KR20000064924A - television - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of controlling viewing of a program in accordance with the content of a television program includes transmitting a code indicating a level of sexual content, violent content, offensive content, etc. using an auxiliary data channel. The code is aggregated into a wide screen signaling (WSS) signal and detected at the receiver. The receiver is programmed by inputting a corresponding code that indicates allowed or prohibited content, causing the image to be blanked and the sound muted according to the transmitted code. Systems, program sources, and receivers are also described.

Description

television

The law passed in the United States requires any television receiver with a display of a certain size or more, sold since 1998, to provide a means for parents to protect children from encrypted programs, including violence, sex and vulgar language. It is required to be provided with. The so-called "V-chip" monitors codes transmitted with television signals and indicates that the code is a prohibited program that contains violence, sex or other elements that are objectionable to certain viewers or inappropriate for children. , Prohibits the use of TV receivers.

In the US V-chip system, the broadcaster categorizes each program into four screening categories. Then, the value of each category is transmitted simultaneously as part of the Extended Data Service (EDS) of the Closed Cationiing (CC) system. The value is transmitted while the program is broadcast.

Using an access control mechanism, parents set thresholds for each category. If the grade exceeds the previously applied value, the V-chip suppresses the video and audio signals. Since the operation of the V-chip decoder is almost instantaneous, the system can easily control channel hopping. Moreover, parents do not have to worry about missing content warnings at the beginning of a TV guide or program.

The American Institute of Electronics Engineers (EIA) defined four censor categories and the number of data bits needed to transmit the code:

MPAA rating (equivalent to classification of movie ratings, e.g. 18, PG, etc.)-3 bits,

Violence content advisory level-2 bits (allowing a size of 0 to 3),

Sexual content advisory level-2 bits,

Adult content advisory level-2 bits.

Canada applied the same principles to the system, but is now different from the United States.

All TV sets in the United States manufactured after July 1993 provide subtitles by including a CC decoder. Recent CC decoders (eg SAA5252 decoders from Philips Semiconductors) can blur the TV picture when switched to full-text mode. The decoder also has appropriate display characteristics to generate an OSD menu, allowing parents to program the censor threshold.

Unlike teletext, CC data can be recorded and reproduced by the VHS VCR during program reproduction. Thus, recorded and prerecorded tapes may also contain censored data.

The performance problem of V-chip type systems in Europe is more complicated than in North America. Broadcasting stations are not controlled by a single government and differ in acceptable moral standards due to cultural and language differences. Thus, a technical problem arises with respect to coping with 625-line TV systems with little spare capacity for redundant data signals.

An easy answer is to use the American system, but this has some drawbacks.

First, for broadcasters, the CC signal will occupy valuable teletext transmission capacity (one line will not be available forever) and another encoding system will be needed.

Second, replicating the data bridge and transmission equipment (of cable amplifiers) required for both teletext and CC signals would be an economic burden for the broadcaster.

Third, home appliance designers have another burden to provide teletext and CC decoding for all TV sets and PC TV cards.

The concept that the parent controls the video of the television receiver using the information transmitted by the broadcaster is not new and is disclosed in W083 / 02208 (issued June 23, 1983). The document discloses that a code is transmitted via a teletext signal transmitted with a television signal, which code is formed by the line number of a given teletext page. Thus, if an offensive event occurs, the page number and row number are sent in a field blanking period. At the receiver, a teletext decoder is set up to continuously retrieve relevant pages and identify line numbers. Specific row numbers indicate specific classes of acoustic and visual events.

Applicant's co-pending UK patent application (No. 9619878.3 (PHB34110)) discloses a method of using a teletext signal in classification data transmitted in an extended packet, which is transmitted at about one minute intervals by a British television program provider. Is disclosed. Although this is not fast enough for all possible applications, it allows for a relatively fast update of the normal transmission and classification of data. However, the use of teletex-based transmission has the disadvantage of not being able to reliably record and play back the tape using a standard VHS recorder. Thus, "off air" recording destroys the transmitted code, and the playback of the pre-recorded tape will not make the code (although recorded on the tape) available to the television receiver.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus that can inhibit the display of a program in accordance with the content of a television program.

1 shows a television system for carrying out the method according to the invention.

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

FIG. 3 illustrates a system of program classification codes inserted into a teletext extension packet. FIG.

4 is a block diagram of a television receiver according to the present invention;

5 shows a process for programming a television receiver to operate in accordance with the method of the present invention.

6 illustrates possible on-screen display messages in the practice of the method.

It is an object of the present invention to enable a parent or other person with authority over a television receiver to perform an editing function on the output of the television receiver.

The present invention provides a method for allowing an authorized person to suppress the audio and / or video display function of the program or a portion of the program in accordance with the content of the television program, the method comprising:

i) categorizing the overall and / or temporary content of the television programme;

ii) generating code words representing said assigned classification;

iii) inserting said code word into a Wide Screen Signaling Signal (WSS) multiplexed with a television signal representing said program.

Using the bits of the WSS has the advantage that the program provider sends more of the code and the decoder can be used directly for a wide screen (16: 9 aspect ratio) television receiver. Thus, the editing facility can be added to the program originating source relatively easily, and the WSS signal can be decoded at the receiver relatively inexpensively. Another advantage is that the WSS signal is recordable on a standard VHS cassette recorder and can be reproduced by the recorder. Thus, control of the program material recorded on the tape is confirmed by providing a classification code to the WSS signal on the tape associated with the previously recorded program.

Another advantage of code transmission using WSS transmission is that many countries already have the infrastructure to embed WSS signals in transmission signals, and the number of television receivers equipped with WSS decoders has increased significantly. Thus, as the prevalence of wide-screen television receivers increases, so does the demand of viewers for WSS facilities, and censorship facilities can be added to both the receiver and program source sources.

Thus, to prohibit the display of audio and / or video, the program provider monitors the content of the program and uses the code embedded in the WSS to provide the signal with an indication appropriate to the content. The controller of the television set then uses the code to determine whether the program should be displayed (in video and / or audio). Sending the code to a teletext decoder using a WSS signal is not required or irrelevant to the normal performance of the work, in particular the combined text and picture and "in vision" functions are still useful.

The WSS is transmitted in each television frame, and a code word is collected from bits inserted into a plurality of frames.

Thus, the code words are useful at time intervals of less than one second, and as a result, the classification can change frequently for a relatively short time as needed. In this way, unpleasant scenes are edited but viewing of the program as a whole is still permitted. For example, a news or current event program may include miserable or offensive scenes such as a battlefield accident as a short part of the program as a whole.

The method may include another step of generating an error correction bit inserted into the WSS along with the code word. In one embodiment, the code word is protected by a Hamming code, and the code word is 4/8 Hamming coded.

In this way, secure reception of classification codes is possible, thereby minimizing the possibility of allowing or prohibiting error display due to errors in the transmission or detection of the classification codes.

Another possibility of error protection would require successive transmission of the same two or more codes before the program classification is considered valid.

One or more classification standards may be encoded using code words that include two bits, and each standard may be applied to an entire program or to individual events within the program.

The use of a two bit code word for each standard allows setting of four possible levels for that standard. For example, in the standard of violence, Code 00 indicates that it does not contain violence, Code 01 indicates a low level of violence, Code 10 indicates a medium level of violence, and Code 11 indicates a high level of violence. Indicate violence.

One of the code words may indicate a source region of a program, which may be represented by a 4-bit code.

Indication of the source area of a program may be useful due to cultural differences in different cultures. Thus, it may not be offensive to one country or religion, nor to another country or religion, so the possibility of modifying the meaning of a particular code may be useful, depending on the source of the program and the sensitivity of the controller to the TV receiver. Thus, as a society may be tolerant or strict about sexual or violent behavior, by providing an area of source code, the level may be increased or decreased accordingly at the receiver's location.

Optional words may be provided in place of the word (s) deemed inappropriate for the selected classification.

The words may be transmitted on an auxiliary channel. For example, an Audetel service may be proposed that provides an audio assistance signal to describe an action in a scene.

The invention further provides a method of prohibiting the sound and / or visual display of a television program, the method comprising:

iv) setting a user's authority to define a program or portion of the program to be prohibited;

v) entering code words corresponding to the program contents to be suppressed into a memory in the television receiver,

vi) receiving a television signal generated by the method of preceding steps;

vii) comparing the received code words with the written code words;

viii) disabling the acoustic and / or visual display according to the result of the comparison.

The reception of television signals with content that is undesirable for potential viewers, such as children, can be controlled using this method. A television set or video recorder with a WSS decoder can be used to monitor the classification of the program according to the content, and if the user tries to enter the classification to be suppressed, disable the output of the television set or the recorder function of the video recorder. Means for making this may be provided.

Step iv) of the method may be accomplished by entering a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Optionally, the present invention can be accomplished by monitoring the physical characteristics of the authorized person in addition to step iv).

A relatively simple way to set up permissions is for only those with the right to know the PIN. Thereafter, the entered PIN is compared with the stored PIN (which only the authorized person knows), and if they match, the classification code can be updated.

The disadvantage of using a PIN is that the user forgets it or someone who does not have the right to find it. Optional examples require more complex equipment to perform the monitoring and monitor the user's physical characteristics such as fingerprints, voices, faces, and the like.

Code words can be entered using a remote control unit.

Currently, it is common for a remote control unit to be provided in a television set and to have a numeric keypad. Thus, the remote control unit can be used to enter the PIN. Most remote control units have other keys with functions that can be used to enter certain sort codes.

On-screen display messages are generated to support the input of the code words.

As such, the stepwise process of input of codes associated with different classification standards can be driven by instructions or selections that are displayed in succession.

In addition, an on-screen display message is generated to inform the viewer why the acoustic or visual display is prohibited.

The message will prevent the viewer from thinking that there is a defect in the television that causes the display or the muting of the sound. For example, the message may be in the form of "prohibit sound due to adult language" or "prohibit display due to unpleasant scenes".

The forbidden sound may be replaced with an optional sound.

Thus, undesirable words or phrases may be replaced with "bleep" or other sounds. This allows the viewer to recognize that the control function inhibits language. On the other hand, if the language is replaced by silence, the viewer will think it is defective.

The optional sound can be defined by the received signal.

Thus, the range of sound can replace the original language. For example, the replacement sound may depend on the length of the phrase to be replaced. In yet another embodiment, the optional languages allowed may be transmitted on an auxiliary channel, thereby replacing languages not allowed by the selected classification. For example, the optional languages can be transmitted using the extra capacity of the proposed Odetel service.

The present invention provides an apparatus for embedding a WSS signal, means for classifying the television signal to be transmitted according to program content transmitted by the television signal, means for generating code words representing the classification assigned to the program or a portion of the program; And a television signal program source comprising means for inserting the code words into the WSS.

Many modern television signal sources have a WSS inserter that inserts WSS signals at virtual blank intervals, thereby indicating the aspect ratio of the picture to be transmitted. The WSS signal contains 3 bits in each frame, which is currently defined as a PAL plus helper signal. In one embodiment of the invention, the 3 bits are used to transmit the classification code rather than the PAL plus helper code. Of course, this is not compatible with any PAL plus transmission.

Means for changing the classification in the duration of a single program may be included. This allows the classification code to be used in two modes. The first mode prevents the reception of the entire program to be considered unacceptable, and the second mode allows viewing of the program that deleted the unpleasant events. The length of events that can be excluded depends on the frequency of the transmission of the codes. Since the WSS signal is transmitted once per frame (i.e., every 40 [msecs]), the minimum update time is 40 [msecs]. However, if the time of the present embodiment is increased, the classification code may have a plurality of consecutive WSSs. Since it extends on the signal, the extra capacity is insufficient for the transmission of the proposed classification code within one frame.

Means for error correcting code words may be provided. The words can be protected by a Hamming code. Code words may be 4/8 Hamming coded.

By error protection of the code words, the possibility of inhibiting or misusing the display of a program or an event in the program due to an error in the transmission is reduced.

In the alternative of hamming coding, the classification code needs to be received two or more times in the same form before operation.

The code word may include words that define one or more levels of the following categories; Obscene, Violent, Adult Language, Objectionable Video or Sound.

The categories may be applied to sound or video and may be applied to the entire program or to individual events within the program. For example, new programs can depict high levels of violence, such as reports from the battlefield. They may also contain offensive content, such as photographs of hunger-hungry people. Another example of material that may be offensive to some viewers includes the display of surgery in a medical program.

The code word may further comprise a code word indicating an area of origin of the program.

Because different regions and countries have different customs and materials, the above is acceptable in one region but may be rejected in another. Thus, what is considered a low level of violence in one area may be considered a medium or high level of violence in another area. The present invention provides a record comprising data representing a television program, a classification code word representing an entire program and / or a classification assigned to the temporary content of the program, and a wide screen signaling (WSS) signal containing the code word. It further provides a record carrier.

This allows the authorized person to classify and play back pre-recorded media, such as video tapes or optical discs, which can be purchased by those who forbid viewing. In other words, parents can determine that their children's video selection is inappropriate. If the record carrier is classified in the same manner as the broadcast material, the same control can be executed even for viewing.

The use of WSS signals has the advantage over the use of teletext to transmit classification codes. While the teletext signal cannot be recorded by a standard VHS recorder, the WSS signal is designed to be recorded on a VHS cassette recorder.

The invention further provides a television receiver suitable for the reception and display of television signals from said television signal source or record carrier, said television receiver having a WSS decoder capable of decoding said WSS signal and a recently received program. Means for extracting said code word representing a classification, means for inputting information indicative of any program classification indicative of a program having a display to be prohibited, means for comparing the input classification with a received classification, and Means for allowing or inhibiting the display of the program according to the result.

Code corresponding to the program or part of the program to be suppressed is input to the television receiver. The corresponding code is received via a WSS signal and compared with the code entered in the receiver to enable control of the display or sound output of the receiver. By including the code in the WSS signal, it is not necessary to have a teletext decoder for a particular page. The teletext decoder will not perform the normal function of obtaining a user selected page and will not follow the control of the output of the television set in response to the transmitted classification code.

Authorization means may be provided so that only authorized persons enter the program classification.

The permission means may comprise means for inputting a PIN, means for comparing the input PIN with a stored PIN, and means for allowing entry of a program code if the stored PIN and the input PIN are the same.

This provides an easy security measure that allows only authorized persons (eg, parents) to change the classification code. However, the means has the disadvantage that the cord can be forgotten or lost. In the former case, it is difficult to change the classification. In the latter case, an unauthorized person may change the classification.

Optionally, said permission means comprises means for monitoring the physical characteristics of the authorized person, means for storing said monitored characteristics, means for requesting a change in allowable program content, said monitored characteristics and said stored characteristics. Means for comparing and means for allowing a change in the allowable program content upon corrective comparison.

For example, various physical characteristics may be used, such as fingerprints and facial features.

Fingerprint detectors are known to be used with credit card inquiries at point-of-sale terminals. Means for recognizing facial features are described in EP-A-0 551 941 (PHB33765).

The advantages of using physical features are the low probability of error and the need for memorizing PINs or other external data.

Means may be provided for generating an on-screen display message to inform the viewer why the sound and / or display is prohibited.

This prevents the viewer from inferring a defect when the program cannot be received or is blocked due to classification.

Means may be provided for replacing inappropriate language with an optional acoustic signal. The selective acoustic signal indicates an unpleasant selective language. The optional language is received as part of a television signal.

For example, offensive language can be replaced by a beep. Optionally, the offensive language can be replaced with an optional language that is not offensive. This is also achieved by using an auxiliary channel with a program generator that transmits an optional language. The usable auxiliary channel can be the proposed Odetel channel that transmits an acoustic aid message for blind or some shielding.

Means may be provided for inhibiting acoustic and visual display when no classification code is received with the television signal.

In this way, reproduction of unclassified programs can be controlled. This is because the program (eg video tape) is obsolete or its source is illegal. In particular, very unpleasant tapes can be produced without the corresponding classification code.

The above and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be understood through the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a system in which a method according to the invention may be performed. The system of FIG. 1 comprises 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 general television broadcasting equipment for domestic broadcasting or satellite broadcasting, or may be a programming source for cable television network. The television program source includes a wide screen signaling (WSS) signal inserter and means for inputting a program classification code into a selected portion of the WSS signal. For example, the transmission medium 2 may be a radio wave broadcast by a terrestrial or satellite transmitter or 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 program source 1 may be a videotape or disc that is recorded for program playback, in which case the transmission link 2 may simply be the tape recorder or disc player, and a cable may be the tape recorder or disc. Connect a player to the television receiver.

One embodiment of a television signal program source according to the invention is shown in the form of a block diagram in FIG. The television program source comprises a source 10 of video and audio signals. For example, the source may be a television camera whose image output is supplied to the transmission circuit 12 via the WSS signal inserter 11. The acoustic output from the television signal source 10 is supplied via the supply line 13 to another input of the transmission circuit 12. The editing system 14 is connected to the WSS signal inserter 11 and has another input supplied from the TV access control equipment 15.

The TV access control equipment 15 is arranged to be inserted into a selected portion of the WSS signal code word that classifies the content of the television program generated by the signal source 10. The TV access control equipment 15 has a first input for receiving data from a TV program scheduling system. For example, the data can be used to prohibit the display of the program at the receiver by providing a complete indication of the content of the program. For example, the information may define levels of violence, sexual content, adult language or offensive content that may be in the program.

The TV access control equipment 15 has a second input 17 for receiving data from the prerecorded data. The prerecorded material may include coding to indicate the type of content that exists in the program, and may also include temporal data to classify certain events in the program. The keyboard or other input equipment 18 is connected to another input of the TV access control equipment 15. This allows the operator to insert the appropriate classification code into the live program. Of course, it is necessary to delay the actual transmission of the program by a short time period so that the operator can enter the right code at the right time. The transmission delay is well known in such a way that broadcast stations delete undesirable scenes in a live program. For example, it is used to delete the slanderous or obscene language of a caller from a phone call in a program.

Code generated or received by the TV access control equipment 15 is transmitted to the editing system 14 and then inserted into a selected portion of the WSS signal. In particular, the code may be inserted into bits already used for the PAL plus helper signal.

3 illustrates the contents of a WSS signal modulated for carrying out the present invention. The figure includes a clock running at a period start code, which is bits that contain information defining an image aspect ratio, subtitle and sound that define a camera mode. There are three bits used in the transmission of the classification code for the program according to the invention. Although the 3 bits are defined in the WSS specification like the PAL plus helper signal, this embodiment of the present invention is based on the fact that at least in the UK, PAL plus broadcasting is not generated to an important extent. Define the classification code using.

Of course, three bits are not suitable for the transmission of a comprehensive classification code. In our co-pending UK patent application (No. 9619878.3 (PHB34110)), 16 bits are used to encode the classification and another 16 error protection bits are transmitted to reduce the likelihood of an error code being detected. . This embodiment uses a plurality of consecutive WSS signals (transmitted once per television frame or every 40 [msecs] in Europe) and collects bits from the continuous signals. For example, the code may be distributed on eight frames, where the first bit is a flag bit indicating the start of the eight frame sequence, and the other two bits are sixteen bits in total on the eight frame sequence. To provide.

Since the WSS signal is designed for reliable reception, another error protection is unnecessary. However, if one wishes to improve the reliability of the received classification code, for example by increasing the 8 frame sequence to a larger number of frames, an error prevention bit can be added. The 16 frame sequence enables the performance of the 4/8 Hamming code error prevention scheme. Another possibility is to maintain 8 frame sequences and require the identity of two or more consecutive 8 frame sequences before the valid indication of the received classification. Of course, one of the error protection arrangements reduces the rate at which the classification code can be changed, which will have a constant effect on the response time for control of events in the program. The effect can be reduced by the relative frequency repetition of the WSS signal, where a new code is transmitted within one minute with a 4/8 hamming code protection scheme.

The proposal regarding the allocation of the message bits is as follows:

2 bits are allocated for the overall content of the program,

Two bits are allocated for the transcript of the individual event in the program,

2 bits are allocated for violent content in the program,

Two bits are allocated for the violent content of the event in the program,

Two bits are allocated for the offending event in the program,

2 bits are allocated for the adult language in the program,

Four bits are allocated for the indication of the source area in the program.

The allocation of two bits for each program content classification allows four levels that can be set for a particular content. For example, code 00 means that there is no content in the tape, code 01 displays low level content, code 10 displays medium level content, and code 11 displays high level content. Coding is useful when sexual and violent content concerns the entire program and individual events within the program. For example, if an individual event containing sexual content is prohibited, parents determine that their child can watch a program with medium or low level sexual content. Therefore, the parent sets the level of the allowed program to 01 and sets the event in the program code to 00 because he wants to delete all events with sexual content. The same considerations apply to violent content in the program. Unpleasant content classification may be related to a limited time in the program. For example, the details of surgery in a medical program are the types of content to be considered here. In this case, the viewer may be interested in medical technology, but will also find a description of unpleasant surgery. Another event in which offensive content can occur is news or current affairs programs. For example, interviews with survivors or photographs showing the results of hunger or other disasters. Since the adult language content of a program is usually moderately intermittent, it is not appropriate to prohibit the entire program on the basis of this, and only when the adult language appears.

Areas of program source code are useful when different regions and countries have different moral codes, and content that may be classified as low levels of violence in one area may be classified as medium or high levels in another area. The same considerations apply to sexual content, offensive content and adult language content. It is possible to modify the code in the receiver for sexual, violent, offensive and adult language content following the code for the source area of the program. Thus, the intermediate level grade content in Zone 1 may correspond to the high level grade content in Zone 2.

For example, it is possible to ban a program in a given area for political or religious reasons.

As shown in FIG. 3, the WSS signal defined by the ETSI specification (ETSI 300294) includes a run-in section of 29 elements based on a 5 [MHz] clock and a start code of 24 elements. (start code), group 1 of 24 elements giving 4 data bits defining the picture aspect ratio, and 24 data giving 4 data bits, 3 bits allocated to Enhanced Services reserved for PAL plus data. Group 2 of elements, group 3 of 18 elements giving 3 data bits defining the presence and position of the sub-title, group 4 of 18 elements giving 3 data bits defining the acoustic signal Include. In this embodiment, three data bits from group 2 are proposed to be used for transmission of the classification code, and the three bits in the standard are proposed to be used for PAL plus data. Thus, bits b5, b6, b7 in group 2 are used to transmit the classification code.

Clearly, the proposed classification code requires the use of 16 bits, and only a very rudimentary classification code can be defined with 3 data bits (selection of 8 possible code increments). In order to solve the above problem, it is proposed that the classification code be distributed over a plurality of (in this case, eight) consecutive WSS cycles. In this case, bit b5 is used as a flag bit, thereby enabling initiation of the sequence to be identified, and bits b6 and b7 allow two bits of data to be transmitted for each WSS signal cycle. do. Thus, a total of 16 data bits can be transmitted over eight cycles. For example, using a hammer code to prevent data errors would require extra data bits. If the plurality is increased to 16 to 32 bits in total, a 4/8 Hamming code may be used. In an alternative, instead of adding an error checking bit, a check is provided for repetition and correction of the transmission.

4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a television receiver in accordance with the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, the television receiver includes a conventional tuner 21 and an antenna 20 input to the 1F and modulation block 22. The video and blanking combined signal is available at the output of block 22 and is input to teletext and WSS decoder 23 and color decoder 24. The output of the color decoder 24 is input to the video selector 25, which receives the display signal output from the teletext decoder 23 and takes the OR gate 26 from the teletext decoder 23. To receive the blanking signal.

The control processor 27 controls the operation of the television in a conventional manner using WSS signals to determine image aspect ratio, sub-title and sound. Control instructions are received from the remote control unit 28 where the viewer selects a particular channel for display and other functions such as teletext display or on-screen display. The processor 27 also receives from the teletext and the WSS decoder 23 code present in the WSS signal to indicate sexual, violent, offensive or adult language content. In addition, non volatile memory 29 stores the codes that the user has entered using the remote control unit, and displays levels of sexual, violent, offensive or adult language content that is allowed to display. Set it. Processor 27 compares the received code with the stored code and generates a signal to line 30 in accordance with the output of the comparison, which is input to video selector 25 through an OR gate 26 and appropriately. Generate blanks in the video display in the environment. The signal is also fed to the audio selector 32 via line 31 to generate muting of the sound output in the proper environment.

The audio selector generates an output that is input to the standard audio circuitry and loudspeaker 35 represented by block 33, and the video selector 25 is an output that is input to the standard video circuitry 35 and the display device 36. Occurs. Audio selector 32 has another input from terminal 37 to which an audio source can be selectively connected. For example, it can be a tone generator that replaces an offensive language with a tone or can be connected to an auxiliary channel such as an Odetel channel to provide an optional language for the offensive language. The Odetel channel provides a description of the scene by providing acoustically assisted signals to help those who do not see the display screen at all or partly, such as blind people, understand the program. In general, since Odetel is idle during conversations, it is possible to reserve a reserve capacity on the channel so that an optional language for possible offensive language can be transmitted by the broadcaster or coded in any program source.

Although a television receiver is shown in Fig. 4, the present invention can be equally applied to a video recorder. In this case, the outputs of the audio and video selector circuits 32 and 25 will be input to the record head of the video recorder. Thus, only a program with an authorized code can be recorded in the video recorder. An optional device for the video recorder allows recording of received television programs regardless of the classification code, and records the code on the tape so that the television in play can act on the output from the video recorder in such a way that it acts on the broadcast program. . As such, the program is recorded for viewing by various people who may have different acceptable classification levels for particular content. Thus, in some television receivers the entire program may be broadcast, while in other televisions only a limited portion may be broadcast.

5A-5E show screen display sequences in which a user enters a code into a television receiver. In the initial switch, the on-screen display issues a message asking the user to enter a personal identification number. Here, whether there is a right is checked using a PIN. The PIN is stored in memory by the producer, who informs the buyer of the number of the PIN so that the buyer can initiate the selection of the classification. In an optional embodiment, the PIN is set to all zeros at the factory, and a routine is entered when the setting is first switched such that the PIN is changed to any number desired by the user. Then, if you want to change the classification, press the key of the remote control unit. In this way, the on-screen display message prompts the user to enter a PIN. This is shown in screen 1 of FIG. 5A.

The user then enters a PIN, and if the PIN is correct, a subsequent on screen display is provided. This is shown as number 2 in FIG. 5A. First, a television receiver is set up to receive all programs, but using a television access control system, it is possible to choose to exclude certain types of programs. The on-screen display presents the user with the key for the continuation of the process, which in this case is the red key. Subsequent screens (screen 3) require the user to press a green key to select the type of program that is receivable or a red key to circumvent the condition. Assume that screen 4 is provided by pressing the green key. This requires the user to decide whether to exclude a program with sexual content, and to press one button to exclude the material, and to press the other button to exclude the material. If the user wishes to exclude at least some of the sexual content, screen 5 is provided. This requires the user to exclude high, medium or high levels or any level. In this example, the user selects a high level of exclusion only. In this example, the user selects the exclusion of only high level sexual content, and then is asked for an indication to exclude the content or completely exclude all programs that contain high level sexual content only when the event occurs. The user is required to press red in some cases and green in others. This completes the programming of the grade content.

Similar processes follow for violent content, which is shown on screens 7, 8 and 9. Screens 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a process for excluding offensive content. In this case, only those events are excluded, not the entire program in which offensive content is provided. Unpleasant content is usually associated only with events within the program, rather than with the entire program. For example, the objectionable content may be a surgical scene in a medical program or an accident or disaster in a news program. Since the scenes are only a small part of the program, the program can be enjoyed even if the scenes are deleted.

A similar process is shown on screens 13-15, which allows for the programming of acceptable adult languages. If a program containing excessive sexual or violent content is precluded, then it is likely that offensive languages are only a small part of the whole program, thus excluding certain events rather than the entire program. Screens 16 and 17 show the programming of the source area. In this way, the user can exclude a program from a certain area as necessary. For example, even if a particular country transmits propaganda material that does not contain excessive sexual, violent, offensive or adult language, an authorized person may wish to opt out of receiving the program. The selective use of areas of source code is to alter sexual, violent, offensive or adult language depending on the source of the program. Thus, a program considered to be intermediate in region A may be considered to be a program having a higher level in the region in which the receiver is located, so that the level of acceptable grade content in region A may only be an intermediate level. The code of the change can be permanently programmed into the receiver or set by the user. Screen 18 is the final screen provided, confirming the selection by the user. The screen is similar to the content of screen 2 provided when an entry of the access control system is obtained. Thus, once the setting is obtained, in a subsequent approach it will be displayed on screen 2.

It is clear that the on-screen display is just one example, and in fact can be modified to fit a particular market and in the language of the country in which the set is located. Of course, the control processor can store various on-screen displays in various languages, and since the language is selected by the user when accessing the on-screen display, a common control processor can be sold in various countries.

6 shows examples of on-screen messages displayed while the access control system is operating. Thus, the first screen shows that the program is not available because of the high level of sexual content. Of course, the message varies depending on why a particular program is not available and is defined by the associated coding. The second screen shows the temporary blanking of the television due to the medium level of violent content. Thus, although display is allowed for most of the programs, temporary blanking of the video display is provided to prevent viewers from viewing violent content. The third screen shows the temporary blanking of the display due to offensive content. The fourth screen, along with the displayed picture, appears superimposed on the picture explaining that the sound is muted due to adult language. After all, the viewer knows that the sound is temporarily muted, so he will not assume that the sound channel of the television receiver is defective.

In the above examples, the user has the right to change the coding by PIN. However, there are many other ways that a user can have rights. One is a fingerprint detector, in which the user places his hand or finger on the detector pad, which compares the user's fingerprint with the fingerprint stored in the receiver. This can avoid the problem of forgetting the PIN or losing the PIN. For example, a child can avoid problems such as discovering a PIN and resetting the classification code. Another method is to embed a video camera in the receiver and look up the face of the person who wants to change the code. The output of the video camera is compared with the image stored in the receiver, and if both coincide with each other, updating of the classification code is allowed. For example, the latter two methods can be used when a personal computer is combined with a TV program receiver. Necessary processing circuitry for the recognition of the fingerprint or face will be provided in the personal computer circuitry.

By including a classification code in the WSS signal, monitoring of a particular page of teletext transmission occurs concurrently with the monitoring of the classification code. For example, when watching a television program, the vision page of the teletext signal posts a message on the screen, such as the final score of a football or click game, which allows the classification system to monitor a particular page for the classification code. If it does, it is monitored. In this case, at least two acquisition channels are permanently assigned to the classification code page in the teletext decoder. By using the WSS signal instead of the packet in the teletext signal, a special acquisition channel is permanently assigned to the classification code transmission.

Those skilled in the art can easily implement other modifications from the description herein. Such variations include the use of known designs and the use of television systems and parts thereof, and may be used in addition to or in addition to the features described above. Although the claims of the present application are directed to specific combinations of the above features, the disclosure scope of the present invention is irrespective of whether or not it relates to the invention claimed in the claims of this application and all or part of the technical problems of the present invention. And novel combinations of novel features or properties, explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein, and generalization of one or more of the above features that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Applicant discloses that in the continuation of the present application there may be a new claim which implements these features or a combination of such features or another application derived from the present application.

Claims (39)

A method of allowing a licensed person to prohibit the sound and / or video display of the television program or a portion of the television program in accordance with the content of the television program, i) categorizing all and / or date content of the television programme; ii) generating code words representing said assigned classification; iii) inserting said code words into a wide screen signaling signal (WSS) multiplexed with a television signal representing said television program. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating error correction bits inserted into the WSS along with the code words. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the WSS is transmitted once in each television frame and the code words are collected from bits inserted into a plurality of frames. 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said code words are protected by a Hamming code. 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said code words are collected from bits inserted into eight consecutive frames. 4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said code words are aggregated and 4/8 hamming coded from bits inserted into 16 consecutive frames. 7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more classification standards are each encoded by the use of code words comprising two bits. 8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more classification standards are applied throughout the program. 9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more classification standards are applied to the individual events in the program. 10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the classification standard comprises one or more violent content, sexual content, offensive content and adult language. 11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the code words represent source areas of the program. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the source region is represented by a 4 bit code. 13. The method of any one of the preceding claims, comprising providing an optional language to replace a language that is deemed inappropriate for the selected classification level. A method of allowing a licensed person to prohibit the sound and / or video display of the television program or a portion of the television program in accordance with the content of the television program, A method for inhibiting acoustic and / or visual display substantially described herein with reference to the drawings. A method of prohibiting the sound and / or visual display of a television program, iv) setting a user's authority to define the television program or a portion of the television program to be prohibited; v) inputting code words into the memory in the television receiver corresponding to the program content that are desired to be suppressed, vi) receiving a television signal generated by the sound and / or video display prohibition method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14; vii) comparing the received code words with the input code words; viii) banning the sound and / or video display according to the result of the comparison. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein step iv) is accomplished by entering a personal identification table (PIN). 16. The method of claim 15, wherein step iv) is accomplished by monitoring the physical characteristics of an authorized person. 18. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein said code word is input using a remote control unit. 19. The method of any one of claims 15 to 18, comprising generating an on screen display message to support input of the code word. 20. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, comprising generating an on screen display message informing a viewer why the sound or visual display is prohibited. 21. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 20, comprising replacing the forbidden sound with an optional sound. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the optional sound is defined by the received signal. For a television signal program source, A WSS signal embedding apparatus, means for classifying the television signal to be transmitted in accordance with program content conveyed by the television signal, means for generating code words representing the classification assigned to the program or a portion of the program, and the code A television signal program source comprising means for inserting words into a wide screen signaling signal. 24. The television signal program source of claim 23, comprising means for changing said classification for the duration of a single program. 25. A television signal program source according to claim 23 or 24, comprising means for error correcting the code words. 26. The television signal program source of claim 25, wherein the code words are protected by a Hamming code. 27. A television signal program source according to any of claims 23 to 26, wherein the code words comprise words that define a level of one or more categories of obscenity, violence, adult language, offensive scene or sound. 28. The television signal program source of claim 27, wherein the code word further comprises a code word indicating a source region of the program. In record carrier, A record carrier comprising data representing a television program, classification code words representing a classification assigned for all and / or temporary contents of the television program, and a wide screen signaling signal (WSS) comprising the code words. 30. The record carrier of claim 29, which is a VHS videotape. A television receiver suitable for receiving and displaying television signals from a television signal source as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 28 or from a record carrier as claimed in claims 29 or 30. A WSS decoder capable of decoding the WSS signal, means for extracting code words representing a classification assigned to a recently received program, and means for inputting information indicative of any program classification representing a program having a display that is preferably prohibited. And means for comparing the received classification with the received classification, and means for allowing or inhibiting display of the program in accordance with the result of the comparison. 32. A television receiver as claimed in claim 31, comprising granting means allowing only authorized persons to enter the program classification. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the granting means comprises means for inputting a PIN, means for comparing the input PIN with a stored PIN, and means for allowing entry of program codes if the stored PIN and the input PIN are the same. TV receiver comprising a. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the permitting means comprises means for monitoring the physical characteristics of the authorized person, means for storing the monitored physical characteristics, means for requesting a change in allowable program content, and in response to the request. A television receiver comprising means for monitoring the physical characteristics, means for comparing the monitored physical characteristics with the stored physical characteristics, and means for allowing a change to the allowable program content if the results of the comparison match. . 35. A television receiver as claimed in any of claims 31 to 34, comprising means for generating an on screen display message to inform the viewer why the acoustic and / or visual display is prohibited. 35. A television receiver as claimed in any of claims 31 to 34, comprising means for replacing an inappropriate language with an optional acoustic signal. 37. The television receiver of claim 36 wherein the optional acoustic signal is indicative of an optional non-nasty language. 38. The television receiver of claim 37 wherein the optional language is received as part of the received television signal. 39. A television receiver as claimed in any of claims 31 to 38, comprising means for inhibiting the acoustic and visual display when the classification codes are not received with the television signal.