Abstract:
A method and apparatus for controlling audio/video display using a policy is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for policy-based control of audio/video display including monitoring at least one of at least one audio/video signal input or at least one power outlet using a policy, wherein the policy defines information for controlling audio/video display and in response to a detection of at least one of an audio/video signal or an electrical power, routing the at least one of the audio/video signal or the electrical power according to the policy.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to entertainment device monitoring and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling audio/video display using a policy. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Multimedia content is accessible within homes and other housings through a variety of modes and/or entertainment devices. For example, the multimedia content may be generated and/or viewed through various websites (e.g., online games and/or the like) and/or entertainment devices, such as video game consoles, convertors (e.g., cable box convertors), media players (e.g. CD/DVD players and/or the like) and/or audio/video display devices (e.g., a television, a monitor and/or the like). Generally, the video game consoles, the convertors and/or the media players process and transmit audio/video signals to the audio/video display devices. Nonetheless, such modes and/or entertainment devices are easily accessible to young people (e.g., children, adolescents) among other individuals. In various instances, children and adolescents are presented with the multimedia content that depicts or expresses concepts and images that may be deemed inappropriate and/or undesirable by parents and/or guardians. 
     While many children and/or adolescents intentionally access inappropriate and/or undesirable multimedia content; sometimes, such multimedia content may be accidentally presented. For example, a video gaming console may be used to play a game that portrays extreme violence or adult material and hence, may not be suitable for children and/or adolescents. As such, parents or other regulators either have little or no control over the content that is accessible through various entertainment modes and/or devices in daily environments, such as a home or a community gathering. 
     Currently, parents utilize various available applications to enforce control policies for only one type of entertainment device. For example, certain televisions and convertors allow control over specific channels and/or multimedia content associated with a particular parental rating. Several content filtering mechanisms also exist for blocking inappropriate and/or undesirable multimedia content accessible through the Internet at a computer. However, conventional techniques fail to monitor or filter multimedia content associated with multiple entertainment devices that are accessible to children and/or adolescents in the home. Furthermore, the entertainment devices, such as DVD players and/or video gaming consoles, do not implement or enforce a policy for controlling audio/video display. As a result, the children and/or the adolescents may be exposed to inappropriate and/or undesirable multimedia content. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for controlling audio/video display using a policy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally include a method and apparatus for controlling an audio/video display using a policy. In one embodiment, a method for policy-based control of audio/video display including monitoring at least one of at least one audio/video signal input or at least one power outlet using a policy, wherein the policy defines information for controlling audio/video display and in response to a detection of at least one of an audio/video signal or an electrical power, routing the at least one of the audio/video signal or the electrical power according to the policy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for configuring a device with a policy for controlling audio/video display according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a device for controlling audio/video display using a policy according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of a method for routing electrical power for an entertainment device using a policy to control audio/video display according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a method for routing an audio/video signal from an entertainment device using a policy to control audio/video display according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system  100  for configuring a device with a policy for controlling audio/video display according to one or more embodiments. In one embodiment, the system  100  includes a device  102 , a server  104  and a computer  106  where each is coupled to each other through a network  108 . 
     According to one or more embodiments, the server  104  is a type of computing device (e.g., a laptop, a desktop, a Personal Desk Assistant (PDA), a tablet, a mobile phone and the like) that comprises a central processing unit (CPU)  124 , various support circuits  126  and a memory  128 . The CPU  124  may comprise one or more commercially available microprocessors or microcontrollers that facilitate data processing and storage. Various support circuits  126  facilitate operation of the CPU  110  and may include clock circuits, buses, power supplies, input/output circuits and/or the like. The memory  128  includes a read only memory, random access memory, disk drive storage, optical storage, removable storage, and the like. The memory  128  includes various software packages, such as a policy server component  130 . The memory  128  includes various data, such as an event log  132 . In one embodiment, the device  102  communicates one or more events to the policy server component  130 , which stores information regarding such events in the event log  132 . For example, the event log  132  may indicate that cable television was viewed from 2:44 pm to 6:01 pm. 
     The computer  106  is a type of computing device (e.g., a laptop, a desktop, a Personal Desk Assistant (PDA), a tablet, a mobile phone and the like) that comprises a central processing unit (CPU)  110 , various support circuits  112  and a memory  114 . The CPU  110  may comprise one or more commercially available microprocessors or microcontrollers that facilitate data processing and storage. Various support circuits  112  facilitate operation of the CPU  110  and may include clock circuits, buses, power supplies, input/output circuits and/or the like. The memory  114  includes a read only memory, random access memory, disk drive storage, optical storage, removable storage, and the like. The memory  114  includes various software packages, such as an interface  116 . The memory  114  further includes various data, such as a policy  118 . 
     The network  108  comprises a communication system that connects computers by wire, cable, fiber optic, and/or wireless links facilitated by various types of well-known network elements, such as hubs, switches, routers, and the like. The network  108  may employ various well-known protocols to communicate information amongst the network resources. For example, the network  108  may be part of the Internet or intranet using various communications infrastructure such as Ethernet, WiFi, WiMax, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and the like. 
     The interface  116  includes software code that is executed by the CPU  110  in order to facilitate configuration of the policy  118  according to various embodiments. For example, a computer user (e.g., a parent) may establish various control settings within the policy  118  (e.g., a parental control policy) through a graphical user interface generated by the interface  116 . Furthermore, the various control settings may be used by the device  102  to route an audio/video signal and/or electrical power. According to various embodiments, the device  102  examines the various control settings to determine whether to permit or prevent communication of the audio/video signal or the electrical power to the display  122  and/or any other entertainment device. In another embodiment, the device  102  examines the various control settings to identify various events, which are communicated and stored in the event log  132 . 
     The device  102  may be coupled to one or more sources  120  of audio/video signals and/or a display  122 . According to one or more embodiments, the sources  120  may include any combination of various entertainment devices, such as video game consoles (e.g. a NINTENDO Wii) and media players (e.g., DVD players, digital recorders and/or the like). Furthermore, the device  102  provides the sources  120  with electrical power. For example, power chords for the various entertainment devices, as well as any accessory components (e.g., a wireless gateway for the video game consoles), may be plugged into power outlets on the device  102 , as explained further below. 
     The display  122  is a type of entertainment device (e.g., a television, a computer monitor, a projector and/or the like) for processing audio/video signals. Similarly, the display  122  may use the device  102  as a source of electrical power. In one embodiment, the display  122  decodes the audio/video signal generated by the sources  120  and presents the audio/video signal to a user. For example, the audio/video signal may be projected onto a screen. 
     According to various embodiments, the device  102  controls communication of the audio/video data (e.g., signals) to the display  122  from the sources  120 . In one embodiment, the device  102  monitors one or more audio/video signal inputs and/or one or more power outlets using the policy  118 . As explained further below, the device  102  is configured to detect an audio/video signal at the audio/video signal inputs and/or electrical power at one or more power outlets and route the audio/video signal and/or the electrical power according to the policy  118 . As an example, the device  102  is designed to monitor entertainment devices engaged by children and control various activities according to various parent control settings within the policy  118 . The policy  118  may dictate specific time periods and/or time limits for using a particular entertainment device. For example, the device  102  may prevent a child from playing video games after 10 pm and/or more than three hours per day. 
     In one embodiment, the device  102  generates and communicates information regarding one or more events to the server  102  in accordance with the policy  118 . As a result, the one or more events are stored in the event log  132 . In another embodiment, the device  102  sends a regular heartbeat (e.g., an electric signal) to the server  104  and/or the computer  106 . If the device  102  becomes disabled or disconnected, a missing or skipped heartbeat alerts the server  104  and/or the computer  106  as to the disruption. In yet another embodiment, the device  102  detects a disruption at an audio/video input and/or a power outlet. For example, the device  102  determines that a chord is unplugged from the audio/video input and/or the power outlet. The device  102  communicates information regarding any type of disruption to the policy server component  130  for storage within the event log  132 . 
     In another embodiment, the device  102  communicates messages to be presented to a user on the display  122 . For example, the device  102  communicates messages related to various events, such as policy violations (e.g., “Playing Video Games past midnight is not permitted”, “Blocked by SYMANTEC Norton Family Safety” and/or the like). As another example, the device  102  communicates messages related to future events (e.g., “There are fifteen minutes of video game time remaining”). Such messages may be stored in the event log  132  and viewed by a parent at a later date. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a device  200  for controlling audio/video display using a policy according to one or more embodiments. The device  200  includes various components for controlling electrical power and/or audio/video signals utilized by various entertainment devices (e.g., a television, a video game console, a media player and/or the like). In one embodiment, the device includes an input  202 , an input  204  and an input  206 , which are adapted to receive the audio/video signals from various entertainment devices (e.g., the sources  120  of  FIG. 1 ). For instance, each of the input  202 , the input  204  and the input  206  may include one or more sockets that couple with one or more connectors in accordance with various audio/video interface technologies (e.g., coaxial, component audio/video, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), composite audio/video and/or the like). 
     The input  202 , the input  204  and the input  206  may be coupled with a switcher  208 . Generally, the switcher  208  may be a hardware component (i.e., an audio/video signal switcher). As such, the switcher  208  controls the communication of audio/video signals to an output  210 . Generally, the output  210  may include one or more sockets that are adapted to couple with one or more connectors attached to a display device (e.g., a television, a computer monitor, a projector and/or the like). 
     The device  200  may further include a power supply  212  (e.g., a battery). Alternatively, the power supply  212  may be a socket that is configured to couple with a power input cable that is connected to a wall outlet. Accordingly, electrical power flows from the wall outlet to the device  200  through the power supply  212 . The device  200  further includes a splitter  214  that couples the power supply  212  with a power outlet  216 , a power outlet  218  and a power outlet  220 . Generally, the splitter  214  manages the electrical power provided by the power supply  212 . In one embodiment, the splitter  214  distributes the electrical power amongst any combination of the power outlet  216 , the power outlet  218  and/or the power outlet  220 . In another embodiment, the splitter  214  prevents the communication of the electrical power to the power outlet  216 , the power outlet  218  and/or the power outlet  220 . In other words, the splitter  214  is configured to shut off electrical power to various entertainment devices. 
     The device  200  may further include a processor  222  as well as a memory  224 . The memory  224  includes a policy  226 . The memory  224  further includes various data, such as usage data  228  regarding power consumption patterns by one or more entertainment devices. According to one or more embodiments, the power consumption patterns define an ON state and/or an OFF/standby state for the one or more entertainment devices. Hence, the ON state denotes that a particular entertainment device is powered on; whereas, the OFF/standby state denotes that the particular entertainment device is powered off. 
     The device  200  further includes a policy enforcement component  230  for configuring the switcher  208  and the splitter  214  using the policy  226 . The policy enforcement component  230  may be a hardware component (e.g., a semiconductor device). Alternatively, the policy enforcement component  230  may include software code stored in the memory  224 . In one embodiment, the policy enforcement component  230  examines the usage data  228  to identify an ON state (i.e., powered on) as well as an OFF/standby state (i.e., powered off) for the one or more entertainment devices. The device  200  further includes a log server component  231  where event information is stored and/or communicated to a log server (e.g., the server  104  of  FIG. 1 ). For example, a parent may access and retrieve the event information from the log server component  231  in order to view one or more events associated with one or more children. 
     In operation, the switcher  208  monitors the input  202 , the input  204  and the input  206  for audio/video signals. In one embodiment, the switcher  208  determines a disruption at any of the input  202 , the input  204  and the input  206 . For example, the switcher  208  determines that a particular entertainment device is unplugged from the input  202  and communicates information regarding the disruption to the policy enforcement component  230 . Accordingly, the policy enforcement component  230  stores event information that indicates the disruption of the audio/video signal at the input  202  in the log server component  231 . 
     In response to detection of an audio/video signal at any of the input  202 , the input  204  and the input  206 , the switcher  208  routes the audio/video signal according to the policy  226 . In one embodiment, the switcher  208  applies the policy  226  to information associated with the audio/video signal in order to produce an application result, which is used to determine whether the audio/video signal is to be displayed or blocked. In one embodiment, the switcher  208  communicates the application result to the policy enforcement component  230 . If the application result indicates that the audio/video signal is to be displayed, the switcher  208  communicates the audio/video signal to the output  210 . On the other hand, if the application result indicates that the audio/video signal is to be blocked (e.g., a policy violation), the switcher  208  prevents the communication of the audio/video signal. 
     According to various embodiments, the switcher  208  determines the information associated the audio/video signal. In one embodiment, the switcher  208  identifies a source of the audio/video signal as well as time and date data. If the switcher  208  determines that the audio/video signal violates the policy  226  based on the identified source and/or the time and date data, the switcher  208  blocks the audio/video signal. For example, the policy  226  may indicate that a video game console cannot be operated after midnight (twelve AM). Furthermore, the video game console may be coupled to the input  202 . If the switcher  208  detects an audio/video signal at the input  202 , the policy  226  is applied to information associated with the audio/video signal (e.g., source of the audio/video signal, time and date data and/or the like). For example, if the switcher  208  detects the audio/video signal after midnight, then the audio/video signal violates the policy  226  (i.e., a policy violation). Subsequently, the switcher  208  blocks the audio/video signal. As such, communication of the audio/video signal to the audio/video display device is prevented. If, on the other hand, the switcher  208  detects the audio/video signal before midnight, the communication of the audio/video signal to the audio/video display device is permitted. Accordingly, the switcher  208  communicates the audio/video signal to the display device. 
     Optionally, the device  200  includes a port  232  that is designed to couple with a convertor (i.e., a cable box). For example, the port  232  may be referred to as a cable box serial port, which includes a serial port hardware interface to any supporting cable box. Generally, the convertor processes an audio/video signal from a source (e.g., Cable Television service, Satellite Television service and/or the like) and retransmits the audio/video signal to the display device in a standard frequency. In one embodiment, the port  232  is configured to determine a channel to which the convertor is tuned using relevant protocols. Subsequently, the port  232  communicates information regarding the channel to the policy enforcement component  230 , where the policy  226  is applied. 
     For instance, the port  232  may determine that a television is currently tuned to a particular channel. Accordingly the policy enforcement component  230  applies the policy  226  to the particular channel associated with the audio/video signal. If the policy  226  indicates that the audio/video signal is permitted to be displayed on a television, the policy enforcement component  230  instructs the switcher  208  to communicate the audio/video signal. However, if the policy enforcement component  230  determines that the particular channel violates the policy  226 , the policy enforcement component  230  instructs the switcher  208  to block communication of the audio/video signal to the television. Alternatively, the policy enforcement component  230  instructs the splitter  214  to prevent communication of electrical power to the television and/or the DVD player. 
     In another optional embodiment, the device  200  includes a v-chip component  234  that monitors content represented by the audio/video signals. The v-chip component  234  is configured to determine a parental rating (e.g., MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) rating) associated with the content. Subsequently, the v-chip component  234  communicates information regarding the parental rating to the policy enforcement component  230 , where the policy  226  is applied. In addition, the policy enforcement component  230  generates event information that indicates the parental rating associated with the content. Accordingly, the v-chip component  234  and the policy enforcement component  230  cooperate to control audio/video signal communication and display by various entertainment devices. 
     For example, the v-chip component  234  examines content (e.g., a movie) generated by a DVD player and determines an inappropriate language rating within the audio/video signal. The v-chip component  234  communicates the inappropriate language rating to the policy enforcement component  230 . Then, the policy enforcement component  230  applies the policy  226  to the inappropriate language rating regarding the audio/video signal. If the policy  226  indicates that the audio/video signal is permitted to be displayed on a television, the policy enforcement component  230  instructs the switcher  208  to communicate the audio/video signal. However, if the policy enforcement component  230  determines that the inappropriate language rating violates the policy  226 , the policy enforcement component  230  instructs the switcher  208  to block communication of the audio/video signal to the television. Alternatively, the policy enforcement component  230  instructs the splitter  214  to prevent communication of electrical power to the television and/or the DVD player. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of a method  300  for routing electrical power for an entertainment device using a policy to control audio/video display according to one or more embodiments. In one embodiment, the method  300  starts at step  302  and proceeds to step  304  where one or more power outlets are monitored. 
     At step  306 , a determination is made as to whether electrical power is detected at any of the power outlets. If electrical power is not detected at any of the power outlets, the method  300  proceeds to step  308 . At step  308 , the method  300  waits for electrical power. If electrical power is detected at any of the power outlets, the method  300  proceeds to step  310 . At step  310 , a determination is made as to whether the entertainment device is powered on (i.e., in a powered on state). If the entertainment device is powered off (i.e., in a powered off state), then the method  300  proceeds to step  322 . If the entertainment device is powered on, then the method  300  proceeds to step  312 . At step  312 , a policy is applied to information regarding the electrical power. In one embodiment, the policy is compared with date and time data of the electrical power consumption by the entertainment device. 
     At step  314 , a determination is made as to whether the electrical power consumption by the entertainment device violates the policy. If there is a policy violation, the method  300  proceeds to step  316 . At step  316 , the electrical power is blocked. In one embodiment, electrical power consumption by the entertainment device is prevented. For example, a splitter blocks transmission of the electrical power to a television or a video game console. At step  318 , event information is communicated. As an example, the splitter communicates the event information indicating the blocked transmission to a policy enforcement component. Furthermore, the event information is communicated to a server and stored as an event log. 
     If there is no policy violation, the method  300  proceeds to step  320 . At step  320 , the electrical power is communicated to the entertainment device. For example, the splitter permits the transmission of the electrical power to the television or the video game console. At step  322 , a determination is made as to whether the method  300  is to be repeated. If the method  300  is to be repeated, the method  300  returns to step  302 . If the method  300  is not to be repeated, the method  300  proceeds to step  324 . At step  324 , the method  300  ends. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a method  400  for routing an audio/video signal from an entertainment device using a policy to control audio/video display according to one or more embodiments. In one embodiment, the method  400  starts at step  402  and proceeds to step  404  where one or more audio/video signal inputs are monitored. 
     At step  406 , a determination is made as to whether an audio/video signal is detected at any of the audio/video signal inputs. If an audio/video signal is not detected at any of the audio/video signal inputs, the method  400  proceeds to step  408 . At step  408 , the method  400  waits for audio/video signal. If audio/video signal is detected at any of the audio/video signal inputs, the method  400  proceeds to step  410 . At step  410 , a policy is applied to information regarding the audio/video signal. In one embodiment, the policy is compared with date and time data of the audio/video signal display by the entertainment device. 
     At step  412 , a determination is made as to whether audio/video signal display by the entertainment device violates the policy. If there is a policy violation, the method  400  proceeds to step  414 . At step  414 , the audio/video signal is blocked. In one embodiment, the audio/video signal display by the entertainment device is prevented. For example, a switcher blocks transmission of the audio/video signal to a television from a video game console. At step  416 , event information is communicated. As an example, the switcher communicates the event information indicating the blocked transmission to a policy enforcement component. Furthermore, the event information is communicated to a server and stored as an event log. 
     If there is no policy violation, the method  400  proceeds to step  418 . At step  418 , the audio/video signal is communicated to the entertainment device. For example, the switcher permits the transmission of the electrical power to the television from the video game console. At step  420 , a determination is made as to whether the method  400  is to be repeated. If the method  400  is to be repeated, the method  400  returns to step  402 . If the method  400  is not to be repeated, the method  400  proceeds to step  422 . At step  422 , the method  300  ends. 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.