Abstract: A technique for the blocking of individual programs and/or portions of programs transmitted in a source signal, e.g., a cable television signal. In particular, individual programs and/or portions of programs within a class of programs are blocked, while allowing for the viewing of certain other programs even within the same programming class. The transmitted source signal contains individual programs having a transparent program identifier and/or transparent content identifier associated with individual programs in the source signal transmission. As the source signal enters, e.g., a particular subscriber location, the source signal is monitored in accordance with a program viewing profile defined by the subscriber. That is, particular ones of the programs and/or portion thereof available in the source signal transmission supplied to the subscriber can either be unblocked, i.e., viewable, or blocked, i.e., unviewable, at the discretion of the subscriber.

Abstract: Methods and apparata for electronic labeling and localizing an end point and for determining the distance between an interrogator and the end point. In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes an interrogator that transmits an identification code signal that includes a representation of the identification code of the end point to be localized. The interrogator also receives a tag response signal that is transmitted from a tag associated with the end point. The tag transmits the tag response signal upon receiving the identification code signal and confirming that the identification code signal includes a representation of the identification code. The system also includes a localizer, which is hardware, software, or both, that determines the distance between the end point and the interrogator based on the identification code signal and the tag response signal.