Abstract: A personal editing apparatus and method allowing a user to enter program selection criteria and based on those criteria, and received extended data, display personalized programming information to the user.

Abstract: A television receiver is shown and described for receiving and displaying to a viewer a program content rated television program transmission which includes a data signal. Within the receiver the program content rating, which preferably conforms to the U.S. standard age-based rating and content categories, is derived from the data signal. A viewing control circuit, in response to user inputs, stores one or more program rating viewing authorizations. The derived program rating is compared with the stored viewing authorization for the viewer to develop a blanking control signal. A signal integrity monitoring circuit monitors the signal to provide a rating default control signal in the absence of a reliable program rating signal after a predetermined delay. A blanking circuit, responsive to the blanking control signal and the rating default signal, blanks the program video and mutes the program audio in the event the program level is not authorized to the viewer or the program content rating is not reliable.

Abstract: A broadcast signal receiver retrofit apparatus that receives broadcast signals, detects rating or category codes therein and compares the detected codes to a setting set in the retrofit device. If the comparison indicates that the incoming signal has a rating greater than that set or is of an undesired category the broadcast signal is blocked or an audio or visual alert is given. The retrofit device may be tamper-resistant to prevent disabling the device.

Abstract: A broadcast signal receiver retrofit apparatus that receives broadcast signals, detects rating or category codes therein and compares the detected codes to a setting set in the retrofit device. If the comparison indicates that the incoming signal has a rating greater than that set or is of an undesired category the broadcast signal is blocked or an audio or visual alert is given. The retrofit device may be tamper-resistant to prevent disabling the device.

Abstract: A broadcast signal receiver retrofit apparatus that receives broadcast signals, detects rating or category codes therein and compares the detected codes to a setting set in the retrofit device. If the comparison indicates that the incoming signal has a rating greater than that set or is of an undesired category the broadcast signal is blocked or an audio or visual alert is given. The retrofit device may be tamper-resistant to prevent disabling the device.