JP2001251582A - Information reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information reproducing device which can reproduce a program with no limitation of parental levels and without performing ON/OFF operations of a parental lock function nor the level setting operations each time, while using the parental lock function. SOLUTION: A memory 13 stores the parental level of a reproducer and also the information on the time, when a parental lock function is to start, and a control circuit 14 compares the parental level set to the reproducer according to the information stored in the memory 13 with the parental level added to a program, in response to the time included in the time information received from a radio clock 12, to perform the reproduction control of program according to the result of comparison.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded from a recording medium such as an optical disk on which information such as video and audio is recorded, and more particularly to an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information added to information to be reproduced. The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus for controlling reproduction of information from a recording medium in accordance with level information relating to restriction and level information relating to reproduction restriction set in the reproducing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, video signals and audio signals have been encoded /
2. Description of the Related Art Compressed digital data (bit stream) is recorded on a recording medium such as an optical disk, and the data is read from the recording medium and reproduced.
One of such optical disks is DVD (Digit
al Versatile Disk).

[0003] When reproducing and outputting a video, or when viewing a video in a television broadcast without limitation, there are some contents that the child does not want to show, and the video or program (or channel) that the user does not want to see is displayed. A so-called parental lock (or parental control) function of prohibiting the video output by setting a predetermined setting has been put to practical use (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-2).
No. 10782, U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,107).

In the DVD system, level information (levels 1 to 8; hereinafter, referred to as a parental level) relating to a reproduction restriction for a program (entire or a specific part in the program) including a video recorded on a disk.
Can be recorded together with settings and programs.
It is possible to set the parental level of the reproducing apparatus itself to determine up to which parental level program the reproducing apparatus is allowed to reproduce, and a parental lock function is realized based on these parental levels.

That is, when reproducing a program (video or the like) from a disc, the DVD reproducing apparatus compares the parental level assigned to the program with the parental level set for the DVD reproducing apparatus, and compares the parental level assigned to the DVD reproducing apparatus with the parental level. If the parental level is lower than or equal to the parental level set in the reproducing apparatus, the program is reproduced. Incidentally, when the parental level of the playback device is set to 8, all programs can be played back. On the other hand, when the parental level given to the program is higher than the parental level set in the playback device, the playback of the program (whole or a specific part in the program) is prohibited, and the playback operation is interrupted, Playback by skipping a specific part of the program, or an alternative (video, etc.) provided in the program for that specific part
Perform playback.

[0006] In the DVD reproducing apparatus, by activating the parental lock function, it is possible to selectively restrict reproduction in accordance with the parental level given to the program. ON / OFF of the parental lock function and the parental level set in the playback device. For this reason, when the parental lock function of the playback device is turned ON / OFF or the parental level is changed, it is necessary to input a password registered in advance so that the password can be known. The specific user (eg parent)
ON / OFF of these parental lock functions and setting change of the parental level can be performed only by the user.

[0007]

By using the parental lock function, for example, it is possible to prohibit (restrict) the reproduction of a parental level program that is not desired to be shown to a child, while knowing the password. If a specific user wants to play a program with a parental level higher than the parental level set on the playback device while the parental lock function is working, release the parental lock function or play the program. It is necessary to change the setting of the parental level of the device to a level higher than the parental level assigned to the reproduced program. It is necessary to enter a password to cancel or change the setting. After canceling or changing the setting, the password must also be used to activate the parental lock function again or change the parental level (return to a lower level). Input was indispensable.

As described above, when it is desired to use the parental lock function and reproduce the program without being restricted to the parental level, the ON / OFF of the parental lock function and the setting operation of the level are performed each time. Necessary and very cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and it is possible to use the parental lock function without performing the ON / OFF of the parental lock function and the setting operation of the level each time. An object of the present invention is to provide an information reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing a program without being limited to a parental level.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information reproducing apparatus for reading and reproducing information for reproduction recorded on a recording medium. Level information relating to the restriction on the reproduction of the information together with the information for performing the information reproduction, the information reproducing apparatus comprises: a level information storage means for storing the level information relating to the restriction on the reproduction of the information in the information reproducing apparatus; Means for comparing the level information stored in the storage medium with the level information read from the recording medium, and controlling reproduction of information for reproduction recorded on the recording medium based on the comparison result, and a clock for outputting time information Means, and time information storage means for storing time information as to whether or not to restrict the reproduction of information based on the level information. Reproduction of information for reproduction based on a comparison result between the level information stored in the level information recording means and the level information read from the recording medium in accordance with the time information stored in the time information storage means and the time information stored in the time information storage means. Is performed.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information reproducing apparatus.
An information reproducing apparatus for reading and reproducing information for reproduction recorded on a recording medium, wherein the information for reproduction is recorded on the recording medium together with level information relating to a restriction on reproduction of the information. The apparatus includes: a level information storage unit that stores level information relating to a restriction on information reproduction in the information reproduction device in association with time information; a clock unit that outputs time information; and a time unit that outputs time information. The level information stored in correspondence with the time information stored in the level information storage means is compared with the level information read from the recording medium, and reproduction of the information recorded on the recording medium for reproduction is performed based on the comparison result. And control means for controlling

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information reproducing apparatus comprising:
The invention according to claim 1 or 2 is characterized in that the clock means does not include manual time correction means.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic configuration diagram of a DVD reproducing apparatus using, for example, a DVD as an optical disk as a recording medium.

1 is an optical disk (DV) as a recording medium.
In D), a program (or a plurality of programs) including a video as information to be reproduced is recorded according to a predetermined format. FIG. 2 shows a part of information recorded in accordance with a predetermined format. The parental level, which is level information relating to the restriction on the reproduction of the program, sub-data which is mixed with the image of video data, audio data and video data is displayed. Sub-picture display data including information such as the sub-picture data of the image and the position information for displaying the sub-image is recorded as a compressed bit stream.
In this embodiment, three types of sub-picture data for Japanese display, English display, and French display are recorded as sub-picture data.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an optical pickup for reading information recorded on the optical disk 1, reference numeral 3 denotes an RF amplifier for amplifying a signal from the optical pickup 2, and reference numeral 4 denotes a motor having a turntable for rotating the optical disk 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a drive circuit for controlling the focus, tracking, slave control, and driving of the motor 4 in the optical pickup 2, and reference numeral 6 denotes a digital data (bit stream) of a signal read from the optical disk 1 in accordance with an output signal from the RF amplifier 3. And a DSP servo circuit for controlling the drive circuit 5 to perform various servo controls.

Numeral 7 analyzes digital data (bit stream) output from the DSP servo circuit 6 and separates the digital data into parental levels, video data, audio data, and sub-picture display data. A demultiplexer that outputs to a control circuit and selectively outputs video data, sub-picture display data and audio data in accordance with the control of the control circuit. A video decoder 8 decodes compressed video data and outputs a video signal. Decoder 9 is a sub-picture decoder which inputs and decodes sub-picture display data, extracts sub-picture data corresponding to a language to be displayed under the control of a control circuit described later, and at a timing corresponding to a reproduction position according to position information. Outputs the video signal of the sub-picture. Reference numeral 10 denotes an audio decoder for decoding the audio data output from the demultiplexer 7 into an audio signal. The audio decoder 10 includes a D / A converter and outputs the audio signal to an audio device (not shown). When the output from the audio decoder is not an analog signal but digital data, the D / A converter may be connected to the output terminal and configured differently from the audio decoder.

The reference numeral 11 combines and outputs video signals output from the video decoder 8 and the sub-picture decoder 9, respectively, and further generates an on-screen display (OSD) as required under the control of a control circuit described later. This OS
This is a mixer that combines D with the previous video signal and outputs it. The video signal output from the mixer 11 is supplied to a display (not shown) and displayed based on the video signal.

Numeral 12 denotes a radio clock as clock means for outputting time information, comprising an antenna 12A and a receiving circuit 12B having a decoder. The radio wave clock 12 is, for example, 40 kHz
The standard time signal is received and decoded to output time information, and a function for automatically correcting time is provided. Therefore, there is no means for manually correcting time. The radio timepiece is a well-known technique, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a memory used for realizing a parental lock function, as level information storage means for storing a parental level of the reproducing apparatus, and a restriction on reproduction of a program based on the parental level at any time. Is provided as time information storage means for storing time information on whether or not to perform (ie, whether or not to activate the parental lock function).

Reference numeral 14 denotes a control circuit for controlling the entire apparatus.
Upon receiving the time information from the radio-controlled timepiece 12, according to the time,
The parental level set in the reproducing device is compared with the parental level given to the program, and the reproduction of the program is controlled based on the comparison result. Further, the control circuit 14
A selection setting operation for outputting the video data, audio data, and sub-picture display data separated by the demultiplexer 7 to a predetermined decoder, a control operation in the RF amplifier 3 and the DSP servo circuit 6 and a coefficient setting therefor, a video decoder 8 And a decoding operation control in the sub picture decoder 9 and a display control including an OSD control in the mixer 11. An input device 15 is used by the user to issue a control instruction to the control circuit 14. The input device 15 is composed of, for example, a plurality of keys, or receives a signal from a remote controller and decodes the signal to control it as an input instruction signal. The circuit 14 supplies the signal to the circuit 14.

Now, a user who has authority to set a parental lock (a user who knows a password for setting a parental level and setting a time for activating a parental lock function) is required to reproduce the program prior to reproduction of the program. Set parental lock (including setting change). For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the setting content is such that the parental level of the playback apparatus is "4" and the time information (time zone) for operating the parental lock function is from 6:00 AM to 11:00 P.
Up to M. This setting is performed by operating the input device 15. In the setting mode, the control circuit 14 controls the mixer 11 to output an OSD for setting guidance, display the OSD on a display, and accept an input operation. This setting requires input of a password, and the control circuit 14 accepts a setting operation only when a correct password is input from the input device 15,
The settings are stored in the memory 13. The time information stored in the memory 13 is set to the time information at which the parental lock function is activated (turned on) in FIG. 3, but is not limited to this, and the time information at which the parental lock function is released (turned off) is set. (Time zone) or time information indicating the time at which the parental lock function is turned on and the time at which the parental lock function is turned off may be stored.

When the optical disk 1 is set in the reproducing apparatus in order to reproduce the program in the optical disk with the parental lock set, the reading of the program (bit stream) from the optical disk 1 is started. That is, under the control of the DSP servo circuit 6, the optical disk 1 is rotated by the motor 4, and the focus, tracking, and thread control of the optical pickup 2 are performed, while the optical disk 1 responds to the information recorded by the optical pickup 2 from the optical disk 1. A signal is detected, and digital data (bit stream) based on the signal is input to the demultiplexer 7. The demultiplexer 7 separates a parental level from the input digital data (bit stream) and outputs the signal to the control circuit 14.

The control circuit 14 checks whether or not the time information output from the radio clock 12 falls within the range of the time information for operating the parental lock function stored in the memory 13. Is not within the range of the time information for activating the parental lock function (for example, when the time information from the radio clock 13 is 12:00 AM),
Control is performed to reproduce and output video and audio from the read digital data (bit stream).

In order to reproduce video and audio from the read digital data (bit stream), the demultiplexer 7 separates video data, sub-picture display data, and audio data from the read digital data (bit stream). The video data is output to the video decoder 8, the sub-picture display data is output to the sub-picture decoder 9, and the audio data is output to the audio decoder 10.

Under the control of the control circuit 14, the video decoder 8 decodes the video data and outputs a video signal, and the sub-picture decoder 9 outputs the sub-picture display instruction and the sub-picture display language from the control circuit 14. In accordance with the selection instruction, the sub-picture display data is decoded, and the video signal (eg, English) of the sub-picture data of the selected display language is displayed at the position indicated by the position information. Is output. Then, the video signal output from the video decoder 8 and the video signal output from the sub-picture decoder 9 are mixed and combined by the mixer 11 and output as one video signal, and the video signal from the mixer 11 is input. The display reproduces and displays a video in which the video of the selected sub-picture is combined with the video of the video data. The audio data input to the audio decoder 10 is decoded into an audio signal, the audio signal is supplied to an audio device (not shown), and the audio based on the audio data is reproduced and output.

If the time information from the radio clock 12 is within the range of the time information for activating the parental lock function (for example, 5:00 PM), the control circuit 14 sets the parental level input from the demultiplexer 7 and the memory 13 When the parental level input from the demultiplexer 7 is smaller than or equal to the parental level stored in the memory 13 (for example, when the parental level of the program is " 3)), control is performed to reproduce and output video and audio from the read digital data (bit stream) in the same manner as described above.

The comparison result between the parental level input from the demultiplexer 7 and the parental level stored in the memory 13 indicates the parental level input from the demultiplexer 7 and the parental level stored in the memory 13. When the level is higher than the level (for example, the parental level of the program is “7”), the control circuit 14 prohibits the reproduction of the program, suspends the reproduction operation, and causes the mixer 11 to output an OSD signal to that effect. Alternatively, when the parental level is assigned to a specific portion in the program, the specific portion can be skipped and played,
When an alternative video or audio is prepared in the program for the specific portion, control is performed so as to reproduce it.

As described above, by controlling whether or not to activate the parental lock function according to the time at which the program is reproduced, for example, the time period during which the program including the video reproduced only with the child or with the child can be viewed. In this case, the parental lock function is automatically activated, and the parental lock function can be automatically disabled in a time period when the child is unlikely to view.

When the user wants to play back the program without being restricted to the parental level while using the parental lock function, the user turns off the parental lock function and sets the level again each time. The program can be reproduced without being restricted to the parental level without a troublesome operation such as turning on the parental lock function, and an extremely convenient information reproducing apparatus which can easily use convenient functions can be provided.

In the above embodiment, the memory 13 stores one parental level of the playback apparatus and time information (time zone) for activating the parental lock function. For example, as shown in FIG. From 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Until the parental level is “1”, and from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM, the parental level is “4”.
From 1:00 PM to 6:00 AM (next morning), the parental level may be set to “8”, and a plurality of parental levels may be set and stored in association with time information (time zone). . In this case, the parental lock function is in operation all the time, but the parental level is changed by the playback device according to the time. That is, when the program is reproduced, the control circuit 14 sets the parental level stored in correspondence with the time information to the corresponding time information in accordance with the reproduction time (time information output from the radio clock 12). The correspondingly stored parental level is read as the parental level of the playback device. Then, the parental level is compared with the parental level assigned to the program to be reproduced, and based on the comparison result, reproduction control of the program such as execution or interruption of reproduction is performed.

As described above, a plurality of parental levels are set and stored in association with the time information (time zone), and the parental lock function is operated based on this, so that the parental lock function can be finely controlled. This makes it possible to further enhance the convenience of the parental lock function.

In this embodiment, a radio-controlled timepiece is provided as a clock means. This radio-controlled timepiece has a function of automatically adjusting the time, but does not include a means for manually adjusting the time. When the parental lock function is activated based on the time information from the clock means, if the time information output from the clock means is manually changed, the user having the authority to set the parental lock (such as setting the parental level or Even if the user does not know the password for setting the time to activate the parental lock function), it is possible to substantially change the parental lock setting and enable the parental lock function. You will not be able to work. However, in this embodiment, since there is no means for manually adjusting the time, a user who does not have the authority to set the parental lock changes the time on the clock means to substantially disable the parental lock function. The user having the authority to set the parental lock can expect the effect of the parental lock function with confidence.

[0033]

According to the present invention, as is apparent from the above description, the time information indicating when to activate the parental lock function is stored, and the time at which the program is reproduced in accordance with the time information is stored. Is controlled according to the parental lock function. With this, when the parental lock function is used and the program is to be reproduced without being restricted to the parental level, the parental lock function is turned off and the level setting operation is performed again each time. The program can be reproduced without being restricted to the parental level without performing a troublesome operation such as turning on the information storage device, and a very convenient information reproducing apparatus that can easily use convenient functions can be provided.

Further, a plurality of parental levels are set and stored in association with time information (time zones), and the parental lock function is activated based on this, so that the parental lock function can be finely controlled. Thus, the convenience of the parental lock function can be further improved.

Furthermore, by adopting a clock means having no means for manually adjusting the time, a user who does not have the authority to set the parental lock can change the time on the clock means and use the parental lock function. Can be substantially prevented from being invalidated, and an information reproducing apparatus can be provided in which a user having the authority to set a parental lock can securely obtain the effect of the parental lock function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information reproducing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of digital data recorded on an optical disc.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of setting a parental level and time information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing time information and a corresponding parental level setting example according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical disk (recording medium) 2 Optical pickup 6 DSP servo circuit 7 Demultiplexer 8 Video decoder 9 Sub picture decoder 10 Audio decoder 11 Mixer 12 Radio clock (clock means) 13 Memory (level information storage means, time information storage means) 14 Control Circuit (control means) 15 Input device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C052 AA02 AC10 5C053 FA24 FA30 HA40 JA21 JA22 KA01 KA08 KA24 KA30 5D044 AB05 AB07 BC03 CC04 DE48 DE50 FG18

Claims (3)

[Claims] In an information reproducing apparatus for reading and reproducing information for reproduction recorded on a recording medium, information for reproduction and level information relating to a restriction on reproduction of the information are recorded on the recording medium. The information reproducing apparatus compares the level information stored in the level information recording means with the level information read from the recording medium, and compares the level information stored in the level information recording means with the level information read from the recording medium. Control means for controlling the reproduction of information for reproduction recorded on the recording medium based on the comparison result, clock means for outputting time information, and whether or not to restrict reproduction of information based on the level information Time information storage means for storing time information, wherein the control means stores the time information output from the clock means and the time information stored in the time information storage means. An information reproducing apparatus for controlling reproduction of information for reproduction based on a comparison result between the level information stored in the level information recording means and the level information read from the recording medium. 2. An information reproducing apparatus for reading and reproducing information for reproduction recorded on a recording medium, wherein information for reproduction and level information relating to a restriction on reproduction of the information are recorded on the recording medium. An information reproducing apparatus, a level information storage means for storing level information relating to a restriction on reproduction of information in the information reproducing apparatus in association with time information, a clock means for outputting time information, and a time information output from the clock means. For comparing the time information stored in the level information storage means corresponding to the level information stored in correspondence with the level information read from the recording medium, and reproducing the information recorded on the recording medium based on the comparison result. An information reproducing apparatus, comprising: control means for controlling reproduction of information. 3. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clock means does not include a manual time adjusting means.