MXPA05011878A - System and method for blocking television signal having multiple different content ratings - Google Patents

Abstract

A television signal receiver provides processing of a digital television signal having content rating data for multiple content rating systems. The television signal receiver processes the received digital television signal to obtain a program signal and each one of the received multiple content ratings data. The television signal receiver prevents using of the program signal if either one of the obtained first and second content ratings data correspond to a blocked content rating setting of the respective first and second content ratings systems.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BLOCKING A TELEVISION SIGNAL THAT HAS MULTIPLE AND DIFFERENT CONTENT CLASSIFICATIONS CROSS REFERENCE WITH RELATED APPLICATIONS The non-provisional patent application of the United States claims the benefit and / or priority of the provisional patent application serial number 60 / 467,951, filed on May 5, 2003, entitled "Method to handle television programs encoded with two different rating systems "(METHOD FOR HANDLING TELEVISION PROGRAMS CODED WITH TWO DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS"), whose content is specifically incorporated here as a reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the processing of digital television signal and more particularly to the processing of auxiliary data in the form of multiple program contents contained in the digital television signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the United States and Canada, television signals now carry content or data classification information with respect to particular television programs. As such, television systems are required to have the ability to receive, decode and use (ie, process) the content or data classification information. The content classification information or data may then be used to allow / provide for parental control or blocking of program programs or particular television channels. The implementation of information processing / classification data and / or parental control / blocking of programs in television systems is generally known as V-chip. With regard to analog television systems (ie television systems that receive and process analog television signals), such as NTSC systems in the United States and Canada, only a content classification is offered in the analog television signal. In particular, the only content classification is provided on line 21 of the extended data service (XDS) portion of the analog television signal. In digital television systems (ie, television systems that receive and process digital television signals) such as ATSC systems in the United States and Canada, multiple content classifications can be received for multiple rating systems simultaneously. In digital television signals, this content classification data is provided in the PSIP portion (program and system information protocol) of the digital bitstream. The digital television system can thus receive multiple V-chip ratings for multiple systems or V-chip protocols simultaneously for a single television program, especially the diffuser complies with the standards of each country where the digital television signal is provided or can be received. A problem arises in television systems that receive digital television signals that have multiple content classification data for multiple content rating systems in such television systems, and that do not know how to react in response to information from multiple systems classification (for example, in response to the V-chip classification of both the United States and Canada, which may be received simultaneously for a single television program in the PSIP data for an ATSC channel). In particular, such television systems are simply confused when two rating systems are received (ie, two data from the content classification systems). Therefore, it will be apparent from the above description that what is needed is a television system for digital television signals that can process and / or use a television signal having multiple data from content rating systems. This need and others are achieved with the application of the principles of the present invention and / or as incorporated in one or more of the different shapes and / or structures as shown or described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A television signal receiver provides the processing of a digital television signal having content classification data for multiple content classification systems. The television signal receiver processes the digital television signal to obtain a program signal and each of the multiple content classifications data received. The television signal receiver avoids the use of the program signal if any of the first and second content classification data obtained corresponds to a blocked content classification setting of the first and second content rating systems. In one form, a method for processing a digital television signal is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) receiving a digital television signal having first content classification data associated with a first content classification system and second content classification data associated with a second content classification system; (b) processing the received digital television signal to obtain a television program signal; (c) processing the received digital television signal to obtain the first and second content classification data; and (d) avoiding the use of the program signal when any of the first and second content classification data obtained corresponds to a blocked content classification setting for the respective first and second content classification systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary digital television signal system / apparatus where the present invention can be incorporated; and Figure 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary form of operation of the present invention in accordance with the present principles. Similar reference numbers indicate the corresponding parts through the different views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1, there is illustrated an exemplary representation of a television signal receiver, usually designated 20 wherein the present invention can be incorporated. The television signal receiver 20 is representative of various types of receivers and / or devices that receive and / or process the digital television signals. It should be understood that while the television signal receiver 20 is described herein with respect to the processing of digital television and auxiliary data signals within the digital television signal, such as the Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) or data PAT / PMT or its like in the form of companion content classification data, content and / or incorporated into the digital television signal, the television signal receiver 20 can also receive and process analog television signals with and without auxiliary data companions or with certain type of auxiliary data. In addition, the television signal receiver 20 operates to receive and process the digital television signals without accompanying PSIP data in the form of content classification data. It should be understood that the television signal receiver 20 also includes various components of television sets that are not shown and / or described here, but that are necessary and / or typical for the operation of the television signal receiver. The television signal receiver 20 has a digital television signal input 24 that is configured to receive digital television signals from a digital television signal source 26. The digital television signal input 24 can be any digital television signal input that operates, is configured and / or adapted to receive a digital television signal from the digital television signal source 26. The input 24 is connected to a digital television signal tuner 28. The digital television signal tuner 28 operates, is adapted and / or configured to receive the digital television signal from the digital television source 26 and tune to a particular digital television signal, channel or frequency. The tuning of the digital tuner 28 is achieved in the manner known in the art. While it is typical that the digital television signal provided by the digital television source 26 contains multiple digital television channels, the term digital television signal, as used herein, encompasses one or more digital television channels. The television signal receiver 20 also includes a digital television signal processor 30 that operates, adapts and / or configures to process and / or provide processing of a digital television signal. As such, the digital signal processor 30 includes digital television signal logic / circuitry incorporated as one or more integrated circuits and / or circuit elements. In addition, the digital television signal processor 30 may use program instructions (e.g., software) 42 for some aspects of signal processing. It should be understood that the different components, features and / or functions of the television signal receiver and / or the television signal receiver itself use program instructions 42. The digital television signal processor 30 is connected to an output of the digital television tuner 28 in order to receive the selected digital television signal (tuned) by the digital television signal tuner 28. The digital television signal processor 30 may provide one or more signals to the digital television signal tuner 28 (as represented by the dotted arrow exiting the digital television signal processor and directed towards the tuner) in order to that the digital television signal tuner 28 tunes to a particular digital television channel. The input with respect to the tuning of the television signal receiver, typically, but not necessarily, is provided by the user of the television signal receiver from a remote control (not shown), a front panel of the television signal receiver or its similar. The digital television signal processor 30 among other features and / or functions operates to obtain and / or assemble a program signal from the tuned digital television signal. The signal of the program is suitable for deployment on the display 22 and / or for playing through a speaker or horns (not shown). In particular, the signal of the program can be a video signal, an audio signal or both an audio / video signal. The signal or portion of the audio of the program signal (if any) is provided to internal or external speakers (not shown) and / or to another component for further processing. The signal or video portion of the signal of the program is provided to an intermediate memory 40 and is in a format that is suitable to be displayed in a display 22. It should be noted that the display 22 may or may not be integrated with the receiver 20 of television signal as represented by dashed lines around the display 22. The portion of the video signal resulting from the program signal (or the program signal itself) is provided to an intermediate memory. The intermediate memory 40 operates to temporarily store the video signal as appropriate. The output of the intermediate memory 40 comprising the video signal and any data generated on the screen (provided by a screen display generator 38) are provided to the display 22. In addition, the digital television signal processor 30 operates to analyze, extracting and / or separating the auxiliary data, if any, from the digital television signal for processing them. While there may be several types of auxiliary data, the present invention relates to ancillary data in the form of content classification data and so on., the auxiliary data term is applied to the content classification data. The auxiliary data may be in a PS1P portion of the digital television signal, in a PAT / PMT portion of the digital television or in another non-standard portion of the digital television signal. From here on, it will be presumed that the auxiliary data is contained in the PSIP portion or in the PSIPs of the digital television signal. It should be appreciated that the use of the PSIP portion is considered to include and / or mean all types of presentation of the content classification data (auxiliary data) contained in the digital television signal, such as through the PAT portion. / PMT or other form of digital television signal. The digital television signal processor 30 operates to obtain the PSIP data of the digital television signal in the form of content classification data. More particularly, the digital television signal processor 30 operates to obtain multiple content classification data from the PSIP portion of the digital television signal, each content classification data corresponds to. a different content classification system. Preferably, the digital television signal processor 30 operates to obtain two different content classification data of the PSIP portion of the digital television signal, each of which is encoded with respect to a different content classification system. Content classification data and / or content classification systems are typically known as V-chip systems. Such V-chip systems offer parental control of television programs, channels or the like, in order to allow or block (avoid) viewing (and / or listening) thereof. Although there may be many implementations of V-chip systems, the United States has implemented a television program content classification, V-chip, parental control or system or blocking / visualization protocol (ie, the classification system of content of Canada). The Canadian content classification system has different levels, different numbers of classifications, different categories of classifications, different names for classifications and their peers, unlike the content classification system of U.S. It should be appreciated that the use of U.S. content classification systems. and Canada are only exemplary of the way in which the present television signal receiver can process two (or multiple) different content classification data with respect to two (or multiple) different content rating systems. As such, the digital television signal processor 30 operates to obtain both the US content classification data and the Canadian content classification data from the PSIP portion of the digital television signal. The digital television signal processor 30 may also obtain other content classification data for other content rating systems that are embedded or encoded within the PSIP portion of the digital television signal. In addition, the digital television signal processor 30 operates to extract, obtain and / or separate other PSIP data as appropriate. The digital television signal processor 30 can and preferably uses program instructions 42 for some or all aspects of the PSIP data processing. Of course, in a general sense, the digital television signal processor is configured, adapted and / or operated to obtain two or more program classification data from the digital television signal. The obtained content classification data and other PSIP data are provided to a PSIP data processor 32. The PSIP data processor 32 operates, is configured and / or adapted to process the received content classification data. It should be appreciated that the present invention applies to the reception and processing of multiple content classification / systems data, its principles will be described with reference to the two different content classification systems / data. As such, the PSIP data processor 32 includes a first processor 34 of the program content classification system and a second processor 36 of the content rating system of the program. In an arbitrary manner, the first processor 34 of the content classification system operates, is configured and / or adapted to process the content rating system of the US television program / signal, while the second processor 34 of the television's rating system is The content is operated, configured and / or adapted to process the data of the content classification system of the Canadian television program / signal. Of course, each of the first and second processors of the content classification system can process other content classification data. The television signal receiver 20 also includes a memory 46 which operates, is configured and / or adapted to store the data of the television signal receiver such as the settings of the user and / or his peers. One type of user adjustment is that the memory 46 retains the program content classification or data settings. The memory 46 stores data related or corresponding to the classification settings that a user has provided for any of blocking and / or viewing the television programs or signals in accordance with a particular content rating system. In particular, the memory stores the first settings or content classification data 48 (here, the nomenclature set, arbitrarily related or corresponding to the US content rating system is maintained) and the second settings or content classification data. (again, the nomenclature established, arbitrarily related or corresponding to the Canadian content classification system is maintained). The user, as a parent, has the ability to indicate the programs that can be viewed and / or blocked (avoid being seen and / or heard) with respect to several content classifications for both content rating systems. This is usually accomplished through an on-screen menu as is known in the art. For this purpose, the television signal receiver 20 includes a screen display generator 38 which operates to provide a user's screen interface (Ul) in the form of a menu having several options, or selections that the user may choose. The user's menu provides access to the features and / or functions of the television that can be changed or adjusted by the user, some of them are typical and are known in the art. However, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, one feature is the selection of programs with different content classifications that can be viewed or blocked. In particular, the screen display generator 38 together with the program instructions 42 and / or the digital television signal processor 30 (as represented by the dotted arrow exiting the digital television signal processor 30 and signaling the display deployment generator 38) allows the user to select whether or not the program lock is enabled for each of the multiple content rating systems. The classification system menu also allows the user to select content classification settings and / or adjust content classification levels for blocking (if any) for each content rating system. These selections are stored in the first adjustment portion 48 of the content classification systems of the memory 46 and in the second portion 50 of the content classification systems of the memory 46. The first processor 34 of the content classification system it also operates, is configured and / or adapted to use the settings of the content classification or content classification data retained in the first area 48 of the content classification system settings with respect to the content classification data from the first processor 34 of the content classification system. In particular, the content classification data of the first processor 34 of the content classification system and the content classification adjustment data of the first memory portion 48 of the content classification system settings are compared to determine whether the program signal It must be blocked or it can be seen. Of course, when the television signal receiver 20 is adjusted to not consider the content classification data with respect to the first content classification data of the received digital television signal, or not to consider the first classification data of content, no comparison will be made. By not considering the content classifications it can be considered as if the content classification system of the program was not blocked, or similar. The second processor 36 of the content classification system also operates, is configured and / or adapted to use the content classification settings or content classification data retained in the second area 50 of the content classification system settings with respect to to the content classification data of the second processor 36 of the content classification system. In particular, the content classification data of the second processor 36 of the content classification system and the content classification adjustment data of the second portion 50 of the adjustment memory of the content classification system are compared to determine whether the Program signal must be blocked or can be seen. Of course, when the television signal receiver 20 is adjusted to not consider the content classification data with respect to the second content classification data of the received digital television signal, or to not consider the content classification data , no comparison will be made. Again, by not considering the content classifications as a whole it will be described as the content classification system of the program without blocking or similar. The television signal receiver 20 can be programmed with program instructions 42 to use the first and second classification data of the digital television signal in a variety of ways. All these forms can be selected by the user through the menu options. When the content classification data is not part of the digital television signal, the television signal receiver 20 may allow the user the option of allowing or blocking such programming. One way to process the first and second content classification data by the television signal receiver 20 is only by using one of the two content classification data received. The other content classification data of the two will be ignored. With this method, one option will be to have the "wired" television signal receiver 20 better than through the selection by the user of such an option. Another way to process the first and second content classification data will be to compare the first content classification data received (e.g., the "A" content classification or "first classification") of the first and second content classification data. received against one of the first and second stored content classification settings and blocking or allowing, according to that criterion, and when allowed, comparing the received second content classification data (e.g., the "B" content classification) or second classification ") of the first and second content classification data against the other of the first and second content classification data and to block or allow compliance.The manner may be extended to include multiple content classification and multiple data content classification systems The digital television signal receiver 20 receives the s multiple (for example, first or content classification data A, and second or content classification data B in the case of two different content classification data for two different content classification systems) content classification data for multiple classification systems of content through the received digital television signal. The multiple content classification data is received essentially simultaneously by the television signal receiver 20 as well as in the processor / processing portions of the television signal receiver 20. In this way, the present invention provides a way to process the multiple content classification data that is received simultaneously or in sequence. Referring now to Figure 2, there is illustrated a flow chart, generally designated with 60, of an exemplary form of operation of the television signal receiver 20 with respect to receiving multiple program content classification data. / System processing in accordance with these principles. The exemplary way to process a digital television signal having two or more (ie, multiple) content classification data to correspond to two or more (ie, multiple) program content classification systems is provided as steps or blocks. The blocking / displaying feature of the program content of the television signal receiver 20 is collectively designated as the parent control feature. It should be appreciated that the parent control feature is a generic term for the V-chip feature or the ability to allow blocking and / or viewing of a television program. In addition, the term "display" encompasses the display of the program signal as the program signal as defined herein. In block 61, the television signal receiver 20 determines whether the parent control feature is put into effect (off or on, or is in a full permission mode). When the parent control feature is not in effect (ie, NO), then the program flow proceeds to block 68. In block 68, the television signal receiver 20 allows the program display regardless of whether the signal Digital television includes two or more (or any) content ratings, each with one of two or more associated with a different content rating system. The television then continues to monitor the status of the parent control feature (ie, if the parent control is enforced). When the parent control feature (ie, SI) is enforced in block 61 then the program flow proceeds to block 62. In block 62 the television signal receiver 20 determines whether the program is classified. The television signal receiver 20 determines whether the PSIP data of the received digital television signal indicates that the program is not classified or if there is a classification of the content of the program. When there is no content classification or there is no content classification data (ie, NO), the program flow proceeds to block 66. In block 66 it is determined whether the unclassified programs were selected by the user to be blocked or be seen. When such programs are visible (ie, NO), the program flow proceeds to block 68 and the use of the program is allowed. When such programs are blocked (ie, YES), then the program flow proceeds to block 67 and the program (program signal) is blocked. However, when in block 62 the program is classified (ie, it has program content classification data), then the program flow proceeds to block 63. In block 63, it is determined whether the user has previously selected the first classification found to be blocked either by user adjustment of the US or Canadian classifications. When it is YES, then the program flow proceeds to block 67 and the program is blocked. When it is NO, then the program flow proceeds to block 64. In block 64 it is determined whether there is a second classification of program content. When not, (ie, NO), then the program is allowed (block 68). When there is a second classification of program content (ie, SI), then the program flow proceeds to block 65. In block 65 it is determined whether the user has previously selected to use the second content classification data found to be blocked by the US and Canada classification system. When it is YES, then the program is blocked (block 67). When the user has not selected, then the program is allowed (block 68). It should be appreciated that the flow diagram 60 described above and illustrated in Figure 2 provides a complete form of the exemplary operation of the digital television signal receiver 20 as described herein. However, each step is not necessary for the implementation of the present invention. The present invention can be implemented using fewer steps than the steps described in flow chart 60. This is reflected in the claims. In addition, more or fewer steps may be implemented in the alternative embodiments of the method 60 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Also, the sub-groups of the above method 60 may implement the principles of the present invention better than the entire procedure. Other variations are also contemplated. While this invention has been described with a preferred design, the present invention can also be modified within the spirit and scope of this description. Therefore, this invention is intended to encompass any variation, use or adaptation of the invention with the use of its general principles.

Furthermore, this application is intended to encompass such sections of the present invention which fall within the known or customary practice to which the invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1. A method for processing a digital television signal characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a) receiving the digital television signal having first content classification data associated with a first content classification system and second content classification data associated with a second content classification system; b) processing the received digital television signal to obtain a television program signal; c) processing the received digital television signal to obtain the first and second data of content classifications; and d) avoiding the use of the program signal when any of the first and second content classification data corresponds to a blocked content classification setting of the respective first and second content rating systems.

The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing step of the digital television signal received to obtain the first and second data of content classifications includes extracting the first and second content classification data from a portion of auxiliary data of the digital television signal.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the step of extracting the first and second content classification data from the auxiliary data portion of the digital television signal includes using a first processor of the content classification system for the first content classification data and a second processor of the content classification system for the second content classification data.

The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the first content classification system comprises a V-Chip content classification system of the United States and the second content classification system comprises a content classification system V. -chip of Canada.

The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing step of the received digital television signal to obtain a television program signal comprises the processing of the received digital television signal to obtain a television signal, the which comprises one or more of a video signal and an audio signal.

6. A television signal receiver, characterized in that it comprises: a digital tuner that operates to receive a digital television signal containing the first and second content classification data; a digital television signal processor connected to the digital tuner and operating to i) obtain a program signal from the tuned digital television signal; and ii) separating the first and second content classification data from the tuned digital television signal; and a content classification data processor connected to the digital television signal processor and which operates to i) process the first and second content classification data obtained and ii) cause the television signal receiver to avoid the use of the program signal in any of the first and second content classification data corresponding to a blocked content classification setting of the respective first and second content classification systems.

The television signal receiver according to claim 6, characterized in that the digital television signal processor operates to separate the first and the second content classification data from an auxiliary data portion of the digital television signal.

The television signal receiver according to claim 7, characterized in that the digital television signal processor comprises a first content classification system processor that operates to process the first content classification data of the data portion. auxiliary of the digital television signal and a second processor of the content classification system operating to process the second content classification data of the auxiliary data portion of the digital television signal.

9. The television signal receiver according to claim 8, characterized in that the first processor of the content classification system comprises a processor of the V-chip content classification system of the United States and the second content classification system processor comprises a processor of the V-chip content classification system. from Canada.

The television signal receiver according to claim 6, characterized in that the digital television signal processor operates to obtain a program signal from the digital tuned television signal comprising one or more of a video signal and a audio signal

11. A television signal receiver, characterized in that it comprises: means for receiving a digital television signal containing the first and second content classification data; a means, connected to the receiving means, for processing the received digital television signal to i) obtain a program signal from the tuned digital television signal and ii) separate the first and second content classification data from the signal of digital television tuned; and a content classification means, connected to the means for processing to i) process the first and second content classification data and ii) cause the television signal receiver to avoid the use of the program signal when any of the first and second content classification data corresponds to a blocked content classification adjustment of the respective first and second content classification systems. The television signal receiver according to claim 11, characterized in that the means for processing the digital television signal operates to separate the first and second content classification data from the auxiliary data portion of the digital television signal . The television signal receiver according to claim 12, characterized in that the content classification means comprises a first processor of the content classification system that operates to process the first content classification data of the auxiliary data portion. of the digital television signal and a second processor of the content classification system operating to process the second content classification data of the auxiliary data portion of the digital television signal. The television signal receiver according to claim 13, characterized in that the first processor of the content classification system comprises a processor of the United States V-chip content classification system and the second processor of the classification system of Content comprises a processor of the V-chip content classification system of Canada. The television signal receiver according to claim 11, characterized in that the means for processing the digital television signal operates to obtain the program signal from the tuned digital television signal, comprising one or more of the signal of video and an audio signal.