JP2009301332A - Terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal device, which dispenses with the labor of inputting "ID" and "password" in every log-in of a user in a remote control of a home electronics terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The terminal configured to identify the validity of a user to permit log-in includes one or more external medium insert parts and one or more information storage parts. Information recorded on a medium inserted to the external medium insertion part by the user is collated with information held in the information storage part within the terminal, and when the validity can be confirmed, the log-in of the user is permitted. Accordingly, the user can log in the terminal without complicated operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for managing a user in a home appliance terminal device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a service providing apparatus that provides a service to a user, in order to limit the use of the service providing apparatus to a specific user, a user management technique for managing users who use the service providing apparatus has been used.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile phone terminal as a method for controlling login and logout of a user (hereinafter, this control is referred to as user management) for a terminal such as a karaoke device that provides a special service to the user. A technology is disclosed in which the mobile phone terminal can operate the karaoke device when the authentication is successful and the server is authenticated. FIG. 2 shows a conventional user management method described in Patent Document 1. In FIG.

In FIG. 2, authentication is performed between the mobile phone 202 and the authentication server 201, and if the authentication is confirmed, the authentication server 201 transmits information of the authenticated mobile phone 202 to the karaoke terminal 203. The karaoke terminal 203 that has received the information of the mobile phone 202 gives permission to operate the mobile phone 202 as a remote control. The user of the mobile phone 202 can use the mobile phone 202 to input the user ID and password, log in to the karaoke terminal, and receive the service of the karaoke terminal. By this method, a plurality of users can log in simultaneously even in an environment where there is only one remote control of the karaoke terminal 203.
JP 2007-271984

However, in the configuration of the related art, a mobile phone owned by each user can be used as a remote control, and a plurality of users can log in simultaneously using the mobile phone, but each user logs in. There is a problem that it takes time and effort to input "ID" and "password" every time.
Conventionally, the concept of user management (operations such as login / logout) like a PC (personal computer) has been introduced in consumer electronics terminals such as DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) / BD (Blu-Ray) players and recorders. Absent. However, if the home appliance terminal is connected to the network in the future and a service such as a network game or SNS (social network service) is received from the home appliance terminal in the same manner as a PC, user management is performed in the same manner as a PC. Will be needed.

However, it is assumed that it takes time and effort for the user to input “ID” and “password” every time the user logs in, even in the above-mentioned remote control of the home appliance terminal.
In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device, a method, and a computer program for identifying the validity of a user and determining permission for login.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a terminal device that identifies the validity of a user and judges the permission of login, from a portable device that records first information related to the use of the user. Acquisition means for acquiring the first information, storage means for storing at least second information relating to user use, and search means for searching the storage means for second information that matches the acquired first information And permission means for permitting login to the user related to the second information when the second information that matches the acquired first information is found.

With the above configuration, the first information acquired from the portable device and the second information stored in the storage unit are collated to check the validity of the user, and when the user can be confirmed, the user is logged in. Thus, the user can log in to the terminal without troublesome operations.
Here, the portable device is a portable recording device, and the recording device stores a first user name indicating a user and a first password of the user as the first information, and the acquisition is performed. The means acquires the first information by reading the first user name and the first password from the recording device, and the storage means uses the second user name indicating the user and the user's user name as the second information. A second password is stored, the search means searches for a second user name that matches the first user name, compares the first password with the second password, and the permission means includes the first password If a second user name that matches the user name is found, and the first password and the second password match, the user associated with the second user name may be permitted to log in.

  Further, the portable device is a portable recording medium, the recording medium stores content and a first title of the content as the first information, and the acquisition means includes the recording device The first information is obtained by reading the first title from the medium, the storage means stores the second title of the content related to the use of the user as the second information, and the search means The second title that matches the first title is searched, and the permitting unit allows the user related to the second title to log in when the second title that matches the first title is found. Good.

  Further, the portable device is a mobile phone storing a first phone number, and the acquisition means acquires the first information by receiving the first phone number from the mobile phone, and The storage means stores, as the second information, a second telephone number of a mobile phone related to a user's use, and the search means searches for a second telephone number that matches the first telephone number, and The permitting unit may permit a user associated with the second telephone number to log in when a second telephone number that matches the first telephone number is found.

With these configurations, the user can log in to the terminal without troublesome operations.
Furthermore, the portable device further stores a server identifier for identifying a server device connected to the terminal device, a first user name of a user permitted to log in to the server device, and a first password for the server identifier. The terminal device further acquires the first user name and the first password from the portable device when the permission means permits the user to log in, and the acquired first device One user name and a first password may be transmitted to the server device, and connection means for receiving login information indicating permission or non-permission of login to the server device from the server device may be included.

  According to this configuration, when the user is permitted to log in by the permission unit, the first user name and the first password acquired from the portable device are transmitted to the server device. When the user accesses the server device, the user can log in to the server device without performing any troublesome operations such as inputting a user name and a password.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1. Embodiment 1
First, a playback apparatus for playing back content will be described as an embodiment according to the present invention.
(Player 101)
FIG. 1 shows a player 101 as an example of a configuration according to the present invention. The player 101 is a playback device that plays back content recorded on a disc medium such as a DVD, HDDVD, or BD disc. The user instructs the player 101 to reproduce content by operating the remote controller 102 or directly operating an operation button or the like included in the player 101. The display 103 is connected to the player 101 and is a display device that displays content reproduced by the player 101. For example, a television receiver corresponds to the display 103.

Next, the configuration of the player 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the player 101 includes a storage unit 301, a RAM 302, an input unit 303, a content media playback unit 304, an external recording media insertion unit 305, a data processing unit 306, and a network connection unit 307.
Specifically, the player 101 is a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, and other components. A computer program is stored in the RAM or the hard disk unit. The device achieves its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.

The storage unit 301 includes a storage area for recording user information, content downloaded from a network, and the like, and is a storage device such as a hard disk, a recording medium using an externally removable optical disk medium, or a nonvolatile memory.
A RAM 302 is a memory that temporarily stores data generated by the data processing unit 306, and includes a DRAM or the like.

The input unit 303 receives a signal from the remote controller 102 operated by the user, and transmits a command, data, and the like indicated by the received signal to other components configuring the player 101.
The content media playback unit 304 performs playback control of AV (Audio Video) data recorded on the DVD / BD content inserted in the player 101, and externally in accordance with the result processed by the data processing unit 306. Controls display of a screen on a connected display (for example, the display 103 shown in FIG. 1).

The external recording medium insertion unit 305 is an interface for inserting a portable external recording medium that can record data, such as an SD card, a compact medium, or a USB flash. Data recorded on the external recording medium inserted into the external recording medium insertion unit 305 is processed by the data processing unit 306.
The data processing unit 306 inserts data stored in the storage unit 301, data other than AV data recorded on the DVD / BD content (for example, image data corresponds thereto), and the external recording medium insertion unit 305. Is a processor that processes data recorded on the external recording medium, and includes a CPU or the like. As will be described later, the data processing unit 306 determines whether the user has logged in or logged out by reading the data recorded in the RAM 302 and records the user's login status in the RAM 302. The data processing unit 306 includes at least a search unit and a permission unit.

  The network connection unit 307 is a network connection interface for connecting to a server. Here, the server is, for example, an application server device that provides data necessary for reproduction of BD content, a shopping server device that enables shopping via a network, or an application server device that provides SNS services. Note that the present invention can also be applied to a player who does not have the network connection unit 307.

(External recording medium 401)
Next, data recorded on the external recording medium 401 and necessary for the player 101 to perform user management will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the external recording medium 401 inserted into the player 101. The external recording medium 401 is composed of at least one recording area 402. The recording area 402 is configured by a nonvolatile memory.

  The recording area 402 stores a table 403 as shown in FIG. The table 403 includes a set of a user name 404 and a password 405. In the example shown in FIG. 4, “ABC012” is recorded as the user name 404 and “abc012” is recorded as the password 405. In this table 403, as the number of users increases, the number of lines in which user name / password pairs are additionally written increases. The table 403 recorded on the external recording medium 401 is created using the player 101 or a PC (Personal Computer) or the like before performing the processing shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. Recorded on the medium 401.

(User management table 501)
Next, the user management table 501 recorded on the storage unit 301 of the player 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
Similar to the table 403 recorded on the external recording medium 401, the user management table 501 recorded on the storage unit 301 includes a set of a user name 502 and a password 503. The user management table 501 may be created in advance in the player 101 by a user who is scheduled to log in, or the player 101 may record data of a user who has already logged in. The user management table 501 can be created by any method.

(Login process)
Next, the flow of processing until the user identified by the login user name logs in to the player 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the player 101 is already turned on, and the external recording medium 401 and the content media such as DVD / BD are not inserted in the player 101. The login user name is assumed to be “ABC012” as an example.

First, when the user inserts the external recording medium 401 in which the table 403 is recorded in the external recording medium insertion unit 305 of the player 101, the external recording medium insertion unit 305 detects the insertion of the external recording medium 401 (601). ).
When the insertion of the external recording medium 401 is detected, the data processing unit 306 of the player 101 next reads the table 403 recorded from the inserted external recording medium 401 (602).

Next, the data processing unit 306 determines whether the search unit records the same user name as the user name included in the table 403 in the user management table 501 recorded in the storage unit 301. As an example, the data processing unit 306 determines whether the user name “ABC012” included in the table 403 is recorded in the user management table 501 (603).
When the user name included in the table 403 is not recorded in the user management table 501 (No in 603), the data processing unit 306 uses the permission unit to set the combination of the user name and password included in the table 403, for example, , The set of the user name “ABC012” and the password “abc012” is added and recorded in the user management table 501, and login information indicating that the user name “ABC012” is in the login state is recorded in the RAM 302 (604). The process is terminated.

  If the user name has already been recorded in the user management table 501 (Yes in 603), the data processing unit 306 uses the search unit to set the same password as the user name included in the user management table 501 and the table 403. Are compared with the same set of passwords (605). If both passwords match (Yes in 605), the data processing unit 306 records, in the RAM 302, login information indicating that the user is logged in with the user name “ABC012” (606). The process is terminated.

If both passwords do not match (No in 605), the data processing unit 306 causes the permission unit to determine that the password is incorrect for the user name and indicate that the login state is not changed. Information is recorded in the RAM 302 (607), and the process is terminated.
As described above, by recording the table 403 including the user name and password on the external recording medium 401, the user does not need to perform a troublesome login operation, and only inserts the external recording medium 401 into the player 101. Login is possible.

(Modification)
In the first embodiment, for ease of explanation, the table items recorded on the external recording medium have been limited to the minimum items necessary for logging in to the player 101. However, the number of table items is further increased. This further simplifies the troublesome login operation.

  When connecting to an SNS server or a shopping server, the first thing to do after accessing the server is a login operation to enter a user name and password. In addition, when registering a login to the server, when attempting to create a user name for the first time, the desired user name may have already been acquired by another user. It may not be obtained. As a result, the user may have to set different user names for a plurality of servers. In addition, due to restrictions on the server side, the minimum required number of characters constituting the password and the characters that can be used may differ from server to server. For this reason, a different password may have to be set for each server. It is a difficult task to memorize all these different user names and passwords, and it is troublesome to input the user name and password corresponding to the server every time the server is accessed.

In the following, an embodiment is described in which one user can easily log in to a plurality of servers by increasing the number of table items recorded on the external recording medium 401 of the present invention.
First, the table 703 on the external recording medium 401a necessary for the user to log in to the server simply will be described with reference to FIG.

The external recording medium 401a and the recording area 402a shown in FIG. 7 have the same structure as the external recording medium 401 and the recording area 402 shown in FIG.
The recording area 402a stores a table 703. The table 703 includes a user name 704 and a password 705. Here, the user name 704 and the password 705 are the same as the user name 404 and the password 405 shown in FIG.

The table 703 further includes one or a plurality of server information corresponding to the user name 704 and the password 705. Server information may not be included. Each server information includes server identification information, a server user name, and a server password.
Here, the server identification information is, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) of the server, the server user name is the identification name of the user who logs in to the server, and the server password is This is the password used to log in to the server using the user name.

Thus, in the table 703, server information is added as compared with the table 403 shown in FIG.
A table 703 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes, for example, a user name 704 “ABC012”, a password 705 “abc012”, and server information 712 and 713. The server information 712 includes server identification information 706 “www.aaabbb.com”, a server user name 707 “ABC01212”, and a server password 708 “01212”. The server information 713 includes server identification information 709 “www.cccddd. com ”, server user name 710“ ABC ”, and server password 711“ abc ”.

  The server information 712 in Table 703 indicates that the server user when the user identified by the login user name 704 “ABC012” for the player 101 accesses the server identified by the server identification information 706 “www.aaabbb.com”. The name 707 “ABC01212” and the server password 708 “01212” are used to access the server as a login user name and password.

  Further, the server information 713 in Table 703 is obtained when the user identified by the login user name 704 “ABC012” for the player 101 accesses the server identified by the server identification information 709 “www.cccddd.com”. The server user name 710 “ABC” and the server password 711 “abc” are used to access the server as a login user name and password.

  Next, using the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the player 101 accesses the server identified by the server identification information “www.aaabbb.com” and is identified by the user name “ABC012” for logging in to the player 101. A procedure until the user logs in to the server will be described. Here, it is assumed that the player 101 is turned on and the external recording medium insertion unit 305 is inserted with the external recording medium 401a on which the table 703 shown in FIG. Further, it is assumed that the user with the user name “ABC012” has successfully logged in to the player 101 using the user name 704 and password 705 shown in FIG. 7 according to the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. .

First, as shown in FIG. 9, the player 101 displays a window for allowing the user to input a server address on the display 103 connected to the player 101 (801). FIG. 9 shows an example of the server address input screen displayed on the display 103.
The user uses the remote controller 102 to input the server address “www.aaabbb.com” on the address input screen (802), and the input unit 303 of the player 101 uses the “www” input by the user using the remote controller 102. .aaabbb.com "is received, and the received character" www.aaabbb.com "is notified to the data processing unit 306 (803).

Next, the data processing unit 306 uses the network connection unit 307 to identify the server address identified by “www.aaabbb.com” using the notified character string indicating the server address of “www.aaabbb.com”. A connection request is transmitted to 804 (804).
The server that has received the connection request inquires of the server user name and server password for logging in to the player 101 (805). The data processing unit 306 of the player 101 searches the table 703 on the external recording medium 401a for server information including server identification information “www.aaabbb.com” corresponding to the currently logged in user name “ABC012”. Then, it is determined whether the server information exists (806).

  When server information including server identification information “www.aaabbb.com” exists (Yes in 806), the data processing unit 306 reads the server information, and from the read server information, the server user name 707 “ABC01212” and the server The password 708 “01212” is extracted, and the server user name “ABC01212” and the server password “01212” are transmitted to the server via the network connection unit 307 (807).

  The server determines whether the received server user name and server password are correct (808). If the server user name and server password are correct (Yes in 808), the server notifies the login permission information indicating that the player 101 can log in as a login state. (809), and the process is completed. If it is not correct (No in 808), the player 101 is notified of the login disapproval information indicating that login is impossible (810), and the processing is completed.

If there is no server information including the server identification information “www.aaabbb.com” (No in 806), the player 101 prompts the user to enter the server user name and server password (811), and then step 807 is performed. Control is transferred to and the input character string is transmitted to the server. At this time, the player 101 may not log in without transmitting anything to the server.
As described above, by recording the server user name and server password table for the server on the external recording medium, the user does not need to perform troublesome login operations to the server, and the external recording medium can be used as a player. Log in to the server automatically by simply inserting it into.

In the first embodiment, the remote controller 102 is used when the user inputs the server address. However, the input method is not limited to this, and the player 101 can be notified that characters have been input. If it is a simple device, a keyboard, a mouse, or a mobile phone may be used instead of the remote controller 102.
In the above description, the connection to the server has the user input the server address. However, the connection method to the server is not limited to this. For example, the application on the player 101 holds the server address. It may be connected to the server at an appropriate timing, or an application on a content medium such as a DVD / BD may hold the server address and connect to the server at an appropriate timing.

  The table 403 on the external recording medium 401, the table 703 on the external recording medium 401a, and the user management table 503 recorded in the storage unit 301 of the player 101 used in the first embodiment are stored as plain text. However, the present invention can be applied even if a part or all of them are encrypted and converted with a one-way function to prevent eavesdropping.

2. Embodiment 2
In the first embodiment, the user name and password are recorded on an external recording medium, thereby simplifying the log-in operation for the user player and the server.
In the second embodiment, the log-in of the user is simplified by using a portable content medium such as a DVD / BD instead of an external recording medium. The present embodiment is particularly effective when the player counts preferences for each user. In a player who does not have a user login function, the reproduction history of DVD / BD titles is tabulated for each player. When a single player is shared by a family, for example, the titles seen by the father and the titles seen by the mother are mixed and tabulated, so the preferences for each user cannot be accurately tabulated. It is focused on the fact that the user who is watching during title playback allows the player to log in, thereby specifying the user who is watching and counting the viewing history for each user. The following describes a method for simplifying the login of a user who is viewing a title necessary for tabulating the user viewing history.

(Title management table 1001)
The title management table 1001 recorded in the storage unit 301 of the player 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, the title management table 1001 includes one or more pieces of title information, and each piece of title information includes a title and a user name. Here, the title is a title of a content medium such as DVD / BD that is played back by the player 101. The user name indicates the name of the user who logs in when the content indicated by the title included in the same title information is being played.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the title management table 1001 includes title information 1004 including a title 1002 “Dragon” and a user name 1003 “ABC012” as an example. “Dragon” is the title of the content, and “ABC012” is the identifier of the user.
The title management table 1001 is created by the player 101 and recorded in the storage unit 301 before the title is reproduced by the player 101. Alternatively, it is created by an external PC or the like and copied to the storage unit 301 of the player 101 via an external recording medium.

(Login process)
Next, processing until a user having a user name for logging in to the player 101 logs in to the player 101 at the time of reproducing the content recorded on the content medium will be described with reference to the flowchart 11 shown in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the player 101 is turned on and the external recording medium and the content medium are not inserted into the player 101. The title of the content medium is “Dragon”, and the user name for logging in to the player 101 is “ABC012”.

First, the user inserts content media on which content having the title “Dragon” is recorded into the player 101 (1101). Next, the content media playback unit 304 reads the title of the content media and notifies the data processing unit 306 of the read title (1102).
The data processing unit 306 determines whether or not title information including the same title as the read title exists in the title management table 1001 in the storage unit 301. For example, if the title read from the content medium is “Dragon”, the data processing unit 306 determines whether or not the title management table 1001 has the same title as “Dragon” (1103).

  If the same title exists (Yes in 1103), the data processing unit 306 logs in indicating that the user has entered the login state by using the user name included in the title information including the same title as the title read from the content medium. Information is recorded in the RAM 302 of the player 101, and reproduction of the content recorded on the content medium is started. For example, when the title read from the content medium is “Dragon”, the title management table 1001 includes the user name “ABC012” together with the title “Dragon” in the same title information. With the name “ABC012”, login information indicating that the login state has been established is recorded in the RAM 302 of the player 101. Next, playback of the content recorded on the content medium is started (1104). If the same title as “Dragon” does not exist in the title management table 1001 (No in 1103), the login information indicating that the user has entered the login state is not recorded in the RAM 302 of the player 101; The reproduction of the content recorded on the content medium is started without processing (1105).

As described above, by maintaining the title management table in the storage unit of the player, the user login is completed only by inserting the content media without causing the user to perform a troublesome login operation. It is possible to add up the viewing history of content media.
(Modification)
In the title management table 1001 shown as an example in FIG. 10, one user name is associated with one title, but a plurality of user names may be associated with one title. Good. FIG. 12 shows an example in which a plurality of user names are associated with one title. The title management table 1201 shown in FIG. 12 includes one or more title information, and each title information includes one title and one or more user names.

The title management table 1201 illustrated in FIG. 12 includes, as an example, one piece of title information 1009. The title information 1009 includes one title 1006 “Dragon”, a user name 1007 “ABC012”, and a user name 1008 “DEF023”. Including.
In this case, when the content medium “Dragon” is inserted into the player 101, in step 1104 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the data processing unit 306 is included in the title information including the same title as the title read from the content medium. Log-in information indicating that the user is in a log-in state is recorded in the RAM 302 of the player 101 using one or more user names. In the case of the title management table 1201 shown in FIG. 12, login information indicating that the user has entered the login state is recorded in the RAM 302 of the player 101 by the two user names “ABC012” and “DEF023”. In this way, two users with user names “ABC012” and “DEF023” are logged in.

In the above description, the title management table is recorded in the storage unit 301. However, the title management table may be recorded in an external recording medium inserted in the player 101.
In the title management table, the title of the content medium is used in order to uniquely identify the content medium. However, this title portion may be anything as long as it can uniquely identify the content medium. For example, information unique to each content medium may be used.

(Modification)
As shown in the first embodiment, when the player 101 accesses a server that requires login when a disc in which the content indicated by the title “Dragon” is recorded is inserted in the player 101, FIG. 13 shows an example in which the server user name and the server password are recorded in the title management table so that the user can log in to the server without performing any troublesome operations.

A title management table 1301 illustrated in FIG. 13 is recorded in the storage unit 301. The title management table 1301 includes one or a plurality of title information. Each title information includes a title, a user name, and one or a plurality of server information. Server information may not be included. Each server information includes server identification information, a server user name, and a server password.
Here, the title and the user name are the same as the title and the user name shown in FIG. 10, respectively, and the server identification information, the server user name and the server password are respectively the server identification information and the server user shown in FIG. Since the name and the server password are the same, the description thereof is omitted.

  As illustrated in FIG. 13, the title management table 1301 includes title information 1310 as an example, and the title information 1310 includes a title 1311 “Dragon”, a user name 1312 “ABC012”, and server information 1308 and 1309. The server information 1308 includes server identification information 1302 “www.aaabbb.com”, a server user name 1303 “ABC01212”, and a server password 1304 “01212”. The server information 1309 includes server identification information 1305 “www.cccddd. com ”, server user name 1306“ ABC ”, and server password 1307“ abc ”.

  Here, the server identified by the server identification information 1302 in the server information 1308 is a server that can be accessed by the player when a content medium recording the content indicated by the title “Dragon” is inserted in the player. It is. A server user name 1303 and a server password 1304 are a user name and a password used to log in to the server. The same applies to the server information 1309.

(Login process)
Next, processing up to logging in to the server will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, it is assumed that the player 101 is turned on and the external recording medium and the content medium are not inserted into the player 101.
First, the user inserts content media in which content having a certain title is recorded into the player 101 (1101a). Next, the content media playback unit 304 reads the title of the content media and notifies the data processing unit 306 of the read title (1102a).

The data processing unit 306 determines whether title information including the same title as the read title exists in the title management table 1301 in the storage unit 301 (1103a).
If the same title exists (Yes in 1103a), the player 101 displays a window for allowing the user to input the server address on the display 103 connected to the player 101, as shown in FIG. It is displayed (801a).

The user inputs the server address on the address input screen using the remote controller 102 (802a), and the input unit 303 of the player 101 receives and receives the characters of the address input by the user using the remote controller 102. The address character is notified to the data processing unit 306 (803a).
Next, the data processing unit 306 transmits a connection request to the server identified by the address using the network connection unit 307, using the notified character string indicating the server address (804a).

  The server that has received the connection request inquires of the server user name and server password for logging in to the player 101 (805a). The data processing unit 306 of the player 101 searches the title management table 1301 on the external recording medium 401a for server information including server identification information corresponding to the currently logged-in user name, and whether the server information exists. It is determined whether or not (806a).

If server information including server identification information exists (Yes in 806a), the data processing unit 306 reads the server information, extracts the server user name and server password from the read server information, and sets the network connection unit 307. Then, a server user name and a server password are transmitted to the server (807a).
The server determines whether the received server user name and server password are correct (808a). If the server user name and server password are correct (Yes in 808a), the server notifies the player 101 that the user can log in as a login state (809a). Complete the process. If it is not correct (No in 808a), the player 101 is notified that login is impossible (810a), and the process is completed.

If the server information including the server identification information does not exist (No in 806a), the player 101 prompts the user to input the server user name and the server password (811a), and then the control moves to step 807a and is input. The character string is sent to the server, and the subsequent processing is repeated.
If the same title does not exist in the title management table 1301 (No in 1103a), the data processing unit 306 moves control to Step 811a and repeats the processing.

  In the above description, if there is no title that matches the title of the inserted content media in the title management table, the user name for the user to be logged in is inquired, and the user name entered by the user is logged in. However, the login process may not be performed. The user name input by the user may be added to the title management table on the storage unit 301 in association with the title of the inserted content medium.

3. Embodiment 3
In the first and second embodiments, a method of logging in using an external recording medium or content medium without causing the user to perform troublesome operations is described. In the third embodiment, a method of simply logging in to the player 101 using a mobile phone carried by many people will be described.

The telephone number management table 1401 recorded in the storage unit 301 of the player 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
The telephone number management table 1401 includes one or a plurality of telephone number information. Each telephone number information includes a user name and a telephone number. The user name is an identification name for identifying the user, and the telephone number is a cellular phone number of the user.

As shown in FIG. 16, the telephone number management table 1401 includes, for example, telephone number information 1404. The telephone number information 1404 includes a user name 1402 “DEF034” and a telephone number 1403 “090xxxxxxxx”.
The telephone number management table 1401 is created using the player 101 or PC and is recorded in the storage unit 301.

(Login process)
Next, a process in which a user having a mobile phone with a telephone number “090xxxxxxxx” logs in to the player 101 with the user name “DEF034” will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the player 101 is turned on and the external recording medium and the content medium are not inserted into the player 101. Further, it is assumed that the mobile phone possessed by the user can exchange information with the player 101 using communication means such as infrared communication.

  First, the communication means of the user's mobile phone transmits the phone number of the mobile phone to the player 101 by the user's operation (1501). The transmission of the telephone number may be performed by selecting a transmission operation from the mobile phone menu. In addition, one button of the mobile phone may be assigned to the dedicated telephone number transmission button, and may be transmitted by pressing the dedicated telephone number transmission button.

The input unit 303 of the player 101 receives the telephone number sent from the mobile phone and notifies the data processing unit 306 of the received telephone number (1502).
The data processing unit 306 determines whether or not the same telephone number as the notified telephone number “090xxxxxxxx” exists in the telephone number management table 1401 on the storage unit 301 (1503). If it exists in the telephone number management table 1401 (Yes in 1503), the login information indicating that the login state is established by the user name included in the same telephone number information ("ABC012" in the case of the telephone number management table 1401) Is stored in the RAM 302 of the player 101 (1504), and the process is terminated. If the same telephone number as the notified telephone number “090xxxxxxxx” does not exist in the telephone number management table 1401 on the storage unit 301 (No in 1503) ), The data processing unit 306 does not record the login information indicating the login state in the RAM 302 of the player 101, performs no login process (1505), and ends the process.

As described above, the telephone number management table is held in the storage unit of the player, and by using a mobile phone that is considered to be constantly carried, it is prevented from being disguised by other users. , You can log in easily without troublesome login.
In the present embodiment, the telephone number management table is recorded in the storage unit, but may be recorded on an external recording medium inserted into the player 101.

4). Summary As described above, the present invention is a terminal device that identifies the validity of a user and permits login, and includes one or more external media insertion units and one or more information storage units, The information recorded on the medium inserted by the user in the media insertion unit is collated with the information stored in the information storage unit in the terminal device, and the user is logged in when the validity is confirmed. And

Here, the information recorded on the medium may be a user name and a password, and the information stored in the terminal device may be a user name and a password.
Here, the information recorded on the medium may be a title, and the information stored in the terminal device may be a user name and a title.
Here, the terminal device is connected to the network, the information recorded on the medium is a user name and a password, and the information stored in the terminal device is a user name, a password, a server name, and a login to the server A user name for logging in and a password for logging in to the server, in order to log in to the server and a user name necessary for logging in to the server when the user logged in to the terminal device accesses the server A necessary password may be transmitted.

  In addition, the present invention is a terminal device that identifies the validity of a user and permits login, and includes one or more input receiving units and one or more information storage units that receive input by the user, The information transmitted by the input device is received by the input receiving means, collated with the information stored in the information storage unit in the terminal device, and if the validity is confirmed, the user is logged in. And

Here, the input means may be a mobile phone, the information transmitted by the input device may be a mobile phone number, and the information held in the terminal device may be a user name and a mobile phone number.
5. Other Modifications Although the present invention has been described based on the above-described embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The following cases are also included in the present invention.

  (1) Specifically, each of the above devices is a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. A computer program is stored in the RAM or the hard disk unit. Here, the computer program is configured by combining a plurality of instruction codes indicating instructions for the computer in order to achieve a predetermined function. Each device achieves its function by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program. That is, the microprocessor reads each instruction included in the computer program one by one, decodes the read instruction, and operates according to the decoding result.

Each device is not limited to a computer system including all of a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and may be a computer system including a part of these.
(2) A part or all of the constituent elements constituting each of the above devices may be constituted by one system LSI (Large Scale Integration). The system LSI is an ultra-multifunctional LSI manufactured by integrating a plurality of components on a single chip, and specifically, a computer system including a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, and the like. . A computer program is stored in the RAM. The system LSI achieves its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.

In addition, each part of the constituent elements constituting each of the above devices may be individually made into one chip, or may be made into one chip so as to include a part or all of them. Further, although it is referred to as LSI here, it may be referred to as IC, system LSI, super LSI, or ultra LSI depending on the degree of integration.
Further, the method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI's, and implementation using dedicated circuitry or general purpose processors is also possible. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed after manufacturing the LSI or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connection and setting of circuit cells inside the LSI may be used.

Further, if integrated circuit technology comes out to replace LSI's as a result of the advancement of semiconductor technology or a derivative other technology, it is naturally also possible to carry out function block integration using this technology. Biotechnology can be applied.
(3) Part or all of the constituent elements constituting each of the above devices may be configured from an IC card that can be attached to and detached from each device or a single module. The IC card or the module is a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The IC card or the module may include the super multifunctional LSI described above. The IC card or the module achieves its function by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program. This IC card or this module may have tamper resistance.

(4) The present invention may be the method described above. Further, the present invention may be a computer program that realizes these methods by a computer, or may be a digital signal composed of the computer program.
The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, hard disk, CD-ROM, MO, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, BD (Blu-ray Disc). ), Recorded in a semiconductor memory or the like. Further, the present invention may be the computer program or the digital signal recorded on these recording media.

Further, the present invention may transmit the computer program or the digital signal via an electric communication line, a wireless or wired communication line, a network represented by the Internet, a data broadcast, or the like.
The present invention may be a computer system including a microprocessor and a memory, wherein the memory stores the computer program, and the microprocessor operates according to the computer program.

In addition, the program or the digital signal is recorded on the recording medium and transferred, or the program or the digital signal is transferred via the network or the like, and is executed by another independent computer system. It is good.
(5) The above embodiment and the above modifications may be combined.

  Players constituting the present invention can be manufactured and sold in the manufacturing industry in a management manner, and continuously and repeatedly. In addition, it can be used in the consumer equipment industry that handles video content and performs playback and recording. Furthermore, it can be used in the content industry that provides video content and the like.

The structure of the player 101 as an example of the structure which concerns on this invention is shown. It is a figure which shows the conventional user management method. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a player 101. FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the table | surface 403 recorded on the external recording medium 401. FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the user management table | surface 503 recorded on the storage part 301. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process until a user logs in to a player. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the table | surface 703 recorded on the external recording medium 401a. It is a flowchart which shows the process until a user logs in to a server. It is a figure which shows an example of the input screen of a server. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a title management table 1001 recorded in an accumulation unit 301. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process until a user logs in to a player using a medium. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a title management table 1201 recorded in an accumulation unit 301. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a title management table 1301 recorded in an accumulation unit 301. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a process until a user logs in to a server using a medium. Continue to FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a process until a user logs in to a server using a medium. Continuing from FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the telephone number management table 1401 recorded on the storage part 301. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a process until a user logs in to a player using a mobile phone.

Explanation of symbols

101 player 301 accumulator 302 RAM
303 Input unit 304 Content media playback unit 305 External recording media insertion unit 306 Data processing unit 307 Network connection unit

Claims (7)

A terminal device that identifies the validity of a user and determines permission to log in,
Obtaining means for obtaining the first information from a portable device recording the first information relating to the use of the user;
Storage means for storing at least second information relating to user usage;
Search means for searching the storage means for second information that matches the acquired first information;
A terminal device comprising: permission means for permitting login to a user related to the second information when second information that matches the acquired first information is found. The portable device is a portable recording device,
The recording device stores, as the first information, a first user name indicating a user and a first password of the user,
The acquisition means acquires the first information by reading the first user name and the first password from the recording device,
The storage means stores, as the second information, a second user name indicating a user and a second password of the user,
The search means searches for a second user name that matches the first user name, compares the first password and the second password,
When the second user name that matches the first user name is found and the first password and the second password match, the permission means is configured for the user associated with the second user name. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein login is permitted. The portable device is a portable recording medium,
The recording medium stores content and a first title of the content as the first information,
The acquisition means acquires the first information by reading the first title from the recording medium,
The storage means stores, as the second information, a second title of content related to user use,
The search means searches for a second title that matches the first title,
2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, when a second title that matches the first title is found, the permission unit permits a user related to the second title to log in. The portable device is a mobile phone storing a first telephone number;
The acquisition means acquires the first information by receiving a first telephone number from the mobile phone,
The storage means stores, as the second information, a second telephone number of a mobile phone related to use by a user,
The search means searches for a second telephone number that matches the first telephone number;
2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, when a second telephone number that matches the first telephone number is found, the permission unit permits a user associated with the second telephone number to log in. . The portable device further stores a server identifier for identifying a server device connected to the terminal device, a first user name of a user permitted to log in to the server device, and a first password thereof. ,
The terminal device further acquires the first user name and the first password from the portable device when the permission means permits the user to log in, and the acquired first user name And connection means for transmitting the first password to the server device and receiving login information indicating permission or non-permission of login to the server device from the server device. Terminal equipment. A login determination method used in a terminal device including storage means for identifying validity of a user, determining permission of the login, and storing at least second information relating to the use of the user,
An acquisition step of acquiring the first information from a portable device recording the first information relating to the use of the user;
A search step of searching the storage means for second information that matches the acquired first information;
And a permission step of permitting login to the user related to the second information when the second information that matches the acquired first information is found. A computer program for login determination used in a terminal device that includes a storage unit that identifies the validity of a user, determines permission to log in, and stores at least second information related to the use of the user,
On the computer,
An acquisition step of acquiring the first information from a portable device recording the first information relating to the use of the user;
A search step of searching the storage means for second information that matches the acquired first information;
A computer program for executing a permission step of permitting a user to log in when the second information that matches the acquired first information is found.

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