Abstract: A TV/video viewing supervision system that enables a supervisor, typically a parent controlling children's viewing, to selectably preprogram the hours, programs and/or channels of television, VCR, cable TV, satellite TV and/or game viewing that are allowed and/or blocked from viewing. The system features a channel/time matrix that can be programmed with a keypad-controlled cursor of a hand-held remote unit to set up a viewing schedule for future time period, for example a coming week.

Abstract: A video recorder system adapted to receive subscription television services is of the type which controls access to the subscription services by means of a smart card. Where payment is due for each program received, the viewer is required to make a positive affirmation of purchase by pressing an affirmation button as the program is received. To enable reception in the absence of the viewer by use of the programmer in the recorder, the programmer is provided with means actuable by the viewer when a programmer is being set into the programmer. An indication of whether an affirmation of payment is associated with the program to be recorded is stored in the programmer, and when the program to be recorded is received, automatically authorises the descrambler control circuit, which charges the card and enables the descrambler as though the affirmation button had been pressed.

Abstract: A television receiver is equipped with hardware/firmware so that it may be disabled by a remotely transmitted series of codes. In a preferred embodiment, the display of the receiver indicates that the receiver is operable, but has been disrupted, rather than being broken. The invention is particularly useful for commercial situations such as rentals or lodging facilities where payment is expected for use of the television.

Abstract: A system for allowing software publishers to control which video standard(s) can be recovered from an optical disk containing video source material. The disk may be digitally encoded so that any of NTSC, PAL and other video signal standards can be generated upon proper decoding. But the disk also includes a code which can lock out one or more standards. Players for such disks may be capable of generating video signals according to all popular standards, in which case the user selects a desired standard. However, the player will generate a video signal of the selected standard only if there is an appropriate authorization code on the disk. The system allows manufacture of "universal" players without necessarily impacting the contractual and marketing plans of motion picture companies, for example, which release films in different territories at different times. The control technique can be extended to lock out specific territories. Each player has a built-in territory code.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronic media program recognition and choice are disclosed. The invention allows parental control of the individual television programs (e.g., series, episodes, or individual music videos) and radio programs that can be viewed or listened to by young children. The invention can be practiced without the need for or reliance on a Government or industry-wide program rating system or a "V-chip" approach. The invention automatically locks out (blocks) all programs that have not been determined by the parent to be suitable for child viewing. Suitable programs are unlocked and viewable whenever they are broadcast. Means are provided for implementing two strategies for discrimination among TV programs. Signal processing means and signal recognition software are relied upon in situations wherein program identification information is not encoded in the composite television signal. Two approaches to signal recognition are provided: video signal (e.g.

Abstract: A method of operating a cable system having premium channel encoders and dedicated smart pay per view encoders, each associated with an individual channel. The pay per view encoders are provided with the addresses of certain subscriber stations that have been approved to decode pay per view events on the associated channels. These certain subscriber stations are addressed on a priority basis by the pay per view encoder handling the pay per view event to set their authorization memories to decode the pay per view event. The authorization memories are updated by RAM groups of five program tags. All of the PPV encoders are assigned to the same RAM group so that in updating authorization memories, the authorization of a subscriber station memory for another pay per view event is not altered. The authorization process is rapidly accomplished and is repeated for a period of time after commencement of the pay per view event.

Abstract: A tape cassette or the like employs a resettable counter that disables the playing of the cassette after a limited number of playings consistent with home use. The small number of playings is supported by a machine resetting procedure that automatically records the usage and resets the casette by translating information on a label on the cassette into a sequence of moves that unlocks the resetting mechanism that otherwise is otherwise locked against unauthorized parties. The label also includes a machine readable description of the program. Cassettes with the same program material have different reset codes on their labels to limit the resetting of some cassettes to particular machines thus lessening the economic incentive of obtaining or constructing unauthorized resetting equipment.

Abstract: A cable television interdiction apparatus comprises a microprocessor actuation and control means for actuating and controlling one or more frequency agile voltage controlled oscillators. The voltage controlled oscillators selectively jam only unauthorized premium programming transmitted from a headend to a particular subscriber. The method of interdiction comprises the steps of generating and storing voltage control words for operating the oscillators consistent with a headend selected jamming factor for a particular channel to be jammed and addressably transmitted and stored premium programming authorization data.

Abstract: The programmable cable controller in accordance with the invention is adapted to accept a time limit and a time period which are input by a viewer. A channel timer is provided to track the display time of the cable television channel and, upon reaching the preset time limit, display of the cable channel is blocked. The channel timer is reinitialized upon expiration of the preset time period. The programmable cable controller is also adapted to receive cable television programming listings and a viewer's programming preferences and to store them in memory. The viewer's programming preferences are applied to the cable television programming listings to produce a redacted listing of television programming which may be displayed on the television set.

Abstract: An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment. In a household in which viewing patterns are to be monitored, for example, a relatively inexpensive and simple set usage device is installed in proximity to a television set which is expected to receive little or no use. Times when the set is in use are sensed, and data concerning those times are stored and transmitted to a central location. At the central location, the times represented by the transmitted data are compared to a minimum usage threshold, and a more sophisticated monitoring device, able to detect the channel tuning state of the T.V. set, is installed in proximity to the T.V. set only if the usage of the T.V. set exceeds the minimum usage threshold. The number of relatively expensive and complex tuning-monitoring devices required to be installed is thereby reduced.

Abstract: A frequency generating means, generates an initial frequency of greater amplitude than the amplitude of a television signal carrier wave. The generated frequency is compared to a reference frequency which would be suitable for jamming one of the channels to be jammed. If the generated frequency is too high or too low, the frequency generating means generates a new frequency which is, respectively, either lower or higher than the initial frequency it generated. If the new generated frequency is still higher or lower than the reference frequency, the frequency generating means generates another new frequency, which is respectively, either lower or higher than the previously generated frequency, but by a lesser amount than the amount by which the previously generated frequency differed from the frequency generated before it. The generation of new frequencies continues until one of them is within a desired range of the reference frequency, at which time the generated frequency is stored in memory.

Abstract: An apparatus for parental control of television use by excluding or including selected programs, channels, and/or times. The apparatus includes a command controller comprising a microprocessor, a read only memory, a memory for authorized identification numbers, and a memory for storing the selected programs, channels, dates and times; a keyboard or similar apparatus for use in entering an identification code into the controller; a clock with an output as a function of time located in the television receiver; apparatus for ordering each program, date, and time into temporal order; and, apparatus for storing the selected program, date, and time in temporal order.

Abstract: A method of selecting individual subscribers for inclusion in groups by means of certain selection criteria comprises the steps of storing criteria related to terminals of a subscription television system, defining criteria which characterizes a group, logically linking the criteria in a predetermined manner to form a group criteria definition statement, comparing the stored terminal criteria with the group criteria definition statement, and assigning an individual or group of terminals to the group when the stored terminal criteria matches the group criteria definition statement. The selection criteria, for example, may include a range of terminal serial numbers, a range of terminal addresses, the status of the terminal, the service codes for the terminal, subscriber terminal features, a code determining the headend to which a terminal is associated, a terminal model number, and the current orders (for example, pay-per-view events subscribed to).

Abstract: An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals.

Abstract: An imaging system comprises left and right display panels arranged so as to be viewed separately by left and right eyes of a viewer. A three dimensional video signal is supplied to a drive circuit for the display panels such that image data from the three dimensional video signal is supplied alternately to the left and right display panels. The display panels are of a memory effect LCD type such that, when no image data is received by the display panel, the image data of the previously received field is maintained on display for providing `flickerless` imaging.

Abstract: A circuit is supplied at the tap from a feeder which monitors certain signals coming from the single dwelling interdiction unit (SDI unit), and if the signals are interrupted, removes service from the premises. In order for service to be reinstituted to the subscriber DC power from the SDI unit must be received at the tap and the tap address must be communicated from memory in the SDI unit (where it had been previously stored upon installation by an installer) to the tap microprocessor. In accordance with an alternative embodiment in order for the service denial switch to remain closed, supplying signals to the SDI unit then to the home, the following must occur. Direct current power must be supplied from the SDI unit to the tap and data must be supplied from the SDI unit, in the form of pulses going from the normal powering level of, for example 12 volts, to 0 volts momentarily on a continual basis and not just at initialization as in the first embodiment.

Abstract: A stereoscopic imaging system (10) includes a display (14) and stereoscopic glasses (18) having right-and left-eye pieces (20 and 22). A photodetector (28) in the glasses receives electromagnetic radiation including IR pulses, having fast rise times, from a transmitter (26), and noise from ambient light and other electromagnetic radiation. An ambient light filter (34) filters out low frequency and low amplitude noise created by ambient light and other electromagnetic signals. The ambient light filter employs a high pass filter cancellation loop (42) that cancels low frequency components, a high frequency amplifier (50) that provides unity gain to low frequency components, and a high pass filter (C3 and R9). The ambient light filter also employs a threshold adjusting circuit (64) that temporarily adjusts the threshold voltage of a comparator (60) in response to reception of the IR pulses.

Abstract: In order to enable viewing of single events without requiring a CATV subscriber to order the event in advance, documents are distributed to subscribers containing cognizable (advertising) data concerning the event and a bar code symbol corresponding thereto. Each subscriber is provided with a transaction terminal enabling the entry of bar code data at any time and whenever the subscriber has the impulse to do so (impulse pay per view). The event codes are transmitted interactively from the transaction terminal to the equipment (a subscriber control unit) located off the subscribers' premises which normally interdicts the premium channels and thence to the head end of the CATV distribution system over the cables of the system. Data coming from the head end back to the subscriber control unit indicates that events are in progress (event number and premium channel data).

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display with an optical element inserted near the transmissive display has improved brightness of the display, and optionally has incorporated therein a head position sensing device capable of sensing the position of at least one observers head causing the light emitting regions of the device to move in response to data on the observer's head position provided by the head sensing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing periodic subscription television services comprises a way for subscribers who cannot afford the fees for full time television services such as a regular cable television service to obtain subscription service to a plurality of allocated channels on a periodic basis. The method comprises the steps of allocating channels to a periodic service offering and storing in memory of service denial apparatus service code data which represents the allocated channels. The service denial apparatus for providing periodic service comprises a service denial device such as a switch 389 or other circuit controlled by a controller 260 of service denial apparatus for periodically closing and opening service lines to the periodic service subscriber in accordance with predetermined periodic service intervals.