JP2010141757A - Content management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem that when a plurality of users use a recording and reproducing device, a user having indicated recording becomes unable to secure a desired number of times of copying if a user other than the user having indicated the recording freely copies a content whose number of times of copying is limited. <P>SOLUTION: A content management device is provided with a means of extracting copy control information on the number of times of allowed copying etc., from digital information when the content is recorded in the recording and reproducing device, and a means of managing the number of times of copying allocated to each user with respect to the recorded content, so that the user who has indicated the recording grasp numbers of copies by the users when the content is recorded. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content management apparatus capable of recording and reproducing content, and more particularly to a content management apparatus for managing the number of content copies.

  In recent years, the spread of digital broadcasting has rapidly progressed, and a variety of contents can be viewed and recorded through digital broadcasting.

  Since digital broadcast program data is digital data whose image quality does not deteriorate, there is a copyright problem in copying program data without limitation. Therefore, in order to limit the copy of the program data, in digital broadcasting, digital copy control information is added to the program data, and the digital broadcast receiving and recording device such as an HDD recorder records based on the copy control information. The standard stipulates that “copy once” is performed so that program data can be copied only once.

  However, “Copy Once” is often inconvenient for individuals to use, such as not being able to hand over recorded programs to multiple friends.

  Therefore, as described in [Non-Patent Document 1], a standard that allows nine copies and one move of the recorded program data is defined so that three families can copy three times each. As a result, devices corresponding to the standard have been commercialized.

Nikkei Electronics 2007 4-9 p8

  However, in Non-Patent Document 1, although it is assumed that it is used by three family members, the number of copies required for each user is not considered.

  For this reason, if copying has been performed by the number of times permitted by a certain user, other users can no longer copy.

  Conversely, the number of copies of other users is not known, and it is not possible to know how much you can copy.

  In order to solve the above problems, a content management apparatus according to the present invention is a content management apparatus that receives a digital broadcast and manages the number of copies in the case of copying a recorded content related to the digital broadcast. A user information management unit for registering a plurality of users to be performed, and a content for recording the content information of the content, the maximum number of times that the content can be copied, and the number of times that each user registered in the user information management unit can copy An information management unit, and a control unit that allocates the number of copies to each user based on the number of copies specified by each registered user within the range of the maximum number of copies, and records the number of copies in the content information management unit With.

  Further, the control unit determines whether the number of copies designated by all users exceeds the maximum number of copies, and if so, changes the designated number of copies and assigns the number of copies, and if not, The specified number of copies is assigned as it is.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of users use a single recording device, each user can preset his / her copy count within the range of permitted copy counts. The number of copies can be appropriately managed.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes an input terminal for a digital broadcast signal, and 102 denotes a tuner demodulator. The tuner demodulator 102 selects and demodulates the digital broadcast signal input from the input terminal 101 to extract one digital stream. A received signal processing unit 103 performs digital data conversion and encoding of the demodulated digital stream. A recording / playback control unit 104 converts the output signal of the received signal processing unit 103 into a data structure such as a transport stream (TS) and records it, or separates and extracts video, audio, and other data. To do. Reference numeral 105 denotes a reproduction signal processing unit, 106 a display device, and 107 a speaker. The reproduction signal processing unit 105 generates a video signal and an audio signal based on the video, audio, and other data extracted by the recording / reproduction control unit 104 and outputs them to the display device 106 and the speaker 107.

  FIG. 2 shows the data structure of a transport stream of a digital broadcast signal. 201 is video information including moving image data and still image data, and 202 is audio information including audio data. The video information 201 and audio information 202 are extracted by the recording / playback control unit 104.

  Reference numeral 203 is digital copy control information, and 204 is content usage information. These pieces of information are information for protecting copyright.

  The copy control information 203 is classified into “copy free”, “copy once”, “no more copy”, and “copy never” depending on whether or not copying is possible. “Copy free” is control information for enabling a target program to be copied without restriction. “Copy once” is control information for enabling the target program to be copied only once. Therefore, the program once recorded on the HDD or the like cannot be copied to another recording medium. However, moving is generally possible. “No More Copy” is control information for preventing further copying of the target program. Once a “copy once” program is recorded, it becomes a “no more copy” program. “Copy never” is control information for prohibiting copying of a target program.

  The content usage information 204 is for extending the digital copy control information 203, and describes a viewable time, a copy count flag, and the like. By analyzing the digital copy control information 203 and the content usage information 204, the number of times that content can be copied can be acquired.

  Such information is generally carried by broadcast radio waves together with program data from a broadcasting station that performs digital broadcasting. In addition, the transport stream includes various additional information, but is omitted in the description of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 108 denotes a content storage unit, in which recording-designated content is converted into a transport stream by the recording / playback control unit 104 and recorded. Here, in order to protect the copyright of the content, the recording / playback control unit 104 may encrypt the content when recording it in the content storage unit 108 and decrypt the content when extracting it. A user registration information management unit 111 records user information for using the content management apparatus of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 shows user registration information. Reference numeral 301 denotes a user ID, and a user ID is assigned to each registered user. 302 is a user name that is a name for recognizing each user, and 303 is a password for protecting each user's data, which is set at the time of registration of each user. Reference numeral 304 denotes whether or not a password is required when logging in each user, and each user can register freely. Reference numeral 305 denotes allocation of buttons on a remote controller or the like that controls the content management apparatus. For example, a button code corresponding to each user is recorded when a user switching button is provided on a remote control or the like. Reference numerals 306 and 307 denote mobile phone numbers and e-mail addresses of the respective users, and are used for, for example, reservation recording and content deletion notification from the mobile phone.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes an input terminal for inputting a control signal from a remote control or the like, 113 denotes an input processing unit for processing an input signal from the input terminal 112, and the user uses the remote control or the like to select a channel for digital broadcasting or make a program recording reservation. Setting, user registration, and the like. A content information management unit 109 manages content recording reservation information and content information stored in the content storage unit 108.

  FIG. 4 shows a management table of the content information management unit. FIG. 4 shows a case where a program is managed with a program ID assigned to each program. The program ID only needs to be uniquely determined for each recorded content unit. 401 is a program ID, and 402 is the number of copies for each content. The maximum number of copies obtained from the digital copy control information 203 and the content usage information 204, the number of times that each user has reserved a copy, and the usage status are recorded. Since digital copy control information 203 and content usage information 204 are received at the time of content broadcasting, the maximum number of copies cannot be determined at the time of content recording reservation, but the maximum number of copies may be estimated depending on the type of broadcasting. Since there are many, the maximum number of copies during recording reservation may be an estimated value. Reference numeral 403 denotes a recording state, in which a recorded or reserved state is recorded. Reference numeral 404 denotes program information, in which a title, recording time, and other information are recorded from a program guide or the like. As described above, the content information management unit 109 manages the recorded or reserved content together with the number of copies. If the maximum number of copies is larger than the total number of copy reservations of each user, other users may use it later as the reserved copy number of shared users.

  The processing flow of the content management apparatus according to the present embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure when performing scheduled recording of a program.

  Step S100 is a program guide display, in which the program guide of the date designated by the user from data such as EPG is displayed on the display device 106. Step S101 is designation of a recorded program. A recorded program is designated from the displayed program table, and recorded program information is extracted, and the process proceeds to step S102. Step S102 is confirmation of the recorded program, and a recording reservation confirmation screen is displayed to prompt the user to confirm the program to be recorded.

  FIG. 6 shows a recording reservation confirmation screen. Reference numeral 601 denotes a screen display unit of the display device 106. Reference numerals 602 and 603 denote operation buttons displayed on the display screen unit 601, and functions of “OK” and “Cancel” are respectively assigned thereto. Selection and determination of each operation button is performed by a remote controller or the like. The display screen 601 displays information such as the title of the program reserved for recording, the broadcast date and time, and the recording mode so that the user can confirm the program reserved for recording.

  If the user selects / determines the “OK” button, the process proceeds to step S103, and if the “cancel” button is selected / determined, the process returns to step S100.

  In step S103, it is determined whether any of the registered users is logged in. If not logged in, the process proceeds to step S104, a user selection screen is displayed, and the user is designated.

  FIG. 7 shows a user selection screen. The same components as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Reference numeral 605 denotes a user list in which registered user names are displayed, and reference numeral 606 denotes a user selection frame. On this screen, the user selects and determines the user with a remote controller or the like. Here, if the selected user is set to input a password at the time of login, a password input screen is displayed.

  FIG. 8 shows a password input screen. Reference numeral 607 denotes a password input dialog, and reference numeral 608 denotes a password input text box. On this screen, the user inputs a password with a remote controller or the like.

  Here, when the correct password is input, the user designation is completed, and the process proceeds to step S105. If the user has set not to input a password, the password input is omitted.

  In step S105, the recording reservation status of the other user is confirmed. If another user has already reserved the recording, the process proceeds to step S108. If another user has not made a recording reservation, the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, it is determined whether or not recording is possible by confirming the remaining recording capacity of the recording apparatus. If recording cannot be performed, the process proceeds to step S107. The user is notified that recording is not possible. If recording is possible, the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, the number of times the program designated by the user is to be copied is designated. In this step, the recording / playback control unit 104 causes the display device 106 to display a designation screen based on information in each table of the user registration information management unit 111.

  FIG. 9 shows a copy count input screen. The same components as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Reference numeral 609 denotes a copy number input box for designating the number of times the user wants to copy a program reserved by a remote controller or the like.

  If the OK button 602 is selected in this state, the process proceeds to step S109. Step S109 is a recording reservation process, in which a program recording reservation is performed. In addition, the recording / playback control unit 104 registers the recording reserved user and the number of copies in the table of the content information management unit 109. If the number of times of copying is 0, this means that the recorded program is played back but not copied.

  As described above, the user can specify the number of copies at the time of program recording reservation.

  Next, a processing flow at the time of program recording will be described.

  FIG. 10 shows a processing procedure when recording a program in the content management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In step S201, the content management apparatus determines whether program recording is designated. When the program recording is performed, the process proceeds to step S202, and the recording / playback control unit 104 acquires the right protection information related to the designated recorded program and registers it in the table of the content information management unit 109. If the acquired right protection information is “copy never”, the process proceeds to step S210 to notify the user that recording cannot be performed. If the right protection information is “copy once” or “copy free”, the process proceeds to step S204 to execute a recording process. Furthermore, in step S205,
The recording / playback control unit 104 determines whether there is a limit on the number of copies based on the table of the content information management unit 109. If the right protection information is “copy free”, the process proceeds to step S209. If the right protection information is copy restricted, the process proceeds to step S206. In step S206, the recording / playback control unit 104 determines whether the allowable copy count is greater than or equal to the copy count specified by all users based on the table of the content information management unit 109. If so, the process proceeds to step S209, and if not, the process proceeds to step S207. In step S207, since the designated number of copies cannot be satisfied, the recording / playback control unit 104 performs a process of changing and assigning the number of copies in the table of the content information management unit 109. As a method of change assignment, the number of copies may be preferentially assigned from a user with a specified time, or each user may be prioritized in advance. In step S208, the fact that the number of copies has been insufficient due to the reallocation is notified to that effect. As a notification method, it may be displayed on the display device 106, or mail may be sent to a registered mobile phone mail address. In step S209, the recording / playback control unit 104 records the success / failure of recording, the number of copies for each user, and the like in the table of the content information management unit 109.

  In step S206, if the permitted number of copies is larger than the number of copies designated by all users, the permitted number of copies is left, so the remaining amount may be managed as a shared number of copies.

  As described above, even when the number of copies specified by all users exceeds the allowable number of copies during program recording, the number of copies for each user can be appropriately set by changing and assigning the number of copies for each user. Can be managed.

  Next, the content copy processing flow of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 11 shows a processing procedure of content copy operation in the content management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  First, in step S401, a user is designated. Since the user designation method has been described with reference to FIGS. In step S402, the recording / playback control unit 104 extracts the content list of the user specified in S401 from the table of the content information management unit 109 and displays it on the display device 106. In step S403, the content to be copied is specified from the displayed content list. In step S404, the recording / playback control unit 104 determines whether or not the designated content has a copy right from the management table of the content information management unit. If there is a copy right, the process proceeds to step S407. If there is no copy right, the process proceeds to step S405. In step S405, the recording / playback control unit 104 confirms whether there is a remaining number of shared copy times based on the table of the content information management unit 109. If there is a remaining number, the process proceeds to step S407, and if there is no remaining number, the process proceeds to step S406 to notify the user that copying cannot be performed. In step S407, content copy processing is performed. Content copy processing includes copying to a different medium such as a DVD or a different device, or converting content within the same device. When the copy process is completed, the process proceeds to step S408, and the recording / playback control unit 104 increments the copy usage number of the designated user by 1 in the table of the content information management unit 109 and registers it. In step S409, if the number of copies made by all users does not reach the content allowable number, this operation ends. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S410, and the digital copy control information of the recorded content is changed to “no more content”.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the apparatus in the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 12, tuner demodulation units 102a and 102b are connected to the digital broadcast input terminal 101, and received signal processing units 103a and 103b are connected to the digital broadcast input terminal 101, respectively. As a result, two programs can be recorded and reproduced simultaneously.

  The processing flow of the content management apparatus according to the present embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 13 shows a processing procedure when performing scheduled recording of a program.
In the following description, it is assumed that the permitted copy number of content can be known in advance from digital broadcast information. The same processes as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  If it is determined in step S105 that no other user has made a recording reservation and recording is possible in step S106, the process proceeds to step S301, and the recording / playback control unit 104 acquires the allowable number of copies for the specified recorded program. Then, it is registered in the table of the content information management unit 109, and the process proceeds to step S303. In step S105, if another user has already made a recording reservation, the process proceeds to step S302. In step S302, the recording / playback control unit 104 acquires the number of copies reserved by all other users from the table of the content information management unit 109, and proceeds to step S303. In step S303, the number of times of copying is designated as in step S108 of FIG. Here, since the copy allowable number of contents and the copy number reserved by other users are known, the number of remaining copies can be notified.

  FIG. 14 shows a recording reservation confirmation screen. The same components as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  Reference numeral 621 is a display of the allowable copy number of the designated program and the remaining copy number obtained by subtracting the copy number reserved by another user from the allowable copy number. As a result, the user can set the copy reservation count after recognizing the remaining copy count.

  In step S310, the recording / playback control unit 104 compares the remaining copy count with the set copy reservation count based on the table of the content information management unit 109. If the copy reservation count has increased, the process proceeds to step S311. In step S311, in order to be able to set the increased number of times of reserved copy, the recording / playback control unit 104 determines whether further reserved recording can be performed by the other tuner demodulation unit. If possible, the process proceeds to step S313, and if it is not possible, for example, if the other tuner demodulation unit has already reserved recording, the process proceeds to step S312. In step S312, the user is requested to reduce the number of copy reservations.

  FIG. 15 shows a screen for requesting a reduction in the number of reservations. The same components as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 622 is an operation selection dialog, 623 is an option to reduce the number of reservations, 624 is an option to cancel the reservation, and shows a state where the option 623 is selected. When the user selects / decides the option 623, the process proceeds to step S303, and when the user selects / decides the option 624, the process ends without making a program reservation.

  In step S313, confirmation of simultaneous recording is performed.

  FIG. 16 shows a confirmation screen for simultaneous recording. The same components as those in FIG. 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  On this screen, the options shown in FIG. 15 can be selected, and an option 625 for adding a program reservation is added. When the option 625 is selected, two tuner demodulation units record and reserve one program for two programs.

  When the option 623 or the option 624 is selected / determined in step S313, the same processing as described in FIG. 15 is performed.

  If the option 625 is selected / determined in step S313, the process proceeds to S314.

  FIG. 17 shows a management table of the content information management unit. The same components as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Reference numerals 421, 422, 423, and 424 denote contents. The contents 421 and 422, and the contents 423 and 424 are recorded from the same program. When the same program is recorded via another tuner demodulator, it is managed as different contents. For example, a program ID other than the last one digit of the program ID is used as a program ID, and a branch number is assigned to the last one digit for management. At this time, the maximum number of copies of the same program is the sum of the maximum number of copies of different contents. Further, the number of copies of each user is managed in the same program unit.

  In S314, since the permitted number of copies increases by adding the reserved recording, the recording / playback control unit 104 adds the increased amount to the table of the content information management unit 109, returns to S303, and sets the copy reservation number again. specify.

  As described above, since the maximum number of copies of content can be increased by performing a plurality of reserved recordings for one program, the possibility of securing the number of copies required by each user is increased. it can.

  Next, a case where the copy reservation count is changed after content recording will be described.

  FIG. 18 shows a processing procedure for changing the copy reservation count.

  When the user starts changing the number of times of reserved copy by a predetermined operation, the recording / playback control unit 104 acquires the remaining copy number of the predetermined content from the table of the content information management unit 109 in step S501.

  In step S <b> 502, the recording / playback control unit 104 displays a content list on the display device 106 based on information in each table of the content information management unit 109 and the user registration information management unit 111.

  FIG. 19 shows a content list screen. In 520, the title of the content, the recording date and time, the number of times the logged-in user has reserved the copy, and the remaining number of title copies are displayed. Reference numeral 521 denotes a content selection frame, and content selection and determination are performed by a remote controller or the like. Reference numeral 522 denotes an all list display button. By selecting and determining this, a list of all users in the content management apparatus is displayed. When the content is selected and determined, information on the content selected in step S503 is displayed.

  FIG. 20 shows a screen displaying information on the selected content. In this screen, information such as the title of the content, the current copy reservation count, and the remaining copy count are displayed. Reference numeral 530 denotes a copy reservation number input box.

  The user confirms the remaining copy count, and within that range, enters the copy reservation count in the copy reservation count input box. Reference numeral 531 denotes an OK button, which determines the number of times of copy reservation. Reference numeral 532 denotes a cancel button, which cancels the processing. Reference numeral 533 denotes a delete button, which is selected and determined when the selected content is unnecessary.

  When the number of times of reserved copy is determined in step S503, the number of times of reserved copy is designated in step S504. If the copy reservation count is less than or equal to the remaining copy count in step 505, in step S506, the recording / playback control unit 104 registers the changed copy reservation count in the management table of the content information management unit.

  For example, FIG. 21 shows a content list screen after inputting 3 in the copy reservation count input box 530 and selecting / deciding the OK button in FIG. . The same elements as those in FIG. Compared to FIG. 19, in FIG. 21, the copy reservation count is changed from 0 to 3 times, and the remaining copy count is changed from 4 to 1.

  As described above, the number of copy reservations can be changed for each user, and the degree of freedom can be given to the management of the number of copies for each user.

It is the block diagram which showed the function structure of the content management apparatus in the 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the transport stream of a digital broadcast signal. It is a figure which shows the user registration information in the 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the management table of the content information management part in 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process sequence at the time of performing the reservation video recording of the program in the 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the recording reservation confirmation screen in 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the user selection screen in 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the password input screen in 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the copy frequency input screen in 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process sequence at the time of recording the program in the apparatus in the 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing procedure of the content copy operation | movement in the apparatus in the 1st Example of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the function structure of the content management apparatus in the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process sequence at the time of performing reservation recording of the program in the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the recording reservation confirmation screen in the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen which makes the reduction request of the reservation frequency in the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the confirmation screen of simultaneous recording in the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the management table of the content information management part in the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process sequence at the time of changing the copy reservation frequency in the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen of the content list in the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen which displayed the information of the selected content in the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen of the content list in the 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Digital broadcast signal input terminal, 102 ... Tuner demodulation part, 103 ... Reception processing part, 104 ... Recording / reproduction control part, 105 ... Reproduction signal processing part, 106 ... Display apparatus , 107 ... Speaker, 108 ... Content storage unit, 109 ... Content information management unit, 111 ... User information registration unit, 112 ... Input terminal, 113 ... Input processing unit

Claims (7)

A content management device that receives a digital broadcast and manages the number of copies in the case of copying the recorded content related to the digital broadcast,
A user information management unit for registering a plurality of users to be copied;
A content information management unit in which the maximum number of times that the content can be copied and the number of times that each user registered in the user information management unit can copy are recorded together with the content information of the content;
A control unit that allocates the number of copies to each user based on the number of copies specified by each registered user within the range of the maximum number of copies and records the number of copies in the content information management unit; A content management apparatus characterized by the above.   The control unit determines whether or not the number of copies designated by all users exceeds the maximum number of copies, and if so, changes the designated number of copies and assigns the number of copies, and if not, designates 2. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of times of copying is assigned as it is. The content information management unit further records the number of times each user has made a copy,
2. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when copying is performed by a user, the content information management unit records the number of times the user has performed copying by incrementing by 1 in the content information management unit. . There are a plurality of digital broadcasting reception systems, and it is possible to record a plurality of the same content,
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the number of copies designated by all users exceeds the maximum number of copies, the control unit performs a process of presenting to the user that a plurality of the same contents can be recorded. The content management apparatus described.   The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of times of copying designated by each user is designated at the time of content recording reservation.   The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a process of presenting a remaining copy count obtained by subtracting a copy count assigned to all users from the maximum copy count to the user.   If the number of copies designated by each user is within the range of the number of copies already designated by the user plus the remaining number of copies, the control unit sets the number of copies designated for modification as content. The content management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the content management apparatus records the information in an information management unit.

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