Set-Top Box Usage Restriction Profiles for Parental Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parental control systems for set-top boxes are limited in effectively managing and restricting children's television viewing, as they often disagree with rating factors and fail to provide comprehensive control over content, amount, and timing of viewing, leading to non-acceptable programs being accessible to children and acceptable ones being blocked.
Innovation Solution
A video services control system that includes a set-top box operatively coupled to a television and a video services network, featuring an application program that develops and implements individualized usage restriction profiles for users, allowing a designated administrator to dictate restrictions on content, amount, timing, recording, and purchasing of video services, ensuring tailored control for each user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If parental control systems use pre-designated rating factors to control television viewing, then some control over content is achieved, but parents may disagree with the rating factors leading to non-acceptable programs being viewable and acceptable programs being blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates individualized usage restriction profiles for each user that can be customized with specific content restrictions, time limits, and scheduling parameters. Each profile is tailored to the specific needs and preferences of individual parents rather than applying universal rating factors to all users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows parents to pre-configure usage restriction profiles with specific content filters, time limits, and scheduling rules before children begin using the set-top box. This preliminary configuration ensures that control measures are in place before any viewing occurs, eliminating the need to rely on potentially disputed rating factors during actual viewing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If channels are blocked using a password system, then some restriction is achieved, but other users can still engage in excessive television viewing of other channels or programs
Solution Approach 1:
The usage restriction profiles incorporate multiple control mechanisms including content filtering, time limits, scheduling restrictions, and purchasing controls within a single unified system. This multi-functional approach ensures comprehensive control across all viewing activities rather than relying solely on channel blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides control authority into individual user profiles, each with their own customized restrictions. This segmentation allows different family members to have different levels and types of controls applied to their viewing, enabling comprehensive monitoring and restriction of excessive viewing across all users.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a unified parental control system is implemented, then comprehensive control over video services is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically enforces usage restriction profiles without requiring constant parental intervention. Once profiles are configured, the set-top box autonomously monitors and controls viewing based on the established parameters, reducing the operational burden on parents while maintaining comprehensive control.
Solution Approach 2:
The usage restriction profiles are designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing parents to modify parameters such as time limits, content restrictions, and scheduling rules as needed. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to changing family needs without requiring complete reconfiguration, simplifying ongoing management.
Data Source
AI summary
A video services control system comprises a set top box coupled to a television and a video services network configured to provide video services to the television via the set top box. The video services network includes an application program operable to develop and implement individualized usage restriction profiles for users of the set top box to control video services viewing. The application program is configured to provide a designated administrator with authority to dictate the usage restriction profile for non-designated users. The individualized usage restriction profiles include restrictions on the content of video services shown on the television for viewing by the users. The application program is configured to receive information input by the designated administrator, develop each usage restriction profile based on the input information unique to each user, and implement each usage restriction profile to control video services viewing by the users.