KR19990071555A - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISABLING VOICE OR VIDEO DISPLAY - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of controlling the viewing of a television program in accordance with the contents of the program includes providing the code using an auxiliary data channel indicating content such as sex, violence, and rage. These codes are assembled into extension packets of the teletext signal and are detected at the receiver. The receiver is programmed by registering a corresponding code indicative of acceptable or forbidden content, causing the display to be erased and allowing the voice to be silenced according to the transmitted code. System program sources and receivers are also described.

Description

A method and apparatus for disabling a voice or video display.

In the United States, a television receiver having a display of a predetermined size or larger that has been on the market since 1998 has passed a bill stating that parents should have means to prevent children from seeing a coded program that includes violence, sex, and bathing. Monitors the code transmitted in a television signal and when the code indicates the content of the forbidden program, including scenes related to violence, sex or otherwise, which a certain listener may dislike or that is inappropriate for children, Called " V-chip " has been proposed which can disable the television receiver.

In the United States V-chip system, the broadcasting facility grades each program into four categories of censorship. At this time, the values for each category are simultaneously transmitted as part of the Extended Data Services (EDS) of the Closed Captioning (CC) system. This value is transmitted as long as the program is in the air.

Using the access control mechanism, the parents set a threshold for each category. If the rating exceeds the already authenticated value, the V-chip suppresses the video and audio signals. Since the response of the V-chip decoder is almost instantaneous, the system can easily handle channel hopping. Moreover, parents do not have to worry about warnings of missing content in TV guides or at program startup.

The Electronic Industries Association (EIA) determines the number of censored categories and data bits required to transmit the code.

- MPAA rating (equivalent to film type, eg 18, PG, etc.) - 3 bits

- Violence content recommendation level - 2 bits (allows a ratio of 0 to 3)

- Sex content recommendation level - 2 bits

- Adult content recommendation level - 2 bits

The same principle applies to systems actually tested in Canada, but at present the two systems are not identical.

All US television sets assembled after July 1993 should include a CC decoder to provide subtitles. The current CC decoder (SAA5252 decoder available from Philips Semiconductors) can clear the TV picture when switching to full-text mode. Also, since they have display characteristics suitable for generating an OSD menu, parents can program the screening threshold.

Unlike teletext, CC data can be recorded and played back by a VHS VCR during program playback. In addition, the recorded and reproduced tapes may contain censored data.

In Europe, the issue of implementing a V-chip system is generally more complex than North America. Broadcasting facilities are not coordinated by a single government because there are differences in acceptable ethical standards and differences in culture and language. Thus, there is a technology to cope with a 625 line TV system having a small reserve capacity for redundant data signals.

The obvious solution is for use in US systems, but it has some disadvantages.

First, in broadcast facilities, the CC signal can occupy valuable teletext transmission capacity (one line is permanently lost), and a different encoding system may be required.

Secondly, broadcasting facilities are very expensive due to double transmission equipment and data bridge (cable amplifier) necessary for teletext and CC signals.

Third, consumer electronics manufacturers will incur additional costs because they provide teletext and CC decoding for every TV set and PC TV card.

The concept that a parent can control the viewing of a television receiver using information transmitted by a broadcasting facility is not new but is presented in WO83 / 02208, published June 23, 1983. In this document, a code formed as a selected row number of a given teletext page is provided via a teletext signal transmitted in a television signal. Therefore, the page number and the line number are transmitted in the field erase period which is required for occurrence of an unpleasant event. At the receiver, the teletext decoder is permanently set to find the associated page and recognize the line number upon transmission. A particular row number represents a specific class of voice and video events.

1 shows a television system for achieving a method according to the invention;

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a television program source according to the present invention;

3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a code word that is categorized in a program and inserted into a teletext extension packet;

4 is a block diagram schematically showing a television receiver according to the present invention.

Figures 5A through 5E show a processing procedure for programming a television receiver to operate in accordance with the method of the present invention.

Figure 6 shows an on screen display message that the method is cited as an example.

* Explanation of a symbol at the main part of the drawing *

1: Television signal source 2: Television transmission medium

11: Teletext inserter 12: Transmission network

14: Teletext editing system 15: TV access control equipment

An object of the present invention is to enable an editing function by a parent or others authorized by the receiver of the output of the television receiver.

The present invention provides a method by which authenticated persons can disable the audio and / or visual display of a television program or a portion thereof according to program content,

I) classifying the entire and / or instant content of the television program;

Ii) generating a code word indicative of the assigned classification status;

Iii) inserting a codeword into the extension packet of the television signal representing the program and the multiplexed teletext signal,

.

An advantage of using teletext transmission to deliver the code is that there is already an infrastructure for inserting teletext signals in various countries in the transmitted signal and that many television receivers now include teletext decoders "He said. Therefore, the viewer's request for the teletext service and the editing facility can be added relatively easily to the receiver and the program making source.

Therefore, in order to enable disabling of the audio and / or video display, the program provider monitors the contents of the program and provides an appropriate indication of the contents of the program by the code embedded in the extension packet of the associated teletext signal do. At this time, the person adjusting the television set uses this code to determine whether the program is displayed (visible and / or verbally). Since teletext decoders do not need to see a specially transmitted page in order to achieve the editing function using an extension packet to deliver the code, the teletext decoder has the task of viewing the page selected by the viewer, Text and image or " in vision " functions can be selected.

If the teletext signal conforms to the World System Teletext Standard, the extension packet may be in packet 8/30 format 1.

Since these packets are normally transmitted once per second, the classification can be easily changed at this rate if necessary. This allows you to edit any occurrence of possible unpleasant thoughts while continuing to watch the program as a whole. For example, new and current everyday programs can involve the entirety of the program as a relatively short part of the program, such as the events in the war zone. Incidentally, a packet may be transmitted more frequently so as to eliminate very short mappings such as a single word.

The method may include another step of generating an error correcting code for insertion into the packet as a code word. In one embodiment, the codeword is protected by a Hamming code, which is a coded 4/8 Hamming.

This can safely receive the rating code, thus minimizing the likelihood of an unacceptable or permissive display by mistake due to an error in the transmission or detection of the rating code word.

More than one classification criterion may each be encoded using a codeword that includes two bits, and an individual criterion may be applied to the entire program or an individual mapping in the program. Classification criteria may include one or more of the following: violence content, sex content, aggressive content, and adult language.

The use of 2-bit code words for each criterion can set four possible levels for this criterion. For example, taking the criteria for violent behavior, code 00 represents zero violent content, code 01 represents low level violent behavior, code 10 represents moderate violent behavior, Code 11 shows a high level of violent behavior.

The code of one of the codes may represent the beginning region of the program, and the beginning region may be represented by the 4-bit code.

The display of the program starter area can be useful in the light of the sense of different cultures. Therefore, it may be useful to be able to correct the meaning of a particular code according to the program initiation and sensation according to the control authority on the TV set, since it is not a separate thing to be rushed into one nationality or religious group. Therefore, a given community may have a large or small deviation of sex or violent behavior, and the level may be increased or decreased according to the position of the receiver by providing an origin code area.

In one embodiment in accordance with the method of the present invention, the extension packet containing the codeword may be inserted into the beginning and / or end of the mapping which changes the classification within the program being classified during the near field cancellation period.

Typically, packet 8/30 format 1 is transmitted approximately once per second. In order to enable individual words, for example, to cause a packet to be sent out during a near field cancellation period so that it is not sufficiently inaccurately disabled, the occurrence of a word that may be enough to interrupt the word is terminated within 20 msec .

An optional word may be provided to replace a word that is deemed inappropriate for the selected classification level.

These words may be sent to a channel for a proposed Audetel service that provides an auxiliary channel, for example, an audio assistance signal for depicting the operational scene.

Moreover, the present invention provides a method of disallowing audio and / or video display of a television program,

Iv) setting a user's permission to determine the program to be disabled or its assigned portion,

V) registering in the memory in the television receiver code word corresponding to the program content for which prohibition is required,

Vi) receiving a television signal disposed in an extension packet of a teletext signal multiplexed with a television signal, the television signal including a codeword indicative of a program classification,

(E) comparing the received codeword with the registered codeword, and

(E) disabling the audio and / or visual display according to the comparison result

.

Receipt of a television signal that is inappropriate for a subscribing viewer, e.g., a child, may be adjusted using the method of the present invention. A television set or a video recorder equipped with a teletext decoder capable of detecting and decoding an extension packet can be used to monitor the classification of a program according to the contents of the program, and when a user registers a classification requiring prohibition, Means are provided for disabling the output of the television set or the recording function of the video recorder.

Step (iv) of the method of the present invention may be accomplished by means of a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Optional or additional step (iv) of the present invention is achieved by monitoring the physical characteristics of the licensor.

A relatively simple way to set permissions is to generate a PIN that only an authorized user will know. At this time, the registered PIN is compared with the stored PIN (only the authorized user knows), and the rating code can be updated if a match is found.

A disadvantage of using a PIN is that the user may forget it or the unauthorized user will find it. An alternative that requires more complex equipment to perform is to monitor the user's physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, voice, and facial features.

The codeword can be registered using a remote control device.

Remote control devices are often equipped in television sets and are invariably equipped in television sets capable of receiving and displaying teletext data. Since they have a numeric keypad, they also have other keys that can be used to register a PIN and the ability to register the required rating code can be used.

An on-screen (movie) display message can be generated to help register the codeword.

By this means, the process of registering the codes in relation to different classification criteria can be guided one by one by the continuously displayed user manual and selection.

An on-screen display screen may be generated informing the viewer why the audio or visual display is disabled.

Such a message may cause the viewer to not see the display or voice as a broken television set. The message may be in the form of, for example, " regulated voice due to adult language ", or " regulated display due to nervous thoughts ".

Regulated voice can be replaced with selective voice.

Therefore, undesirable words or excerpts can be replaced with " bleed " or other voices.

This is realized as having a control function that allows the viewer to regulate the word, so it can be assumed that a failure has occurred if the word is replaced with silience.

A selective voice can be defined by the received signal.

Therefore, a range of speech can be replaced by an initial word. For example, the alternate voice may vary depending on the length of the excerpt to be replaced. In another example, a selective non-corrupt word may be sent in a supplemental channel to replace a word that is not allowed by the selected classification. This optional word can be transmitted, for example, using the predetermined redundancy in the proposed Odette service.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a teletext signal embedding device, means for classifying the television signal to be transmitted in accordance with the program content to which the signal is delivered, means for generating a code word indicative of the class assigned to the program or its assigned portion, And means for inserting a codeword into the extension packet of the text signal.

Wherein the plurality of current television signal sources includes a teletext inserter and the plurality of service providers include means for encoding extension packets not associated with the page.

The teletext signal may be the same as specified in the world system teletext standard, and the extension packet may be packet 8/30 format 1.

Typically, such an extension packet is transmitted in a period of about one second and is not associated with a page. This is decoded by a number of teletext decoders and includes information about the program provider, the first page to be captured, and the clocks that are being executed. There are four bytes in this packet used according to the invention to transmit the program rating code.

Means for changing the classification within a single program's duration may be included.

This can be used in two modes. The first mode is for preventing reception of the entire program which is deemed unacceptable, and the second mode is for viewing a program for eliminating possible unpleasant thoughts. The length of the mapping that can be excluded depends on the transmission frequency of the code. Packet 8/30 format 1 is typically transmitted once per second, and the mapping can be easily deleted in a number of second modes. Incidentally, it is also possible to transmit additional packets 8/30, so this can be timed for the near field cancellation period.

Means for correcting an error in a codeword may be provided. The word can be protected by a Hamming code. The codeword can be coded 4/8 decoding.

By protecting the error of the codeword, the possibility of illegally blocking or displaying the display of the program or the program in the program due to an error in transmission is reduced.

A codeword may include one or more of the following categories; Sex expressions, violence, adult language, words that level the level of a bustling image or voice.

These categories can be applied to speech or video and can be applied to individual programs within an entire program or program. For example, a new program can describe a high level of violence during special reporting, such as in a war zone. In addition, they may include the content of the boredom, for example, a screen of the staring person according to starvation. Other examples depending on the content that may appear to be pitiful to certain viewers include a surgical display of the medical program.

Furthermore, the codeword may include a codeword that represents the beginning region of the program.

Different regions and countries have different customs, and content that can be received in one region may not be the same in different regions. Thus, considering low levels of violence in one area can be considered in other areas of moderate or high levels of violence.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a recording medium comprising a rating code word indicating a classification assigned for the entire and / or instant content of a data program representing a television program, and an associated teletext signal, wherein the codeword is an extension of the television signal Lt; / RTI >

This may categorize and regenerate the playback of recorded media such as videotapes or optical discs that may be purchased by a person who does not want the authorized person to wait. That is, the parent may consider that it is inappropriate for the child to choose the video. When the recording medium is classified in the same manner as the broadcast content, the same control can be executed while watching.

The teletext signal can be identified by the world system teletext standard, and the extension packet can be in packet 8/30 format.

The teletext signal may be converted to a multilevel code to reduce the bit frequency of the teletext signal, in which case the recording medium may be a VHS video tape.

As is widely known, it is customary that teletext signals can not be actually recorded and reproduced using a VHS video recorder due to bandwidth limitations. Several proposals have been made to overcome one problem described in EP-A-0608960 (PHB 33932). In this application, one line of teletext data extends to five lines during the field erase period. As a result, not all of the teletext data can be stored, and the selection of such data is necessary at the time of recording.

One of the uses of such a device is a recording suitable for deaf that is typically sent to page 888. [ There may also be room for recording the rating code in the same manner, but this may of course further limit some other teletext information needed for recording.

Another proposal for recording teletext data on VHS tapes is described in British Patent Application No. 9605614.8 (PHB34056). In this proposal, the teletext signal is converted from a low frequency to a multilevel code. This can be used to store and replay all transmitted teletext data using a VHS recorder, so that the rating code in the extension packet can be stored on the tape.

Moreover, the invention relates to a television receiver suitable for receiving and displaying television signals from such television signal sources or recording media and comprising a teletext signal capable of decoding an extension packet of a teletext signal, Means for registering information indicative of a predetermined program classification representing a program requiring display to be inhibited, means for comparing the registration and the received classification, and means for displaying the program According to the result of the comparison.

Therefore, a code corresponding to an allocation part of a program or a program necessary for suppression is registered in the television receiver. The corresponding code is received via the teletext extension packet and can be compared with the registered code to control the display and audio output of the receiver within the receiver. Including the code within the teletext extension packet is not necessary to have a teletext decoder that permanently views a particular page. Instead, the teletext decoder can perform the normal function of capturing the user selection page, and can automatically acquire unrelated page extension packets.

The permission means may be provided to permit only the licensee to register the program classification.

The authorization means may comprise means for registering the PIN, means for comparing the registered PIN to the stored PIN, and means for allowing entry of the program code if the stored and registered PIN is the same.

This provides an easy secure means for allowing the licensee, for example, only the parent to change the rating code. However, the code has the disadvantage that it can be forgotten or damaged. In the first case, it is difficult to change the classification, and in the second case, the unauthorized person can change the classification.

Optionally, the authorization means may comprise means for monitoring the physical characteristics of the licensor, means for storing the monitored characteristics, means for requesting a change in the content of the acceptable program, means for monitoring the characteristics in response to the request, Means for comparing stored features, and means for altering acceptable program content as a result of a correction comparison.

Several physical features can be used, such as fingerprints, facial features.

The fingerprint detector is known as the proposed use for credit card verification at the terminal for sales promotion. Means for recognizing facial features are described in EP-A-0 551 941 (PHB 33765).

The advantage of using physical features is that they are difficult to tamper with and do not need to remember PINs or other external data.

Means may be provided for generating on the screen display message to inform the viewer why the audio and / or display is disabled.

This prevents the viewer from guessing that the receiver has failed when the program can not be received or received due to classification.

Means for replacing an inappropriate word with an optional audio signal may be provided. An optional audio signal may represent an optional unintended word. A selective word may be received as an allocation portion of the television signal.

Therefore, if an objectionable word occurs, they can be replaced by, for example, a blip signal. Alternatively, they may be replaced by optional non-objectionable words. One way to achieve this is to use a supplemental channel in which the program generator transmits a selective word. Auxiliary channels that may be used are the Odette channels proposed to transmit occluded or partially observed audio aids messages.

Means for disabling audio and video display may be provided if the rating code is not received at all by the television signal.

This can regulate playback of unclassified programs. This may be due to their lifetime, for example videotapes, which occur in illegal sources. In particular, highly controversial tapes can be generated without corresponding rating codes.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention can be seen in the following description in accordance with embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system in which the method according to the invention can be achieved. The system shown in Fig. 1 includes a television signal source 1, a television transmission medium 2, and a plurality of television receivers 3-1 to 3-n. The television signal program source may be a normal television broadcast equipment, terrestrial or satellite broadcast, or may be a program source for a cable television network. The television program source includes means for registering the program classification within the teletext inserter and the extension packet of the teletext signal. The transmission medium 2 may take any convenient form, such as being a wireless file as a broadcast generated by a terrestrial transmitter or satellite transmitter, or it may be a cable network for a cable TV system. The television receivers 3-1 to 3-n are connected to the program source via the transmission medium 2. [ Another possible program source 1 is a video tape or a disc on which a program is recorded for playback by a video tape recorder or a video disc player. In this case, the transmission path 2 is a tape recorder and a disc player, The cable for connecting the player to the television receiver can be simplified.

An embodiment of a television signal program source according to the present invention is shown in schematic block form in FIG. The television program source includes the source of the video and audio signal 10, which may be, for example, a television camera in which the video output is provided to the transmission network 12 via the teletext inserter 11. [ The audio output from the television signal source 10 is provided to another input of the transmission network 12 via a line 13. The conventional teletext editing system 14 is connected to the teletext inserter 11 and has another input provided from the TV access control equipment 15. [

The TV access control equipment 15 is arranged to insert into the expansion packet of the teletext code word which classifies the contents of the television program generated by the signal source 10. [ The TV access control equipment 15 has a first input 16 for receiving data from a TV program scheduling system. Such data may provide an overall indication of the contents of the program that may be used to control the display of the program in the receiver. The information can determine, for example, the level of violence, sex content, adult language or aggression that may occur in the program.

The TV access control device 15 has a second input 17 for receiving data from the recorded content. The recorded content may already include coding for indicating the type of contents provided in the program, and may include instant data for classifying a specific event in the program. The keyboard or other input device 18 is connected to another input of the TV access control equipment 15. [ This allows the operator to insert the appropriate rating code into the live program. Of course, it is necessary to delay the actual transmission of the program for a short time, so it is time for the operator to register the appropriate code at an appropriate time. This transmission delay is well known to live broadcast programs for enabling broadcast permission to block certain inappropriate occurrences. For example, a live call receiver in a program for achieving certain offensive or obscene annotations is performed by the caller.

At this time, the code generated by the TV access control equipment 15, received by it, and passed to the teletext editing system is inserted into the expansion packet of the teletext signal. In particular, they may be inserted into selected bytes of packet 8/30 format 1.

Figure 3 shows the contents of modified packet 8/30 format 1 to be achieved with the present invention. This therefore identifies the clock and information running in a certain period of time as packet 8/30 and includes an assembly code including information identifying the initial page, network identity, time offset, modified Julian date and Coordinated Universal Time, . At this time, there are four bytes used in accordance with the present invention to transmit the rating code for the program. At this time, there is a byte that defines the status display.

The 4 bytes are provided with 32 bits which can be used to encode the data. It is desirable that the rating code be provided reliably because it annoys the viewer if the program is interrupted by false reception of the rating code. This fault protection can, of course, reduce the number of data bits that can be used to encode the class code. In an embodiment according to the present invention, these 4 bytes are used to transmit 16 message bits coded 4/8 for error protection. A suggestion for assigning such a message is as follows.

2 bits for the sex content of the entire program

Two bits for the sex content of individual events in the program

Two bits of violence content in the program

Two bits of violence content related to the events in the program

Two bits for a nasty case in the program

2 bits for the adult language in the program and

2 bits for instructions in the beginning area of the program.

The allocation of two bits for each program content classification can be set to four possible levels with this specific content. For example, code 00 means no content of this type, code 01 means low level content, code 10 means medium level content, and code 11 means high level content. It is considered useful to have coding as long as the content of sex and violence relates to the entire program and individual events within the program. Thus, for example, a parent may decide that a program having low or medium sex content as long as individual ideas involving sex content are regulated, but since they eliminate events with sex content, You may want to set the mapping in 00 to 00. The same considerations apply to the violence content within the program. The classification of the aggressive content is likewise only for a limited duration in the program. The type of content to be considered here is, for example, the details indicated by the operation in the medical program. In this case, the viewer can enjoy the medical technique, and can find the depressed manipulation description. Other moments when the contentiousness may occur are new or in the current meeting program. For example, an interview with a recently bereaved person may be an image that shows the effects of famine or famine or other disaster for a given person. It is common that the adult language content of the program can be interrupted quite occasionally, so the expulsion of the entire program based on it is probably inappropriate and the moment when adult language occurs can be suppressed.

It is useful that the areas of the program starter code have different areas and countries with different ethical codes so that being classified as low level violence in one area can be classified as medium or higher level violence in another area. The same considerations can be applied well to sex content, and can also be applied to adult speech or adult language content. In the aircraft, it is possible to modify the code for sex, violence, abuse, or adult language content according to the code for the beginning area of the program. Therefore, within the region 1, the intermediate sex content can correspond to a high level of sex content in the region 2. [

It is also possible, for example, to exclude programs originating from a given area for political or religious reasons.

4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a television receiver according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the television receiver includes conventional antennas 20 for supplying tuners 21 and 1F and a demodulator block 22. The combined video and erase signals are available at the output of the block 22 and are supplied to the teletext decoder 23 and the color decoder 24. [ The output of the color decoder 24 is supplied to the video selector 25 which also receives the display signal output from the teletext decoder 23 and the erase signal via the OR gate 26 from the teletext decoder 23. [

The control processor 27 controls the operation of the television receiver in a conventional manner. This is used by the viewer to select a particular channel for the display and receives control commands from the remote control 28 to select other functions such as a teletext display or an on-screen menu display. Processor 27 may receive from the teletext decoder 23 a code that is provided in packet 8/30 format 1, i.e., a code representing sex content, violence, abusive content, or adult language content. It can also be stored in the code in the nonvolatile memory 29 which is registered by the user using a remote control device that sets the level of sex, violence, aggressive content or adult language content acceptable to the display. The processor 27 compares the received code to the stored code and supplies it to the video selector 25 via the OR gate 26 in accordance with the output for this comparison, May be generated on line 30. It is also possible to supply a signal to the audio selector 32 via line 31 that can cause the audio output to be silenced in the appropriate environment.

The audio selector generates an output supplied to the standard video circuit 25 and the display device 36 while the audio selector 25 generates the output supplied to the standard audio circuit and loudspeaker 34 represented by block 33 and the video selector 25 . The audio selector 32 has another input supplied from a terminal 37 to which a selective audio source can be connected. This may be, for example, a tone generator that replaces a certain unpleasant word by a blip, or it may be connected to a supplemental channel, e.g., an ordeal channel, to provide an unpleasant word with an optional word. The Odette channel is a channel proposed to be used to provide an audio assistance signal that provides a description of the scene to assist the next program by a person who is not clearly seeing the display screen or even by a person who is occluded or partially observed . Typically, on a channel that allows an optional word for a possible unpleasant word to be transmitted by the broadcast facility or that can be encoded within a given program source because OdeTel is in idle state while talking, Can be.

Although Fig. 4 shows a television receiver, the present invention can equally well be applied to a video recorder. In this case, the outputs of the audio and video selector circuits 32 and 25 may be supplied to the recording head on the video recorder. Therefore, only a program having an authorized code can be recorded on the video recorder. An optional device for a video recorder can record a received television program irrespective of the rating code associated therewith, but since such codes can be recorded on a tape, the television receiver at the time of playback is able to record And can respond to the output from the video recorder. In this manner, the program may be recorded for viewing by a number of different persons, each of whom may have a different acceptable classification level for a particular content. Therefore, the entire program is played through one television set, but only a limited version is played through the other set.

5A to 5E show a screen display sequence in which a person can register a code in the television receiver. Initially, the switch on the on-screen display identifies the message that prompts the user to register the personal identification number. This assumes that the authorization is checked by the PIN. The PIN can be inscribed in the memory by the manufacturer informing the buyer of the number of the PIN, so the owner initiates the selection of the classification. An alternative is set to PIN in all zones of the failure and causes the set to be registered when the set is first switched on to change the PIN to a predetermined number when requested by the user in the routine. Subsequently, when it is desired to change the classification, the key requesting it is pushed to the remote control device. This brings up an on-screen display message that prompts the user to register the PIN.

At this time, if the user registers the PIN and this is correctly checked, the next on-screen display is provided. This is reference numeral (2) in Fig. 5A. Initially, the television receiver can be set to receive all programs by using a television access control system, but the choice can be made as to whether or not certain types of programs are excluded. The on-screen display instructs the user to press the key to continue processing, the red key at this moment. The next screen provided, i.e., the screen 3, prompts the user to press the green key to select the type of program that can be received or to press the red key if the user wishes to keep the status unchanged. Assuming that the green key is depressed, a fourth screen is provided. It is recommended that the user decide whether or not the program relating to the sex content is excluded and exclude the user from pressing one button when such content is excluded and recommends pressing another button if such content is not excluded . Assuming that the user intends to exclude a predetermined sex content, a screen 5 is provided. It invites the user to exclude a high level, moderate level, high level or a certain level. In this particular example, the user chooses to exclude only the high level. In this particular example, the user selects to exclude only high-level sex content, and then suggests whether the content should be excluded only when an event occurs, and whether all programs containing high-level sex content should be completely excluded . Again, the user is urged to press red at one moment and green at another. This completes the programming of the sex content.

A similar process appears on the screens 7, 8 and 9 following the violent content. The screens 10, 11, and 12 show the processing for making the contents that have been hurt can be excluded. In these special cases, thoughts are provided, but only the ones that are not covered in the whole program are excluded. It is said that the content that is bored is related to the whole program undesirably, but only to the idea in the program. For example, the content may be surgical scenes within a medical program, accident scenes within a new program, or other disasters. Such an event could be a small part of such a program, and the program could easily be enjoyed in this deleted event.

A similar process appears on the screens 13-15 to allow programming of adult language content. Again, this excludes certain ideas rather than the entire program, since the generation of unpleasant words as a whole can be a small part of the program if a program with intense sex or violence content is already excluded. The screens 16 and 17 represent the programming of the starting area. The user can exclude the program in a predetermined area if necessary. This may mean, for example, that a particular country sends propagandistic content that may not contain excessive sex content or violent content or aggressive content or adult language, but a licenser may want to prevent receiving such programs from the country. Selective use for the inital area is to transform the actual code for sex, violence, aggressive content or adult language that varies according to the source of the program. Therefore, it may be required that the level of the sex content received from the region A is appropriate in the region A because it can be increased in the region where the receiver is disposed. Such a change code may be permanently programmed in the aircraft or may be set by the user. The screen 18 is the last screen provided and confirms the selection made by the user. This screen is similar in relation to the screen 2 provided when an entry to the access control system is obtained. Therefore, when the setting is made, it can be displayed on the screen 2 at the time of subsequent access.

It will be appreciated that such an on-screen display message is merely an example, and that the actual message is custom-made in a particular store and may be within the language domain of the country in which the set is located. Of course, the control processor may be variously stored in a number of different languages on the screen display, which language selection may be made by the user when accessing the on-screen display, so that a common control processor Can be enabled.

6 shows an example of an on-screen message displayed when the access control system is in operation. Therefore, the first screen indicates that the program is unavailable, indicating that this is due to a high level of sex content. These messages are determined by the coding associated with them, as well as the reasons for the invalidity of these special programs. The second screen indicates that the television is randomly erased due to adequate violence content. Therefore, during most programs, the display can be used, but it randomly clears the clear display to prevent viewers from seeing the violence content. The third screen likewise shows that the display is arbitrarily erased due to the content of the boggling. The fourth screen represents a picture showing that the speech is silenced due to the adult language and a picture displayed with a neutral message. Therefore, the viewer does not assume that the audio channel of the television receiver has failed because the viewer informs that the audio is arbitrarily silenced.

In a particular example, the user's permission to change the coding is done by PIN. However, there are several other ways that the user can be authorized. One possibility is the fingerprint detector, so the user needs to place the user's hand or fingerprint on the detector pad which compares the fingerprint stored in the image plane with the fingerprint of the user. This can prevent a certain problem of forgetting the PIN, for example, causing a child of one of the children to find the PIN and causing the PIN to reset the rating code to be damaged. Another possibility is to include a video camera on the water vapor that can be seen in the presence of a person who wants to change the code. The output of the video camera can be compared to the image stored in the receiver, and if a match is found, the rating code can be updated. The latter two methods can be used, for example, when a personal computer is equipped in a TV program receiver facility. At this time, the processing circuitry required for fingerprint or facial recognition may be in the personal computer circuitry.

In this particular example, Packet 8/30 Format 1, by including a rating code in the extension packet, monitoring of a particular page with teletext transmission can be generated in parallel by monitoring the rating code. For example, when waiting for a television program, a message may be displayed on a screen that can not be monitored if the classification system needs a specific page to be monitored with a rating code, for example a teletext indicating the final score at the time of football or cricket match Often within the sight page of the signal. In this case, it is necessary to have at least two ingress channels within the teletext page permanently assigned to the rating code page. It is unnecessary to have a specific ingress channel permanently assigned to a grade code transmission using an extension packet.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that other variations are possible. Such variations are well known in the art of designing and using television systems and components thereof and may be used in lieu of, or in addition to, the features described above. While specific claims of the application to this specific combination of features specify the scope of the claims, the claims describing the invention are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the claims set forth in the appended claims, Or any predetermined novel features that are obvious to those skilled in the art to which the artisan explicitly discerns whether or not to mitigate all technical problems. can do. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention is capable of other and different combinations of these features, or any other derivations thereof, derived from them, while the invention is being practiced.

Claims (42)

CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A method for authenticated persons to disable audio and / or video display of a television program or a portion thereof according to program content, I) classifying the entire and / or instant content of the television program; Ii) generating a code word indicative of an assigned class status; Iii) inserting a codeword into the teletext signal extension packet multiplexed with the television signal representing the program. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an error correction bit to insert the codeword into the packet. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the codeword is protected by a Hamming code. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the codeword is coded 4/8 Hamming. 5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one or more class criteria are each encoded using a codeword comprising two bits. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more rating criteria is applied to the entire program. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more rating criteria is applied to each event in the program. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rating criteria comprises one or more of violent content, sexual content, aggressive content, adult language. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the code word represents an origin area of the program. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the starter region is represented by a 4-bit code. 10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the teletext signal conforms to the global system teletext standard, wherein the extension packet is a packet 8/30 format 1. The method of any one of the preceding claims, comprising the step of inserting an extension packet containing the codeword during the adjacent field cancellation period into the beginning and / or end of the event changing the rating in the classified program . The method of any of the preceding claims, comprising providing another word to replace a word that is deemed inappropriate for the selected grade level. A method of disabling audio and / or video display of a television program, iv) defining rights of a user to define a program to be disabled or a part of the program, v) inputting a code word corresponding to a program content whose suppression is requested in a memory in the television receiver, vi) receiving a television signal generated by a method as claimed in the preceding paragraphs, vii) comparing the received codeword with the input codeword, viii) disabling voice and / or image display according to the comparison result. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (iv) is performed by entering a personal identification number (PIN). 15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (iv) is performed by monitoring physiological characteristics of an authenticated person. 17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the codeword is input using a remote control device. 18. The method of any one of claims 14 to 17, comprising generating an on-screen display message to assist input of the codeword. 19. The method of any one of claims 14-18, comprising generating an on-screen display message to inform the viewer of the reason for the audio or video display being disabled. 20. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, comprising replacing the regulated voice with another voice. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the other voice is determined by a received signal. In a television signal program source, A teletext insertion device, means for classifying the television signal to be transmitted in accordance with the program content to be transmitted, means for generating a codeword indicative of the class assigned to the program or portion thereof, and means for generating a codeword in the extension packet of the teletext signal And means for inserting the television signal. 23. The television signal program source of claim 22, wherein the teletext signal conforms to the global system teletext standard, and the enhancement packet is a packet 8/30 format one. 24. The television signal program source according to claim 22 or 23, comprising means for changing said rating within the duration of a single program. 23. A television signal program source as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24, comprising means for correcting errors in the codeword. 26. The television signal program source of claim 25, wherein the word is protected by a Hamming code. 27. The television signal program source of claim 25 or 26, wherein the codeword is a coded 4/8 hamming. 28. The method of any one of claims 22-27, wherein the codeword comprises one or more of the following categories: a word that defines the level of sexually explicit, violent, adult language, Television signal program source. 29. The television signal program source of claim 28, wherein the codeword further comprises a codeword indicative of an origin area of the program. CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A recording medium comprising data indicative of a rating code word and an associated teletext signal indicating a rating assigned to a television program, a total and / Wherein the codeword is included in an extension packet of a teletext signal. 31. The recording medium of claim 30, wherein the teletext signal conforms to the world system teletext standard, and the extension packet is a packet 8/30 format 1. 32. The recording medium of claim 30 or 31, wherein the teletext signal is converted to a multilevel code to reduce the bit frequency of the teletext signal. 33. The recording medium according to claim 32, wherein the recording medium is a VHS video tape. 29. A television receiver suitable for receiving and displaying television signals from a television signal source as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 29 or a recording medium as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 33, A teletext decoder capable of decoding an extension packet of the teletext signal, means for extracting a codeword indicating the class assigned to the currently received program, inputting information indicating a program class indicating a program for which regulation of the display is requested Means for comparing the input rating and the received rating, and means for allowing or disallowing the display of the program in accordance with the comparison result. 35. The television receiver according to claim 34, comprising authentication means for allowing only authorized persons to input the program rating. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the authenticating means comprises means for inputting a PIN, means for comparing the input PIN with a stored PIN, and means for allowing registration of the program code if the stored and input PINs are the same Television receiver. 36. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the means for authenticating comprises means for monitoring physiological characteristics of an authenticated person, means for storing monitored characteristics, means for requesting a change in acceptable program content, Means for monitoring, means for comparing said monitored and stored features, and means for changing to said acceptable program content in the case of a reasonable comparison. 37. A television receiver according to any one of claims 34 to 37, comprising means for generating an on-screen display message to inform the viewer of the reason for the audio and / or display being disabled. 39. The television receiver according to any one of claims 34 to 38, comprising means for replacing an inappropriate word with another voice signal. 40. The television receiver according to claim 39, wherein said another audio signal represents another unwarranted word. 41. The television set of claim 40, wherein the other word is received as part of a received television signal. 43. A television receiver according to any one of claims 34 to 41, comprising means for disabling audio and video display when the rating code is not received at all by the television signal.