Traverse Energy Ltd V.TVL

Here is the Patent Information!

[InfoZeker]

For those new to this thread here is the patent information for the V-chip. Please read it it speaks volumes about its flexibility in the field! United States Patent 5,828,402 Collings October 27, 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Method and apparatus for selectively blocking audio and video signals Abstract A method and apparatus block the reception of television programming which meets specified criteria. Data packets describing television programming are broadcast with the television signal. The data packets include at least packets which contain category information specifying a level in one or more multi-level categories and/or label information specifying labels applied to the program content of the signal. Data packets in an incoming video signal are detected by a blocking apparatus and compared to preferences stored in non-volatile memory in the blocking apparatus. If the contents of the data packets match or exceed the stored preferences then the video signal is blocked. The apparatus is field configurable. Configuration information specifying the rating scheme is transmitted to the apparatus. The methods of the invention are extremely flexible and allow several different rating systems to be used simultaneously. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inventors: Collings; Timothy David (White Rock, CA) Assignee: Canadian V-Chip Design Inc. (Burnaby) Appl. No.: 761091 Filed: December 5, 1996 U.S. Class: 348/5.5; 380/20; 348/460; 348/906 Intern'l Class: H04N 007/16; H04N 007/00 Field of Search: 380/20 348/5.5,460,906 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------