JP2003264813A - Digital broadcast receiver and method thereof, program, and medium therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital broadcast receiver and a method thereof capable of realizing a preview conveniently as to pay-contents whose viewing is restricted and to provide a program and a medium therefor. <P>SOLUTION: A user can interrupt/restart a preview of pay-per-view contents by user operation. Then an image before interruption is displayed as a still picture while the preview is stopped. Further, no preview execution time is counted while the preview is stopped. Moreover, the still picture is erased after a lapse of a preview period. Processing such as erasure or the like is performed to stored contents after reproduction. <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 digital broadcast receiving apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, a method thereof, a program thereof, and a recording medium thereof that can appropriately handle partial viewing such as preview of content whose viewing is restricted by contracts or billing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In digital broadcasting such as satellite broadcasting and cable broadcasting, services with viewing restrictions such as pay-per-view are provided. In the pay-per-view method, a viewing fee is set for each content (program). The viewer (user) can view only the content on condition that the viewing fee is paid for each content. Furthermore, in the pay-per-view method, a part of the content is viewed free of charge before the content is purchased. This is called a preview. By viewing the preview, the viewer can know the atmosphere and outline of the content. As a result, information for determining whether to purchase the content can be obtained. on the other hand,
As a content provider, by showing the preview to the viewer, it is possible to motivate the viewer to purchase. This has the advantage of increasing the number of viewing purchases.

For previewing, there is a method of setting within a fixed time from the start of the content as a previewable time zone. With this method, previewing is possible within the preview period. However, if the preview period has passed without purchasing, the content can no longer be viewed. There is also a method of setting a cumulative limit time that can be previewed for each content. In this method, each viewer can preview until his or her preview execution time reaches the cumulative time limit. However, if the cumulative time limit is reached without purchasing, the content can no longer be viewed. These two methods may be used together. Alternatively, there is also a method of arranging a preview-specific content before this content. Also, depending on the content, it may not be previewed at all. In the conventional digital broadcast receiving apparatus, the preview is started immediately when the reception of the previewable pay-per-view content is started.

In the conventional preview of pay-per-view content, there are cases in which the preview display is restricted depending on the content viewing contract state (see, for example, Patent Document 1), or the broadcasting station transmits a specific time of the content as the preview time ( For example, see Patent Document 2).

[0005]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-284741 (No. 7-
Page 8, Figure 1 (a), (b))

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-308595 (4th
-5 page, Figures 4, 5 and 6)

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional technique has the following problems. That is, the viewer does not always pay attention to the preview screen even while the preview is being executed. For example, the preview screen cannot be viewed while the menu screen or the program guide is displayed. You can see it on multiple service (channel) displays, but you will lose your attention to the preview screen. In a multi-service display device, attention may be lost to other services without displaying a menu screen or the like. Even during such a period, the preview execution time is counted. Therefore, the preview may not be completely viewed. This is particularly noticeable when the cumulative time limit is set for the preview of the content. Therefore, as a viewer, the chance of preview is reduced. This is the reason why the number of viewing purchases does not increase from the side of the content provider.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the above-described conventional preview technique.
That is, the problem is to provide a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, a method thereof, a program, and a recording medium thereof that can realize a preview of content whose viewing is restricted due to contracts or billing in a highly convenient manner. It is in.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, which has been made for the purpose of solving this problem, has a receiving section for receiving a signal being broadcast, and extracts contents from the signal received by the receiving section. It has a restoration section for outputting and a preview control section for causing the restoration section to preview only the permitted part of the restricted content whose viewing is restricted. The preview control section outputs the restricted section output from the restoration section. The content preview can be started and stopped based on a user operation.

In this digital broadcast receiving apparatus, when the receiving section receives a broadcast signal, the restoring section extracts the content from the received signal and outputs the content. This allows the user to view the content. If the content is restricted content, the preview controller
Only the permitted part is previewed. Here, the preview can be started or stopped by the user's operation. Therefore, the user can execute the preview only when the user can watch the preview. That is, the preview may be stopped when there is a circumstance that the preview cannot be watched. As a result, it is possible to prevent the preview execution time from being accumulated regardless of the user's situation.

In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, the restoration unit can extract a plurality of contents from the signal received by the reception unit and output the contents, and the preview control unit can be arbitrarily operated based on the user's operation. It may be possible to start and stop the preview of the limited content of. In this case, the user can arbitrarily start or stop the preview of the plurality of output restricted contents. For example, only one restricted content can be previewed and the rest can be stopped. As a result, it is possible to prevent the preview execution time from being accumulated for restricted contents other than those that can be watched.

The digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention may alternatively include a receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a storage unit that stores content extracted from the signal received by the receiving unit, and a signal received by the receiving unit. A restoration unit capable of extracting and outputting one or more contents and reproducing one or more contents stored in the storage unit, and causing the restoration unit to preview only the permitted portion of the restricted content. The preview control unit has a preview control unit, and the preview control unit can start and stop any of the previews of the restricted contents output from the restoration unit based on the user operation. It may be one.

When the storage unit is provided as described above, it is also possible to store the permitted portion of the restricted content in the storage unit and view the preview afterwards. Even when the preview content is reproduced from the storage unit, the preview can be started or stopped by the user's operation. Therefore, the user can execute the preview only when the user can watch the preview. That is, the preview may be stopped when there is a circumstance that the preview cannot be watched. This can prevent the playback of the preview content from proceeding regardless of the user's situation.

In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the preview control unit stops the preview of the limited content based on the attenuated signal when the attenuation of the signal received by the receiving unit is detected. This is because it is meaningless to the user to continue executing the preview when the signal being broadcast is attenuated. Rainfall and other external factors contribute to signal attenuation.

In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the preview control section can accept a user's operation for starting or stopping the preview. By doing so, it is possible to freely switch execution and stop of the preview for a certain preview content at a timing desired by the user. Therefore, it is convenient for the user.

Further, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, the preview control unit may be in a preview stop state at the time of starting the output of the previewable restricted content. The output start time is, for example, when the user switches the service to be viewed (so-called channel switching), and the service to be switched to is the preview content. Alternatively,
When the power of the digital broadcasting receiver is turned on,
This is the case where the service to be viewed first (usually the service that was viewed last) was preview content.
By doing so, the preview can be started at the timing desired by the user. Further, it is possible to prevent the preview execution time from being integrated suddenly when the user makes a channel selection error.

In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, conversely, the preview control unit can be in the preview execution state at the start of output of the previewable restricted content. In this way, the user can see the preview without any extra operation. Of course, it may be left to the user's setting whether the preview execution state or the preview stop state is started at the time of outputting the limited content that can be previewed.

In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, the preview control unit may control the restoration unit so that a still image of the image before the stop is displayed for the limited content during the preview stop. .
In this way, the user can know the approximate content of the content even when the preview is stopped.

Further in this case, the preview control section is
It is desirable to update the still image at a predetermined timing with respect to the restricted content whose preview is stopped. This allows the user to see a relatively new still image even when the preview is stopped. In particular, for a limited content that is output from the signal received by the receiving unit without passing through the storage unit, updating the still image is significant.

Further, it is desirable that the preview control unit erases the still image of the restricted content for which the preview is stopped, when the previewable period elapses without the purchase decision of the content being made. This allows the user to recognize that the content can no longer be purchased.

In the digital broadcast receiver of the present invention,
A typical example of an object to be preview-controlled by the preview controller is pay-per-view content. In this case, it is preferable that the preview control unit can communicate with the key reproduction unit. As a result, the ECM received by the receiving unit
This is because it is possible to determine whether or not the restricted content can be previewed based on the content of the reply from the key reproducing unit when the data is transmitted to the key reproducing unit. Further, it is possible to determine whether the preview is possible or not by using the function of the conventional key reproducing unit as it is. The key playback unit
The digital broadcast receiving device may be detachable or may be built in the digital broadcast receiving device and not detachable.

Specifically, the preview control unit is
When a valid key is included in the reply from the key reproducing unit in response to the data transmission, it can be determined that the restricted content can be previewed. Alternatively,
It is also possible to judge whether the restricted content can be previewed or not based on the contract information included in the reply from the key reproducing unit in response to the ECM data transmission.

Alternatively, the preview control unit determines whether or not the restricted content can be previewed based on the content of the contract information returned from the key reproduction unit when the contract confirmation command is transmitted to the key reproduction unit. It may be one that does.

In the digital broadcast receiver of the present invention,
It is desirable that the preview control unit does not transmit the ECM data to the key reproduction unit for the restricted content whose preview is stopped. As a result, it is possible to prevent the preview execution time from being counted for the restricted content whose preview is stopped. This is particularly useful for preview content that has a cumulative time limit set. Further, regarding the restricted content, the preview control unit may perform the preview stop process when detecting an error in the restoration unit due to not transmitting the ECM data to the key reproduction unit. This allows
When displaying a still image while the preview is stopped, the still image immediately before the interruption can be displayed.

Further, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, when the preview control unit outputs a plurality of restricted contents from the restoration unit, the preview control unit executes the preview for one restricted content and the remaining restricted contents. It is desirable to set the preview stop state and replace the restricted content for executing the preview at a predetermined timing. This allows the user to pay attention to the previewed one of the plurality of restricted contents. Then, the preview of each content can be sequentially viewed.

Further, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, it is desirable that the preview control unit deletes the restricted contents stored in the storage unit that have passed the purchase deadline. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from showing a preview of restricted content that is no longer available for purchase.

In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention,
It is preferable that the preview control unit deletes the previewed contents from the restricted contents accumulated in the accumulating unit. As a result, it is possible to show the preview of the stored restricted contents to the user for the set number of times.

Alternatively, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, the preview control unit stores the reproduction position at that time as the next reproduction start position when stopping the preview of the restricted content stored in the storage unit. After that, when the preview of the restricted content is resumed, it is desirable to start the preview from the stored next reproduction start position. This makes it possible to prevent the same portion from being viewed more than the set number of times when the preview of the accumulated restricted content is suspended and restarted.

In this case, further, the preview controller is
It is desirable to delete, from the restricted contents accumulated in the accumulating unit, the one in which the next reproduction start position reaches the final position of the permitted portion. As a result, of the accumulated restricted contents, the contents for which the preview reproduction has been completed are deleted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the same preview from being shown to the user more than the set number of times.

When the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention has a storage unit, the restoration unit converts the signal received by the reception unit into one.
It is desirable that the above-described processing of extracting and outputting the content and processing of accumulating the content extracted from the signal received by the receiving unit in the accumulating unit can be executed in parallel. As a result, another content can be stored in the storage unit while viewing and listening based on the signal currently received by the receiving unit.

The present invention comprises a receiving unit for receiving a broadcast signal, a restoring unit for extracting and outputting content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and only a permitted portion of restricted content whose viewing is restricted. A digital broadcast receiving method using a preview control unit that causes a preview unit to perform a preview, and a method for causing the preview control unit to start and stop a preview of limited content output from the restore unit based on a user operation. Also extends.

Further, in the digital broadcast receiving method of the present invention, the restoring unit extracts a plurality of contents from the signal received by the receiving unit and outputs the contents, and the preview control unit switches the preview execution state and the stop state. It is also possible to perform a preview of arbitrary restricted content based on an operation.

The present invention also provides a receiving unit for receiving a signal being broadcast, a storage unit for storing content extracted from the signal received by the receiving unit, and one or more contents from the signal received by the receiving unit. Take out and output,
A restoration unit capable of outputting one or more contents accumulated in the accumulation unit, and a preview control unit for causing the restoration unit to preview only the permitted portion of the restricted content whose viewing is restricted are used. A method of receiving a digital broadcast, including a method of causing a preview control unit to start and stop an arbitrary one of previews of restricted contents output from the restoration unit based on a user operation, .

The present invention also includes only a receiving unit for receiving a signal being broadcast, a restoring unit for extracting and outputting content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and a permitted portion of restricted content whose viewing is restricted. A method of receiving a digital broadcast using a preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to perform a preview of the above, and when the attenuation of the signal received by the reception unit is detected, the preview of the limited content preview based on the attenuated signal is previewed. It extends to the method of making the control unit perform. Of course, the digital broadcast receiving method of the present invention may further perform the various processes described in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention.

In the present invention, alternatively, only a receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a restoring unit that extracts and outputs content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and a permitted portion of restricted content whose viewing is restricted. It is a digital broadcast receiving program for controlling by a computer a preview control unit that causes a restoration unit to perform a preview of a preview of the start and stop of a preview of limited content output from the restoration unit based on a user operation. The present invention also covers a device that functions as a preview start / stop unit that the control unit performs.

The digital broadcast receiving program of the present invention is
The computer further includes a plurality of contents handling means for causing the restoration unit to extract and output a plurality of contents from the signal received by the reception unit, and switching between a preview execution state and a stop state by the preview control unit.
It may be made to function as a switching target specifying means for performing a preview of arbitrary restricted content based on a user's operation.

The present invention also provides a receiving unit for receiving a broadcast signal, a storage unit for storing content extracted from the signal received by the receiving unit, and one or more contents from the signal received by the receiving unit. Take out and output,
A computer includes a restoration unit capable of outputting one or more contents accumulated in the accumulation unit, and a preview control unit for causing the restoration unit to preview only the permitted portion of the restricted content whose viewing is restricted. A digital broadcast receiving program controlled by the computer, for any one of the previews of the limited contents output from the restoration unit based on the user operation,
The present invention also covers a device that functions as a preview start / stop unit that causes the preview control unit to start and stop based on a user operation.

The present invention also includes a receiving unit for receiving a signal being broadcast, a restoring unit for extracting and outputting content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and only a permitted portion of restricted content whose viewing is restricted. A digital broadcast receiving program for controlling a preview control unit for causing a restoring unit to perform a preview of the above by a computer, and when attenuation of a signal received by the receiving unit is detected by the computer,
The present invention also extends to a function that functions as an attenuation preview stop means that causes the preview control unit to perform control to stop the preview of the limited content based on the attenuated signal. With these programs, the operation and effect of the present invention can be exerted even on an existing digital broadcast receiving device.

Of course, in the digital broadcast receiving program of the present invention, the computer may further function as means for performing the various processes described in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention. Further, the digital broadcast receiving program of the present invention may be provided in a form recorded in a machine-readable medium. Further, it is not limited to the one that can be directly executed by the CPU, but may be one in the source format, one that is compressed, or one that is encrypted. Machine-readable media include ROM, RAM, flexible disk, CD-
It may be a tangible medium such as a ROM, a memory card, a hard disk, or a communication medium such as a communication line or a carrier path. Also,
The CPU is not limited to the one directly read and executed by the CPU, but may be one that is once installed in a hard disk or the like and then used for execution.

In the present invention, the term "reception device" means a device having a function of receiving a broadcast signal. It includes both so-called set-top boxes without display devices and so-called TV sets with display devices. Further, in the present invention, “output” or “playback” of a content is a concept including not only displaying on a display device or the like but also recording on some recording medium.

[0040]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present embodiment embodies the present invention as a digital broadcast receiving apparatus in a system that provides pay-per-view pay television broadcasting from a content provider to a viewer via a satellite. Broadcasting from the content provider to the viewers may be provided via other intermediary means such as terrestrial waves or cables instead of via satellite.

The digital broadcasting system according to this embodiment is configured as shown in FIG. That is, this system includes a content provider device 4 and a transmission device 2 on the content provider side, a receiver device 8 on the viewer side,
It is composed of satellite 6 and. In this system, the content provider sends the content from the content provider device 4 to the transmission device 2 online or offline. The transmitter 2 provides the content to the receiver 8 via the satellite 6. The content data transmitted from the transmission device 2 is in the form of a transport stream in which a plurality of services (a group of programs corresponding to channels in terrestrial broadcasting) are multiplexed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of transport streams and services included in the broadcast transmitted from the transmitter 2. In this example, a plurality of transport streams TS1, TS2,
TS3, ... are included. Each transport stream is transmitted on a different frequency. The transport stream TS1 includes a plurality of services SV11 to SV14 by time division multiplexing. The same applies to the other transport streams TS2, TS3, ....

The transmitter 2 is constructed as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 3, the content of each service described above sent from the content provider device 4 is stored in the content storage unit 10. Data transmission control unit 1
2 reads these contents according to a predetermined time table and gives them to the multiplexing unit 14.
The multiplexing unit 14 packetizes a plurality of given contents and multiplexes them. As a result, a transport stream is generated. The transmission unit 16 transmits the generated transport stream as radio waves.

The data transmitted from the transmitter 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 (SI (Service Information) including service information and program information in digital broadcasting).
For more information about ETS 300 468 and ARIB
(Refer to standards such as STD-B1 and STD-B10 of the Radio Industries Association). The data forming the content are audio data ES (A) and video data ES (V). Figure 4
, Each transport stream TS1 ... Includes a plurality of audio data ES (A) 11-14 etc. and video data ES (V) 11-14 etc., respectively. Each audio data ES (A) and each video data ES (V) is
It is encrypted by the scramble key Ks and is packetized. The audio data ES (A) and the video data ES (V) in one transport stream are time-division multiplexed. Each audio data ES (A) and each video data ES
Unique packet IDs are given to (V). Thus, it is possible to identify which service each audio data ES (A) and each video data ES (V) belongs to by the packet ID.

The control data ECM that is different for each service is transmitted. Each control data ECM describes the scramble key Ks of the corresponding service. A unique packet ID is assigned to each control data ECM. The control data PMT that is different for each service is transmitted. Each control data PMT describes the packet ID of the content of the corresponding service. It also describes the packet ID of the control data ECM of the corresponding service. Accordingly, by acquiring the control data PMT, the content of the corresponding service can be obtained.

The control data PAT that is different for each transport stream is transmitted. Each control data PAT describes a list of services included in the corresponding transport stream. Further, a list of control data PMTs corresponding to those services and their packet IDs are also described. Accordingly, by obtaining the control data PAT, it is possible to determine what service is included in the corresponding transport stream,
Packet ID of control data PMT corresponding to each service
You can know.

The control data NIT common to all transport streams is sent out. Control data NIT
Describes a list of services multiplexed in each transport stream. The control data SDT that is different for each service is transmitted. Each control data SDT describes the bibliographic information such as the service name of the corresponding service. The control data EIT that is different for each content is transmitted. Each control data EIT is
It describes the bibliographic information such as the title and start time of the corresponding content.

Next, the configuration of the receiving device 8 will be described. There are two configurations of the receiving device 8, that is, a configuration having a storage unit and a configuration not having a storage unit.

First, the receiving device 8 having a structure without a storage unit.
Will be described. The functional configuration of the receiving device 8 that does not have a storage unit is represented as the block diagram of FIG. That is, the receiving device 8 includes the receiving unit 20, the restoring unit 22, and the communication unit 2.
4, a control unit 25, and an operation reception unit 30.
The reception unit 20 is a block that receives a broadcast signal and outputs a desired transport stream to the restoration unit 22. The restoration unit 22 is a block that selects a service from the transport stream output from the reception unit 20 and restores the content. The content restored by the restoration unit 22 is output to the TV set 32. Control unit 2
Reference numeral 5 is a block that controls the receiving unit 20 and the restoring unit 22 so as to provide a desired service based on a command from the user. The operation reception unit 30 is a block that receives an operation by the user for that purpose. The communication unit 24 is a block that communicates with the content provider device 4 through a public line.

The control unit 25 further includes a preview control unit 26. The preview control unit 26 is a block that switches execution and stop of the content restoration process in the restoration unit 22 based on a command from the user. In particular, the preview of pay-per-view contents can be interrupted and restarted depending on the user's intention.

The hardware configuration of the receiving device 8 having no storage unit is shown in the block diagram of FIG. That is, the receiving device 8 includes the tuner 42 and the descrambler 4
3, transport decoder (TS decoder) 44, A
V decoder 52, ROM 54, RAM 56, CPU 5
8, a modem 62, and a signal receiving unit 64. Further, the IC card 66 can be attached. Hereinafter, the parts other than the IC card 66 are referred to as the main body of the receiving device. The receiving unit 20 in FIG. 6 includes a tuner 42 connected to the antenna 40. With this configuration, since there is only one tuner 42, it is not possible to receive two or more transport streams at the same time. The tuner 42 also has a function of detecting the signal strength of the received transport stream. Restoration unit 2 in FIG.
2 includes a descrambler 43, a TS decoder 44, and an AV decoder 52. The control unit 25 and the preview control unit 26 in FIG.
It is composed of an M56 and a CPU 58. The operation receiving unit 30 in FIG. 6 is configured by a signal receiving unit 64 that receives a signal from a remote controller. The operation reception unit 30 may be configured by an operation button provided on the reception device 8 itself, or may be operated by any of them. The communication unit 24 in FIG. 6 is composed of a modem 62.

The receiving device 8 having no storage unit may have a hardware configuration as shown in the block diagram of FIG. The hardware configuration of FIG. 8 differs from the configuration of FIG.
And two descramblers 4
That is, the restoration unit 22 is configured by 3, 46 and the two TS decoders 44, 47. In this way, the tuner,
By providing two series of descrambler and TS decoder, services on different transport streams can be viewed simultaneously. Of course, three or more series may be provided.

Next, the receiving device 8 having a storage unit will be described. The functional configuration of the receiving device 8 of this type is
It is represented as in the block diagram of FIG. This receiver 8
Is a storage unit 31 added to the receiving apparatus of FIG. The storage unit 31 is a block that stores content. The control unit 25 also controls the storage unit 31. The storage of the content by the storage unit 31 is performed based on a user's instruction. It may also be performed separately from the user's instruction. In addition, the control unit 25 can also control the content stored in the storage unit 31 to be restored by the restoration unit 22 and output to the TV set 32. Further, the process of outputting the content stored in the storage unit 31 to the TV set 32 and the process of storing the content newly received by the receiving unit 20 in the storage unit 31 can be performed in parallel. is there.

The hardware configuration of the receiving device 8 having a storage unit is shown in the block diagram of FIG. The hardware configuration of FIG. 10 is obtained by adding a hard disk 60 to the configuration of FIG. 7. The storage unit 31 in FIG.
It is composed of a hard disk 60. Of course, the receiving device 8 having a storage unit can also be provided with two series (or more) of a tuner, a descrambler, and a TS decoder, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. In this case, one of the tuner, descrambler, and TS decoder sequences can be used for normal viewing and the other can be used for storage in the storage unit 31. Alternatively,
Both series can be used for both purposes without making such a distinction.

Each of the various receiving devices 8 described above is a so-called set top box type, which is separate from the TV set 32. However, TV set 32
It may be configured as an integrated type including.

IC card 66 mounted on the receiver 8
Is the scramble key Ks required to decrypt the content.
Has the function of playing. The hardware configuration is represented as the block diagram of FIG. Ie I
The C card 66 includes a CPU 74 and a non-volatile memory 76.
In addition, a connector 70 and an interface 72 for connection with the receiving device 8 are provided. Non-volatile memory 76
Is composed of a flash memory or the like. The nonvolatile memory 76 stores the contents of the user's reception contract, a master key Km for descrambling, a control program for key reproduction, and the like. The master key Km is unique to the user of the receiving device 8.

Here, an outline of encryption in pay television broadcasting will be described. Digital broadcasting includes pay broadcasting and free broadcasting. Free broadcasts are generally broadcast unencrypted. Paid broadcasting is broadcasting that requires payment of viewing charges, and is broadcast in an encrypted state. There are two types of pay broadcasts, which are general contract broadcast and pay-per-view broadcast. The general contract broadcast is a broadcast that comprehensively contracts to view the service. When a viewing contract for general contract broadcasting is made, that effect is stored in the IC card 66 of the contractor. This allows the contractor to obtain the key at any time during the contract period. In the case of pay-per-view broadcasting, the viewer acquires a key for each content in the service each time he / she views it, subject to a charge.

The pay broadcast is broadcast by the mechanism shown in the block diagram of FIG. In the drawings and the following description, A
[X] indicates a signal obtained by encrypting the signal X with the key A.
A ^-1 [Y] represents a signal obtained by decoding the signal Y with the key A. In the system of FIG. 13, the work key K is included in the control data EMM transmitted from the transmitter 2.
A signal Km [Kw] obtained by encrypting w with the master key Km is included (in the figure). Master key Km used here
Regarding general contract broadcasting, it is limited to those of the contractor who has a comprehensive contract to view the service. In the case of pay-per-view broadcasting, those of all users of the receiving device 8 that can view the service are used. The control data EMM also includes a description of the contract content for each contractor. The transmitter 2 also transmits a signal Ks [C] obtained by encrypting the content c with the scramble key Ks and a signal Kw [Ks] obtained by encrypting the scramble key Ks with the work key Kw (in the figure). Signal Kw
[Ks] is included in the control data ECM and transmitted. The control data ECM also includes a description of whether the service is a pay-per-view method. The scramble key Ks is changed one after another in a cycle of about several seconds. The work key Kw is a key unique to the transmitting device 2 and is changed in a relatively long cycle.

The receiving device 8 receives the received control data EMM.
() Is given to the IC card 66 (in the figure). Then I
The C card 66 decrypts the control data EMM using the master key Km held in the non-volatile memory 76 (in the figure). Thus, for general contract broadcasting, the work key Kw can be obtained only by the contractor who has a comprehensive contract for viewing the service. For pay-per-view broadcasting, the work key Kw is obtained for all users. The work key Kw thus obtained is stored in the non-volatile memory 76. Every time the work key Kw is changed by the transmitting device 2, a new work key Kw is stored in the non-volatile memory 76.

The receiver 8 receives the received control data ECM.
() Is also given to the IC card 66 (in the figure). Then I
The C card 66 uses the work key Kw () recorded in the nonvolatile memory 76 to decrypt the control data ECM (in the figure). This allows the scramble key K
s is obtained. However, in the case of general contract broadcasting and no contract, the scramble key Ks cannot be obtained because there is no work key Kw. The obtained scramble key Ks () is returned to the main body of the receiving device 8 (in the figure). The receiving device 8 receives the scramble key Ks.
Using (), the signal Ks [C] received from the transmitter 2
Decode () (in the figure). The content C thus obtained is reproduced on the TV set 32 (in the figure).
For pay-per-view broadcasting, scramble key K
When s is acquired, the fact is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 76. This record is used for controlling the preview execution time, which will be described later, and for charging by the content provider. The billing information based on this record is sent from the receiving device 8 to the content provider device 4 via the public line.

Next, details of the preview control process for pay-per-view broadcast in the receiving device 8 will be described. The preview control process differs depending on whether a plurality of services are displayed on the screen of the TV set 32 or only a single service, and whether or not the receiving device 8 has a storage unit. Hereinafter, the cases will be sequentially described. In each of the following examples, unless otherwise specified, immediately after the service is switched or the power is turned on, the preview is suspended until the user gives a preview display instruction. The service shall be either pay-per-view broadcasting or general contract broadcasting.

(Single service display, no storage unit) First,
A process in the case where the multiple services display is not performed and the receiving device 8 does not have the storage unit (including a case where the receiving device 8 does not use the storage unit) will be described. The hardware configuration of the receiving device 8 in this case is
This is shown in FIG. 7.

First, the processing when switching services will be described. This process is started by the user performing a service switching operation using a remote controller or the like. This process is performed as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. In this flow, first, the fact that the user has performed such an operation indicates from the signal receiving unit 64 to the CPU 58.
Is notified (# 1 in FIG. 14). Then, the CPU 58 receives this and sets the packet ID of the control data PAT in the TS decoder 44. As a result, the TS decoder 44
Selects the control data PAT from the current transport stream and returns it to the CPU 58. This makes the CPU
58 acquires the control data PAT of the current transport stream (# 2). FIG. 18 shows an example of the contents of the control data PAT. Then, the CPU 58 looks at the acquired control data PAT and determines whether or not the desired service is present in the current transport stream (#
3).

If the currently received service and the desired service are of different transport streams, the determination of # 3 is No. For example, the service currently being received is SV31 (transport stream TS
In 3), the desired service is SV12 (transport stream TS1). In this case, proceed to # 4. Then, the CPU 58 selects from the control data PAT,
The packet ID of the control data NIT is read (# 4).
Then, the read packet ID is set in the TS decoder 44. As a result, the TS decoder 44 outputs the control data NIT to the CPU 58. In this way, the control data NIT is acquired (# 5). FIG. 19 shows an example of the contents of the control data NIT. The CPU 58 uses this control data N
It recognizes which transport stream the desired service is in by referring to IT (# 6). For example, if the desired service is SV12, it is multiplexed in the transport stream TS1. And CPU5
8 changes the tuning of the tuner 42 so as to receive the frequency of the transport stream of the desired service (# 7). This causes the tuner 42 to output the transport stream.

Next, the CPU 58 sets the packet ID of the control data PAT in the TS decoder 44. As a result, the TS decoder 44 selects the control data PAT from the new transport stream and returns it to the CPU 58. As a result, the CPU 58 acquires the control data PAT of the new transport stream (# 8). The acquired control data PAT has the content as shown in FIG. The CPU 58 then controls the control data P
The packet ID of the control data PMT of the desired service is read from the AT (# 9). When the desired service is present in the current transport stream in # 3 (# 3: Yes), the process immediately proceeds to # 9.

Then, the read packet ID is set in the TS decoder 44. As a result, the TS decoder 44
Outputs control data PMT to CPU 58. In this way, the control data PMT is acquired (# 10, FIG.
5). FIG. 20 shows an example of the contents of the control data PMT. C
The PU 58 refers to this control data PMT to refer to the packet ID of the control data ECM of the desired service, and
The packet ID of the content ES is recognized (# 11).
Next, the CPU 58 sets the packet ID of the recognized content ES in the TS decoder 44 (# 12). Further, the packet ID of the recognized control data ECM is set in the TS decoder 44 (# 13). Thereby, it is confirmed whether or not the control data ECM of the desired service exists (# 14).

When the control data ECM of the desired service does not exist (# 14: No), the state is directly output to the TV set 32 (# 15). Then, the process ends. In this case, no image appears on the screen of the TV set 32. This is the case when the desired service is an empty channel in which nothing is broadcast.
In this case, the processing may be terminated and the service before switching may be returned to continue the processing. In that case, a message to that effect may be issued.

At # 14, the control data EC of the desired service
If M exists (# 14: Yes), the control data ECM is acquired. As described above, this includes the scramble key Ks encrypted with the work key Kw, that is, Kw [Ks]. Then, the process proceeds to # 16.
This occurs when the desired service is a general contract broadcast and has a contract, or when it is a pay-per-view broadcast and a time period during which preview is permitted.
Then, the obtained control data ECM is the IC card 6
6 (corresponding to # 16 in FIG. 13).

As a result, the IC card 66 starts the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the CPU 74 of the IC card 66 receives the control data ECM
Is decoded (corresponding to # 100 in FIG. 13). The work key Kw necessary for this is already stored in the non-volatile memory 76 of the IC card 66 for the pay-per-view broadcast and the general contract broadcast that has already been contracted by the procedure in FIG. Then, the CPU 74 determines whether the decryption was successful (# 101). If it is a pay-per-view broadcast or a general contract broadcast that has already been contracted, it is determined to be Yes because it is decoded. The decrypted control data ECM has a scramble key K as shown in FIG.
s is included. "Broadcast form" in control data ECM
Describes whether the service corresponding to the control data ECM is general contract broadcasting or pay-per-view broadcasting. Thereby, the CPU 74 determines whether the service is pay-per-view broadcasting or general contract broadcasting (# 102).

In the case of pay-per-view broadcasting (# 1
02: Yes), the number of received control data ECM is counted up (# 103). This is to know the time when the user actually performed the preview. That is, as described with reference to FIG. 13, the scramble key Ks is changed one after another in a cycle of about several seconds. Therefore, new control data ECM is received every time the scramble key Ks is changed. Therefore, it is possible to know the preview execution time by counting the number of receptions. Here, since the service has just been switched, the count number is "1". Next, the CPU 74 determines whether or not the program has already been purchased (# 104). If it has not been purchased (# 104: No), it is determined whether or not the previewable time limit set for the program has passed (# 10).
5). This determination is based on the “preview deadline” in the control data ECM of FIG. 21 and the elapsed time from the start of the program. If the preview deadline has not passed ((
105: No), it is determined whether or not the number of receptions counted up in # 103 exceeds the upper limit number set for the program (# 106). This determination is based on the “previewable length (number of ECMs)” in the control data ECM of FIG. 21 and the current count value. Since the count value is "1" here, it is determined as No unless the program is a preview prohibited program.

If the number of receptions does not exceed the upper limit (# 1
06: No), the scramble key Ks decrypted in # 100 is returned to the main body of the receiving device 8 (# 107, FIG. 13).
Corresponding to). At this time, other description contents in the control data ECM are also returned. And the IC card 66
The process in 1 ends.

If the determination at # 105 or # 106 is Yes, the scramble key Ks is not returned to the main body of the receiving device 8. This is because the preview cannot be performed because the deadline has passed or the number of received messages has exceeded. In this case, the NG signal is returned (# 108). And IC
The processing in the card 66 ends.

If the program is already purchased in # 104 (# 104: Yes), the process proceeds to # 107. That is, the decrypted scramble key Ks or the like is returned to the main body of the receiving device 8. Then, the processing in the IC card 66 ends.

When the service is not the pay-per-view broadcast in # 102 (# 102: No), the service is a general contract broadcast with a contract. Therefore, the process proceeds to # 107. That is, the decrypted scramble key Ks or the like is returned to the main body of the receiving device 8. Then, the processing in the IC card 66 ends.

When the determination at # 101 is No, the service is a general contract broadcast with no contract. Therefore, the scramble key Ks cannot be returned to the main body of the receiving device 8. Therefore, the NG signal is returned (# 10
8). Then, the processing in the IC card 66 ends.

Returning to the description of the processing of the main body of the receiving device 8. The CPU 58 of the main body sends the control data ECM to the IC card 66.
After sending (# 16 in FIG. 15) to the IC card 66, the IC card 66 waits for a reply of the scramble key Ks or the like (# 17). If there is any reply from the IC card 66 (# 17: Yes), it is judged whether or not the reply includes a valid scramble key Ks (# 18).

The reply from the IC card 66 is # in FIG.
If it is based on 107, a valid scramble key Ks is included. That is, (1) if the service is a general contract broadcast that has already been contracted, (2) if the service is pay-per-view broadcast and the program is in a previewable state, (3) the service is pay-per-view broadcast. This is one of the cases where the relevant program has already been purchased. On the other hand, when the reply from the IC card 66 is based on # 108 in FIG. 16, the valid scramble key Ks is not included. That is, in any of the following cases: (4) the service is an uncontracted general contract broadcast, and (5) the service is a pay-per-view broadcast and the program is not purchased and cannot be previewed. is there. this house,
The following can be said about unpurchased programs on pay-per-view broadcasting. That is, for such a program, depending on whether or not a valid scramble key Ks is returned from the IC card 66 as a response to the control data ECM,
It is determined whether the preview is possible.

Alternatively, the contract information of the user included in the reply from the IC card 66 can be used to determine whether the preview is possible. IC card 66 is #
This is because the contract information included in the control data EMM is also returned when 107 is returned. That is, the contract information returned from the IC card 66 as a response to the control data ECM includes the following.

・ Non-operating card ・ Non-contract (out of contract, expired, etc.) ・ Purchased ・ Purchased (in preview / out of preview) ・ Refusal of purchase ・ Because of security error, "Purchased (in preview / out of preview)" ) ”, It is possible to determine whether or not the preview is possible.

Returning to step # 18, if the reply from the IC card 66 does not include the valid scramble key Ks (# 18: No), the state is output to the TV set 32 (# 15). Then, the process ends. This is because the content ES is not descrambled. In this case, the processing may be terminated and the service before switching may be returned to continue the processing. In that case, a message to that effect may be issued. Alternatively, when the service is a pay-per-view broadcast (not yet purchased and cannot be previewed), the preview state may be set when a previewable program is subsequently started.

If the reply from the IC card 66 includes the valid scramble key Ks (# 18: Ye
s), it is determined whether or not it is currently in the preview period (# 19, hereinafter FIG. 17). Here, if the service is pay-per-view broadcasting and the program has not been purchased and is within the previewable period, it is determined as Yes. On the other hand, if the service is a general contract broadcast that has already been contracted, or if the service is pay-per-view broadcast and the program has been purchased, it is determined as No.

When it is determined Yes in # 19, it is determined whether or not the preview is currently suspended (# 2).
0). Here, in the present embodiment, the determination of # 20 is set to Yes immediately after switching the service or immediately after turning on the power. Therefore, it is always determined as Yes in the process of switching the service. If it is determined Yes in # 20, the content ES acquired in # 12 (FIG. 15) is restored using the scramble key Ks returned from the IC card 66 (# 21). And it outputs to the TV set 32. Furthermore, the AV decoder 52 is instructed to mute and the video is stopped (# 22). As a result, the screen during the previewable period of the program is displayed on the TV set 32 in a still state. At this time, the count value of the number of receptions (# 103 in FIG. 16) in the IC card 66 remains "1".

Next, the CPU 58 determines whether or not it is time to update the still screen (# 23). The update time of the still screen is about every 10 seconds or every 15 seconds and is set in advance. If it is time to update the still screen (# 2
3: Yes), the still screen is updated (# 24). To update the still screen, # 16 (FIG. 15) → # 17 → # 18: Yes → # using the new control data ECM at that time.
19: Yes (FIG. 17) → # 20: Yes → # 21 → #
It is performed by performing the process of 20 once. Every time the still screen is updated, the count value of the number of receptions (# 103 in FIG. 16) in the IC card 66 is "1".
Increase. It is not the time to update the still screen (# 23: N
o), the still screen is not updated. CPU58
Determines whether the preview period has elapsed (# 2
5). If the preview period has not passed yet (# 2
5: No), the process is returned to # 23. When the preview period has elapsed (# 25: Yes), the still image of the TV set 32 is muted (# 26). Then, the process ends. If the still image is muted as the period elapses, the program cannot be purchased thereafter. Of course, if the program is purchased before the preview period elapses, then the determination of # 104 in FIG. 16 becomes Yes. Then, the determination of # 19 in FIG. 17 becomes No.

If No is determined in # 19, the IC
The scramble key Ks returned from the card 66 is used to restore the content ES acquired in # 12 of FIG. 15 (# 27). Then, output to the TV set 32 (#
28). Next, the CPU 58 determines whether or not the preview is currently being performed (# 29). This determination depends on whether the route to # 27 is # 19: Yes or # 19: No → # 20: No. From the above, the determination of # 29 is always No in the process of switching services. Then, it is determined whether new control data ECM is received (# 31). New control data ECM
If not received (# 31: No), the process is returned to # 27. Thus, until the new control data ECM is received, the content ES with the same scramble key Ks is
Playback continues. When new control data ECM is received (# 31: Yes), the process returns to # 16 in FIG. As a result, the new scramble key Ks is acquired and the reproduction of the content ES is continued. The above is the processing when switching services. After that, when the purchased program of pay-per-view broadcasting ends, or the like, a new scramble key Ks cannot be acquired. At this time, the viewing is ended, and the screen remains scrambled.

Also, when the power of the receiving device 8 is turned on, substantially the same processing as described above is performed. In this case, first, start receiving the service you were watching last (#
Equivalent to 1.) Then, in # 3, it is determined to be Yes, and the processes in and after # 9 are performed.

That is, when the user switches the service and turns on the power, the following three phenomena occur depending on the type and state of the target service.
The first phenomenon is that the target service is an empty channel, uncontracted general contract broadcast, or pay-per-view broadcast where the program has not been purchased and cannot be previewed. If it happened. In these cases, the screen of the TV set 32 remains scrambled (# 14: No → # 15).
Alternatively, # 18: No (FIG. 15)). The second phenomenon occurs when the target service is a general contract broadcast that has already been contracted, and when the program is a pay-per-view broadcast that has already been purchased. In these cases, the normal reproduction state is brought about by # 19: No (FIG. 17).

The third phenomenon occurs when the target service is pay-per-view broadcasting and the program has not been purchased and can be previewed. In this case, # 20: Yes (FIG. 17) causes TV set 3
The still image of the content is displayed on the second screen. In this case, the count value of the number of receptions in the IC card 66 (# 103 in FIG. 16) is "1" immediately after the operation, and only increments by "1" each time the still screen is updated. That is, unless the user performs a preview restart operation described later, the count value does not increase. In other words, the waste of preview execution time is prevented.

In the above description, the determination of # 20 is Yes immediately after switching the service or immediately after turning on the power. But this is not essential. In other words, immediately after switching the service or immediately after turning on the power, # 2
The determination of 0 may be set to No. In this case, instead of the above-mentioned third phenomenon, execution of the preview is suddenly started. However, even in such a case, it is possible to prevent the preview execution time from being wasted by the operation of interrupting the preview described later. Of course, the user may be allowed to set the situation immediately after the service switching.

Next, the process when the preview is restarted will be described. This process is started by the user performing a restart operation of the preview with a remote controller or the like while the preview is suspended. This process is performed as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 22 and 14 to 17. In this flow, first, the signal receiving unit 64 notifies the CPU 58 that the user has performed such an operation (# 3 in FIG. 22).
6). Then, the CPU 58 receives this and receives the TV set 3
The output state to 2 is updated (# 37). And in FIG.
Go to # 8 inside. This is because the transport stream including the desired service has already been received when the preview is restarted, unlike when the service is switched. And # 8
Hereinafter, the processing is advanced in the same manner as described in the processing at the time of switching the service. Then, No in # 20 of FIG.
Is judged. Therefore, the reproduction of the content ES by # 27 and # 28 is repeated. That is, this is a state in which the user executes viewing of the preview.
However, if the preview of the program is no longer possible, Y is selected in # 105 or # 106 of FIG.
Since it is determined to be es, the preview screen cannot be viewed.

In this case, it is determined Yes in # 29 of FIG. Therefore, immediately after that, it is determined whether or not the transport stream of the service is attenuated (# 30). Due to external factors such as weather,
This is because the radio signal from the transmitter 2 (FIG. 1) may be weakened. If not attenuated (# 30: N
o), execution of the preview is continued. If it is attenuated (# 30: Yes), the process proceeds to # 42 in FIG. 23 described later. That is, the preview is interrupted.
This is to prevent the preview execution time from increasing even though the user cannot view a good image. Specifically, the determination of the attenuation can be made by comparing the current attenuation rate calculated from the current signal strength and the original signal strength with a predetermined threshold value.

In the preview state, new control data E
Each time CM is received (# 31: Yes), # in FIG.
At 103, the number of receptions is counted up. Therefore, the count number gradually increases. When the count value exceeds the predetermined upper limit number, Y is returned in # 106.
Judged as es. This ends the preview.
Even before that, if the previewable time limit set for the program has passed, it is determined to be Yes in # 105. This ends the preview. The above is the processing when the preview is restarted.

Next, the processing when the preview is interrupted will be described. This process is started by the user performing a preview interruption operation using a remote controller or the like during the preview. This process is performed as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 23 and 17. In this flow, first, the signal receiving unit 64 notifies the CPU 58 that the user has performed such an operation (# 41). Then CPU5
8 receives this, and updates the output state to the TV set 32 (# 42). The CPU 58 then controls the control data EC
The sending of M to the IC card 66 is prohibited (# 43). Therefore, even if new control data ECM is received thereafter, it is not transmitted in # 16 of FIG. For this reason,
The new scramble key Ks can no longer be obtained. Therefore, the content ES that is not decrypted is output to the AV decoder 52 and an error occurs. And the AV decoder 5
2 reports this error to the CPU 58 (# 44). At this time, the screen of the TV set 32 is in a still image state at the time of interruption. Then, the process proceeds to # 23 of FIG. That is, thereafter, the still image is regularly updated (# 24). And when the preview period elapses (#
25: Yes), the still image of the TV set 32 is muted (# 26). This is the end of the process when the preview is suspended. Note that this process may be automatically performed when a predetermined time (about 20 seconds) has elapsed after the start of the preview.

In this way, the preview execution can be interrupted by the user's operation. As a result, it is possible to prevent the preview execution time from being wasted. The same applies when the attenuation of the radio wave is detected during the execution of the preview described above (# 30: Yes in FIG. 17).

Next, an actual example of the preview operation by each of the above processes will be shown. FIG. 24 shows an example of switching between resuming and interrupting the preview. That is, (A) is the preview stopped (still image), and (B) is the preview restarted (moving image). In the state of (A), when the user restarts the preview with a remote controller or the like, the preview is restarted. That is, the state shifts to the state (B).
In the state of (B), if the user performs a preview interrupt operation with a remote controller or the like, the preview is stopped. That is, the state shifts to the state (A). In this way, the preview stop state and the preview execution state can be freely switched according to the user's intention.

FIG. 25 shows an example of a service switching operation. That is, (A) is a state before switching, and is a state in which channel 1 is displayed as a moving image. (B) is a state after the switching, and the channel 5 is displayed as a still image. This switching is performed by the user performing a service switching operation using a remote controller or the like.
As shown in (B), the preview is stopped immediately after the switching. Of course, the same applies when the switching operation is performed while the preview is stopped. Similarly, immediately after the power of the receiving device 8 is turned on, the preview stop state is similarly set. As described above, the preview execution state can be set immediately after switching (FIG. 2).
6). It is also possible to let the user set which method of FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 is used. The same applies immediately after the power is turned on. The above is the processing when a single service is displayed and there is no storage unit.

Next, the control sequence of each of the above processes will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 27 to 29. In these sequence diagrams, the IC card 66 and the CPU 58
The exchange of signals among the (preview control unit 26), the TS decoder 44, the descrambler 43, the AV decoder 52, and the TV set 32, and the main phenomena generated thereby are shown in time series. In these figures, T
Although the S decoders 44 appear in two places, this does not mean that there are actually two TS decoders 44.

First, consider the case of normal viewing which is not a preview. In this case, the received control data ECM is sent from the TS decoder 44 to the IC card 66 via the CPU 58, as shown at the top of FIG. Therefore, it is determined to be OK (corresponding to # 102: No or # 104: Yes in FIG. 16). Then, the content is restored by the descrambler 43 using the restored scramble key Ks. And the signal is TS decoder 4
4, sent to the TV set 32 via the AV decoder 52 and displayed normally (corresponding to # 27 and later in FIG. 17).

When a pay-per-view program that can be previewed and has not been purchased yet is displayed on the IC card 66, # 102:
Yes and # 104: No. Then, the content is restored by the descrambler 43 using the restored scramble key Ks, and is displayed normally on the TV set 32. However, after that,
Since the middle loop of # 23 to # 25 is entered, new control data ECM is not sent to the IC card 66. Therefore, an error occurs in the AV decoder 52 and the video is muted. Thus, the screen of the TV set 32 is in a still image state. During this still image state, # 103 in FIG. 16 is not counted.

After that, it is assumed that the user performs a preview start operation before the update timing of the still screen is reached. Then, as shown at the top of FIG. 28, new control data E
The CM is ready to be sent to the IC card 66. As a result, a preview screen (moving image) is displayed on the TV set 32. During this preview display, the count of # 103 in FIG. 16 progresses. Here, after starting the preview 1
It is assumed that the preview interruption process is set to be automatically executed after the elapse of 8 seconds. Then, after the preview is displayed for 18 seconds, transmission of new control data ECM to the IC card 66 is stopped (# 4 in FIG. 23).
Equivalent to 3.). As a result, the screen of the TV set 32 becomes a still image again. The same applies when the user performs a preview stop operation before the elapse of 18 seconds.

After that, it is assumed that the user again performs the preview start operation. Then, as shown in the top row of FIG.
The preview screen (moving image) is displayed again on the TV set 32. Then, 12 seconds later, it is assumed that the previewable period has elapsed without purchasing the program (# 105: Yes in FIG. 16). Alternatively, it is assumed that the cumulative preview time has reached the upper limit (# 10 in FIG. 16).
6: Yes). Then, the IC card 66 returns the preview end signal (# 108 in FIG. 16). This stops the preview. In this case, the still screen is no longer displayed. The above is the preview control sequence.

Among the preview controls described above, another method as described below can be used to determine whether or not a preview is possible when switching services. That is, I
The C card 66 returns the contract information as a response to the contract confirmation command and the contract confirmation information (defined in the control data SDT or the control data EIT), which is used. The contract information at this time is
It is as follows.

Non-operating card-Non-contract (non-contract, expired, etc.)-Purchased-Purchasable-Purchase refusal-Security error Due to this, the judgment "in preview / out of preview" itself cannot be made. However, it is possible to prevent consumption of the preview time (counting up the number of received control data ECM in the IC card 66) by determining the contract content based on this information.

In this case, the following is done. That is, in # 13 of FIG. 15, instead of the packet ID of the control data ECM, the packet ID of the control data SDT is used.
And the packet ID of the control data EIT is set in the TS decoder 44. Then, in # 14, the presence or absence of the contract information is confirmed instead of confirming the existence of the control data ECM. If the contract information exists (# 14: Ye
s), # 16, instead of transmitting the control data ECM to the IC card 66, the contract confirmation information acquired from the control data SDT and the control data EIT is sent to the IC card 6
Send to 6. When there is a reply from the IC card 66 (# 1
7: Yes), and the contract information contained in the reply is determined in # 18. If it is determined that the product has been purchased, the normal viewing state is entered. That is, new control data EC
The M is transmitted to the IC card 66, the scramble key Ks is acquired, and the process for decrypting the content is started.

When it is determined that the product can be purchased, the preview is not immediately started but is temporarily ended. That is, the process proceeds to # 15 in FIG. After that, when the user performs a preview start operation, the preview is restarted according to the flow of FIG. In this case, a still image cannot be displayed immediately after switching the service. This is because the scramble key Ks has not been acquired at that time. If the user performs a preview interruption operation during the preview execution, the still image state is set as described above (# 22 onward in FIG. 17). If it is any other determination (non-operation card, non-contract, purchase refusal, security error, etc.), the process ends as it is (# 15 in FIG. 15).

Note that this method is effective only when the preview is stopped immediately after switching the service. When the preview execution state is set immediately after switching the service, the control data E is immediately sent without checking the contract information.
The CM may be transmitted to the IC card 66.

(Display of multiple services, no storage unit) Next,
A process will be described in which a plurality of services are displayed, but the receiving device 8 does not have a storage unit (including a case where it is not used). The hardware configuration of the receiving device 8 in this case is
This is shown in FIG. 7 (one-series receiving unit 20) or FIG. 8 (plural-series receiving unit 20). In the case of the configuration of FIG. 7, multiple services are displayed by time sharing.

First, the processing at the time of service switching will be described. This process is performed as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 30 and 14 to 17. Since this processing has many similarities to the case of single service display, the description will focus on the differences. In this flow, first, the signal reception unit 64 notifies the CP that the user has performed such an operation.
U58 is notified (# 51 in FIG. 30). Then CPU
In response to this, 58 acquires the control data PAT of the transport stream currently being received (# 52). Here, when a plurality of TS decoders are provided as shown in FIG.
For all transport streams being received,
Obtain control data PAT. Then, the CPU 58 looks at the acquired control data PAT and determines whether or not the desired service is present in any of the transport streams currently being received (# 53).

If the desired service is present in any of the currently received transport streams (# 5
3: Yes), it is not necessary to switch the transport stream. Therefore, the process proceeds to # 9 in FIG. Subsequent processing is not different from the case of single service display (IC
(Including processing in the card 66). However, # 10, #
The processes such as 12 are performed by the TS decoder of the stream receiving the transport stream including the desired service.

If the desired service does not exist in any of the currently received transport streams (#
53: No), it is necessary to receive a new transport stream. Therefore, next, it is determined whether or not there is a free tuner in the receiver 20 (# 54). When the receiving unit 20 is a single system as shown in FIG. 7, the determination at # 54 is always No. When the receiving unit 20 has an empty tuner (# 54: Yes), a new transport stream can be received by the empty tuner. In this case, the transport stream currently being received can continue to be received as it is. Therefore, the process proceeds to # 4 in FIG. 14, and the same processing as in the case of single service display is performed thereafter. However, the processing of # 5, # 7, etc. is performed by the empty tuner and the TS decoder of that series.

When there is no free tuner in the receiving section 20 (# 54: No), it is necessary to switch the transport stream. Therefore, the process proceeds to # 55. # 55
14 to # 6 are the same in processing as # 4 to # 6 in FIG. However, the process of # 56 (corresponding to # 5) is performed by the TS decoder that has received the transport stream of the old service to be switched. When the transport stream in which the desired service is located is recognized (# 57), the alternative service is acquired (# 58). That is, by stopping the reception of the old transport stream, the output of all services in the old transport stream to the TV set 32 is stopped. For this reason, it is necessary to newly select a service to be output on the screen that becomes empty. The service for that purpose is appropriately selected from the new transport streams.

Then, the process proceeds to # 7 in FIG. 14, and thereafter, the same processing as in the case of single service display is performed. However, in # 9 to # 13 (FIG. 15), not only the desired service but also the alternative service selected in # 58, the control data PMT is acquired. Also, # 16 and below are T
All services displayed in the V set 32 are performed independently. That is, not only the desired service and the alternative service, but also the service that has not been switched this time is performed. However, # 15 or # 26
Services whose processing has been completed in (FIG. 17) are thereafter removed. The above is the processing when switching services.

That is, when the user switches the service, the following three phenomena occur depending on the type and state of the new service (including the alternative service) due to the switching. The first phenomenon is that new services
This occurs when it is an empty channel, when it is an uncontracted general contract broadcast, and when it is a pay-per-view broadcast and the program has not been purchased and cannot be previewed. In these cases, the corresponding screen of the TV set 32 remains scrambled (# 1
4: No → # 15 or # 18: No (FIG. 15)).
The second phenomenon occurs when the new service is a general contract broadcast that has been contracted, and when the program is a pay-per-view broadcast and the program has already been purchased. In these cases, # 19: No (FIG. 17) causes the corresponding screen to be in the normal reproduction state.

The third phenomenon occurs when the new service is pay-per-view broadcasting and the program has not been purchased and can be previewed. In this case, the TV set 32 is answered by # 20: Yes (FIG. 17).
The still image of the content is displayed on the relevant screen. In this case, the count value of the received number of the program in the IC card 66 (# 103 in FIG. 16) is "1" immediately after the operation, and only increments by "1" each time the still screen is updated. That is, unless the user performs a preview restart operation described later, the count value does not increase. That is, waste of preview execution time is prevented.

Even in the case of displaying a plurality of services, the determination of # 20 may be set to No immediately after switching the services. That is, the execution of the preview can be started immediately after the switching. Alternatively, # 20 immediately after switching only the desired service
The determination of No. may be No, and the determination of # 20 immediately after switching may be Yes for the alternative service. That is, immediately after switching only the desired service, execution of the preview is suddenly started, and the alternative service is a still image. Further, in this case, it is possible to automatically and sequentially switch the service for executing the preview at an appropriate frequency (about 20 seconds interval).

The process at the time of restarting the preview and the process at the time of interrupting the preview are no different from those in the case of the single service display described above. Therefore, the description is omitted. However, the target of these processes is limited to the service of the screen on which the cursor is placed during the operation. For the services on other screens, the processing up to that point is continued.

Next, an actual example of the preview operation in the case of displaying a plurality of services will be shown. FIG. 31 shows an example of switching between restarting and interrupting the preview. That is, (A) is the preview stopped (still image), and (B) is the preview restarted (moving image). In either case, the cursor is placed on the upper left screen. In the state of (A), when the user restarts the preview with the remote controller or the like, the preview is restarted on the upper left screen. That is, the state shifts to the state (B). In the state of (B), when the user performs a preview interrupt operation with a remote controller or the like, the preview is stopped on the upper left screen. That is, the state shifts to the state (A). In this way, the user can freely switch between the stopped state and the resumed state of the preview according to the user's intention. Of course, in any of the states (A) and (B), the cursor can be moved to another screen by using the arrow keys of the remote controller or the like. Then, if the operation of restarting or stopping the preview is performed, the corresponding process is performed on the screen on which the cursor is located. Note that, in FIG. 31 (the same applies to FIG. 32), “normal broadcasting” means a program by general contract broadcasting or a purchased program of pay-per-view broadcasting.

FIG. 32 shows an example of the service switching operation. That is, (A) is a state before switching, and is a state in which channel 1 is displayed as a still image on the upper left screen where the cursor is. (B) is a state after switching, and the channel 10 is displayed as a still image on the upper left screen. This switching is performed by the user performing a service switching operation using a remote controller or the like. (B)
As can be seen from the above, immediately after switching, the preview is stopped. Of course, the same applies when a switching operation is performed in the preview execution state. In addition, the receiving device 8
Immediately after the power is turned on, the preview stop state is similarly set. As in the case of the single display described above, the preview execution state can be set immediately after switching or immediately after power-on.

In FIG. 32, services are switched only on the upper left screen where the cursor is located. However,
Channel 10 during all viewing services in the state of (A)
If there is no transport stream common to the above, it is determined as No in # 53 of FIG. Further, when there is no free tuner (including the case where the receiving unit 20 is one system), the subsequent # 54 is also determined as No. In this case, also on the other screens, the service by the transport stream common to the channel 1 to be switched is switched to the alternative service (# 5).
8).

When there are a plurality of services being displayed during the preview period, the preview execution screens can be automatically and sequentially switched as described above (FIG. 33). Although the cursor is not moved in the example of FIG. 33, the cursor may be moved according to the switching of the preview execution screen. Further, the switching of the preview stop / restart can be performed for each screen.

(With Storage Unit) Next, processing when the receiving device 8 has the storage unit 31 and uses it will be described. The hardware configuration of the receiving device 8 in this case is as shown in FIG.
0 (one-series receiving unit 20) or FIG. 11 (plural-series receiving unit 20). Here, it is assumed that a plurality of services are displayed. The plurality of displayed services may be a mixture of ones from the storage unit 31 and ones newly received by the reception unit 20. Of course, it is possible to display only a single service.

First, the processing when switching services will be described. This process is performed as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 34, 14 to 17, and 30. In this flow, first, the signal receiving unit 64 notifies the CPU 58 that the user has performed such an operation (FIG. 3).
4 # 71). Then, the CPU 58 receives this and reads the stream information table from the storage unit 31, that is, the hard disk 60. Thereby, it is determined whether or not the desired content is accumulated (# 72).

FIG. 35 shows an example of the stream information table. In the stream information table, various information such as whether the content is preview content or normal content is recorded for each stored content.
Here, the normal content includes general contract broadcast content and purchased pay-per-view content. The preview content is pay-per-view content that has not been purchased. Unless you purchase the preview content, only the preview part can be played. The "reproduction time" is not the reproduction time of the entire program, but the reproduction time of the preview portion of the preview content. For normal content, this is the playback time of the entire program. The “next playback position” indicates the start position at the time of starting the next playback of the preview content. This is the time of the portion already watched in the playback time of the preview content. Content whose "Next Play Position" is equal to "Play Time",
The “viewing completion determination” is set to “completed”. As will be described later, such contents are deleted from the hard disk 60. The stream information table also records the “purchase deadline” of pay-per-view content. this is,
This is the deadline for purchasing the pay-per-view content after it has been accumulated (about one week or one month from the broadcast). If the desired content is not in the stream information table (# 72: No), the process proceeds to # 52 in FIG. Hereinafter, the same processing as that in the case where the storage unit 31 is not provided is performed.

When the desired content exists in the stream information table (# 72: Yes), the display state of the stored content is output to the TV set 32 (# 73). Next, the CPU 58 determines whether the content is preview content (# 7).
4). This determination is based on the recorded contents in the “recorded content type” column of the stream information table described above. If the content is preview content (#
74: Yes), and the process ends. Therefore, the still image of the preview content is displayed and is not immediately reproduced. It should be noted that when the preview content is already viewed halfway, the displayed still image is the last one of the viewed portions. If the content is not preview content (general contract broadcasting, etc.)
(# 74: No), the content is put into a reproduction state (# 75). Then, the process ends. The reproduction of the content continues until the content stored in the storage unit 31 ends. The above is the processing when switching services.

Even if the storage unit 31 is provided, the execution of the preview can be suddenly started immediately after the service is switched. Furthermore, it is also possible to sequentially switch the service for executing the preview at an appropriate frequency (at intervals of about 20 seconds).

Next, the processing when the preview is restarted will be described. This process is performed as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 36, 22, and 14 to 17. In this flow, the fact that the user has performed such an operation
The signal receiving unit 64 notifies the CPU 58 (# 81 in FIG. 36). Then, the CPU 58 determines whether or not the preview content related to the restart request is stored in the storage unit 31, that is, the hard disk 60 (# 82). This determination is based on the stream information table described above. If the preview content is not stored (# 82: No), # 37 in FIG.
Go to. Thereafter, the same processing as in the case without the storage unit is performed.

When the preview content is stored (# 82: Yes), the state is output to the TV set 32 (# 83). Then, the reproduction of the preview content is started (# 84). The reproduction start position at that time is based on the numerical value in the “Next reproduction start position” column of the stream information table. This is because the portion of the preview content that the user has already seen is not reproduced again. Then, the process ends. The above is the processing when the preview is restarted. After that, when all the preview contents are reproduced, the still image state at that time is obtained.

Next, the processing when the preview is interrupted will be described. This process is performed as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 37 and 23. In this flow, first, the signal receiving unit 64 notifies the CPU 58 that the user has performed such an operation (# 91 in FIG. 37). Then, the CPU 58 determines whether or not the preview content related to the interruption request is stored in the storage unit 31, that is, the hard disk 60 (# 92). This determination is based on the stream information table described above. If the preview content is not stored (# 92: No), the process proceeds to # 42 in FIG. Hereinafter, the same processing as that without the storage unit 31 is performed.

If the preview content is stored (# 92: Yes), the state is output to the TV set 32 (# 93). Then, the stream information table is recorded in the "Next playback start position" column (# 94). What is recorded is the elapsed time from the start of the program of the preview content at the present time.
As described above, in # 84 of the process when the preview is restarted,
Playback starts from the position recorded in this column. This prevents the same portion of the preview content from being reproduced twice. And the CPU 58
The reproduction of the content is stopped (# 95). After that, TV
The screen of the set 32 is in the still state of the image at the time of interruption. Next, the CPU 58 determines whether or not the preview content has been viewed (# 96). That is, the "next playback start position" in the stream information table
When the value of is equal to the value of "reproduction time", it is determined that the viewing has been completed. If it has been viewed (# 96:
Yes), the content is deleted from the hard disk 60 (# 97). At this time, the still image of the content is muted. The content deleted in this way cannot be purchased thereafter. If the content has not been viewed (# 96: No), the content is not deleted. The above is the processing when the preview is interrupted.

In any of the processing at the time of switching the service, the processing at the time of restarting the preview, and the processing at the time of interrupting the preview, the target of the processing is limited to the service of the screen on which the cursor is placed during the operation. For the services on other screens, the processing up to that point is continued. An example of the service switching operation is the same as that described in the case without the storage unit. Also, although it has been described that the preview content can be viewed only once, the preview content can be viewed multiple times. In this case, the deletion of # 97 is performed at the time when the set permissible number of viewing times has been viewed.

[0130] As described above, the "purchase deadline" of the preview content is recorded in the stream information table. Therefore, those that have passed the purchase deadline must be deleted. Therefore, processing for monitoring the purchase deadline of the stored content is performed. This process is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, first, one of the contents stored in the storage unit 31 is recognized (# 61). Next, the CPU 58 determines whether or not the recognized content is preview content whose purchase period has expired (# 62). If the content is preview content whose purchase period has expired (# 6
2: Yes), and delete the content (# 63).
If the content is not the preview content whose purchase period has expired (including the case where the content is normal content) (# 62: No), the content is not deleted. Then, it is determined whether or not the confirmation has been completed for all the contents stored in the storage unit 31 (# 64). If there is still unconfirmed content (# 64: No), the next stored content is recognized (# 65). Then, # 62 and subsequent steps are repeated. When all contents are confirmed (# 64: Ye
s), the monitoring process ends. Such processing is performed at a frequency of about one hour. As a result, the preview content that has passed the purchase deadline is deleted.

As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, regarding the preview of pay-per-view contents,
It is possible to stop and start based on user operation. As a result, the user can perform the preview only when the user can gaze at the screen and can interrupt the preview when the user cannot gaze at the screen. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the execution time of the preview from being unnecessarily counted and the preview of the stored content from unintentionally progressing. Then, in the preview stopped state, the image immediately before the stop is displayed as a still image. As a result, the outline of the content can be grasped to some extent even when the preview is stopped. Furthermore, the still image is updated at an appropriate frequency while the preview is stopped. As a result, the content of the still image does not become too old even when the preview is stopped. Further, when the previewable period has passed without being purchased, the still image is deleted. Therefore, the user can recognize that the content can no longer be purchased. Further, when the display of the previewable content is started at the time of switching the service, the preview can be set to be immediately started or for the time being stopped. As described above, a television broadcast receiving apparatus capable of providing a preview of pay-per-view content in a highly convenient manner has been realized.

In particular, when a plurality of services can be displayed, the preview of a plurality of pay-per-view contents can be stopped and started at the user's discretion. Further, when displaying a plurality of pay-per-view contents, it is possible to set the preview execution state one by one. In this way, preview control in various forms is possible.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control data ECM
It is determined whether or not the content can be previewed based on the reply content when sent to the IC card 66. Therefore, the IC card 66 having the conventional configuration and function can be used as it is. Further, while the preview is stopped, the control data ECM is sent to the IC card 66.
Is not to be sent. Therefore, the count of the number of times of reproduction of the scramble key Ks does not increase while the preview is stopped. This allows the user to effectively use the previewable length defined for each content. Further, an error is caused in the AV decoder 52 by stopping the transmission of the control data ECM from the CPU 58 to the IC card 66, and the preview is interrupted by this error. Therefore, the still image immediately before the interruption can be displayed. Also, the preview is automatically suspended when the signal is attenuated. This prevents unnecessary preview consumption due to degraded image quality.

Further, in the present embodiment, the following processing is performed on the preview content stored in the storage unit 31. That is, the current position is stored when the preview is stopped, and is reproduced from that position when the preview is restarted next time. This prevents the reproduced portion from being reproduced again. Also, the one that has been reproduced is the storage unit 3
It is supposed to be deleted from 1. As a result, the accumulated preview content is reproduced only once. Similarly, those that have passed the purchase deadline will be deleted. This prevents the reproduction of unpurchasable content. It also enables parallel processing of reproduction and storage.

The present embodiment is merely an example and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, naturally, the present invention can be variously improved and modified within the scope of the invention. For example, the control procedures shown in various flowcharts in the embodiments may be different as long as they can exhibit the same function. For example, it is possible to set a deadline for the determination of # 17 in FIG. 15 and set No to the determination of # 18 when there is no response within the deadline. In this way, the IC card 66 shown in FIG.
There is no need to transmit # 108 inside. Further, in the case of displaying a plurality of services, No is given in # 54 of FIG. 30, and when other services have to be switched to alternative services,
An alarm to that effect may be generated. Also, as for the alternative service, instead of selecting from the new transport stream, if there is another transport stream that continues to be received before and after the switching, it may be selected.

[0136]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of realizing a preview of content whose viewing is restricted due to contracts, billing, etc., in a highly convenient manner. A method, a program and a recording medium thereof are provided. In particular, various preview controls are possible even when displaying a plurality of services or when a storage unit is provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing transport streams and services included in broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an example of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing data transmitted from a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the content of each data transmitted from the transmission device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a receiving device (without a storage unit) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the receiving apparatus of FIG. 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the receiving device (2 of FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Sequence) hardware configuration block diagram

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a receiving device (with a storage unit) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the receiving apparatus of FIG. 9 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the receiving device (two series) of FIG. 9 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an IC card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a mechanism of encryption and decryption in a pay-per-view program of the digital broadcasting system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a control data PAT according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure showing an example of the contents of

FIG. 19 is a control data NIT according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure showing an example of the contents of

FIG. 20 is a control data PMT according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure showing an example of the contents of

FIG. 21 is a control data ECM according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure showing an example of the contents of

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a screen under preview control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a screen under preview control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a screen under preview control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram of preview control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a sequence diagram of preview control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a sequence diagram of preview control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a screen under preview control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a screen under preview control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a screen under preview control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a stream information table according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating preview control processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 transmitter 4 Content provider device 6 artificial satellites 8 Receiver 10 Content storage section 12 Data transmission controller 14 Multiplexing unit 16 Transmitter 20 Receiver 22 Restoration Department 24 Communication Department 25 Control unit 26 Preview controller 30 Operation reception section 31 Storage 32 TV set 40 antenna 42,45 tuner 43,46 De Scrambler 44,47 TS decoder 52 AV decoder 54 ROM 56 RAM 58 CPU 62 modem 64 signal receiver 66 IC card

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tsutomu Hayashi             2-6-1 Sakae, Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi             Building Annex 5th floor Matsushita Electric Information System Co., Ltd.             Tem Nagoya Institute F-term (reference) 5C064 BA01 BB01 BC01 BC06 BC23                       BD02 BD07 BD08

Claims (36)

[Claims] 1. A receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a restoring unit that extracts and outputs content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and content whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as "restricted content"). And a preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to output only a permitted portion (hereinafter referred to as “preview”). The preview control unit is configured to perform the preview of the limited content output from the restoration unit. A digital broadcast receiving device, which can be started and stopped based on a user's operation. 2. The digital broadcast receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the restoration unit is capable of extracting a plurality of contents from a signal received by the reception unit and outputting the plurality of contents, and the preview control unit. Is a digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of starting and stopping a preview of arbitrary restricted content based on a user operation. 3. A receiving unit that receives a signal being broadcast, a storage unit that stores content extracted from the signal received by the receiving unit, and one or more contents that are extracted from the signal received by the receiving unit. Output section, and a restoration section capable of reproducing one or more contents stored in the storage section, and a permitted portion of content whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as "restricted content"). And a preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to output or reproduce only (hereinafter, referred to as “preview”), and the preview control unit is a user of the previews of the limited contents output from the restoration unit. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus, which can start and stop any operation-based operation based on a user operation. 4. A receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a restoration unit that extracts and outputs content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and content whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter, “restricted content”). And a preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to output only a permitted portion (hereinafter referred to as “preview”). The preview control unit detects attenuation of a signal received by the reception unit. And a preview of limited content based on the attenuated signal is stopped. 5. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the preview control unit can accept a user's operation for starting or stopping a preview. . 6. Any one of claims 1 to 5
In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus described in the third aspect, the preview control unit sets the preview stop state at the start of outputting the limited content that can be previewed. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus described in the third aspect, the preview control unit sets a preview execution state at the start of output of limited content that can be previewed. 8. Any one of claims 1 to 5
In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus described in Section 3, the user can set whether to set the preview execution state or the preview stop state at the start of output of the previewable restricted content. . 9. Any one of claims 1 to 8
In the digital broadcast receiving device described in item 3, the preview control unit controls the restoration unit to display a still image based on the image before the stop for the limited content during the preview stop. Broadcast receiver. 10. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the preview control unit updates a still image at a predetermined timing with respect to restricted content whose preview is stopped. . 11. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the preview control unit has passed the previewable period without making a decision to purchase the restricted content for which previewing is stopped. In this case, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus is characterized by erasing a still image of the content. 12. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preview control unit performs preview control on pay-per-view content. apparatus. 13. The digital broadcast receiving device according to claim 12, wherein the preview control unit is capable of communicating with a key reproducing unit, and the ECM (Entitlement Control Mes) received by the receiving unit.
sage) A digital broadcast receiving apparatus characterized by determining whether or not restricted content can be previewed based on the content of a reply from the key reproducing unit when data is transmitted to the key reproducing unit. 14. The digital broadcast receiving device according to claim 13, wherein the preview control unit is capable of previewing restricted content when a valid key is included in a reply from the key reproduction unit. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus characterized by determining that there is. 15. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the preview control unit determines whether the restricted content can be previewed based on the contract information included in the reply from the key reproduction unit. A digital broadcast receiving device characterized by making a judgment. 16. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the preview control unit is capable of communicating with a key reproduction unit, and the key reproduction is performed when a contract confirmation command is transmitted to the key reproduction unit. A digital broadcast receiving device, characterized in that it is determined whether or not the restricted content can be previewed based on the content of the contract information returned from the department. 17. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the preview control unit uses the ECM data as a key reproduction unit for the restricted content during the preview stop. A digital broadcast receiving device characterized by not transmitting. 18. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the preview control unit detects, for the restricted content, an error in the restoration unit due to not transmitting ECM data to the key reproduction unit. A digital broadcast receiving device characterized by performing a preview stop process. 19. The digital broadcast receiving device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the preview control unit, when outputting a plurality of restricted contents from the restoration unit, previews the restricted contents of 1. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus, characterized in that previewing is performed for the remaining restricted contents as they are executed, and the restricted contents for previewing are replaced at a predetermined timing. 20. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the preview control unit deletes restricted contents stored in the storage unit that have passed a purchase deadline. Digital broadcasting receiver. 21. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 3 or 20, wherein the preview control unit deletes the previewed contents from the restricted contents stored in the storage unit. A digital broadcast receiving device characterized by. 22. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the preview control unit displays a preview of the restricted content stored in the storage unit. When stopped, the playback position at that point is stored as the next playback start position, and when restarting the preview of the restricted content after that, the preview is started from the next playback start position that is stored. And a digital broadcasting receiver. 23. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the preview control unit has reached a final position of a permitted reproduction portion at a next reproduction start position of the restricted content stored in the storage unit. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus characterized by deleting an object. 24. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the restoring unit extracts and outputs one or more contents from the signal received by the receiving unit, and a process of extracting the content from the signal received by the receiving unit. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus, which is capable of executing a process of storing the stored content in the storage unit in parallel. 25. A receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a restoration unit that extracts and outputs content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and content whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as "restricted content"). In a digital broadcast receiving method using a preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to output only the permitted portion of () (hereinafter referred to as “preview”), the preview of the limited content output from the restoration unit is based on the user's operation. A digital broadcast receiving method characterized by causing a preview control unit to start and stop. 26. The digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 25, wherein the restoration unit extracts a plurality of contents from the signal received by the reception unit and outputs the contents, and the preview control unit switches between a preview execution state and a stop state. A method of receiving a digital broadcast, characterized in that a preview of arbitrary restricted content based on a user's operation is performed. 27. A receiving unit that receives a signal being broadcast, a storage unit that stores content extracted from the signal received by the receiving unit, and one or more contents that are output from the signal received by the receiving unit. And a restoring unit capable of outputting one or more contents accumulated in the accumulating unit, and outputting only a permitted portion of contents whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as “restricted contents”). In a digital broadcast receiving method using a preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to perform reproduction (hereinafter, referred to as “preview”), for any preview of the limited content output from the restoration unit based on a user operation , A method for receiving digital broadcasting, characterized in that a preview control section is caused to start and stop based on a user's operation. 28. A receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a restoration unit that extracts and outputs content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and content whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as “restricted content”). In a digital broadcast receiving method using a preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to output only the permitted portion of () (hereinafter referred to as “preview”), when the attenuation of the signal received by the reception unit is detected, the attenuated signal is detected. A method of receiving a digital broadcast, characterized in that the preview control unit is caused to stop the preview of the limited content based on. 29. A receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a restoring unit that extracts and outputs content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and content whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as “restricted content”). In the digital broadcast receiving program in which the computer controls the preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to output only the permitted portion of () (hereinafter referred to as “preview”), the computer previews the restricted content output from the restoration unit. The digital broadcast receiving program, which causes the preview control unit to start and stop based on a user's operation. 30. The digital broadcast receiving program according to claim 29, further comprising: a plurality of contents handling means for causing a restoring unit to extract and output a plurality of contents from a signal received by the receiving unit, and a preview control unit. A digital broadcast receiving program, characterized by causing a switching between a preview execution state and a stop state to function as a switching target specifying means for performing a preview of arbitrary restricted content based on a user operation. 31. A receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a storage unit that stores content extracted from the signal received by the receiving unit, and one or more contents that are output from the signal received by the receiving unit. And a restoring unit capable of outputting one or more contents accumulated in the accumulating unit, and outputting only a permitted portion of contents whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as “restricted contents”). Alternatively, in a digital broadcast receiving program in which a computer controls a preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to perform reproduction (hereinafter, referred to as “preview”), the computer operates the computer among the previews of the limited contents output from the restoration unit. Causes the preview controller to start and stop anything based on user operations Digital broadcast receiving program for causing to function as an initiate review stopping means. 32. A receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a restoring unit that extracts and outputs content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and content whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as "restricted content"). In the digital broadcast receiving program that controls the preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to output only the permitted part (hereinafter referred to as “preview”), the attenuation of the signal received by the computer is detected. Then, the digital broadcast receiving program is caused to function as an attenuation preview stop means for causing the preview control unit to control the preview of the restricted content based on the attenuated signal. 33. A receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a restoration unit that extracts and outputs content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and content whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as “restricted content”). In a machine-readable medium storing a digital broadcast receiving program for controlling a preview control unit that causes a restoring unit to output only a permitted portion (hereinafter, referred to as “preview”) of FIG. A machine-readable medium that functions as a preview start / stop unit that causes the preview control unit to start and stop the preview of the limited content output from the restoration unit based on a user operation. 34. The machine-readable medium according to claim 33, wherein the digital broadcast receiving program further causes a computer to extract a plurality of contents from a signal received by the receiving unit and output the plurality of contents, and A machine-readable medium that causes a preview control unit to switch between a preview execution state and a preview state as a switching target specifying unit that causes a preview of arbitrary restricted content based on a user operation. 35. A receiving unit that receives a signal being broadcast, a storage unit that stores content extracted from the signal received by the receiving unit, and one or more contents that are output from the signal received by the receiving unit. And a restoring unit capable of outputting one or more contents accumulated in the accumulating unit, and outputting only a permitted portion of contents whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as “restricted contents”). Alternatively, in a machine-readable medium recording a digital broadcast reception program for controlling a preview control unit that causes the restoration unit to perform reproduction (hereinafter referred to as “preview”) by the computer, the digital broadcast reception program outputs the computer from the restoration unit. User-selected content for any restricted content previews based on user interaction. Machine-readable medium, characterized in that to function as a preview start stopping means for causing start and stop the preview control unit based on the work. 36. A receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a restoring unit that extracts and outputs content from the signal received by the receiving unit, and content whose viewing is restricted (hereinafter referred to as "restricted content"). In a machine-readable medium storing a digital broadcast receiving program for controlling a preview control unit that causes a restoring unit to output only a permitted part (hereinafter, referred to as “preview”), the digital broadcast receiving program A machine characterized by causing the preview control unit to perform control to stop previewing of limited content based on the attenuated signal when the reception unit detects attenuation of the received signal. A readable medium.