JP2002238044A - Information reconstructing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of being unable to know the original scene at all, when an entirely different substitution scene replaces one, in which one does not wish to see information or the like existing in part of a scene. SOLUTION: A moving image object 41 is eliminated among a background object 40 and moving image objects 41, 42, 43 depending on feature information and the moving image object 43 is replaced with a substitute object.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information reconstructing apparatus for reconstructing distribution information in which one scene is divided for each object and characteristic information of each object is added.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional information content distribution,
When there is information that the viewer does not want to see (such as a violent scene) or when the content is configured according to the user level of the viewer (such as the level of the fee), the scene is replaced with an alternative scene.

[0003]

However, in the above conventional example, if there is information or the like that is not desired to be seen in a part of the scene, it is replaced by a completely different alternative scene.
There was a problem that it was impossible to know what the original scene was like.

[0004]

According to the present invention, an input means for inputting distribution information in which one scene is divided into a plurality of objects and characteristic information of each object is added,
There is a reconstructing means for reconstructing the distribution information based on the feature information of the object.

[0005] In this way, when there is information or the like that is not desired to be seen in a part of the scene, it is possible to know what is going on other than that part.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an information reconstructing device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0007] As an information transmission system to which information for identifying the characteristics of the display object can be added for each display object, in a broadcast type moving image content distribution system using the MPEG system, a broadcast viewer profile is added. An example in which the viewer customizes the reproduced moving image on the viewer side in response to the request will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of a system configuration.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a network or broadcast network serving as a content distribution medium; 11, an information distribution center that manages the distribution of moving picture content of the MPEG system; 12, a receiving terminal (hereinafter referred to as a viewer); IC card which is a user identification module.

In the present embodiment, a mode in which the viewer 12 is divided into a set-top box (100) and a display (101) will be described.

FIG. 2 is a functional configuration block diagram of the information content server 20 of the information distribution center 11, and FIG. 3 is a functional configuration block diagram of the set-top box 100.

An information content server (20) is a network / broadcast network interface unit (21) for controlling distribution media, converts content to be distributed into stream data of the MPEG system, and identification information representing the characteristics of each information object. MPEG encoder (2
2) A data manager block (23) that combines information materials stored in a material database (24) according to program (program) configuration information stored in a method database (25) and generates a distribution program.
It is constituted by.

On the other hand, a set-top box (100)
Is a network / broadcast network interface unit (31) for controlling distribution media, and an IC as a user identification module.
IC card interface unit (32) for communication with the card (102), user profile information 300 of the viewer read from the IC card (102), and terminal location information input by external input means (not shown) or the like. A control unit (33) that performs various controls using (301) as a determination parameter, reads the stream data of the distributed MPEG system, decodes the stream data according to the instruction of the control unit (33), and replaces the stream data with a substitute object. An MPEG decoder (34), a material database (35) for storing local materials usable for the substitute object, and a display interface (36) for converting an output from the MPEG decoder into a signal 302 that can be output on the display (101). ing.

The material database 35 stores the local material 3
03 can be added or deleted. Terminal location information 301
Is controlled by an external input means such as a keyboard.
Is input to In another embodiment, the external input means for inputting the terminal location information 301 is a position detection system such as a GPS.

FIG. 10 shows a logical hierarchy model of an IC card (a smart card with terminals compliant with ISO7816 in this embodiment) 102 which is a user identification module of this embodiment.

Reference numeral 1001 denotes an MF (Master File), which is the highest hierarchy of the structure of the IC card logical file.

Reference numeral 1002 denotes an uppermost DF (Dedicate File)
It is an uppermost EF (Elementary File) which is an element file for storing information regarding 1003 and 1004.

Reference numerals 1003 and 1004 denote the MF 1001
Is a top-level DF that exists immediately below. In this embodiment,
A unique value is assigned to each service provider to the application ID for identifying the highest-order DF (DF for service provider).

Below the DF (1003, 1004),
A DF in which a unique application ID is assigned to each service menu (communication application, content distribution application) provided by the service provider
(Service application DF).
Of these DFs, various user profile information used in the application is stored (1007 to 1014) below the DFs (1005, 1006) related to the user data storage service of the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a sequence in which the control unit 33 reads the various user profile information from the IC card.

The controller 33 mounts an IC card (110).
After that, user authentication processing (111) using a password or biometrics is performed, and after confirming the success, the IC
The user profile is read from the IC card 102 using the card interface 32 (112).

When executing a content distribution application, the user profile information is read from the EF 1014. This user profile information includes gender, age, nationality, hobbies, preferences, and the like. When executing a communication application, the user profile information is read from the EF 1013. The application to be executed is specified from an external input unit (not shown).

Therefore, it is possible to prevent information content from being viewed by impersonating the user identification module.

FIG. 5 shows a conceptual diagram of the structure of the distribution information content (program) in the MPEG system.

Since the program (5) is a moving image, the scene (50)
5n), and the scene includes a background object (500), a moving image object (501 to 50n), and an audio object (511 to 51n).
n) and other various objects.

In the case of distributing one scene as shown in FIG. 4, the content server 20 uses the MPEG encoder (22) to set the palm tree to the background object (4).
0), a video object (41) of a human (female) dancing on the left side, a video object (42) of a human (male) dancing on the right side, a running one-box car (43)
Is divided into four objects.

Here, for each object, the user level for viewing and listening, and the outline (or characteristic) of the object
Is added to each information profile object, and then the network / broadcast network interface unit (2
Delivered via 1).

As shown in FIG. 6, in the set-top box 100, the MPEG decoder (34) which has received the distribution via the network broadcast network interface unit (31) receives the object (6) of the received scene 60.
00n to 61n), the control unit (3
3) The object group (600 to 6) of the reception scene (60) according to the decoding restriction condition (61) based on the received viewer profile or viewing location and the presence or absence of the substitute object 62 in the material database (35)
1n) is selected and reconstructed into a scene suitable for the viewer and reproduced (63).

The control section 33 reads the profile of the viewer from the IC card 102. On the other hand, information on the viewing location is registered in the control unit 33 in advance from an external input unit (not shown). In another embodiment, the control unit 33 obtains this position information by reading it from a position detection system such as a GPS. The control unit 33 includes the IC card 102
The decoding condition 61 is determined on the basis of the viewer profile read from the URL and the viewer location information input from external input means (not shown).

Also, reference numeral 60 in FIG. 6 denotes scenes 50 to 50 in FIG.
5n. Each object (600 to 61
n) includes a profile object to which feature information has been added.

FIG. 7 shows a conceptual flowchart of decoding processing for each scene in the MPEG decoder 34 at this time.

First, the MPEG decoder 34 receives a data stream of a scene (50 to 5n in FIG. 5), and decodes an object (50 in FIG. 5, 60 in FIG. 6) for each scene (50 in FIG. 6). 600-61n)
Are referred to (701), and it is determined whether or not the decoding restriction condition 61 based on the profile or viewing location of the viewer is satisfied according to the feature information of the target object included in the profile (702). )
I do.

If the determination in 702 does not apply, the MP
The EG decoder 34 determines that the object is used for reproduction, and determines whether the object is the last object of the scene constituent object (706).

If it is determined in step 702 that the condition is satisfied,
The MPEG decoder 34 determines whether replacement with the substitute object on the material database 35 in the viewer is possible (703), and if possible, replaces the display target object with the substitute object (704).
That is, in the determination in 703, if an alternative object having the corresponding feature information is stored in the material database 35 in accordance with the feature information corresponding to the decoding restriction condition 61, the replacement object is restricted to the alternative object in 704. The object corresponding to the condition 61 is replaced.

On the other hand, if the determination in 703 is impossible, M
The PEG decoder 34 deletes the object from the object to be decoded (705). This 704,
After the process of 705, it is determined whether or not the current determination object is the last object of the scene configuration object (70).
Perform 6).

If it is not the final object, the profile of the object to be decoded is returned to the reference (701) again for the next scene constituting object. In addition, even if it is the final object, the decoding process of the target scene (7
07), the decoding process of one scene is started, and the scene is reproduced.

In an embodiment in which the MPEG decoder 34 includes a microcomputer that operates according to a program and a memory that stores the program, the flowchart of FIG. 7 shows a part of the program. In this embodiment, the memory corresponds to a storage medium that stores a program so that the program can be read by a computer. The microcomputer reads the program from the memory and performs the above operation. In this embodiment, “MPEG
"Decoder" should be read as "microcomputer".

FIG. 9 shows that the reproduction restriction conditions based on the user profile 300 input from the IC card 102 are “prohibition of display of women with exposed skin” (automatic recognition based on nationality conditions, etc.) and the reproduction restriction conditions based on the viewer installation location 301. ,
FIG. 4 shows an example of the case where the original image of FIG. 4 is distributed and reproduced in the case of “prohibition of display of vehicles other than country A” (legal conditions of the country where the viewer is installed).

Here, the profile of the object 41 shown in FIG. 4 includes characteristic information indicating "women, skin exposed", and the profile of the object 43 includes "car, B".
Information indicating "made in Japan" is included. The substitute objects stored in the material database 35 include "Car made in country A".

The decoding condition 61 includes a condition that a woman whose skin is exposed and a car other than a car made in country A are not displayed.

The control unit 33 determines the reproduction restriction based on the user profile 300 input from the IC card 102 and the viewer installation location information 301 input from external input means (not shown). In the control unit 33, display restrictions for each nationality of the user are registered. The display restrictions for each user's nationality include whether to permit or prohibit the display of women who have exposed skin. The control unit 33 determines whether or not to display a woman with exposed skin based on the nationality included in the user profile 300. Also, IC
It may be registered in the user profile 300 of the card 102 that a woman whose skin is exposed is not displayed.

Similarly, in the control unit 33, display restrictions for each terminal location are registered. The display restrictions for each terminal location include whether to permit or prohibit the display of automobiles manufactured outside the home country.

As a result, the background object (90) and the man (92) dancing on the right side are reproduced as they are in the original image, and the woman (91) dancing on the left side is reproduced without being displayed due to the condition that the skin is exposed. The running one-box car is not made because it is not made in country A, and is not displayed, and the alternative object (running car made in country A) (9
It is changed to 3) and reproduced.

According to the above processing, even if the information distribution center distributes uniform information contents, it is possible to reproduce information according to the user's preference and level by the processing on the terminal side. Since the processing load on the data server on the side is reduced and the preference / level information of the user is not transmitted to the outside of the terminal, the risk of personal information leakage of the viewer can be reduced.

Further, the terminal has storage means such as a database for locally storing display object materials in the terminal, and when it is determined that reproduction of the display object is impossible, the terminal replaces the display object. By reproducing the scene using the display object material stored in the storage means as a substitute object, it is possible to reproduce an information scene based on the user's preference and characteristics.

Further, the scene may be reconstructed based on the user level (payment fee level or the like) of the viewer read from the IC card 102.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a processing flow of a form in which copy guard processing is performed when a reproduced scene is transmitted from the MPEG decoder (34) to the display interface (36).

First, the MPEG decoder 34 determines whether or not the reproduction object has been replaced on the reproduction scene (80).
1), the presence / absence of deletion (802) is determined.

If none of them exists, the MPEG decoder 34
Performs copy guard processing (803) on the scene and sends it to the display interface 36. In the copy guard processing, a copy guard signal is superimposed on the output to the display interface 36.

This makes it possible to prevent the secondary use of the reproduced image that is not intended by the content creator.

In a mode in which the MPEG decoder 34 includes a microcomputer that operates according to a program and a memory that stores the program, the flowchart of FIG. 8 shows a part of the program. In this embodiment, the memory corresponds to a storage medium that stores a program so that the program can be read by a computer. The microcomputer reads the program from the memory and performs the above operation. In this embodiment, “MPEG
"Decoder" should be read as "microcomputer".

In the above description, as an information transmission system to which information for identifying the characteristics of the display object can be added for each display object, a broadcast-type moving image content distribution system using the MPEG system is described.
The form in which the viewer side customizes the reproduced moving image in accordance with the profile of the broadcast viewer has been described.

In addition to the MPEG system, if the information transmission system is capable of adding information for identifying the characteristics of the display object for each display object, the same method can be used only for the reproduction side to display the reproduction information. Can be customized.

In the above embodiment, the IC card is used as the user information identification module.
Similar effects can be obtained by using a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA. Further, the user information identification module
It may be built in the terminal (viewer 12) as one function module.

Further, in another embodiment, various commercial information is stored in a material database 35 which is a storage means of display object material of the terminal (viewer 12), and a viewer profile 300 and a viewing location 301 are stored. The commercial content is reproduced using such information as selection criteria. In this way, you can effectively tailor your audience
Commercial content can be played.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By reconstructing the scene divided for each object based on the feature information of each object, even if the scene includes an object that should not be reproduced,
Objects other than the object can be played back to inform the user of the outline of the distributed scene.

Further, by reproducing information according to the user's preference and level in the processing on the terminal side, even if the information distribution center distributes uniform information contents, the data server on the information distribution center side Since the processing load of the user is reduced and the user's preference / level information is not transmitted to the outside of the terminal, the risk of personal information leakage of the viewer can be reduced.

Further, the terminal has means for locally storing the display object material, and when it is determined that the display object cannot be reproduced, the display object material is stored in the storage means instead of the display object. By reproducing the scene using the displayed object material as a substitute object, it becomes possible to reproduce an information scene based on the user's preference and characteristics.

Further, by storing various types of commercial information in the display object material storing means in the terminal, it is possible to effectively use commercial information such as a viewer profile and a viewing location as selection criteria. It is also possible to reproduce the content.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a distribution content optimizing reproduction system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration of an information distribution center in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration of a set-top box in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an example of a distribution source image in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of an object configuration of a distribution content (program) in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a set-top box side MP according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a scene reproduction process of an EG decoder.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating MPEG during scene decoding in the embodiment.
6 is a flowchart for determining a reproduction target object of a decoder.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of adding a copy guard when scene decoding is completed according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a reproduction example of a distribution image in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a user identification module 1 in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a logical information storage hierarchy model of one IC card.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of reading a user profile from an IC card in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 network / broadcasting network 11 information distribution center 12 viewer (terminal) 100 set-top box 101 display 102 IC card 31 network / broadcasting network interface 32 IC card interface 33 control unit 34 MPEG decoder 35 material database 36 display interface

Claims (34)

[Claims] 1. An input means for inputting distribution information in which one scene is divided into a plurality of objects and characteristic information of each object is added, and reconstruction for reconstructing the distribution information based on the characteristic information of the object An information reconstructing apparatus comprising: means for reconstructing information. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reproducing unit that reproduces the distribution information distributed from the information distribution center via the transmission path and reconstructed by the reconstructing unit.
1 information reconstruction device. 3. The information reconstructing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reconstructing means reconstructs said distribution information based on a user profile and characteristic information of said object. And means for connecting a user information storage module, means for performing a user authentication process, and means for reading a user profile from the user information storage module after the authentication process is completed. 2. The information reconstruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reconstruction means reconstructs said distribution information based on a condition recognized from a profile of said user and characteristic information of said object. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for recognizing a location of the information reconstructing device, wherein the reconstructing means reconstructs the distribution information based on the location and characteristic information of the object. The information reconstruction apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The information reconstructing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reconstructing means determines whether or not the object can be reproduced based on characteristic information of the object. 7. The information reconstructing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reproducing unit that reproduces the scene except for the object when it is determined that the reproduction of the object is impossible. 8. A display apparatus further comprising means for locally storing a display object material, wherein when it is determined that the reproduction of the object is impossible, the display object material stored in the storage means is substituted for the object. 2. The information reconstructing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scene is reproduced using the object. 9. The information reconstruction apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the display object stored in said local storage means is commercial information. 10. The information reconstructing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reconstructing means reconstructs said distribution information based on country information corresponding to said object. 11. The information reconstructing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reconstructing means reconstructs distribution moving image information. 12. The information reconstructing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distribution information content is a content of MPEG format information. 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reconstructing unit reconstructs the distribution information based on feature information of the object and performs a copy guard process.
Information reconstruction equipment. 14. A method in which one scene is divided into a plurality of objects, distribution information to which characteristic information of each object is added is input, and the distribution information is reconstructed based on the characteristic information of the object. Information reconstruction method. 15. The information reconstruction method according to claim 14, wherein in the reconstruction step, the object is replaced with an alternative object based on the feature information of the object. 16. The information reconstruction method according to claim 14, wherein in the reconstruction step, the distribution information is reconstructed based on country information of the object. 17. Reconstruction in which one scene is divided into a plurality of objects, distribution information to which characteristic information of each object is added, and the distribution information is reconstructed based on the characteristic information of the object. Information restructuring program. 18. The information restructuring program according to claim 17, wherein in the reconstructing step, the object is replaced with an alternative object based on the feature information of the object. 19. The information reconstruction program according to claim 17, wherein in the reconstruction step, the distribution information is reconstructed based on country information of the object. 20. Reconstructing in which one scene is divided into a plurality of objects, distribution information to which characteristic information of each object is added, and the distribution information is reconstructed based on the characteristic information of the object. A storage medium characterized by storing an information reconstruction program. 21. A storage medium storing the information reconstructing program according to claim 20, wherein in the reconstructing step, the object is replaced with an alternative object based on characteristic information of the object. 22. A storage medium storing the information reconstructing program according to claim 20, wherein in the reconstructing step, the information reconstructing program reconstructs the distribution information based on country information of the object. . 23. A determining means for determining characteristic information of each object of distribution information in which one scene is divided into a plurality of objects, and a determining means for determining reconstruction processing of the distribution information based on the characteristic information of the object. An information reconstruction apparatus characterized by having: 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the determining unit replaces the object with an alternative object based on the feature information of the object.
24. The information restructuring device according to claim 23, wherein the decision is made. 25. The re-establishment unit reconstructs the distribution information based on country information of the object,
24. The information restructuring device according to claim 23, wherein the decision is made. 26. A method for determining feature information of each object in distribution information in which one scene is divided into a plurality of objects,
An information restructuring method, characterized in that a restructuring process of the distribution information is determined based on characteristic information of the object. 27. The information reconstructing method according to claim 26, wherein in the determining step, it is determined whether or not to replace the object with a substitute object based on the feature information of the object. 28. The information restructuring method according to claim 26, wherein in the determining step, it is determined whether or not the restructuring is to reconstruct the distribution information based on the country information of the object. 29. A method for determining feature information of each object in distribution information in which one scene is divided into a plurality of objects,
An information restructuring program for determining restructuring processing of the distribution information based on characteristic information of the object. 30. The information restructuring program according to claim 29, wherein in the determining step, it is determined whether or not the object is replaced with an alternative object based on the characteristic information of the object. 31. The information restructuring program according to claim 29, wherein in the deciding step, it is decided whether or not to reconstruct the distribution information based on the country information of the object. 32. A method for determining feature information of each object in distribution information in which one scene is divided into a plurality of objects,
A storage medium storing an information restructuring program, wherein a restructuring process of the distribution information is determined based on characteristic information of the object. 33. The storage medium according to claim 32, wherein in the determining step, it is determined whether or not to replace the object with a substitute object based on the feature information of the object. 34. The storage according to claim 32, wherein in the determining step, it is determined whether or not to reconstruct the distribution information based on the country information of the object. Medium.