JP2001357611A - Recording and reproducing device and recording and reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information on areas where respective recording mediums recording signals are viewing-restricted at the time of viewing-restricting video/ sound signals recorded in a recording and reproducing device and to prevent a third person from learning that the recording medium recording the signals is viewing-restricted when the third person reproduces the recording medium which is viewing-restricted. SOLUTION: A serial number which cannot be rewritten and which is peculiar to the recording medium, a program (content) and viewing restriction information associated with the presence or absence of viewing restriction setting are stored in a viewing restriction memory 7. When the serial number of the recording medium which is set is matched with the serial number of the viewing restriction memory 7, the reproduction of the matched program is skipped. The program is excluded from the candidate of display in menu display and the recording and reproducing device is so constituted that it cannot be learned that the content which is viewing-restricted is recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing a video / audio signal such as a television broadcast program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording a moving image taken by a broadcast program, a video camera, or the like using a large-capacity recording medium according to digital signal specifications has been developed.

[0003] However, some broadcast programs, such as movies, contain violence or obscene scenes that are not desirable to be shown to children. Even when such a broadcast program is recorded by a recording / reproducing apparatus, it is necessary to incorporate a viewing restriction function for automatically skipping and playing back violence or obscene scenes of a movie as a reproduction prohibited area.

Conventionally, in an AV (Audio Visual) device, such a parental control function is also called a parental function and is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-235758.
This technique relates to a parental function of a moving image compatible optical disc reproducing apparatus. The main feature is that the user can later add the parental function even to a reproduction-only moving image compatible optical disk having no parental function. This moving picture compatible optical disc reproducing apparatus associates a volume identifier, which is information for identifying the type of optical disc, with a parental area set by a user, and associates the associated viewing restriction information with the moving picture compatible optical disc reproducing apparatus. The memory is stored in a parental memory, and control is performed so that reproduction of a data area corresponding to the parental area is prohibited.

[0005]

However, the above-described optical disk reproducing apparatus for a moving image has a parental function in a reproduction-only optical disk, and is not intended for a device capable of recording and reproducing.

When the above-described technology of the optical disk reproducing apparatus for a moving image is applied to a recording / reproducing apparatus, since a volume identifier for identifying a disk exists in a data recording area, a malfunction occurs when additional recording is performed. There is a risk that the volume identifier may be erased or rewritten, and in this case, there is a disadvantage that the information on the parental level is lost.

[0007] In addition, when the recorded recording medium contains contents for which viewing restriction is imposed, even when it is not desired to inform a third party that the content for which viewing restriction is imposed is recorded, the viewing restriction is not required. Although it is not possible to reproduce the portion where the content is restricted, there is a drawback that a still image or a description of a scene appears in the reproduction of the parental control target, so that it is known that there is a content with parental control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem. In a recording / reproducing apparatus using a recordable / reproducible recording medium, a recording medium identification number is erroneously operated when additional recording is performed. It is an object of the present invention to eliminate inconvenience caused by being erased or rewritten, and to enable a parental control function and other viewing restriction functions to be effectively performed as expected.

It is another object of the present invention to prevent a third party from knowing the existence of a program for which viewing is restricted even when a menu is displayed.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems (Invention 1) The present invention for a recording / reproducing apparatus having a parental function solves the above-mentioned problems by taking the following means.

First, the prerequisite configuration of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described. Parental control is set for a program (content) as a recording unit or a part of scenes in the program. In some cases, the parental level setting is associated with a recording medium identification number and stored as parental level information. Then, some kind of recording medium is set, and the recording medium identification number is read from the set recording medium, and when it matches the recording medium identification number of the stored parental control information, the parental level is set at the time of reproduction. It is configured to perform playback in a state in which a portion related to information is skipped (skip playback / skip playback). On the premise of such a configuration, in the present invention, a serial number unique to a non-rewritable recording medium recorded in advance on a recording medium is used as the recording medium identification number associated with the parental level setting in the parental level information. And

According to the present invention, the non-rewritable serial number of the recording medium is used as the recording medium identification number to be associated with the parental level setting. Therefore, even when additional recording is performed on the rewritable recording medium, the serial number as the recording medium identification number may be erased or rewritten due to a malfunction at the time of additional recording. Therefore, the parental control function and other parental control functions are not unexpectedly damaged.

Note that the serial number means a series of numbers, and does not necessarily have to be a continuous number. Famous examples of serial numbers on hardware and software products are well known, but you don't have to stick to them. It is not limited to numbers such as Arabic numerals, but may include symbols such as alphabets.

(Invention 2) The present invention relating to a recording / reproducing apparatus having a parental function solves the above problem by taking the following means.

First, the prerequisite configuration of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described. Prior to the start of reproduction, a menu of a program recorded on a recording medium is displayed.
In the menu, a program desired to be reproduced is selected, and the selected program is reproduced. In addition, parental control can be set.
Then, the program related to the parental level setting in the menu display is excluded from the display target of the menu display.

According to the present invention, the following operations are provided.
For a program desired to be reproduced, it is necessary that a program displayed in a menu be selectable. Therefore, a program removed from the menu display has no choice but to be never selected. That is, there is no possibility that a program for which parental control or the like has been set for parental control is unexpectedly reproduced. At the same time, since no menu is displayed for the program for which parental control has been set in the first place, it is not known to a third party whether or not the program for which parental control is set exists on the recording medium. .

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be generally described.

The recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention stores viewing restriction information in which a viewing restriction setting is associated with a recording medium identification number, and stores the recording medium identification number read from the recording medium. A recording / reproducing apparatus configured to perform, when reproducing, a state in which a portion related to the viewing restriction information is skipped when the recording medium identification number of the restriction information is matched. The recording medium identification number associated with the setting is a serial number unique to a non-rewritable recording medium.

The operation of the first invention is as follows. When a user (for example, an adult) wants to set parental control settings such as parental settings, when the operation is performed, the parental control setting is a recording medium identification number for the program (content) unit or a corresponding scene in the program. The parental level information is associated with the serial number unique to the recording medium, and the parental level information in which the parental level setting is associated with the serial number is stored. Then, another person (for example, a child) tries to reproduce the recording medium on which the parental setting or the like is set. At this time, the non-rewritable serial number unique to the recording medium as the recording medium identification number is read from the recording medium, and is compared with the serial number stored as the viewing restriction information. Assume that the two serial numbers match.
In other words, this means that a recording medium for which a certain user (for example, an adult) has set parental control and other viewing restrictions has been set in the recording / reproducing apparatus. In such a case, unless a special release operation such as password input is performed, in the actual reproduction operation, reproduction is performed in a state in which a portion (program unit or scene) related to the viewing restriction information is skipped.

In the first invention, a serial number unique to a non-rewritable recording medium recorded in advance on the recording medium is used as the recording medium identification number associated with the parental level setting in the parental level information. Therefore, if the recording medium is not rewritable but rewritable, even if one user or another user performs additional recording on the rewritable recording medium, The serial number as the identification number does not have to be erased or rewritten due to a malfunction at the time of additional recording, and the parental control function and other viewing restriction functions can be exhibited as expected.

A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing a video / audio signal on / from a recording medium having a unique serial number which is recorded in advance and cannot be rewritten; Operating means for setting a viewing restriction on the video / audio signal being set, viewing restriction storage means for storing the viewing restriction setting by the operating means in association with the serial number as viewing restriction information, and a serial number read from a recording medium Playback control means for controlling when the serial number of the parental level information stored in the parental level storage means matches the serial number of the parental level information, so as to skip the part related to the parental level information. It is characterized by:

This corresponds to the above-described first invention described on a more specific level. It describes that the recording / reproducing means is for a video signal / audio signal. Here, the notation of the video signal / audio signal may be only the video signal, only the audio signal, or both the video signal and the audio signal. The operation means is for the user to perform a setting operation for a program (content) or a scene for which a parental control setting or the like is desired. The parental level set for the program or scene is associated with a serial number unique to a non-rewritable recording medium to be parental level information, and the parental level information is stored in parental level storage means. At another time, when a certain recording medium is set in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the serial number unique to the non-rewritable recording medium is read from the recording medium, and the read serial number and the viewing restriction storage means are read. Is compared with the serial number of the viewing restriction information stored in. When the two serial numbers match, the program or scene related to the viewing restriction information is skipped and reproduced.

In the above, a serial number unique to a non-rewritable recording medium recorded in advance on the recording medium is used as a recording medium identification number used for checking whether or not the recording medium is related to a parental control setting or the like. When the recording medium is not rewritable but rewritable, even if additional recording is performed on the rewritable recording medium, the serial number as the recording medium identification number is used. The number is not likely to be erased or rewritten due to a malfunction at the time of additional recording, and the parental control function and other viewing restriction functions can be performed as expected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the parental level setting in the parental level information is a parental level setting performed for each program as a recording unit. It is. This is a description that limits the target of the viewing restriction setting to programs (program units).

Further, the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourth invention of the present application,
In the first and second aspects, the parental level setting in the parental level information is a parental level setting for a scene in a program. This is a description that the target of the viewing restriction setting is a scene in the program.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first to fourth aspects, the recording / reproducing apparatus further comprises a password setting means for setting a password. When it matches, it is configured to invalidate the skip reproduction control.

The operation of the fifth invention is as follows. That is, a person who knows the password, that is, a person who is allowed to view the program freely without any restriction, reproduces the recording medium on which the parental setting or the like is set. At times, the parental control setting is released, and the user is allowed to freely view the program.

The recording / reproducing apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is configured to display a menu of a program recorded on a recording medium prior to the start of reproduction, and reproduce the program selected by the menu. The recording / reproducing apparatus is characterized in that a parental level setting can be set, and a program related to a parental level setting in the menu display is excluded from display targets of the menu display.

The operation of the sixth invention is as follows. When a recording medium to be reproduced is set in the recording / reproducing apparatus or when a required operation is performed, a menu display, which is a list display of all programs recorded on the recording medium, is performed. With this, the user can know what program is specifically recorded on the recording medium, and select a desired program from a plurality of programs displayed as such a menu, Playback can be performed.

In the above case, when the recording medium on which the parental control or the like is set is set, the parental control is not set at the stage of the actual reproduction but at the stage of the menu display preceding it. In the first place, the menu is not displayed for the program that is being used. Therefore, the existence of the program with the parental level set is not inadvertently known to a third party. Also, the program in which the parental level is set is not inadvertently reproduced. This means
For a user who has the right to set parental control such as parental setting, the usability is improved.

A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention comprises a recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing a video / audio signal on / from a recording medium, and a viewing / listening restriction for the video / audio signal recorded on the recording medium in program units. Operating means for performing setting, viewing restriction storage means for storing the viewing restriction setting in units of programs by the operating means as viewing restriction information, reading menu display information from a recording medium, and displaying a menu of a program recorded on the recording medium Menu display means for displaying a menu in a state in which the program for which the parental control setting is performed is excluded from display targets, and reproduction for reproducing a program selected from the programs displayed in the menu. And control means.

This corresponds to a description of the sixth invention at a more specific level. It describes that the recording / reproducing means is for a video signal / audio signal. Here, the notation of the video signal / audio signal may be only the video signal, only the audio signal, or both the video signal and the audio signal. The operation means is for the user to perform a setting operation for a program for which a parental control or other parental setting is desired. Here, it is specified that the target of the parental level setting is a program unit. The recording medium identification number of the recording medium is not particularly limited. Further, the recording medium may be a recording / reproducing medium or a reproduction-only medium. The parental level set for each program is regarded as parental level information, and the parental level information is stored in the parental level storage unit. And at another time,
When a certain recording medium is set in the recording / reproducing apparatus, menu display information is read from the recording medium, and a menu of a program recorded on the recording medium is displayed.
At this time, the menu display means performs the menu display in a state where the program for which the parental control has been set is excluded from the display targets. The user selects a desired program from the programs displayed on the menu. Then, the reproduction control means reproduces the selected program.

In this case, a program for which parental control or other parental setting has been set is not displayed in the first place, and cannot be a candidate for selection by the user. Therefore, it is of course possible to prevent a program in which the parental level is set from being played carelessly, and it is also known to a third party whether or not the recording medium has the parental level itself. No need. Therefore, there is also a preventive effect that does not cause the user to notice the parental level setting and somehow cancel it.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the recording / reproducing apparatus further comprises password setting means for setting a password. When it matches, the control for removing the menu is invalidated.

The operation of the eighth aspect is as follows. That is, a person who knows the password, that is, a person who is allowed to view the program freely without any restriction, reproduces the recording medium on which the parental setting or the like is set. In some cases, the viewing restriction setting is released, the menu of the program is displayed as usual, and the program can be selected to allow free viewing.

The recording / reproducing apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the sixth to eighth aspects, wherein the parental level information is stored in the parental level storage means instead of storing the parental level information. It is configured to be recorded on a recording medium.

The operation of the ninth invention is as follows. In the menu display restriction, it is not necessary to use a serial number unique to a recording medium that cannot be rewritten as a recording medium identification number for setting the parental level. Restriction information may be created. That is,
In order to remove the menu display as described above, it is not always necessary to identify the recording medium, and it is only necessary to associate the program with the program. When identifying a recording medium, it is necessary to hold the recording medium identification number outside the recording medium, but if the correspondence relationship with the program is attached only, there is no need to identify the recording medium. In such a case, the recording medium identification number does not need to be stored outside the recording medium. In the first place, the recording medium identification number may not be required. However, the recording medium identification number may be used, and further, a serial number unique to a non-rewritable recording medium may be used as the recording medium identification number. However, it is not necessary.

If the viewing restriction information for removing the menu display can be individually recorded for each recording medium, the storage capacity of the recording / reproducing apparatus itself can be saved. Further, the collation processing is reduced.

The tenth to twelfth aspects of the present invention relate to a recording / reproducing method.

The recording / reproducing method according to the tenth aspect of the present invention is arranged such that, when an operation of setting a parental level is performed on a recording medium having a unique serial number which is recorded in advance and cannot be rewritten, the readout from the recording medium is performed. The invention is characterized in that the parental level setting is associated with a serial number unique to a non-rewritable recording medium and stored as parental level information.

Further, in the recording / reproducing method according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect, a serial number unique to a non-rewritable recording medium is read from the recording medium along with the setting of the recording medium, and When the serial number matches the read serial number, skip playback is performed according to the parental level setting in the parental level information of the serial number.

According to the recording / reproducing method of the tenth or eleventh aspect, it is possible to exhibit the same operation / effect as the recording / reproducing apparatus of the first or second aspect. Become.

In the recording / reproducing method according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the menu display information is read from the recording medium in accordance with the setting of the recording medium, and the display of the menu of the program recorded on the recording medium is restricted. It is characterized in that a menu display is performed for a program for which setting has been performed, with the program excluded from display targets.

According to the recording / reproducing method of the twelfth aspect, it is possible to exhibit the same functions and effects as those of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the sixth and seventh aspects.

(Specific Embodiment) Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a tuner for receiving a broadcast program, 2 denotes an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) encoder for encoding video and audio data received by the tuner 1, and 3 denotes an input from the MPEG encoder 2. Coded video and audio data to DVD (Digital Versatil
e Disk)-Input to RAM drive 5 and DVD-
An AV (Au) that outputs the encoded audio and video data read from the RAM drive 5 to the MPEG decoder unit 4
dio Visual) interface part, 4 is DVD-RAM
An MPEG decoder unit for inputting and decoding the encoded audio and video data read from the DVD-RAM via the drive 5 via the AV interface unit 3 and a DVD-RAM 5 for encoding the encoded audio and video data DVD-RAM drive for recording / reproducing to / from disc, 6
Is an operation unit for performing viewing restriction setting and recording setting operation, 7 is a viewing restriction memory for storing viewing restriction information, 8 is a system controller for controlling the entire recording and reproducing apparatus including operation of the operation unit 6, Reference numeral 9 denotes a display unit that outputs video and audio signals from the MPEG decoder unit 4. 10 is BC
A-code DVD-RA having a value of, for example, "xxxxxx1"
This is the M disk a.

A DVD-RAM disc is a DVD-RA
According to the physical standards of M, BCA
(Burst Cutting Area) is defined so that the code can be recorded. This BCA code has a data area of a maximum of 188 bytes, and is recorded so that each disk has a unique value, and cannot be rewritten later. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment uses the BCA code of the disc as a unique serial number for identifying an individual DVD-RAM.

The parental level setting function of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the DVD-RAM disk a is inserted (S11; step number shown in FIG. 4; the same applies hereinafter),
DVD-RAM drive 5 is a DVD-RAM disk a
The system controller 8 reads the BCA code data from the DVD-RAM drive 5 (S12). Then, when the broadcast program is recorded by the operation unit 6 (S13), the video and audio signals received by the tuner unit 1 are encoded by the MPEG encoder unit 2 and transmitted to the DVD via the AV interface unit 3.
-Recorded on the DVD-RAM disk a by the RAM drive 5;

When the recording is completed, the system controller 8 displays the screen shown in FIG. 8 on the display unit 9 and instructs the user to input the program name. If there is an input from the operation unit 6 (YES in S14) ), The input character is used as a program name (S15), and when there is no input (NO in S14),
The recording date and time and the channel are set as the program name (S1
6).

Next, an inquiry is made to the user as to whether a viewing restriction is set for the recorded program (S1).
7) In the case where the parental control is set in units of the recorded program as a unit (YE in S17).
S), parental control ON is set (S18). If the parental control is not set for the recorded program (S1
No in step 7), the viewing restriction is set off (S19). In any case, the BCA code, the program name, and the presence or absence of the parental control are stored in the parental control memory 7 (S20).
If there is another program to be recorded, the operation returns to S13 to operate.

FIG. 2 shows a DVD-RAM as described above.
An example of data stored in the viewing restriction memory 7 when five programs are recorded on the disk a is shown.

The recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG.
As described above, in addition to the parental control information in the parental control setting for the DVD-RAM disk, the parental control memory 7 has parental control information for storing parental control information regarding the parental control function of the apparatus.

When the parental control function of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is on, it is determined whether or not to reproduce the program based on the parental control information of each program in FIG. When the parental control function of the apparatus is off, all programs are reproduced irrespective of the status of parental control information for each program in FIG. The password shown in FIG. 3 is used when the user releases the viewing restriction.

Next, the parental level setting function of the recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment, the DV
When the D-RAM disk a is inserted, the operation unit 6
9 is output (S50), and when the parental control setting screen is selected from the initial setting screen (S51),
The parental level setting screen shown in FIG.

The parental level setting includes two types, a parental level setting of the apparatus and a parental level setting of the disc. The parental control setting of the apparatus (YES in S52) will be described with reference to FIG. In the case of the disc viewing restriction setting (N in S52)
O), proceed to the routine shown in FIG. This will be described later.

When the parental lock of the apparatus is turned on from the off state on the screen of FIG. 10 (YES in S53), and when the password is not set (NO in S54), the password for parental control as shown in FIG. 11 is set. The setting screen is output, the user sets a password (S55), the parental control function of the device is turned on (S56), and the parental control information and the password in the parental control function of the device are stored in the parental control memory 7 ( S60).

When the parental lock of the apparatus is turned off from on in the screen of FIG. 10 (NO in S53), a password input screen for releasing parental lock as shown in FIG. 12 is output (S53).
57) If the entered password matches the password stored in the parental level memory 7 (YE in S58)
S), the parental control function of the device is turned off (S59), and parental control information on the changed parental control function of the device is stored in the parental control memory 7 (S60). If they do not match (NO in S58), the release of the viewing restriction is invalidated.

When the parental level of the disk is selected in the flowchart of FIG. 5 (NO in S52), the parental level is changed from the program recorded on the disk of the screen of FIG. 10 according to the flowchart of FIG. A program is selected (S201). The change of the parental level is divided into a case where the parental level is changed from OFF to ON (NO in S202) and a case where the parental level is changed from ON to OFF (YES in S202). For example, the former corresponds to the case where the parental control is changed from the parental control off state of “2. program name parental control / (2) drama 1 OFF” to parental control on in FIG. The latter corresponds to, for example, a case where the parental control of "2. Program name parental control / (1) movie 1 ON" is changed from parental control on to parental control off in FIG.

When the parental control is changed from off to on (S
If the password has not been set (NO at 202) (S20)
(NO in 3), a password setting screen for parental control as shown in FIG. 11 is output, the user sets a password (S204), parental control of the program is turned on (S205), and parental control of the program is performed, Is stored in the parental level memory 7 (S210).

When the parental lock is changed from ON to OFF (YES in S202), a password input screen for releasing parental lock as shown in FIG. 12 is output, and the user inputs a password (S207) and inputs the password. If the changed password matches the password stored in parental level memory 7 (YES in S208), the parental level of the program is turned off (S209), and the changed parental level information is stored in parental level memory 7. (S210). If they do not match (NO in S208), the cancellation becomes invalid.

Next, the reproducing function of the recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment, when a play key of the operation unit 6 is input by the time the DVD-RAM disk is inserted and the start-up is completed during reproduction, the recording / reproducing apparatus sequentially performs the recording in the order recorded on the disk. Perform playback, and if there is no play key input, display a menu that displays the program name of the program recorded on the disc,
It is assumed that the user can select a program to be reproduced from a menu. It is also assumed that the viewing restriction memory 7 is in the state shown in FIG.

When the DVD-RAM disk (a) 10 is inserted (S101), the DVD-RAM drive 5
The CA code is read (S102). If the parental control function of the apparatus is on (YES in S103), the system controller 8 checks the read BCA code against the BCA code in the parental control memory 7, and inserts the inserted DVD. −
It is confirmed that the RAM disk is the DVD-RAM disk (a) 10 (S104).

Next, it is determined whether a play key has been input beforehand (S106). If there is no play key input in advance, menu playback is started (N in S106).
O), the programs of the DVD-RAM disk (a) 10 are sequentially read from the viewing restriction memory 7, and for the program for which the program viewing restriction is off (NO in S107), the corresponding program is selected as a menu selection item ( S108) For a program for which program viewing restriction is on (YES in S107), the program name of the corresponding program is not used as a menu selection item.

When the confirmation of all programs on the DVD-RAM disk (a) 10 in the parental control memory 7 is completed (S1)
(YES at 09), a menu display of the program name of the program as a menu selection item is output to the screen of the display unit 9 as shown in FIG. 13 (S110), and the program waits until a program to be reproduced is selected from this menu ( N at S112
O) If there is a selection (YES in S112), the selected program is reproduced (S113), and after the reproduction ends, the display returns to the program menu display (S110).

If there is a play key input before the start-up is completed, sequential reproduction is started (YES in S106), the parental control information of each program is sequentially read from parental control memory 7, and if the parental control is off (S114).
NO), the program is reproduced (S115), and if the program viewing restriction is on (YES in S114),
The program skips the reproduction and repeats this operation until all programs have been confirmed (NO in S117), and when all programs have been confirmed (S11).
(YES in 7), the reproduction is terminated and stopped. In the case of the example of FIG. 2, the drama 1, the animation 1, and the movie 2 for which the program viewing restriction is OFF are reproduced and stopped (see FIG. 13).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the DVD-RAM disk is reproduced by storing the BCA code of the DVD-RAM disk and the parental control information of the recorded program in the parental control memory. First, the BCA code is read, and when the parental control function of the device is on, the DV corresponding to the BCA code is read.
The parental control information of the D-RAM disk is read from the parental control memory, and the program with the program parental control on is removed from the menu item at the time of menu reproduction, and the program with the program parental control on is automatically reproduced at the time of sequential reproduction By skipping (skip), a third party can reproduce the information without being aware that there is information whose viewing is restricted.

Since the BCA code used as the serial number unique to the disk cannot be rewritten,
-When performing additional recording on the RAM disk, an excellent effect that the parental control information is not accidentally erased or rewritten is obtained.

The parental level setting of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment is displayed as a menu item when the initial setting screen is displayed on the screen of the display unit. The parental level setting menu may be removed from the menu item on the setting screen, and the parental level setting menu may be selected only when the password is matched by inputting a hidden key or password.

The parental control memory according to the present embodiment uses the memory in the recording / reproducing apparatus. However, a recording area for parental control is provided on a DVD-RAM disk as a recording medium, and the recording is performed. The area may be used as a viewing restriction memory for program viewing restriction. In that case,
Since the program viewing restriction information can be provided for each DVD-RAM disk, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to use a BCA code. However, if the recording area for parental control settings is accidentally erased or overwritten, there is a possibility that parental control information will be lost, but this can be solved with another technology. is expected.

[0073]

According to the present invention with respect to a recording / reproducing apparatus having a parental function, the recording medium identification number associated with the parental level setting in the parental level information required for the parental level function such as the parental function is recorded on the recording medium. Since it is configured to use a serial number unique to a pre-recorded non-rewritable recording medium, if the recording medium is not rewritable but rewritable,
Even when additional recording is performed on the rewritable recording medium, the serial number as the recording medium identification number is not erased or rewritten due to a malfunction at the time of additional recording, and the parental function is not performed. And the like can be effectively used as expected.

According to the recording / reproducing apparatus having a parental function according to the present invention, the program related to the parental control setting in the menu display is excluded from the display target of the menu display. Programs that have no choice,
It will never be chosen. That is, there is no possibility that a program for which parental control or the like has been set for parental control is unexpectedly reproduced. At the same time, since no menu is displayed for the program for which parental control has been set in the first place, it is not known to a third party whether or not the program for which parental control is set exists on the recording medium. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing parental control information of parental control settings for a disc in the recording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing parental control information of parental control settings relating to the apparatus in the recording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a recording method in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method for changing the parental level of the apparatus in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method of changing the parental level of the disc in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a reproducing method in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a program name input screen in the recording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an initial setting screen in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a parental level setting screen in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a password setting screen in the recording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a password input screen in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a program playback menu in the recording / playback apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tuner part 2 MPEG encoder part 3 AV interface part 4 MPEG decoder part 5 DVD-RAM drive 6 Operation part 7 Parental control memory 8 System controller 9 Display part 10 DVD-RAM disk

Continued on front page F term (reference) 5D044 AB05 AB07 BC03 CC04 DE45 DE49 FG18 FG23 GK17 5D066 AA02 AA07 DA03 DA12 DA13 DA16 5D077 AA30 CA11 CA20 CB03 CB11 DE05 DE08 5D110 AA17 AA29 DA04 DA12 DB05 DE04 DE06

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A viewing restriction information in which a viewing restriction setting is associated with a recording medium identification number is stored, and the recording medium identification number read from the recording medium matches the recording medium identification number of the stored viewing restriction information. When performing the reproduction, the recording / reproducing apparatus is configured to perform the reproduction in a state in which a portion related to the viewing restriction information is skipped during reproduction, and rewrites as a recording medium identification number to be associated with the viewing restriction setting in the viewing restriction information. A recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein a serial number unique to a non-recordable recording medium is used. 2. A recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing a video / audio signal to / from a recording medium having a unique serial number which is recorded in advance and which cannot be rewritten, and listens to a video / audio signal recorded on the recording medium. Operation means for performing a restriction setting, viewing restriction storage means for storing the parental control setting by the operation means in association with the serial number and storing the information as parental control information, and a serial number read from a recording medium are stored in the parental control storage means. And a playback control means for performing playback in a state where a part related to the viewing restriction information is skipped when the serial number matches the serial number of the viewing restriction information. 3. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parental level setting in the parental level information is a parental level setting performed for each program as a recording unit. 4. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parental level setting in the parental level information is a parental level setting for a scene in a program. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a password setting means for setting a password, wherein when the password input from the outside matches the password in said password setting means, the skip reproduction control is invalidated. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. A recording / reproducing apparatus configured to display a menu of a program recorded on a recording medium prior to the start of reproduction, and to reproduce a program selected on the menu, wherein a parental control is provided. A recording / reproducing apparatus which enables setting and excludes a program related to a parental level setting in the menu display from a display target of the menu display. 7. A recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing a video / audio signal on / from a recording medium, an operation means for setting a viewing restriction on a video / audio signal recorded on the recording medium on a program basis, and the operation Means for storing the parental control setting for each program by the means as parental control information; and reading the menu display information from the recording medium and executing the parental control setting when displaying the menu of the program recorded on the recording medium. Menu display means for displaying a menu in a state in which the program is not displayed, and reproduction control means for reproducing a program selected from the programs displayed in the menu. Characteristic recording / reproducing device. And a password setting means for setting a password, wherein when the password inputted from the outside matches the password in the password setting means, the control for removing the menu display is invalidated. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein
The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. 9. The system according to claim 6, wherein said viewing restriction information is recorded in a corresponding recording medium instead of storing said viewing restriction information in said viewing restriction storage means. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 8. 10. When a parental lock setting operation is performed on a recording medium having a unique serial number that is recorded beforehand and cannot be rewritten, the serial number unique to the non-rewritable recording medium read from the recording medium. Recording / reproduction method, wherein the parental level setting is associated with the parental level and stored as parental level information. 11. A non-rewritable serial number specific to a non-rewritable recording medium is read from the recording medium along with the setting of the recording medium, and when the stored serial number matches the read serial number, the parental level information of the serial number is read. 11. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 10, wherein skip reproduction is performed in accordance with the parental level setting. 12. A program for which a parental control is set when menu display information is read from a recording medium with the setting of the recording medium and a menu of a program recorded on the recording medium is displayed. Recording / reproducing method, wherein menu display is performed in a state where the menu is removed from the menu.