WO2017102763A1

WO2017102763A1 - Content blocking

Info

Publication number: WO2017102763A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/080852
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert David Hill
Original assignee: Nagravision Sa
Priority date: 2015-12-14
Filing date: 2016-12-13
Publication date: 2017-06-22
Also published as: GB201521994D0

Abstract

A television device is disclosed, for example a set-top box or television set, which comprises a receiver for receiving television content, and display interface for causing the display of received content on the display and a processor configured to control display of content. Specifically, the processor is configured to receive or generate a trigger signal while content is being displayed and, in response to receiving the trigger signal, to block the displayed content. Blocking the displayed content may comprise of displaying a block screen instead of the content and/or muting any audio associated with the content. By acting directly in response to a trigger signal while the content is displayed to block the displayed content, a user is enable to react more quickly to undesirable content being displayed by immediately blocking the display of the undesirable content.

Description

CONTENT BLOCKING

The present disclosure relates to a television device enabling a user to block content. BACKGROUND

Television devices often provide parental control functionality, allowing a user to set up certain criteria by which content is blocked by the television device. For example, content such as a channel, a program, or a series of episodes may be blocked based on criteria that include parental control ratings provided in metadata together with the content and user-specified criteria, such as a threshold parental control rating causing content to be locked if it has a parental control rating higher than the threshold; locking all content after a certain time of day; locking certain user selected channels, programs or series; etc. Typically, locked content is conditionally locked, that is when a user tries to access locked content, the user is prompted for an unlock code and the locked content is presented if the unlock code is verified. An example of a known parental control approach and

corresponding rating system that may be used in the design of a parental control system is the V-chip system. Known parental control systems can be inflexible and/or cumbersome to set up. For example, when a viewer tunes to an unlocked channel on which content is displayed that the user considers as unsuitable or undesirable, the user has to enter a setup menu, select a parental control option and then specify the required settings, which may not be straightforward if the user wishes to specifically lock the content that is currently displayed, in particular in terms of finding the correct specific setting to lock the undesired content without also locking content that may not be problematic.

SUMMARY Aspects of the disclosure are set out in the independent claims. Further, optional features of embodiments are set out in the dependent claims, dependent thereon.

In some embodiments, a television device, for example a set-top box or television set, comprises a receiver for receiving television content, a display interface for causing the display of received content on a display and a processor configured to control displaying of content. Specifically, the processor is configured to receive or generate a trigger signal while content is being displayed and, in response to receiving the trigger signal, to block the displayed content. Blocking the displayed content may comprise displaying a block screen instead of the content and/or muting any audio associated with the content.

Advantageously, by acting directly in response to a trigger signal while the content is displayed to block the displayed content, navigation through a potentially cumbersome menu structure to block the displayed content is avoided and the need to guess parental control settings that will block the content in question (for example while leaving other content on the same channel unblocked) is avoided. Thus, the user can react more quickly to undesirable content being displayed by immediately blocking the display of the undesirable content. In particular, the user can immediately block the display of the content when the content is displayed for normal viewing, for example without any menu overlays, such as a parental control menu, overlaid over the content. The user can thus quickly and easily go from normal display of content to display of a block screen instead of the content.

In some embodiments, no further action is taken after display of the block screen until the user switches back to the display of the program or selects another program. In some other embodiments, the processor may be configured to perform a parental control action subsequent to blocking the displayed content, for example in relation to a channel, a series of episodes, an episode or a program associated with the content. In this way, with the immediate issue of blocking the undesirable displayed content being resolved, the system can take further action to avoid the blocked content, or content like it, to be displayed again. For example, the parental control action may comprise setting a parental control lock for the content, for example the program or episode, a channel on which the content has been received, or for a series of which the content is an episode. Alternatively or additionally, the parental control action may comprise causing a display of a parental control option on the display, the parental control option enabling the user to set a parental control lock for the content, channel, series, etc. The processor may be configured to take the parental control action, for example presenting parental control option(s) to the user, subsequent to a delay period having elapsed after the blocking of the displayed content is initiated.

The television device may comprise a remote control receiver, for example an infrared receiver for receiving a signal from a remote control unit emitting infrared signals.

Naturally, the remote control receiver may be configured for receiving other kinds of signals, for example a data signal received over a wireless connection, for example via a router and local area network, from a mobile device used as a remote control unit. It will be appreciated that many types of devices, such as mobile devices, can be used as remote control units in addition to conventional a remote control unit emitting infrared signals. The processor may be configured to generate the trigger signal in response to receiving a remote control trigger command, which may have been generated by a remote control unit in response to a single button press.

The processor may be configured to perform an unblock action blocking the blocked content responsive to the trigger signal, if the trigger signal is received while the content is blocked. Thus, the remote control trigger command can act as a toggle, toggling between blocked and unblocked states of the content. The unblock action may comprise presenting in the content again. The processor may be configured such that the user is prompted for an unblock code prior to presenting the content again, the content being presented again in response to verifying the unblock code. In some embodiments, the trigger signal may be generated responsive to other signals in addition to or instead of signals received from a remote control unit. For example, the processor may be configured to receive an input signal, detect a presence of a person in the vicinity of the television device based on the input signal, and generate the trigger signal in response to detecting the presence of a person in the vicinity of the television device. For example, the processor may be configured to determine if the person is a cleared user, attempting to identify the person as a known user and, if successful, verifying whether the known user is on a list of cleared users. If this determination is negative, the processor may be configured to generate the trigger signal responsive to the negative determination. In another example, the processor may be configured to determine if the person is a blocked person (for example a user on a list of blocked users) and to generate the trigger signal if the determination is positive.

The input signal may comprise an image signal. For example, the television device may comprise an image capture device, such as a web cam, or may have access to images captured using an image capture device of a device connected to the television device, for example of a television set connected to a set-top box. The processor may be configured to recognise faces in the image to detect the presence of a person. In some

embodiments, a sequence of images may be captured and the processor may be configured to detect and/or identify a person using gait analysis instead of or in addition to face recognition. Further, the processor may be configured to identify the person using face recognition software. Additionally, or alternatively, the input signal may comprise an identifier of a mobile device carried by a person in the vicinity of the television device and a processor may be configured to identify the person using the identifier.

The processor may be configured to determine a class of persons to which a person belongs to from the image (or from the identifier), and to generate the trigger signal in dependence upon the determined class of persons, for example generating the trigger signal if the determined class of persons is a class of persons that is blocked. In one example, the processor may be configured to determine that a child is in the vicinity of the television device based on the input signal (such as an image or identifier) and to generate the trigger signal in dependence upon the determination. For example, the presence of a child may be determined from an image using image recognition

techniques, for example to recognise features such as facial features, size or height of a person in the image indicating the presence of a child. It will be appreciated that the receiver may comprise one or more of an analogue receiver, a digital receiver, a terrestrial broadcast receiver, a cable receiver, a satellite receiver, a digital communications interface, a packetised communication interface, and an Internet connection. Likewise, it will be appreciated that the content may comprise one or more of linear programming;, on demand programming; broadcast television; video on demand; content recorded on a recording device, for example integrated with the television device, such as a digital video recorder; and one or more episodes of a series of episodes.

In some embodiments, a remote control unit is provided, which is configured for use with a television device as described above. The remote control unit may comprise a dedicated button for sending a remote control signal to the television device. The remote control signal may be the trigger signal or may cause generation of the trigger signal at the television device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments are now described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an interactive television system;

Figure 2 illustrates a method of content blocking and unblocking;

Figure 3 illustrates a method of content blocking;

Figure 4 illustrates a method of generating a trigger signal for content blocking; and Figure 5 illustrates a further method of generating a trigger signal for content blocking.

In the description that follows, like drawing elements have been given like reference numerals and their description is not necessarily repeated for the sake of brevity.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

With reference to Figure 1 , a set-top box 100 comprises a receiver 102 for receiving a broadcast signal, for example a terrestrial television signal, a satellite signal or a cable signal. A communications interface 104 is connected to a communication network, for example via a router. The communication network may be a local area network connecting a number of devices and/or the Internet. Content may be received using the receiver 102 and/or the interface 104. A processor 106 comprises processing circuitry 108 and memory 1 10 and is connected to the communications interface 104 and the receiver 102 to process signals therefrom. The processing circuitry 108 comprises a number of modules, including modules for processing broadcast signals (demultiplexing, decoding, etc) to generate a video signals corresponding to broadcast channels for display, for receiving and sending signals via the communications interface 104 and for running interactive applications, including generating display screens for the interactive applications. Specific modules may include a parental control module 1 12 and/or a user recognition module 1 14. In dependence on the embodiment, functions such as parental control and user detection may be carried out by respective specific modules or may be distributed throughout the processor. All functionality may be implemented in any combination of software or hardware. A display interface 1 16 is connected to the processor 106 to interface between the set-top box 100 and the television set 200 and to generate control signals for controlling the display of the television set 200 to display the video and display screens generated by the processor 106. The television set 200 comprises a display 202 for displaying video and display screens received from the set-top box 100, specifically from the display interface 1 16.

In some embodiments, the television 200 further comprises an image capture device 204, for example a web cam or other video camera, and a microphone 206. As depicted in Figure 1 , the display 202 shows a parental control screen 208 with parental control options 210, described further below. A remote control unit 300 is configured for communication with a remote control receiver 1 18 on the set-top box 100, to enable a user to interact with interactive display generated by the set-top box 100 and to control its operation in general. The remote control unit comprises a keypad 302 for receiving user inputs for interaction with the set-top box 100. Further, the remote control unit comprises a content blocking key 304 for rapidly blocking currently displayed content, as described in detail below.

When a user watches content the user wishes to block rapidly, for example because the user finds the content upsetting or a child for which the content is not suitable is present, the user presses the content blocking key 304 on the remote control. In response, the remote control 300 sends a block command to the remote control receiver 1 18. With reference to Figure 2, at step 2 the set-top box 100 receives the block command and generates a trigger signal triggering a blocking process to run on the processor 106. At step 4, the processor 106 checks if the displayed content is already blocked and if not, blocks presentation of content at step 6.

Specifically, in some embodiments, the processor may instruct the display interface 1 16 to cause a blocking screen to be displayed on the television set 200 instead of the currently displayed content. The blocking screen may be a blank of black screen, or may be any screen that can be displayed instead of the content, for example a branded home screen of the set-top box, a screen saver, etc.

In some embodiments, if the determination at step 4 is that the content is already blocked (a block screen is being displayed), the processor 106 instructs the display interface 1 16 to cause display of the content again at step 8. In this way, the content blocking key 304 acts as a toggle toggling the block screen on and off, as the case may be. The processor 106 may either instruct the display of the content directly in response to receiving the trigger signal or may prompt the user to enter an unblock password or code (which may be set by the user in a set up menu) and only unblock the content if the password or code is verified as correct. In other embodiments if the determination at block 4 is that the content is already blocked, no action is taken in response to the trigger signal.

In some embodiments, following the blocking of the content at step 6, the processor 106 carries out a secondary action at step 10. The secondary action may be to start a timer for a pre-set delay time and to automatically unblock the content after the delay time has elapsed, resuming display of the content. Where the content is random access content such as video-on-demand content, the secondary action may further or instead comprise pausing the content until display is resumed. If the content is linear content, for example broadcast content, the set-top box may buffer the content to memory, for example a hard disc or flash memory, so that the user can resume watching at the point at which the content was blocked once the content is unblocked again. In some embodiments, the secondary action at step 10 my include a parental control action, triggered either directly in response to step 6 or after delay time has elapsed. The behaviour of the set-top box 100 in terms of one or more secondary actions (if any) may be controlled by

corresponding options in a set-up menu. In embodiments in which the secondary action at step 10 comprises a parental control action, the processor 106 may, in some embodiments automatically set up a parental control lock for the content that has been blocked, for example setting up a parental control lock for the channel on which the content was received, a series of which the content is an episode or the program corresponding to the content itself. Once a parental control lock has been set up, the next time a user tries to access the channel, series or program as the case may be, the user will be prompted for a parental control password or code and the processor 106 will only cause display of the content if the password or code has been verified as correct. The password or code may be the same as the unblock password or code and may be set up in a set-up menu, either globally or individually for each user (where the set-top box 100 provides for individual user accounts). In some embodiments, the block screen itself displayed at step 6 or a separate parental control lock screen displayed as part of the secondary action at step 10 (for example after a delay relative to step 6) provides the user with a screen 208 with interactive parental control options 210, for example as illustrated in Figure 1 , enabling the user to select a parental control action from the screen 208. The options 210 may comprise options for setting up a parental control lock for the program, series or channel corresponding to the content, and possibly an option not to set up a parental control lock.

In some embodiments, now described with reference to Figure 3, the processor processes one or more input signals to generate a trigger signal (or not) from the one or more input signals at a step 12, as described further below. If the processing causes a trigger signal to be generated and the determination at step 4 is that the content is not already blocked, the content is blocked at step 6 and/or a secondary action taken at step 10, as described above.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, processes for generating a trigger signal (or not) from one or more input signals are now described. At step 14, the one or more input signals are processed to detect if a person is approaching the television set or is present in the vicinity of the television set 200 (for example within the same room, within a preset distance from the television set 200, within viewing position from which the display 202 can be viewed, within a field of view of the image capture device 204, etc). If a person is detected to be approaching or present, the person is identified at step 16. For example, the person may be identified as a user who has been set up on the set-top box by providing samples of the input signal during the set-up procedure, for example recording an image or registering a mobile device of the user. Alternatively or additionally, the person may be identified as belonging to a class of persons, for example adults or children. In some embodiments step 16 is omitted and a trigger signal is generated whenever an additional person approaches the television set 200.

In some embodiments, now described with reference to Figure 4, subsequent to identifying the person at step 16, the processor 106 checks if the identified person or class of persons is in an unblock list of users, for which content is not to be blocked. This list may be static and set up by a user in a set up menu. Alternatively, the list may be dynamic and depend on, for example, a time of day, the channel currently being displayed, the parental control rating of the content, etc. If the identified person or the class of identified person matches an entry in the unblock list, no action is taken and the set top box 100 continues to monitor for persons approaching and coming into the vicinity of the television set 200. If no match is found, a trigger signal is generated at step 20 and the process continues at step 12 described above with reference to Figure 3.

In some embodiments, in addition to or alternatively, the decision of whether a trigger signal is to be generated or not is made based on a block list. The steps of the

corresponding process are the same as described above with reference to Figure 4, with the exception of step 18 being replaced with a different step 22. At step 22, the processor checks if the identified person or class of persons matches an entry in a block list (which is set up in analogous manner as the unlock list and may be static or dynamic). If a match is found, the trigger signal is generated at step 20 as described above, otherwise, the set- top box continues monitoring as described above. In some embodiments, whether based on step 18 or 22 described above, if more than one person is detected and identified, if a single detected person is in the block list, or a single detected person is not in the unlock list, the trigger signal is generated. In some embodiments, if a person is detected to be approaching but cannot be identified, the trigger signal is generated, as well, irrespective of any other matches found. In some embodiments, the input signal is an image of a scene in front of the television set 200, captured by an image capture device such as the image capture device 204. The processor 106, for example the user recognition module 1 14, uses face recognition software to process the image. The presence of a face in the image is taken to indicate the presence or approach of a person at step 14. Once a face is detected, the software may further be adapted to recognise the face by comparing face detection features against a database of faces of known users, or against features characteristic of a class of persons, such as children or adults, in order to identify the person corresponding to the detected face at step 16. Additional features, such as height may also be taking into account to classify detected persons.

Different face recognition technologies are used in various embodiments. In some embodiments, 2D feature extraction methods such as Eigenfaces are used and are primarily suited for high-quality, well-lit images. These methods focus on identifying and then comparing common facial features, such as eyebrows, noses, etc. In some embodiments, Active Feature and Active Apperance techniques focus on facial boundary features and other identifiers in order to compare small sections of images for similarity, and can use more than one image of the person to help identification in different lighting conditions or postures. In some embodiments, facial recognition techniques that focus on identifying generalities, such as masculine, feminine or adult/child features, are used. 3D face recognition techniques may also be used. For a review of technologies that may be used according to respective specific embodiments, see "Principles and Methods for Face Recognition and Face Modelling", Rawlinson et al, 2009

(https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/dcs/people/abhir bhalerao/publications/face- recoqnition-chapter.pdf), incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, gait analysis of captured images is done in addition or instead to identify or detect a person or class of persons, for example see "Automatic Gait Recognition", K. Sridharan

(http://ttic.uchicaao.edu/~karthik/qait.pdf), incorporated herein by reference. Common to these techniques, body position and posture is extracted from a series of images and compared to known records.

In some embodiments, the input signal comprises information identifying a mobile device carried by a person approaching the television set 200, for example a MAC address of a devices approaching the television set 200. For example, a device can be taken to be in the vicinity of the television set if they make a Bluetooth™ or other short-range connection with the television set 200 or set-top box 100. WIFI and Bluetooth device detection are widely used to enable users to connect to WIFI and Bluetooth devices. However cross- network user recognition by device is not a common use of the technology. As devices broadcast their presence and other information in order to connect, this information, with existing protocols and technologies is used, in some embodiments, to identify individual users. A signal strength or triangulation based approach may be employed with WIFI connections to the device if the set-top box 100 can exchange the relevant information with one or more wireless routers in the home where the set-top box 100 is located. As for faces, MAC addresses or other device identifying information of known users can be stored in a user database by the set-top box 100 in association with corresponding users. The users may be listed in either a block list or an unblock list as discussed above. The device information may be used to detect the presence of a person at step 14 and/or to identify the person at step 16.

In some embodiments, face recognition and image processing on the one hand and device detection and/or identification information on the other hand can be combined, for example using face recognition at step 14 to detect the approach or presence of a person and using device identification information at step 16, or vice versa. The two sources of information may also be combined within one or both of steps 14 or 16, for example using both for detecting a person and/or identifying the person. The following embodiments are also disclosed:

1. A television device comprising a receiver for receiving television content, a display interface for causing the display of received content on a display and a processor configured to control the display of content, the processor being configured to:

receive or generate a trigger signal while content is being displayed; and in response to receiving or generating the trigger signal, block the displayed content.

2. A television device according to item 1 , comprising a set-top box or television set.

3. A television device according to item 1 or item 2, wherein blocking the displayed content comprises displaying a block screen instead of the content.

4. A television device according to item 3, wherein blocking the displayed content comprises muting any audio content associated with the content. 5. A television device according to any preceding item, the processor being configured to perform a parental control action subsequent to blocking the displayed content. 6. A television device according to item 5, wherein performing a parental control action comprises setting a parental control lock for the content.

7. A television device according to item 5 or 6, wherein performing a parental control action comprises setting a parental control lock for a channel on which the content has been received, or for a series of which the content is an episode.

8. A television device according to item 5, 6 or 7, wherein performing a parental control action comprises causing display of a parental control option on the display, the parental control option enabling a user to set a parental control lock.

9. A television device according to any one of items 5 to 8, the processor being configured to perform the parental control action subsequent to a delay period having elapsed after the blocking of the displayed content is initiated. 10. A television device according to anyone of items 5 to 9, wherein the parental control action is performed in relation to a channel, a series of episodes, an episode or a program associated with the content.

1 1 . A television device according to any preceding item, wherein the television device comprises a remote control receiver and the processor is configured to generate the trigger signal in response to receiving a remote control trigger command.

12. A television device according to item 1 1 , wherein the trigger command is generated by a remote control unit in response to a single button press.

13. A television device according to item 1 1 or item 12, the processor being configured to perform an unblock action if the trigger signal is received while the content is blocked.

14. A television device according to item 13, wherein the unblock action comprises presenting the content, preferably comprising prompting a user for an unblock code and presenting the content in response to verifying the unblock code. 15. A television device according to any preceding item, the processor being configured to

receive an input signal;

detect a presence of a person in the vicinity of the television device based on the input signal; and

generate the trigger signal in response to detecting the presence of a person in the vicinity of the television device.

16. A television device according to item 15, the processor being configured to determine if the person is a cleared user and to generate the trigger signal if the determination is negative.

17. A television device according to item 15, the processor being configured to determine if the person is a blocked person and to generate the trigger signal if the determination is positive.

18. A television device according to any one of items 15 to 17, wherein the input signal comprises an image signal and the processor is configured to recognise a face in the image to detect the presence of a person.

19. A television device according to item 18, the processor being configured to identify the person using face recognition.

20. A television device according to anyone of items 15 to 18, the input signal comprising an identifier of a mobile device carried by a person in the vicinity of the television device, wherein the processor is configured to identify the person using the identifier.

21 . A television device according to anyone of items 15 to 18, the processor being configured to determine a class of persons to which the person belongs to from the input signal and to generate the trigger signal in dependence upon the determined class of persons.

22. A television device according to item 21 , the processor being configured to determine that a child is in the vicinity of the television device based on the input signal and to generate the trigger signal in dependence upon the determination. 23. A television device according to any preceding item, wherein the content comprises one or more of linear programming, on demand programming, broadcast television, video on demand, and one or more episodes of a series of episodes. 24. A television device according to any preceding item, which in in the receiver comprises one or more of an analogue receiver, a digital receiver, a terrestrial broadcast receiver, a cable receiver, a satellite receiver, a digital communications interface, a packetised communication is interface, and an Internet connection. 25. A remote control unit configured for use with a television device according to any preceding item, the remote control unit comprising a dedicated button for sending a remote control signal to the television device, wherein the remote control signal is the trigger signal or causes generation of the trigger signal at the television device. 26. A method of controlling display of content on a television device, the television device comprising a receiver for receiving television content and a display interface for causing the display of received content on a display, wherein the method comprises: receiving or generating a trigger signal while content is being displayed; and in response to receiving or generating the trigger signal, blocking the displayed content.

27. A method according to item 26, the television device comprising a set-top box or television set. 28. A method according to item 26 or item 27, wherein blocking the displayed content comprises displaying a block screen instead of the content.

29. A method according to item 28, wherein blocking the displayed content comprises muting any audio content associated with the content.

30. A method according to any one of items 26 to 29, the method comprising performing a parental control action subsequent to blocking the displayed content.

31 . A method according to item 30, wherein performing a parental control action comprises setting a parental control lock for the content. 32. A method according to item 30 or 31 , wherein performing a parental control action comprises setting a parental control lock for a channel on which the content has been received, or for a series of which the content is an episode. 33. A television device according to item 30, 31 or 32, wherein performing a parental control action comprises causing display of a parental control option on the display, the parental control option enabling a user to set a parental control lock.

34. A method according to any one of items 30 to 33, the method comprising performing the parental control action subsequent to a delay period having elapsed after the blocking of the displayed content is initiated.

35. A method according to anyone of items 30 to 33, wherein the parental control action is performed in relation to a channel, a series of episodes, an episode or a program associated with the content.

36. A method according to any one of items 26 to 35, wherein the television device comprises a remote control receiver and the method comprises generating the trigger signal in response to receiving a remote control trigger command.

37. A method according to item 35, wherein the trigger command is generated by a remote control unit in response to a single button press.

38. A method according to item 36 or item 37, the method comprising performing an unblock action if the trigger signal is received while the content is blocked.

39. A method according to item 38, wherein the unblock action comprises presenting the content, preferably comprising prompting a user for an unblock code and presenting the content in response to verifying the unblock code.

40. A method according to any one of items 26 to 39, the method comprising:

receiving an input signal;

detecting a presence of a person in the vicinity of the television device based on the input signal; and

generating the trigger signal in response to detecting the presence of a person in the vicinity of the television device. 41 . A method according to item 40, the method comprising determining if the person is a cleared user and generating the trigger signal if the determination is negative.

42. A method according to item 40, the method comprising determining if the person is a blocked person and generating the trigger signal if the determination is positive.

43. A method according to any one of items 40 to 42, wherein the input signal comprises an image signal and the method comprises recognising a face in the image to detect the presence of a person.

44. A method according to item 43, the method comprising identifying the person using face recognition.

45. A method according to any one of items 40 to 43, the input signal comprising an identifier of a mobile device carried by a person in the vicinity of the television device, wherein the method comprises identifying the person using the identifier.

46. A method according to any one of items 40 to 43, the method comprising determining a class of persons to which the person belongs to from the input signal and generating the trigger signal in dependence upon the determined class of persons.

47. A method according to item 46, the method comprising determining that a child is in the vicinity of the television device based on the input signal and generating the trigger signal in dependence upon the determination.

48. A method according to any one of items 26 to 47, wherein the content comprises one or more of linear programming, on demand programming, broadcast television, video on demand, recorded content, recorded content recorded on a digital video recorder, and one or more episodes of a series of episodes.

49. A method according to any one of items 26 to 48, which in in the receiver comprises one or more of an analogue receiver, a digital receiver, a terrestrial broadcast receiver, a cable receiver, a satellite receiver, a digital communications interface, a packetised communication is interface, and an Internet connection.

50. A computer program product comprising coded instructions, which, when processor, implement a method according to any one of items 26 to 49. 51 . One or more tangible computer readable media or memory devices storing coded instructions, which, when run on a processor, implement a method according to any one of items 26 to 49.

Having read the above specific description of some embodiments, it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that many variations, modifications and juxtaposition is of the embodiments and features described above are possible and will fall within the scope of the appended claims. In particular, while the above description has been made in terms of a set-top box connected to a television set, it will be appreciated that other devices, such as computers, portable or otherwise, mobile phones, tablets, etc may be used to implement the respective functions of the set-top box and television set. Further, the disclosure is not limited to implementations using separate devices but the functions of the set-top box and television set described above may equally be implemented in an integrated device, for example a smart TV set. In embodiments where separate devices are used, connection between the devices may be by cable, for example a HDMI cable, or a coaxial cable for frequency modulated signals, or by a wireless connection, for example by a wireless router or wireless dongle of a smart TV. Other connections between devices, such as USB, ethernet or any other type of connection are equally envisaged.

Claims

2. A television device according to claim 1 , comprising a set-top box or television set.

3. A television device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein blocking the displayed content comprises displaying a block screen instead of the content.

4. A television device according to claim 3, wherein blocking the displayed content comprises muting any audio content associated with the content.

5. A television device according to any preceding claim, the processor being configured to perform a parental control action subsequent to blocking the displayed content.

6. A television device according to claim 5, wherein performing a parental control action comprises one or more of setting a parental control lock for the content;

setting a parental control lock for a channel on which the content has been received, or for a series of which the content is an episode; and causing display of a parental control option on the display, the parental control option enabling a user to set a parental control lock.

7. A television device according to claim 5 or 6, the processor being configured to perform the parental control action subsequent to a delay period having elapsed after the blocking of the displayed content is initiated.

8. A television device according to any preceding claim, wherein the television device comprises a remote control receiver and the processor is configured to generate the trigger signal in response to receiving a remote control trigger command, wherein the trigger command is generated by a remote control unit in response to a single button press.

9. A television device according to any preceding claim, the processor being configured to

receive an input signal;

10. A television device according to claim 15, the processor being configured to determine if the person is a cleared user and to generate the trigger signal if the determination is negative or configured to determine if the person is a blocked person and to generate the trigger signal if the determination is positive.

1 1 . A television device according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the input signal comprises an image signal and the processor is configured to recognise a face in the image to detect the presence of a person.

12. A television device according to anyone of claims 15 to 18, the input signal comprising an identifier of a mobile device carried by a person in the vicinity of the television device, wherein the processor is configured to identify the person using the identifier.

13. A television device according to anyone of claims 15 to 18, the processor being configured to determine a class of persons to which the person belongs to from the input signal and to generate the trigger signal in dependence upon the determined class of persons.

14. A remote control unit configured for use with a television device according to any preceding claim, the remote control unit comprising a dedicated button for sending a remote control signal to the television device, wherein the remote control signal is the trigger signal or causes generation of the trigger signal at the television device.

15. A method of controlling display of content on a television device, the television device comprising a receiver for receiving television content and a display interface for causing the display of received content on a display, wherein the method comprises: receiving or generating a trigger signal while content is being displayed; and in response to receiving or generating the trigger signal, blocking the displayed content.