Patent ID: 7448058

Claim:
A method for enabling a television user to control usage monitoring by application programs operating on a programmable television controller, the method comprising: a) providing a user storage means associated with the television user, b) providing a control option specification means, which facilitates: i) presenting one or more control options to the television user, wherein each control option offers multiple configurations pertaining to usage monitoring by application programs operating on the programmable television controller, ii) capturing selective configuration of the control options by the television user, iii) generating a control option specification for the programmable television controller, which represents the television user's selective configuration of the control options, and iv) storing the control option specification in the user storage means, c) providing a collection and reporting means at a central collection site, which facilities: i) retrieving the control option specification from the user storage means, and ii) storing the control option specification in a collection storage means associated with the central collection site, d) providing a compliance means for the programmable television controller, which facilitates compliance with the control option specification, by application programs operating on the programmable television controller, e) and wherein: i) the television user accesses and selectively configures one or more control options via the control option specification means, ii) the control option specification means generates a control option specification for the programmable television controller representative of the television user's selective configuration of the control options and stores it in the user storage means, iii) the collection and reporting means retrieves the control option specification from the user storage means and stores it in the collection storage means, and iv) the compliance means causes application programs operating on the programmable television controller to operate in compliance with the control option specification, whereby the television user ensures that usage monitoring by application programs on the programmable television controller is acceptable to users of the programmable television controller.