IIHIIHIHimill
US005715014A
United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 5,715,014
Perkins et al. [45] Date of Patent: Feb. 3, 1998
[54] CIRCUIT AND METHOD OF PROVIDING
PARENTAL DISCRETIONARY CONTROL ON
APIPIC
[75] Inventors: Geoffrey W. Perkins, Chandler; Robert NMI DeFrancesco, Phoenix; Paul P. Ughe, Tempe, all of Ariz.
[73] Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, HI.
[21] Appl. No.: 707,116
[22] Filed: Sep. 3,1996
[51] Lit CI.6 H04N 5/45
[52] U.S. CI 348/565; 348/568; 348/567
[58] Field of Search 348/565,567,
348/568, 566, 5.5; H04N 5/45, 5/445
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,382,983 1/1995 Kwoh 348/716
5,528,304 6/1996 Cherrick 348/565
An integrated circuit (22) processes baseband video signals to produce a picture-in-picture (PIP) channel for a video monitor (26). A discretionary control circuit (64) on the integrated circuit monitors parental discretionary control data on a predetermined horizontal line (21) of the baseband video signal. The discretionary control data is a value that represents the amount and degree of sex and violence in the presently viewed program. The parent or responsible party stores a threshold value in a television control circuit. The discretionary control circuit compares the discretionary control data to the threshold value. If the discretionary control data is less than the selectable threshold, then the PIP channel is displayed. If the discretionary control data is greater than the selectable threshold, then the PIP channel is blanked.
19 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
