/Administrator's remote control device. The Master/ turns RED. The tile for an enabled channel or Theme turns Administrator can press the Blue action button on the Guide Green. Pressing the Green action button on the Guide Plus+task bar to add Y2 hour increments, with each subse- Plus+task bar clears all settings on this screen. Data for 45 quent press of the Blue action button. The tile for a day or blocked channels will be stored in memory so it may be for the week with a time allowance turns RED. Pressing the viewed if a channel is unblocked. The V-Chip Help Text Green action button on the Guide Plus+task bar clears all portion of the Guide Plus+screen provides help explanations settings on this screen. The daily allowances can sum to a for the feature currently highlighted by the remote control higher number than the total weekly allowance. Once the selection. 50 weekly allowance is reached by the viewing user, television The Master/Administrator can then select another user viewing will be blocked for that user for the rest of the week name and set Channel or Theme blocking and/or enablement even if the daily allowance for a particular day has not been instructions for each user subsequently selected. Changes exceeded. The V-Chip Help Text portion of the Guide are accepted when the Master/Administrator leaves the "By Plus+screen provides help explanations for the feature cur­ Channel" interface screen by returning to the Main Blocking 55 rently highlighted by the remote control selection. Menu. The Master/Administrator can then select another user Once the viewer has completed entering "By Channel" name and set time allowances for each user subsequently blocking and/or enablement instructions, the viewer can selected. Changes are accepted when the Master/ return to the Main Blocking Menu by using the up/down Administrator leaves the "By Time Allowance" interface arrow keys to highlight V-CHIP+ on the menu bar. The "By 60 screen by returning to the Main Blocking Menu. Channel" tile on the Main Blocking Menu will be RED, Once the viewer has completed entering user-level "Time indicating that Channel and/or Theme Blocking instructions Allowances," the viewer can return to the Main Blocking have been set. Turning to FIG. 13, a television screen is Menu by using the up/down arrow keys to highlight shown in PIP format displaying confirmation that Channel V-CHIP+ on the menu bar. The "By Time Allowance" tile on Blocking has been set by RED highlighting on the V-Chip 65 the Main Blocking Menu will be RED, indicating that Time Plus+In-Guide User Interface Main Blocking Menu of the Allowances have been set. FIG. 16 shows a television screen "By Channel" option. in PIP format displaying confirmation that Time Allowances US 6,701,523 Bl 15 16 have been set by RED highlighting on the V-Chip Plus+In­ Menu by using the up/down arrow keys to highlight Guide User Interface Main Blocking Menu of the "By Time V-CHIP+on the menu bar. The "By $ Allowance" tile on the Allowance" option. Main Blocking Menu will be RED, indicating that $ Allow­ ances have been set. FIG. 19 shows a television screen in PIP "By $ Allowance" Blocking 5 format displaying confirmation that $ Allowances have been The Master/Administrator can set user-level Pay-Per­ set by RED highlighting on the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User View viewing dollar ("$") allowances for each user by day Interface Main Blocking Menu of the "By $ Allowance" of the week or for an entire week. Television viewing will be option. blocked if the daily viewing dollar amount by the viewing Global Block/Unblock user meets or exceeds the dollar allowance for the particular 10 day of the week for that user. Television viewing will be The Master/Administrator, and only the Master/ blocked if the summation of the daily viewing dollar allow­ Administrator, can use the Global BlocklUnblock instruc­ ance by the viewing user meets or exceeds the weekly dollar tion. FIG. 20 shows a television screen in PIP format allowance for that user. FIG. 17 shows a television screen in displaying a viewer selection from the V-Chip Plus+In­ PIP format displaying a viewer selection from the V-Chip 15 Guide User Interface Main Blocking Menu of the "Global Plus+In-Guide User Interface Main Blocking Menu of the Block/Unblock" option. Turning to FIG. 21, a television "By $ Allowance" option. screen is shown in PIP format displaying the V-Chip Plus+ By selecting the "By $ Allowance" option, the user enters In-Guide User Interface "Global Block/Unblock" interface the "By $ Allowance" interface screen. FIG. 18 shows a screen and sample viewer input of user identification and television screen in PIP format displaying the V-Chip Plus+ 20 password. In the "Global BlocklUnblock" interface screen, In-Guide User Interface "By $ Allowance" interface screen the Master/Administrator is prompted for the Master/ and sample viewer-defined blocking selections. Administrator's password. Acceptance of the password In the "By $ Allowance" interface screen, the Master/ allows the Master/Administrator to use the Global Block/ Administrator selects a user from the user pull down menu. 25 Unblock instruction. Global BlocklUnblock is a toggle The user pull down menu lists all of the users entered in the switch override command that allows the Master/ user database. The Master/Administrator uses the up/down Administrator to temporarily override all blocking instruc­ arrow keys on the Master/Administrator's remote control tions. Using the Global BlocklUnblock command does not device to scroll up and down the user pull down menu. The destroy all of the blocking instructions. The blocking Master/Administrator selects a particular user's name. The 30 instructions remain in memory. The Master/Administrator Master/Administrator must then enter the appropriate pass­ can globally unblock all previously set instructions to view word for the Master/Administrator. When the password is programming without any blocking. The Master/ accepted, the password tile turns green. Password accep­ Administrator can then globally reset all blocking instruc­ tance is required to allow the Master/Administrator access to tions. the $ Allowance tiles. 35 Time and $ Allowance Accumulation and Blocking In the "By $ Allowance" interface screen, the Master/ Administrator uses the up/down and left/right arrow keys to Turning to FIG. 22, a television screen is shown in PIP scroll through the various days of the week and to set $ format displaying a sample V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User allowances for the particular days and for the entire week. Interface Main Blocking Menu format that will appear after The Master/Administrator uses the Blue action button on the 40 any Time Allowance or $ Allowance blocking has been set. Guide Plus+task bar to select each day of the week, or the This screen will automatically appear each time that the entire week, for which a $ allowance is to be set. The television is turned on. The screen prompts the viewer for Master/Administrator presses the Blue action button on the the viewer's "User" identification and for that "User's" Guide Plus+task bar to allow input of $ allowance limita­ password. tions. Dollar allowance is then entered using the numeric 45 The time that the television is viewed by that user is then keys of the Master/Administrator's remote control device. accumulated. Accumulated viewing times are compared at The Master/Administrator can press the Blue action button periodic time intervals to the time allowances set for that on the Guide Plus+taskAbar to add 50 cent increments, with user. If the user's accumulated viewing time meets or each subsequent press of the Blue action button. The tile for exceeds the time allowance for that day, or for the week, the a day or for the week with a $ allowance turns RED. 50 V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface system sends blocking Pressing the Green action button on the Guide Plus+task bar instructions to a program viewing blocking system, such as clears all settings on this screen. The daily allowances can is claimed in co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Applica­ sum to a higher amount than the total weekly allowance. tion Ser. No. 60/076,290 titled V-Chip Plus: Parental Control Once the weekly $ allowance is reached by the viewing user, Apparatus and Method, the disclosures of which have been Paid-Per-View television viewing will be blocked for that 55 previously incorporated by reference as if set forth in full user for the rest of the week even if the daily $ allowance for herein, to block that user from further viewing. a particular day has not been met or exceeded. The V-Chip Pay-Per-View dollar amounts agreed to by that user are Help Text portion of the Guide Plus+screen provides help accumulated. Accumulated Pay-Per-View dollar amounts explanations for the feature currently highlighted by the agreed to by that user are then compared to that user's $ remote control selection. 60 Allowances, by day, and for the week. The $ amount The Master/Administrator can then select another user comparison is made each time that the user attempts to select name and set $ allowances for each user subsequently a Pay-Per-View program. If the user's $ Allowance has been selected. Changes are accepted when the Master/ met or exceeded, the V-Chip Plus+In-Guide User Interface Administrator leaves the "By $ Allowance" interface screen system sends blocking instructions to a program viewing by returning to the Main Blocking Menu. 65 blocking system, such as is claimed in co-pending U.S. Once the viewer has completed entering user-level "$ Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/076,290 titled Allowances," the viewer can return to the Main Blocking V-Chip Plus: Parental Control Apparatus and Method, the US 6,701,523 Bl 17 18 disclosures of which have been previously incorporated by viewing of programs globally, or to block or enable viewing reference as if set forth in full herein, to block that user from of programs by Rating/content codes, Time, Channel, Time further viewing. Allowance, pay-per-View dollar Allowance and by Grid Selection from an electronic television program schedule Illustrative Embodiments 5 grid guide. The embodiments of the invention described herein are 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the display depicts a only considered to be preferred and/or illustrative of the menu including lists of users entered in a user A database, inventive concept; the scope of the invention is not to be and a combination of highlighted individual titles or group restricted to such embodiments. Various and numerous other of titles of the matrix varying according to user. arrangements may be devised by one skilled in the art 10 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the overall program without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. ratings are listed along a column of the matrix, each program For example, a variety of different on screen display color rating having rows corresponding to one or more specific schemes can be used to communicate various selections and program content indications. options to the viewer/user. 15 8. The system of claim 7 wherein a title corresponding to What is claimed is: one of the overall program ratings is activated or deactivated 1. A system for restricting access to television programs to block or enable a particular program rating. comprising: 9. The system of claim 7 wherein a title corresponding to an input for accepting cursor movement and selection one of specific program content indications is activated or commands; 20 deactivated to block or enable a particular program content a display that depicts a two dimensional matrix composed indication. of rows and columns of tiles, wherein either the rows 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for blocking of tiles or the columns of tiles correspond to overall or allowing viewing comprises a circuitry connected program ratings and either the rows of tiles or the between a television signal input and the display. 11. A method of restricting access to television programs columns of tiles correspond to specific program content 25 indications and depicts highlighting of individual tiles comprising: or groups of tiles based on the cursor movement inputting cursor movement and selection commands; commands; and displaying a two dimensional matrix composed of rows means for blocking or allowing viewing of television and columns of tiles, wherein either the rows of tiles or programs based on the overall program ratings and 30 the columns of tiles correspond to overall program specific content ratings of the rows and columns cor­ ratings and either the rows of tiles or the columns of responding to the highlighted tiles when a selection tiles correspond to specific program content indications command is entered into the input. and depicts highlighting of individual tiles or groups of 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the overall program tiles based on the cursor movement commands; and ratings comprise one or more of group of TV-Y, TV-Y7, 35 blocking or allowing viewing of television programs TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, TV-MA, G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17 based on the overall program ratings and specific and X. content ratings of the rows and columns corresponding 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the specific program the highlighted tiles when a selection command is content indication comprises one or more of the group of L, entered into the input. language, V, violence, MV, mild violence, FV, fantasy 40 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising activating violence, EN, brief nudity, N, nudity, S, sexual content, AS, or deactivating a title corresponding to one of the overall adult situations, D, and suggestive dialog. program ratings to block or enable a particular program 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the specific program rating. content indication comprises one or more of the group of L, 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising activating language, V, violence, MV, mild violence, FV, fantasy 45 or deactivating a title corresponding to one of specific violence, EN, brief nudity, N. nudity, S, sexual content, AS, program content indications to block or enable a particular adult situations, D, and suggestive dialog. program content indication. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the display depicts a main blocking menu which allows a user to block or enable * * * * *