JP2005108362A - Information reproducing device and information reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reproducing device in which a user to be restricted for viewing and listening cannot freely change setting of a parental level without using information which must be managed for secrecy of user information or the like used for a password and user identification. <P>SOLUTION: A reproduction control part 13 holds the parental level and controls reproduction of video information recorded in a DVD disk in accordance with setting of the parental level. A network interface part 15 is used for connecting to the Internet. When the parental level is changed by the user, sending and receiving of electronic mail for permission of change is performed through the network interface part 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for reproducing digital information recorded on a storage medium and digital information transmitted via a transmission medium, and more particularly to an information reproducing apparatus for performing reproduction control using parental management information.

  Conventionally, in a video playback device such as a DVD video player, a playback control function called a parental control function is known. The parental control function is to set a level related to playback restriction called a parental level, and to set a locked state so that a video that does not match the set parental level cannot be played back. The parental control function is used, for example, to prevent reproduction of information that the child does not want to show such as a violent scene. In the case of a DVD video disc, the parental information of the disc can be recorded. Therefore, if the parental information is recorded, the parental information and the parental level set in the playback device are recorded. Is controlled by comparing.

Usually, when setting the parental level, a password is set, and for changing the parental level, the user is required to input the set password. As is clear from the purpose, the set password cannot be taken out by the user from the playback device. Therefore, if the password is forgotten, the parental level cannot be changed.

Therefore, the playback device in the above prior art includes a release time information input means for inputting release time information for releasing the lock state, a determination means for determining whether or not to hold the lock state, and a lock release for releasing the lock state. Means. If the release time information is set and the determination means determines that the lock state should be released based on the information, the lock release means releases the lock state.

By using such a configuration, even when the user forgets the password that must be input to change the parental control function, the locked state is released at the release time.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-150707 (FIG. 1)

  However, in the prior art as described above, there is a problem that if the release time information is not set when setting the parental control function, the user cannot change the parental control function as usual. Also, if you always specify the release time, the locked state is automatically released at the release time, so you can watch the video that you originally wanted to not watch the played video. There is a fear that it will end. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the parental level such as a child who wants to restrict viewing can change the parental level.

  Therefore, the present invention prevents the user who wants to limit viewing from changing the parental level setting freely without using information that must be managed secretly such as passwords and user information used for user authentication. It is an object of the present invention to provide a playback apparatus that avoids the inconvenience caused by forgetting a password and does not require a storage medium used for recording user information.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium or information transmitted via a transmission medium and having a parental control function,
E-mail address registration means for registering an e-mail address; e-mail transmission means for sending an e-mail to an e-mail address registered in the e-mail address registration means;
Control for enabling the change of the parental level when a request for changing the parental level is made and an e-mail is transmitted using the e-mail transmitting means and the permission of the parental level is changed from the recipient of the e-mail Means.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the control means determines that the parental level change is permitted by receiving the reply mail from the recipient of the transmitted electronic mail.

  In addition, in order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention describes that the control means describes a password in an e-mail to be sent, and is allowed to change the parental level by detecting that the password has been input. It is determined.

  Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention describes that the control means writes a password in an e-mail to be sent and permits the parental level to be changed by detecting that the password has been input. It is determined.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention transmits the e-mail using the e-mail transmission means when the request for changing the e-mail address registered in the e-mail address registration means is made. At the same time, the e-mail address can be changed with permission to change the e-mail address from the recipient of the e-mail.

  Further, the present invention is an information reproduction restriction method for restricting reproduction of information recorded on a recording medium or information transmitted via a transmission medium according to a preset restriction level in order to solve the above-described problem. When the request for changing the restriction level is received, an e-mail is transmitted to a preset e-mail address, and control is performed so that the change can be made by obtaining change permission from the recipient of the e-mail. To do.

  According to the present invention, permission to change the parental level can be received from the user who received the e-mail, so that it is not necessary to record a password or the like inside the apparatus, and the information to be recorded is a password or the like. It is possible to make only publicly available information such as an e-mail address, not information to be kept secret.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a playback apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The playback device 1 includes an input unit 10, a DVD drive 11, a video playback unit 12, a playback control unit 13, an e-mail address registration unit 14, and a network interface unit 15.

  The input unit 10 receives an input from the input device 16 used by the user to control playback and set the playback device, and outputs the input to the playback control unit 13. For example, an infrared remote controller can be used as the input device 16. When an infrared remote controller is used as the input device 16, the input device 16 receives the infrared signal, extracts the remote control code from the infrared signal as information, and transmits it to the reproduction control unit 13. However, the input device 16 is not limited to the infrared remote controller, and a device such as a keyboard or a mouse can be used.

  The DVD drive 11 is loaded with a DVD disc, reads video information from the disc, and sends it to the video playback unit 12. Also, parental information set on the disc can be read together with the video information. In the present embodiment, the DVD disk is used as the information storage means. However, the present invention is not limited to the case of using the DVD disk, and the same applies to the case of using another recording medium as the information storage means. It can be applied. A hard disk drive can be given as an example of another storage medium.

  The video playback unit 12 decodes the video signal read from the DVD disc loaded in the DVD drive 11 and outputs it as a video signal. A display 17 is connected to the video playback unit 12 in order to display an image, and the image is displayed on the display 17 based on the video signal. The video signal output from the video playback unit 12 to the display 17 includes not only a video signal read from the DVD drive 11 and decoded, but also a control screen necessary for the user to control the playback device 1. The control screen includes a parental level setting screen and an e-mail address setting screen.

  The e-mail address registration unit 14 registers an e-mail address that transmits an e-mail when the user attempts to change the parental level.

  The playback control unit 13 holds the parental level and controls the playback of video information recorded on the DVD disc according to the setting of the parental level. When reproducing the video information, the reproduction control unit 13 reads the parental information from the DVD disk. When the parental information is recorded, the parental information is compared with the set parental level, and it is determined whether to reproduce the video information.

The network interface unit 15 is used for connecting to the Internet. Specifically, it is a wired or wireless LAN interface or a modem. The network interface unit 15 is connected to the playback control unit 13 in the playback device, and the playback control unit 13 transmits and receives e-mails via the network interface.

  Next, a processing procedure when the user reproduces video information will be described. The user inserts a DVD disc into the DVD drive 11 and sends a playback instruction to the playback device 1 using the input device 16. The input unit 10 sends a command from the input device 16 to the reproduction control unit 13. When receiving a reproduction instruction, the reproduction control unit 13 reads parental information from the DVD disk. If parental information is set on the DVD disc and can be read, it is compared with the parental level set in the playback apparatus 1. For example, the parental level can take n steps from 1 to n, and the level 1 is the most restrictive. The reproduction control unit 13 reproduces the video information when the parental information read from the disc is smaller than the set parental level, but if not, the reproduction control unit 13 causes the video reproduction unit 12 not to perform reproduction. To control. By controlling the reproduction in this way, the parental level is set to 1 in order to prevent the child from seeing a video including a violent scene or a sexual scene, for example, in a home with children. Can be used.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for changing the parental level set in the playback apparatus 1. A user who intends to change the parental level uses the input device 16 to input an instruction to change the parental level to the playback device 1. This instruction can be made, for example, by pressing a specific button on the remote controller. Alternatively, it is possible to prepare a remote control button for displaying the setting screen, and when the button is pressed, the setting screen is displayed on the display and an operation for changing the parental level can be performed. is there. Upon receiving an instruction to change the parental level via the input unit 16 (step S30), the playback control unit 13 reads the email address from the email address registration unit 14. Next, when the e-mail data is generated, the e-mail is transmitted to the e-mail address read from the e-mail address registration unit 14 via the network interface unit 15 (step S31). At this time, if the e-mail address is not yet registered in the e-mail address registration unit 14, it is considered that the e-mail address remains in the initial state, so that the parental level can be set as it is. The email that is sent will notify you that the parental level is about to be changed, and if you allow the change, it will contain text that instructs you to send a reply email to the received email ing. When the e-mail is transmitted, the reproduction control unit 13 sets a time-out time and waits for a reply mail to be received until the time-out time. If the reply mail cannot be received before the time-out time (Y in step S32), the display indicates that the parental level has failed to change due to a time-out, and the user is notified (step S33). . If the reply mail can be received before the time-out time (N in Step S32) (Y in Step S34), the playback control unit 13 determines that the setting change is permitted and sets a new parental level. The parental level change screen is displayed (step S35). When the parental level change screen is displayed, the user inputs a new parental level using the input device 16, and the parental level is changed (step S36). The reproduction control unit 13 stores the Message-ID of the transmitted email in order to confirm that the received reply email corresponds to the transmitted email, and stores it in the email header of the received reply email. The correspondence can be confirmed by comparing with the value of In-Reply-To field and References field that are written. Alternatively, generate a value that uniquely identifies the sent email, write it in the email body or subject, and determine the correspondence between the sent email and reply email by including the value in the reply email Is also possible. At this time, a value for uniquely identifying the e-mail is generated by a random number or the like. Furthermore, if a value for identifying an electronic mail is encrypted and written in the body of the electronic mail or transmitted as an attached file, an unintended change in the parental level can be prevented.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another procedure for changing the parental level. The procedure (steps S40 to S43) from when the user tries to change the parental level until the playback apparatus transmits an e-mail is the same as the follow chart of FIG. In the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the password is described in the e-mail transmitted by the playback apparatus. The password is a four-digit number, for example, and is generated using a random number or the like so that a different value is taken every time the parental level is changed. The user who has received the e-mail inputs the password described therein to the playback device using the input device. Upon confirming that the password described in the transmitted e-mail address has been input (Y in step S44), the playback device displays a parental level change screen (step S45). Then, by referring to the change screen and operating the input device 16 by the user, a new parental level is input (step S46).

When the procedure of the flowchart of FIG. 4 is used, there is no need to send a reply mail. In addition, the playback control unit is configured so that the parental level change screen is displayed regardless of whether a reply message is received or a password is entered, in accordance with the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. It is also possible to do.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a third procedure for changing the parental level. The procedure (steps S50 to S53) from when the user tries to change the parental level until the playback apparatus 1 transmits an e-mail is the same as the follow chart of FIG. In the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the URL is described in the electronic mail transmitted by the playback device 1. This URL is used for designating to download a Web page for inputting whether or not the parental level change is permitted from the playback apparatus 1. This URL preferably has a different value every time the parental level is changed. When an e-mail is received, a request to open a web page is received (Y in step S54), and the user opens with a web browser at the URL described in the e-mail, a web for inputting permission or disapproval of parental level change From the page that appears, choose whether to allow or disallow. Upon receiving the result selected by the user, the playback device displays a parental level change screen on the display if permitted according to the result (Y in step S55) (step S56). And a new parental level is input by the user operating the input device 16 with reference to this change screen (step S57).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for changing the e-mail address registered in the e-mail address registration unit 14. When the user intends to change the e-mail address, an instruction to change the e-mail address is input from the input device to the playback device. In the playback device, when receiving the request for changing the email address (step S60), the playback control unit reads the email address from the email address registration unit. If the e-mail address is not registered, the initial setting is not completed, and the e-mail address setting screen is displayed as it is. The reproduction control unit generates e-mail data indicating that there is an instruction to change the e-mail address, and transmits it to the e-mail address read from the e-mail address registration unit via the network interface unit (step S61). ). When the reproduction control unit generates e-mail data, a password is entered in the e-mail. The password is, for example, a four-digit number, and preferably has a different value every time the e-mail address is changed. The password can be generated using a random number or the like. The reproduction control unit records the password described in the e-mail. When the e-mail is transmitted, the playback control unit sets a timeout time, and waits for the input of the password transmitted by the e-mail until the timeout time. If the password is not input before the time-out time (Y in step S62), it is determined that the time-out has occurred, and a screen notifying the failure of changing the e-mail address is output on the display (step S63). If the correct password is input before the timeout (N in step S62) (Y in step 64), an e-mail address change screen for inputting a new e-mail address is displayed on the display (step S65). When the user inputs a new e-mail address using the input device, the new e-mail address is registered in the e-mail address registration unit (step S66).

  In FIG. 6, the case where the user inputs a password in order to permit the change of the e-mail address has been described. It is also possible to allow it.

In the present embodiment, the information recorded on the playback device for controlling the change of the parental level is an e-mail address. If the parental level of the playback device is set as the e-mail address, and the e-mail address of the user to be managed is set, only the user who manages the parental level receives an e-mail transmitted to the e-mail address. It is. When setting a password so that the parental level cannot be changed freely, it is necessary to keep the password confidential, and even if the password is forgotten, the password cannot be read. When an e-mail address is set as in this embodiment, the playback apparatus can be managed so that the parental level cannot be freely changed without concealing the e-mail address.

  FIG. 2 shows another example of the configuration of the playback apparatus in this embodiment. The reproducing apparatus 1 does not reproduce the video information recorded on the recording medium, but has a digital broadcast receiving unit instead of the DVD drive in order to receive the digital broadcast and reproduce the video information. The digital broadcast receiver 21 receives radio waves transmitted from a digital broadcast satellite, a digital terrestrial broadcast station, and the like, and extracts a video signal. The other components of the playback device 1 are basically the same as those of the playback device of FIG. 1, and the same processing can be applied to the change of the parental level and the change of the e-mail address. .

  In the present embodiment, the case where video information recorded on a DVD disc is reproduced has been described as an example. However, it is obvious that the information is not limited to the type of recording medium of information to be reproduced. It can be easily applied to the case where information to be recorded is recorded.

  As described above, the use of this embodiment eliminates the need to set information that needs to be concealed such as a password in the playback device for the parental level setting, and causes a problem that occurs when the user forgets the password. It is also possible to avoid cost information by preparing a storage medium or the like separate from the playback device.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in the case of changing the parental level set to the reproducing | regenerating apparatus by the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd procedure in the case of changing the parental level by the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 3rd procedure in the case of changing the parental level by the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in the case of changing the e-mail address by the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Input part, 11 ... DVD drive, 12 ... Video reproduction part, 13 ... Reproduction control part, 14 ... E-mail address registration part, 15 ... Network interface part, 16 ... Input device, 17 ... Display.

Claims (6)

An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium or information transmitted via a transmission medium and having a parental control function,
An email address registration means for registering an email address;
Email sending means for sending email to the email address registered in the email address registration means;
Control for enabling the change of the parental level when a request for changing the parental level is made and an e-mail is transmitted using the e-mail transmitting means and the permission of the parental level is changed from the recipient of the e-mail Means for reproducing information. 2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the change of the parental level is permitted by receiving a reply mail from a recipient of the transmitted electronic mail. 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein a password is described in an e-mail to be transmitted, and it is determined that the parental level change is permitted by detecting that the password is input. Information playback device.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein a password is described in an e-mail to be transmitted, and it is determined that the parental level change is permitted by detecting that the password is input. Information playback device.   When there is a request for changing the e-mail address registered in the e-mail address registration means, the control means transmits an e-mail using the e-mail transmission means and sends an e-mail from a recipient of the e-mail. 2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the e-mail address can be changed with permission to change the address. An information reproduction restriction method for restricting reproduction of information recorded on a recording medium or information transmitted via a transmission medium according to a preset restriction level,
When receiving a request for changing the restriction level, an e-mail is transmitted to a preset e-mail address, and control is performed so that the change can be made by obtaining a change permission from the recipient of the e-mail. Information playback restriction method.

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