JP2007012172A - Recording/reproducing device and recording/reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording/reproducing device for automatically deleting a content which is set deletable by all the users in a deletion propriety information, which can be set by each user. <P>SOLUTION: In the recording/reproducing device, a plurality of users are beforehand registered. The content is recorded on a recording medium by the recording/reproducing device. At this time, the deletion propriety information of the content is set to undeletable. For instance, after the content is reproduced and the viewing/listening is finished, the deletion propriety information of the content is changed by the user to deletable. The content set to deletable in the deletion propriety information by all user members is deleted from the recording medium by the recording/reproducing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method for recording or reproducing image information and the like. More specifically, the present invention is used by, for example, a plurality of users and records contents such as moving images, audio, or television broadcast programs. The present invention also relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method for reproducing.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording / reproducing apparatus that automatically deletes recorded content is known from the relationship of the free capacity of a recording medium (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This recording / playback apparatus does not automatically delete content for which deletion is prohibited. In the present specification, the content refers to a recording of video and audio signals recorded for a predetermined broadcast or a program obtained from a network.
JP 2004-086288 A

  When a recording / playback device is used by multiple users, even if one person thinks that a certain recorded content may be automatically deleted, it would be difficult for another person to delete it automatically. In some cases. In such a case, the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus has a problem that automatic deletion is not performed in consideration of a case where there are a plurality of users.

  The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus in which individual users set deletion permission / inhibition information for each content recorded in a recording medium and automatically delete the contents in which deletion permission / inhibition information indicating that deletion can be performed by all users is set. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a user registration unit for registering a plurality of users, a content recording unit for recording content on a recording medium, and a content for each content recorded on the recording medium Deleteability information indicating whether or not the user can be deleted is stored in a storage medium for each user, and all the users can be deleted using the deleteability information read from the storage medium. A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a detecting unit that detects that the user has been deleted; and a content deleting unit that deletes the content when the detecting unit detects that all the users can be deleted. I will provide a.

The present invention relating to the apparatus is also established as an invention relating to a method, and the present invention relating to a method is also established as an invention relating to an apparatus.
Further, the present invention relating to an apparatus or a method has a function for causing a computer to execute a procedure corresponding to the invention (or for causing a computer to function as a means corresponding to the invention, or for a computer to have a function corresponding to the invention It can also be realized as a program (for realizing the program), and can also be realized as a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  According to this invention, for each content recorded on the recording medium, the individual user sets the deletion permission information, and the recording in which the deletion permission information indicating that deletion can be performed by all users is automatically deleted. A playback device can be obtained.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows an appearance of a digital television broadcast receiving apparatus 111 to which the present invention is applied, and an example of a network system configured around the digital television broadcast receiving apparatus 111.

  That is, the digital television broadcast receiver 111 mainly includes a thin cabinet 112 and a support base 113 that supports the cabinet 112 upright. Then, it is transmitted to the cabinet 112 from, for example, a flat panel type video display device 114 including a surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED) display panel, a liquid crystal display panel, a speaker 115, an operation unit 116, and a remote controller 117. A light receiving unit 118 for receiving operation information is installed.

  Further, for example, a first memory card 119 such as an SD (Secure Digital) memory card, an MMC (Multimedia Card), and a memory stick can be attached to and detached from the digital television broadcast receiving apparatus 111. Information such as programs and photographs is recorded on and reproduced from the memory card 119.

  Further, for example, a second memory card (IC card) 120 in which contract information or the like is recorded can be attached to and detached from the digital television broadcast receiving apparatus 111. Information is stored in the second memory card 120. Recording / reproduction is performed.

  The digital television broadcast receiver 111 includes a first LAN (Local Area Network) terminal 121, a second LAN terminal 122, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal 123, and an i. A LINK terminal 124 is provided.

  Among these, the first LAN terminal 121 is used as a LAN-compatible HDD dedicated port, and information is transferred to the LAN-compatible HDD 125 which is a NAS (Network Attached Storage) by Ethernet (registered trademark). Used for recording and playback.

  In this way, by providing the first LAN terminal 121 as a LAN-compatible HDD dedicated port, program information can be recorded on the HDD 125 with high-definition image quality without being affected by other network environments or network usage conditions. It can be performed stably.

  The second LAN terminal 122 is used as a general LAN-compatible port using Ethernet (registered trademark). For example, the LAN-compatible HDD 127, PC (Personal Computer) 128, It is used to connect devices such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) recorder 129 with a built-in HDD and to transmit information with these devices.

  The PC 128 has a function for operating as a content server device in a home network, and further includes UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) provided with a service for providing URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) information necessary for content access. ) Configured as a compatible device.

  As for the DVD recorder 129, since the digital information communicated via the second LAN terminal 122 is information only for the control system, analog video and audio information is exchanged with the digital television broadcast receiver 111. In order to transmit, it is necessary to provide a dedicated analog transmission line 130.

  Further, the second LAN terminal 122 is connected to a network 132 such as the Internet via a broadband router 131 connected to the hub 126, and transmits information to and from the PC 133, the mobile phone 134, etc. via the network 132. Used to do.

  The PC 133 is configured as a UPnP-compatible device having a function for operating as a content server device and further including a service for providing URI information necessary for accessing the content.

  The USB terminal 123 is used as a general USB-compatible port. For example, a mobile phone 136, a digital camera 137, a card reader / writer 138 for a memory card, an HDD 139, a keyboard 140, etc. via a hub 135. USB devices are connected to each other and used for information transmission with these USB devices.

  Further, i. The LINK terminal 124 is used to serially connect, for example, an AV-HDD 141, a D (Digital) -VHS (Video Home System) 142, and the like and perform information transmission with these devices.

FIG. 2 shows a main signal processing system of the digital television broadcast receiving apparatus 111 described above.
That is, the satellite digital television broadcast signal received by the BS / CS digital broadcast receiving antenna 243 is supplied to the satellite digital broadcast tuner 245 a via the input terminal 244.

  The tuner 245a selects a broadcast signal of a desired channel based on a control signal from the control unit 261, and outputs the selected broadcast signal to a PSK (Phase Shift Keying) demodulator 245b.

  The PSK demodulator 245b demodulates the broadcast signal selected by the tuner 245a according to a control signal from the control unit 261, obtains a transport stream including a desired program, and outputs the transport stream to the TS decoder 245c.

  The TS decoder 245c performs TS decoding processing on the signal multiplexed by the transport stream (TS) according to the control signal from the control unit 261, and outputs a digital video signal and audio signal of a desired program to the signal processing unit 247. Then, various data (service information), electronic program guide (EPG) information, program attribute information (program genre, etc.), subtitle information, etc. for acquiring a program sent by digital broadcasting are output to the control unit 261.

  The terrestrial digital television broadcast signal received by the terrestrial broadcast receiving antenna 248 is supplied to the terrestrial digital broadcast tuner 250 a via the input terminal 249.

  The tuner 250a selects a broadcast signal of a desired channel based on a control signal from the control unit 261, and outputs the selected broadcast signal to an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) demodulator 250b.

  The OFDM demodulator 250b demodulates the broadcast signal selected by the tuner 250a based on the control signal from the control unit 261, obtains a transport stream including a desired program, and outputs the transport stream to the TS decoder 250c.

  The TS decoder 250c performs TS decoding processing on the signal multiplexed by the transport stream (TS) according to the control signal from the control unit 261, and outputs a digital video signal and audio signal of a desired program to the signal processing unit 247. Then, various data for acquiring a program transmitted by digital broadcasting, electronic program guide (EPG) information, program attribute information (program genre, etc.), and the like are output to the control unit 261.

  The terrestrial analog television broadcast signal received by the terrestrial broadcast receiving antenna 248 is supplied to the terrestrial analog broadcast tuner 252a via the input terminal 249, so that the broadcast signal of the desired channel is selected. Bureau. The broadcast signal selected by the tuner 252a is supplied to the analog demodulator 252b, demodulated into an analog video signal and audio signal, and then output to the signal processing unit 247.

  Here, the signal processing unit 247 selectively performs predetermined digital signal processing on the digital video signal and audio signal respectively supplied from the PSK demodulator 245b and the OFDM demodulator 250b, and the graphic processing unit 254. And output to the audio processing unit 255.

  The signal processing unit 247 is connected to a plurality (four in the illustrated case) of input terminals 256a, 256b, 256c, and 256d. These input terminals 256a to 256d allow analog video signals and audio signals to be input from the outside of the digital television broadcast receiver 111, respectively.

  The signal processing unit 247 selectively digitizes the analog video signal and audio signal supplied from the analog demodulator 253 and the input terminals 256a to 256d, respectively, and performs the digitization on the digitized video signal and audio signal. After performing predetermined digital signal processing, the digital signal is output to the graphic processing unit 254 and the audio processing unit 255.

  The graphic processing unit 254 has a function of superimposing and outputting the OSD signal generated by the OSD (On Screen Display) signal generation unit 257 on the digital video signal supplied from the signal processing unit 247. The graphic processing unit 254 selectively outputs the output video signal of the signal processing unit 247 and the output OSD signal of the OSD signal generation unit 257, and combines both outputs so as to form a half of the screen. Can be output.

  Further, when displaying a caption by caption broadcasting, the graphic processing unit 254 performs a process of superimposing the caption information on the video signal based on the control signal and the caption information from the control unit 261.

  The digital video signal output from the graphic processing unit 254 is supplied to the video processing unit 258. The video processing unit 258 converts the input digital video signal into an analog video signal in a format that can be displayed on the video display 114, and then outputs the analog video signal to the video display 114 to display the video. 259 to the outside.

  The audio processing unit 255 converts the input digital audio signal into an analog audio signal in a format that can be reproduced by the speaker 115, and then outputs the analog audio signal to the speaker 115 for audio reproduction. Through the outside.

  Here, in the digital television broadcast receiving apparatus 111, all operations including the above-described various receiving operations are comprehensively controlled by the control unit 261. The control unit 261 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and receives operation information from the operation unit 116 or receives operation information sent from the remote controller 117 via the light receiving unit 118. Each part is controlled so that the operation content is reflected.

  In this case, the control unit 261 mainly includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 261a that stores a control program executed by the CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 261b that provides a work area for the CPU, and various setting information. And a non-volatile memory 261c in which control information and the like are stored.

  The control unit 261 is connected to a card holder 266 to which the first memory card 119 can be attached via a card I / F (Interface) 265. Thereby, the control unit 261 can perform information transmission via the card I / F 265 with the first memory card 119 mounted on the card holder 266.

  Further, the control unit 261 is connected via a card I / F 267 to a card holder 268 in which the second memory card 120 can be mounted. Thus, the control unit 261 can perform information transmission via the card I / F 267 with the second memory card 120 mounted on the card holder 268.

  The control unit 261 is connected to the first LAN terminal 121 via the communication I / F 269. Accordingly, the control unit 261 can perform information transmission via the communication I / F 269 with the LAN-compatible HDD 125 connected to the first LAN terminal 121. In this case, the control unit 261 has a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function, and performs control by assigning an IP (Internet Protocol) address to the LAN-compatible HDD 125 connected to the first LAN terminal 121.

  Further, the control unit 261 is connected to the second LAN terminal 122 via the communication I / F 270. Accordingly, the control unit 261 can perform information transmission with each device (see FIG. 1) connected to the second LAN terminal 122 via the communication I / F 270.

  The control unit 261 is connected to the USB terminal 123 via the USB I / F 271. Accordingly, the control unit 261 can perform information transmission with each device (see FIG. 1) connected to the USB terminal 123 via the USB I / F 271.

  Further, the control unit 261 is configured to i. Through the LINK I / F272 i. The LINK terminal 124 is connected. As a result, the control unit 261 performs i. Each device (see FIG. 1) connected to the LINK terminal 124; i. Information transmission can be performed via the LINK I / F 272.

  In this embodiment, a registration file describing storage IDs (including IP addresses and device names) assigned to the HDD 125, HDD 127, PC 128, and DVD recorder 129 at the time of initial registration is stored and held in the HDD 125.

In addition, the storage IDs of the HDD 125, the HDD 127, the PC 128, and the DVD recorder 129 are stored in the nonvolatile memory 261c.
The control unit 261 includes (1) a server device discovery function 261d that uses UPnP, (2) a content information acquisition function 261e that uses UPnP, and (3) a content access control function 261f. And.

  (1) The control unit 261 uses the UPnP discovery function to discover UPnP compatible devices on the network by using the server device discovery function 261d. For example, the server device discovery function 261d discovers the PC 128 using the UPnP discovery function.

  (2) The control unit 261 controls the UPnP compatible device using the UPnP control function by the content information acquisition function 261e, and acquires URI information necessary for accessing the content in the UPnP compatible device. For example, the content information acquisition function 261e acquires the URI information necessary for controlling the PC 128 and accessing the content stored in the HDD or the like in the PC 128 from the PC 128.

  (3) The control unit 261 uses the content access control function 261f to obtain the IP address information of the server device acquired by the server device discovery function 261d, the IP address information acquired from the URI information acquired by the content information acquisition function 261e, and the digital Based on the IP address and netmask assigned to the LAN terminal 122 of the television broadcast receiver 111, it is determined whether or not the content can be accessed. If the control unit 261 determines that access is permitted, the control unit 261 allows the content access to be permitted.

Next, user registration processing will be described.
The user information registration / management unit 282 registers and manages user information of a plurality of people. As user information, for example, a user ID, a user name, and a gender are associated (registered) and stored.

  The user information is registered by, for example, controlling the user name and gender input by the user operating the operation unit 116 on the GUI screen for registering the user as shown in FIG. 4 generated by the control of the control unit 261. The user information registration / management unit 282 performs user registration by passing the information from the unit 261 to the user information registration / management unit 282. In the example of FIG. 4, the user ID “U004” at the time of new registration that is automatically issued is displayed, and the user name “Shiro Nihon” and the sex “male” are entered.

  FIG. 5 is an example in which a user list of users stored in the user information registration / management unit 282 is displayed. In this example, four users, “Nihon Ichiro”, “Nihon Jiro”, “Nihon Saburo”, and “Nihon Shiro”, are registered.

Next, processing operations from content recording to deletion in the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation from the recording to the deletion of the content according to the present invention. In the following description of the operation, it is assumed that four users of user IDs U001 to U004 shown in FIG. 5 are registered in advance.

  Step S301: The control unit 261 of the digital television broadcast receiver 111 selects a predetermined program to be recorded, and records video and audio signals of the selected program on the AV-HDD 141. The content management information registration / management unit 281 registers and manages content management information of a plurality of contents recorded on the recording medium. The content management information registration / management unit 281 is passed to the content management information registration / management unit 281 from information such as a program name extracted from the electronic program guide (EPG) by the control unit 261 or date / time information obtained from a clock, for example. As a result, the content management information is registered. As content management information, for example, “content ID”, “content name”, “recording date / time”, and “deletability information” are registered (stored) in association with each other. As the information “deletability information”, a user ID of a user who is permitted to be deleted is used, and is registered (stored) for each content registered in the content management information registration / management unit 281. As a result, it is possible to identify whether deletion is possible or not is registered for each user. FIG. 6 is an example in which a list of content management information of content stored in the content management information registration / management unit 281 is displayed. In the example of FIG. 6, “Drama A Episode 1” can be deleted by “Nichiro Nihon”, “Jiro Nihon”, and “Saburo Nihon”. In addition, regarding “Drama A Episode 2”, “Nichiro Nihon” and “Jiro Nihon” can be deleted. In addition, regarding “Drama A Episode 3”, one person of “Nihon Ichiro” can be deleted. Also, no one can delete “Drama A Episode 4” yet.

  Step S302: At the time of content reproduction, for example, the user displays the content list shown in FIG. 7 by operating the operation unit 116, and then, for example, presses the A button to reproduce desired content. At this time, the control unit 261 of the digital television broadcast receiving apparatus 111 reproduces the content recorded in the AV-HDD 141 and supplies it to the signal processing unit 247 to reproduce the video and audio of the desired content. The recorded content does not necessarily need to be played before being deleted.

  Step S303: After the content is played back, for example, the user displays the content list shown in FIG. 7 by operating the operation unit 116, and then changes the “deleteability information” by pressing the B button, for example. Is possible. If the user does not change the “deletability information”, the process returns to step S302. If the user has changed the process, the process proceeds to step S304.

  Step S304: After the user reproduces the content, for example, when the user displays the content list shown in FIG. 7 by operating the operation unit 116, and presses the B button, for example, the “deletability information” is changed. As an actual process, the user ID is added to the “deletability information” for the content ID of the desired content. As a detailed process, for example, when the B button is pressed, the control unit 261 of the digital television broadcast receiving apparatus 111 stores the content ID, the user ID, and information indicating deletion of the content selected when the B button is pressed. Three are transferred to the content management information registration / management unit 281. When the content management information registration / management unit 281 receives three items of content ID, user ID, and information indicating deletion from the control unit 261, the content management information registration / management unit 281 sets “deletability information” for the content ID to be deleted in the content management information. Add a user ID.

  Note that the deletion permission information is changed as shown in FIG. 8 for instructing the OSD signal generation section 257 and the graphic processing section 254 from the control section 261 to change the deletion permission information when the content viewing is finished and stopped. The UI may be superimposed on the video signal and output to the video display device 114 to allow the user to change the deletion permission information. FIG. 8 is a UI screen that is displayed when the user name “Saburo Nihon” completes the reproduction of the content name “Drama A Episode 2”. When the A button is pressed, deletion is possible, and the B button is displayed. When pressed, it is possible to instruct whether or not to delete. By doing so, the user does not have to register that the program that has been viewed can be deleted by displaying the content list shown in FIG. 7 one by one, so forget to change “deletability information”. Can be prevented.

  Step S305: Every time the “deletability information” is changed, it is determined whether or not the user IDs of all users are registered in the “deletability information” for the content in which the “deletability information” is changed. If the user IDs of all users are registered in the “deletability information”, the process proceeds to step S306, and if not registered, the process returns to step S302. Whether or not the user IDs of all the users are registered in the “deletability information” is determined by the control unit 261 comparing, for example, the user management information shown in FIG. 5 and the content management information shown in FIG.

  Step S306: When it is determined that all users may delete the content, that is, when the user IDs of all users for the content are included in the “deleteability information”, the control unit 261 Issues an instruction to the recording medium recording / playback unit and automatically deletes the corresponding content in the “internal recording medium” or “external recording medium”. At this time, the control unit 261 issues an instruction to the OSD signal generation unit 257 and the graphic processing unit 254 at the stage of automatically deleting the content, and the OSD signal generation unit 257 and the graphic processing unit 254, for example, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to superimpose and output a confirmation UI for confirming whether or not the content is to be deleted, and allow the user to select it. This allows the user to make a final confirmation before really deleting.

  In the description of step S302 above, in FIG. 7, the contents that can be deleted by the user name “Nihon Ichiro” are also displayed in the contents list. However, in this case, the content that can be deleted indefinitely is displayed on the screen of the content list used at the time of reproduction. In order to improve this, content that can be deleted may be deleted from the content list and displayed as shown in FIG.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

The figure for demonstrating the external appearance of the digital television broadcast receiver 111 to which this invention is applied, and the network system comprised centering on this digital television broadcast receiver 111. FIG. The figure which shows the main signal processing systems of the digital television broadcast receiver. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing operation | movement from recording of a content to deletion. The figure for demonstrating the GUI screen for registering a user. The figure for demonstrating the user list of the user which the user information registration and management part 282 has memorize | stored. The figure for demonstrating the list of the content management information of the content which the content management information registration and management part 281 has memorize | stored. The figure for demonstrating a content list. The figure for demonstrating UI for changing deletion permission information. The figure for demonstrating UI for confirmation whether a content is really deleted. The figure for demonstrating a content list.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 ... Digital television broadcast receiver, 112 ... Cabinet, 113 ... Support stand, 114 ... Video display, 115 ... Speaker, 116 ... Operation part, 117 ... Remote controller, 118 ... Light receiving part, 119 ... First memory card 120 ... second memory card 121 ... first LAN terminal 122 ... second LAN terminal 123 ... USB terminal 124 ... i. LINK terminal, 125, 127, 139 HDD, 126, 135 hub, 128, 133 ... PC, 129 DVD recorder, 130 analog transmission path, 131 broadband router, 132 network, 134, 136 mobile phone, 137: Digital camera, 138: Card reader / writer, 140: Keyboard, 141: AV-HDD, 142: D-VHS.

Claims (5)

User registration means for registering a plurality of users;
Content recording means for recording content on a recording medium;
Deletability information storage means for storing, for each user, deleteability information indicating whether or not the content may be deleted for each content recorded on the recording medium;
Detecting means for detecting that all of the users can be deleted using the deletion permission information read from the storage medium;
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a content deleting unit configured to delete the content when the detecting unit detects that all the users are allowed to be deleted. A reproducing means for reproducing the content recorded on the recording medium;
Inquiry means for inquiring whether or not to delete the content from the recording medium when the content has been reproduced;
2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content deleting unit deletes the content in accordance with a result of an inquiry by the inquiry unit. Content deletion means
When it is detected by the detection means that all the users are allowed to be deleted, inquiry means for inquiring whether or not to really delete the content;
2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content is deleted according to a result of the inquiry by the inquiry means.   2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising content list creation means for creating a content list for selecting content excluding the content that can be deleted. Register multiple users,
Record the content on the recording medium,
For each content recorded on the recording medium, deleteability information indicating whether or not the content may be deleted is stored in a storage medium for each user.
Detecting that all the users can be deleted using the deletion permission information read from the storage medium,
A recording / reproducing method characterized in that, when it is detected from the detection result that all of the users can be deleted, the content is deleted.

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