Viewing restricting method and viewing restricting apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for securely restricting the viewing of television programs. When a television program has been received along with rating data associated with a rating of the television program; length data associated with a length of the program, a microcomputer determines whether the rating data are higher than a predetermined viewing restricting level. If the rating data have been found higher, a muting circuit mutes the television program until it ends with reference to the television program length data, and the program corresponding to the rating data is outputted from a tuner.

1. A method for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, comprising steps of:
 determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition;  
 calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; and  
 muting said program corresponding to said rating until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.  
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, comprising:
 determination means for determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition;  
 calculating means for calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time;  
 mute means for muting said program; and  
 control means for controlling said mute means and said calculating means to mute said program corresponding to said rating until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.  
 
     
     
       3. A method for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, wherein said program is demodulated and output by an output apparatus that includes a channel map with channel information relating said program to a corresponding channel, comprising steps of:
 determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition;  
 calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; and  
 eliminating said channel information relating said program to said corresponding channel with said rating from said channel map until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.  
 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said program, program length data corresponding to a broadcast length time, and a start time of said program, comprising:
 demodulating means for demodulating said program and for obtaining said rating, said broadcast length time, and said start time of said program;  
 memory means for memorizing a channel map containing channel information relating said program to a corresponding channel;  
 determination means for determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition;  
 calculating means for calculating an end time of said program from said broadcast length time and said start time; and  
 elimination means for eliminating said channel information relating said program to said corresponding channel with said rating from said channel map memorized in said memory means until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition.  
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus for restricting viewing of a program according to  claim 4 , further comprising preparing means for preparing a channel index with information for selecting programs on respective channels, wherein said elimination means eliminates said information for selecting said program on its corresponding channel with said rating from said channel index until said end time of said program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus for restricting viewing of a program according to  claim 4 , wherein said program is transmitted with an electric and  electronic program guide, and said elimination means eliminates said channel information relating said program to said corresponding channel with said rating from said electric  electronic program guide until said end time of said program when said determination means determines that said rating satisfies said predetermined condition. 
     
     
       7. A method for restricting viewing of a first program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said first program and first identification data for identifying said first program, and a second program which is transmitted with second identification data for identifying said second program, comprising steps of:
 determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition;  
 muting said first program corresponding to said rating when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition; and  
 memorizing said first identification data of said first program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition, wherein when a subsequently transmitted second identification data is equal to said first identification data, said second program corresponding to said second identification data is muted.  
 
     
     
       8. An apparatus to restrict viewing of a first program which is transmitted with rating data corresponding to a rating of said first program and first identification data for identifying said first program, and a second program which is transmitted with second identification data for identifying said second program, comprising:
 determination means for determining whether said rating satisfies a predetermined condition;  
 mute means for muting said first program and said second program;  
 control means for controlling said mute means to mute said first program when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition and for controlling said mute means to mute said second program when said second identification data is equal to said first identification data; and  
 memory means for memorizing said first identification data of said first program corresponding to said rating when said rating satisfies said predetermined condition, wherein when a subsequently transmitted second identification data is equal to said memorized first identification data, said control means controls said mute means to mute said second program corresponding to said second identification data.  
 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data, comprising:
   data extracting means for extracting program guide information and said rating data from a received television signal;        storing means for storing a rating level to restrict viewing of a program in response to a user's instruction; and        display control means for selecting channels to be displayed in a program guide display in accordance with said rating level stored in said storing means and for controlling information of a restricted program from being displayed in said program guide display.     
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said program guide information includes at least title data and time data of a program. 
     
     
       11. A method of restricting viewing of a program which is transmitted with rating data, comprising the steps of:
   extracting program guide information and said rating data from a received television signal;        storing a rating level to restrict viewing of a program in response to a user's instruction; and        selecting channels to be displayed in a program guide display in accordance with said rating level and controlling information of a restricted program from being displayed in said program guide display.     
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said program guide information includes at least title data and time data of a program.