KR100288248B1 - V-chip signal blocking automatic search device for 2 tuner televisions - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention, in a two-tuner television having a V-CHIP (violent chip) function, that is, a parental control function, automatically searches for a V-chip signal using a sub-tuner when watching a channel using the main tuner. The present invention provides a V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus for two-tuner televisions that can detect and block immediately when a channel is changed, and display it immediately after inquiring, so that a detection delay time is not required.

The V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus includes a sub-tuner 70 controlled to receive a composite image signal sequentially over all channels when the sub-screen is not displayed; a composite image input from the sub-tuner 70 A V-chip 30 controlled to detect a V-chip signal from the signal; After changing the channel, the V-chip signal detected by the V-chip 30 is received from each channel, and the grade data is stored in the memory means 50 together with the channel. After the grade storage for each channel is completed, And a microcomputer 40 for controlling the sub-tuner 70 and the V-chip 30 to change the stored grade when there is a grade change.

Description

V-chip signal blocking automatic search device for 2 tuner televisions

The present invention relates to a V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus of a two-tuner television, and more particularly to a two-tuner television having a V-CHIP (violent chip) function. V-chip signal blocking of two-tuner television that does not require detection delay time can be displayed by controlling the sub-tuner to automatically detect the V-chip signal and save it according to the channel. It relates to a search apparatus.

Recently, in the case of a TV which includes a V-chip function, that is, a viewer restriction function for each viewer, the program classification information such as the rating of the program and the stored viewer password are transmitted according to the encoding of the broadcast signal when the television is broadcast. The viewing is prevented by restricting a channel, a program type or a grade, or a time zone of a television specified according to a password inputted by viewing restriction information. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a part related to the parental control function among the internal components of a general TV receiver having such parental control function as a schematic block diagram.

In FIG. 1, the composite video signal includes a signal representing program classification information such as program ranking during the vertical synchronization period of the video signal, and the composite video signal is inputted by a radio wave or when connected by cable or from a VR. When the program classification information signal is detected at the time, the program to be viewed can be viewed depending on the viewer, and the viewer cannot be viewed.

As shown in FIG. 1, program classification information data according to a program type, a degree of violence or obscene, etc. is encoded and transmitted in a broadcast signal, or is recorded on a video tape and reproduced in a VCR. The program classification information data is detected at the data decoder V-decoder 30, and the decoded program classification information data is inputted by the microcomputer 40 at power input, channel change, program change or periodically. Stored in the memory means 50. In addition, the viewer-specific password input through the menu and the viewing restrictions such as the rating are stored in the memory means 50.

Subsequently, upon input of the television power source, channel change, or input of new program classification information data, the microcomputer 40 is required to input the password of the corresponding viewer and corresponds to the viewer password that matches the input password. When the viewing restriction content is compared with the program classification information, the transmission of the video signal of the program is blocked by the microcomputer 40 so that it cannot be viewed when it is within the viewing restriction range. The video signal processor 10 and the sound are adjusted and processed so that they can be viewed normally. As a result, the display of the image is blocked in the CALTI 20 or normally displayed.

In addition, the remote control device is a device for the viewer to control the output volume, channel switching, or remotely control the overall device, and transmits an infrared signal and receives it at the receiving unit of the television to convert into an electrical code signal, to the microcomputer 40 By outputting, the whole device is controlled by the microcomputer 40 according to the electric code signal. Such a remote control device serves as a keypad for setting a password and a parental control range.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for setting, canceling, and entering a password for a parental control function as an example, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for a parental control mode for performing the parental control function as an example.

When the menu is selected in Fig. 2, the main menu is displayed on the screen in step S11, and when the submenu of the parental level control function is selected in step S12, the input of the universal password is requested (step S13). In step S13, if the universal password matches the stored universal password, the process goes to step S14. If there is a mismatch, the user returns to the main menu by selecting a submenu of the parental control function by a person who does not have permission to set, change, or cancel the parental control function. do. In step S14, the user can select whether to turn on or off the visibility control function, and when the user selects the release mode, the OFF is stored in the variable "viewing control mode" to turn off the viewing control mode in step S15. Save on in the variable "Viewability Mode" to turn the mode on. Subsequently, at step S17, whether to input or change is asked, and if yes, at step S18, the password, parental control content or range is entered or changed, and the submenu of parental control function is completed.

Meanwhile, the parental control mode of FIG. 3 may be configured to be executed when the power is turned on, when the channel is changed and when the program is changed, or periodically.

When the parental control mode is executed, it is determined whether the variable "Parental Control Mode" is on, and if it is off, the video signal processing unit 10 or the like is controlled and completed in step S26 for normal operation of the television. If ON, a password is requested in step S22, and a grade corresponding to the input password is queried in step S23, and the grade viewed in step S24 is compared with the grade detected in the V-decoder 30 to view the program. Determine if it is possible. In this case, limit variables may be set in various ways such as time zones, channels, program types, and the like. If it is determined in the step S24 that the viewable range, a control signal for normal operation is generated in step S26. If it is determined that the viewing range is limited, the viewing restriction phrase is displayed and completed in step S25.

In step S25, the viewable time zone or the channel may be displayed when the viewable time zone or the channel is within the viewing limitation range together with or without the display of the correction restriction phrase.

In addition, although the illustration is omitted, when the channel is changed and when the viewing program is changed or when the rating is changed during viewing, the input password is stored so as not to require the input of the password in step S22, and the change of the channel instead of the completion step is performed. It may be configured to continuously monitor the program change (change of the grade), and when there is such a change, query the current password and accordingly the grade, and then return to the step S24. It may also be configured to separate the parental control mode that is executed when the power of the television is turned on and the parental control mode that is executed when the rating is changed.

In the conventional parental control method configured and performed as described above, it takes about 3 seconds for the microcomputer 40 to check the signal of the current V-chip of the changed channel when the channel is changed, and also displays it on the screen. There is a problem that the delay of about 3 seconds.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a V-CHIP (violet chip) function, i.e., a two-tuner television having a parental control function, in which a V-chip signal is automatically generated by using a sub-tuner when watching a channel using the main tuner. Provides V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval device for two-tuner televisions that can detect and block immediately when changing channel, and display immediately after inquiring, and display it immediately after inquiring. Its purpose is to.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of a part related to a parental control function in a circuit of a television receiver;

2 is a flowchart for setting, clearing, and entering a password for a parental control function.

3 is a flowchart of a parental control mode for a parental control function.

4 is a partial block diagram showing the configuration of a V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus for a two-tuner television according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart of a sub-tuner search mode for automatically retrieving and storing V-chip signal data by the V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing>

10: video signal processor 20: ciali (CRT)

30: V-decoder (V-chip) 40: Microcomputer

50: memory means 60: main tuner

70: tuner 80: main IC

90: PIP module 100: water level IC

110: video amplifier

In order to achieve the above object, a V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus for a two-tuner television according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a password of a television broadcast program based on a V-chip signal and a password of the viewer based on the rating and storage and input of a viewer password. In the viewer-specific parental control system for two-tuner televisions, which prevents viewing by limiting the rating or less of a specific program according to the following: Control to receive composite video signals sequentially over all channels when the sub-screen is not displayed Being a tuner; A V-chip controlled to detect a V-chip signal from the composite video signal input from the sub-tuner; When the channel is changed, the V-chip signal detected from the V-Chip is inputted from each channel, and the grade data is stored in the memory means together with the channel. When the grade is changed for each channel, the grade is changed. And a microcomputer for controlling the sub-tuner and the V-chip to change the stored class.

In this case, while the screen is formed from the over-the-air broadcast signal received by the main tuner or the composite video signal input from V-CAL, the sub-tuner and the V-chip are operated by the microcomputer while the parental control function is not performed. By controlling the channel grade data to be detected and stored, it is possible to automatically detect the V-chip signal using a sub-tuner over all channels with one V-chip.

When the V-chip receives the composite video signal from the main IC and detects the V-chip signal, the V-chip is combined with the V-chip so as to detect the V-chip signal from the composite video signal inputted from the subtuner by the microcomputer. The main IC is controlled. It is more effective to include a function for inquiring the grade for each channel so that the grade data for each channel stored in the memory means is displayed on the CT through the main IC.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus of a two-tuner television according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is shown by the V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus of the present invention. A flowchart of the subtuner search mode for retrieving and storing the V-chip signal data is shown.

In the television broadcast receiving apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as TV) having a general PIP function as shown in FIG. 4, other broadcasts may be output on a sub-screen while outputting a constant broadcast on a main screen, for example, an entire channel being broadcast, for example, When confirming broadcast programs such as 02 channels, 07 channels, 09 channels, 11 channels, and the like, the entire channel may be output as a sub-screen at a predetermined position of the CRT.

In FIG. 4, the composite broadcast signal received by the antenna ANT is controlled and tuned by the microcomputer 40 from the main tuner 60 and the subtuner 70, respectively, and the channels are tuned, respectively. After receiving and amplifying the intermediate frequency (IF) signal from the IC 80, the video signal for the main screen and the sub-screen and the audio signal are divided and output, respectively, and the video signal for the main screen and the sub-screen are PIP modules. The synthesized housewife synthesized video signal is synthesized through digital signal conversion and signal compression so as to form one of two screens separated from each other at 90 and a signal compression process. The video signal is input to the switching IC 100 to display the housewife screen or the normal screen through the video amplifier 110 on the CALT 20 under the control of the microcomputer 40 according to the viewer's selection.

In a television having the PIP module 90 configured as described above, according to the present invention, the microcomputer 40 allows the subtuner 70 to sequentially receive a composite video signal over all channels when the sub-screen is not displayed. Is controlled by In addition, when the V-chip 30 is configured as one, the V-chip signal is detected not only from the composite video signal input from the main tuner 60 or V-CAL, but also from the composite video signal input from the sub-tuner 70. The V-chip 30 and the main IC 80 are controlled by the microcomputer 40 so that the V-chip 30 and the main IC 80 are controlled.

An example of a specific configuration of the sub-tuner search mode performed by the microcomputer 40 for the above-described control is shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the sub-tuner 70 detects a V-chip signal in step S2 by searching for a channel in step S1 while the sub-screen is not displayed, and in step S3 when the V-chip signal is not detected. The rating for the channel is deleted from the rating data for each channel of the memory means 50.

When the V-chip signal is detected in step S2, the grade of the grade data for each channel of the memory means 50 is queried to determine whether there is a change (step S5), and when there is no change, the process skips to step S7 to retrieve all channels. Check if this is completed.

When there is a grade change in step S5, the grade is stored in grade data for each channel in step S6, and it is checked in step S7 whether all channels have been searched. In step S, when the search for all the channels is completed, the process is terminated. If not, the process returns to step S1, the next channel is searched, the above process is repeated, and the grade data for each channel is detected and stored.

Once the channel is changed in this way, the V-chip signal detected by the V-chip 30 is received from each channel, and the grade data is stored in the memory means 50 together with the channel. Subsequently, the sub-tuner search mode is configured to be performed by the V-chip 30 or the microcomputer 40 to change the stored grade when there is a grade change.

The V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus is configured to perform the search using the sub tuner 70 when the sub-screen is not being viewed.

On the other hand, although two V-chips 30 may be used for the above-described search, the execution of the parental control mode of FIG. 3 is temporarily stopped while there is no change in the grade even during the parental control function on a normal screen. The sub-tuner 70 may control the main IC 80 and the V-chip 30 to detect the V-chip signal from the composite image signal input from the sub-tuner 70.

When the channel is changed as described above, step S23 or less is performed in the execution of the parental control mode of FIG. 3, and the stored grades and the grades from the grade data for each channel are read and compared according to the password without checking the V-chip signal. By displaying it, it is possible to immediately know whether the viewing function is performed without delay.

On the other hand, when including a query function for knowing the grade of the received channel may be configured to display the grade-specific grade data stored in the memory means 50 to the CAL 20 via the OSD unit of the main IC (80). There is no delay even when inquiring.

According to the configuration and operation of the V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus of the two-tuner television according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when the sub-tuner 70 is not used, all channels are used by using the sub-tuner 70. The V-chip signal detection delay time can be eliminated by auto-seeking and memorizing the program ratings. Also, the delay time for displaying the program rating of each channel through the OSD can be eliminated. It can be effective.

Claims (4)

In the viewer-specific parental control system of a two-tuner television, which prevents viewing by limiting the rating of the program broadcasted by the V-chip signal and the rating of the program specified by the password by the viewer password entered and stored: A sub-tuner 70 controlled to receive a composite video signal sequentially over all channels when the sub-screen is not displayed; A V-chip 30 controlled to detect a V-chip signal from the composite video signal input from the sub-tuner 70; After changing the channel, the V-chip signal detected by the V-chip 30 is input from each channel, and the grade data is stored in the memory means 50 together with the channel. After the grade storage for each channel is completed, Automatic V-chip signal blocking of two-tuner televisions, characterized in that it comprises a microcomputer 40 for controlling the sub-tuner 70 and the V-chip 30 to change the stored class when there is a rating change. Search device. The microcomputer 40 of claim 1, wherein the screen is formed from the over-the-air broadcast signal received from the main tuner 60 or the composite video signal input from the V-C, while the parental control function is not performed. The V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus of a two-tuner television, characterized in that the sub-tuner 70 and the V-chip 30 are controlled to detect and store the grade data for each channel. According to claim 1 or 2, when the V-chip 30 receives the composite video signal from the main IC (80) to detect the V-chip signal by the microcomputer 40, the sub-tuner 70 V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval device of two-tuner tele vision, characterized in that the main IC (80) is controlled together with the V-chip (30) to detect the V-chip signal from the composite video signal input from the . The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a function of inquiring a rating for each channel to display the rating data for each channel stored in the memory means (50) via the main IC (80). A V-chip signal blocking automatic search device for a two-tuner television.