Patent ID: 7697076

Claim:
A television (TV) set with a parental guide mode, under which the TV set broadcasts one or more predetermined viewable channel(s), the TV set comprising: a memory for storing a parental guide time schedule, a parental guide time limit for each broadcast, and a parental guide suspend duration for each suspension, wherein during the parental guide time schedule, the TV set is allowed to broadcast the predetermined viewable channel(s) while in the parental guide mode; a timer device for recording real time; and a micro controller unit (MCU) for enabling the TV set to broadcast the viewable channel(s) if the real time recorded by the timer device falls within the parental guide time schedule, and disenabling the TV set to broadcast otherwise, wherein during the parental guide time schedule, if the duration of a current broadcast reaches the parental guide time limit, based on the real time, the MCU discontinues the current broadcast; and during the parental guide time schedule, if the duration of a current suspension reaches the parental guide suspend duration, based on the real time, the MCU begins a broadcast.