JP2000217092A - Television signal output device and method for outputting television signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a television signal output device that ranks view permission to a television signal of a television program of a live broadcast and outputs the ranked television signal and to provide a method for outputting the television signal. SOLUTION: Since a television signal of a live broadcast is stored in a memory IC 22b for a prescribed time, broadcast contents of the stored television signal can be checked. Rank information corresponding to a V-Chip function of a television receiver is superimposed on the television signal as desired. On the occurrence of a violent scene or a sexual expression in the live broadcast, the television receiver provided with the V-Chip function can inhibit viewing of the television signal by superimposing the rank information on the television signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television signal output apparatus and a television signal output method, and more particularly, to a television for adding program content identification data, which is ranked in a predetermined viewable / permissible rank, to a live broadcast television signal. The present invention relates to a signal output device and a method for outputting a television signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 63-125483 discloses that a predetermined operation is performed according to a predetermined television signal received from a television broadcasting station or a video signal input from a connected video deck. CATV
A viewing control device in a system is known. The CATV system disclosed in the publication includes a center for transmitting a television signal, and a number of terminal devices connected to the center by a predetermined cable and receiving the television signal. Here, the center transmits various television programs corresponding to the channels of the terminal device to the television receivers installed in the terminal devices via the cable, and the center communicates with the terminal devices. It has a data communication function of adding predetermined data within a predetermined channel band.

[0003] The above-mentioned CA disclosed in
The viewing control device in the TV system ranks the program contents of various television programs transmitted by the data communication function on the center side to allow viewing and multiplexes them in a channel band. A program viewing permission rank sending function for sending the ranked program viewing permission rank is provided, and the terminal apparatus is provided with a viewing permission rank registration function and a program viewing prohibition function. Upon receiving a television signal to which a predetermined viewing permission rank registered in the function is added, viewing is prohibited in the terminal device.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned conventional CAT
The viewing control apparatus in the V system determines whether a television signal output from a television broadcast station is given a ranking of viewing permission and executes control of permission or prohibition of viewing. However, a live broadcast television signal output from a television broadcast station is not provided with a permissible rank, so that if the permissible rank is assigned to the content of a television program, the program content is prohibited from being viewed. Nevertheless, there was a problem that viewers of the television program had to see all the contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and ranks television signals of live broadcast television programs in a viewable manner, and outputs a television signal capable of outputting the ranked television signals. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for outputting a television signal.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a television signal generating means for generating a television signal of an audio signal and a video signal in live broadcasting, and the television signal generation means. Television signal delay means for holding the television signal generated by the means for a predetermined period and outputting the television signal after the period elapses, thereby causing a delay in the broadcast timing of the television signal; A television signal processing means for adding, to the television signal held by the signal delay means for a predetermined period, program content identification data ranked according to the content of the live broadcast television program, and A television signal that outputs a television signal to which program content identification data has been added. It is constituted comprising an output unit.

[0007] A television signal output from a television broadcast station is added with identification data that is ranked according to the content of the television program. This is to support a so-called V-Chip function provided in a television receiver or the like. Then, the television receiver or the like that has received the television signal receives the V-Ch
The permissible rank of the identification data is determined by the ip function, and control of permission / prohibition of viewing is performed. On the other hand, in a live broadcast television program, a television signal is output without adding the identification data described above. Therefore, the television receiver cannot take any measures even if the broadcast content corresponds to viewing prohibition. Thus, the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above relates to a television signal output device used when outputting a television signal of a live broadcast television program. In this television signal output device,
The television signal generating means generates a television signal of a live broadcast audio signal and a video signal. The television signal delay means generates a delay in the broadcast timing of the television signal by holding the live broadcast television signal for a predetermined period. Here, the television signal processing means adds, to the television signal held for the predetermined period, program content identification data which is ranked according to the content of the live broadcast television program and which is ranked according to the content of the television program. The output means outputs a television signal to which the program content identification data has been added by the television signal processing means.

[0008] That is, even for a live broadcast television program, the television signal is held for a predetermined period of time, and after adding identification data with a permissible ranking according to the content of the television program, the television signal is output. On the television receiver side, regardless of live broadcasting, V-Ch
With the ip function, it is possible to execute control of viewing permission / viewing inhibition based on the viewing permission rank. Here, the above-mentioned television signal delay means holds the live broadcast television signal for a predetermined period of time, so that the delay time to be generated can be determined while viewing the live broadcast television program, checking the contents of the television program, and ranking the allowable viewing. Any time may be used as long as it can be determined that it is necessary to perform the operation, the time may be one second, may be two seconds, or may be appropriately changed. It goes without saying that the television signals whose delay time has elapsed by the television signal delay means are sequentially output from the television signal output means. Further, the television signal delay means only needs to be able to hold a television signal forming one screen, and may be constituted by a memory IC chip, or BB
D may be used. Of course, it is not limited to these storage elements.

[0009] Even in the case of a live broadcast television program, it is not necessary to confirm the program content based on the television signal held by the television signal delay means for a predetermined period depending on the content. No delay occurs until such a television program is held for a predetermined period by the television signal delay means. Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the television signal output device according to the first aspect, the television signal delay unit holds the television signal generated by the television signal generation unit for a predetermined period. It is configured to include a holding switching means for switching whether or not. In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, whether to hold the television signal generated by the television signal generation means for a predetermined period is switched according to the live broadcast program content by the holding switching means. Execute control. That is, if the contents of the television program do not need to be confirmed by being held in the television signal delay unit for a predetermined period, the holding is switched by the holding switching unit so that the television signal generated by the television signal generation unit is not held. The signal is sent directly to the television signal output means, and the television signal output means outputs the television signal.

[0010] In some live broadcasts, audio and video forbidden from broadcasting may be generated. In such a case, it is necessary to cut off the audio or the video itself, instead of responding to the addition of the identification data for ranking the viewing permission. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the television signal output device according to any one of the first and second aspects, the television signal processing means cuts audio or video based on an audio signal or a video signal. And audio and video cut means for cutting audio or video of the television signal held in the television signal delay means when the content of the television program is in a predetermined state. There is. In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, the television signal processing means includes audio / video cutting means for cutting audio or video based on an audio signal or video signal, and the audio / video cutting means includes When the content of the television program reaches a predetermined state, the audio or video of the television signal held in the television signal delay means is cut.

When the audio or video is cut as described above, the viewer suddenly loses the audio or video and cannot understand what has occurred. Therefore, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the television signal output device according to the third aspect, when the audio / video cutting unit cuts audio or video, the audio / video cutting unit notifies that the cut has been executed. The configuration is such that predetermined notification data is added to the television signal. In the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, when audio or video is cut, the audio / video cut means notifies the viewer of the execution of the audio or video cut, so that the audio / video cut means outputs a predetermined signal to the television signal. Notification data is added. Therefore, in the television receiver on the viewer side, the notification data can be displayed on the display by the OSD function or the like, and the viewer sees this display and cuts off the audio or video prohibited from being broadcast. Can be recognized.

As described above, the television signal of the live broadcast television program is held for a predetermined period, and the program content identification data which is ranked according to the program content and which is allowed to be viewed is added to the television signal. The method of outputting a signal is not necessarily limited to a substantial device, and it can be easily understood that the method also functions as the method. Therefore, the invention according to claim 5 is a television signal output method for outputting a television signal of a live broadcast television program, wherein the television signal generation method generates a television signal of an audio signal and a video signal in a live broadcast. Step, by holding the television signal generated in the television signal generation step for a predetermined period and outputting the television signal after the lapse of the period,
A television signal delaying step for causing a delay in the broadcasting timing of the television signal; and a television signal held for a predetermined period in the television signal delaying step. And a television signal output step of outputting a television signal to which the program content identification data has been added by the television signal processing step. In other words, there is no difference in that the present invention is not necessarily limited to a substantial device and is also effective as a method.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the television signal of a live broadcast television program is ranked to allow viewing, and the ranked television signal can be output. It is possible to provide a television signal output device that enables control of viewing permission / viewing prohibition based on a so-called V-Chip function on the receiving side regardless of live broadcasting. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the holding switching means is operated for a television signal of a television program which does not need to be held for a predetermined period. Therefore, the television signal is not held for a predetermined period in the television signal delay means, so that the television signal can be output without causing a delay. Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cut off audio and video for which broadcast is prohibited in live broadcasting, which cannot be dealt with only by the permissible ranking.

Further, according to the invention according to claim 4,
It becomes possible to notify the viewer that audio and video prohibited from being broadcast have been cut during live broadcasting. Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a television signal of a live broadcast television program is ranked for viewing permission, the ranked television signal can be output, and reception of the television signal is performed. Regardless of live broadcast,
It is possible to provide a method of outputting a television signal that enables control of permission / prohibition of viewing based on a so-called V-Chip function.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to claims of a television signal output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present television signal output device 10 adds program content identification data for giving a permissible viewing rank according to broadcast content to a television signal of a live broadcast television program, and outputs a television signal to which the program content identification data is added. It will be used when you do. In the figure, a television signal generation means C1 receives a live broadcast audio signal and a video signal and generates a television signal. The television signal delay unit C2 receives the television signal generated by the television signal generation unit C1 and holds the television signal for a predetermined period to generate a delay in the timing at which the television signal is broadcast output. . The television signal processing means C3 adds, to the generated delay time, program content identification data that has been ranked for permissible viewing according to the content of the live broadcast television program, to the temporarily held television signal.
Then, the television signal output means outputs the television signal delayed by the television signal delay means C2.

The holding switching means C21 of the television signal delaying means C2 is used for selecting whether or not to hold the television signal input from the television signal generating means C1 for a predetermined period. Transfers the television signal generated by the television signal generation means C1 directly to the television signal output means C4. In such a case, it becomes possible to output the live broadcast television signal without delay.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a television signal output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the television signal output device 10 first captures an object for live broadcasting by a lens of an image pickup tube 11a of the television camera 11, and connects the captured image on a photoelectric surface of the image pickup tube 11a to charge. An image is formed. Next, the synchronization signal generator 12 will be described. The synchronization signal generator 12 includes a transmitting side, that is, a position of a scanning point in the television signal output device 10, and a receiving side, that is, a television that receives a television signal output from the television signal output device 10. A synchronization signal for matching the scanning point on the receiver side is generated. This synchronization signal is transmitted to the image pickup tube 11 via the deflection device 13.
When applied to a, the electron beam will follow its charge image from left to right and from top to bottom. As a result, a video current flows through the television camera 11, and a video signal, that is, a changing voltage signal is extracted from the output. This video signal is amplified by the video amplifier 14 and superimposed on the VHF carrier generated by the video carrier generator 16 by the AM modulator 15.

On the other hand, the voice is converted into a voice signal through a microphone 17 and amplified by a voice amplifier 18, and FM-modulated by an FM modulator 20 to which a voice carrier generated by a voice carrier generator 19 is input. . Then, the AM-modulated video signal and the FM-modulated audio signal are combined as one television signal by the combiner 21, and predetermined program information is superimposed by the program information superimposer 22. The television signal on which the predetermined program information is superimposed is output as a radio wave from a transmission antenna 24 connected to the radio wave output device 23. In the program information superimposing unit 22, when the broadcast station ID or the broadcasted television signal is a recorded video broadcast, the broadcast content is checked in advance, the television signal is received, and the television program is viewed. It superimposes rank information or the like corresponding to a so-called V-Chip function of the television receiver.

Therefore, since the live broadcast target is captured and a predetermined television signal is generated, the television camera 11
An imaging tube 11a, a synchronization signal generator 12, a deflection device 13,
Video amplifier 14, AM modulator 15, Video carrier generator 16
The microphone 17, the audio amplifier 18, the audio carrier generator 19, the FM modulator 20, and the synthesizer 21 constitute a television signal generating means C1. In addition, the radio wave output device 23 and the transmitting antenna 24 constitute a television signal output unit C4. In the present embodiment, the television signal output device 10 employs a configuration in which a television signal is output from the radio wave output device 23 and the transmitting antenna 24 through a radio wave, but, of course, the configuration is limited to such a configuration. Instead, it may be configured to be used as a CATV, that is, a television signal output device in cable broadcasting.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the program information superimposing device 22 for superimposing the above-mentioned rank information on a live broadcast television signal. In the figure, a program information superimposing device 22 includes a switching circuit 22a, a memory IC 22b,
It has a rank information mixing circuit 22c, a rank information control circuit 22d, and a rank information table 22e. On the other hand, a rank selection operation panel 22d1 as shown in FIG. 4 is provided in the rank information control circuit 22d, and a rank information superimposition selection key "None" for selecting whether or not to superimpose the rank information on a live broadcast television signal. "
When "Yes" is selected and the "Yes" key is selected, rank information 0 to 7 is selected and input according to the content of the television program. Here, an example of the rank information 0 to 7 is shown in FIG. In the figure, "rank 0" is a default value. When this rank information is added to a television signal, the television receiver does not prohibit viewing. “Rank 1” indicates that the content of the television program is an educational program, and “Rank 2” indicates that the content is a variety program. "Rank 3" indicates a program including a violent scene, and "Rank 4" indicates a program including a hard violent scene. "Rank 5" is a program that includes a sexual description and falls under the R designation, and "Rank 6" is a program that also contains a sexual description and falls under the X designation. Is shown. On the television receiver side, the rank information is set using the V-Chip function, and control of viewing permission / viewing inhibition is executed.

Therefore, the television broadcasting station superimposes the above-described rank information on a television signal of a television program in units of a program or in a part of a video of the program, so as to support the V-Chip function of the television receiver. ing. Here, the description returns to the program information superimposing device 22. The television signal composed of the audio signal and the video signal input from the synthesizer 21 is
The signal is input to the switching circuit 22a. This switching circuit 22a
It is connected to the rank information control circuit 22d and detects the selection state of the above-mentioned rank information superimposition selection key. In the case of "none", the input television signal is directly output, and in the case of "present", the input television signal is input to the memory IC 22b. The image of the television signal input to the memory IC 22b is displayed on a monitor (not shown), and the contents of the broadcast are checked by a person who selects and superimposes the rank information.

On the other hand, the image for two seconds is held in the memory IC 22b, and the above-mentioned check is performed during the two seconds. When the checked broadcast content needs to add rank information, for example, when it corresponds to “rank 3” or more, the person in charge inputs a desired rank number from the rank selection operation panel 22d1. Then, the input number is transmitted to the rank information table 22e, and the corresponding rank information from the rank information table 22e is transmitted to the rank information mixing circuit 22c. Then, the rank information mixing circuit 22c superimposes this rank information on the television signal acquired from the memory IC 22b, and outputs it to the radio wave output device 23. Therefore, the presence / absence of superposition of rank information on the rank selection operation panel 22d1 is obtained from the rank information control circuit 22d, and the memory IC 22b
The switching circuit 22a switches whether or not to hold the television signal for a predetermined period of time.
And the memory IC 22b forms the television signal delay means C2. Also, the memory IC 22b
To perform the operation of superimposing the rank information on the television signal held for a predetermined period and the predetermined signal processing based on the operation, the rank information mixing circuit 22c, the rank information control circuit 22d, the rack information table 22e, and the rank The selection operation panel 22d1 forms the television signal processing means C3.

Here, the processing content of the rank information superimposition processing executed in the above-described program information superimposition device 22 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, the program information superimposing device 22 inputs a television signal from the synthesizer 21 (step S100). Here, the status of the rank information superimposition selection key on the rank information operation panel 22d1 is obtained from the rank information control circuit 22 and is determined (step S105). When "none" is selected, it is not necessary to superimpose the rank information on the input live broadcast television signal.
And a radio signal is output from the transmitting antenna 24. In such a case, there is no delay in the live broadcast because the memory IC 22b does not hold the television signal for a predetermined period. On the other hand, when "Yes" is selected, the television signal is held in the memory IC 22b (step S110), and the image of the television signal is displayed on a monitor (not shown) (step S11).
5) Check the broadcast contents (step S120).

As a result of the check, if it is necessary to superimpose the rank information, desired ranks "0" to "6" are input from the rank information operation panel 22d1. The presence / absence of this input is determined (step S125). If there is an input, the rank information control circuit 22d sends the television signal held in the memory IC 22b in the rank information mixing circuit 22c via the rank information table 22e. The selected rank information is superimposed (step S1)
40). On the other hand, when there is no input, two seconds are secured as a check time, so it is determined whether or not the two seconds have elapsed (step S130). If not, the process returns to step S115 and waits for selection key input. If two seconds have elapsed, this means that there is no rank information to be superimposed, and the rank information is output without superimposing the rank information on the television signal by the rank information mixing circuit 22c (step S1).
35).

Next, FIG. 7 shows a broadcast state by a television signal when such rank information superimposition processing is executed.
This will be described below. In the figure, the upper diagram shows a live broadcast video, and the lower diagram shows a video signal output from the television signal output device 10 after the execution of the rank information superimposition process. In the figure, the areas “A” to “E” are:
This corresponds to two seconds of the video. For example, this indicates that the live broadcast starts from “A” and the video content changes sequentially from “B”, “C”, “D”, “E”. Here, since the television signal is temporarily stored in the memory IC 22b and held for two seconds, and the video content is checked, the television signal output from the radio wave output device 23 and the transmitting antenna 24 is not Seconds behind. In the present embodiment, by holding the television signal in the memory IC 22b for a predetermined period, the delay time secured for checking the broadcast content of the live broadcast is set to two.
Although the configuration of setting to seconds is adopted, of course, the delay time is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately changed in consideration of factors such as the time required for the check operation and the allowable time for which the live broadcast can be delayed. .

As described above, since the live broadcast television signal is held in the memory IC 22b for a predetermined period, the broadcast content of the held television signal can be checked. Then, if desired, rank information corresponding to the V-Chip function of the television receiver can be superimposed. A violence scene or a sexually depiction scene occurs during live broadcasting. It becomes possible to prohibit viewing in a television receiver having a chip function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to claims of a television signal output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a television signal output device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a program information superimposing circuit of the television signal output device.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a rank information superimposition selection operation panel included in the program information superimposition circuit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a rank information table.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the content of a rank information superimposition process executed by the program information superimposition circuit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a video state of a live broadcast and a video state when rank information superimposition processing is executed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 22 ... program information superimposing device 22a ... switching circuit 22b ... memory IC 22c ... rank information mixing circuit 22d ... rank information control circuit 22e ... rank information table

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A television signal generating means for generating a television signal of an audio signal and a video signal in a live broadcast, and a television signal generated by the television signal generating means is held for a predetermined period, and the television signal is generated after the period elapses. A television signal delay means for outputting a television signal to cause a delay in the broadcast timing of the television signal; and a live broadcast television program added to the television signal held for a predetermined period by the television signal delay means. Television signal processing means for adding program content identification data ranked according to the content of the program, and a television signal output for outputting a television signal to which program content identification data has been added by the television signal processing means. Television signal, comprising: Output device. 2. The television signal output device according to claim 1, wherein the television signal delay unit determines whether or not to hold the television signal generated by the television signal generation unit for a predetermined period. A television signal output device comprising: a holding switching unit for switching. 3. The television signal output device according to claim 1, wherein said television signal processing means cuts audio or video based on an audio signal or a video signal. Means for cutting the audio or video of the television signal held in the television signal delay means when the content of the television program is in a predetermined state. Television signal output device. 4. The television signal output device according to claim 3, wherein the audio / video cut means is configured to notify that the cut has been executed when audio or video is cut.
A television signal output device, wherein predetermined notification data is added to a television signal. 5. A television signal output method for outputting a television signal of a live broadcast television program, comprising: a television signal generating step of generating a television signal including an audio signal and a video signal; A television signal delaying step of holding the television signal generated in the generation step for a predetermined period and outputting the television signal after the period elapses, thereby causing a delay in the broadcast timing of the television signal; A television signal processing step of adding program content identification data ranked according to the contents of the television program to the television signal held for a predetermined period in the television signal delay step; A television signal to which program content identification data has been added Output method of a television signal, characterized by comprising a television signal output step of outputting.