JP2003348537A - Digital broadcast stream processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stream processing apparatus in which copy control is made possible according to an intention of an enterpriser. <P>SOLUTION: A recording device 106 stores a partial transport stream. A processor 1010 extracts a network identification out of a selection information table from a transport decoder 104 and stores it in the recording device 106. Before reproducing the partial transport stream, the copy control is performed according to the network identification stored in the recording device 106. An audio decoder 107 and a video decoder 108 reproduce audios and videos comprising broadcast contents under the copy control by the processor 1010. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital broadcast stream processing apparatus (hereinafter, abbreviated as a stream processing apparatus in the present specification), and more particularly to a stream processing apparatus capable of recording and reproducing a received stream. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-168718, for example, a stream processing apparatus receives a transport stream in which broadcast contents including at least one of video, audio and data are multiplexed. . After that, the stream processing device creates a partial transport stream (hereinafter, referred to as a partial TS) from the received transport stream, and records the created stream in an internal recording device. Further, the stream processing device reproduces the broadcast content using the partial TS recorded on the recording device based on an instruction from the user.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of a partial transport stream. FIG.
4, a partial TS includes a selection information table (hereinafter, referred to as SIT), a program association table (hereinafter, referred to as PAT), an elementary stream of video, audio, and data (hereinafter, referred to as ES), a program, and a program. And a map table (hereinafter referred to as PMT).

[0004] As shown in FIG. 15, the SIT includes a network identification (network_id in the figure) for specifying a network from which the target partial TS is derived. In the illustrated example, the network identification is "B
It is described as a digital broadcasting network called "S Digital 1".

The PMT includes a plurality of digital copy control descriptors as shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, the PMT includes a first loop and a second loop digital copy control descriptor. The digital copy control descriptor of the first loop is descriptor_ta
g, descriptor_length, digit
al_recording_control_data
And a copy_control_type information set. The digital copy control descriptor of the second loop is:
descriptor_tag, digital_re
coding_control_data and cop
It consists of an information set of y_control_type.

On the first loop side, digital copy information defined for each service of the target partial TS is described, and on the second loop side, digital copy information defined for each ES included in the same partial TS is described. Is described. Further, the meaning of the digital copy information for the first loop side, that is, the digital copy information for each service, and the digital copy information for the second loop side, that is, the digital copy information for each ES are determined for each business operator. That is, the digital copy information for each service differs from the digital copy information for each ES depending on the business operator. For example, in one company, digital copy information for each service has priority over that for each ES, whereas in other companies, the priorities of both may be reversed. According to the digital copy control information as described above, the conventional stream processing device controls the copy of the received content. Note that the above-mentioned digital_recording_contr
ol_data, copy_control_type
For example, for a method of performing copy control using the information and other necessary information, see “ARIB Technical”.
Report "(Association of Radio Industries and Businesses).

[0007]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-11-168718

[0008]

As will be apparent from the description of the first prior art, in order to perform copy control of broadcast contents in accordance with a business operator's intention, digital copy information for each service and digital copy for each ES are required. A conventional stream processing device needs to know the priority between copy information by using the network identification included in the SIT.

However, in general, the SIT is sent to the stream processing device at an interval of about 1 second to about 3 seconds and is recorded on the internal recording device. In the worst case, the SIT is 10 seconds. May not be recorded for a while. In such a case, the stream processing device cannot acquire the network identification from the recording device for a maximum of 10 seconds,
As a result, there is a first problem that the copy control cannot be performed correctly.

There are a plurality of video and audio formats that can be multiplexed on a transport stream.
For example, a typical example of a video format is MPEG
(Motion Picture Experts Group) 1, MPEG2 and H
There is DTV (High Definition TeleVision), and a typical example of the audio format is MPEG2 Audio.
io, AAC and DTS. However, a video decoder or an audio decoder implemented in a stream processing apparatus does not necessarily support all formats, and a stream processing apparatus including such a video decoder or an audio decoder may output a video of an unsupported format. Alternatively, when a transport stream in which audio is multiplexed is input, there is a second problem that correct video or audio cannot be provided to the user.

In addition, two types of methods are prepared for starting data multiplexable in a transport stream on the stream processing device side. One of the activation methods is called automatic activation, in which the stream processing apparatus automatically reproduces multiplexed data regardless of the user's intention. The other activation method is called selective activation, and is a method in which the stream processing device reproduces the target multiplexed data when the user operates a predetermined button. Further, the user can designate activation and suppression of multiplex data by operating a predetermined button.

It is now assumed that the user views and listens to the selectively activated broadcast content while the data broadcast is activated, and simultaneously records the broadcast content in the stream processing device. Thereafter, when the user views the recorded broadcast content again, the broadcast content is selectively activated, so that a predetermined button must be operated again to activate the data broadcast.

[0013] It is also assumed that the user views and listens to the automatically activated broadcast content in a state where data broadcasting is suppressed and simultaneously records the broadcast content in the stream processing device. Thereafter, when the user views the recorded broadcast content again, the broadcast content is automatically activated, so that a predetermined button must be operated again to suppress the data broadcast.

As is apparent from the above, in the conventional stream processing apparatus, it is necessary to operate a predetermined button twice during real-time viewing and reproduction of the same broadcast content.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide a stream processing apparatus capable of performing copy control according to a business operator's intention. A second object is to provide a stream processing device capable of controlling reproduction of video or audio having an unsupported format. Further, a third object is to provide a stream processing device capable of reducing the number of operations required for starting and suppressing data broadcasting.

[0016]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, a first invention of the present application is a digital broadcast stream processing apparatus for processing a transport stream in which broadcast contents are multiplexed, A transport decoding unit that creates a partial transport stream from the input transport stream and further separates at least the selection information table; a first recording unit that stores the partial transport stream created by the transport decoding unit; A network identification obtaining unit for extracting at least a network identification from the selection information table separated by the transport decoding unit, and a second storing the network identification obtained by the network identification obtaining unit. It comprises a recording unit, and a copy control section that performs copy control according to the network identification stored in the second recording unit. The transport decoding unit further reproduces encoded broadcast content from the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit. The digital broadcast stream processing device further includes a content playback unit that plays back broadcast content from the coded broadcast content from the transport decode unit under the control of the copy control unit. This allows
Since the network identification can be obtained before the reproduction of the broadcast content, the copy control can be performed correctly.

Further, in the first invention, the second recording unit stores the network identification in units of services included in the partial transport stream and / or in units of elementary streams constituting each service. As a result, it is possible to perform more detailed copy control.

Further, in the first invention, the digital broadcast stream processing device is further multiplexed with the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit based on the network identification recorded in the second recording unit. Control of reproduction and display of the reproduced data, identification of data multiplexed on the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit, or broadcast multiplexed on the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit Further provide information on the content. As a result, the network identification can be acquired quickly, so that the control of data reproduction and display, the specification of data, or the provision of broadcast content information can be performed more quickly and accurately.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast stream processing apparatus for processing a transport stream in which broadcast content is multiplexed, wherein the digital transport stream processing apparatus creates a partial transport stream from an input transport stream, and further includes a selection information table. A transport decoding unit for separating a partial transport stream created by the transport decoding unit, a selection information table and a program map table separated by the transport decoding unit , A descriptor selector for selecting one digital copy control descriptor, and a second record storing the digital copy control descriptor selected by the descriptor selector. When, and a copy controller for copying control in accordance with the digital copy control descriptor that is stored in the second recording unit. The transport decoding unit further reproduces data representing encoded broadcast content from the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit. The digital broadcast stream processing device further includes a content playback unit that plays back broadcast content from the coded broadcast content from the transport decode unit under the control of the copy control unit. Thus, the digital copy control descriptor can be obtained before the reproduction of the broadcast content, so that the copy control can be performed correctly.

[0020] In the second invention, the second recording unit stores a partial transport stream unit, a service unit included in each partial transport stream, or an elementary stream unit constituting each service, or The digital copy control descriptor is stored for every two or more of. As a result, it is possible to perform more detailed copy control.

[0021] In the second invention, the digital broadcast stream processing device further includes an offset storage unit that stores an offset value from the head of the partial transport stream recorded in the first recording unit. Further, the second recording unit stores the digital copy control descriptor selected by the descriptor selection unit and the offset value stored in the offset storage unit. As a result, even when the digital copy control descriptor multiplexed in the partial transport stream changes over time, it is possible to perform copy control correctly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast stream processing apparatus for processing a transport stream in which broadcast contents are multiplexed, wherein the digital transport stream processing apparatus creates a partial transport stream from an input transport stream, and further includes a selection information table. Format information of a broadcast content from a transport decoding unit that separates at least the information, a first recording unit that stores a partial transport stream created by the transport decoding unit, and a selection information table that is separated by the transport decoding unit. Format information acquiring unit for extracting the network identification information, a second recording unit for storing the network identification acquired by the format information acquiring unit, and a format stored in the second recording unit. And a determination unit that determines whether the format of the broadcast content multiplexed in the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit is supported by referring to the information, and determines that the format is not supported by the determination unit. And a message creating unit that creates message data indicating the fact when the message is generated. Thus, the format of the broadcast content can be confirmed before the broadcast content is reproduced. Therefore, when the format of the broadcast content is not supported, it is possible to inform the user of the fact.

In the third invention, the digital broadcast stream processing device further comprises an offset storage unit for storing an offset value from the head of the partial transport stream recorded in the first recording unit. The second recording unit stores the format information obtained by the format information obtaining unit and the offset value stored in the offset storage unit. Thus, even when the format of the broadcast content multiplexed in the partial transport stream changes over time, it is possible to inform the user that the format of the broadcast content is not supported when necessary.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast stream processing apparatus for processing a transport stream in which broadcast contents are multiplexed, comprising: a transport decoder for creating a partial transport stream from an input transport stream; A first recording unit for storing the partial transport stream created by the transport decoding unit, and activation / suppression indicating whether to activate data multiplexed on the partial transport stream in response to an external operation The information creation unit that creates information, and the startup and
With reference to the second recording unit for storing the suppression information and the activation / suppression information stored in the second recording unit, the data multiplexed into the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit A determination unit for determining whether or not to start up, and a data reproduction unit for reproducing data multiplexed on the first partial transport stream when the determination unit determines to start up. This allows the user to view the broadcast content in the same state at the time of real-time viewing and at the time of reproduction.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast stream processing method for processing a transport stream in which broadcast contents are multiplexed, wherein a partial transport stream is created from an input transport stream, and a selection information table is further provided. , A first recording step for storing the partial transport stream created by the transport decoding step, and a network for extracting at least the network identification from the selection information table separated by the transport decoding step. An identification obtaining step, a second recording step of storing the network identification obtained in the network identification obtaining step, And a copy control step for copying control in accordance with the network identification stored in the recording step. The transport decoding step further reproduces encoded broadcast content from the partial transport stream stored in the first recording step. The digital broadcast stream processing method further includes a content reproduction step of reproducing broadcast content from the coded broadcast content from the transport decoding step under control of the copy control step.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast stream processing method for processing a transport stream in which broadcast contents are multiplexed, wherein a partial transport stream is created from an input transport stream, a selection information table and a program. Refer to a transport decoding step for separating a map table, a first recording step for storing a partial transport stream created by the transport decoding step, and a selection information table and a program map table separated by the transport decoding step. Selecting one digital copy control descriptor, and the digital copy selected by the descriptor selecting step. Comprising a second recording step of storing the control descriptors, and a copy control step of copying control in accordance with the digital copy control descriptor that is stored in the second recording step. The transport decoding step further reproduces data representing the encoded broadcast content from the partial transport stream stored in the first recording step. The digital broadcast stream processing method further includes a content reproduction step of reproducing broadcast content from the coded broadcast content from the transport decoding step under control of the copy control step.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast stream processing method for processing a transport stream in which broadcast contents are multiplexed, wherein a partial transport stream is created from an input transport stream, and a selection information table is stored in at least A transport decoding step for separating, a first recording step for storing a partial transport stream created by the transport decoding step, and format information of broadcast content is extracted from a selection information table separated by the transport decoding step. A format information obtaining step, and a second storing the network identification obtained in the format information obtaining step.
And whether the format of the broadcast content multiplexed to the partial transport stream stored in the first recording step is supported by referring to the format information stored in the second recording step And a message creation step of creating message data indicating that the data is not supported by the determination step.

[0028] An eighth invention is a digital broadcast stream processing method for processing a transport stream in which broadcast contents are multiplexed, comprising a transport decoding step of creating a partial transport stream from an input transport stream; A first recording step of storing the partial transport stream created by the decoding step; and activation / suppression information indicating whether to activate data multiplexed on the partial transport stream in response to an external operation. An information creation step to be created, a second recording step for storing the activation / suppression information created in the information creation step, and an activation / storage stored in the second recording step.
With reference to the suppression information, a determining step of determining whether to activate the data multiplexed in the partial transport stream stored in the first recording step; and A data reproducing step of reproducing data multiplexed on the first partial transport stream.

In the fourth to eighth inventions, the digital broadcast stream processing method is realized as a computer program executable on a computer device. Further, the computer program is preferably recorded on a recording medium.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a stream processing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the stream processing device 1 includes a tuner 101, a demodulation unit 102,
Descrambler 103 and transport decoder 10
4, interface 105, recording device 106, audio decoder 107, video decoder 108, program memory 109, processor 1010, work area 1
011.

The tuner 101 selects a station in accordance with a control signal from the processor 1010, and receives a high-frequency signal HS in a frequency band (ie, a channel) assigned to the selected broadcasting station. The tuner 101 outputs the received high-frequency signal HS to the demodulation unit 102 as a received signal RS. Here, the high-frequency signal HS is a signal obtained by mounting a transport stream TS scrambled using a predetermined key on a carrier wave. In addition, the transport stream TS includes MPEG2 (Mot2) data representing broadcast content including at least one of video, audio, and data.
It includes at least one encoded according to ion Picture Experts Group phase 2).

The demodulation section 102 demodulates the received signal RS of the tuner 101 and outputs the demodulated signal to the descrambler 103 as a demodulated signal DS in the baseband (ie, a scrambled transport stream TS). The descrambler 103 includes a processor 1010
The demodulated signal DS from the demodulation unit 102 is descrambled using a key set under the control of. The demodulated unit 102 outputs the descrambled data to the transport decoder 104 as a transport stream TS.

The transport decoder 104 decodes the transport stream TS from the descrambler 103, and converts the partial transport stream P
Create S. Thereafter, the transport decoder 104
Is the created partial transport stream PS
Is output to the interface 105. Further, the transport decoder 104 outputs the transport stream TS
The selection information table (hereinafter referred to as SIT) included in the
Send to 10.

The interface 105 uses, for example, the IEEE (Institute of Institute) from the partial transport stream PS from the transport decoder 104 and the content information CI created by the processor 1010.
Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Assembles a plurality of packets PK in accordance with the provisions of 1394, and transmits the assembled packets to the recording device 106.

The recording device 106 has a large-capacity, randomly accessible recording medium, such as a hard disk or a DVD (Digital Varsatile Disk), and converts the packet PK from the interface 105 into a partial transport stream PS. Then, the content information is decomposed into content information CI and recorded on an internal recording medium.

A reproduction command from the processor 1010 is sent to the recording device 106 via the interface 105. In response to the received reproduction command, the recording device 106 first reads the content information CI created for the partial transport stream PS to be reproduced from the recording medium, and assembles a packet PK from the read content information CI. After that, the recording device 106
Is the partial transport stream P to be played
S is read, and a packet PK is assembled from the read S. The assembled packets PK are sequentially transmitted from the recording device 106 to the interface 105.

The interface 105 further decomposes the received packet PK into content information CI and a partial transport stream PS, and
Is stored in the work area 1011, and the partial transport stream PS is output to the transport decoder 104. The transport decoder 104 decodes the partial transport stream PS from the interface 105, and stores the resulting program map table (hereinafter referred to as PMT) in the processor 101.
Send to 0. As a result of the decoding, the transport decoder 104 reproduces the audio data CDA and the video data CDV encoded according to MPEG2, outputs the reproduced encoded audio data CDA to the audio decoder 107, and outputs the reproduced encoded video The data CDV is output to the video decoder 108.

The audio decoder 107 includes the processor 101
Under the copy control of 0, the encoded audio data CDA from the transport decoder 104 is decoded, and the audio data AD representing the audio constituting the broadcast content to be reproduced is reproduced. Thereafter, the audio decoder 107 outputs the reproduced audio data AD to an external device (for example, a speaker or a VTR) connected to the audio output terminal of the stream processing device 1.
(Video Tape Recorder)).

The video decoder 108 controls the transport decoder 1 under the copy control of the processor 1010.
Decode the encoded video data CDV from 04 and reproduce the video data VD representing the broadcast content to be reproduced.
After that, the video decoder 108 controls the stream processing device 1
The reproduced video data VD is output to an external device (for example, a monitor or a VTR) connected to the video output terminal.

The program memory 109 typically comprises a flash ROM (Read Only Memory), and stores a computer program 1091 for controlling each component of the stream processing apparatus 1. The processor 1010 stores the computer program 1091 in a work area 1 typically composed of a random access memory (RAM).
Various kinds of processing are executed using 011. The feature of the present embodiment is that the processor 1010 creates the content information CI using the SIT separated by the transport decoder 104, and further performs copy control using the created content information CI. is there.

FIG. 2 shows the stream processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. Processor 101
0 executes the computer program 1091 to perform the following processing. First, in step A1, the processor 1010 generates a control signal and transmits it to the tuner 101 in order to start recording broadcast content.
Specifically, when a button of an input device (not shown) is operated by the user, recording of the broadcast content starts. Also, when the start time of the reservation information set in the stream processing device 1 has been reached, recording of the broadcast content starts.

In response to the above control signals, the tuner 10
After setting the reception frequency band, 1 starts receiving a high-frequency signal HS in which broadcast content to be recorded is multiplexed, and outputs the received signal to the demodulation unit 102 as a reception signal RS. The demodulation unit 102 demodulates the received signal RS of the tuner 101 and generates the demodulated signal DS as the descrambler 1.
03 is output. The descrambler 103 descrambles the output signal DS of the demodulation unit 102 using the key set by the processor 1010, and outputs it to the transport decoder 104 as a transport stream TS.

The transport decoder 104 creates the above-described partial transport stream PS from the input transport stream TS, and transmits the partial transport stream PS to the recording device 106 via the interface 105. Recording device 1
06 is decomposed into the received partial transport stream PS and stored in an internal recording medium as shown in FIG. Transport decoder 104 further comprises at least SIT from input transport stream TS.
Are separated and stored in the work area 1011.

In the next step A2, the processor 1010
Extracts at least the network identification from the SIT stored in the work area 1011 and creates the content information CI for the currently recorded partial transport stream PS on the work area 1011 as shown in FIG. Here, in the created content information CI, at least the network identification extracted in step A2 is described. In the example of FIG. 4, the content information CI includes, besides the network identification extracted in step A2, the recording position, file name, recording date, recording time, and broadcast content of the target partial transport stream PS. Includes title and channel.

In the next step A3, the processor 1010
Transmits the content information CI created in step A2 from the work area 1011 to the recording device 106 via the interface 105. The recording device 106 records the received content information CI on an internal recording medium as shown in FIG. As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording device 106 includes several partial transport streams PS in which predetermined broadcast contents are multiplexed,
The content information CI created for each is stored.

After execution of step A3, in step A4,
The processor 1010 starts reproduction of the broadcast content. Typically, the reproduction of the broadcast content starts when the user operates the button of the above-described input device with the broadcast content to be reproduced specified. The processor 1010 generates a playback command specifying broadcast content to be played, and sends the command to the recording device 106 via the interface 105. The recording device 106 reads the content information CI for the broadcast content to be reproduced in response to the reproduction command, and transmits the content information CI to the processor 1010 via the interface 105.

After execution of step A4, in step A5, the processor 1010 receives the content information CI read by the recording device 106, extracts a network identification from the received information, and holds it.

After reading out the content information CI, the recording device 106 reads out the partial transport stream PS constituting the broadcast content to be reproduced,
Send to 4. The transport decoder 104 reproduces a program map table (hereinafter, referred to as PMT), encoded audio data CDA, and encoded video data CDV from the input partial transport stream PS. After that, the transport decoder 104 transmits the reproduced PMT to the processor 1010, outputs the reproduced encoded audio data CDA to the audio decoder 107, and outputs the reproduced encoded video data CDV to the video decoder 108.

After execution of step A5, in step A6,
Processor 1010 includes transport decoder 104
From the PMT. The processor 1010 selects an appropriate digital copy control descriptor from the plurality of digital copy control descriptors (first loop and second loop) described in the received PMT based on the network identification extracted in step A4. At next step A7, the processor 1010 performs copy control using the digital copy control descriptor selected at step A6.

The audio decoder 107 is a processor
In accordance with the copy control by 0, the audio data AD representing the broadcast content is reproduced from the encoded audio data CDA from the transport decoder 104 and transmitted to an external device. The video decoder 108 controls the transport decoder 104 according to the copy control by the processor 1010.
The video data VD representing the broadcast content is reproduced from the coded video data CDV from the PC and output to an external device.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, after the recording of the broadcast content is started, the content information CI for the broadcast content being recorded is created and stored in the recording device 106. Thereafter, when the broadcast content to be reproduced is designated, the processor 1010 first reads out the content information CI for the designated content, acquires the network identification, and starts reproducing the broadcast content. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the network identification can be obtained before the reproduction of the broadcast content.
Copy control can be performed correctly.

In the first embodiment described above, the partial transport stream PS and the content information CI are described as being recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a DVD, but the present invention is not limited to this. May be provided with a magnetic, optical or electric / electronic recording medium. This point is similarly applied to the later-described modified example, and the second and third embodiments.

In the first embodiment, the network identification is described in the content information CI. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the network identification is described in the PMT of the partial transport stream PS. May be stored. This also makes it possible to acquire the network identification earlier than when acquiring from the SIT, so that copy control can be performed more correctly than in the past.

In the first embodiment, the processor 101 uses the network identification of the content information CI.
0 can also control the reproduction and display of data (for example, subtitle broadcasting or superimposed text) multiplexed on the partial transport stream PS. These application services may have different specifications depending on the broadcast network. Therefore, the recording device 106
By reading the network identification from before the data reproduction, it is possible to accurately reproduce these application services immediately after the reproduction of the broadcast content.

In the first embodiment, the processor 101 uses the network identification of the content information CI.
0 can also specify the ES (elementary stream) of the data for reproducing and displaying subtitles and closed captions. Since these may have different specifications depending on the broadcast network, by reading the network identification from the recording device 106 before reproducing the data,
Subtitles and closed captions can be accurately reproduced and displayed immediately after the broadcast content is reproduced.

In the first embodiment, the processor 101 uses the network identification of the content information CI.
0 can also present information of the broadcast content. Specifically, the broadcast network at the time of receiving the partial transport stream PS is displayed on the channel banner. In addition, it is possible to display a title constituting the content information CI on the channel banner. In this way, by reading the content information CI before the broadcast content, it becomes possible to present the information of the broadcast content immediately after the start of the reproduction.

In the above embodiment, the network identification can be described in the content information CI in service units included in the partial transport stream or in ES units constituting each service. Therefore, copy control can be performed for each service included in the partial transport stream, or for each ES constituting each service. As a result, more precise copy control can be performed.

(Modified Example of First Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a stream processing apparatus 1a according to a modified example of the stream processing apparatus 1 described above. 5 is different from the stream processing device 1 in that the transport processing device 1a of FIG.
4 and a program memory 209. Since there is no other difference between them, in FIG. 5, components corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The transport decoder 204 is similar to the transport decoder 104 in that a partial transport stream PS is created from the transport stream TS from the descrambler 103 and output to the interface 105. Transport decoder 2
04 further separates the PMT and SIT included in the transport stream TS and transmits the separated PMT and SIT to the processor 1010.

The program memory 209 is typically composed of a flash ROM, and is a computer program 209 for controlling the components of the stream processing apparatus 1a.
1 is stored. This computer program 209
By executing step 1, the processor 1010 creates the content information CI using the SIT and the PMT separated by the transport decoder 104, and performs copy control using the created content information CI.

FIG. 6 shows the stream processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of FIG. Processor 10
10 executes the computer program 2091 to perform the following processing. First, in step B1, the processor 1010 performs the same operation as in step A1 described above.
Start recording broadcast content. As a result, the transport decoder 204 creates a partial transport stream PS stored in the recording device 106 from the input transport stream TS. The transport decoder 204 further separates the PMT and the SIT from the input transport stream TS and stores them in the work area 1011.

In the next step B2, the processor 1010
Extracts the network identification from the SIT stored in the work area 1011 and extracts a plurality of digital copy control descriptors from the PMT. Then, the processor 10
10 selects one digital copy control descriptor based on the retrieved network identification. At this time, if only one digital copy control descriptor is described in the PMT, the processor 1010 selects it regardless of the network identification.

In the next step B3, the processor 1010
Determines whether the digital copy control descriptor selected in step B2 has changed from the previous one. If the digital copy control descriptor has changed, the processor 1
010 stores the offset value (time or number of bytes) from the beginning of the currently recorded partial transport stream PS in step B4.

At the next step B5, the processor 1010
Creates the content information CI for the currently recorded partial transport stream PS on the work area 1011 as shown in FIG. Here, in the created content information CI, at least the digital copy control descriptor selected in step B2 and the offset value stored in step B4 are described. In the example of FIG. 7, the content information CI includes, in addition to the above information, a recording position, a file name, a recording date, a recording time, a broadcast content title, and a channel of the target partial transport stream PS.

If the digital copy control descriptor has not changed in step B3, or after step B5, the processor 1010 performs step B6. Step B6
Then, the processor 1010 determines whether the recording of the broadcast content is completed. If the recording is not over,
The processor 1010 performs Step B2. Conversely, if the recording of the broadcast content has been completed, the processor 1
Step 010 performs step B7.

At step B7, the processor 1010
The content information CI created in step B5 is transmitted from the work area 1011 to the recording device 106 via the interface 105. As a result, the recording device 106
The content information CI is stored.

In the next step B8, the processor 1010
Starts the reproduction of the broadcast content in the same manner as in step A4. As a result, the content information CI for the broadcast content to be reproduced, which is read by the recording device 106, is transmitted to the processor 1010. In the present embodiment, steps B7 and B8 are described as a series of processing, but the present invention is not limited to this.
8 and thereafter may be independent of steps B1 to B7.

In the next step B9, the processor 1010
Specifies the offset value closest to the portion to be reproduced in the partial transport stream PS from the received content information CI, and acquires the same set of digital copy control descriptors as the specified offset value. At next step B10, the processor 1010
Copy control is performed using the obtained digital copy control descriptor.

After reading the content information CI, the recording device 106 transmits the partial transport stream PS to be reproduced to the transport decoder 204 via the interface 105. The transport decoder 204 reproduces the encoded audio data CDA and the encoded video data CDV from the input partial transport stream PS, and then outputs the encoded audio data CDA to the audio decoder 107 to reproduce the encoded video data CDV. Is output to the video decoder 108.

The audio decoder 107 is a processor
0 under the copy control by the transport decoder 10
4 reproduces the audio data AD representing the broadcast content from the encoded audio data CDA, and transmits it to the external device. The video decoder 108 reproduces video data VD representing broadcast content from the coded video data CDV from the transport decoder 104 under copy control by the processor 1010, and outputs the video data VD to an external device.

As described above, according to this modification,
After the recording of the broadcast content is started, the recording apparatus 1 creates the content information CI for the broadcast content being recorded.
06. Then, before playing the broadcast content,
From the content information CI for the specified item, the processor 1010 obtains a digital copy control descriptor,
Perform copy control. As a result, the processor 1010 can quickly acquire the digital copy control descriptor, so that the copy control can be performed correctly.

Further, according to this modification, the digital copy control descriptor is described in the content information CI in a pair with the offset value, so that dynamic copy control can be performed. In other words, even when the digital copy control descriptor changes in the middle of one partial transport stream PS or one ES (for example, when a copyable commercial film is inserted into copy-protected broadcast content). Thus, copy control can be performed accurately.

In the above-mentioned modified example, regarding the digital copy control descriptor, a partial transport stream unit, a service unit included in the partial transport stream, or an E which configures each service is used.
It can be described in the content information CI in S units or in units of two or more of them. Therefore, copy control can be performed for each partial transport stream, for each service included in the partial transport stream, for each ES constituting each service, or for each combination thereof. As a result, more precise copy control can be performed. In particular, when the ES to be reproduced is known in advance, accurate copy control can be performed even before the PMT is read.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a stream processing device 2 according to the embodiment. The stream processing device 2 in FIG.
Compared with the stream processing device 1, instead of the transport decoder 104 and the program memory 109,
Transport decoder 304 and program memory 3
09 is provided. Other than that, there is no difference between the two, and therefore, in FIG. 8, the components corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description is omitted.

The transport decoder 304 is similar to the transport decoder 104 in that a partial transport stream PS is created from the transport stream TS from the descrambler 103 and output to the interface 105. Transport decoder 3
04 further separates the SIT included in the transport stream TS and transmits it to the processor 1010.

The program memory 309 is typically composed of a flash ROM, and is a computer program 3091 for controlling each component of the stream processing apparatus 2.
Is stored. This computer program 3091
, The processor 1010 creates the content information CI using the SIT separated by the transport decoder 304, and further controls the reproduction of video or audio using the created content information CI.

FIG. 9 shows the stream processing apparatus 2 shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. Processor 101
0 executes the computer program 3091 to perform the following processing. First, in step C1, the processor 1010 starts recording broadcast content in the same manner as in step A1 described above. As a result, the transport decoder 304 creates a partial transport stream PS stored in the recording device 106 from the input transport stream TS, and
Output to 05. The transport decoder 304 further separates the SIT from the input transport stream TS and stores the SIT in the work area 1011 for the above-described reproduction control.

At the next step C2, the processor 1010
Extracts the video and audio format information from the SIT stored in the work area 1011 and creates the content information CI for the currently recorded partial transport stream PS on the work area 1011 as shown in FIG. I do. Here, at least the extracted video and audio format information is described in the created content information CI (see FIG. 10).

At the next step C3, the processor 1010
Transmits the content information CI created in step C2 from the work area 1011 to the recording device 106 via the interface 105. The recording device 106 records the received content information CI on an internal recording medium. As described above, also in the present embodiment, the recording device 106 stores several partial transport streams PS in which predetermined broadcast contents are multiplexed, and content information CI created for each of them.

At the next step C4, the processor 1010
Recognizes the broadcast content to be reproduced in the same manner as in step A4, and first reads the content information CI for the broadcast content from the interface 105.
To the recording device 106 via. by this,
The recording device 106 reads out the instructed content information CI and transmits it to the processor 1010 via the interface 105.

At the next step C5, the processor 1
010, receives the content information CI read by the recording device 106, extracts video and audio format information from the received content information CI, and converts the video format and the audio format specified by each format information into the video decoder 108. And whether or not the audio decoder 107 supports it. Processor 1010 if it supports both video and audio formats
Goes to step C6.

At step C6, the processor 1010
The reading of the broadcast content to be reproduced is instructed to the recording device 106 via the interface 105. The recording device 106 reads the partial transport stream PS of the broadcast content to be reproduced, and transmits the partial transport stream PS to the transport decoder 104 via the interface 105. The transport decoder 304 reproduces encoded audio data CDA and encoded video data CDV from the input partial transport stream PS. After that, the transport decoder 304 outputs the reproduced encoded audio data CDA to the audio decoder 107, and outputs the reproduced encoded video data CDV to the video decoder 108.

The audio decoder 107 reproduces audio data AD representing broadcast contents from the encoded audio data CDA from the transport decoder 104 and transmits the reproduced audio data AD to an external device. The video decoder 108 reproduces video data VD representing broadcast content from the encoded video data CDV from the transport decoder 104, and outputs the video data VD to an external device.

If it is determined in step C5 that either the video or audio format is not supported, the processor 1010 creates message data MD indicating this in audio and / or image in step C7. Output to an external device via an audio output terminal or a video output terminal. This makes it possible to notify the user as a message that video or audio having an unsupported format is not multiplexed on the partial transport stream PS stored in the recording device 106.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the content information CI for the broadcast content being recorded is
Describes format information of video and audio. Thereafter, before playing the broadcast content, using the format information of the content information CI created for the broadcast content, the processor 1010 allows the video decoder 108 and the audio decoder 107 to support the video and audio formats to be played. It is determined whether or not. If not supported,
The stream processing device 2 outputs message data MD instead of video data VD and audio data AD. This makes it possible to provide a stream processing device that can provide only correct video or audio to a user.

Further, by reading out the content information CI in which the format information is described before the broadcast content, the processor 1010 can acquire the format information earlier than in the case of acquiring the format information from the SIT. .

In the above embodiment, only the format information is described in the content information CI. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the format information and the offset value (see the above-described modified example) may be described. You may do it. Thus, even when the format of the video and audio changes over time, the stream processing device 2 can perform appropriate playback control.

In the above embodiment, the broadcast content is described as comprising video and audio. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the broadcast content may include only audio.
In this case, only the audio format information is described in the content information CI.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a stream processing device 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The stream processing device 3 in FIG.
Compared with the stream processing device 1, the difference is that a transport decoder 404 and a program memory 409 are provided instead of the transport decoder 104 and the program memory 109, and that an input device 4012 is further provided. Since there is no other difference between them, in FIG. 11, components corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The transport decoder 404 creates a partial transport stream PS from the transport stream TS from the descrambler 103 and outputs the partial transport stream PS to the interface 105.

The program memory 409 is typically composed of a flash ROM, and is a computer program 4091 for controlling each component of the stream processing apparatus 2.
Is stored. This computer program 4091
The processor 1010 executes the input device 4
Content information C using the activation / suppression information from 012
I, and further, using the created content information CI, controls reproduction of data multiplexed on the partial transport stream PS.

The input device 4012 is operated by the user to designate either activation or suppression of multiplex data.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the stream processing device 3 shown in FIG. Processor 1
010 performs the following processing by executing the computer program 4091. First, in step D1, the processor 1010 starts recording the currently viewed broadcast content in the same manner as in step A1 described above. As a result, the transport decoder 404 creates a partial transport stream PS stored in the recording device 106 from the input transport stream TS, and outputs the partial transport stream PS to the interface 105.

In the next step D2, the processor 1010
Determines whether the input device 4012 has designated the start of the multiplex data this time. If activation is specified, in step D3, the processor 1010 creates activation / inhibition information indicating activation of multiplexed data. Conversely, if suppression is specified, in step D4, activation / inhibition information indicating suppression of multiplex data is created.

After step D3 or D4, step D5
Then, the processor 1010 creates the content information CI including the activation / suppression information created this time on the work area 1011 for the currently recorded broadcast content (see FIG. 13).

In the next step D6, the processor 1010
Transmits the content information CI created in step D5 from the work area 1011 to the recording device 106 via the interface 105. The recording device 106 records the received content information CI. As described above, also in the present embodiment, the recording device 106 stores several partial transport streams PS in which predetermined broadcast contents are multiplexed, and content information CI created for each of them.

In the next step D7, the processor 1010
Recognizes the broadcast content to be reproduced in the same manner as in step A4, and first reads the content information CI for the broadcast content from the interface 105.
To the recording device 106 via. by this,
The recording device 106 reads out the instructed content information CI and transmits it to the processor 1010 via the interface 105. In the present embodiment, steps D6 and D7 are described as a series of processing, but the present invention is not limited to this, and steps D7 and on may be independent of steps D1 to D6.

In the next step D8, the processor 1
In step 010, after the activation / suppression information is extracted from the content information CI read by the recording device 106, it is determined whether or not the extracted information indicates activation. If it indicates activation, in step D9, the processor 101
0 receives the multiplexed data from the transport decoder 404 and reproduces it. Since the process of step D9 is well known, detailed description will be omitted. Conversely, if suppression is indicated, processor 1010 does not play the multiplexed data.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the content information CI for the broadcast content being recorded is
Describes startup / suppression information. After that, before the broadcast content is reproduced, the content information CI created for it is reproduced.
Processor 1010 determines whether or not to reproduce the multiplexed data of the partial transport stream PS using the activation / suppression information. This allows the user to view the broadcast content in the same state as in real-time viewing, even during partial transport stream playback, by operating the input device 4012 once.

In the above embodiment, only the activation / suppression information is described in the content information CI. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The activation / suppression information and the offset value (see the above-described modified example) May be described.
This allows the stream processing device 3 to perform appropriate playback control even when the activation and suppression states change over time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a stream processing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the stream processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a partial transport stream PS and content information CI recorded on a recording device 106 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed data structure of content information CI shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a stream processing device 1a according to a modification of the stream processing device 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the stream processing apparatus 1a shown in FIG.

7 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed data structure of content information CI recorded on the recording device 106 shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a stream processing device 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the stream processing device 2 shown in FIG.

10 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed data structure of content information CI recorded on the recording device 106 shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a stream processing device 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the stream processing device 3 shown in FIG.

13 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed data structure of content information CI recorded on the recording device 106 shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of a general partial transport stream.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating network identification described in a selection information table.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a digital copy control descriptor described in a program map table.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a, 2, 3 ... digital broadcast stream processing devices 104, 204, 304, 404 ... transport decoder 106 ... recording device 107 ... audio decoder 108 ... video decoders 109, 209, 309, 409 ... flash ROM (R
ead Only Memory) 1091, 2091, 3091, 4091 ... computer program 1010 ... processor

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A digital broadcast stream processing apparatus for processing a transport stream in which broadcast content is multiplexed, comprising: creating a partial transport stream from an input transport stream; and separating at least a selection information table. A decoding unit; a first recording unit that stores the partial transport stream created by the transport decoding unit; and a network identification acquisition unit that extracts at least a network identification from the selection information table separated by the transport decoding unit. A second recording unit that stores the network identification acquired by the network identification acquisition unit, and a second storage unit that stores the network identification stored in the second recording unit. A copy control unit for performing copy control by using the digital broadcast receiver. The transport decode unit further reproduces encoded broadcast content from the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit, The digital broadcast stream processing device further includes a content playback unit that plays back broadcast content from the coded broadcast content from the transport decoding unit under the control of the copy control unit. 2. A service unit included in a partial transport stream, and / or a second recording unit,
2. The digital broadcast stream processing device according to claim 1, wherein a network identification is stored for each elementary stream constituting each service. 3. The apparatus further controls reproduction and display of data multiplexed on a partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit based on a network identification recorded in the second recording unit. The digital broadcast stream processing device according to claim 1. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising specifying data multiplexed on a partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit, based on a network identification recorded in the second recording unit. The digital broadcast stream processing device according to the above. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing information on a broadcast content multiplexed on the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit, based on the network identification recorded in the second recording unit. 2. The digital broadcast stream processing device according to 1. 6. A digital broadcast stream processing apparatus for processing a transport stream in which broadcast contents are multiplexed, wherein the digital broadcast stream processing apparatus creates a partial transport stream from an input transport stream, and further separates a selection information table and a program map table. A transport decoding unit, a first recording unit for storing a partial transport stream created by the transport decoding unit, and a selection information table and a program map table separated by the transport decoding unit. A descriptor selecting unit that selects one digital copy control descriptor, a second recording unit that stores the digital copy control descriptor selected by the descriptor selecting unit, A copy control unit that performs copy control in accordance with a digital copy control descriptor stored in the second recording unit, wherein the transport decoding unit further performs a copy control process from the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit. Reproducing the data representing the encoded broadcast content, and the digital broadcast stream processing device further reproduces the broadcast content from the encoded broadcast content from the transport decode unit under the control of the copy control unit. A digital broadcast stream processing device including a content reproduction unit. 7. The second recording unit may store a partial transport stream unit, a service unit included in each partial transport stream, or an elementary stream unit configuring each service, or two of these units. The digital broadcast stream processing device according to claim 6, wherein a digital copy control descriptor is stored for each of the above. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an offset storage unit configured to store an offset value from a head of a partial transport stream recorded in said first recording unit, wherein said second recording unit is selected by said descriptor selection unit. The digital broadcast stream processing device according to claim 6, wherein the digital broadcast control descriptor and the offset value stored in the offset storage unit are stored. 9. A digital broadcast stream processing apparatus for processing a transport stream in which broadcast contents are multiplexed, wherein the transport stream creates a partial transport stream from an input transport stream and further separates at least a selection information table. A decoding unit; a first recording unit for storing the partial transport stream created by the transport decoding unit; and format information for extracting format information of broadcast content from a selection information table separated by the transport decoding unit. An acquiring unit, a second recording unit that stores the network identification acquired by the format information acquiring unit, and a format that is stored in the second recording unit. A determination unit that determines whether the format of the broadcast content multiplexed in the partial transport stream stored in the first recording unit is supported by referring to the information, and that the determination unit determines that the format is not supported. A digital broadcast stream processing device, comprising: a message creation unit that creates message data indicating that when it is determined. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an offset storage unit configured to store an offset value from a head of a partial transport stream recorded in the first recording unit, wherein the second recording unit acquires the offset value from the format information acquiring unit. The digital broadcast stream processing device according to claim 9, wherein the format information stored and the offset value stored in the offset storage unit are stored. 11. A digital broadcast stream processing device for processing a transport stream in which broadcast content is multiplexed, comprising: a transport decoding unit for creating a partial transport stream from an input transport stream; A first recording unit for storing the created partial transport stream, and information for creating activation / suppression information indicating whether to activate data multiplexed in the partial transport stream in response to an external operation A creation unit; a second recording unit that stores the activation / suppression information created by the information creation unit; and a first recording unit that refers to the activation / suppression information stored in the second recording unit. The data multiplexed into the partial transport stream stored in the A digital broadcast stream, comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not to operate; and a data reproduction unit that reproduces data multiplexed on the first partial transport stream when the determination unit determines that it is activated. Processing equipment. 12. A digital broadcast stream processing method for processing a transport stream in which broadcast content is multiplexed, comprising: creating a partial transport stream from an input transport stream; and further separating at least a selection information table. A decoding step; a first recording step of storing the partial transport stream created by the transport decoding step; and a network identification obtaining step of extracting at least a network identification from the selection information table separated by the transport decoding step. A second recording step of storing the network identification obtained in the network identification obtaining step; And a copy control step of performing copy control in accordance with the network identification stored in the recording step of 2. The transport decoding step further includes the step of: encoding the partial transport stream stored in the first recording step A digital broadcast stream processing method comprising: reproducing a broadcast content in a state; and reproducing a broadcast content from the encoded broadcast content from the transport decoding step under control of the copy control step. 13. The digital broadcast stream processing method according to claim 12, implemented as a computer program executable on a computer device. 14. The digital broadcast stream processing method according to claim 13, wherein the computer program is recorded on a recording medium. 15. A digital broadcast stream processing method for processing a transport stream in which broadcast contents are multiplexed, wherein a partial transport stream is created from an input transport stream, and a selection information table and a program map table are separated. A transport decoding step, a first recording step of storing the partial transport stream created by the transport decoding step, and a selection information table and a program map table separated by the transport decoding step. A descriptor selecting step of selecting one digital copy control descriptor; and a digital copy selected by the descriptor selecting step. A second recording step of storing a control descriptor, and a copy control step of performing copy control in accordance with the digital copy control descriptor stored in the second recording step. The transport decoding step further comprises: Reproducing data representing encoded broadcast content from the partial transport stream stored in the first recording step, under the control of the copy control step, from the encoded broadcast content from the transport decoding step, A digital broadcast stream processing method comprising a content reproducing step of reproducing broadcast content. 16. The digital broadcast stream processing method according to claim 15, which is realized as a computer program executable on a computer device. 17. The digital broadcast stream processing method according to claim 16, wherein the computer program is recorded on a recording medium. 18. A digital broadcast stream processing method for processing a transport stream in which broadcast content is multiplexed, comprising: creating a partial transport stream from an input transport stream; and separating at least a selection information table. A decoding step; a first recording step of storing the partial transport stream created by the transport decoding step; and format information for extracting format information of broadcast content from a selection information table separated by the transport decoding step. An acquiring step, and a second recording step of storing the network identification acquired in the format information acquiring step Referring to the format information stored in the second recording step to determine whether the format of the broadcast content multiplexed in the partial transport stream stored in the first recording step is supported A digital broadcast stream processing method, comprising: a determination step of determining whether the data is not supported by the determination step; and a message creation step of creating message data indicating that fact. 19. The digital broadcast stream processing method according to claim 18, implemented as a computer program executable on a computer device. 20. The digital broadcast stream processing method according to claim 19, wherein the computer program is recorded on a recording medium. 21. A digital broadcast stream processing method for processing a transport stream in which broadcast content is multiplexed, comprising: a transport decoding step of creating a partial transport stream from an input transport stream; A first recording step of storing the created partial transport stream, and information for creating activation / suppression information indicating whether to activate data multiplexed on the partial transport stream in response to an external operation Creating step, a second recording step for storing the activation / suppression information created in the information creation step, and the first recording with reference to the activation / suppression information stored in the second recording step The parsers stored in the step A determination step of determining whether to activate the data to be multiplexed in the transport stream, when it is determined that the start by the determining step,
A data reproduction step of reproducing data multiplexed on the first partial transport stream. 22. The digital broadcast stream processing method according to claim 21, implemented as a computer program executable on a computer device. 23. The digital broadcast stream processing method according to claim 22, wherein the computer program is recorded on a recording medium.