Patent ID: 6020882
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
A method of disabling the sound and/or visual display of a television program in a television receiver, the method comprising the steps:(i) establishing the authority of the user to define the program or parts thereof which are to be disabled;(ii) entering into a memory within the television receiver, code words corresponding to a program classification that the user desires to suppress;(iii) entering into the memory the time(s) during which the code words entered in step (ii) are to apply;(iv) entering into the memory further code words corresponding to further program classifications that the user desires to suppress;(v) entering into the memory further time(s) during which the further code words are to apply;(vi) receiving television signals including code words representing the program classifications;(vii) comparing the received code words with the code words entered into the memory which apply at the time of reception; and(viii) disabling the sound and/or visual display in dependence on the result of the comparison.