CA2274396A1 - Information processing apparatus and method and distribution medium - Google Patents
Information processing apparatus and method and distribution medium Download PDFInfo
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- CA2274396A1 CA2274396A1 CA002274396A CA2274396A CA2274396A1 CA 2274396 A1 CA2274396 A1 CA 2274396A1 CA 002274396 A CA002274396 A CA 002274396A CA 2274396 A CA2274396 A CA 2274396A CA 2274396 A1 CA2274396 A1 CA 2274396A1
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Abstract
A broadcast signal received by an antenna is supplied to a slicer by way of a tuner. The parental lock data included in the broadcast signal supplied to the slicer is extracted.
The extracted parental lock data is transmitted from a reader/writer to a tag having a built-in non-contact memory by way of an antenna. The transmitted parental lock data is stored in the built-in memory of the tag. The stored parental lock data is read out by the reader/writer, inserted in the video data provided from a recording/reproducing unit by an inserter, and provided to a display apparatus by way of a switching unit. As the result, lock function is effective even when a signal from which the parental lock data has been missed is reproduced.
The extracted parental lock data is transmitted from a reader/writer to a tag having a built-in non-contact memory by way of an antenna. The transmitted parental lock data is stored in the built-in memory of the tag. The stored parental lock data is read out by the reader/writer, inserted in the video data provided from a recording/reproducing unit by an inserter, and provided to a display apparatus by way of a switching unit. As the result, lock function is effective even when a signal from which the parental lock data has been missed is reproduced.
Description
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD AND
DISTRIBUTION MEDIUM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention This invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method and a distribution medium, and more particularly relates to an information processing apparatus and method and a distribution medium which exhibit lock function, even if the signal having missed parental lock data is reproduced, by storing the parental lock data on a tag.
Description of Related Art A parental lock data is included in a program which has been specified previously in order to prevent children from viewing prejudicial programs in the United State. When a television receiver receives a program which includes the parental lock data, the television receiver displays an image different from that of normal program, for example, displays a notice that the program is a prejudicial program and the image is not displayed. Such display (lock) is unlocked by entering a secret identification code set by parents.
However, when the data of a program which includes the parental lock data is subjected to digital processing, the parental lock data can be missed. The parental lock data is inserted in the vertical synchronizing interval of the video signal in analog recording, however, when the data is reproduced at a non-normal speed, the data can be decoded incorrectly because noise is superimposed on the inserted vertical synchronizing interval. Therefore, when a program which includes the parental lock data is received and the received program is recorded by a recording/reproducing apparatus, the parental lock data could not play its role.
The present invention is accomplished in view of the above-mentioned problem, and provides a method for making the lock function effective, even if the parental lock data is missed, by recording the parental lock data on a tag having a built-in non-contact memory attached to a recording medium.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An information processing apparatus described in claim 1 comprises a receiving means for receiving the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus, a reproducing means for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium, and an insertion means for inserting the first information in the second information reproduced from the reproducing means.
An information processing method described in claim 4 comprises a receiving step for receiving the first information transmitted from another information apparatus, a reproducing step for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium, and an inserting step for inserting the first information in the second information reproduced in the reproducing step.
A distribution medium for providing programs which can be read by a computer for performing a process described in claim 5 comprises a receiving step for receiving the first information transmitted from another information apparatus, a reproducing step for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium, and an inserting step for inserting the first information in the second information reproduced in the reproducing step.
In the information processing apparatus described in claim 1, the information processing method described in claim 4, and the distribution medium described in claim 5, the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus is received, the second information recorded in a recording medium is reproduced, and the first information is inserted in the reproduced second information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating the structure of one embodiment of a VTR to which the information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating the internal structure of a tag.
Fig. 3 is a diagram for illustrating the tag attached to a cassette.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram for illustrating the internal structure of a reader/writer.
Fig. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the structure of the VTR having a built-in reader/writer having a plurality of antennas.
Fig. 6 is a flow chart for describing the process for processing the parental lock data.
Fig. 7 is a flowchart for describing the process for reading out the parental lock data recorded in the tag.
Fig. 8 is a diagram for illustrating the recording process for recording the data in the tag by use of the reader/writer.
Fig. 9 is a diagram for illustrating the exemplary display on which the data recorded in the tag is displayed on a television receiver.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferredembodiments are described hereinafter in detail, to clarify the correspondence between respective means of the inventions described in the claims and respective embodiments, the feature of the present invention is described with adding the corresponding embodiments (one example only) in parenthesis placed after the respective means as described herein under. However, the description will not mean that the present invention is limited to the respective means described therein.
An information processing apparatus described in claim 1 comprises a receiving means ( for example, an antenna 15 shown in Fig. 1) for receiving the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus (for example, a tag 4), a reproducing means (for example, a recording/reproducing unit 16 shown in Fig. 1) for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium, and an insertion means (for example, an inserter 17 shown in Fig.
1) for inserting the first information into the second information reproduced from the reproducing means.
An information processing apparatus described in claim 2 is provided additionally with a second receiving means (for example, an antenna shown in Fig. 1) for receiving the second information, an extracting means (for example, a slicer 13 shown in Fig. 1) for extracting the first information, and a transmission means ( for example, an antenna 15 shown in Fig.
1) for transmitting the first information extracted by the extraction means to another information processing apparatus.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating the internal structure of a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) 2 to which an information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. The broadcast signal received by the antenna 1 is provided to a tuner 11 of the VTR 2. The input broadcast signal is provided to the slicer 13, the recording/reproducing unit 16, and a switching unit 12. If the parental lock data is included in the data supplied to the slicer 13, the slicer 13 extracts the parental lock data.
The parental lock data is the data used to prevent children from viewing programs which are specified as prejudicial program, to display a notice on a screen of a display apparatus 3 such as a television receiver, or to control the display so as not to display the image. It is required to enter a secret identification code to unlock the parental lock. Therefore, children, who do not know the secret identification code, can not view the program which is parental-locked. The parental lock data is inserted in the 21-st line of respective fields of a vertical synchronizing interval, and transmitted according to EIA (Electronic Industries Association)-608 and EIA-74.
The parental lock data extracted by the slicer 13 is provided to a reader/writer 14. The data is communicated between the reader/writer 14 and the tag 4 by way of the antenna 15 . The data supplied to the reader/writer 14 is provided also to the inserter 17. The inserter 17 inserts the input data into the video data supplied from the recording/reproducing unit 16, and provides it to the switching unit 12. The switching unit 1 switches between the signal from the tuner 11 and the signal from the recording/reproducing unit 16 and provides it to the display apparatus 3.
Next, the tag 4 is described. The tag 4 has the built-in memory, and communicates the data without contact.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating the internal structure of the tag 4. An antenna 21 which is a component of the tag 4 receives a radio wave from the reader/writer 14 (Fig. 1) , and supplies a signal corresponding to the received radio wave to a tuning circuit 22 and a power source circuit 31. The tuning circuit 22 extracts a carrier wave, which is used for communication between the tag 4 and the reader/writer 14, from the signal supplied from the antenna 21.
An amplifier circuit 23 amplifies the input signal to the predetermined level, and sends it out. A demodulation circuit 24 demodulates the modulated carrier wave to convert it to a corresponding predetermined data. A communication control circuit 25 switches reception/transmission of the data. A microcomputer26 controls respective units according _ 7 _ to the control program stored in a ROM (read only memory) 28.
The microcomputer 26 supplies the data which is necessary to be stored out of the data supplied 'through the communication control circuit 25 to EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable read only memory) 27 as desired. The same processing by use of a sequencer with logic as that by use of the microcomputer 26 and the ROM 28 may be used.
The EEPROM 27 stores the data supplied from the microcomputer 26. A modulation circuit 29 modulates the carrier wave based on the data supplied from the communication control circuit 25 and sends it out. An amplifier circuit 30 amplifies the signal, which has been modulated to the carrier wave frequency supplied from the modulation circuit 29, to the signal level which are required for communication. The antenna 21 transmits the signal of carrier wave frequency which has been amplified by the amplifier circuit 30 in the form of radio wave.
The electric signal supplied to the antenna 21 of the tag 4 is supplied to the power source circuit 31 . The power source circuit 31 electro-magnetically couples the electric signal and the carrier wave transmitted from the reader/writer 14 to extract energy, and supplies necessary energy to respective units . As described herein above, a power source is supplied to the tag 4 from the external.
g _ The tag 4 having the structure described herein above is used as shown in Fig. 3, that is, the tag 4 is attached to a cassette 41. In an example shown in Fig. 3, the tag 4 is attached on recesses 42 and 43 formed on the cassette 41.
Next, the internal structure of the reader/writer 14 for writing/reading the data in/from the tag 4 is described with reference to Fig. 4 . The antenna 15 functions to transmit the predetermined signal to the tag 4 and to receive the signal from the tag 4. The antenna 15 also functions to generate a magnetic field for supplying power source to the tag 4.
A tuning circuit 51 extracts the carrier wave of frequency used for communication between the tag 4 and reader/writer 14 from the signal supplied from the antenna 15. An amplifier circuit 52 amplifies the input signal to a predetermined signal level and sends it out. A demodulation circuit 53 demodulates the modulated carrier wave to convert to a predetermined data. A communication control circuit 54 switches the data transmission/reception, and control the communication. The microcomputer 55 controls respective units according to the control program stored in a ROM 57.
The microcomputer 55 also supplies the data supplied by way of the communication control circuit 54 to a RAM (random access memory) 56 as desired.
The RAM 56 stores the data supplied from the microcomputer 55. A modulation circuit 58 modulates the carrier wave based on the data supplied from the communication control circuit 54 and sends it out'. An amplifier circuit 59 amplifies the carrier wave supplied from the modulation circuit 58 to the signal level required for communication.
The antenna 15 transmits the carrier wave amplified by the amplifier circuit 52 by radio wave.
Fig. 5 is a block diagram for illustrating the exemplary internal structure of the VTR 2 shown in Fig. 1.
In this example, the reader/writer 14 has a plurality of antennas 15-1 and 15-2. A microcomputer 74 controls the reader/writer 14 by way of a communication line 60, transmits/receives the data to read out the data stored in the tag 4 attached to the cassette 41 and to store the predetermined data in the tag 4.
A compartment 73 is a space for accommodating the cassette 41, and a switch 72 detects the existence of the cassette 41 in the compartment. The antenna 15-2 for communication between the tag 4, which is located temporarily outside the VTR 2, and the VTR 2 is designed with attention to the directivity of radio wave so that the radio wave transmitted from the antenna does not affect the components in the VTR 2. In detail, a metal plate 71-2 is provided on the back side of the antenna 15-2 to prevent the radio wave emitted from the antenna 15-2 from irradiating the internal of the VTR 2.
Similarly, a metal plate 7'1-1 is provided on the back side of the antenna 15-1 to prevent the radio wave emitted from the antenna 15-1 from irradiating the internal of the VTR 2.
Usually, the VTR 2, in which the cassette 41 is inserted in the compartment 73, communicates with tag 4 attached to the cassette 41 by way of the antenna 15-1 provided in the compartment 73.
The reason why the VTR 2 communicates with the tag 4 on the cassette 41 when the cassette is inserted in the compartment 73 is that, in the condition that the cassette 41 is not inserted in the compartment and the cassette 41 is located outside the VTR 2, communication between the VTR 2 and the tag 4 attached to the cassette 41 is not consistent because of the restricted electric field intensity by the safety standard such as Radio Wave Law which restricts the reachable distance of radio wave.
In the VTR 2 shown in Fig. 5, the additional antenna 15-2 is provided on the front side of the VTR 2 in addition to the antenna 15-1. The reader/writer 14 can thereby communicate with the tag 4 attached to the cassette 41 by way of the antenna 15-2 even when the cassette 41 is located outside the VTR 2.
A described hereinbefore, whether the cassette 41 is located inside or outside the VTR 2 is determined by use of the switch 72. In detail, when the cassette 41 is inserted in the compartment 73, the switch 72 is pushed by the box of the cassette 41, and the insertion of the cassette 41 in the compartment 73 is detected. At that time, a signal which indicates that the cassette 41 is inserted in the compartment 73 is supplied to the microcomputer 74. The microcomputer 74 can thereby determine whether the cassette 41 is located inside or outside the VTR 2.
When the microcomputer 74 recognizes the insertion of the cassette 41 in the compartment 73 based on the signal from the switch 72, the microcomputer activates the antenna 15-1 to communicate with the cassette 41 inserted in the compartment 73 by way of the antenna 15-1.
When the data stored in the tag 4 of the cassette 41 is required occasionally to be updated, the data in the tag 4 is updated simultaneouslywhen the cassette 41 is ejected from the VTR 2. The reason is that adverse effect on video processing circuits and audio processing circuits in the VTR
2 of carrier wave should be minimized because the communication between the tag 4 and the reader/writer 14 is performed by use of carrier wave of medium wave band to short wave band.
Referring to a flow chart shown in Fig. 6, the operation of the VTR 2 having the reader/writer 14 as described herein above which is performed when the parental lock data is received is described. In step S1, the antenna 1 of the VTR 2 receives a broadcast signal which include the parental lock data. It is assumed that the broadcast signal is a program which has been indicated to be recorded in the cassette 41 by a user.
The broadcast signal received by the antenna 1 is demodulated by the tuner 11. The demodulated program data is provided to the slicer 13 and the recording/reproducing unit 16. The program data supplied from the tuner 11 is supplied also to the switching unit 12, but not supplied to the display apparatus 3 if the program data is not required to be displayed on the display apparatus 3.
The broadcast signal supplied to the recording/reproducing unit 16 is recorded on a magnetic tape (not shown in the drawing) contained in the cassette 41. The slicer 13 extracts the parental lock data from the input program data in step S2. As described herein above, the parental lock data is inserted in the 21-st line of the second frame of the vertical synchronizing interval, at that time the data is read out therefrom. The read out parental lock data is transmitted to the tag 4 and stored in the tag 4 in step S3.
In detail, first the microcomputer 55 of the reader/writer 14 supplies the parental lock data supplied from the slicer 13 by way of the communication line 60 to the communication control circuit 54. The communication control circuit 54 supplies the data supplied from the microcomputer 55 to the modulation circuit 58.
The modulation circuit 58 modulates the data to a predetermined carrier wave based on the signal supplied from the communication control circuit 54, and supplies it to the amplifier circuit 59. The amplifier circuit 59 amplifies the signal supplied from the modulation circuit 58 to the signal level necessary for communication and transmits it by way of the antenna 15.
The parental lock data transmitted by way of the antenna 15 is received by the antenna 21 of the tag 4. The radio wave from the reader/writer 14 received by the antenna 21 is converted to a corresponding electric signal and supplied to the tuning circuit 22. The tuning circuit 22 extracts only the carrier wave of predetermined frequency from the signal supplied to the antenna 21, and supplies it to the amplifier circuit 23. The amplifier circuit 23 amplifies the signal supplied from the tuning circuit 22 to the predetermined signal level, and supplies it to the demodulation circuit 24.
The demodulation circuit 24 demodulates the signal supplied from the amplifier circuit 23, and supplies it to the communication control circuit 25. The communication control circuit 25, which has been switched to the reception mode, converts the signal supplied from the demodulation circuit 24 to a digital data, and supplies it to the microcomputer26. The data (parentallock data) suppliedfrom the communication control circuit 25 to the microcomputer 26 is supplied from the microcomputer to the EEPROM 27, and stored in the EEPROM 27.
Referring to a flow chart shown in Fig. 7, the operation of the VTR 2 and the tag 4 performed when the cassette 41 having the attached tag 4 in which the parental lock data has been recorded as described herein above is. reproduced by the VTR 2 is described.
In step 511, when a user inserts the cassette 41 having the attached tag 4 and indicates reproduction, then in step 512, the parental lock data stored in the tag 4 is read out by the reader/writer 14 of the VTR 2. The reading out begins with transmission of the parental lock data to the tag 4 by way of the antenna 15 by the microcomputer 55 of the reader/writer 14.
Upon receiving the data corresponding to the transmission request for the data by way of the communication control circuit 25, the microcomputer 26 of the tag 4 reads out the parental lock data from the EEPROM 27 stored therein, and supplies the read out parental lock data to the communication control circuit 25. The communication control circuit 25 switches the operation mode to the transmission mode to supply the parental lock data supplied from the microcomputer 26 to the modulation circuit 29.
The modulation circuit 29 modulates the carrier wave based on the signal supplied from the communication circuit 25, and supplies it to the amplifier circuit 30 . The amplifier circuit 30 amplifies the signal supplied from the modulation circuit 29 to the signal level necessary for communication.
The signal amplified by the amplifier 30 is transmitted by way of the antenna 21.
The transmitted signal is received by the antenna 15 of the VTR 2 . The carrier wave from the tag 4 received from the antenna 15 is converted to the corresponding electric signal and then supplied to the tuning circuit 51. The tuning circuit 51 extracts the carrier wave of predetermined frequency from the signal supplied from the antenna 15, and supplies it to the amplifier circuit 52. The amplifier circuit 52 amplifies the signal supplied from the tuning circuit 51 to the predetermined signal level, and then supplies it to the demodulation circuit 53.
The demodulation circuit 53 demodulates the modulated carrier wave and supplies the demodulated carrier wave to the communication control circuit 54. The communication control circuit 54 is switched to the reception mode, converts the signal supplied from the demodulation circuit 53 to the digital data, and then supplies the digital data to the microcomputer 55. The microcomputer 55 controls the RAM 56 to store the data (parental lock data) supplied from the communication control circuit 54 as required, and then transmits it to the inserter 17 by way of the communication line 60.
In step S13, the inserter 17 inserts the input parental lock data in the video data supplied from the recording/reproducing unit 16. At that time, the input parental lock data is inserted in the 21-st line of the second frame of the vertical synchronizing interval where the parental lock data should be stored properly. The adverse effect of noise caused on the 21-st line during non-normal speed reproduction of the VTR is prevented by additionally inserting the parental lock data format again, and the function during non-normal speed reproduction can be realized though which has been impossible to be realized heretofore.
The video data in which the parental lock data is inserted in step S13 is provided to the display apparatus 3 and displayed in step 514. When the switching circuit 12 provides the reproduction signal from the cassette 41, the switching circuit 12 is switched so as to select and send out the video signal suppliedfrom the recording/reproducing unit 16 instead of the output from the tuner 11. In the display apparatus 3, the function of the data namely lock function is activated because the parental lock data is included in the transmitted video data, and the video data processed so that children can not view prejudicial programs is displayed.
As described hereinbefore, by recording the parental lock data in the tag 4 attached to the cassette 41, the innate function of the parental lock data is activated even if the parental lock data is missed from the video data of a program.
When the parental lock data is wanted to be inserted in a recorded video tape before the parental lock data is transmitted, a sales video tape in which a desired program is recorded for selling, and a rental video tape for renting from a rental video supplier, heretofore it is required that the parental lock data is converted to a signal in accordance with EIA-608 and EIA-744, and the converted signal is inserted in the 21-st line of the frame of the vertical synchronizing interval. However, the data which is recorded in the tag 4 is rewritable, for example, the same function is effective on the tape which was recorded in the past by applying a method that a user adds the parental lock data in the tag 4 by use of the reader/writer 14 as shown in Fig. 8 and thereafter attaches the tag 4 to the recorded video tape, and otherwise attaching the tag 4 in which the parental lock data has been recorded previously on a video tape makes the above-mentioned processing unnecessary, and the working and cost for production is saved.
The data associated with programs recorded in the cassette 41 having the attached tag 4 is recorded in the tag 4. Fig. 9 shows the data recorded in the tag 4 displayed on a screen of the television receiver 81.
The exemplary display shows that 5 programs are recorded in the cassette 41, and the recording data and title of respective programs is displayed. An icon 91 for indicating that this program includes the parental lock data is displayed on the side of the parent-locked program out of these programs. The shape and color of the icon 91 may be designed as desired. Otherwise, instead of marking with an icon, the title may be specially colored to distinguish it from other programs.
In the present invention, the distribution medium for providing a computer program for executing the above-mentioned processing to users includes information recording media such as magnetic disc and CD-ROM and transmission media for transmitting the data through network such as Internet and digital satellites.
As described hereinbefore, according to the information processing apparatus described in claim 1, the information processing method described in claim 4, and the distribution medium described in claim 5, the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus is received, the second information recorded in a recording medium is reproduced, and the first information is inserted in the reproduced second information. Therefore, even if a broadcast signal from which the parental lock data has been missed is reproduced, the lock function is effective.
DISTRIBUTION MEDIUM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention This invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method and a distribution medium, and more particularly relates to an information processing apparatus and method and a distribution medium which exhibit lock function, even if the signal having missed parental lock data is reproduced, by storing the parental lock data on a tag.
Description of Related Art A parental lock data is included in a program which has been specified previously in order to prevent children from viewing prejudicial programs in the United State. When a television receiver receives a program which includes the parental lock data, the television receiver displays an image different from that of normal program, for example, displays a notice that the program is a prejudicial program and the image is not displayed. Such display (lock) is unlocked by entering a secret identification code set by parents.
However, when the data of a program which includes the parental lock data is subjected to digital processing, the parental lock data can be missed. The parental lock data is inserted in the vertical synchronizing interval of the video signal in analog recording, however, when the data is reproduced at a non-normal speed, the data can be decoded incorrectly because noise is superimposed on the inserted vertical synchronizing interval. Therefore, when a program which includes the parental lock data is received and the received program is recorded by a recording/reproducing apparatus, the parental lock data could not play its role.
The present invention is accomplished in view of the above-mentioned problem, and provides a method for making the lock function effective, even if the parental lock data is missed, by recording the parental lock data on a tag having a built-in non-contact memory attached to a recording medium.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An information processing apparatus described in claim 1 comprises a receiving means for receiving the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus, a reproducing means for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium, and an insertion means for inserting the first information in the second information reproduced from the reproducing means.
An information processing method described in claim 4 comprises a receiving step for receiving the first information transmitted from another information apparatus, a reproducing step for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium, and an inserting step for inserting the first information in the second information reproduced in the reproducing step.
A distribution medium for providing programs which can be read by a computer for performing a process described in claim 5 comprises a receiving step for receiving the first information transmitted from another information apparatus, a reproducing step for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium, and an inserting step for inserting the first information in the second information reproduced in the reproducing step.
In the information processing apparatus described in claim 1, the information processing method described in claim 4, and the distribution medium described in claim 5, the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus is received, the second information recorded in a recording medium is reproduced, and the first information is inserted in the reproduced second information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating the structure of one embodiment of a VTR to which the information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating the internal structure of a tag.
Fig. 3 is a diagram for illustrating the tag attached to a cassette.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram for illustrating the internal structure of a reader/writer.
Fig. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the structure of the VTR having a built-in reader/writer having a plurality of antennas.
Fig. 6 is a flow chart for describing the process for processing the parental lock data.
Fig. 7 is a flowchart for describing the process for reading out the parental lock data recorded in the tag.
Fig. 8 is a diagram for illustrating the recording process for recording the data in the tag by use of the reader/writer.
Fig. 9 is a diagram for illustrating the exemplary display on which the data recorded in the tag is displayed on a television receiver.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferredembodiments are described hereinafter in detail, to clarify the correspondence between respective means of the inventions described in the claims and respective embodiments, the feature of the present invention is described with adding the corresponding embodiments (one example only) in parenthesis placed after the respective means as described herein under. However, the description will not mean that the present invention is limited to the respective means described therein.
An information processing apparatus described in claim 1 comprises a receiving means ( for example, an antenna 15 shown in Fig. 1) for receiving the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus (for example, a tag 4), a reproducing means (for example, a recording/reproducing unit 16 shown in Fig. 1) for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium, and an insertion means (for example, an inserter 17 shown in Fig.
1) for inserting the first information into the second information reproduced from the reproducing means.
An information processing apparatus described in claim 2 is provided additionally with a second receiving means (for example, an antenna shown in Fig. 1) for receiving the second information, an extracting means (for example, a slicer 13 shown in Fig. 1) for extracting the first information, and a transmission means ( for example, an antenna 15 shown in Fig.
1) for transmitting the first information extracted by the extraction means to another information processing apparatus.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating the internal structure of a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) 2 to which an information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. The broadcast signal received by the antenna 1 is provided to a tuner 11 of the VTR 2. The input broadcast signal is provided to the slicer 13, the recording/reproducing unit 16, and a switching unit 12. If the parental lock data is included in the data supplied to the slicer 13, the slicer 13 extracts the parental lock data.
The parental lock data is the data used to prevent children from viewing programs which are specified as prejudicial program, to display a notice on a screen of a display apparatus 3 such as a television receiver, or to control the display so as not to display the image. It is required to enter a secret identification code to unlock the parental lock. Therefore, children, who do not know the secret identification code, can not view the program which is parental-locked. The parental lock data is inserted in the 21-st line of respective fields of a vertical synchronizing interval, and transmitted according to EIA (Electronic Industries Association)-608 and EIA-74.
The parental lock data extracted by the slicer 13 is provided to a reader/writer 14. The data is communicated between the reader/writer 14 and the tag 4 by way of the antenna 15 . The data supplied to the reader/writer 14 is provided also to the inserter 17. The inserter 17 inserts the input data into the video data supplied from the recording/reproducing unit 16, and provides it to the switching unit 12. The switching unit 1 switches between the signal from the tuner 11 and the signal from the recording/reproducing unit 16 and provides it to the display apparatus 3.
Next, the tag 4 is described. The tag 4 has the built-in memory, and communicates the data without contact.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating the internal structure of the tag 4. An antenna 21 which is a component of the tag 4 receives a radio wave from the reader/writer 14 (Fig. 1) , and supplies a signal corresponding to the received radio wave to a tuning circuit 22 and a power source circuit 31. The tuning circuit 22 extracts a carrier wave, which is used for communication between the tag 4 and the reader/writer 14, from the signal supplied from the antenna 21.
An amplifier circuit 23 amplifies the input signal to the predetermined level, and sends it out. A demodulation circuit 24 demodulates the modulated carrier wave to convert it to a corresponding predetermined data. A communication control circuit 25 switches reception/transmission of the data. A microcomputer26 controls respective units according _ 7 _ to the control program stored in a ROM (read only memory) 28.
The microcomputer 26 supplies the data which is necessary to be stored out of the data supplied 'through the communication control circuit 25 to EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable read only memory) 27 as desired. The same processing by use of a sequencer with logic as that by use of the microcomputer 26 and the ROM 28 may be used.
The EEPROM 27 stores the data supplied from the microcomputer 26. A modulation circuit 29 modulates the carrier wave based on the data supplied from the communication control circuit 25 and sends it out. An amplifier circuit 30 amplifies the signal, which has been modulated to the carrier wave frequency supplied from the modulation circuit 29, to the signal level which are required for communication. The antenna 21 transmits the signal of carrier wave frequency which has been amplified by the amplifier circuit 30 in the form of radio wave.
The electric signal supplied to the antenna 21 of the tag 4 is supplied to the power source circuit 31 . The power source circuit 31 electro-magnetically couples the electric signal and the carrier wave transmitted from the reader/writer 14 to extract energy, and supplies necessary energy to respective units . As described herein above, a power source is supplied to the tag 4 from the external.
g _ The tag 4 having the structure described herein above is used as shown in Fig. 3, that is, the tag 4 is attached to a cassette 41. In an example shown in Fig. 3, the tag 4 is attached on recesses 42 and 43 formed on the cassette 41.
Next, the internal structure of the reader/writer 14 for writing/reading the data in/from the tag 4 is described with reference to Fig. 4 . The antenna 15 functions to transmit the predetermined signal to the tag 4 and to receive the signal from the tag 4. The antenna 15 also functions to generate a magnetic field for supplying power source to the tag 4.
A tuning circuit 51 extracts the carrier wave of frequency used for communication between the tag 4 and reader/writer 14 from the signal supplied from the antenna 15. An amplifier circuit 52 amplifies the input signal to a predetermined signal level and sends it out. A demodulation circuit 53 demodulates the modulated carrier wave to convert to a predetermined data. A communication control circuit 54 switches the data transmission/reception, and control the communication. The microcomputer 55 controls respective units according to the control program stored in a ROM 57.
The microcomputer 55 also supplies the data supplied by way of the communication control circuit 54 to a RAM (random access memory) 56 as desired.
The RAM 56 stores the data supplied from the microcomputer 55. A modulation circuit 58 modulates the carrier wave based on the data supplied from the communication control circuit 54 and sends it out'. An amplifier circuit 59 amplifies the carrier wave supplied from the modulation circuit 58 to the signal level required for communication.
The antenna 15 transmits the carrier wave amplified by the amplifier circuit 52 by radio wave.
Fig. 5 is a block diagram for illustrating the exemplary internal structure of the VTR 2 shown in Fig. 1.
In this example, the reader/writer 14 has a plurality of antennas 15-1 and 15-2. A microcomputer 74 controls the reader/writer 14 by way of a communication line 60, transmits/receives the data to read out the data stored in the tag 4 attached to the cassette 41 and to store the predetermined data in the tag 4.
A compartment 73 is a space for accommodating the cassette 41, and a switch 72 detects the existence of the cassette 41 in the compartment. The antenna 15-2 for communication between the tag 4, which is located temporarily outside the VTR 2, and the VTR 2 is designed with attention to the directivity of radio wave so that the radio wave transmitted from the antenna does not affect the components in the VTR 2. In detail, a metal plate 71-2 is provided on the back side of the antenna 15-2 to prevent the radio wave emitted from the antenna 15-2 from irradiating the internal of the VTR 2.
Similarly, a metal plate 7'1-1 is provided on the back side of the antenna 15-1 to prevent the radio wave emitted from the antenna 15-1 from irradiating the internal of the VTR 2.
Usually, the VTR 2, in which the cassette 41 is inserted in the compartment 73, communicates with tag 4 attached to the cassette 41 by way of the antenna 15-1 provided in the compartment 73.
The reason why the VTR 2 communicates with the tag 4 on the cassette 41 when the cassette is inserted in the compartment 73 is that, in the condition that the cassette 41 is not inserted in the compartment and the cassette 41 is located outside the VTR 2, communication between the VTR 2 and the tag 4 attached to the cassette 41 is not consistent because of the restricted electric field intensity by the safety standard such as Radio Wave Law which restricts the reachable distance of radio wave.
In the VTR 2 shown in Fig. 5, the additional antenna 15-2 is provided on the front side of the VTR 2 in addition to the antenna 15-1. The reader/writer 14 can thereby communicate with the tag 4 attached to the cassette 41 by way of the antenna 15-2 even when the cassette 41 is located outside the VTR 2.
A described hereinbefore, whether the cassette 41 is located inside or outside the VTR 2 is determined by use of the switch 72. In detail, when the cassette 41 is inserted in the compartment 73, the switch 72 is pushed by the box of the cassette 41, and the insertion of the cassette 41 in the compartment 73 is detected. At that time, a signal which indicates that the cassette 41 is inserted in the compartment 73 is supplied to the microcomputer 74. The microcomputer 74 can thereby determine whether the cassette 41 is located inside or outside the VTR 2.
When the microcomputer 74 recognizes the insertion of the cassette 41 in the compartment 73 based on the signal from the switch 72, the microcomputer activates the antenna 15-1 to communicate with the cassette 41 inserted in the compartment 73 by way of the antenna 15-1.
When the data stored in the tag 4 of the cassette 41 is required occasionally to be updated, the data in the tag 4 is updated simultaneouslywhen the cassette 41 is ejected from the VTR 2. The reason is that adverse effect on video processing circuits and audio processing circuits in the VTR
2 of carrier wave should be minimized because the communication between the tag 4 and the reader/writer 14 is performed by use of carrier wave of medium wave band to short wave band.
Referring to a flow chart shown in Fig. 6, the operation of the VTR 2 having the reader/writer 14 as described herein above which is performed when the parental lock data is received is described. In step S1, the antenna 1 of the VTR 2 receives a broadcast signal which include the parental lock data. It is assumed that the broadcast signal is a program which has been indicated to be recorded in the cassette 41 by a user.
The broadcast signal received by the antenna 1 is demodulated by the tuner 11. The demodulated program data is provided to the slicer 13 and the recording/reproducing unit 16. The program data supplied from the tuner 11 is supplied also to the switching unit 12, but not supplied to the display apparatus 3 if the program data is not required to be displayed on the display apparatus 3.
The broadcast signal supplied to the recording/reproducing unit 16 is recorded on a magnetic tape (not shown in the drawing) contained in the cassette 41. The slicer 13 extracts the parental lock data from the input program data in step S2. As described herein above, the parental lock data is inserted in the 21-st line of the second frame of the vertical synchronizing interval, at that time the data is read out therefrom. The read out parental lock data is transmitted to the tag 4 and stored in the tag 4 in step S3.
In detail, first the microcomputer 55 of the reader/writer 14 supplies the parental lock data supplied from the slicer 13 by way of the communication line 60 to the communication control circuit 54. The communication control circuit 54 supplies the data supplied from the microcomputer 55 to the modulation circuit 58.
The modulation circuit 58 modulates the data to a predetermined carrier wave based on the signal supplied from the communication control circuit 54, and supplies it to the amplifier circuit 59. The amplifier circuit 59 amplifies the signal supplied from the modulation circuit 58 to the signal level necessary for communication and transmits it by way of the antenna 15.
The parental lock data transmitted by way of the antenna 15 is received by the antenna 21 of the tag 4. The radio wave from the reader/writer 14 received by the antenna 21 is converted to a corresponding electric signal and supplied to the tuning circuit 22. The tuning circuit 22 extracts only the carrier wave of predetermined frequency from the signal supplied to the antenna 21, and supplies it to the amplifier circuit 23. The amplifier circuit 23 amplifies the signal supplied from the tuning circuit 22 to the predetermined signal level, and supplies it to the demodulation circuit 24.
The demodulation circuit 24 demodulates the signal supplied from the amplifier circuit 23, and supplies it to the communication control circuit 25. The communication control circuit 25, which has been switched to the reception mode, converts the signal supplied from the demodulation circuit 24 to a digital data, and supplies it to the microcomputer26. The data (parentallock data) suppliedfrom the communication control circuit 25 to the microcomputer 26 is supplied from the microcomputer to the EEPROM 27, and stored in the EEPROM 27.
Referring to a flow chart shown in Fig. 7, the operation of the VTR 2 and the tag 4 performed when the cassette 41 having the attached tag 4 in which the parental lock data has been recorded as described herein above is. reproduced by the VTR 2 is described.
In step 511, when a user inserts the cassette 41 having the attached tag 4 and indicates reproduction, then in step 512, the parental lock data stored in the tag 4 is read out by the reader/writer 14 of the VTR 2. The reading out begins with transmission of the parental lock data to the tag 4 by way of the antenna 15 by the microcomputer 55 of the reader/writer 14.
Upon receiving the data corresponding to the transmission request for the data by way of the communication control circuit 25, the microcomputer 26 of the tag 4 reads out the parental lock data from the EEPROM 27 stored therein, and supplies the read out parental lock data to the communication control circuit 25. The communication control circuit 25 switches the operation mode to the transmission mode to supply the parental lock data supplied from the microcomputer 26 to the modulation circuit 29.
The modulation circuit 29 modulates the carrier wave based on the signal supplied from the communication circuit 25, and supplies it to the amplifier circuit 30 . The amplifier circuit 30 amplifies the signal supplied from the modulation circuit 29 to the signal level necessary for communication.
The signal amplified by the amplifier 30 is transmitted by way of the antenna 21.
The transmitted signal is received by the antenna 15 of the VTR 2 . The carrier wave from the tag 4 received from the antenna 15 is converted to the corresponding electric signal and then supplied to the tuning circuit 51. The tuning circuit 51 extracts the carrier wave of predetermined frequency from the signal supplied from the antenna 15, and supplies it to the amplifier circuit 52. The amplifier circuit 52 amplifies the signal supplied from the tuning circuit 51 to the predetermined signal level, and then supplies it to the demodulation circuit 53.
The demodulation circuit 53 demodulates the modulated carrier wave and supplies the demodulated carrier wave to the communication control circuit 54. The communication control circuit 54 is switched to the reception mode, converts the signal supplied from the demodulation circuit 53 to the digital data, and then supplies the digital data to the microcomputer 55. The microcomputer 55 controls the RAM 56 to store the data (parental lock data) supplied from the communication control circuit 54 as required, and then transmits it to the inserter 17 by way of the communication line 60.
In step S13, the inserter 17 inserts the input parental lock data in the video data supplied from the recording/reproducing unit 16. At that time, the input parental lock data is inserted in the 21-st line of the second frame of the vertical synchronizing interval where the parental lock data should be stored properly. The adverse effect of noise caused on the 21-st line during non-normal speed reproduction of the VTR is prevented by additionally inserting the parental lock data format again, and the function during non-normal speed reproduction can be realized though which has been impossible to be realized heretofore.
The video data in which the parental lock data is inserted in step S13 is provided to the display apparatus 3 and displayed in step 514. When the switching circuit 12 provides the reproduction signal from the cassette 41, the switching circuit 12 is switched so as to select and send out the video signal suppliedfrom the recording/reproducing unit 16 instead of the output from the tuner 11. In the display apparatus 3, the function of the data namely lock function is activated because the parental lock data is included in the transmitted video data, and the video data processed so that children can not view prejudicial programs is displayed.
As described hereinbefore, by recording the parental lock data in the tag 4 attached to the cassette 41, the innate function of the parental lock data is activated even if the parental lock data is missed from the video data of a program.
When the parental lock data is wanted to be inserted in a recorded video tape before the parental lock data is transmitted, a sales video tape in which a desired program is recorded for selling, and a rental video tape for renting from a rental video supplier, heretofore it is required that the parental lock data is converted to a signal in accordance with EIA-608 and EIA-744, and the converted signal is inserted in the 21-st line of the frame of the vertical synchronizing interval. However, the data which is recorded in the tag 4 is rewritable, for example, the same function is effective on the tape which was recorded in the past by applying a method that a user adds the parental lock data in the tag 4 by use of the reader/writer 14 as shown in Fig. 8 and thereafter attaches the tag 4 to the recorded video tape, and otherwise attaching the tag 4 in which the parental lock data has been recorded previously on a video tape makes the above-mentioned processing unnecessary, and the working and cost for production is saved.
The data associated with programs recorded in the cassette 41 having the attached tag 4 is recorded in the tag 4. Fig. 9 shows the data recorded in the tag 4 displayed on a screen of the television receiver 81.
The exemplary display shows that 5 programs are recorded in the cassette 41, and the recording data and title of respective programs is displayed. An icon 91 for indicating that this program includes the parental lock data is displayed on the side of the parent-locked program out of these programs. The shape and color of the icon 91 may be designed as desired. Otherwise, instead of marking with an icon, the title may be specially colored to distinguish it from other programs.
In the present invention, the distribution medium for providing a computer program for executing the above-mentioned processing to users includes information recording media such as magnetic disc and CD-ROM and transmission media for transmitting the data through network such as Internet and digital satellites.
As described hereinbefore, according to the information processing apparatus described in claim 1, the information processing method described in claim 4, and the distribution medium described in claim 5, the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus is received, the second information recorded in a recording medium is reproduced, and the first information is inserted in the reproduced second information. Therefore, even if a broadcast signal from which the parental lock data has been missed is reproduced, the lock function is effective.
Claims (5)
1. An information processing apparatus comprising:
receiving means for receiving first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus;
reproducing means for reproducing second information recorded in a recording medium; and insertion means for inserting said first information in said second information reproduced from said reproducing means.
receiving means for receiving first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus;
reproducing means for reproducing second information recorded in a recording medium; and insertion means for inserting said first information in said second information reproduced from said reproducing means.
2. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
second receiving means for receiving said second information;
extracting means for extracting said first information from the second information received by said second receiving means; and transmission means for transmitting said first information extracted by said extracting means to said another information processing apparatus.
second receiving means for receiving said second information;
extracting means for extracting said first information from the second information received by said second receiving means; and transmission means for transmitting said first information extracted by said extracting means to said another information processing apparatus.
3. An information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first information is a parental lock data.
4. An information processing method comprising:
a receiving step for receiving the first information transmitted from another information apparatus;
a reproducing step for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium; and an inserting step for inserting said first information in said second information reproduced in said reproducing step.
a receiving step for receiving the first information transmitted from another information apparatus;
a reproducing step for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium; and an inserting step for inserting said first information in said second information reproduced in said reproducing step.
5. A distribution medium for providing programs which can be read by a computer for performing a process comprising:
a receiving step for receiving the first information transmitted from another information apparatus;
a reproducing step for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium; and an inserting step for inserting said first information in said second information reproduced in said reproducing step.
a receiving step for receiving the first information transmitted from another information apparatus;
a reproducing step for reproducing the second information recorded in a recording medium; and an inserting step for inserting said first information in said second information reproduced in said reproducing step.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP10174582A JP2000011606A (en) | 1998-06-22 | 1998-06-22 | Apparatus and method for information processing and providing medium |
| JPP10-174582 | 1998-06-22 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2274396A1 true CA2274396A1 (en) | 1999-12-22 |
Family
ID=15981086
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002274396A Abandoned CA2274396A1 (en) | 1998-06-22 | 1999-06-11 | Information processing apparatus and method and distribution medium |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP2000011606A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2274396A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1298663A4 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2005-12-14 | Sony Corp | Information recording device and method, and information recording system |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR20040045770A (en) * | 2002-11-25 | 2004-06-02 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Apparatus for blocking watcher's access to certain program, and method of the same |
| KR100646428B1 (en) | 2005-06-29 | 2006-11-23 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Digital broadcast receiving device for inserting rating data of digital stream to analog signal and method thereof |
| JP2011199598A (en) * | 2010-03-19 | 2011-10-06 | Sharp Corp | Recording and playback apparatus and special playback method |
-
1998
- 1998-06-22 JP JP10174582A patent/JP2000011606A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1999
- 1999-06-11 CA CA002274396A patent/CA2274396A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1298663A4 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2005-12-14 | Sony Corp | Information recording device and method, and information recording system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP2000011606A (en) | 2000-01-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20030611 |