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APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
CONTROLLING VIEWING OF VIDEO
SIGNALS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5
This invention is related to the video machinery, especially having an apparatus for limiting a watching of video machinery and methods of limiting a watching using thereof, wherein the apparatus and methods are to use video signal having a certain grades.
The methods of limiting a watching of traditional video machinery are divided into three, as described hereinafter.
Firstly, it is to put the limitation on video set itself. Such method is described in Korea patent application No.87- 15 15449 filed by applicant of the present invention. As shown in a flowchart of FIG. la of that patent application. After turn on the source of electric power, it is set up that the secret code must be inputted when in order to use the apparatus otherwise the apparatus is unable to be used by the customer. 20
Secondly, as shown in a flowchart of FIG. lb, the set recognizing the program selected by an user. If a program being selected through user display is not an adult program, the set is in playback state, on the other hand, in case where the selected program is an adult program, the set is com- 25 paring the inputted code with originally set up secret code. If two codes are matching, the set goes into a playback state, while the set is not in function when two codes are not identical.
Thirdly, a method described in Korea patent application 30 No.90-5219 by same applicant of the present invention, as shown in a flowchart of FIG. lc, when the user input the code for each program, respectively, if they are identified as identical, namely, inputted secret code and originally created secret code are same, the set playbacks the program, while 35 the set is not in function when two codes are not identical.
But, in the prior art previously discussed, some problems have been arisen such that it is impossible to selectively watch by the user because the use of the set itself is limited. 4Q
Also, the second prior art has another problem as described hereinafter, if the user display is not provided or if it is broken, or the user display is changed by the user, it is impossible to limit a watching to other viewer.
And the third one has a disadvantage that the user himself 45 must input every secret codes for each program, respectively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to solve the fore- 50 going problems of the prior arts as described above.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for a watching of video machinery and method of limiting a watching using thereof, so as to limit a 5J watching corresponding to the program and classification of the user by limiting a watching for the certain program only in accordance with the grade of classified program.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for a watching of video machinery and method of go limiting a watching using thereof, so as to limit a watching without the user display being provided to outer of cassette by limiting a watching for the certain program only in accordance with the grade classified program.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide 65 an apparatus for a watching of video machinery and method of limiting a watching using thereof, so as to limit a
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watching without inputting secret code for each program whereby the secret code is inputted to the set corresponding to program only with classified grade.
To achieve this object as described above, an apparatus for limiting a watching in accordance with the present invention comprising a signal input unit for inputting the video signal, a grade code decoding unit for decoding the grade code of program which is prerecorded in one part of the inputted video signal, and a signal output unit for outputting the signal from signal input unit or other signal which is selected by the signal output unit, and a control unit for controlling the overall process and for inhibiting the execution of predetermined function of video machinery when the grade is matching with the result obtained after comparing the program grade code decoded by the grade code decoding unit with preset grade, and a key input unit for sending the order to the control unit to conduct the function of itself.
A method of limiting a watching of video machinery in accordance with the present invention is comprised the steps of inputting the video signal, decoding the grade code of program which is recorded in one part of the inputted video signal, and comparing the grade code decoded in the decoding step with originally set up grade, and inhibiting the execution of predetermined function of the set if the decoded code is matching with the fixed code.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to following detailed description when considered in connection with accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals denoted the same parts throughout the figures and wherein;
FIG. la, lb, lc are flowchart showing the method of limiting a watching according to the traditional video machinery.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of the apparatus for limiting a watching of video machinery according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the method of limiting a watching to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the method of limiting a watching to which embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the method of limiting a watching to which embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the change of comparative grade.
FIG. 7 represents the grade and code table to achieve the method of limiting a watching by secret number having plurality of steps according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
INVENTION
Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is discussed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a block diagram showing the construction of the apparatus for limiting a watching of video machinery according to the present invention, the apparatus comprising the signal input unit 1
