JP2000235546A - Client server system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display data that a user records in order under his taste and to make the user interface facilitated for a user himself by simultaneously logging in plural users from one user interface device. SOLUTION: When a desired television program is to be recorded in a data recording device 22 with a digital television 21 as one user interface, plural users previously inform the data recording device 22 of effect that they themselves use the digital television 21 from a user interface device represented by the digital television. At that time, a log-in operation for simultaneously depressing '1' and '2' of a key 51 or continuously depressing them within decided constant time is executed so that a remote controller designates the user by using the key 51 for identifying the user. Thus, convenience that a system is intimate to the user can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to broadcast programs and music CDs.
It consists of a server device that records and distributes analog data such as video and images created by individuals and digital data, and a client device that is connected to the device and that performs operations and displays by users. Client-server system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Technological advances in large-scale storage devices such as DVDs have made it possible to record a large number of broadcast programs.
It is possible to watch at any time without worrying about the broadcast time. In addition, by connecting a plurality of televisions in the home to a large-scale storage device via a network, it is possible to view programs stored in the large-scale storage device from any television. Such a system can be considered as a client-server system using a television as a client and a large-scale storage device as a server.

Conventionally, a client-server system has been provided with a function of using information equipment such as a personal computer as a client and sharing files stored in the server with a plurality of clients. The user first logs in to the client, sets the use environment using an initialization file corresponding to the user, and accesses a file in the server. The access control of the files in the server is managed at several levels, such that only the owner of the file is accessible for each file, only the group to which the owner of the file belongs is accessible, and anyone can access. That is, it is assumed that one terminal is used by one user, and there is no usage form in which a plurality of users log in to the same terminal at the same time. Also, file access control has been performed according to a single user who uses the terminal.

[0004] Access control in a conventional computer system has a purpose of preventing a file from being changed or deleted by another user or program. User authentication in a computer system formed via a network is strict. To use the authority of another user for the purpose of making changes to a certain computer resource, a user ID is required.
It is impossible and generally difficult unless the password is matched. In a network system in which a recording device is shared between families for recording and playback of a broadcast program in a home environment, the family is required to perform complicated operations to perform strict authentication in order to protect each user's resources. A simple authentication mechanism aimed at realizing a user interface that reflects personal preferences should be used. Also,
There is a need for a mechanism that can easily limit the use of children from an educational standpoint.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the following problems that occur in a file access management system in a home client server system.

[0006] The television set in the living room is for family reunion, and usually a plurality of families usually watch at the same time. In the conventional client-server system, logging in to the client is limited to a single user, and the initial settings are made according to that user. However, since multiple users cannot log in at the same time, multiple viewing Settings cannot be set according to the user.

[0007] The television set in the children's room is usually used exclusively for children's viewing, and it is desirable that initial settings for children be made without logging in when the television is turned on.

When a plurality of families make a recording reservation for the same program in different scenes, it is desirable to store a single program so that a plurality of families can share the program in order to use the storage device efficiently. In addition, it is desirable that all the families delete the shared program when it is determined that the program is unnecessary. When sharing a file with a conventional server, a user who has the right to change the file can freely delete the file. If this is applied to a home, it is inconvenient that the program reserved for recording is erased by another family member before viewing the program.

[0009] In the conventional client-server system, file access management is at three levels: individual, group, and overall. However, such a concept of grouping is not appropriate for recording reservation at home, and the entire family can be freely combined. Must be able to access control programs.

As described above, in a home client server system using a television as a client and a mass storage device as a server, access control of a file such as a broadcast program is different from the conventional client server system, and a new management system is desired. .

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a user-oriented user interface, for example, by presenting data recorded by a user by a simple user identification input in an order that considers tastes and the like, and from an educational point of view. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to restrict use of some users on a device basis.

[0012]

A data recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a data transmitting / receiving means for receiving and transmitting video, audio, image, and other data; a data recording means for recording the received data; A data management means for managing data recorded in a recording unit or other recording means, the apparatus or other recording means, and data for performing a read operation such as reproducing and displaying data recorded in these recording means; User information management means for managing the relationship between the device and the user; and control means for controlling the device. Independently of the device or in the same device, there is provided interface means for a user or another device operating means to perform an operation.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to claims 1 and 2 will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data recording device, and FIG. 2 is a configuration example of a network system in which the data recording device assumed by the present invention and a digital television as a typical user interface device are mutually connected. FIG. 3 is an example of a management table for managing the recording data of the data recording device. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a remote controller. Hereinafter, the basic operation of data recording in the network system will be described with reference to FIG.

Data, ie, digital or analog data such as broadcast programs, package software such as music CDs, and personally created images and images, is exchanged via a network interconnected by various data handling devices. Each device constituting the network is I
Physical connectivity is maintained by network standards and protocols represented by EEE1394, and it is possible to freely join and leave the network within the range defined by them. Also, there is no limitation on the configuration as long as the devices have the same network interface or can maintain mutual connectivity with an adapter. Furthermore, the devices shown independently as constituent devices are independent in function, but may physically exist in the same housing.

According to the present invention, identification of a user is provided for data recorded in a data recording device, and various types of data are used by using a user identifier attached to the data when the data is used or when various processes are executed. To control access.

An example will be described in which the system is placed in a certain home and a family of three (father, mother, and child) inputs and outputs data using the system. Each member of the family who is the system user determines an individual user number. Here, it is assumed that father = 1, mother = 2, and child = 3. When assigning a number, symbol, or other identifier for identifying a user to an actual user in this way, it is necessary to mutually confirm the identifiers assigned by the parties in advance. Unless otherwise noted below, the configuration is made up of a family of three shown here, and there is no change in each user identifier.

When one user logs in from one user interface device at the same time (login means notifying the current user to the system via the user interface): the father of user number 1 is a digital television A case where a broadcast program is recorded from 21 to the data recording device 22 will be described below.

When recording a desired television program on the data recording device 22 using the digital television 21 as a user interface, a father (user number:
In 1), the data recording device 10 is notified in advance from a user interface device represented by a digital television that the digital television 21 is to be used by itself. This user-specified notification is issued when the digital television serving as the user interface device is turned on, or when data stored in the data recording device is reproduced (read) or data is recorded (written) to the data recording device. Komi)
Is generally performed before some kind of processing. However, if the user designation notification is not made prior to any processing, the processing is performed as the same user as the previously notified notification, or the processing is performed as a predetermined initial user.

At the time of the user notification, for example, when the remote controller shown in FIG. 5 has a button 51 for identifying the user, the user is designated using this button. A switch originally used for another purpose, such as a channel button 52 of the remote controller, is temporarily used as an input means for user identification, or is displayed on a television screen by a GUI or the like, and a cursor button of the remote controller shown in FIG. It is also possible to adopt a method of selecting it using a selection instruction means such as 53.

Upon receiving the user designation notification, the user information management unit 14 retains the current state of the data recording device user number = 1 in the interface device. Each device constituting the network is an IEEE 13
It communicates with each other according to network standards and protocols represented by 94. At this time, device addresses depending on the protocol are exchanged with each other. Based on this address, the user interface device accessing the data recording device can be identified. As a result, the digital television 2 as the user interface device
It is found that the current user of No. 1 is the father whose user number = 1. Therefore, there is no need to store user information in a user interface device represented by a digital television, and it is not necessary to add a function or the like to hold user information in the user interface device to implement the present patent.

Subsequently, when a broadcast program recording instruction is issued through the user interface device, the broadcast data transmitted through the data transmission path 11 is transmitted to the data transmission / reception unit 13.
Then, the data is captured by the data recording device 10 and sent to the data recording unit 16 composed of one or more recording devices such as magnetic disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes.
At this time, the data management unit 15 manages the logical information on the recording data and the physical information such as the recording position in the recording device so that they can be mutually resolved. Is made. Such management can be realized using a management table. The management table 30 is one example. The management table is updated each time an operation such as data input to the data recording device, data output from the data recording device, and data deletion occurs.

When data is recorded, packaged software such as a broadcast program and a music CD,
Unique in the data recording device or in a system connected via a network for each "program" which is a logical unit that handles digital or analog data such as video and images created by individuals. And a program ID that can be shown
In the column 31-1, (26579 (is written. At the same time, various information related to the program is stored in the related information column 31-2 in the (1998).
/ 06/10, 19: 00-19: 30, 11ch, Economic News ... (In addition, it is an instruction to record via the interface device used by the user with user number = 1.) In the user information column 33 of the management table, the user attribute bit column 35 indicating that the data is attributed to the father whose user number is 1 is (1 (. The actual data, that is, the physical position on the data recording unit, is indicated in the pointer field 34 (54961 (. This pointer is a recording device functioning as a data recording unit or a recording medium). In this example, the related information and user information for each program are described as independent items, but the user information is One of the methods for realizing the management table and the data recording device management system is to place the attribute information in the same column as one of the link information, and the user attribute bit in the user information column 33 of the management table shown here is 3 There are some places that are customized for use by the family, and the family structure to be used is different, or the number of user attribute bits changes when each person has a plurality of identifiers.

When two users log in at the same time from one user interface device: When the father of user number 1 and the mother of user number 2 simultaneously record a broadcast program from digital television 21 to data recording device 22 Is shown below.

When the user wants to record a desired television program on the data recording device 22 using the digital television 21 as a user interface, the father (user number:
1) and the mother (user number: 2) give a notice to the data recording device 10 in advance from the user interface device represented by the digital television that the digital television 21 is to be used by themselves. This user-specified notification is issued when the digital television serving as the user interface device is turned on, or when data stored in the data recording device is reproduced (read) or data is recorded (written) to the data recording device. It is generally performed before some kind of processing such as (coming).

When the user is notified, for example, if the remote controller shown in FIG. 5 has a button 51 for identifying the user, the user is designated using this button. On this occasion,
A login operation is conceivable in which the and of the buttons 51 are simultaneously pressed or continuously pressed within a predetermined time. In addition, a switch used for other purposes, such as the channel button 52 of the remote controller shown in FIG. 5, is temporarily used as an input means for user identification, and the same simultaneous login operation is performed. GU
I and the like, and using the selection instruction means such as the cursor button 53 of the remote controller shown in FIG.
It is also possible to adopt a method of simultaneously selecting the user numbers of the father and the mother.

Upon receiving the user designation notification, the user information management unit 14 holds the current state of the data recording device user numbers = 1 and 2 in the interface device. Subsequently, when a broadcast program recording instruction is issued via the user interface device, the broadcast data transmitted via the data transmission path 11 is transmitted to the data transmitting / receiving unit 1.
At 3, the data is taken into the data recording device 10 and sent to the data recording unit 16 composed of one or more recording devices such as magnetic disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes. At this time, the data management unit 15 manages the logical information on the recording data and the physical information such as the recording position in the recording device so that they can be mutually resolved. Is made. Such management can be realized using a management table. The management table 30 is one example. The management table is updated each time an operation such as data input to the data recording device, data output from the data recording device, and data deletion occurs.

When data is recorded, packaged software such as a broadcast program and a music CD,
Unique in the data recording device or in a system connected via a network for each "program" which is a logical unit that handles digital or analog data such as video and images created by individuals. And a program ID that can be shown
In the column 31-1, (96156 (is written. At the same time, various information related to the program is stored in the related information column 31-2 in (1998).
/ 06/08, 21: 00-22: 57, 21ch, movie... Further, this is a recording instruction via the interface device used by the users of user numbers = 1 and 2. In the user information column 33 of the management table, a user attribute bit column 35 indicating that the data is attributed to the father having the user number 1 and a mother attribute having the user number 2 having the attribute. The user attribute bit column 36 indicating data is (1 (. The entity of the data indicated in this management table, that is, the physical position on the data recording unit is indicated in the pointer column 34. (956
443 (. This pointer has a format that depends on a recording device functioning as a data recording unit, or a method of indicating a position on a recording medium, a format, and the like. Although the user information is described as an independent item, positioning the user information as one piece of related information and writing it in the same column is one method of realizing the management table and the data recording device management system.

In this way, the recording of the desired program is associated with the related information of the recorded program and the information of the user who has instructed the recording of the recorded program, and is used when reproducing / reading the recorded program. It becomes possible.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the configuration of the data recording apparatus. 1 from one user interface device at a time
The operation of recording a broadcast program when the data recording device is used will be described below, taking as an example the case where a named user logs in.

When the user wants to record a desired television program on the data recording device 22 using the digital television 21 as a user interface, the father (user number:
In 1), the data recording device 10 is notified in advance from a user interface device represented by a digital television that the digital television 21 is to be used by itself. This user-specified notification is issued when the digital television serving as the user interface device is turned on, or when data stored in the data recording device is reproduced (read) or data is recorded (written) to the data recording device. Komi)
Is generally performed before some kind of processing. However, if the user designation notification is not made prior to any processing, the processing is performed as the same user as the previously notified notification, or the processing is performed as a predetermined initial user.

At the time of the user designation notification, for example, a button 5 for identifying the user is displayed on the remote controller shown in FIG.
If there is a user, the user is designated by using this. In addition, a switch originally used for another purpose such as a channel button 52 of a remote controller shown in FIG. It is also possible to adopt a method of using it as input means or displaying it on a television screen by GUI or the like, and selecting it using selection instruction means such as a cursor button 53 of a remote controller shown in FIG. The user interface device that has received the user's notification in this way holds the state in a user interface device such as a control unit of the device.

Subsequently, when the recording instruction of the broadcast program is issued through the user interface device, the user instruction held by the device is transmitted as a part of the instruction sentence in the instruction of the recording instruction. Broadcast data transmitted via the data transmission path 11 is transmitted to the data
0, and is sent to the data recording unit 16 composed of one or more recording devices such as magnetic disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes. At this time, the data management unit 15 manages the logical information on the recording data and the physical information such as the recording position in the recording device so that they can be mutually resolved. Is made. Such management can be realized using a management table. The management table 30 is one example. The management table is updated each time an operation such as data input to the data recording device, data output from the data recording device, and data deletion occurs.

When the data is recorded, packaged software such as a broadcast program and a music CD,
Unique in the data recording device or in a system connected via a network for each "program" which is a logical unit that handles digital or analog data such as video and images created by individuals. And a program ID that can be shown
In the column 31-1, (26579 (is written. At the same time, various information related to the program is stored in the related information column 31-2 in the (1998).
/ 06/10, 19: 00-19: 30, 11ch, economic news... (The user identifier in the recording instruction is held in the data management unit in association with the recorded program. In the user information column 33, the user attribute bit column 35 indicating that the data is attributed to the father having the user number 1 is (1 (. The entity of the data indicated in this management table, that is, The physical position on the data recording unit is indicated in the pointer column 34 (54961 (. This pointer is used to indicate the position on a recording device functioning as a data recording unit or on a recording medium). , The format depends on the format, etc. In this example, the related information and the user information for each program are described as independent items, respectively. Things like referred to the same column position as is also the management table as well as one way of the data recording device management method realized.

An embodiment according to claim 3 will be described. FIGS. 3, 8A and 8B are examples of management tables for managing the recording data of the data recording device.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of recording data erasing. Hereinafter, the basic operation of deleting recorded data in the present network system will be described with reference to FIG.

The program data is recorded in the data recording device by the method described above, and a management table indicating the contents is generated and stored in the data recording device. FIG. 3 shows a part of the management table.

It is one of typical uses of the system to record a program transmitted by a television broadcast or the like by recording reservation or the like and then watch the program. When one or more users log in via the user interface device to watch a television program, and the user determines that there is no need to save the corresponding recorded data after the program reproduction is completed, the user is instructed to delete. This is performed for the data recording device. The execution of the request at that time is performed according to the flow shown in FIG. When the user issues an erasure instruction (7A), the user refers to the user identifier of the user who has issued the erasure instruction and the user attribute bit of the user information of the recording data to be erased, and obtains data having an attribute for the user. Is determined (7)
B) If the user is the same (that is, if the attribute bit is 1), the attribute bit of the user in the user information column in the recording data management table is set to 0 (7C). Set the attribute bit to 0
Then, it is determined whether or not all the attribute bits of the user information column of the corresponding recording data are 0 (7E). If all of the attribute bits of the user information column are 0, the program is represented by the program. The recorded data is deleted, and at the same time, the column of the program in the recorded data management table is also deleted (7F). However, if the user information of the data and the user issuing the current command are not the same in 7B, a warning is given that the user is different and the command cannot be executed (7D), and the command of the erasure instruction is not executed. Exit without

A specific example will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 8A and 8B. In the state where the management table is as shown in FIG. 3, when the father with the user identifier of 1 logs in to the system alone and watches the movie with the program ID "96156", a deletion instruction is given after the watching, and the deletion is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. The attribute bit 81-5 of the user identifier: 1 in the user information column of the management table of FIG. 8- (a) is rewritten to 0. Therefore, the program data and the program column of the management table are not deleted. Thereafter, when the mother of the user identifier: 2 logs in and views the program and gives an instruction for erasure, the attribute bit becomes 0 and all the attribute bits in the user information column of the management table of the program are set to 0. The program data and the program column of the management table are deleted.

When the father of the user ID: 1 and the mother of the user ID: 2 simultaneously log in to the system and watch the movie with the program ID "96156" in the state shown in FIG. When the instruction is given, the attribute bit 82-5 of the user identifier: 1 in the user information column of the management table of FIG. 8B is rewritten to 0 in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG.
-6 is rewritten to 0. As a result, all the attribute bits of the user information column of the management table of the program become 0, and the program data and the program column of the management table are deleted.

An embodiment according to claim 4 will be described. FIGS. 3 and 9C are examples of management tables for managing the recording data of the data recording device. FIG. 9A shows an example of a user profile for performing automatic recording. FIG. 9B is an example of an EPG (Electronic Program Guide). An example of explicit recording reservation by a user typified by a general program recording reservation of a broadcast program is shown below.

When one user logs in from one user interface device at the same time: When a father with user number 1 logs in to a user interface device represented by a digital television, the user is connected via a network. The state that the current user of the user interface device is the user number 1 is held in the data recording device or the logged-in user interface device. The recording reservation of a broadcast program to be broadcasted is referred to a TV column such as a newspaper or a magazine, and the relevant broadcast channel and additional information such as a recording start time and a recording end time and a recording quality are recorded on the user interface by using a remote control device or the like. Recording reservation of a program by inputting from a device and giving a recording instruction, or finding a program to be recorded by using an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) received through broadcasting or communication by displaying a list or searching and giving a recording instruction in the same manner, and then making a recording reservation for the program Is performed. Here, 1 of 1998/06/10
It is assumed that the economic news broadcast on 11 ch from 9:00 to 19:30 has been reserved for recording by the above-described means.
Even if the father of the user identifier 1 logs out of the user interface device, the status of the recording reservation is determined by any one of the user identifiers together with the user identifier together with the program start time, end time, channel, and other additional information. It is held by timer means in the device.

When the reserved broadcast start time comes, the tuner means in one of the devices in the network system receives the broadcast program and records it in the data recording device in a predetermined recording format. When the reserved broadcast end time comes and the recording of the program data ends, the program column of the management table 30 is updated, and a unique program ID is issued in the network system. Here, program I
D “26579” and “1” is stored in the related information column 32.
998/06/10, 19: 00-19: 30, 11c
h, economic news ", and 1 is written in the attribute bit 35 of the user identifier 1 in the user information column.

Even when a program recording reservation is made in this way, a user attribute is added to the recorded data.

When two users log in at the same time from one user interface device: When a father with user number 1 and a mother with user number 2 log in to a user interface device represented by a digital television, The current user of the user interface device is connected to the data recording device or the logged-in user interface device connected via the network by the user number 1.
And 2 are maintained. The recording reservation of a broadcast program to be broadcasted is referred to a TV column such as a newspaper or a magazine, and the relevant broadcast channel and additional information such as a recording start time and a recording end time and a recording quality are recorded on the user interface by using a remote control device or the like. Recording reservation of a program by inputting from a device and giving a recording instruction, or finding a program to be recorded by using an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) received through broadcasting or communication by displaying a list or searching and giving a recording instruction in the same manner, and then making a recording reservation for the program Is performed. Here, from 21:00 to 22: 5 of 1998/06/08
It is assumed that a movie to be broadcast on 21 channels up to 7 is reserved for recording by the above-described means. The status of the recording reservation is set even if both are logged out of the user interface device.
The start time, end time, channel, and other additional information of the program are stored together with a user identifier together with a user identifier in a timer means in any device in the network system.

When the reserved broadcast start time comes, the tuner means in any one of the devices in the network system receives the broadcast program and records it in the data recording device in a predetermined recording format. When the reserved broadcast end time comes and the recording of the program data ends, the program column of the management table 30 is updated, and a unique program ID is issued in the network system. Here, program I
D is recorded as “96156” and “1” is stored in the related information column 32.
998/06/08, 21: 00-22: 57, 21c
h, movie ", and 1 is written in the attribute bit 35 of the user identifier 1 and the attribute bit 36 of the user identifier 2 in the user information column.

As described above, even in the case of a program recording reservation by a plurality of users, a user attribute is added to the recorded data.

An example of a case in which a profile registered for each user registered in advance is compared with information on a broadcast program, and an implicit recording reservation such as automatic recording of a matched program is shown below.

Automatic recording of a broadcast program can be considered as one of applications using a large-capacity recording device at home. Automatic recording means that the user does not explicitly make a reservation for recording of a broadcast program or the like, and the user of the system uses one or more program genres, performers, program names, etc., as criteria for selection, that is, a profile. Register in advance and EP
A program is automatically recorded in the data recording device according to a separately determined algorithm by collating with program data such as G. FIG. 9A is an example of a profile table in which a family of three (user number: father = 1, mother = 2, child = 3) is set to perform automatic recording using the system.

FIG. 9 shows a program table of an evening broadcast program on a certain day.
This is shown in (b). When the automatic recording application is functioning during this time zone, a program is selected as follows according to the profile of each user. 92-1 "News Evening" from the profile "Economic News" of the father of user number 1 and 92-2 from the profile "Sports"
"Night broadcast", 92-4 from profile "Onsen"
“Travel in hot springs”, profile of mother with user number 2 “Education”
To 92-3 "Kids Hour", profile "Travel" to 92-4 "Hot Spring Trip", profile of child of user number 3 "Baseball" to 92-2 "Night relay", profile "Child" to 92- 3 "Kids hour" is selected respectively. As described above, a total of seven programs are selected, but the same program is selected from different profiles of each user, and actually four programs are recorded. Even when a program is recorded by automatic recording, a program management table is created in the same manner as in the case of a recording reservation explicitly made. At this time, when one program is automatically recorded from one user's profile, the attribute bit of the corresponding user becomes 1, and when one program is automatically recorded from a plurality of user profiles, the corresponding bit is set. The attribute bits of the users who perform the operations are 1 respectively.
FIG. 9C shows an example of a management table created by the above-described automatic recording. The program ID "26579" is added to "news evening", the user attribute bit of the user number 1 in the user information is 1, and the program ID is set to "trip of hot spring".
96156 ", the user attribute bit of the user number 1 and the user attribute bit of the user number 2 in the user information are 1,
The program ID “35948” is added to “kids hour”, the user attribute bit of the user number 2 and the user attribute bit of the user number 3 of the user information are 1, and the program ID “93594” is set for “nighter relay”. User number 1 of user information with "" appended
The user attribute bit of user number 3 and the user attribute bit of user number 3 are respectively created as 1.

As described above, a plurality of user attributes are assigned to a program recorded by an implicit application such as an automatic recording which does not explicitly designate a program to be recorded by the user.

An embodiment according to claims 5 and 6 will be described. FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a network system in which the data recording device assumed by the present invention and a digital television as a typical user interface device are mutually connected. FIG. 10A shows an example of a management table for managing the recording data of the data recording device, and FIGS. 10B, 10C and 10D show examples of a program list display. FIG. 10E is a display example of an EPG (Electronic Program Guide). FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a remote controller. The basic operation of reading out recorded data in the present network system will be described below with reference to FIG.

Example in which one user logs in simultaneously from one user interface device: A case where the father of user number 1 reproduces a program recorded in the data recording device from the user interface device.

When an attempt is made to reproduce a desired television program on the data recording device 22 using the digital television 21 as a user interface, the father (user number:
1) The user logs in to the television as a user interface device when the digital television is turned on or before a reproduction instruction is issued to the data recording device via the digital television. At this time, if the remote controller device as shown in FIG. 5 has a button 51 for identifying the user, the user is designated by inputting his / her user number using this button. Also, a switch originally used for another purpose, such as a channel button 52, is temporarily used as input means for user identification, or displayed on a television screen using a GUI or the like, and selected using a cursor 53 or the like. It is also possible to take such a method.

To specify desired program data from recorded data, there is a method of directly designating a program ID. However, data recorded in the data recording device is stored in association with user information. Therefore, it is possible to provide a more convenient interface. In other words, it is possible to present such that only the program with the user number 1 is extracted from the programs stored and recorded based on the user information and displayed in a list. Specifically, 1 in FIG.
When a management table such as 00-1 is created, when the father of the user number 1 receives an instruction to display a program list from the user interface device to which the user has logged in, the attribute bit 100- of the user information of the management table is displayed. By extracting only programs for which 2 is 1, a program list display as shown in FIG. 10B is possible (when a program list display instruction is received from the user interface device to which the mother of the user number 2 has logged in). FIG. 10 (c) shows an example of the program list display in the case where the program is displayed. By finding and selecting a desired program from such a program list, it is possible to easily designate and reproduce a program that has been explicitly and implicitly instructed and recorded.

An example in which two users log in simultaneously from one user interface device: a father whose user number is 1 and a mother whose user number is 2 reproduce a program recorded in the data recording device from the user interface device. Here is an example.

When an attempt is made to reproduce a desired television program on the data recording device 22 using the digital television 21 as a user interface, the father (user number:
1) and the mother (user number: 2) are user interface devices at the time of turning on the power of the digital television or prior to giving a reproduction instruction to the data recording device via the digital television. Log in to the TV.

To specify desired program data from recorded data, there is also a method of directly specifying a program ID. However, data recorded in the data recording device is stored in association with user information. Therefore, it is possible to provide a more convenient interface. That is, it is possible to present the user number 1 and the program related to the user number 1 out of the programs stored and recorded based on the user information, and display them in a list. Specifically, when a management table as shown in FIG. 10A is created, the father of the user number 1 and the user number 2
When the mother receives an instruction to display a program list from the user interface device to which the user logs in, it refers to attribute bits 100-2 and 100-3 of the user information in the management table. When a plurality of users log in at the same time, convenience for the users can be provided by combining the user information. Typically, it is conceivable to use a logical sum and a logical product of the user information. In other words, if you want to display all the programs related to multiple logged-in users without exception, use the logical sum of user information, and if multiple logged-in users want to display commonly related programs, Use the logical product of information. Specifically, when the father of the user number 1 and the mother of the user number 2 are logged in at the same time, the program that both the father and the mother explicitly or implicitly instructed to record (that is, the two If the user wants to display a list of programs that are both interesting, the program extracts one program for each of the attribute bits 100-2 and 100-3 of the user information in the management table. FIG. 10D shows an example in which the father and the mother instruct the list display of only the programs of interest in common from the management table of FIG. By finding and selecting a desired program from this list, it is possible to easily reproduce the program with convenience suited to both.

The operation performed to enhance the user's convenience is not limited to the display of a list of recorded programs. FIG. 10E shows a display example of an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), but the present invention is also applicable to a case where program information of some channels is extracted from many channels and displayed. Further, it is not limited that only the user attribute information is used in the operation performed to enhance the user's convenience, and information constituting the management table such as date and time and genre of the program can be appropriately combined.

An embodiment according to claim 7 will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration example of a network system in which the data recording device assumed in this patent and a digital television as a typical user interface device are mutually connected. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for restricting users. Is a schematic diagram of a remote controller.

It is assumed that a network system including a data recording device and a digital television as shown in FIG. 2 is constructed in a certain home, and the digital television 21 is placed in a living room and the digital television 22 is placed in a children's room.
Three family members (father, mother, and child) input and output data using the system, and the user identification numbers are father = 1, respectively.
Mother = 2, child = 3. In many cases, a family watches a broadcast program or the like on a digital television 21 placed in a living room. In order to enjoy the convenience of viewing with the whole family, it is more convenient to log in all at the same time. At the time of the user notification, for example, a button 51 for identifying the user is displayed on the remote controller shown in FIG.
If there is, use this to specify the user. At this time, the and of the button 51 are pressed simultaneously or
A login operation in which the user presses the button continuously within a predetermined period of time can be considered. In addition, a switch used for other purposes, such as the channel button 52 of the remote controller shown in FIG. 5, is temporarily used as an input means for user identification, and the same simultaneous login operation is performed. It is also possible to adopt a method of simultaneously displaying the father and mother user numbers by using a selection instruction means such as a cursor button 53 of a remote controller shown in FIG. However, as the number of users of the system increases, login by such an operation becomes very complicated. For user interface devices, such as digital TVs placed in the living room, where the whole family often watches broadcast programs, etc., complicated operations can be performed by keeping the initial state, such as when the power is turned on, in a state where all members are logged in. Can be enjoyed and convenience suitable for watching in a family harmony can be enjoyed.

The initial setting of a user for such a user interface device is performed for one specific user (in a state where one user is logged in to one user interface device) or for a plurality of users ( It is also possible for a plurality of users to log in to one user interface device at the same time). For example,
The terminal in the child room has the initial value of 3 which is the user number of the child, and the terminal in the master bedroom has the initial values of 1 and 2 which are the user numbers of the father and mother. This makes it possible to easily provide convenience depending on the place where the user interface device is installed.

The user's initial setting for such a user interface device can be changed with time even for the same user interface device. For example, when the user in the time zone of the television set in the living room can be specified in advance, the user setting is set to the whole family (1, 2, 3) in the morning, the mother (2) in the day, and the night in the night. Is the whole family (1, 2, 3) and late at night is my father (1)
As described above, by setting the initial value in accordance with the expected value, convenience can be easily enjoyed only by turning on the power.

The initial state of the user of the user interface device is stored in the user interface device or the data recording device. This depends on the system configuration such as where in the system the user state is stored when the user logs in normally.

An embodiment according to claim 8 will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration example of a network system in which the data recording device assumed in the present invention and a digital television as a typical user interface device are mutually connected, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a remote controller.

In accordance with the contents of various processes performed using the user information, it is possible to restrict execution of processes from those other than the associated user. In the case of executing an instruction whose processing is restricted, the request is executed according to the flow shown in FIG. The user information of the data affected by the command is referred to (4A). It is determined whether the user information of the data is the same as the user issuing the current command (4B),
If the same person, the instruction is executed as requested (4C).
However, if the user information of the data and the user issuing the current command are not the same, a warning is given that the user is different and the command cannot be executed (4D), and the process ends without executing the command.

An example in which user restriction is performed will be described.
When attempting to delete recorded data, the user selects from a list of recorded data, or directly specifies the ID number of the data and executes the deletion. At this time, the user information in the management table in the data recording device 22 is compared with the user number logged in to the user interface device, and if the attribute bit is 1, the data is erased. If the value is 0, the user cannot be erased because the user is different, a display using characters or the like, a warning by voice, a warning by other means, or no data erasure is performed without warning. As another example, in the case of interrupting an instruction being executed such as reproduction, for example, when stopping moving image data being reproduced (recorded broadcast program or the like), a digital television which is a user interface device whose state is stored in the data recording device 22 21 is compared with the identifier of the user associated with the data whose reproduction is to be stopped, and if the attribute bit is 1, the reproduction of the moving image is stopped. Is 0, a warning is issued to the effect that the reproduction cannot be stopped because the user is different, or the reproduction of the moving image is not stopped without the warning. As described above, it is possible to provide a restriction that the processing cannot be executed without the user attribute.

At home, such user restrictions are as follows:
It is thought that the main use is to prevent erroneous operation rather than to strictly exclude users, but it is considered that there is a use restriction from an educational point of view, that is, a request for parental lock. However, it is not convenient to require the user to perform a complicated operation such as inputting a password in order to realize this. Therefore, by providing a restriction for each user interface device, the user is restricted without sacrificing convenience. An example is shown below.

In the digital television set 22 placed in the children's room, the operation via the digital television set 22 is performed only when the user number 3, which is the user number of the child, is set as the user number of the digital television set 22. To enable
The data recording device 22 is prevented from receiving a change notification to a user number other than the user number 3 which is a child user number. Further, a user number that can be set for each remote control device for giving an instruction to the user interface device may be limited. That is, even if the user buttons 51 of the remote control device are arranged, even if a user button other than the preset user button is pressed, the user information management unit is not notified via the user interface device or the like. Alternatively, there is no user button as in the remote control device shown in FIG. 5, and the same user number is always notified by each remote control device at regular time intervals or before performing other processing, or
Since the timing is set separately, the user carries the remote control device in which his / her user number is set in a range where the system is installed such as at home. By such a restriction method, a simple parental lock (viewing restriction function) can be realized in a network system interconnected with the data recording device.

As described above, when a user notification is sent to the data recording apparatus, a certain change restriction can be provided by a combination of the user number before change and the user number after change. . That is, the change from the father of the user number 1 to the child of the user number 3 can be performed without restriction, but the change from the child of the user number 3 to the father of the user number 1 is restricted. In order to make the change, the change can be made after a certain period of time, or in combination with another operation such as turning on the power of the user interface device again, or in accordance with another predetermined method or standard. Alternatively, user numbers that can be set for each user interface device may be limited.

A plurality of user numbers in the system can have a mutual or unilateral inclusion relationship. A network system including a data recording device, a digital television, and the like is constructed in a certain home. Three families (father, mother, and child) input and output data using the system, and the user identification numbers are: Father =
It is assumed that 1, mother = 2 and child = 3 are defined. In the user information management unit of the data recording device, by setting the relationship that the user number 1 and the user number 2 are the same, the data recorded according to the instruction of the father of the user number 1 is stored. The same convenience as that used by the father can be enjoyed by the mother of user number 2 as well. For example, when a list of programs recorded according to the instruction of the father is displayed, the display is the same whether the father is set as the user or the mother is set as the user. Further, by setting a relationship in which the user number 1 includes the user number 3 in the user information management unit of the data recording device, the data recorded according to the instruction of the father of the user number 1 can be stored. When a child uses the data, a prescribed use restriction is applied. However, when the data recorded by the instruction of the child of the user number 3 is used by the father of the user number 1, the same as when using the data recorded by the user. Available to For example, when the recorded program list is displayed by the child of the user number 3, a list of programs recorded by the child of the user number 3 is displayed, but when the father of the user number 1 is displayed, the user number is displayed. A list of programs recorded by the father No. 1 and programs recorded by the child of the user number 3 is displayed. Another example using FIG. 2 is that the child of the user number 3 can instruct the digital television 23 to turn off the power of the digital television 23 that the child of the user number 3 is watching. Similarly, the father of the user number 1 instructs the digital television 23 to turn off the power, or instructs the digital television 21 to power off the digital television 23 by remote control. Can be. By using such an association between user numbers, it is possible to realize all user rights with one user number.

[0070]

According to the present invention, a television is used as a client,
It is an object of the present invention to propose a method for managing access control of a file such as a broadcast program in a home client server system using a mass storage device as a server. In other words, a user-friendly interface that is easy for the user to watch, depending on whether the TV set in the living room of the home is watched by multiple families or the TV set in the children's room is watched alone by a child. And an access control that enables secure recording reservation by a flexible file sharing method.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data recording device.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a network system.

FIG. 3 is a data management table.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart when a request is executed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a remote controller.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a data recording device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a program data erasing algorithm.

FIG. 8 is an example of a management table.

FIG. 9 is an example of a profile table, a program table, and a management table.

FIG. 10 is an example of a management table and a program list display.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Server device 11: Data transmission path 12: Control unit 13: Data transmission / reception unit 14: User information management unit 15: Data management unit 16: Data recording unit 17: Client device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Koyanagi 1st Toshiba Research and Development Center, Komukai Toshiba-cho, Saitama-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture 1-town Toshiba R & D Center F-term (reference) 5B085 AC03 BG07 5C064 BA01 BB10 BC06 BC18 BC25 BD02 BD08 BD14 5D110 AA15 AA21 AA27 AA29 DA01 DA08 DA11 DE02 DE04 DE06 FA05 FA08

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A system comprising a client and a server, wherein a plurality of users log in to one client at the same time. 2. The client-server system according to claim 1, wherein a user attribute bit indicating whether or not access is possible for each user registered in advance is added to a file managed by the server. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein a user attribute bit corresponding to a case where the user does not need the file is set to 0,
A client-server system for erasing a file in which all user attribute bits have become 0. According to claim 2, explicit recording reservation by a user typified by a general program recording reservation of a broadcast program, or a pre-registered profile for each user and information of a broadcast program. When performing implicit recording reservation such as performing collation and performing automatic recording for a matched program, the attribute bit of the user corresponding to the file storing the program to be recorded is set to 1. Client server system. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein, when a list of recorded programs is displayed, a list of files whose logical OR of user attribute bits corresponding to a plurality of logged-in users is 1 is displayed. And a client-server system. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein, when displaying a list of recorded programs, a list of files whose logical product of user attribute bits corresponding to a plurality of logged-in users is 1 is displayed. And a client-server system. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a specific client is powered on, the user is always initialized for a specific user or initialized for a user who varies depending on a time zone. Client server system. 8. The client server system according to claim 1, wherein a user of a specific client is limited to a specific user.