KR20000031392A - Record locking method according to tv program level - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A record locking method according to a TV program level is provided to prevent an adult program from being inadvertently recorded by limiting the recording operation according to a program level. CONSTITUTION: In a record locking method according to a TV program level, when a player is set at a record mode(S40), data stream is input to a record signal processor(S41). Then, it is determined if a predetermined program level is stored in a memory(S42), and if the predetermine program level is stored in a memory(S42), an electronic program guide(EPG) information input from a set top box(S43). Then a level information of a program to be recorded is detected according to the detected EPG information(S44). Next, the level information detected is compared with the predetermined program level(S45). When the level to be recorded is identical to or higher than the predetermined program level, the recording operation is forcibly stopped(S48).

Description

Recording prevention method according to level of broadcasting program

The present invention relates to a recording prevention method according to a level of a broadcast program. More particularly, in the recording mode, a level of a broadcast program input from the outside is detected and a recording operation is selectively performed according to the detected level of the program. Or it relates to a recording prevention method according to the level of the broadcast program to be stopped.

1 is a block diagram of a general optical disc recorder / player, and in particular, a block diagram of a DVD (Digital Video Disc) recorder / player.

The structure of the DVD (DVD) recorder / player includes an optical pickup (P / U) 2 for first reading a signal recorded on an optical disc (DVD) 1, and a photo provided in the optical pickup 2; An RF converter 5 for filtering the electrical signal output by photoelectric conversion from a photodiode (PD) and converting it into RF (Radio Frequency) of high frequency components, and detecting a sync signal from the RF signal. A synchronous detection unit 6 and a servo unit for controlling servo operation in response to a focus error signal and a tracking error signal output from the RF converter 5 and the photodiode PD. 7), a spindle motor 3 for rotating the optical disc 1 in accordance with a control signal output from the servo unit 7, and a sled for horizontally moving the optical pickup 2. A motor, a driver (8) for driving the spindle motor and the sled motor, and the RF signal as a digital reproduction signal. A reproduction signal processor 9, an MPEG decoder 10 for decoding the digital reproduction signal and outputting it as a video or audio signal, and encoding an external input signal into an MPEG-type data. An MPEG encoder 15 for encoding, a recording signal processor 13 for signal-processing the encoded MPEG-type data into a digital recording signal, and a channel bit stream for converting the digital recording signal into a channel bit stream. A channel bit encoder 15 for converting to a bit stream, and an optical driver 16 for applying a driving voltage corresponding to the channel bit stream to a laser diode (LD) provided in the optical pickup. .

As described above, a general DVD recorder / player configured with a parental lock (Child lock or Parent Lock) function prevents children or teenagers from playing or watching an adult program (video) without permission. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the reproduction limit operation will be described.

First, when an optical disc, that is, a DVD 1, is inserted and seated in a tray (not shown) provided in the DVD recorder / player, the microcomputer 11 switches the operation mode of the DVD recorder / player to the playback mode. By setting, the servo unit 7 is controlled so that the spindle motor 3 and the sled motor 4 are driven. As a result, information of the DVD (DVD) to be played back, in particular, playlist (TOC) information is detected, and information about the level of the program recorded on the DVD (ie, age-specific viewing ratings) is stored from the memory 11. The program is read and compared with the level of the program detected from the playlist information, and the playback operation is performed or stopped according to the comparison result.

As described above, the conventional Child Lock operation performed in a general DVD recorder / player plays a role in which a user (protector) restricts playback in advance so that children or teenagers cannot watch adult video programs without permission. By setting the " grade " in the memory 12, the playback operation is automatically limited in accordance with the program level of the DVD detected at the beginning of playback.

However, the general child lock operation of a DVD recorder / player requires that the user (guardian) set and store the playback limit level in the memory 12 in advance, thereby limiting playback due to user's carelessness. If the rating is not set or is set incorrectly, the user can not perform the playback control desired by the user (guardian), and also for the low cost, which is not equipped with the playback restriction function for recording the adult video program. In the case of playing using an optical disc player, there has been a problem that children or teenagers watch an adult program without permission. Moreover, in recent years, digital broadcasting that provides a variety of high-quality video programs has become common, and as a result of the rapid increase in the number of users who record, play, and watch the video programs, especially adult video programs, children or teenagers play unauthorized adult video programs. There was a problem that frequently occurs cases to watch.

Therefore, the present invention was created to solve the above problems, and in the recording mode, by detecting the age-specific viewing grades of the video program to be recorded, that is, the level of the program before the start of recording, selectively perform the recording operation or The purpose of the present invention is to provide a recording prevention method according to the level of a broadcast program that automatically prevents unwanted adult video programs from being recorded on a recording medium due to user's carelessness.

1 is a block diagram of a general DVD (DVD) recorder / player,

2 is an overall configuration diagram of a DVD (DVD) recorder / player and a set-top box (S) to which a recording prevention method according to a level of a broadcast program according to the present invention is applied

3 is a data configuration diagram for a digital broadcast signal,

4 is an operation flowchart of the set-top box (S),

5 is an operation flowchart of a DVD (DVD) recorder / player to which a recording prevention method according to the level of a broadcast program according to the present invention is applied;

6 is another operation flowchart of a DVD (DVD) recorder / player to which a recording prevention method according to the level of a broadcast program according to the present invention is applied.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing

1: Optical disc 2: Optical pickup (P / U)

3: Spindle Motor 4: Sled Motor

5: RF (Radio Frequency) converter 6: Sync detector

7: Servo unit 8: Driver

9: playback signal processing unit 10: amplifier packer (MPEG)

11: Micom 12: Memory

13 recording signal processor 14 amplifier (MPEG) encoder

15 channel bit encoder 16 optical driver

17 communication interface

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preventing a recording according to a level of a broadcast program, the method comprising: receiving an input digital broadcast program; And limiting recording of the broadcast program according to program viewing level information transmitted with the received broadcast program, and recording according to another broadcast program level according to the present invention. The prevention method may include a step of designating a recording of an input digital broadcast program; And outputting and displaying the level of the currently recordable program when recording the designated program.

In the recording prevention method according to the level of the broadcast program according to the present invention, as described above, in the recording mode, detecting the level of the program of the age-specific viewing class included in the external input signal, the detected level of the program is recording prevention In order to determine whether the program matches the level of the program preset by the user, to stop the recording operation, or to specify the recording of the program input from the outside, the level of the currently recordable program is displayed. This prevents adult video programs from being recorded.

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

2 is a configuration diagram of a DVD (DVD) recorder / player with a recording prevention method according to a level of a broadcast program according to the present invention and a set-top box (S) for receiving a digital broadcast program. The player D includes, as described above, an optical pickup (P / U) 2 for reading out a signal recorded on the optical disc (DVD) 1; An RF converter (5) for filtering the electric signal output by photoelectric conversion from a photo diode (PD) included in the optical pickup (2) to convert into RF (Radio Frequency) of a high frequency component; A synchronization detector 6 for detecting a synchronization signal from the RF signal; A servo unit (7) for controlling a servo operation in response to a focus error (FE) signal and a tracking error (TE) signal output from the RF converter (5) and the photodiode (PD); A spindle motor (3) for rotating the optical disc (1) in accordance with a control signal output from the servo unit (7); A sled motor for horizontally moving the optical pickup 2, and a driver 8 for driving the spindle motor and the sled motor; A reproduction signal processor (9) for signal processing the RF signal into a digital reproduction signal; An MPEG decoder 10 which decodes the digital reproduction signal and outputs the image or audio signal; An amplifier (MPEG) encoder 15 for encoding an external input signal into an MPEG-type data; A recording signal processor (13) for signal-processing the encoded amplifier-type data into a digital recording signal; A channel bit encoder (15) for converting the digital recording signal into a channel bit stream; An optical driver 16 for applying a driving voltage corresponding to the channel bit stream to a laser diode (LD) provided in an optical pickup and a communication interface for transmitting and receiving a data stream input from the outside (I / F) 17, wherein the set-top box (S) includes: a tuner (Tuner) 22 for tuning a digital broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station (not shown); A decoder 23 for decoding the tuned digital broadcast signal and decoding the digital broadcast signal into digital data; A digital signal processor (DSP) 24 for signal-processing the decoded digital data into a data stream including video and audio data; A microcomputer 26 for controlling the operation of the component and a memory 27 for storing data necessary for the operation control; And a key input unit 25 for outputting a key input signal selected by a user to the microcomputer 26, and a communication interface (I / F) 21 for transmitting and receiving the data stream.

Before the operation description of the DVD (DVD) recorder / player (D) and the set-top box (S) to which the recording prevention method according to the level of the broadcast program according to the present invention configured as described above is applied, the configuration of the digital broadcast signal Looking at it as follows.

3 is a data configuration diagram of the digital broadcast signal, wherein the digital broadcast signal is referred to as Program Specific Information (PSI) and Electronic Program Guide (EPG). The PSI information is one repeater, unlike the analog broadcast using a conventional FM (Frequency Modulation) modulation scheme, that is, an analog broadcast in which one repeater relays only one channel. It is provided from a broadcasting station to be suitable for digital broadcasting using a digital multi-channel method for relaying a plurality of channels in the configuration, wherein the configuration of the PSI information includes: program association table (PAT) information; Program Map Table (PMT) information, Conditional Access Table (CAT) and network information It includes a table (NIT: Network Information Table, hereinafter referred to as NIT) information.

A plurality of information (PAT, PMT, CAT, NIT) constituting the PSI information, as shown in FIG. 3, is associated with a sync (Sync), a program identifier (PID), a table identifier (TID), Program related information such as a channel number is allocated to the PAT information, and video and audio data constituting the program are allocated to the PMT information. Also, the CAT information is allocated decryption data for pay-per-view broadcasting, and the transmission side information such as a repeater number is assigned to the NIT information, while the EPG information provides a high quality additional service. Representative additional information added to digital broadcasting, which is intermittent from a broadcasting station so that a user (a viewer) can easily retrieve detailed information about a multi-channel broadcasting program that is being broadcast or scheduled to be broadcast, without a publication such as a newspaper or magazine. Information provided.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the operation of the set-top box (S) for receiving a digital broadcast signal and the DVD (DVD) recorder / player (D) to which the recording prevention method according to the level of the broadcast program according to the present invention is applied. Explain.

4 is an operation flowchart of the signal processing operation of the set-top box S. First, the microcomputer 26 tunes the tuner 22 to an M channel, which is an arbitrary channel, according to a user's selection. Receive the digital broadcast of the channel (S10). The received M-channel broadcast signal is signal-processed by the decoder 23 and the digital signal processor 24 into a data stream including video and audio data. At this time, as described above, the intermittent EPG information is detected. The detected EPG information is stored in the memory 27 (S11).

Subsequently, when the user selects the N channel by using a key provided in the key input unit 25 (S12), the microcomputer 26 tuner 22 to receive the N channel broadcast among the received multi-channel broadcasts. In the tuning operation, first, the PSI information included in the currently received M channel broadcast signal is detected, the PAT information constituting the PSI information is separated, and the channel information is detected from the separated PAT information. do. It is determined whether there is N channel information selected by the user in the detected channel information (S14), and if the N channel does not exist as a result of the determination, NIT information constituting the PSI information to select another repeater for relaying N channels. (S21), and detects any repeater number for relaying N channels from the separated NIT information. Thereafter, the corresponding repeater corresponding to the detected repeater number is selected / changed (S20), and the broadcast signal of the N channel is received (S10).

At this time, the microcomputer 26 outputs the EPG information stored in the memory 27 to the outside (S15) and operates the decoder 23 and the digital signal processor 24 to process the received N channel broadcast signal. In order to control, first, PMT information included in the received N-channel broadcast signal is separated (S16), and video and audio data, that is, data packets (Packet) allocated to the separated PMT information are separated (S17). The separated data packet is recorded by the decoder 22 and the digital signal processing unit 24 through the communication interface unit 21 through the communication interface unit 21 of the recording signal processing unit DSP of the DVD recorder / player ( 13) is output.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a DVD (DVD) recorder / player (D) to which a recording prevention method according to the level of a broadcast program according to the present invention is applied. (DVD) Set the recorder / player D to the recording mode (S40), and input the data stream outputted from the set-top box S to the recording signal processor (DSP) 13 through the communication interface unit 17. Receive. At this time, the microcomputer 11 detects whether the program level set by the user, that is, the level of the program set in advance for child lock is stored in the memory 12 (S42), and the detection result is set. If there is no program level, the recording signal processing unit 13 is controlled to perform a normal recording operation of recording a data stream including video and audio data input from the set-top box S to the DVD 1 (S49). )

On the other hand, if there is a preset program level in the memory 12 as a result of the detection, the EPG information input from the set-top box S is detected (S43), and from the detected EPG information, The level, that is, the audience rating information for each age is detected (S44). Thereafter, the program level set in the memory 12 by the user is compared with the program level detected from the EPG information (S45), and the program level matching or the program level detected from the EPG information is set in the memory 12. If higher than the level (adult), the recording operation is forcibly stopped (S48).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the DVD recorder / player D to which the recording prevention method according to the level of the broadcast program according to the present invention is applied. The microcomputer 11 detects whether the program level set by the user, i.e., the program level set for the child lock, is stored in the memory 12 (S51). If not, the recording signal processor 13 controls the recording signal processing unit 13 to perform a normal recording operation of recording a data stream including video and audio data input from the set-top box S to the DVD 1 (S59). If there is a program level set in advance in the memory 12 as a result of the detection, the program level set in the memory 12 is outputted and displayed (S52) on an image screen, for example, an on-screen image (OSD). Recording yourself It allows you to recognize the level of your program. Thereafter, it is detected whether a change key for changing the level of the set program is input (S54), and the level of the program set in the memory 12 is changed according to the detected change key (S58). If a change key is not detected as a result of the detection, it is detected whether a recording key is input (S54), and if the recording key is detected, the level of a program to be recorded by the user. And the program level set in the memory 12 are compared (S55). As a result of the comparison, when the matching or the level of the program to be recorded by the user is high (adult), the recording is forcibly stopped (S57).

According to such an operation, by selectively performing or stopping the recording operation according to the level of the program preset by the user, that is, the audience rating for each age, the user (guardian) is automatically prevented from recording the video program.

The recording prevention method according to the level of the broadcast program according to the present invention made as described above, by limiting the recording operation according to the level of the broadcast program, that is, the audience rating by age, it is automatically recorded that unwanted adult programs are recorded due to user's carelessness To prevent children or adolescents from using the video reproducing apparatus that does not have a child lock function. It is an invention.

Claims (4)

Receiving an input digital broadcast program; And And the step of limiting the recording of the broadcast program according to the program viewing level information transmitted together with the received broadcast program. The method of claim 1, The program viewing level information is program recording rating data for each age included in electronic program guide (EPG) information received with the digital broadcasting program. Specifying a recording of an input digital broadcast program; And And recording the specified program, and outputting and displaying the level of the currently recordable program. 2. The method of claim 3, And after displaying the level of the program, comparing the level of the reprogrammed program with the level of the input broadcast program and limiting recording of the input broadcast program according to the result. Recording prevention method according to the level of the broadcast program.