IP Library Granted Patent US 8,640,158
Granted Patent B2
US 8,640,158 · App. 13/227,526 · Granted Jan 28, 2014

Systems, methods, and products for presenting content

Inventors: George A. Durden (Alpharetta, GA); John R. Stefanik (Atlanta, GA); Scott R. Swix (Duluth, GA)
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,640,158
App. No.
13/227,526
Granted
Jan 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and products modify and/or block content. A program is received, along with a default rating of the program and dynamic ratings of portions of the program. A preference is received from memory to at least one of block and modify the program. When a dynamic rating is missing for a portion of the program, then revert to the default rating and block the portion of the program from presentation.

Claims (40)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a program, a default rating of the program, and dynamic ratings of portions of the program;

receiving a preference from a profile to modify a scene in the program;

determining by a processor that a dynamic rating is missing for one portion of the portions of the program;

disallowing modification of the scene in the program in response to determining the dynamic rating is missing;

receiving at the processor an instruction to modify the scene in the program; and

interpreting, by the processor, the instruction to modify the scene as blocking the one portion of the program from presentation.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising blocking the program in response to the default rating exceeding a parental control.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising blocking any portion of the program when any dynamic rating exceeds a parental control.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising retrieving demographic data from the profile.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising selecting an advertisement targeted to the demographic data.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising blocking the dynamic ratings of the portions of the program.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising modifying any portion of the program when the dynamic rating exceeds a parental control.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising blocking a channel carrying the program.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising disabling a channel carrying the program.

10. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a program, a default rating of the program, and dynamic ratings of portions of the program;

receiving a preference from a profile to modify a scene in the program;

determining one of the dynamic ratings is missing for one portion of the portions of the program;

disallowing modification of the scene in the program in response to determining the dynamic rating is missing;

receiving an instruction to modify the scene in the program; and

interpreting the instruction to modify the scene as blocking the one portion of the program from presentation.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise comparing the default rating of the program to the dynamic ratings in response to the missing dynamic rating.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise comparing blocking an audio portion of the program.

13. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise ignoring the default rating of the program in response to presence of the dynamic ratings.

14. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise blocking the program when the default rating exceeds a parental control.

15. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise blocking any portion of the program when any dynamic rating exceeds a parental control.

16. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise retrieving demographic data from the profile.

17. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise selecting an advertisement targeted to the demographic data.

18. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise blocking the dynamic ratings of the portions of the program.

19. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise blocking a channel carrying the program.

20. A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a program, a default rating of the program, and dynamic ratings of portions of the program;

receiving a preference from memory to modify a scene in the program;

determining a dynamic rating is missing for one portion of the portions of the program;

disallowing modification of the scene in the program in response to determining the dynamic rating is missing;

receiving an instruction to modify the scene in the program; and

interpreting the instruction to modify the scene as blocking the one portion of the program from presentation.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 28, 2013
From: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030491/0099 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 28, 2013
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030491/0102 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 28, 2013
From: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030491/0106 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2013
From: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 030491/0139 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2011
From: DURDEN, GEORGE A.; STEFANIK, JOHN R.; SWIX, SCOTT R.
To: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026877/0951 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 12122853 · May 19, 2008
Continuation 09751702 · Dec 29, 2000
Provisional Application 60213058 · Jun 21, 2000
Provisional Application 60214529 · Jun 27, 2000
Related Publication 20110321080A1 · Dec 29, 2011