JP2007158654A - Broadcasting receiver equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide equipment which discriminates a viewer and limits viewing by simple equipment constitution for a broadcasting program whose viewing is limited and issuing an alarm when a viewer unusually approaches a display. <P>SOLUTION: The broadcasting receiver equipment comprises a limitation information acquisition part 14 for acquiring the viewing limitation information of the broadcasting program from broadcasting signals and a sensor 4 for receiving viewer information transmitted from a tag 5 carried by the viewer, and when the viewer information received by the sensor is pertinent to the viewing limitation information acquired from the broadcasting signals, the output of video and sound signals is stopped. When stopping the output, it is displayed that the output can not be performed due to viewing limitation at a display means. The viewer information includes the age information of the viewer. The communicable range of the tag and the sensor is set by switching radio wave output. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus that recognizes viewers and performs viewing restrictions and warnings.

  In recent years, when a program broadcast from a broadcasting station includes a scene that is not suitable for viewing by a minor or a person under a specific age, such as a violent scene or a sexual scene, viewing restrictions have been applied. And the broadcast receiving apparatus which receives this is provided with the function which restrict | limits viewing of such a program.

  In addition, because of an accident that caused children to experience epileptic seizures due to changes in brightness, the beginning of an anime program calls for a room to be brightened and viewed away from the display.

  However, in the conventional broadcast receiving apparatus, the viewing restriction operation is often performed by a remote controller or the like, and the viewer who is the target of viewing restriction is automatically recognized, or the viewer (child) is really away from the display. I could n’t automatically check if I was watching.

  Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 1, a viewer's video is captured by a camera, recognized based on the viewer's image information registered in advance, and viewing restriction or release for a specific viewer is automatically performed. Techniques to do are proposed.

JP 2002-112218 A

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, although a viewer can be recognized by a captured image, an image database serving as a reference for recognizing the viewer needs to be prepared and stored in a broadcast receiving device. Becomes complicated. Further, when the viewer gets too close to the display, it does not have a function of easily detecting it and issuing a warning.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus that easily discriminates viewers and restricts viewing with a simple device configuration, and issues a warning when the viewer abnormally approaches the display. There is to do.

  The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus that outputs video and audio signals from an input broadcast signal to a display means, a reception control unit that controls output of video and audio signals, and viewing restriction information of a broadcast program from the broadcast signals. A restriction information acquisition unit to be acquired, a sensor that receives viewer information transmitted from a tag carried by the viewer, and a viewer control unit that receives the viewer information received by the sensor corresponds to the acquired viewing restriction information. A viewer information management unit that controls to stop the output of the video and audio signals.

  Here, the viewing restriction information includes information for limiting the age of the viewer, and the viewer information includes the age information of the viewer.

  Here, the communicable range between the tag and the sensor can be arbitrarily set by switching the radio wave output from the tag or the sensor.

  Further, when stopping the output of the video and audio signals, the reception control unit displays on the display means that the output cannot be performed due to viewing restrictions.

  Further, when there is a change in the viewer information received from the sensor, the viewer information management unit notifies the external remote control device of the information.

  According to the present invention, with a simple device configuration using a tag, it is possible to easily discriminate the viewer and restrict viewing, and to issue a warning when the viewer abnormally approaches the display.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a broadcast receiving system including a broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention.
The broadcast receiving system of the present embodiment includes a broadcast receiving device 1, a display 2, a speaker 3, and a sensor 4 on the device side, and a tag 5 and a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 6 on the viewer side. The display 2 can be composed of various displays such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, a rear projection, a front projection, and a liquid crystal display. Hereinafter, the display 2 and the speaker 3 are collectively referred to as display means.

  The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 receives broadcast programs input from various communication networks such as terrestrial broadcasts, satellite broadcasts, and cable broadcasts, displays video on a display (display means) 2, and displays on a speaker (display means) 3. Output audio. It is also possible to input a broadcast program reproduced from a recording medium such as an optical disk, hard disk or video tape (not shown). The viewers U1 and U2 store the viewer information such as age in the tag 5 and carry it. The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 compares the viewing restriction information of the broadcast program included in the broadcast signal with the viewer information of the viewers U1 and U2, and if the broadcast program is subject to viewing restriction, the display means 2 and 3 Stop watching on.

  The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 receives a signal transmitted from the tag 5 carried by each viewer by the sensor 4 and analyzes the viewer information. Or viewer U1, U2 can operate remote control 6 and can input viewing restriction conditions manually.

  When the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 recognizes that the viewer information is the target of the viewing restriction of the program, the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 stops the video display and the audio output. Depending on the situation, only one of them may be stopped. While the video or audio is stopped, a message or warning indicating that viewing is restricted can be displayed on the display 2 or output from the speaker 3.

  The sensor 4 is attached to the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 or the display 2 or installed in the vicinity thereof, receives a viewer information signal transmitted from the tag 5, and transmits it to the broadcast receiving apparatus 1. The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 confirms the viewer information received at regular intervals and identifies the viewer. Furthermore, as will be described later, the viewer's position can be recognized by setting the communicable distance with the tag 5 to a predetermined distance.

  The tag 5 is carried by each viewer individually, and transmits a viewer information signal to a predetermined distance range by a radio signal. The tag 5 is constituted by, for example, a name tag or a card with a built-in wireless IC chip, and can be attached to a viewer's clothes. As the viewer information, for example, the age, ID, gender, etc. of the viewer are effective and can be rewritten.

  In the present embodiment, a configuration in which display means such as the display 2 and the speaker 3 are separated from the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 is shown, but an integrated configuration may be used. Moreover, when disconnected, both can be connected by wire or wirelessly.

  According to the broadcast receiving system having such a configuration, for example, a viewer U1 who carries a tag 5 indicating that a program being broadcast is a program that is limited in view of minors and is a minor is displayed on the display 2 ( When entering a predetermined distance from the sensor 4), the display of the program currently being broadcast stops. The condition for limiting viewing can be the sex and the distance of the viewer from the display 2 in addition to the age. The viewer tag 5 stores these pieces of viewer information, and the restriction conditions to be applied can be selected by the remote controller 6.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention. The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 includes a reception control unit 10, a viewer information management unit 20, and an operation signal reception unit 30.

  In the reception control unit 10, the broadcast signal received via the antenna 11 and the tuner 12 is demodulated by the demodulation circuit 13 and decoded by the AV decoder 14 to be a video signal and an audio signal. The video signal is output to the display 2 via the video output circuit 15, and the audio signal is output to the speaker 3 via the audio output circuit 16. Although not shown, a medium playback unit that reads a program recorded from a recording medium such as an optical disk, a hard disk, or a video tape is provided, and a playback signal is output to the display 2 or the speaker 3 via the AV decoder 14. You can also.

  Here, the AV decoder 14 (hereinafter also referred to as a restriction information acquisition unit) acquires the viewing restriction information from the input broadcast signal and transmits it to the viewer information management unit 20. The viewer restriction information is described in, for example, a header portion of broadcast data in digital broadcasting, and is given a code indicating that the program restricts the viewing of minors, for example.

  The program recording unit 17 is composed of a recording medium such as a hard disk drive or a semiconductor memory drive, and can store data of the program when viewing is restricted, for example. It is also possible to store video / audio data used for messages output while viewing is restricted.

  The viewing control unit 18 controls the operation of the AV decoder 14 according to the control signal received from the viewer information management unit 20. That is, when receiving a control signal for restricting viewing, the AV decoder 14 stops outputting video / audio signals. Alternatively, the viewing control unit 18 may stop the output operation of the video output circuit 15 and the audio output circuit 16. At this time, the viewing control unit 108 automatically records the program whose viewing is restricted from the AV decoder 14 in the program storage unit 17. It is also possible to perform time-shifted playback after the viewing restriction is released.

  The viewer information management unit 20 includes an analysis unit 21 and a viewer information input unit 22. Viewer information from the sensor 4 is input to the analysis unit 21 via the viewer information input unit 22. The analysis unit 21 compares the viewing restriction information of the program being received input from the reception control unit 10 (restriction information acquisition unit 14) with the viewer information input from the sensor 4, and analyzes the viewing restriction target. Do. When it is determined that viewing should be restricted, a control signal for stopping viewing is output to the reception control unit 10.

  That is, when the viewer information within the communicable range input from the sensor 4 is the target of the viewing restriction information of the program input from the reception control unit 10, the analysis unit 21 views the viewing control unit 18. A stop control signal is output. In that case, the threshold of the distance which identifies a viewer is set by adjusting the distance which can communicate with a viewer (namely, tag). That is, if communication is possible, it is determined that the viewer is located within a predetermined distance, and a control signal for stopping viewing is output.

  In addition, the viewer information management unit 20 performs processing such as determination of age to be restricted in accordance with an operation signal from the remote controller 6 and switching between an automatic restriction mode for viewing restriction and a manual restriction mode. The automatic restriction mode is a mode for restricting the viewing of the program according to the viewer information transmitted from the tag 5. On the other hand, the manual restriction mode is a mode for restricting program viewing according to the viewing restriction conditions set by the viewer using the remote controller 6. These modes are input from the remote control 6 via the operation signal receiving unit 30. When the viewing restriction is in the manual restriction mode, when the viewing restriction information from the reception control unit 10 is a program that is a target of the restriction age set manually, the analysis unit 21 asks the viewing control unit 18 to view A stop control signal is output.

  The operation signal receiving unit 12 receives and processes an operation signal from the remote controller 6. Instructions from the viewer are output to the reception control unit 10 and the viewer information management unit 20, respectively. That is, the viewer can input the viewer information management unit 20 from the remote controller 6 when not only instructing channel selection, volume adjustment, image quality adjustment, and the like via the remote controller 6 but also to change and set the viewing restriction condition. Thereby, for example, the age or the like for performing the viewing restriction can be set uniquely.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the tag 4 used in the present embodiment.
Reference numeral 51 denotes an antenna that performs wireless communication with the sensor 4, and reference numeral 52 denotes a transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives signals. An information recording unit 55 stores viewer information, and a communication distance switching unit 54 switches a communication distance with the sensor 4. An information update unit 53 updates the viewer information stored in the information recording unit 55 or updates the viewer information when the communication distance switching unit 54 is adjusted.

  In order to rewrite the viewer information in the information recording unit 55 by the information updating unit 53, the tag 5 is a rewritable IC, and has a write function as well as a read function by the sensor 4. Then, the viewer information registration screen is displayed on the display, and the user can rewrite the viewer information by inputting new information while viewing the screen.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the age of the viewer is restricted has been described as an example, but various restrictions other than the age can be applied. That is, a scene that the viewer does not want to see (does not want to show) can be registered in the tag.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for a viewer to register viewing restriction conditions. First, a tag selection screen 41 is displayed as a viewing-restricted menu screen on the display. In this case, it is desirable to prompt the input of a personal identification number or the like before the display because only the authorized person can change and register. The screen 41 displays the IDs of tags that are within the communicable range. When the viewer's tag ID is selected, a restriction condition input screen 42 is displayed. The viewer selects a scene that he / she does not want to see (does not want to show) with a radio button. When the registration button is pressed, the restriction condition input to the selected tag is registered (stored).

  In this embodiment, in order to identify the viewer's position, the communicable distance between the tag 5 and the sensor 4 can be arbitrarily set. A setting method in that case will be described.

  (1) When changing the communicable range on the tag 5 side. The communication distance is changed by switching the radio wave output of the tag 5 (for example, if the output is increased by 0.04 mW, the communication range increases by 1 m). A plurality of wireless IC chips with different radio wave outputs are built in one tag 5 and an IC chip is selected. Alternatively, a radio IC chip capable of switching radio wave output is built in the tag 5 to adjust the radio wave output. A switch 54 is provided on the tag 5 for switching the radio wave output.

  (2) When changing the communicable range on the sensor 4 side. It is assumed that a power transmission mechanism is built in the sensor 4 and the tag 5 transmits viewer information by non-contact power transmission from the sensor 4. Then, the communicable range is switched by adjusting the magnitude of the power to be transmitted (for example, the communicable range is expanded by 1 m when the transmission power from the sensor 4 is increased by 0.04 mW). The transmission power of the sensor 4 is switched using, for example, the remote controller 6. By setting the communicable range on the sensor side, it is possible to limit the viewers in the room and warn infants who are too close.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the viewing restriction process of this embodiment. Here, a case where the viewing restriction process is performed under the age condition (under Xm) as the restriction condition is shown.

  When a program to be input is switched (S100), such as a channel selection operation from the remote controller 6, switching of a program being broadcast, or starting playback of a program from a recording medium (S100), the AV decoder (restriction information acquisition unit) 14 is input. Viewing restriction information (in this case, age restriction Xm) is acquired (S101). The viewer information management unit 20 determines whether or not the automatic restriction mode is set (S102).

  When the automatic restriction mode is set (YES in S102), the sensor 4 acquires the viewer information from the tag 5 in the viewer information communicable range (S103). Subsequently, the viewer's age information X1 is acquired from the viewer information in the viewer information input unit 22 (S104). The analysis unit 21 compares the viewer's age X1 with the program viewing limit age Xm (S105).

  When the viewer's age X1 is less than the program viewing limit age Xm (YES in S105), the analysis unit 21 outputs a viewing stop control signal to the viewing control unit 18 and outputs video / audio of the program. Is stopped (S106). At this time, the display 2 displays that viewing is not possible due to viewing restrictions (age restrictions). When the viewer's age X1 is equal to or greater than the program viewing limit age Xm (NO in S105), the analysis unit 21 outputs a viewing start control signal to the viewing control unit 18 and outputs the video / audio of the program. Is started (S107).

  If the automatic restriction mode is not set (NO in S102), the user-specified viewing restriction age X2 set manually and the program viewing restriction age Xm are compared (S108).

  When the user-specified age X2 is less than the program viewing limit age Xm (YES in S108), the analysis unit 21 outputs a viewing stop control signal to the viewing control unit 18 to stop the output of the video / audio of the program. (S109). At this time, the display 2 displays a warning or warning that viewing is not possible due to viewing restrictions (age restrictions). When the user-specified age X2 is equal to or greater than the program viewing limit age Xm (NO in S108), the analysis unit 21 outputs a viewing start control signal to the viewing control unit 18, and outputs the video / audio of the program. Start (S110).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another viewing restriction process of this embodiment. Here, a case is shown in which viewing restriction processing is performed under distance conditions as restriction conditions.

  The viewer information management unit 20 determines whether or not the automatic restriction mode is set (S201). When the automatic restriction mode is set (YES in S201), the sensor 4 acquires viewer information from the tag 5 (S202). Subsequently, the viewer information input unit 22 extracts viewer distance information from the viewer information. At that time, the communication possible range with the tag 5 is set to a predetermined value, and the distance of the viewer is identified by whether or not communication is possible (S203). The analysis unit 21 determines whether the distance to the viewer (tag) is within the limit range (S204).

  If within the limit range (YES in S204), the analysis unit 21 outputs a control signal for stopping viewing to the viewing control unit 18 and stops the output of the video / audio of the program (S205). At this time, the display 2 or the speaker 3 displays that it cannot be viewed due to the distance limitation, and issues a warning for abnormal approach. If not within the limit range (NO in S204), the analysis unit 21 outputs a control signal for starting viewing to the viewing control unit 18 and starts outputting video / audio of the program (S206). If the automatic restriction mode is not set (NO in S201), video / audio output of the program is started (S206).

  The age limiting process described with reference to FIG. 5 and the distance limiting process described with reference to FIG. 6 can be performed independently or in combination. By combining these, for example, viewing control such as issuing a warning when a child or the like gets too close to the display can be performed.

  According to the present embodiment, viewer information is recognized by a tag carried by each viewer, and if there is a viewer who is subject to viewing restrictions on the broadcast program, the viewing is automatically stopped. Can do. At that time, since it can be realized with a simple configuration using a general-purpose tag, the broadcast receiving system (receiving device) can be simplified.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, in addition to the function of the broadcast receiving apparatus shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 2), when the viewer information is changed, the information is notified to the external remote control apparatus 7. Further, the remote control device 7 can restrict viewing on the broadcast receiving device based on the information. Description of the parts common to FIG. 2 is omitted.

  A viewer information recording unit 23 and a viewer information transmitting / receiving unit 24 are added to the viewer information management unit 20. The viewer information recording unit 23 uses, for example, a recording medium such as a hard disk drive or a semiconductor memory drive. Then, a plurality of pieces of viewer information acquired via the viewer information input unit 22 are accumulated. The viewer information transmitting / receiving unit 24 notifies the remote control device 7 of changes in the viewer information and receives a control signal from the remote control device 7.

  The analysis unit 21 compares the viewer information input from the viewer information input unit 22 with the previous viewer information stored in the viewer information recording unit 23 in addition to determining whether or not the viewing restriction is necessary. Here, the comparison information is, for example, when new viewer information is acquired and a viewer is added to the viewer information communication range, or when no viewer information can be acquired and the viewer information is exchanged. This is information when no one is in the possible range. The comparison result information is transmitted to the remote control device 7 via the viewer information transmitting / receiving unit 24.

  The remote control device 7 is installed in a room different from the broadcast receiving device 1, and the viewer information transmitting / receiving unit 24 and the remote control device 7 are connected by a wireless technology such as Bluetooth. A third person who can operate the remote control device 7 can confirm the change of the viewer of the broadcast receiving device 1 (display 2) via another display or the Internet. A third person who knows the change of the viewer can cancel the current viewing restriction or add a new viewing restriction to the viewer of the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 as necessary. In this case, a control signal is sent from the remote control device 7 to the viewer information transmitting / receiving unit 24 of the broadcast receiving device 1, and the setting of the viewing restriction determination condition of the analyzing unit 21 is changed.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a notification process to the remote control device in this embodiment. The analysis unit 21 acquires the viewer information input from the sensor 4 via the viewer information input unit 22 (S300), and accumulates it in the viewer information recording unit 23 (S301). Each time viewer information is newly input from the viewer information input unit 22, the analysis unit 21 compares the viewer information with the viewer information stored in the viewer information recording unit 23 (S302). When there is a change in the viewer information (YES in S302), the analysis unit 21 analyzes the changed information (S303). The comparison result is notified to the remote control device 7 via the viewer information transmitting / receiving unit 24 (S304). If there is no change in the viewer information (NO in S302), the process is terminated as it is.

  In this embodiment, it is possible to detect a change in the viewer who is viewing the broadcast receiving apparatus and notify the information to a third party at a remote location. Thus, the third party can grasp the situation around the specific broadcast receiving apparatus while in a remote place. Furthermore, the third party can restrict viewing from a remote location as necessary. By using this system, it is possible to grasp not only the viewer (family) in another room but also the situation of a family living away from a remote place.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the above embodiment, the case of age restriction and distance restriction has been described as the viewing restriction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the viewer can set and register the restriction condition independently.

The figure which shows one Example of the broadcast receiving system containing the broadcast receiving apparatus of this invention. The block diagram which shows one Example of the broadcast receiver by this invention. The figure which shows an example of the internal structure of the tag 4 used by a present Example. The figure which shows the method in which a viewer registers the conditions of viewing restrictions. The flowchart which shows the viewing-and-listening restriction | limiting process of a present Example. The flowchart which shows the other viewing restriction processing of a present Example. The block diagram which shows the other Example of the broadcast receiver by this invention. The flowchart which shows the notification process to the remote control apparatus in a present Example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Broadcast receiving device, 2 ... Display, 3 ... Speaker, 4 ... Sensor, 5 ... Tag, 6 ... Remote controller, 7 ... Remote control device, U1, U2 ... Viewer, 10 ... Reception control part, 11 ... Antenna, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Tuner, 13 ... Demodulation circuit, 14 ... AV decoder (restriction information acquisition part), 15 ... Video output circuit, 16 ... Audio | voice output circuit, 17 ... Program memory | storage part, 18 ... Viewing control part, 20 ... Viewer information management Reference numeral 21: Analyzing section 22: Viewer information input section 23: Viewer information recording section 24: Viewer information transmitting / receiving section 30: Operation signal receiving section

Claims (5)

A broadcast receiving apparatus that outputs video and audio signals from an input broadcast signal to a display means,
A reception control unit that performs output control of the video and audio signals;
A restriction information obtaining unit for obtaining viewing restriction information of a broadcast program from the broadcast signal;
A sensor for receiving viewer information transmitted from a tag carried by the viewer;
A viewer information management unit that controls the reception control unit to stop outputting the video and audio signals when the viewer information received by the sensor corresponds to the acquired viewing restriction information;
A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: The broadcast receiving device according to claim 1,
The broadcast receiving apparatus, wherein the viewing restriction information includes information for restricting a viewer's age, and the viewer information includes a viewer's age information. The broadcast receiving device according to claim 1,
The broadcast receiving apparatus characterized in that the communicable range between the tag and the sensor can be arbitrarily set by switching the radio wave output generated by the tag or the sensor. The broadcast receiving device according to claim 1,
The reception control unit, when stopping the output of the video and audio signals, displays on the display means that output cannot be performed due to viewing restrictions. The broadcast receiving device according to claim 1,
When the viewer information received from the sensor is changed, the viewer information management unit notifies the information to an external remote control device.

Images