Patent ID: 6212679
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method of operating a television receiver, including a communications port, and equipped with parental content controls for blocking signals based upon encoded ratings therein, in an institutional environment, which includes a separate control center, external to the television receiver and connected thereto via a cable connection, for controlling the television receiver via the communications port, comprising:interactively coupling the television receiver to the external control center via the communications port and the cable connection;setting, enabling and disabling the parental content controls in the television receiver from the external control center via the communications port; andenabling a user to determine the settings, and the enabling and the disabling of the parental content controls in the television receiver via the external control center and the communications port, the enabling step further comprising;launching a request from the user to the television receiver for access to a parental content controls menu;supplying the request from the television receiver to the external control center;enabling the parental content controls menu in the television receiver from the external control center; andrepeating the above steps to establish the parental content controls preferences of the user in the television receiver.