JP2013243764A - Program recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program recording system capable of preventing setting related to increase/decrease from becoming complicated even when the number of devices for exchanging program reservation information is increased/decreased.SOLUTION: In a program recording/reproducing system 200 according to the present invention, a server 104 can register first program reservation information held by first program recording devices 102 and 103. A second program recording device 101 includes: a reservation information acquisition unit 111 for performing approval confirmation with the first program recording devices 102 and 103, and acquiring first program reservation information from the server 104 in accordance with the result of approval confirmation; and a reservation setting unit 112 for generating second program reservation information in the device 101 itself through the use of first program reservation information acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit 111. The server 104 includes a conversion table where correlation is achieved between different broadcast stations for broadcasting programs with the same contents and correlation is achieved between physical channels held by different broadcast stations.

Description

  The present invention relates to a program recording system. For example, it is possible to know a program reserved by another user such as a friend or a colleague, and to easily reserve the same program on its own device. Can be applied to the system.

  In recent years, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) recorder or the like mounted on an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) uses the information of an electronic program guide transmitted together with a broadcast signal to display a list of program information in a graphical manner. Compared to the conventional method of recording by specifying the recording end time, it is possible to make a program reservation more easily.

  Further, Patent Document 1 proposes a method for more easily reserving a common program with friends and colleagues for the purpose of enhancing and expanding communication with the topic of the common program. The technology according to Patent Document 1 automatically reserves a common program with friends and colleagues by exchanging program reservation information with each other via a communication network such as the Internet.

JP 2006-295571 A

  In the technique according to Patent Document 1, in order to identify a partner device when exchanging program reservation information, information for identifying the partner device such as an IP (Internet Protocol) address and a MAC (Media Access Control) address is used. I need to know. Therefore, every time the number of devices that exchange program reservation information increases or decreases, the setting of information for specifying the partner device must be added or deleted, and the setting work becomes very complicated.

  In addition, when program reservation information is exchanged between devices with different regional settings, the station name and physical channel differ depending on the region, so the device that acquired the program reservation information of the other party may not be able to make a reservation correctly. To do.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a program recording system that can prevent complication of settings related to the increase / decrease even if the number of devices that exchange program reservation information increases / decreases. It is another object of the present invention to provide a program recording system capable of correctly reserving a program on the device side that has acquired the program reservation information of the other party even when the program reservation information is exchanged between devices having different regional settings. And

  To achieve the above object, a program recording system according to the present invention includes a plurality of program recording devices including at least a first program recording device and a second program recording device, and the plurality of program recording devices. A server connected via a communication network, wherein the server can register at least first program reservation information of the first program recording device, and the second program recording device. Performs confirmation of approval on the first program recording device as to whether or not the first program reservation information registered in the server may be acquired, and from the server according to the result of the confirmation of confirmation. Using at least the reservation information acquisition unit capable of acquiring the first program reservation information and the first program reservation information acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit, the second program reservation information in the own device is created. Reservation And when the broadcast station that broadcasts the program with the same content differs depending on the region, the server associates between the different broadcast stations that broadcast the program with the same content, and It has a conversion table in which physical channels of different broadcasting stations are associated with each other.

  Alternatively, the program recording system according to the present invention is connected to a plurality of program recording devices including at least a first program recording device and a second program recording device, and the plurality of program recording devices via a communication network. The server can register at least first program reservation information of the first program recording device, and the second program recording device registers with the server. The first program recording device confirms whether or not the first program reservation information that has been obtained can be acquired, and the first program reservation information is sent from the server according to the approval confirmation result. A reservation information acquisition unit that can acquire the first program reservation information acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit, and a reservation setting unit that creates second program reservation information in its own machine, prepare for Thus, when broadcast stations that broadcast programs with the same content differ from region to region, the second program recording device associates the different broadcast stations that broadcast the same content program, and the different broadcasts. It has a conversion table in which the physical channels of the stations are associated with each other.

  In the program recording system according to the present invention, a server is installed on the communication network, and the server manages the first program reservation information. Therefore, the user only needs to set information (IP address, MAC address, etc.) that can identify a server on the communication network once in the program recording device of the user's own device. Therefore, even if a partner apparatus for exchanging program reservation information is added or deleted in the system, no extra setting work is required on the user side.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the program recording / reproducing system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic program guide produced from the electronic program guide information. It is a figure which shows an example of the 2nd program reservation information which the 2nd program recording apparatus already has. It is a figure which shows a mode that the reserved program made to upload to a server is selected. It is a figure which shows an example of the program reservation information registered into the server. It is a figure which shows an example of the program reservation information registered into the server. It is a figure which shows the 2nd program reservation information updated in the 2nd program recording device. It is a figure which shows the 2nd program reservation information updated in the 2nd program recording device. It is a figure which shows an example of the program reservation information registered into the server. It is a figure which shows an example of the program reservation information registered into the server. It is a figure which shows an example of a conversion table. It is a figure which shows the 2nd program reservation information updated in the 2nd program recording device. It is a figure which shows an example of the list of login ID.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a program recording / playback system 200 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the program recording / playback system 200 includes a plurality of program recording / playback apparatuses 101, 102, 103 and a server 104. The plurality of program recording / playback apparatuses 101 to 103 and the server 104 are connected to each other via a communication network (Internet) 105. Here, as the program recording / reproducing apparatuses 101 to 103, a HDD-equipped DVD recorder can be adopted.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1, program reservation information possessed by each of the apparatuses 101 to 103 is exchanged between the program recording / reproducing apparatuses 101 to 103 via the server 104. Then, the program reservation information of the own device is newly created (updated) using the acquired program reservation information and the program reservation information already owned by the own device.

  The operation of the system will be described below. As an example, the program reservation information (the first program reservation information and the first program reservation information) possessed by the program recording / playback devices (which can be grasped as the first program recording device) 102 and 103 are described. The case where the program recording / playback apparatus (which can be grasped as the second program recording apparatus) 101 acquires is described.

  First, the block circuit configuration in the program recording / playback apparatus 101 will be described.

  The program recording / playback apparatus 101 includes a reception unit 106, a storage unit 107, a playback unit 108, an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) acquisition unit 109, a network interface (referred to as a network I / F) 110, a reservation information acquisition unit 111, and a reservation setting. The unit 112 is provided.

  The receiving unit 106 can extract a necessary signal from a broadcast signal received by an antenna (not shown) or the like. The accumulation unit 107 can record the signal extracted by the reception unit 106. The reproduction unit 108 can read the signal recorded in the storage unit 107 and output the read signal to a display device (not shown). The EPG acquisition unit 109 can acquire EPG (electronic program guide) information from the signal received by the reception unit 106. The network I / F 110 can communicate with the server 104 through the communication network 105.

  The reservation information acquisition unit 111 acquires program reservation information (hereinafter referred to as first program reservation information) of other program recording / playback devices (hereinafter referred to as first program recording devices) 102 and 103 from the server 104. be able to. The reservation setting unit 112 includes program reservation information (hereinafter referred to as second program reservation information) that the program recording / playback apparatus (hereinafter referred to as second program recording apparatus) 101 already has, and a reservation information acquisition unit. The second program reservation information described above can be newly created (updated) based on the first program reservation information acquired in 111. And the reservation setting part 112 can hold | maintain the said 2nd program reservation information created (updated), and can set the reservation of a program using the said 2nd program reservation information.

  Here, the second program reservation information already possessed by the second program recording apparatus 101 is, for example, from a program reserved in advance by using the EPG by the user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side. It is configured.

  The configuration of the second program recording apparatus 101 described above is the same in the first program recording apparatuses 102 and 103.

  Next, the flow of program reservation through the EPG to the second program recording apparatus 101 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The EPG acquisition unit 109 extracts EPG information from a broadcast signal received by an antenna or the like, and creates an electronic program guide as shown in FIG. 2 using the extracted EPG information. The user of the program recording apparatus 101 selects a program to be recorded from the electronic program guide as shown in FIG. 2 using a remote controller and makes a reservation. When the program A, program I, and program J are reserved from FIG. 2, the second program reservation information as shown in FIG. 3 is created. The reservation setting unit 112 performs reservation setting based on the created second program reservation information of FIG.

  Next, the flow of recording operation and reproduction operation of the second program recording apparatus 101 will be described.

  The reservation setting unit 112 notifies the receiving unit 106 of a channel for recording when the recording start time is near. The receiving unit 106 extracts the signal of the notified channel. In addition, the reservation setting unit 112 notifies the storage unit 107 to start recording at the recording start time. Then, the storage unit 107 starts recording a signal input from the receiving unit 106.

  Further, a program to be reproduced is selected from the program list recorded in the storage unit 107 by a remote control operation on the second program recording apparatus 101 side or the like. Then, the playback unit 108 reads the recording signal of the selected program from the storage unit 107. Then, the reproducing unit 108 converts the signal into a signal that can be displayed by the display device and outputs the signal. As a result, the reproduced video is displayed on the screen of the display device.

  Next, a method for transmitting the second program reservation information from the second program recording apparatus 101 to the server 104 will be described.

  The user on the second program recording device 101 side uses the second program to obtain information (hereinafter referred to as server information) that can identify the server 104 connected to the communication network 105, such as the IP address and MAC address of the server 104. It is set in advance in the recording apparatus 101. The network I / F 110 performs network connection with the server 104 based on the set server information. When connecting for the first time, user registration in the server 104 is required. As one of the registration information at that time, there is area setting information of the second program recording apparatus 101. The registration of the area setting information in the server 104 may not be input directly by the user. That is, the area setting information may be automatically transmitted from the second program recording apparatus 101 to the server 104 and the area setting information received by the server 104 may be automatically registered.

  When user registration is completed, a login ID and a login password for logging in to the server 104 are issued. The user logs in to the server 104 using the issued login ID and login password. Then, the registration of the second program reservation information of the second program recording apparatus 101 to the server 104 and the first program reservation information of the first program recording apparatuses 102 and 103 registered in the server 104 Can be viewed. The second program recording apparatus 101 transmits the second program reservation information set by the reservation setting unit 112 as shown in FIG. 3 to the server 104 through the network I / F 110 and the communication network 105, for example.

  Here, it is assumed that there is a reserved program that is not desired to be disclosed to other people in the program reservation information of FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, a program that may be transmitted to the server 104 is selected (reserved program marked with “◯” for server up in FIG. 4). Then, the second program reservation information composed only of the selected reserved program can be transmitted to the server 104.

  Next, a method for the second program recording apparatus 101 to acquire the first program reservation information of the first program recording apparatuses 102 and 103 registered in the server 104 from the server 104 will be described.

  Program reservation information included in each of the program recording devices 101 to 103 is registered in advance in the server 104. That is, a storage unit is provided in the server 104, and the program reservation information of each of the program recording devices 101 to 103 is stored in the storage unit. Here, the first program reservation information lists registered in the server 104 and possessed by the first program recording devices 102 and 103 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively.

  The user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side selects a partner with whom program reservation information is to be exchanged from the terminal list registered in the server 104. Here, the first program recording devices 102 and 103 are selected as terminals. Then, on the second program recording apparatus 101 side, a list of first program reservation information exemplified in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be viewed. The user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side selects a list of desired program reservation information that he / she wants to register from his / her list of a plurality of first program reservation information shown in FIGS. , Only the entire list of the first program reservation information shown in FIG. 5 is selected). Alternatively, the user selects a desired individual reserved program (a component of the list) from the list of desired program reservation information (for example, from the first list of program reservation information shown in FIG. 5). , Only the reserved program at the bottom (E station, 22 channels, program S, start time 22:30, end time 23:00) is selected).

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, the second program recording apparatus 101 has a program information selection unit operable from the outside. Then, the user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side operates the program information selection unit. As a result, the entire first program reservation information registered in the server 104 is selected, or a desired reserved program (a component of the list) is selected from the first program reservation information.

  For example, it is assumed that the user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side wants to register all programs in the list of the first program reservation information shown in FIG. In this case, the user operates the program information selection unit to select the entire list of the first program reservation information shown in FIG. Then, the server 104 transmits all of the first program reservation information shown in FIG. 5 to the second program recording device 101.

  The reservation information acquisition unit 111 on the second program recording apparatus 101 side acquires the first program reservation information transmitted from the server 104 through the network I / F 110. Thereafter, the reservation information acquisition unit 111 sends the acquired first program reservation information to the reservation setting unit 112. The reservation setting unit 112 uses the first program reservation information acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit 111 to create second program reservation information in its own device. In this case, the reservation setting unit 112 combines the second program reservation information already owned by the own device shown in FIG. 3 and the first program reservation information shown in FIG. 5 acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit 111. New second program reservation information is created (updated). FIG. 7 shows the second program reservation information after the update. After the update, the reservation setting unit 112 resets the reservation based on the updated second program reservation information.

  In the above, the case where all the lists of the first program reservation information published by the first program recording apparatus 102 on the server 104 are registered in the second program recording apparatus 101 is shown. However, as described above, the user on the first program recording apparatus 101 side operates the program information selection unit to select the reserved program to be registered in the own apparatus from the first program reservation information, in the reserved program unit. It is also possible to select with.

  For example, a user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side makes a reserved program for program B from the first program reservation information shown in FIG. Assume that each of the reserved programs for program R is selected from the information. The selection is performed based on the operation of the program information selection unit as described above. In this case, the selected two reserved programs are transmitted from the server 104 to the second program recording apparatus 101 side.

  The reserved information acquisition unit 111 on the second program recording apparatus 101 side acquires only two reserved programs (desired reserved programs) selected by the program information selection unit from the server 104 through the network I / F 110. The reservation information acquisition unit 111 sends the acquired two reserved programs to the reservation setting unit 112. The reservation setting unit 112 uses the first program reservation information acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit 111 to create second program reservation information in its own device. In this case, the reservation setting unit 112 combines the above two reserved programs acquired by the reservation information acquiring unit with the second program reservation information already owned by the own device shown in FIG. Create (update) second program reservation information. FIG. 8 shows the second program reservation information after the update. After the update, the reservation setting unit 112 resets the reservation based on the updated second program reservation information.

  As described above, if the second program recording apparatus 101 and the first program recording apparatuses 102 and 103 have the same area setting, there is no problem with the above method. However, when the program recording devices 101 to 103 have different regional settings, the physical channels may be different even in the same broadcast series, so the physical channels are converted according to the regional settings of the program recording devices 101 to 103. A conversion table is required.

  In other words, the server 104 has a conversion table in preparation for a case where broadcasting stations that broadcast programs having the same contents differ depending on regions. Here, if the broadcasting station is different, the physical channel used when transmitting broadcast radio waves and the like is also different. The conversion table is stored in advance in a storage unit provided in the server 104, for example. The conversion table associates different broadcasting stations that broadcast programs having the same content, and associates physical channels of different broadcasting stations.

  Next, a method for acquiring program reservation information when each of the program recording apparatuses 101 to 103 has different regional settings will be described with an example.

  A list of first program reservation information registered in the server 104 and possessed by the first program recording devices 102 and 103 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively. The user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side selects a partner with whom program reservation information is to be exchanged from the terminal list registered in the server 104. Here, the first program recording devices 102 and 103 are selected as terminals. Then, the list of the first program reservation information as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 can be viewed by the user on the second program recording apparatus 102 side. The user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side operates the program information selection unit. Thereby, as described above, the user can select all of the first program reservation information shown in FIG. 9 and / or all of the first program reservation information shown in FIG. Alternatively, the user can select only a desired reserved program (a component of the list) from the first program reservation information shown in FIGS.

  When the selection of the program reservation information to be acquired is completed, the server 104 performs the following process using the conversion table stored in its own device. That is, the server 104 receives the area setting information input at the time of user registration by the user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side and the area setting information input at the time of user registration by each user on the first program recording apparatus 102 and 103 side. Compare. As a result of the comparison, it is assumed that the server 104 determines that the regional settings are different. In this case, the server 104 converts the broadcast station name and the physical channel according to the conversion table as shown in FIG.

  In the above, after selecting the first program reservation information, the server 104 performs conversion between the broadcast station name and the physical channel. However, at the timing when the first program reservation information is released on the second program recording apparatus 101 side, the server 104 matches the area setting of the second program recording apparatus 101 with the broadcast station name and physical channel. Conversion processing may be performed. In the present embodiment, the server 104 holds the conversion table, and the broadcast station name and physical channel conversion processing is performed in the server 104. However, after each program recording apparatus 101-103 holds the conversion table and the program recording apparatuses 101-103 receive the program reservation information from the server 104, the reservation information acquisition unit 111 in the program recording apparatuses 101-103 The table may be used to perform conversion processing between the broadcasting station name and the physical channel.

  Next, a method for converting a broadcasting station name and a physical channel using a conversion table will be described using the conversion table illustrated in FIG.

  Assume that the region setting of the second program recording device 101 is region X, the region setting of the first program recording device 102 is region Y, and the region setting of the first program recording device 103 is region Z. Further, it is assumed that the user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side has selected all of the first program reservation information on the first program recording apparatus 102 side shown in FIG. Program B is broadcast at station F using 32 physical channels. Therefore, the sequence identifier, which is information for identifying the sequence of the broadcasting station, is 0 from FIG. Since the second program recording apparatus 101 is set to the region X, it can be seen that the broadcast station name is A station and the physical channel is 27 when looking at the portion where the sequence identifier of the region X in FIG.

  With the same series identifier, except for some local programs, a program having the same content as the program transmitted from the key station is broadcast. Therefore, the server 104 converts the first program reservation information related to the program B into the A station, the physical channel 27, the start time 20:00, and the end time 21:00. Then, the server 104 transmits the converted first program reservation information to the second program recording device 101.

  Similarly, it is assumed that the reserved program of program R is selected from the first program reservation information shown in FIG. In this case, the program R is broadcast using the physical channel 11 at the O station. Therefore, the sequence identifier is 4 from FIG. Looking at the portion where the series identifier of region X is 4, the station name is E station and the physical channel is 22. Therefore, the server 104 converts the first program reservation information (desired reserved program) regarding the program R into the E station, the physical channel 22, the start time 22:00, and the end time 22:30. Then, the server 104 transmits the converted first program reservation information (desired reserved program) to the second program recording device 101.

  When the first program reservation information after conversion (or the desired reservation program after conversion) is transmitted from the server 104, the reservation information acquisition unit 111 on the second program recording device 101 side receives the transmission. The first program reservation information after conversion (or the desired reserved program after conversion) is acquired through the network I / F 110. The reservation information acquisition unit 111 sends the received first program reservation information after conversion (or a desired reservation program after conversion) to the reservation setting unit 112.

  In some local programs, there are cases where programs having the same series identifier but different contents are broadcast. Therefore, the reservation setting unit 112 receives the program name of each program of the converted first program reservation information (or the desired reserved program after conversion) acquired from the reservation information acquisition unit 111 and the EPG acquisition unit 109. The program names of the programs having the same start time as the acquired programs are compared. If the program names are different as a result of the comparison, the reservation setting unit 112 selects a reserved program of the corresponding different program from the converted first program reservation information (or the converted desired reserved program). delete.

  The reservation setting unit 112 creates second program reservation information using at least the converted first program reservation information (or the desired converted program after conversion). Specifically, the reservation setting unit 112 converts the second program reservation information already owned by the own device shown in FIG. 3 and the first program reservation information after conversion received from the server 104 (or after conversion). New second program reservation information is created (updated) in combination with a desired reserved program). This time, the reserved program of the program B of the station A and the reserved program of the program R of the station E are added to the second program reservation information shown in FIG. Therefore, second program reservation information as shown in FIG. 12 is newly created. Then, the reservation setting unit 112 resets the reservation based on the newly created second program reservation information.

  Through the above operation, the second program recording apparatus 101 can reserve a program common to the reserved programs of the first program recording apparatuses 102 and 103.

  In the above description, on the program recording / playback apparatus 101 side, the program reservation information of the other program recording / playback apparatuses 102 and 103 registered in the server 104 is acquired, and based on the acquired program reservation information, The case of creating (updating) program reservation information possessed by the own device has been described. However, the series of operations are similarly executed on the program recording / playback apparatus 102 side and the program recording / playback apparatus 103 side.

  As a result, the program reservation information reserved in the program recording / playback apparatuses 101 to 103 owned by each of the friends and colleagues is shared with each other, and the program reserved by the other party is displayed on the own program recording / playback apparatus 101. It will be possible to easily make reservations at ˜103. Therefore, users of the respective program recording / playback apparatuses 101 to 103 can view a common program. Therefore, it becomes possible to enhance and expand communication on the topic of common programs.

  In addition, the program recording / reproducing system 200 according to the present embodiment includes a server 104 connected to a plurality of program recording / reproducing apparatuses 101 to 103 via a communication network 105. And the program reservation information which each program recording / reproducing apparatus 101-103 has is registered into the said server 104. FIG. Further, each of the program recording / playback apparatuses 101 to 103 includes the reservation information acquisition unit 111 and the reservation setting unit 112.

  That is, the server 104 is installed on the communication network 105, and the server 104 manages the program reservation information. Therefore, the user need only set information (IP address, MAC address, etc.) that can specify the server 104 on the communication network 105 once in the own device 101-103. Therefore, even if a partner apparatus that exchanges program reservation information is added or deleted in the system 200, no extra setting work is required on the user side.

  In the present embodiment, the server 104 or each of the program recording devices 101 to 103 has the conversion table illustrated in FIG.

  Therefore, the server 104 (or the program recording devices 101 to 103 that have received the program reservation information) uses the conversion table in accordance with the regional settings set in the devices 101 to 103 that request the program reservation information. Broadcast station names and physical channels can be converted. When the server 104 has the conversion table, the program reservation information after conversion is transmitted from the server 104. That is, the server 104 (or the program reservation information is received in accordance with the regional setting of the program recording / playback apparatus 101 on the receiving side of the program reservation information, even between friends / colleagues having program recording / playback apparatuses 101 to 103 with different regional settings. The conversion processing can be automatically performed by the program recording apparatuses 101 to 103). Therefore, even when program reservation information is exchanged between devices with different regional settings, it is possible to make a reservation correctly.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the reservation setting unit 112 receives the first program reservation information acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit 111 and the second program reservation information that the second program recording apparatus already has. To update the second program reservation information.

  Therefore, the program reservation information registered in the server 104 by any program recording / playback apparatus 101-103 can be automatically used for the program reservation setting of the own apparatus 101-103.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the program recording / playback apparatuses 101 to 103 include a program information selection unit that can select a desired reserved program from the program reservation information registered in the server 104. Further, the reservation setting unit 112 updates the program reservation information of its own device using the desired reserved program and the program reservation information already possessed by the program recording apparatuses 101 to 103.

  Therefore, it is possible to select only a favorite reserved program from the program reservation information released by the plurality of friends and colleagues on the server 104 and reserve the program on the own device.

<Embodiment 2>
This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment relates to a method for allowing program reservation information registered in the server 104 to be disclosed only to specific partners such as friends and colleagues. Operations of parts not described in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  First, a method for logging in to the server 104 will be described.

  As in the first embodiment, the program recording / playback apparatus that requests acquisition of program reservation information registered in the server 104 is referred to as the second program recording apparatus 101 for the sake of convenience. As described in the first embodiment, the program reservation information included in the second program recording apparatus 101 is referred to as second program reservation information. The program reservation information of the other devices 102 and 103 registered in the server 104 is referred to as first program reservation information, and the other devices 102 and 103 are referred to as first program recording devices 102 and 103.

  The user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side performs user registration at the first connection to the server 104 and receives a login ID and a login password from the server 104. Then, the user on the second program recording apparatus 101 side inputs the issued login ID and login password to the server 104. As a result, the user can log in to the server 104.

  Next, a method for acquiring the first program reservation information registered in the server 104 after logging in to the server 104 will be described with an example.

  Consider a case where the user A on the second program recording apparatus 101 side acquires the first program reservation information set by the user B of the first program recording apparatus 102 as a friend from the server 104. In order to exchange the program reservation information, it is necessary to exchange the login ID with a partner to whom the program reservation information is to be exchanged in advance. Therefore, it is necessary for the user A and the user B to know each other's login ID by contacting each other in advance. Here, it is assumed that the login ID of user A is 10001 and the login ID of user B is 10002, and user A and user B exchange their login IDs in advance using a mobile phone or the like.

  User A logs in to server 104. Then, on the second program recording apparatus 101 side, a list of login IDs is displayed as shown in FIG. Here, the login ID list is a login ID list of users who have registered program reservation information in the server 104. The user A operates the second program recording apparatus 101 to select the login ID (10002) of the user B obtained in advance from this list. When the login ID is selected, the server 104 transmits the login ID (10001) of the user A to the first program recording device on the user B side, and desires to exchange the first program reservation information. Notify that there is a partner. In other words, the server 104 confirms the approval of whether or not the second program recording apparatus 101 can acquire the first program reservation information registered by the user B in the server 104, and the first program recording. To device 102.

  When the first program recording apparatus 102 on the user B side receives the notification of acceptance confirmation, the user B confirms the login ID of the other party who has been sent. Then, if the user B can permit the exchange of the first program reservation information registered in the server 104, the user B approves it. Here, the user B obtains the user A by exchanging the login ID of the user A in advance. Therefore, it is understood that the transmitted login ID (10001) is that of the user A.

  When the user B approves the exchange of the first program reservation information, a notification of the first program reservation information exchange approval is transmitted from the first program recording device 102 on the user B side to the server 104. Then, the server 104 determines whether or not to transmit the first program reservation information to the second program recording device 101 according to the result of the confirmation of approval from the first program recording device 102. In this case, the server 104 receives the notification of the first program reservation information exchange approval. Then, the server 104 publishes the user B's program reservation information list to the user A, and transmits the first program reservation information in response to the request to the second program recording apparatus 101.

  Next, an example will be described of a case where the acquisition of the first program reservation information registered in the server 104 after login to the server 104 fails.

  Consider a case where the user A on the second program recording apparatus 101 side intends to acquire the first program reservation information registered in the server 104 and possessed by the first program recording apparatus 103 (user C). Here, it is assumed that the login ID of user A is 10001 and the login ID of user C is 10003, and user A and user C do not know each other's login ID.

  User A logs in to server 104. Then, the list of login IDs presented in FIG. 13 is displayed on the second program recording apparatus 101 side. The user A operates the second program recording apparatus 101 and selects the login ID (10003) of the user C from this list. When the login ID is selected, the server 104 transmits the login ID 10001 of the user A to the first program recording apparatus 103 on the user C side, and the other party who wishes to exchange the first program reservation information Notify that That is, the server 104 confirms the approval of whether or not the second program recording apparatus 101 can acquire the first program reservation information registered in the server 104 by the user C, and the first program recording. To device 103.

  When the first program recording device 103 on the side of the user C receives the notification of the confirmation of approval, the user C confirms the login ID of the other party who has been sent. Then, if the user C can be permitted to exchange the first program reservation information registered in the server 104, the user C approves it. Here, since the user C does not know the login ID of the user A, the user C does not approve the exchange of the first program reservation information registered in the server 104 by the user C. Accordingly, the first program recording device 103 on the user C side transmits a notification of the first program reservation information exchange non-approval to the server 104.

  Then, the server 104 determines whether or not to transmit the first program reservation information to the second program recording device 101 according to the result of the confirmation of approval from the first program recording device 103. In this case, the server 104 receives the first program reservation information exchange non-approval notification. Therefore, the server 104 notifies the second program recording apparatus 101 of the first program reservation information exchange non-approval, and does not disclose the first program reservation information of the user C.

  The above is a method for allowing the program reservation information registered in the server 104 to be disclosed / acquired only to specific partners such as friends and colleagues. In the above, the login ID is used as information for the user A and the user B to identify each other. However, a handle name that is easier to understand may be used instead of the login ID.

  In the above description, the program recording / playback apparatus 101 refers to the operation of acquiring the program reservation information registered in the server 104. This operation is similarly performed in the program recording / playback apparatuses 102 and 103.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the server 104 confirms whether or not the requesting program recording / playback apparatuses 101 to 103 can acquire the program reservation information registered in the server 104. The program recording / playback apparatuses 101 to 103 which are the setting sources of the program reservation information are used. Whether or not the server 104 transmits the program reservation information in response to the request to the program recording / reproducing devices 101 to 103 as the request source in accordance with the result of the confirmation of approval from the program recording / reproducing devices 101 to 103. Judging.

  Therefore, the program reservation information can be exchanged only with the approved apparatus among the program recording / reproducing apparatuses 101 to 103 having the program reservation information registered in the server 104. Therefore, since program reservation information can be exchanged only with a specific partner such as a friend or a colleague, privacy can be protected.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, each of the program recording / playback apparatuses 101 to 103 has a registration selection unit that can select a reserved program to be registered in the server 104 among the program reservation information of its own device. Have. This matter is the same as that described in Embodiment 1 with reference to FIG.

  Therefore, whether or not all or some of the reserved programs in the program reservation information of the own device are registered in the server 104 can be set on the user side for each reserved program. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a reserved program such as a program that is not desired to be known by another person from being disclosed to the other person.

  101-103 Program recording / playback apparatus, 104 server, 105 communication network, 106 receiving unit, 107 storage unit, 108 playback unit, 109 EPG acquisition unit, 110 network interface, 111 reservation information acquisition unit, 112 reservation setting unit.

Claims (6)

A plurality of program recording devices including at least a first program recording device and a second program recording device;
A server connected to the plurality of program recording devices via a communication network,
The server
The first program recording information of the first program recording device can be registered at least,
The second program recording device includes:
Approval confirmation as to whether or not the first program reservation information registered in the server may be acquired is made to the first program recording device, and the first confirmation is made from the server according to the result of the confirmation confirmation. A reservation information acquisition unit capable of acquiring the program reservation information of
Using at least the first program reservation information acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit, and a reservation setting unit for creating second program reservation information in its own machine,
In the case where broadcast stations that broadcast programs of the same content differ from region to region, the server
Having a conversion table in which correspondence between different broadcast stations that broadcast the program of the same content and correspondence between physical channels of the different broadcast stations are made;
A program recording system characterized by the above. A plurality of program recording devices including at least a first program recording device and a second program recording device;
A server connected to the plurality of program recording devices via a communication network,
The server
The first program reservation information of the first program recording device can be registered at least,
The second program recording device includes:
Approval confirmation as to whether or not the first program reservation information registered in the server may be acquired is made to the first program recording device, and the first confirmation is made from the server according to the result of the confirmation confirmation. A reservation information acquisition unit capable of acquiring the program reservation information of
Using at least the first program reservation information acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit, and a reservation setting unit for creating second program reservation information in its own machine,
In the case where broadcasting stations that broadcast programs of the same content differ from region to region, the second program recording device
Having a conversion table in which correspondence between different broadcast stations that broadcast the program of the same content and correspondence between physical channels of the different broadcast stations are made;
A program recording system characterized by the above. The server
If the result of the approval confirmation from the first program recording device is approval, the first program reservation information is transmitted to the second program recording device,
If the result of the approval confirmation from the first program recording device is non-approved, the second program recording device is notified of the non-approval;
The program recording system according to claim 1, wherein the program recording system is a program recording system. The reservation setting unit
Using the first program reservation information acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit and the second program reservation information already possessed by the second program recording device, the second program reservation information is obtained. Update,
The program recording system according to claim 1, wherein the program recording system is a program recording system. The second program recording device includes:
A program information selection unit capable of selecting a desired reserved program from the outside from the first program reservation information registered in the server;
The reservation information acquisition unit
Only the desired reserved program selected by the program information selection unit is acquired from the server,
The reservation setting unit
The second program reservation information is updated using the desired reserved program acquired by the reservation information acquisition unit and the second program reservation information already possessed by the second program recording device. ,
The program recording system according to claim 4, wherein: The first program recording device includes:
Of the first program reservation information, a registration selection unit that can select a reserved program to be registered in the server,
The program recording system according to claim 1, wherein the program recording system is a program recording system.

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