JP2013236203A - Content recording/reproduction device, terminal device, terminal device control program, and viewing limitation releasing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress stress on a user by switching a screen in a natural manner when releasing viewing limitation on a program.SOLUTION: A content recording/reproduction device comprises: setting means that sets viewing limitation on a program; release inquiry means that inquires of an external terminal device about the necessity of release of the viewing limitation a predetermined time before a broadcasting start time of the program for which the viewing limitation is set; reply reception means that receives a release instruction from the terminal device in response to the inquiry; and release means that releases the viewing limitation when the reply reception means has received the release instruction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a content recording / playback device, a terminal device, a terminal device control program, and a viewing restriction release system.

  There are known techniques for setting viewing restrictions called so-called parental lock for contents including video and audio inappropriate for minors, and for releasing the viewing restrictions (Patent Documents 1 to 4). reference).

JP 2010-147740 A Special table 2009-521837 JP 2008-67282 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-7514

  Conventionally, when a user who is not eligible for parental lock wants to watch a TV program with parental lock, the user temporarily cancels the parental lock setting by entering the password. The TV program can be viewed. Specifically, when a user selects a television program for which parental lock is set with a television remote control device (remote control device) or the like, a password input screen is displayed on the television, and the input screen is displayed. If the correct password is input via the parental lock, the parental lock is temporarily released, and the screen is switched to the contents of the TV program.

  However, in such a configuration, when the user wants to watch a TV program for which parental lock is set, the above input screen is temporarily displayed on the TV, so the screen is switched (viewed). The user may feel annoyed when switching from a TV program to an input screen and from the input screen to a TV program to be watched.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and it is possible to suppress the stress of the user by making the switching of the screen used for viewing a natural mode when the viewing restriction on the program is released. A content recording / reproducing apparatus, a terminal apparatus, a terminal apparatus control program, and a viewing restriction release system are provided.

  One aspect of the present invention is a content recording / playback apparatus, wherein a setting means for setting viewing restrictions on a program and an external terminal a predetermined time before the broadcast start time of the program for which the viewing restrictions are set When a cancellation inquiry means for inquiring whether or not the viewing restriction needs to be released to the device, a reply reception means for receiving a cancellation instruction from the terminal device in response to the inquiry, and when the reply reception means receives the cancellation instruction, Release means for releasing the viewing restriction.

  According to this configuration, the content recording / playback apparatus makes an inquiry to the external terminal device as to whether or not the viewing restriction needs to be released, a predetermined time before the broadcast start time of the program for which viewing restriction is set. A user (a user who does not become a parental lock target age) can easily cause the content recording / playback device to release the viewing restriction by operating the terminal device and answering the inquiry. In addition, the content recording / playback device releases the viewing restriction based on a reply from the terminal device operated by the user, so that it is not necessary to display a password input screen as in the past on the screen of the content recording / playback device. Thus, natural switching of the screen of the content recording / playback apparatus (switching from the program that was viewed to the TV program to be viewed) is realized, and the user does not feel bothered or stressed.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a system. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by the television side. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by the terminal device side. It is a figure which illustrates the display contents on the display of a terminal. It is a figure which illustrates the display contents on the display of a terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by the television side concerning a modification. It is a figure which illustrates the display contents on the display of the terminal concerning a modification. It is a figure which illustrates the display contents on the display of the terminal concerning a modification.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the content recording / playback apparatus includes a recording reservation unit that reserves recording of a program, and the recording reservation unit receives the release instruction when the reply reception unit receives the release instruction. A recording reservation may be made for a program whose viewing restriction has been canceled by the canceling means.
Further, as one embodiment of the present invention, the cancellation inquiry unit may make the inquiry only for a program belonging to a specific time zone in which a broadcast start time is set in advance.
Further, as one embodiment of the present invention, the cancellation inquiry unit may make the inquiry only for a predetermined category of programs.
Also, as one embodiment of the present invention, the cancellation inquiry means has a plurality of the specific time zone settings according to the category of the program with the viewing restriction, and the broadcast start time corresponds. The inquiry may be made only for programs belonging to the specific time zone of the category.
In addition, as one embodiment of the present invention, the release unit may be configured to release the viewing restriction for a plurality of programs that start broadcasting after a predetermined time of the inquiry.
Further, as one embodiment of the present invention, the cancellation inquiry means displays an electronic program guide on the screen of the terminal device, and a program for which the viewing restriction is set from the electronic program guide. A configuration may be adopted in which the inquiry is realized by transmitting, to the terminal device, image information for displaying on the screen an image for inquiring whether or not the viewing restriction on the selected program needs to be canceled when selected. .

The idea of the present invention is embodied not only as a content recording / playback apparatus but also as a method or program corresponding to the configuration of the content recording / playback apparatus, and also by a device, method, or program other than the content recording / playback apparatus. Realized. As an example, an inquiry receiving means for receiving an inquiry as to whether or not the viewing restriction needs to be released from the content recording / playback device, a predetermined time before the broadcast start time of a program for which viewing restriction is set, and the inquiry are notified. A terminal device comprising: display control means for displaying an image for displaying on a predetermined screen; input receiving means for receiving an input in response to the inquiry; and transmitting means for transmitting the content of the received input to the content recording / reproducing apparatus. I can grasp it.
Also, a terminal device control program for causing a computer installed in the terminal device to execute a predetermined function, the content recording / playback device from the content recording / playback device before the broadcast start time of the program for which viewing restriction is set. An inquiry reception function for receiving an inquiry as to whether or not to cancel, a display control function for displaying an image for notifying the inquiry on a predetermined screen, an input reception function for receiving an input for the inquiry, and the received input And a transmission function for transmitting the contents to the content recording / reproducing apparatus.
Further, the content recording / playback apparatus includes a content recording / playback apparatus capable of setting and canceling viewing restrictions on a program, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the content recording / playback apparatus, wherein the content recording / playback apparatus includes: Setting means for setting viewing restrictions on the program, and cancellation inquiry means for inquiring the necessity of releasing the viewing restrictions to an external terminal device a predetermined time before the broadcast start time of the program for which the viewing restrictions are set And a reply accepting unit that accepts an instruction to cancel the inquiry from the terminal device, and a canceling unit that releases the viewing restriction when the reply accepting unit accepts the release instruction. The apparatus includes an inquiry receiving means for receiving an inquiry and a display system for displaying an image for notifying the inquiry on a predetermined screen. Can be grasped and means, an input accepting means for accepting an input for the query, and transmitting means for transmitting the contents of the input accepted the to the content recording and reproducing apparatus, a parental lock release system comprising a.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a system 1 according to the present embodiment. The system 1 includes a television 10 and a terminal device 20. The terminal device 20 corresponds to various terminal devices such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a portable music player, a laptop or desktop personal computer (PC), and in particular, in the present embodiment, a mobile terminal device is used. Assumed. The television 10 is an example of a content recording / playback device or a content playback device. For example, the tuner 11, a system on chip (SoC) 12, a timing controller (T-CON) 13, a display 14, an operation unit 15, infrared (IR) ) It includes a light receiving unit 16, a disk drive 17, an HDD 18, a communication unit 19, and the like. The display 14 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel or a plasma display panel.

  The SoC 12 is a one-chip integrated circuit for controlling the entire television 10 and includes a CPU and various memories (ROM, RAM, etc.). The SoC 12 controls the television 10 according to a predetermined program. The tuner 11 receives a broadcast signal under the control of the SoC 12 and outputs an intermediate frequency signal (IF) to the SoC 12. The SoC 12 decodes the video signal and the audio signal based on the IF, executes predetermined correction and image quality adjustment on the video signal, and outputs the video signal to the T-CON 13. Further, the SoC 12 can communicate with an external device (such as the terminal device 20) wirelessly or by wire by controlling the communication unit 19.

  The disk drive 17 can read information and write information on an inserted medium such as a DVD or a BD. The HDD 18 corresponds to a kind of storage means, and can store various contents such as a program included in a broadcast signal received via the tuner 11 and a moving image downloaded via an Internet line (not shown). The SoC 12 can also output to the T-CON 13 a video signal related to content read from the medium by the disk drive 17 or content read from the HDD 18.

  The T-CON 13 temporarily stores the input video signal in a frame memory (not shown), and outputs a drive signal corresponding to the stored signal to the display 14 at a predetermined timing, thereby arranging the pixel arrangement. Each pixel of the display 14 constituted by the above is driven to display an image based on the video signal on the display 14. Note that the television 10 is not necessarily provided with the disk drive 17 and the HDD 18. The television 10 may be connected to an external disk drive 17 or HDD 18 through a communication standard such as USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  The operation unit 15 includes buttons, switches, a touch panel, and the like, and receives instructions input by the user. The IR light receiving unit 16 receives an IR signal transmitted from a remote control device (not shown) operated by the user. In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the television 10 has various known configurations such as an external input terminal for inputting video and audio from the outside, a power supply circuit, an audio signal processing circuit, a speaker, and the like. obtain.

  The terminal device 20 includes, for example, a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a call unit 24, a communication unit 25, a display 26, an operation unit 27, and the like. The display 26 is a liquid crystal panel, for example. In the terminal device 20, the CPU 21 executes processing according to a predetermined program (for example, a terminal device control program) recorded in a predetermined memory (ROM 22 or the like) while using the RAM 23 as a work area. In addition, the CPU 21 can communicate with an external device (such as the television 10) wirelessly or by wire by controlling the communication unit 25. The operation unit 27 includes buttons, switches, a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and receives instructions input by the user. The call unit 24 includes a microphone and a speaker, and provides a call function through a telephone line. However, the calling unit 24 is not an essential configuration.

2. Viewing Restriction Browsing and Canceling Process Regarding the viewing restriction viewing and releasing process according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed on the television 10 side, and FIG. 3 is a process executed on the terminal device 20 side. An example of this is shown by a flowchart.
In FIG. 2, first, in step S100, the SoC 12 refers to the EPG currently stored in the HDD 18 or the like, and the program that is subject to parental lock (viewing restriction) among the programs to be broadcast in the future. Search for (viewing restriction target program). It is assumed that the EPG is appropriately acquired from the broadcast signal and stored. The parental lock is also set in advance by a known method by the user operating the operation unit 15 or the like. For example, the user inputs an arbitrary age as the viewing age to the television 10. The SoC 12 sets the input viewing age as parental lock information, and sets all programs that are prohibited from being viewed at the set viewing age (for example, 15 years old) as viewing-restricted programs. It can be said that the SoC 12 constitutes a setting means as one of its functions in that the parental lock can be set according to the operation by the user.

Since the EPG includes ratings (information such as PG-12 and R-18) according to the content of the program (violent content and sexual content) as information of each program, the SoC 12 is set by the user as described above. By searching for programs in the EPG based on the viewing age, the viewing-restricted program can be identified.
In step S110, the SoC 12 determines whether or not there is a program that is the viewing restriction target identified by the search and is a predetermined time before the broadcast start time ("Yes" in step S110). The process proceeds to step S120, and if it does not exist ("No" in step S110), the process returns to step S100. The predetermined time referred to here is, for example, a time of “1 minute”, and the SoC 12 determines “Yes” in step S110 if the current time corresponds to one minute before the broadcast start time of any viewing restriction target program. Judgment. Of course, the predetermined time may be 3 minutes or 5 minutes, and can be arbitrarily set by the user.

  In step S120, the SoC 12 determines whether or not the broadcast start time of the viewing restriction target program determined to be a predetermined time before the broadcast start time in step S110 belongs to a specific time zone (in step S120). If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S130, and if not (“No” in step S120), the process returns to step S100. The specific time zone referred to here is a time zone preset by the user operating the operation unit 15 or the like. The user can set in advance a specific time zone as a specific time zone during which the parental lock may be released (for example, a time zone from 22:00 to 5:00).

In step S <b> 130, the SoC 12 generates image information (image data) for displaying a later-described inquiry screen, and transmits the image information to a specific terminal device 20 via the communication unit 19. The specific terminal device 20 refers to a terminal device 20 that has been registered in advance with respect to the television 10 as a transmission destination of image information. For example, a MAC address or the like is registered. The number of specific terminal devices 20 may be singular or plural. The specific terminal device 20 is a terminal managed by a user who is not a target age for parental lock. In this sense, it can be said that the television 10 includes registration means for registering the terminal device 20 as an information transmission destination.
By transmitting the image information to the terminal device 20 in this way, the television 10 inquires of the terminal device 20 whether or not the viewing restriction needs to be cancelled. Accordingly, the television 10 can cancel the inquiry as a part of the function. It can be said that has been realized.

Next, processing on the specific terminal device 20 side will be described with reference to FIG. In step S <b> 200, the CPU 21 of the terminal device 20 receives the image information as the inquiry transmitted from the television 10 via the communication unit 25.
In step S210, the CPU 21 causes the display 26 to display an inquiry screen based on the received image information. Thus, it can be said that the terminal device 20 includes an inquiry receiving unit and a display control unit in that the image information as the inquiry is received and displayed.

  FIG. 4 illustrates a state in which the inquiry screen is displayed on the display 26 in step S210. FIG. 4 illustrates an inquiry screen for a certain viewing restriction target program. On the inquiry screen, for example, program name, program broadcast time, rating (age restriction) information associated with the program, and the like are displayed. In addition, on the inquiry screen, a predetermined message for inputting a password (password) for releasing the viewing restriction and an input field 26a are displayed. The user can input the password in the input field 26a by operating the operation unit 27 while confirming each displayed information. Entering a (correct) password means allowing viewing restrictions to be lifted.

  FIG. 5 shows another example of the inquiry screen displayed on the display 26 in step S210. In FIG. 5, a list of information on a plurality of viewing restriction target programs is displayed. That is, the television 10 (SoC 12), when there is at least one viewing restriction target program whose broadcast start time belongs to the specific time zone and whose broadcast start time is currently after the predetermined time (step S110, "Yes" in S120), image information for displaying the inquiry screen for a plurality of viewing restriction target programs whose broadcast start time belongs to the specific time zone and whose broadcast start time is currently more than the predetermined time. May be generated and transmitted to the terminal device 20. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, an inquiry screen regarding the plurality of viewing restriction target programs is displayed on the display 26 of the terminal device 20. In the inquiry screen of FIG. 5, check boxes 26 b are provided corresponding to information for each viewing-restricted program, and the user can arbitrarily check the check box 26 b by operating the operation unit 27. The user can input the password in the input field 26a with one or more check boxes 26b checked.

  In step S220, the CPU 21 receives an instruction from the user. The instruction referred to here is either an instruction with a password input or an instruction without a password input. When the user inputs a password and operates an “OK” button or the like (not shown) on the display 26, the CPU 21 displays a plurality of viewing restriction target programs displaying information on the display 26 (a plurality of programs as shown in FIG. 5). When the information about the viewing restriction target program is displayed, it is recognized that the instruction to release the viewing restriction is received for the program whose check box 26b is checked at the time of password input. On the other hand, when the user performs a predetermined operation (an operation such as a “cancel” button (not shown)) for changing the inquiry screen without entering a password, the CPU 21 maintains the viewing restriction for the viewing restriction target program. Recognize that the instruction has been accepted. It can be said that the terminal device 20 includes an input receiving unit in that it has a configuration capable of receiving an instruction from the user.

  After receiving the instruction in step S220 (“Yes” in step S220), in step 230, the CPU 21 receives information (command) indicating the instruction received in step S220 via the communication unit 25 on the television 10 ( The image information is transmitted to the television 10) that is the transmission source of the image information. It can be said that the terminal device 20 includes a transmission unit in that it has a configuration capable of executing Step S230.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the processing on the television 10 side will be described. In step S140, the SoC 12 determines whether or not the command is received from the terminal device 20 that is the transmission destination of the image information via the communication unit 19, and if received (“Yes” in step S140), the SoC 12 performs step S150. Proceed to The command is a reply from the terminal device 20 in response to the inquiry, and it can be said that the television 10 includes a reply receiving unit in that the command is received from the terminal device 20.

  In step S150, the SoC 12 branches the process according to the content indicated by the command received in step S140. That is, when the command is an instruction to release viewing restrictions for one or more viewing restriction target programs (“Yes” in step S150), the process proceeds to step S160, while maintaining the viewing restrictions. If it is an instruction (“No” in step S150), the process proceeds to step S170. In step S160, the SoC 12 cancels the viewing restriction for one or a plurality of viewing restriction target programs indicated by the command, and when the user selects a program related to the cancellation using the remote control device or the like, The program related to the cancellation is output to the display 14 of the television 10 as it is. On the other hand, in step S170, the SoC 12 maintains the viewing restriction for each viewing restriction target program as it is, and when the user selects the viewing restriction target program using the remote control device or the like, the selected program is displayed on the TV. The image is not output to the display 14 of John 10, and the screen is not displayed.

  Here, the setting of the specific time zone described above may be different depending on the category of the viewing restriction target program. For example, the user can specify a specific time zone (for example, a time zone from 22:00 to 5:00) regarding a viewing restriction target program including violent content, and a specific time zone (for example, a time limit viewing program including sexual content). , From 23:00 to 5:00) can be set separately for the television 10. Alternatively, it is possible to set different specific time zones for programs with a rating of PG-12 and programs with R-18. In such a configuration, in step S120, the broadcast start time of the viewing restriction target program determined to be a predetermined time before the broadcast start time in step S110 is the category (violent or sex) of the viewing restriction target program. It is determined whether or not it belongs to a specific time zone set with respect to a category based on contents such as a target or a category based on a difference in rating. According to such a configuration, the time zone in which the viewing restriction of the viewing restriction target program can be released by the operation of the terminal device 20 can be varied according to the extreme content of the viewing restriction target program. Therefore, the user can flexibly make settings such as what kind of program viewing restrictions can be released in which time zone in consideration of the cycle of the family's life time. In addition, the SoC 12 restricts viewing only for programs in a specific category (for example, viewing restriction target numbers excluding viewing restriction target numbers including sexual contents) set in advance by user operation among viewing restriction target programs. It may be possible to make an inquiry to the outside (terminal device 20) as to whether cancellation is necessary.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the television 10 releases the viewing restriction on the external terminal device 20 registered in advance a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute before) the broadcast start time of the viewing restriction target program. When the terminal device 20 displays an inquiry screen for the inquiry on the display 26 and the user inputs a correct password via the inquiry screen, the television 10 side responds to the input. The viewing restriction is released based on the instructions. In other words, the user can remove the viewing restriction of the program by operating the terminal device 20 at hand before the program for which the viewing restriction is to be released is started, and a password is displayed on the display 14 of the television 10 as in the past. The input screen is no longer displayed. Therefore, in the television 10 only, since the screen only changes from the program that has been viewed until now to the program that is to be viewed (program for which viewing restrictions have been removed), the user may feel visually bothered and stressed. Disappears.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the viewing restriction target program for which the above-mentioned inquiry is made is limited to those whose start time belongs to a specific time zone. Therefore, it is possible to avoid making the above-mentioned inquiry to the terminal device 20 during a time when a child normally watches the television 10 at home, which is preferable from the viewpoint of minor protection.
In the present embodiment, the television 10 can execute a program recording reservation (including a recording reservation unit). As an example of processing executed by the television 10, the SoC 12 (recording reservation unit) receives an instruction to cancel the viewing restriction (“Yes” in step S150), and then goes to step S180 (FIG. 2). (See), a recording reservation is made for the program for which the viewing restriction has been lifted. Then, the SoC 12 records the program on the media in the HDD 18 or the disk drive 17 based on the recording reservation.

3. Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following embodiments (modifications) are also possible. It is. The contents appropriately combined with the above-described embodiment and each modification are also within the scope of disclosure of the present invention. In the following, the description of matters similar to those described so far will be omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed on the television 10 side regarding viewing restriction release processing and cancellation processing according to one modification. In step S125, the SoC 12 edits (processes) the EPG based on the EPG (electronic program guide) and the parental lock setting (viewing age) so that the presence or absence of viewing restrictions can be identified. As a specific example of the editing, the SoC 12 displays all the programs included in the EPG, and the program for distinguishing the viewing restriction target program specified based on the parental lock setting from the other programs on the EPG. Color the columns. More specifically, a different color is given to the program column of the viewing restriction target program according to the category of the viewing restriction target program (a category based on content such as violent or sexual). Alternatively, the EPG in which only the viewing restriction target program is extracted is regenerated.

  There are various timings when step S125 is executed. For example, it may be executed every day at a time designated by the user in advance, or may be executed at the timing when the main power of the television 10 is turned on and the television 10 is activated. Alternatively, step S125 may be executed after it is determined as “Yes” in step S120 of FIG. It can be said that the television 10 has a processing means in that step S125 can be executed.

  In step S130 after step S125, image information (image data) for displaying the edited EPG (processed program guide) and displaying the inquiry screen is generated, and the image information is transmitted via the communication unit 19. To the specific terminal device 20 (transmitting unit). Also in the modification, the specific terminal device 20 receives the image information transmitted from the television 10 via the communication unit 25 (step S200), and displays a screen based on the received image information on the display 26. (Step S210). It can be said that the terminal device 20 functions as a modified program guide receiving unit that receives the edited EPG from the television 10 in that the process of step S200 in the modification is executed.

  7 and 8 each illustrate an EPG screen displayed on the display 26 in step S210 according to the modification. Such an EPG screen is displayed based on the image information for displaying the edited EPG, and includes the edited EPG 26c. In the edited EPG 26c shown in FIG. 7, the programs subject to viewing restriction (programs "Cinema DD", "BB drama", "Midnight cinema", "Drama CC") and other programs are all described in the EPG. Items (program names and program contents) are displayed so as to be visible, and in order to make it easy to distinguish the viewing-restricted program from other programs, the program column of the viewing-restricted program is colored. Yes. In FIG. 7 (and FIG. 8), it is expressed for convenience that the color is different from the other program columns by applying hatching (diagonal lines) in each program column or filling it with gray. Alternatively, a program that does not fall under the viewing restriction target program may be processed such as being colored or hatched or painted in gray so that the viewing restriction target program can be identified.

  Furthermore, in the edited EPG 26c shown in FIG. 7 (and FIG. 8), different colors are given to the program columns depending on the category of the viewing restriction target program. Here, hatching is applied to the program column of the violent content viewing-restricted program, and the program column of the sexual content viewing-restricted program is shaded in gray, so that the color difference is convenient. expressing. Further, the edited EPG 26c shown in FIG. 8 displays an EPG obtained by extracting only the viewing restriction target program. The television 10 can display the EPG screen (and the inquiry screen) including the edited EPG 26 c on the display 26 of the terminal device 20 by transmitting the image information to the terminal device 20. It can be said that it has means.

  By displaying such an edited EPG screen including the edited EPG 26c on the display 26 of the terminal device 20, the user can easily and easily determine what kind of viewing restriction target program will be broadcast in each time slot in the future. It can be clearly recognized. Conventionally, in an EPG that can be browsed via the display 14 of the television 10, the program column corresponding to the viewing-restricted program is hidden in order to protect minors, and the program name and program content are known. However, according to the modification, the user of the terminal device 20 can know the contents of the viewing restriction target program in a very easy-to-understand manner distinguished from other programs.

  The user can arbitrarily select the program column of the viewing restriction target program in the edited EPG 26 c in the EPG screen by operating the operation unit 27 of the terminal device 20. When the CPU 21 of the terminal device 20 receives a selection for the program column of the viewing restriction target program in the edited EPG 26c in step S210, an inquiry screen corresponding to the viewing restriction target program related to the selection (for example, FIG. 4). The inquiry screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display 26 of the terminal device 20. That is, the television 10 displays the edited EPG 26c on the terminal device 20, and when the viewing restriction target program is selected from the edited EPG 26c, the viewing restriction on the selected program is released. An inquiry screen for inquiring whether it is necessary is displayed. The subsequent processing (step S220 ~, step S140 ~) is as described above. As described above, the television 10 may transmit the image information for displaying the edited EPG 26c and the image information for displaying the inquiry screen to the terminal device 20 together or separately. You may transmit to the terminal device 20 at the timing of. When the latter mode is adopted, the SoC 12 transmits image information for displaying the edited EPG 26c to the terminal device 20 after Step S125 (Step S130). When the SoC 12 receives information from the terminal device 20 and the received information is a signal indicating that a program for which viewing restriction has been set is selected from the edited EPG 26 c in the terminal device 20. Then, the terminal device 20 transmits image information for displaying an inquiry screen for inquiring whether or not the viewing restriction on the selected program needs to be released (step S130).

  Further, the person who can operate the terminal device 20 may be authenticated. For example, the television 10 transmits an application for executing user face authentication, fingerprint authentication, or the like to the terminal device 20 and causes the application to perform user authentication through the display 26 of the terminal device 20. Then, only when the legitimate user registered in the application in advance (the user who does not become the parental lock target age) is successfully authenticated, the terminal device 20 may display the inquiry screen or the EPG screen as described above. Good. With such a configuration, the effect of minor protection is further improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... System, 10 ... Television, 11 ... Tuner, 12 ... SoC, 13 ... T-CON, 14 ... Display, 15 ... Operation part, 16 ... IR light-receiving part, 19 ... Communication part, 20 ... Terminal device, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM, 24 ... calling unit, 25 ... communication unit, 26 ... display, 26a ... input field, 26b ... check box, 26c ... edited EPG, 27 ... operation unit

Claims (10)

A content recording / playback apparatus,
Setting means for setting viewing restrictions for the program;
Cancellation inquiry means for inquiring the necessity of releasing the viewing restriction to an external terminal device a predetermined time before the broadcast start time of the program for which the viewing restriction is set;
Reply accepting means for accepting a release instruction from the terminal device in response to the inquiry;
A content recording / playback apparatus comprising: release means for releasing the viewing restriction when the reply receiving means receives the release instruction. The content recording / playback apparatus includes a recording reservation unit for performing recording reservation of a program,
2. The content recording / reproduction according to claim 1, wherein when the reply receiving unit receives the release instruction, the recording reservation unit makes a recording reservation for the program whose viewing restriction is released by the release unit. apparatus.   3. The content recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cancellation inquiry unit makes the inquiry only for a program belonging to a specific time zone in which a broadcast start time is set in advance.   The cancellation inquiry means has a plurality of the setting of the specific time zone according to the category of the program whose viewing is restricted, and the broadcast start time is only for the program belonging to the specific time zone of the corresponding category. 5. The content recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the inquiry is made.   5. The content recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cancellation inquiry unit makes the inquiry only for a program of a specific category set in advance.   6. The content recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the canceling unit cancels the viewing restriction with respect to a plurality of programs that start broadcasting after the predetermined time of the inquiry.   The cancellation inquiry means causes the electronic program guide to be displayed on the screen of the terminal device, and when the program for which the viewing restriction is set is selected from the electronic program guide, it is applied to the selected program 7. The inquiry is realized by transmitting to the terminal device image information for displaying on the screen an image for inquiring whether or not to restrict viewing restriction. The content recording / playback apparatus described. Inquiry receiving means for receiving an inquiry as to whether or not to cancel the viewing restriction from the content recording / playback device a predetermined time before the broadcast start time of the program for which viewing restriction is set;
Display control means for displaying an image for notifying the inquiry on a predetermined screen;
An input accepting means for accepting an input to the inquiry;
Transmitting means for transmitting the content of the accepted input to the content recording / reproducing apparatus. A terminal device control program for causing a computer mounted on a terminal device to execute a predetermined function,
An inquiry reception function for receiving an inquiry as to whether or not to cancel the viewing restriction from the content recording / playback device a predetermined time before the broadcast start time of the program for which viewing restriction is set;
A display control function for displaying an image for notifying the inquiry on a predetermined screen;
An input reception function for receiving input in response to the above inquiry;
And a transmission function for transmitting the content of the accepted input to the content recording / reproducing apparatus. A viewing restriction canceling system including a content recording / playback apparatus capable of setting and canceling viewing restrictions on a program, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the content recording / playback apparatus,
The content recording / playback apparatus has a setting means for setting viewing restrictions for a program, and releases the viewing restrictions to an external terminal device a predetermined time before the broadcast start time of the program for which the viewing restrictions are set. Cancellation inquiry means for inquiring necessity, reply reception means for receiving an instruction for cancellation from the terminal device in response to the inquiry, and cancellation means for canceling the viewing restriction when the reply reception means receives the cancellation instruction And comprising
The terminal device includes an inquiry receiving means for receiving an inquiry, a display control means for displaying an image for notifying the inquiry on a predetermined screen, an input receiving means for receiving an input in response to the inquiry, and an input of the received input. A viewing restriction release system, comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit contents to the content recording / playback apparatus.