A METHOD FOR THE AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF RADIO-TELEVISION RECEIVERS

Abstract: The method comprises the steps of providing a device (2) for selectively enabling/disabling a radio-television receiver (1) to receive radio-television programmes according to a predetermined selection which in turn is arranged on a substrate in a form remote from each device (2), setting the selection by transferring it, with the substrate on which it is stored, into the enabling/disabling device, and making the operation of the radio-television receiver subservient to the operative control of the enabling/disabling device.

Description: A method for the automatic control of radio-television receivers .Εflc.hm.cal Field The invention relates to a method for the automatic control of television and radio receiver equipment, generally referred to as radio-television equipment or receivers, comprising the steps of: providing a device for selectively enabling/disabling a radio-television receiver to receive radio-television programmes accordinq to a predetermined selection, setting tne said selection in the device, making the operation of the radio-television receiver subservient to the operative control of the device . Background art. The invention relates to the specific field of automatic control of the ability to receive radio- television programmes in order to limit the viewing thereof by children and adolescents in the absence of their parents by temporarily preventing reception of programmes wnich are unsuitable owmq to their subject and content. The invention is also suitable for other uses such as, for example, the automatic programming of video recorder equipment and/or the control thereof ( m the aforementioned sense). Devices for selectively enabling/disabling radio-television receivers are known, for example, from US patent 4,768,229. The device described in this patent nas a keyboard for setting, in coded form, a predetermined selection of television procrrammes reception of which is to be allowed or prevented. Another similar device is described in the us oatent 4.510 623. In comparison with consideraole adaptability of use, since the selection of radio-television programmes for which reception is permitted can be programmed in a completely flexible and personalized manner, these devices have the disadvantage of requiring the user to select and set the selection of the radio-television channels for which reception is permitted or prevented. In addition to the considerable difficulty of setting this selection, there is the fact that each user has to have at least an approximate knowledge of the content of the programmes selected. Moreover, there is always the doubt that the selection may be incomplete or not entirely suitable for the purposes envisaged. A method of automatically censoring radio-television programmes according to the suitability of their content for a non-adult public is also Known, for example, from Australian patent No. 9230026. This method provides for a censor who is employed to classify the programmes and to transmit a radio siσnal contemporaneously with the programme to be censored: the signal is received by the users and can drive an enabling/disabling device associated with each radio- television receiver to allow or prevent reception of that specific programme. This method avoids the individual programming of each enabling/disabling device but, on the other hand, involves the need to organize a "censoring" network and the need, which cannot be ignored, for the radio- frequency signal emitted by the network to be receivable in a suitaole manner in tne location where the user is situated. A breakdown in the censoring network would also affect free viewing of any programme by all of the users. The technical problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing a method for the automatic control of television and radio equipment designed to avoid all of the problems complained of with reference to the prior art. Disclosure of the Invention This problem is solved by the invention by a method comprising the steps indicated at the oeginning and characterized in that it comprises the further steps of: - providing the selection on a substrate in a form remote from each device, and - transferring the selection into the device by means of the substrate. Brief Description of Drawings The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred emoodiment thereof illustrated by way of non-limitmσ example, with reference to the appended single drawing which shows schematically the mutual relationship of steps of the method of the invention. Rest. Morie of Parrying out the Invention In this drawing, a television receiver. generally indicated 1, such as a television set, a video recorder or the iike, is situated in a location A, typically the user's house. A device, indicated 2, selectively enables or disables the receiver 1 in order to enable it to receive only some of the television programmes which could otherwise be received, according to a predetermined selection which is programmed and stored n a memory 3 of the device 2. The enabling/disabling logic is conventional and is not a subject of the present patent. Purely by way of example, the selection of television programmes stored in coded form in the memory 3, which is preferably a non-volatile memory, drives a microprocessor which temporarily prevents tuning to the channels indicated for the duration of the television programmes of which viewing is to be prevented. The device 2, which is situated in the same location A as the television receiver, comprises a reader 4 for an informatics substrate, for example, a card 6 with a magnetic strip 7. The reader 4 may effectively be replaced by a reader for a magnetic or optical disc or for punch cards or even for a virtual disc generated m the memory 3. According to the method of the invention, in a location B separate and remote from the location A, entities other than the user of the television set 1 and collectively indicated r>y the term "censor", select television programmes corresponding, for example, to the programming for the week and, in any case, preferably relating to a period of several days. The selection comprises two or more sets of programmes, for example, divided according to the age band of the public for which each set is intended. For example, there may be a first set for children up to 10 years of age and a second set for youngsters between 10 and 15 years of age. The aforesaid selection is stored on the magnetic strips 7 of the cards 6 which can thus be distributed to several users who receive this service. In order to programme the device 2, it thus suffices to acquire the card 6 or another suitable informatics substrate containing the selection selected by the censor for the desired period of time, stored on the magnetic strip 7. At home, the user will simply have to insert the card 6 in the reader 4 and transfer the selection stored in coded form to the memory 3. The activation of the device 2 then makes the operation of the radio- television receiver subservient to the operative control of the device, thus preventing uncontrolled access by children and youngsters to programmes unsuitable for their ages. Many modifications and variations, all falling within the same innovative concept, may be applied to the invention described; for example, the selection of programmes may be transferred from the location B to the users' devices 2 by means of data-transmission lines or telephone lines without the actual use of a physical substrate which can be transferred between the two locations. Moreover, it is also envisaged that the same function may be performed to programme, for example, a video recorder for the automatic recording of television programmes of particular interest, for example, films transmitted at unusual times, rather than for preventing the reception of programmes. A principal advantage or tne method o the invention is that it is easy to use, without the need to send out additional radio transmissions and is operative in any location. Moreover, once the card containing the desired selection has been received, the selection is operative, independently of further operations by the censor.

Claims: 7 CLAIMS 1. A method for the automatic control of radio- television receivers, comprising the steps of: - providing a device (2) for selectively enabling/disabling a radio-television receiver (1) to receive radio-television programmes according to a predetermined selection, - setting the said selection in tne device (2), - making the operation of the radio-television receiver (1) subservient to the operative control of the device ( 2 ) , characterized in that it comprises the further steps of: - providing the selection on a substrate in a form remote from each device, and - transferring the selection into the device by means of the substrate. 2. A method according to Claim l, in which the selection is transferred by the storing thereof in the device ( 2 ) . 3. A method according to Claim 2, in which the storing is effected in a non-volatile memory (3). 4. A method according to Claim l. in which the substrate is an informatics substrate. 5. A method according to Claim 4 , in which the substrate includes a magnetic substrate. 6. A method according to Claim 4, in which the substrate includes an optical substrate. 7. A method according to Claim , in which the substrate is a virtual substrate. 8. A method according to Claim 4, in which the substrate comprises a card (6) with a magnetic strip (7) or a punched card. 9. A method according to Claim 4, in which the substrate comprises a magnetic or optical disc. 10. A method according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the selection comprises at least two sets of programmes . 11. A method according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the selection relates to a programme for several days.

Inventors: CASAROTTO GIORGIO, CASAROTTO, GIORGIO
Applicants: CASAROTTO G & C SRL, CASAROTTO GIORGIO, CASAROTTO G. & C. S.R.L., CASAROTTO, GIORGIO
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H04N7
IPC codes: H04N5, H04N7