JP2000011606A - Apparatus and method for information processing and providing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a lock function even in the case of reproducing a signal from which parental lock data is dropped. SOLUTION: A broadcast signal received by an antenna 1 is input to a slicer 13 via a tuner 11. The parental lock data included in the broadcast signal input to the slicer 13 is extracted. The extracted parental lock data is then transmitted to a tag 4 with a built-in non-contact type memory via the antenna 15 by a reader/writer. The transmitted parental lock data is then stored in the memory comprised in the tag 4. The stored parental lock data is then read by the reader/writer 14 as required and it is then inserted to the video data output from a recording/reproducing unit 16 by an inserter 17 and is then output to a display device via a switching unit 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a providing medium, and more particularly to a method for storing parental lock data in a tag so that the signal can be locked even when a signal lacking parental lock data is reproduced. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method for realizing a function, and a providing medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the United States, parental lock data is included in a program designated in advance so that children will not be shown a harmful program. When a program including this parental lock data is received, the television receiver does not display the screen and displays a warning message indicating that the program is a harmful program. Become. Such a display (lock) is released by inputting a password set by the parent.

[0003]

However, when digitally processing data of a program including parental lock data, the parental lock data may be lost. Also, in the case of analog recording, parental lock data is inserted in the vertical synchronization section of the video signal, but when performing variable speed playback etc., noise is superimposed on the inserted vertical synchronization period and decoding cannot be performed correctly. There is. Therefore, when a program including the parental lock data is received and the received program is recorded by the recording / reproducing device, the function as the parental lock may not be performed.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. By recording parental lock data on a tag having a built-in non-contact type memory attached to a recording medium, the parental lock data can be recorded. The locking function is performed even in the case of missing.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus; and second information recorded on a recording medium. , And insertion means for inserting the first information into the second information reproduced by the reproduction means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method comprising: a receiving step of receiving first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus; and a reproducing step of reproducing second information recorded on a recording medium. And inserting the first information into the second information reproduced in the reproducing step.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium, comprising: a receiving step of receiving first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus; a reproducing step of reproducing second information recorded on a recording medium; In the second information reproduced in the reproduction step,
And a computer-readable program for executing a process including an inserting step of inserting the first information.

[0008] The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, claim 4,
In the information processing method according to the first aspect and the providing medium according to the fifth aspect, the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus is received, and the second information recorded on the recording medium is reproduced. The first information is inserted into the reproduced second information.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In order to clarify the correspondence between each means of the invention described in the claims and the following embodiments, each means is described. When the features of the present invention are described by adding the corresponding embodiment (however, an example) in parentheses after the parentheses, the result is as follows. However, of course, this description does not mean that each means is limited to those described.

The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is a receiving means (for example, the antenna 15 in FIG. 1) for receiving the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus (for example, the tag 4).
A reproducing unit (for example, the recording / reproducing unit 16 in FIG. 1) for reproducing the second information recorded on the recording medium, and an insertion for inserting the first information into the second information reproduced by the reproducing unit. (For example, the inserter 17 in FIG. 1).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, comprising: a second receiving means (for example, the antenna 1 in FIG. 1) for receiving second information; and a second information receiving means for receiving the second information. Extracting means (for example, the slicer 13 in FIG. 1) for extracting the first information from the information processing apparatus, and transmitting means (for example, the antenna 15 in FIG. 1) for transmitting the first information extracted by the extracting means to another information processing apparatus. ) Is further provided.

FIG. 1 shows an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a VTR (Video Tape Recorder). The broadcast signal received by antenna 1 is VTR2
Is input to the tuner 11. The input broadcast signal is
Slicer 13, recording / reproducing unit 16, and switching unit 12
Is output to When the data input to the slicer 13 includes parental lock data, the slicer 13
Extracts the parental lock data.

The parental lock data is data for preventing children from viewing a program designated as a harmful program, and a warning message is displayed on the screen of a display device 3 such as a television receiver. This is data for displaying or controlling the display so as not to be seen at all. To release this parental lock, it is necessary to enter a password. Therefore, a child who does not know the password cannot see the program locked by parental lock. The parental lock data is inserted in the 21st line of each field in the vertical synchronization section, and is used in an EIA (Electronic Industries Associate).
ion) -608 and EIA-744.

The parental lock data extracted by the slicer 13 is output to a reader / writer 14. The reader / writer 14 exchanges data with the tag 4 via the antenna 15. The data input to the reader / writer 14 is also output to the inserter 17. Inserter 17
Inserts the input data into the video data output from the recording / reproducing unit 16 and outputs the video data to the switching unit 12. The switching unit 12 switches between a signal from the tuner 11 and a signal from the recording / reproducing unit 16 and outputs the signal to the display device 3.

Here, the tag 4 will be described. Tag 4
Has a built-in memory and transmits and receives data without contact. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the tag 4. The antenna 21 constituting 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 the tuning circuit 22 and the power supply circuit 31. The tuning circuit 22 extracts a carrier wave used for communication between the tag 4 and the reader / writer 14 from a signal supplied from the antenna 21.

The amplifying circuit 23 amplifies an input signal to a predetermined level and then outputs the amplified signal. The demodulation circuit 24 demodulates the modulated carrier and converts it into corresponding predetermined data. The communication control circuit 25 switches between data transmission and reception. The microcomputer (microcomputer) 26 is a ROM
(Read only memory) Each part is controlled according to a control program stored in 28. Also, of the data supplied through the communication control circuit 25, data that needs to be stored is appropriately stored in an EEPROM (electrical
ly erasable and programmable read only memory) 27
To be supplied. Microcomputer 26 and ROM2
Instead of 8, similar processing by a sequencer using logic is also possible.

The EEPROM 27 stores data supplied from the microcomputer 26. Modulation circuit 29
Are adapted to modulate and output a carrier based on the data supplied from the communication control circuit 25. The amplification circuit 30 amplifies the signal modulated to the carrier frequency supplied from the modulation circuit 29 to a level required for communication. The antenna 21 transmits the signal of the carrier frequency amplified by the amplifier circuit 30 by radio waves.

The electric signal supplied from the antenna 21 of the tag 4 is supplied to a power supply circuit 31. here,
Energy is extracted by electromagnetic coupling with a carrier transmitted from the reader / writer 14, and necessary power is supplied to each unit. As described above, the tag 4 is supplied with power from the outside.

The tag 4 having such a configuration is, for example,
As shown in FIG. 3, it is used by being mounted on a cassette 41. In the example of FIG. 3, a state is shown in which the tags 4 are respectively mounted in the concave portions 42 and 43 provided in the housing of the cassette 41.

Next, the internal configuration of the reader / writer 14 for writing and reading data to and from the tag 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The antenna 15 transmits a predetermined signal to the tag 4 and receives a signal from the tag 4. Further, a magnetic field for supplying power to the tag 4 is generated.

The tuning circuit 51 extracts a carrier wave of a frequency used for communication between the tag 4 and the reader / writer 14 from the signal supplied from the antenna 15. The amplification circuit 52 amplifies the input signal to a predetermined level and then outputs the signal. The demodulation circuit 53 demodulates the modulated carrier and converts it into predetermined data. The communication control circuit 54 switches between data transmission and reception and controls communication. The microcomputer 55 controls each unit according to a control program stored in the ROM 57. The data supplied via the communication control circuit 54 is supplied to a random access memory (RAM) 56 as appropriate.

The RAM 56 stores the data supplied from the microcomputer 55. Modulation circuit 58
Are adapted to modulate and output a carrier based on the data supplied from the communication control circuit 54. The amplification circuit 59 converts the modulated carrier supplied from the modulation circuit 58 into
It is designed to amplify to the level required for communication. The antenna 15 transmits the carrier wave amplified by the amplifier circuit 52 by radio waves.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the VTR 2 shown in FIG. In the case of this example, the reader / writer 14 has a plurality of antennas 15-1 and 15-2. The microcomputer 74 controls the reader / writer 14 via the communication line 60, transmits and receives data, reads out data stored in the tag 4 attached to the cassette 41, and stores predetermined data in the tag 4. It has been made like that.

The compartment 73 forms a space into which the cassette 41 is inserted, and the switch 72
It is configured to detect whether or not 1 has been inserted into the compartment 73. Also, the cassette 41 is VTR2
Antenna 15-2 that communicates with the tag 4 when it is outside the
The electromagnetic wave is designed to have directivity so as not to affect the components inside R2. In particular,
A metal plate 71-2 is provided on the back surface of the antenna 15-2 so as to prevent the electromagnetic wave radiated from the antenna 15-2 from being applied to the inside of the VTR 2.

Similarly, a metal plate 71-1 is also provided on the back surface of the antenna 15-1 to prevent the electromagnetic waves radiated from the antenna 15-1 from being applied to the inside of the VTR 2.

Normally, with the cassette 41 inserted in the compartment 73 in the VTR 2, communication with the tag 4 mounted on the cassette 41 is performed by the antenna 15-1 provided in the compartment 73.

As described above, the communication between the cassette 41 and the tag 4 in the state where the cassette 41 is inserted into the compartment 73 is performed when the cassette 41 is not inserted into the compartment 73 according to the radio law or the like. This is because, due to the restriction of the electric field strength according to safety standards, the reach of radio waves is limited, and if the cassette 41 is outside the VTR 2, communication with the tag 4 attached thereto cannot be performed reliably. .

Therefore, in the VTR 2 shown in FIG.
In addition to the antenna 15-1, an antenna 15-2 is provided on the front surface of the VTR 2 or the like. Thus, the reader / writer 14 can communicate with the tag 4 mounted on the cassette 41 via the antenna 15-2 even when the cassette 41 is outside the VTR 2.

As described above, the cassette 41 has the VTR 2
Can be determined by using the switch 72. That is, the cassette 4
When 1 is inserted into the compartment 73, the switch 7
2 is pressed by the housing of the cassette 41 and the cassette 4
It is detected that 1 has been inserted into the compartment 73. Then, a signal indicating that the cassette 41 has been inserted into the compartment 73 is supplied from the switch 72 to the microcomputer 74. Thereby, the microcomputer 74 can determine whether the cassette 41 is located outside or inside the VTR 2.

When the microcomputer 74 recognizes that the cassette 41 has been inserted into the compartment 73 based on a signal from the switch 72, the microcomputer 74 operates the antenna 15-1 and inserts the cassette 41 into the compartment 73 via the antenna 15-1. The communication with the cassette 41 is performed.

When it is necessary to update the data stored in the tag 4 of the cassette 41, the data of the tag 4 is updated collectively when the cassette 41 is ejected from the VTR 2. . This is because the communication between the tag 4 and the reader / writer 14 is performed using a medium wave band to a short wave band carrier, and the VT of the carrier wave is used.
This is to minimize the influence on the video processing circuit and the audio processing circuit inside R2.

A VTR equipped with such a reader / writer 14
2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 when the parent lock data is received. In step S1, the antenna 1 of the VTR 2 receives a broadcast signal including parental lock data. The broadcast signal is a broadcast program instructed to be recorded on the cassette 41 by the user.

The broadcast signal received by the antenna 1 is
The signal is demodulated by the tuner 11. The demodulated program data is output to the slicer 13 and the recording / reproducing unit 16. The program data output from the tuner 11 is transmitted to the switching unit 12
However, if there is no need to display on the display device 3, it is not output to the display device 3.

The broadcast signal input to the recording / reproducing unit 16 is
It is recorded on a magnetic tape (not shown) built in the cassette 41 set. In step S2, the slicer 13 extracts parental lock data from the input program data. As described above, since the parental lock data is inserted in the 21st line of the second frame in the vertical synchronization section, the data is read therefrom. The read parental lock data is transmitted to the tag 4 and stored in step S3.

That is, first, the microcomputer 55 of the reader / writer 14 supplies the parental lock data supplied from the slicer 13 to the communication control circuit 54 via the communication line 60. The communication control circuit 54 supplies the data supplied from the microcomputer 55 to the modulation circuit 58.

The modulation circuit 58 modulates the signal into a predetermined carrier on the basis of the signal supplied from the communication control circuit 54 and supplies the modulated signal to the amplifier circuit 59. The amplification circuit 59 amplifies the signal supplied from the modulation circuit 58 to a level necessary for communication, and transmits the signal via the antenna 15.

The parental lock data transmitted via the antenna 15 is received by the antenna 21 of the tag 4. The electric wave from the reader / writer 14 received by the antenna 21 is converted into a corresponding electric signal and supplied to the tuning circuit 22. The tuning circuit 22 includes an antenna 21
From the supplied signal, only a carrier having a predetermined frequency is extracted and supplied to the amplifier circuit 23. The amplification circuit 23 amplifies the signal supplied by the tuning circuit 22 to a predetermined signal level, and then supplies the signal to the demodulation circuit 24.

The demodulation circuit 24 demodulates the signal supplied from the amplification circuit 23 and supplies the signal to the communication control circuit 25. In this case, the communication control circuit 25 has been switched to the reception mode, changes the signal supplied from the demodulation circuit 24 to digital data, and supplies the digital data to the microcomputer 26. The data (parental lock data) supplied from the communication control circuit 25 to the microcomputer 26 is stored in the EEPROM 26 by the microcomputer 26.
27 and stored.

The cassette 41 to which the tag 4 storing the parental lock data is attached is loaded into the VTR.
The operation of the VTR 2 and the tag 4 at the time of reproduction by the VTR 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S11, the user
When the cassette 41 to which the tag 4 is attached is inserted into the VTR 2 and a reproduction instruction is issued, in step S12,
The parental lock data stored in tag 4 is
It is read by the reader / writer 14 of the VTR 2. This reading starts with the microcomputer 59 of the reader / writer 14 sending a parental lock data transmission request to the tag 4 via the antenna 15.

The microcomputer 26 of the tag 4 includes the communication control circuit 2
When the data corresponding to the data transmission request is received via 5, the parental lock data stored therein is read from the EEPROM 27, and the read parental lock data is supplied to the communication control circuit 25. The communication control circuit 25 switches the operation mode to the transmission mode, and supplies the parental lock data supplied from the microcomputer 26 to the modulation circuit 29.

The modulation circuit 29 modulates the carrier based on the signal supplied from the communication control circuit 25, and
To supply. The amplification circuit 30 amplifies the signal supplied from the modulation circuit 29 to a level required for communication. The signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 30 is transmitted via the antenna 21.

The transmitted signal is transmitted to the VTR 2 antenna 15
Is received by The carrier from the tag 4 received by the antenna 15 is converted into a corresponding electric signal,
The signal is supplied to the tuning circuit 51. The tuning circuit 51 extracts a carrier having a predetermined frequency from the signal supplied from the antenna 15 and supplies the carrier to the amplifier 52. The amplification circuit 52 amplifies the signal supplied from the tuning circuit 51 to a predetermined signal level, and then supplies the signal to the demodulation circuit 53.

The demodulation circuit 53 demodulates the modulated carrier and supplies it 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 into digital data, and supplies the digital data to the microcomputer 55. The microcomputer 55 stores the data (parental lock data) supplied from the communication control circuit 54 in the RAM 56 as necessary, and then transmits the data to the inserter 17 via the communication line 60.

The inserter 17 inserts the input parental lock data into the video data output from the recording / reproducing unit 16 in step S13. This insertion means that parental lock data is originally stored,
This is performed for the 21st line of the second frame in the vertical synchronization section. By inserting the parental lock data format again later on the noise generated in the 21st line portion at the time of variable-speed playback of the VTR, a function at the time of variable-speed playback that was conventionally impossible can be realized.

In step S13, the video data into which the parental lock data has been inserted is stored in step S14.
Is output to the display device 3 and displayed. In addition,
When outputting the reproduction signal from the cassette 41, the switching circuit 12 selects and outputs the video signal output from the recording / reproduction unit 16 instead of the output from the tuner 11. In the display device 3, since the transmitted video data includes parental lock data, a lock function, which is a function of the data, is activated to perform processing for preventing children from viewing harmful programs. Is displayed.

As described above, by recording the parental lock data on the tag 4 attached to the cassette 41, even in a program in which the parental lock data is missing from the video data, the original parental lock data can be used. The function can be fulfilled.

A video tape or a predetermined program recorded before the parental lock data is transmitted is recorded.
When inserting parental lock data into a sell-through video to be sold or a video tape rented at a rental video store or the like, the parental lock data is converted into a signal conforming to EIA-608 and EIA-744, and It was necessary to insert the converted signal into the 21st line of the frame in the vertical synchronization section. However, the data recorded in the tag 4 can be rewritten. For example, the user adds parental lock data to the tag 4 using the reader / writer 14 as shown in FIG. As a result, a similar function can be realized for a tape recorded in the past, and a tag 4 in which parental lock data is recorded in advance.
Is affixed to a video tape, the above-mentioned processing is not required, and the steps and costs at the time of creation can be reduced.

In the tag 4, data relating to a program recorded in the cassette 41 to which the tag 4 is attached is recorded. FIG. 9 shows a state in which data relating to a program recorded in the tag 4 is displayed on the television receiver 81.

This display example shows that five programs are recorded on the cassette 41, and the recording date and time and the title of each program are displayed. Among these programs, for a program including parental lock data, an icon 91 indicating that is displayed beside the title. The icon 91 may have any shape and color. Alternatively, a title may be colored instead of an icon to distinguish it from other programs.

In the present specification, a providing medium for providing a user with a computer program for executing the above processing includes an information recording medium such as a magnetic disk and a CD-ROM, and a network such as the Internet and a digital satellite. Transmission media is also included.

[0052]

As described above, the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the information processing method according to the fourth aspect, and the fifth aspect.
According to the providing medium described in (1), the first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus is received, and the second information recorded on the recording medium is received.
Information is reproduced, and the first information is inserted into the reproduced second information. Therefore, even when reproducing a broadcast signal in which parental lock data is missing, the lock function can be realized. Becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a VTR to which an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a tag.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of mounting a tag on a cassette;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a reader / writer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a VTR incorporating a reader / writer having a plurality of antennas.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of recording parental lock data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reading parental lock data recorded on a tag.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating that data is recorded on a tag using a reader / writer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example when data recorded on a tag is displayed on a television receiver.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 tags, 13 slicers, 14 reader / writers,
15 antennas, 17 recording unit, 21 antennas,
Reference Signs List 22 tuning circuit, 23 amplification circuit, 24 demodulation circuit, 25 communication control circuit, 26 microcomputer, 27
EEPROM, 28 ROM, 29 modulation circuit,
Reference Signs List 30 amplification circuit, 31 power supply circuit, 51 tuning circuit, 52 amplification circuit, 53 demodulation circuit, 54 communication control circuit, 55 microcomputer, 56 RAM, 5
7 ROM, 58 modulation circuit, 59 amplification circuit, 6
0 Communication line

Claims (5)

[Claims] A receiving unit that receives first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus; a reproducing unit that reproduces second information recorded on a recording medium; and a reproducing unit that reproduces the second information. An information processing apparatus comprising: an insertion unit that inserts the first information into the second information. A second receiving unit that receives the second information; an extracting unit that extracts the first information from the second information received by the second receiving unit; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the first information extracted by the unit to the another information processing apparatus. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information is parental lock data. 4. A receiving step of receiving first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus; a reproducing step of reproducing second information recorded on a recording medium; An insertion step of inserting the first information into the second information. 5. A receiving step of receiving first information transmitted from another information processing apparatus; a reproducing step of reproducing second information recorded on a recording medium; A providing medium for providing a computer-readable program for executing a process including an inserting step of inserting the first information into the second information.