FR2678091A1 - Process for automatic censoring of audiovisual programmes - Google Patents

Abstract

Process for automatic censoring of audiovisual programmes enabling the user responsible for a set to eliminate programmes deemed undesirable through considerations such as their origin, nature or content, consisting on the one hand in marking the programmes with the aid of an electronic programme-code inseparable from the programme itself, and on the other hand in equipping the receiving set with the following means: - a means of creating a confidential access code reserved for the responsible user, - a means for selecting permissible limits on the receiving set, which limits are defined with the aid of a receiver-code formulated by the user employing the confidential code, - an automatic means of comparing the programme-code received and the receiver-code, - an automatic means of suppressing the programmes which exceed the limits fixed by the receiver-code, - a means of temporary dispensation allowing momentary cancellation of the censoring, - and an optional means for the remote logging of the receiver-code by an authorised agency, for the purposes of statistical studies of general interest.

Description

The process which is the subject of the invention relates to the technical field of audiovisual.

TERMINOLOGY
In this text, the following terms have the following meaning - CONFIDENTIAL CODE: Key code reserved for the user responsible for the television set.

- PROGRAM CODE: Identification code of an audiovisual program, in the form of a series of characters (letters or numbers) and its translation into electronic signals.

- RECEIVER CODE: Code defining the programs accepted on a receiving station (identical form to that of the program code).

- TRANSMISSION: Action of sending a program to one or more receivers, by radio or cable, or even from pre-recorded media of any kind read by the receiver station itself.

- FILTERING: Analysis of the programs received, and deletion of those which prove to be undesirable taking into account considerations such as their origin, their nature and their content.

- MARKING: Action consisting in inserting into each program an identification code, in the form of a series of electronic signals inseparable from the program itself.

- STATION (or receiver, or receiver station): Device capable of receiving audiovisual programs in the form of electronic signals whatever their origin, and of transforming them in the form of images and sounds.

- PROGRAM: Set of sequences of images and sounds, in clear or in the form of electronic signals.

- RECEPTION: Action of receiving a program on a station, whatever the mode of routing.

I) STATE OF THE ART
In the audiovisual field, the freedom of the companies which develop the programs and of the channels which broadcast them is relatively wide, within the framework of the Legislative Texts in force. Viewers, for their part, are collectively protected by the audiovisual regulatory bodies, which in theory have a power of censorship. On an individual basis, on the other hand, the user in charge of a station does not have any means enabling him to master the nature of the spectacle which invades his home via the television channel. Of course, when a program does not suit him, the user can always change the channel or switch off his station.

But this is insufficient, especially for the protection of children, because when we notice the harmfulness of certain sequences or images, it is, by definition, already too late. The problem is even more serious in the absence of the parents, since the children then have no protective filter. It is also unthinkable to envisage censorship other than that which results from the application of the Act, because it should be based on collective moral criteria, which are difficult to reconcile with respect for individual freedoms.

In these conditions, if we want to preserve the freedom of television producers while respecting the essential freedom of choice of consumers, it seems essential on the one hand to identify each program using a code which characterizes in an objective manner, and on the other hand to offer to each responsible user an effective filtering method according to his own tastes, even his philosophical conceptions. Indeed, if it is desirable that the freedom of television producers be as wide as possible, it is just as legitimate that the consumer consumer can set his own limits in a field which directly concerns his private life. This is the object of the present invention.

II) PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION
The process which is the subject of the invention consists of the combination of the following electronic means, identified 2.1 to 2.5 2.1) A means of identifying the programs broadcast.

This is the marking of each program using an electronic code composed of several sub-codes, for example - Sub-code identifying the source: Broadcast chain by radio or cable, program pre-recorded on tape, disk or other medium, etc.

- Sub-code identifying the generic category of the program
For example films, news, documentaries, sports, advertising, variety, games, etc.

- Sub-code identifying the potential harmfulness of the program in relation to a certain number of criteria - Possible additional sub-codes as necessary.

The structure of the program code, the number and nature of its sub-codes, the categories of programs, the number of harmfulness criteria as well as the rating scales for each of them derive from an official classification established by the Authorities competent, this classification may change according to the customs in use.

The identification code is inseparable from the program itself.

It can be viewed on the receiver.

The marking of the programs would be carried out by the producers themselves subject to ex-post controls, the non-conformity of the marking could constitute fraud possibly liable to the Courts.

The marking would apply to all programs, whether they originate from free-to-air or encrypted programs, whether they are transmitted over the air or by cable, or whether they are recorded on cassettes, compact discs or other video media, including those produced by the user himself.

2.2) A means allowing the user responsible for the station to choose his confidential code as soon as it is put into service.

This personal code constitutes an electronic key for all other operations, in particular for the creation and modification of the receiver code, as well as for the temporary exemption from filtering.

2.3) A means of creating a code specific to each receiving station, always by reference to the official classification. This receiver code defines for example the emission sources, the categories of programs and the harmfulness levels allowed on the station. These limits are freely chosen by the user responsible for the receiver. After entering the confidential access code, the receiver code is created using the buttons on the set itself or its remote control. It can be viewed on the receiver.

Instead of the sub-codes and the admitted harmfulness levels, the receiver code can, in a manufacturing variant, on the contrary define the sub-codes and the refused levels.

In another manufacturing variant and subject to legal compliance, the receiver code can be read remotely by an authorized body, for the purpose of statistical studies of general interest. This reading can be done via a telecommunications network such as a telephone line.

Incidentally, the receiver code can also include additional limits, such as one or more time slots for not using the set.

2.4) A means of automatically removing unwanted programs. It is an electronic assembly equipping the station, which compares the program code and the receiver code, which cancels the received program when it does not conform to the characteristics accepted by the receiver code, or even when its level of harmfulness exceeds the level of the codereceptor on at least 1 criterion.

The canceled program is replaced by an explanatory message or signal, possibly accompanied by a prerecorded sequence.

Filtering occurs at the end of the program processing process. It is therefore independent of emission sources.

2.5) A means of temporary exemption thanks to the confidential code, the composition of which temporarily suspends the filtering effect of the receiver code. This derogation persists until a specific return key is pressed, or until the set switches off. The derogation may concern all or only some of the sub-codes.

In the case where the user wishes to receive all the programs without any filtering, he just has to leave the settings of his station in their initial state, without confidential code or codereceiver.

The actual electronic functions are ensured by means of appropriate and known circuits and components, included in the state of the art and which therefore depart from the scope of the invention. It is therefore unnecessary to describe these electronic devices in more detail.

III) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT
By way of example, the process which is the subject of the invention could be carried out by implementing the following provisions, identified 3.1 to 3.5 3.1) A marking of the programs based on the following classification system - A sub-code consisting of a group of 2 digits identifying the source of the program, for example public and private broadcasting channels, videocassettes, etc.

- A sub-code made up of a group of 2 digits identifying the generic category of the program, for example 01 = Films, 02 = information, 03 = documentaries, 04 = sport, 05 = advertising, 06 = varieties, 07 = games, etc.

- A sub-code made up of a group of 4 digits identifying 4 criteria, for example violence, prohibited practices, sexuality, vocabulary. For each of these criteria, the potential harmfulness of the program is measured by a proportional scale ranging, for example, from 1 to 5.

According to this classification, a film diffused by the chain N "12, comprising many murder scenes, showing various traffics, having a very weak erotic component, and whose vocabulary includes obscene and filthy remarks would be identified by the program code next: 12 01 5315.

Naturally, the above examples of marking are only intended to illustrate technically one of the basic principles of the invention. They obviously have no normative vocation, the development of the classification system coming exclusively from the Competent Authorities, both for the general identification of the programs and for the nature of the criteria of potential harm and their number, or even for the extent rating scales by criteria and the precise definition of the audiovisual sequences corresponding to each level.

3.2) Equipment of the receiving station with keys and electronic circuits allowing the responsible user to choose his confidential code.

3.3) Equipment of the receiving station with keys and electronic circuits allowing the responsible user to create a receiver code composed of the sub-codes corresponding to the emission sources and the categories of unwanted programs, followed by a group of figures fixing the minima of the prohibited values for each harmfulness criterion. For example, a user who refuses to see the channel N015 because his specialization does not suit him, who also refuses advertising spots and harmfulness levels greater than 3 will dial the following receiver code on his extension: 15 05 4444.

This user having moreover accepted that his choices can be based on non-personalized statistical studies, his station includes electronic equipment connected to the telephone network, which allows an authorized body to remotely read its receiver code.

3.4) Equipment of the receiving station with electronic circuits allowing on the one hand the comparison between the program code and the receiver code, and on the other hand the automatic removal of unwanted programs, that is to say not in accordance with the framework defined by the receiver code.

In this case, the canceled program is replaced by a fixed plan or sequence residing in memory in the station, accompanied by a message which could for example be the following: "The program currently broadcast by this channel is undesirable on this receiver".

3.5) Receiver station equipment with electronic means allowing, after entering the confidential code, creating and modifying the receiver code, as well as temporarily suspending program filtering. This derogation persists until a specific key is pressed or until the extension switches off.

IV) INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION
The method of the invention is applicable to all audiovisual programs received on a television set.

Claims (1)

1) Method for automatic filtering of audiovisual programs, using known electronic circuits and components, characterized by - A means of identifying audiovisual programs, consisting in marking them with signals translating a program code inseparable from the program itself even, which program code identifies on the one hand the main characteristics of the program, and on the other hand the level of potential harmfulness that it can possibly present for a certain number of criteria, the whole being assessed by reference to a classification system known, - a means of confidentiality, consisting of a confidential code created in the receiving station by the responsible user, - a means of selecting the limits accepted on a receiving station, consisting of a receiving code created or modified by the user which has the confidential code, which receiver code fixes on the one hand the characteristics of the admitted programs, and d 'on the other hand the level of harmfulness acceptable for each criterion considered, the whole being assessed by reference to the classification system used for marking programs, - an automatic means of removing unwanted programs, consisting of a device for comparing the code- program received and the receiver code, supplemented by a device for canceling programs whose program code exceeds the limits set by the receiver code, - a means of replacing refused programs, consisting of an explanatory message or signal accompanied or not a replacement audiovisual sequence, - a temporary means of exemption, consisting in the use of the confidential code, which temporarily cancels all or part of the filtering of programs, until said exemption is itself removed by action on a specific key, or until the set turns off, - and an optional means of remote reading of the receiver code by an authorized body, consisting of a connection to a telecommunications network.