JP2003259286A - Broadcasting reception equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a broadcasting reception equipment which improves convenience for users. <P>SOLUTION: The broadcasting reception equipment is provided with a storage device for storing program content data and an operation display device on which operation display can be changed in accordance with restrictions on reproducing of program content data read out from the storage device. Consequently, proper information can be accurately transmitted to a user at the time of operation like reproducing of a program content of which the reproducing is limited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus having a function of accumulating program contents distributed from a server, such as a server type broadcast receiving apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a large-capacity storage function is provided as described in "Toward the realization of server-type broadcasting" by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Policy Bureau, consulting with the Information and Communications Council (June 25, 2001) A server-type broadcast receiving system that takes advantage of the merits of digital broadcasting, such as automatic storage of programs, scene search, and digest viewing, is being considered for receivers that have the.

Among these broadcasting services, pay broadcasting services are as follows:
Regarding the accumulated program content, if the user purchases this distributed program content or has a program viewing permission in advance in a contract form such as a monthly pole,
You can see the contents of the program content.

The receiver is equipped with a recording device (storage device) such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and the program content is recorded in this.

At this time, the program content may be provided with additional information such as a reproduction count limit and a reproduction period limit.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-349725 discloses a broadcast receiving device. Although there is a description regarding reproduction restrictions and the like, there is no disclosure regarding display during reproduction operation of the storage device.

[0007]

The user reproduces the content once recorded by the storage-type broadcast receiving device.
It is assumed that the time is different from the time when the data is received. Even if the user receives an instruction when purchasing a program, it may be possible that the user does not remember such a restriction, for example, the restriction on the number of times of reproduction when actually reproducing.

In addition, when reproduction is permitted a plurality of times,
It is difficult for a user to remember how many times the user has played back a plurality of program contents stored in the storage device.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus with improved usability during reproduction of program contents whose reproduction is restricted.

[0010]

That is, the present invention provides a storage device for storing program content data; and an operation display whose operation display can be changed according to the reproduction restriction of the program content data read from this storage device. A broadcast receiving device comprising: a device.

For example, the operation display device has a display showing a reproduction operation, a rewinding operation, etc., and a display showing an operable operation can be operated by increasing the brightness, and an inoperable operation can be operated by decreasing the brightness. A user can be informed of a certain action.

The reproduction restrictions mentioned here include a reproduction count restriction and a reproduction period restriction. The program contents include video / audio program streaming and software running on a PC.

Further, in the case where the accumulation and the reproduction are performed at the same time, the reproduction operation may be restricted depending on the accumulation condition even if the reproduction is not restricted. The present invention applied to such a case includes a storage device that stores program content data; and an operation display device whose operation display can be changed according to the storage status of the program content data in this storage device. This is a broadcast receiving device characterized by the above.

Needless to say, both functions of changing the reproduction limit and changing the storage status may be provided.

Display ON / OFF (for example, bright / dark)
In addition to the above, it is possible to provide a more user-friendly device by having a function of displaying information indicating the operation limit (for example, the number of times of reproduction limit has been exceeded, being accumulated, etc.) as an additional message as text information. Become.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a server type transmitter / receiver.

The broadcast signal received from the antenna is selected by the channel selection unit 1.
A signal of a predetermined channel is selected by the separation unit 3, and the separation unit 3 detects the video / audio signal and SI (Service Info).
Ration), PSI (Program Spec)
EPG (E such as if information)
electrical program guide (ECM) signal and ECM (Entitlement Control)
l Message), EMM (Entitlemen)
t Management Message) and other viewing control information signals.

The signal from the channel selection unit 1 is sent to the storage device 6 and can be stored therein. Further, a switching unit 2 is provided between the separation unit 3 and the channel selection unit 1 so that both the accumulated signal from the accumulation device and the received signal directly supplied from the channel selection unit 1 can be used.

Therefore, the signals from the channel selection unit 1 and the storage device 6 are input to the separation unit 3 and appropriately switched and the selected signal is supplied to the separation unit 3.

The EPG signal separated by the separating unit 3 is E
The EPG signal is supplied to the PG processing unit 4-1, subjected to EPG processing, and supplied to the on-screen display unit 5.

The video / audio signals separated by the separation unit 3 are guided to the descrambler unit 4-2, and the viewability determination unit 7 is provided.
Descramble processing is performed using the descramble key obtained from.

When the broadcast content is a pay program, the viewing control information signals such as ECM and EMM separated by the separation unit 3 are guided to the viewing permission / inhibition determination unit 7, and the viewing permission / inhibition determination is performed to enable the viewing / listening permission. When it is determined that the descrambling key is supplied, the descrambling key is supplied to the descrambling unit 4-1.

The descrambled video / audio signal is M
The compressed signal transmitted to the PEG decoder unit 4-3 is expanded and input to the on-screen display unit 5. In the present embodiment, an example of MPEG signal compression has been described, but if another signal compression method is adopted, decoding of that method will be performed.

The on-screen display unit 5 processes and displays the signals sent from the EPG processing unit 4-1 and the MPEG decoder unit 4-3, and sends them as TV signals. The transmitted TV signal is displayed on a display device such as a CRT or LCD. It should be noted that the characters and images of EPG and the characters and images indicating the reproduction restriction described later (see the display mode described later) are MPEG.
It is also possible to multiplex the signal from the decoder unit and send it as a TV signal.

The viewing permission / inhibition decision section 7 is an IC card or the like which stores contract information, and the viewing information stored in the viewing information memory of the IC card is sent to the broadcasting station side by a telephone line or the like via the modem 8 as appropriate. It is sent to the viewer management section, and the viewing fee is settled between the broadcasting station and the viewer based on the information.

The system control unit 10 controls the operation of the present system, and displays necessary on the on-screen display unit 5, for example, PPV (Pay Pay) based on the viewability determination result from the IC card (viewability determination unit). p
er View) is displayed.

For information such as program purchase, a signal is transmitted from the remote controller 12 operated by the user and received by the remote controller receiver 11 connected to the system controller 10. When the system control unit 10 notifies the viewability determination unit 7 that the viewer has shown the intention to purchase the program, the viewability determination unit 7 determines whether or not the program can be purchased. Stores viewing information indicating the purchase of the program in the viewing information memory,
Necessary processing such as supplying the descramble key to the descramble section 4-1 is performed.

The EMM is data regarding the viewing permission given by the broadcasting station when the viewer makes a viewing contract with the broadcasting station to view the pay broadcast program. This information includes contract information for each subscriber and individual information including a key for deciphering the encryption of common information, and is information sent to a limited number of specific users. A viewing condition (ECM: for a pay broadcast program stored in an IC card that serves as an availability determination unit and transmitted from the broadcast station side.
This information is commonly transmitted to all users and includes common information including program information and control information. ) Will be determined to see whether or not it can be viewed. When it becomes viewable, the descramble key in the ECM is given to the descrambler section.

This operation is for a viewing contract such as a tier (contract for each field such as sports, movies, and music), a flat contract (contract for each channel), and the like. Which program or which channel is included in the EMM. It contains information as to whether or not (program group) can be viewed, and it is possible to automatically determine whether or not the program can be viewed when compared with the ECM information.

Further, there is a viewing contract of PPV which is purchased each time viewing is performed. When the viewer conveys the intention to purchase the program, it is stored in the viewing information memory in the IC card (possibility determination unit 7) and the descramble key arranged in the ECM is taken out so that the program can be viewed. To the descrambler 4-1 and the descrambler 4-1 descrambles a data group such as video and audio provided to the viewer.

The viewing information stored in the viewing information memory in the IC card 7 is appropriately sent to the viewer management section on the broadcasting station side through a modem 8 through a telephone line or the like, and based on the information, the broadcasting station side and the viewers are watched. The viewing fee will be settled between the two.

When the viewing permission / inhibition decision section 7 decides that the program is PPV, the decision result is transmitted to the system control section, and the program is presented to the viewer through the on-screen display section 5 when the program is PPV. Information such as purchase requirements and purchase conditions is displayed.

The purchase conditions include, for example, the viewing charge of the program, whether or not the TV signal output can be recorded, whether or not there is an additional charge for recording when recording is permitted, the number of reproducible times when reproducing and viewing from the storage device, and the storage device. There is a time limit for reproduction in the case of reproduction and viewing from.

These conditions are contained in the ECM, and are transmitted from the viewability determination section 7 to the system control section 10 and input to the on-screen display section 5. Or some or all of the purchase conditions are included in SI, PSI E
It may be input to the on-screen display unit 5 through the PG processing unit.

Now, the display under the above conditions (reproduction number limitation, reproduction period limitation) will be described.

The number of reproducible times is information to be managed each time reproduction is performed, and is stored in a non-volatile memory of any one of the storage device, the system control unit, and the IC card (viewability determination unit). In the present invention, the information may be stored anywhere. Hereinafter, it will be described as being stored in the storage device.

When the viewer (user) selects and reproduces a program stored in the storage device 6, a remote control signal for reproduction is issued from the remote controller 12 operated by the viewer, and the remote control signal is received by the remote control receiver 11. The system control unit 10 detects the generated signal.

The system control unit 10 controls the operation of the entire system.

When reproducing, the system control unit 1
A value of 0 searches the information in the storage device 6 to determine whether or not there is information about the number of times the program can be reproduced. If there is no information about the number of times that reproduction is possible, the reproduction is started in the program, and in the subsequent processing, for example, in the case of the above-mentioned PPV program, the purchase condition and the like are shown, and the viewer operates the purchase action.

It is assumed that the number of reproducible times of the program thus purchased is limited to three times including the present time. In this case, the system control unit 10 generates information indicating the first reproduction count and stores it in the storage device 6.

The reproduction number information is stored in association with the program so that it can be easily referred to when reproducing the program thereafter.

Since the number of times of reproduction is still less than the limit at the first time, the operation display screen showing that there is no limit to each operation of reproduction, fast forward and rewind is displayed to the viewer by the OSD (on-screen device: LCD etc.). Presented.

The number of times of reproduction can be set as appropriate, but here it is counted once when a new program is selected or a program is reselected, and once when it is rewound.

In addition, it is possible to set such that the rewinding time is counted as one time when the rewinding time is a predetermined time A or more and the viewing time is more than the predetermined time B or more. In this case, the system control unit 10 counts the number of times of reproduction from both the rewinding time and the following reproduction time.

When the reproduction is repeated for the third time, the system control unit 10 searches for information regarding the number of times reproduction is possible in the storage device 6 as in the case of the first reproduction.

This time, the number of times of reproduction is the third time, and there is information about the number of times of reproduction (the number of times of reproduction is 2 times). Therefore, the system control unit 1 indicates that this playback is the third time.
0 can be detected.

The system control unit 10 stores the information about the number of reproducible times (reproduction number of 3 times) in the storage device 6 when the program is reproduced, and starts the reproduction.

However, since the upper limit of the number of times of reproduction is reached in this reproduction, the rewinding operation counted in the above-mentioned number of times of reproduction cannot be performed. Therefore, the display screen showing the operation limitation in which the rewinding operation cannot be performed is viewed by the OSD or the like. Will be presented to the person.

The processing in the system controller 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. <STEP 1> At the time of reproducing the program, the system control unit 10 determines whether the program has a limited number of reproduction times.
Determine with. E is that the program has a limited number of playbacks
It is transmitted by CM or SI / PSI.

If there is no limit on the number of times of reproduction, it is determined in STEP 2 whether or not the program has a reproduction time limit. If the number of times of reproduction is limited, it is determined in STEP 3 whether or not the number of times of reproduction has already been performed. <STEP2> When it is determined that the program has a reproduction time limit, the process proceeds to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 described later. If it is determined that the program does not have a playback time limit, STEP6
Proceeding to step 3, the reproduction number restriction / reproduction time limit information is not displayed. <STEP3, 4> In this STEP, it is determined whether or not the program is already reproduced. That is, it is determined whether or not there is information about the number of times of reproduction of the program created and stored before the previous time.

If NO (first reproduction number information) is determined, it is set in STEP 4 that the current reproduction number is the first one, and if YES (reproduction history is present) is stored. The number of times of reproduction is set to +1 and the process proceeds to the time step (STEP 5). <STEP5> The reproduction number set in STEP4 is compared with the upper limit value of the reproduction number set for the program.

As a result of the comparison, if it is less than the upper limit, ST
Proceeding to EP6, the number-of-reproductions limitation / reproduction-limitation limitation information is not displayed for the program.

When the number of times of the upper limit is exceeded, in STEP 6, the upper limit is exceeded and the display of "unviewable" is displayed and the operation cannot be performed.

If it matches the upper limit, a message indicating that rewinding is impossible is displayed in STEP6. <STEP6> The operation item display differs depending on the determinations in STEP1 to STEP5. This operation item may be displayed by an on-screen device (OSD) or may be displayed on a display device such as a CRT or LCD that displays a reproduced image.

Furthermore, the system control unit 10 has a wireless signal output unit (not shown), and the remote controller 12 receives the wireless signal and has a display unit, so that the remote controller 12 displays the operation item. May be done. In that case, not only the display but also an error notification may be given by a sound generated by the remote controller 12 or the like when a restricted display button is pressed. Display mode 1 (FIG. 3) If there is no limit on the number of reproductions or if the limit on the number of reproductions is less than the upper limit, the rewinding operation can be performed, and the information indicating the rewinding operation is displayed in the ON state.

An example of the display is shown in FIG. From left to right, it shows head rewind, rewind, play, fast forward, head fast forward, pause, and stop. It shows that all operations are possible.・ Display mode 2 (Fig. 4) On the other hand, if the number of times of playback matches the upper limit, the current playback operation is possible but the rewind operation is not possible. By dropping or not displaying it, the user can easily understand that the rewind operation cannot be performed. -Display mode 3 (Fig. 5) Also, if the number of playbacks exceeds the upper limit, all operations including playback are disabled. Therefore, by lowering the brightness of all operation items, the user cannot perform operations such as playback. To make it easy to understand. <STEP 7> It is determined whether or not the viewer is trying to execute a restricted operation (rewind operation, etc.) despite the display. For example, this is the case when a rewind operation is instructed by remote control operation.

In the case of N (no restriction operation is performed), the display of STEP 6 is continued and the judgment of the restriction operation is continued.

If Y (a restriction operation has been performed), STE
Go to P8. <STEP8> In STEP6, the user is requesting erroneous processing even though the operation display for informing the user of the restricted operation is displayed in STEP6. In this case, by adding more detailed information ("remaining playback count is 1, rewind is not possible") as shown in FIG. 6, the user is notified that there is a request that cannot be operated (display mode 4). Next, the case where there is a limitation due to the reproduction deadline will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

The limitation by the reproduction time limit is not required to update and store the management information every time reproduction is performed unlike the reproduction number management.
It suffices to compare the reproduction time limit information with the current time.

When reproducing, the system control unit 1
First, 0 determines whether or not there is information about the restriction due to the reproduction deadline for the program. The information regarding the reproduction deadline may be transmitted by SI / PSI as described above,
It may be transmitted in the ECM and given from the IC card (viewability determination unit) 7 to the system control unit 10. <STEP21> STEP in the flow shown in FIG.
When it is determined that there is a reproduction time limit in step 2, STEP of FIG.
In step 21, the reproduction time limit is compared with the current time. The judgment items are, for example, the following two points. (1) Whether the program to be played has already passed the playback deadline. (2) Whether the program can be played to the end due to the length of the program to be played.

Based on the judgment results from these two points, STEP2
2, the display mode is different. <STEP22> When the reproduction time limit has expired, reproduction is not possible, and the operation display screen is the same as the display mode 3 described above. In this case, "You cannot watch because the playback time limit has passed."
By adding the message (display mode 5 in FIG. 8), the user can easily understand that the reproduction time limit is exceeded.

If the normal reproduction operation is continued and it is determined that the reproduction cannot be completed until the end due to the reproduction deadline, a message to that effect is added and displayed. For example, when the program length is 2 hours and the reproduction deadline is up to 1 hour and 10 minutes later, rewinding / reproduction is currently possible, so the operation display of the display mode 1 is displayed. In addition to this basic display mode, a warning sentence is added, "This program is 2 hours long, and the playback deadline is 1 hour and 10 minutes later. Please be careful." (Fig. 9 display mode 6).

As the warning text, the reproduction deadline time may be directly displayed. In this case, the display may be performed regardless of the length of the program.

When the program time is shorter than the reproduction time limit, there is no limitation on viewing and operation, so the state of display mode 1 (all operations possible) is displayed.

According to the embodiment of the present invention described above,
When a user temporarily stores a program with restrictions such as the number of times of reproduction and the time limit for reproduction, the user can easily understand the restrictions by the displayed operation mode.

Further, in this embodiment, an example in which the operation display is changed by the reproduction restriction has been described, but it is possible to improve the operability of the user by changing the operation display depending on the building condition.

For example, in the case of so-called chasing playback in which playback and viewing are performed while accumulating programs that are currently being stored, a display example at the time of starting playback of a program that can be viewed without interruption when normal playback is performed and at the same time accumulation ends This is shown in FIG. 10 (display mode 7).

Since the storage is being performed at the same time as viewing and listening, the operation mode related to the fast-forward mode is displayed with reduced brightness so that the fast-forward mode cannot be operated.

A message indicating the range in which fast-forwarding is possible may be displayed depending on the storage status. In FIG. 10, “up to 67 minutes” is added near the display in the fast-forward mode.

If the storage status is displayed as a percentage, the user can be notified of the current storage status. For example, it is a display like the accumulation meter of FIG. 11 (display mode 8).

Furthermore, even when the program being accumulated is viewed, even if the program is reproduced at a normal speed without fast-forwarding, for example, the speed of reproduction for viewing is faster than the accumulated speed. If the accumulation is not completed within the viewing time until the end of the program, the operation may be prohibited as shown in FIG. 12 (display mode 9).

The above-described display of the number of times of reproduction, etc., is displayed when there is a storage device before descrambling as shown in FIG. 1, that is, when the storage device is used like a cache memory, for example, after purchasing a program, Is assumed. It is assumed that a program group designated by the viewer in advance or a program group designated by the broadcasting station is accumulated while being constantly updated, and the viewer uses a favorite program from the accumulated programs.

Therefore, the hard disk drive (HD
The storage device such as D) is located in front of the descrambler. However, the storage device does not necessarily have to have the configuration shown in FIG. 1 and can be used even when the storage device is placed after descramble. FIG. 13 shows its block diagram. It is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 except that the storage device 6 and the switching unit 2 are placed after the descrambler unit 4-1.

For example, the display examples (display modes 7, 8 and 9) described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 are used when the user wants to watch while the program is reserved and the like is being stored for the convenience of the user. This is an effective display method.

Alternatively, a PP having a reproduction restriction in the program reservation
When the V program is reserved for purchase in advance and stored in the storage device 6 of FIG. 13, the display examples (display modes 1 to 6) are also effective display methods for the user.

In this case, since the content provider side descrambles the content to be reproduction-restricted, the content is stored in the storage device 6, so that means for preventing unauthorized copying or diversion of the content may be provided. For example, it is possible to encrypt the content before storing it in the storage device 6 and decrypt it at the time of playback by using a different encryption key for each receiver managed by the system control unit 10 or the viewability determination unit 7. is there.

In the above example, the server type transmitter / receiver has been described as an example, but the same effect can be obtained in a broadband compatible receiver via a network.

For example, depending on the intention of the content provider,
There may be restrictions such as "only viewing content in real time by streaming", "allowing storage but limiting the number of playbacks and playback period".

In the latter case, the same display as in the above case is displayed.

In the former case, since all items cannot be operated in the accumulation mode, the operation display is a display indicating that all items are inactive as in the display mode 3 described above. In this case, if a message of "operation prohibited because of only real-time viewing by streaming" is added, the user can more easily understand (display mode 10: FIG. 14).

In the provision of on-demand type contents, contents are downloaded in response to a request from the user, and the time until the download is completed is displayed in the display modes 7 and 8 with appropriate information for the user. It is effective to convey.

[0083]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately convey appropriate information to a user during an operation such as reproduction of a program content that is restricted during reproduction, which is very convenient for the user. It is possible to provide an improved broadcast receiving device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a broadcast receiving apparatus illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation display diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation display diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation display diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation display diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation display diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation display diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an operation display diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an operation display diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an operation display diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a broadcast receiving apparatus for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an operation display diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Coat (Reference) H04N 5/44 H04N 5/44 D 5E501 5/76 Z 5/76 5/91 P 5/765 LF Term (Reference) 5C025 CA09 DA01 DA05 5C052 AA01 AB03 AB04 CC06 DD04 5C053 FA13 FA23 JA21 LA06 LA07 LA11 LA14 5D044 AB07 BC01 CC04 CC08 CC09 DE03 DE12 DE47 DE54 GK12 HL11 5D110 AA08 A501 A12A15 BB27 DB15 CA12 CB07 CA15 CB27 CA15 CB27 CA15 CB07 CA03 CC02 EA01 FA05 FB28 FB43

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A storage device for storing program content data; and an operation display device capable of changing an operation display according to a reproduction restriction of program content data read from the storage device. Broadcast receiver. 2. The operation display device has a display showing a plurality of operation functions, and when the operation function is operable, the brightness of the display of the operation function is increased, and when the operation function is inoperable. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display brightness of the operation function is lowered. 3. A broadcast reception comprising: a storage device for storing program content data; and an operation display device whose operation display can be changed according to the storage status of the program content data in the storage device. apparatus. 4. A storage device for storing program content data; and an operation display that can be changed according to the reproduction restriction of the program content data read from this storage device and the storage status of the program content data in this storage device. A broadcast receiving device comprising a certain operation display device. 5. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation display device has a function of displaying text information indicating an operation restriction as an additional message. 6. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation display device has at least a display showing operations of reproduction and rewinding.