JP3897517B2 - Digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver for receiving a digital broadcast, and more particularly, a digital which prevents children and the like from knowing age-limited channel settings when a large number of channels are preset in a memory. It relates to a broadcast receiver.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, since digital broadcasting can transmit multiple programs simultaneously on one channel, has high image quality, and has various features such as that images are not easily disturbed in the transmission path, digital broadcasting by CS broadcasting has become widespread. More than 200 channels are broadcast day and night. In the future, BS digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital broadcasting are planned, and it is predicted that most broadcasting will be digitized.
[0003]
In addition, with the increase in the number of receivers and competition among companies, the number of programs and services that are tailored to the user's hobbies and preferences will increase, and the number of receivers that will be released will increase with improved usability. However, it is synergistically available to a wide range of people.
[0004]
On the other hand, especially with the spread of navigation devices, the number of vehicles equipped with a television receiver using the display is increasing. In such a television receiver, many people desire a television receiver having a function of receiving CS broadcast using radio waves from a satellite with few reception obstacles.
[0005]
In digital broadcasting as described above, many of the broadcast channels are paid channels that can be viewed by making a contract with a broadcasting station, but some of them are open to everyone for free. There are also channels. By paying for a paid channel in advance, unless you change the contract, you can pay for a monthly fee and continue to view it. There are various forms such as a contract for paying a fee for viewing.
[0006]
Furthermore, in such a paid channel, in order to allow only people of a predetermined age or older to view, age restriction for each specific age of the viewer is performed in advance, and a viewing contract is made together with the age confirmation. There are also channels set with so-called parental information that can be viewed only by the receiver with which the contract is made. Such parental information can be set for each channel even when a plurality of channels are transmitted in one broadcast. In order to receive broadcasts with such parental information set, the receiver must be able to register a password so that the channel can be viewed only when the same password entered by the user is entered in advance. I have to.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In digital broadcasting, a very large number of programs are broadcast as described above, and there are various types of broadcasting such as free broadcasting, paying broadcasting, and channels in which parental information is set. In the receiver to receive, in addition to directly entering and specifying the station number of the channel you want to watch, you can see this, assign a channel that can be received to each key in advance using a preset key, and just press that key So that you can see the corresponding channels.
[0008]
Furthermore, in many receivers, an up / down switch is provided on the receiver main body, remote control, etc., and by operating this switch, a broadcast channel can be selected or a channel for which a reception contract is made can be selected. ing. For this reason, many receivers are provided with a memory that can store channels corresponding to preset key switches and up / down switches, and each user allocates an arbitrary channel to this memory and reads out this data as described above. A predetermined channel can be selected with a switch. In particular, in a digital broadcast receiver for a vehicle, many key switches cannot be provided due to space, and it is often set to select a channel using an up / down switch, like FM / AM radio. .
[0009]
Furthermore, the receiver has a memory for entering a password so that only a specific person can view the channel in which the parental information is set as described above, but this password is arbitrarily registered by the user. And can be changed as necessary. Thereby, a user such as a child who does not know the password is prevented from viewing such a program.
[0010]
In the digital broadcasting receivers as described above, there are many channels for children, channels for animation, channels for music programs including video, and channels for audio, as well as for young people including children. Many programs of interest are broadcast, and these channels are often subscribed. Therefore, when such a child or the like operates a receiver and selects a channel, for example, when the number of a channel for which parental information is set is directly input using a numerical key, the receiver views the channel. Is not contracted, a screen display such as “Cannot be viewed because it is not contracted” is displayed.
[0011]
On the other hand, if you have already subscribed to this channel as described above, the message “Cannot be received due to parental broadcasting” is displayed on the screen, or in addition to this, In addition, the message “Please enter your password.” Is displayed and a screen is displayed indicating that you cannot view the movie without entering the password. When displayed in this manner, the child or the like knows that the reception contract of the channel has already been made in this receiver, and that the parent is watching it, and in the program table etc. introducing the broadcast contents of the channel. , You can know that the channel is a channel dedicated to adults. In this way, when a child, etc., selects a channel for the receiver, the receiver subscribes to the channel for which the parental information is set, and the parent sees this in secret. Because it knows and is not preferable for parents, some measures are desired.
[0012]
In addition, when a child or the like selects a channel with the preset key as described above and the above display is displayed, if the channel is not known to have already been contracted by the parent, the channel is It may be considered that the preset key is not registered, and another channel is registered in the memory corresponding to the preset key. In such a case, when an adult subsequently operates the receiver, the preset channel cannot be selected with the preset key. Similarly, when an up / down key for sequentially calling a preset memory corresponding to the preset key is used, the previously registered channel cannot be selected.
[0013]
In addition, there are channels that pay a fee for each charge received as described above, but the fee is relatively expensive, so you often see such programs. Will be a big burden at the time of subsequent billing. Therefore, for example, it is not preferable that a child or the like sees frequently, and countermeasures for this point are also desired. In addition, even if the parental information is not set as described above, there are channels that frequently broadcast critical movies and broadcast programs, and you do not want to show such channels to children. There is also a demand for a receiver that can set the channel so that it is not easily understood by children.
[0014]
Therefore, according to the present invention, even when a specific channel for broadcasting or the like for which parental information is set is subscribed to, the channel can be selected during normal channel selection operation. The main object is to provide a digital broadcast receiver that does not know that a reception contract has been made.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention corresponds to a preset channel selection unit that designates a predetermined memory in a preset memory, and an output of each preset channel selection unit. A memory that stores channels that restrict viewing, and a memory that stores other channels. Two types of memory groups, When registering channels in the preset memory A memory group selection unit that selects a predetermined one of the memory groups when entering a password; Only at the time of the password input at the time of channel selection by the preset channel selection unit, the one of the predetermined ones The digital broadcast receiver includes a channel selection data reading unit that reads a channel registered in a memory.
[0016]
As another aspect, the digital broadcast receiver is characterized in that a channel in which parental information is set is registered in a memory in the one predetermined memory group.
[0017]
As another aspect, the digital broadcast receiver is characterized in that a specific pay channel is registered in a memory in the one predetermined memory group.
[0018]
Further, as another aspect, a preset memory registration / change unit for registering or changing data in the memories in both the memory groups is provided, and the data is registered in the memory group selected by the memory group selection unit However, the digital broadcast receiver is characterized in that the digital broadcast receiver is changed.
[0019]
As another mode, when the channel registered in the memory of the one memory group is directly selected from the station number input unit when the other memory group is selected, no reception contract is made. The digital broadcast receiver is characterized by performing the same display as the display for displaying the above.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing functional blocks of a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention and their interrelationships. In this figure, as in the conventional case, the digital broadcast radio wave received by the antenna 11 is subjected to signal processing by the RF signal demodulator 12 and the baseband signal demodulator 13 controlled by the controller 20, and the data separator 14 Audio data 15 and video data 16 included in the signal, and information channel data 17 which is management information of these data are separated.
[0021]
The separated audio data 15 is output from the speaker 22 via the audio decoding unit 18 and the amplifier 21, and the video data 16 is output to the video signal decoding unit 23, and a channel selection information display signal described later in the image synthesis unit 24. An appropriate image or the like from the forming unit 26 is synthesized and an image is displayed on the image display unit 25. Further, the information channel data 17 is input to the control unit 20, and this data is taken in when there is data or the like in which parental information is set.
[0022]
On the other hand, this digital broadcast receiver includes a tuning preset memory 30, which includes two independent memory groups, a first memory group 31 and a second memory group 32. Of these two memory groups, for example, the first memory group 31 is a memory group that is used by an operation similar to the conventional one, and the second memory group 32 is selected and used only when a specific operation is performed. Set to. A memory group selection unit 33 that selects one of the two memory groups is provided. When a password match signal is input from a password match determination unit 34, which will be described later, for example, the second memory group 32 is selected.
[0023]
The password match discriminating unit 34 compares the data in the password memory 35 in which the password is registered in advance with the data from the password input unit 37 performed by operating the input key 40. 33 is configured to output a signal. The data in the password memory 35 is registered by inputting the data in the password input unit 37 via the password registration / change unit 36. The password once registered can be changed by the same operation.
[0024]
In the present embodiment, when a password is not input from the password input unit 37 or when a password match signal is not output from the password match determination unit 34 because the password is not matched with that registered in the password memory 35 even if the password is input. The memory group selection unit 33 selects the first memory group 31 in the tuning preset memory 30. Each memory in the first memory group 31 corresponds to each key of the preset channel selection key 41 in the channel selection unit 40, and a predetermined channel is assigned to this memory via the preset memory registration / change unit 43. It is possible to assign and register / change, and in this way, channel registration / change processing for the first memory group 31 is performed.
[0025]
On the other hand, when a password that matches the password registered in advance in the password memory 35 is input from the password input unit 37, the signal is output from the password match determination unit 34 to the memory group selection unit 33, and the memory group selection unit 33 selects the second memory group 32. Accordingly, when an operation of assigning a predetermined channel to the keys of the preset channel selection unit 41 by assigning a predetermined channel via the preset memory registration / change unit 43 is performed, the second memory group 32 is Registration / change processing is performed.
[0026]
FIG. 5 shows an example of channel assignment to the memories of the first memory group and the second memory group registered as described above. In this example, there are n memory portions 1 to n in the first memory group, and preset numbers 1 to n correspond to the respective memory portions. Also, there are n memory portions 1 to n for the second memory group, and preset numbers 1 to n are similarly assigned here. As a result, when one of the n preset memories provided on the receiver main body or the remote control is pressed, for example, when the first memory group is selected as described above, it corresponds to the key of the preset memory. When the channel of the first memory group is selected and the second memory group is selected in the same manner, the channel of the corresponding channel is selected in the second memory group corresponding to the preset key.
[0027]
In order to save the trouble of selecting one of the preset keys as described above, there is a receiver in which an up / down key is provided to sequentially select the preset stations as described above. Therefore, when such an up / down key is used, when the first memory group is selected, the channel is first selected from the 112 channels in the illustrated example of the preset number 1, and when the up key is pressed, n is sequentially entered. The channel is selected up to channel 755 and set to return to number 1 again. In this case, if the down key is pressed halfway, tuning in the reverse direction is performed. Even when the second memory group is selected, the channel selection is performed sequentially from, for example, 900 channels in the group.
[0028]
When channel selection is performed using the preset key as described above, for example, when the first memory group is selected and the user presses the key of preset number 4, the preset memory number 905 is assigned to the second memory group. Is registered in the first memory group, but “channel is not registered” is displayed on the screen. In such a display, the information is output from the channel selection data reading unit 44 to the channel selection information display unit 26 via the control unit 20, synthesized on the main screen in the image synthesis unit 24, and displayed on the image display unit 25. Is done. In such an example, when the up / down key is used, since only the registered ones are selected in many cases, the unregistered ones such as the preset number 4 are skipped. However, if there is no function for skipping preset numbers that are not registered in this way, the display “channel is not registered” is displayed as described above. Such an operation is performed in the same manner when the second memory group is selected and channel selection is performed using the preset key, and when channel selection is performed using the up / down key.
[0029]
In the present invention, as described above, the preset memories corresponding to the tuning preset keys are divided into the first memory group and the second memory group. For example, the second memory group is not selected unless a formal password is input. Thus, when the memory in the first memory group that is normally used is used without entering a password, channels 900, 902, and 905 as shown in FIG. 5 are not selected. . For a person who does not know the password, such as a child, such a channel does not exist when a normal tuning operation is performed using a preset key or an up / down key. When a user selects a channel by directly inputting a channel number without using the preset key as described above, for example, when selecting the 900 channel, the user may not have a reception contract. In the same manner, for example, a message such as “Cannot receive” is displayed.
[0030]
In the present invention having the above-described functional configuration, for example, channel selection processing is performed along the operation flow shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and preset memory registration / change processing is performed along the operation flow shown in FIG. be able to. Hereinafter, the operation flow will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 1 and the preset memory compatible registered channel example of FIG. In the channel selection process, it is first determined whether or not a password has been input as shown in FIG. 2 (step S1). Here, when the password is not inputted, the first memory group 31 in the channel selection preset memory 30 of FIG. 1 is selected (step S3). When it is determined in step S1 that a password has been input, if it is determined that the input password does not match the registered password, that is, if a formal password is not input, the process proceeds to step S3. A memory group is selected (step S2).
[0031]
As described above, in the present invention, one of the preset memories in which two groups exist is selected depending on whether or not a formal password is first input at the time of channel selection. When a non-operator operates, the second memory group, which will be described later, is not selected, and the tuning process is always performed within the first memory group. Therefore, by registering a parental information setting channel or a channel that requires a particularly high usage fee in the second memory group, such a channel is contracted with this receiver by the child or the like. Without knowing that there is no need to select a channel that pays a large viewing fee unconsciously.
[0032]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the preset channel selection key has been operated (step S4). When the preset channel selection key is operated, a registration station corresponding to the preset channel selection key in the first memory group as shown in FIG. Is selected (step S5). Next, it is determined whether or not a registration station corresponding to the preset channel selection key is actually registered (step S6). Here, for example, when 112 channels are registered as in preset number 1 in FIG. 5, these 112 channels are read from the memory and designated and output as a selected station (step S7). Note that, as the operation of the preset channel selection key determined in step S4, in addition to operating a large number of preset keys as described above, here, the memory corresponding to the preset number is sequentially read by the up / down key. This includes the operations described above.
[0033]
This selected station designation output is output to the control unit 20 from the channel selection data reading 44 in FIG. 1, and the broadcast receiving unit performs the channel selection operation according to the instruction. When the desired station is selected as a result of the channel selection operation, the channel selection is terminated (step S8), and the channel selection process flow is terminated (step S16). However, although the channel was selected for the time being, the output video is different from the desired one. Therefore, when it is desired to select another channel, the process returns to step S1, and the same operation is repeated thereafter. Thereafter, a person who does not know the regular password performs the channel selection operation in the first memory group without being particularly aware of the existence of the second memory. In the above example, the channels registered in the preset key are handled as channels for which all reception contracts are made including free channels.
[0034]
In step S6, when there is no registered channel in the memory group 1 as in preset number 4 in FIG. 5, for example, it is determined that there is no registered station, and “Channel is not registered” is displayed. (Step S9), prompts selection of another station. This display also shows that a new channel can be registered in the memory corresponding to the preset number. After the display as described above, the process returns to step S4, waits for the operation of a new preset channel selection key, and repeats this process until the registered station is selected when the operation is performed.
[0035]
On the other hand, when the preset channel selection key is not operated in step S4, that is, when the channel selection operation is performed, the channel number is directly input using the numeric keys without operating the preset channel selection key as described above. When selecting a channel (step S10), it is determined whether or not the input channel is a channel for which a reception contract is made (step S11). As described above, when a channel is selected by directly inputting a channel number, the channel is selected regardless of the above-described preset memory for channel selection.
[0036]
If the selected channel is a channel for which a reception contract has already been made, it is determined whether or not the channel has parental information set (step S12). When the selected channel is a channel for which parental information is set, in this embodiment, the message “cannot be received” is displayed on the image display unit (step S13). Further, when it is determined in step S11 that the channel is not a reception contract, the process proceeds to step S13, and the display “cannot be received” is performed as described above. If it is determined in step S12 that the parental information is not set, the process proceeds to step S7, and the selected station designation is output in the same manner as described above.
[0037]
As described above, parental information that cannot be viewed when a channel that is not simply subscribed to is specified and when a formal password is not entered in steps S1 and S2. When a channel for which is set is specified, the same display is performed. For example, when a child is operating this receiver, the channel selection key can be operated directly unless the password is known. Even if there is, the presence of the channel for which the parental information is set cannot be known only by this receiver. Also, even if you know that a specific channel is an adult channel by other means and enter the channel number directly, the display will be exactly the same as when you did not subscribe, Since "Please enter your password" is not displayed, even if this receiver is actually subscribed to the channel, it will not be known.
[0038]
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S2 that the input password matches the registered password, the second memory group is selected (step S14), and then in the second memory group shown in FIG. Is selected. After the channel selection processing is performed, the process proceeds to step S8, where it is determined whether or not the channel selection has been completed (step S15). When the channel selection process is completed, the operation flow is terminated in step S16 in the same manner as described above. It is.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 3, the channel selection process in the second memory group is generally performed in the same manner as when the first memory group is selected. First, it is determined whether or not the preset channel selection key is operated (step S21). When the preset channel selection key is operated, a key-corresponding registration station in the second group is selected (step S22). FIG. 5 shows an example in which 900 channels are registered in preset number 1, 902 channels in number 2, and 905 channels in number 4 are registered in the second memory group. Channels for which parental information is set, or channels that require a high viewing fee for each viewing are registered.
[0040]
If the registered station exists as a result of the determination, an output for designating the selected station is performed (step S24). As a result of viewing the video of the selected station, if it is desired to search for another station (step S25), the process returns to step S21 to specify another preset station and repeat the same flow. If it is determined in step S23 that there is no registered station, a display similar to that described above is displayed "channel not registered".
[0041]
On the other hand, in the step S21, when the channel selection is performed by directly inputting the channel number without performing the preset channel selection operation (step S27), it is determined whether or not the reception contract is made (step S28). If it is, the process proceeds to step S24 as it is, and an output for receiving the channel designated for channel selection is performed. In this way, unlike the channel selection in the first memory group, since the official password has already been entered, the operation for extracting the channel for which parental information is set from the channels for which the reception contract has been made. There is no need to do. If it is determined in step S28 that the channel is not a reception contract, a message “cannot be received” is displayed (step S29). When the channel selection process in the second memory group is completed as described above, the process proceeds to step S8 in FIG. 2 as described above (step S30).
[0042]
As described above, the preset memory used at the time of channel selection can be processed according to the operation flow shown in FIG. That is, as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, whether a password has been input (step S31), and when a password has been input, it is determined whether the input password matches a registered password (step S32). When the password is not input by these determinations or when the password that matches the registered password is not input, the first memory group is automatically selected (step S33).
[0043]
Thereafter, the preset number to be registered / changed is designated for the first memory group, and the channel number of the preset station is input to the memory corresponding to the number (step S35). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not all preset stations to be registered / changed have been completed (step S36). If not yet completed, the process returns to step S31 and the same operation is repeated. In any case, unless the password is input, the memory of the channel in which the parental information is set cannot be accessed as described above, and the change of these memories can be prevented.
[0044]
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S32 that the password entered by the user matches the registered password, the second group memory is selected (step S37), and the second memory group is subjected to the same processing as described above. The registration / change preset number is designated (step S38), and the preset station is input to the memory corresponding to the number (step S39). Further, it is determined whether or not registration / change of all preset stations in the second memory group has been completed (step S40). If not yet completed, the process returns to step S38, and the preset station input process is similarly performed. I do. As a result, processing can be performed without re-entering the password until all processing of the second memory group is completed. When the registration / change of the preset memory for the second memory group is completed, the process proceeds to step S36, where it is determined whether all the registration / change processes for the first memory group have been completed. Sometimes the preset memory registration / change operation flow is terminated (step S41).
[0045]
In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which a channel for which parental information is set, particularly a channel with a high viewing fee, is registered in a memory group that can be selected by entering a password. Also, for example, it is possible to set an arbitrary channel such as a channel that is rumored to be broadcast a program with many atrocities, a program that you do not want to show to children, such as a professional wrestling program. In order to prevent the above operations from being easily known to children and the like, this operation part is separately provided in the operation manual so that adults and other users can remove it and store it in another place. It may be necessary to consider the above.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the channel registered in the memory in one memory group cannot be accessed unless a password is input when selecting a channel, and the other channel is selected during normal channel selection. Since only the channels registered in the memory in the memory group are displayed as being selectable, it becomes impossible to know even that the channel registered in the memory in the one memory group has a reception contract.
[0047]
In addition, in a digital broadcast receiver in which a channel in which parental information is set is registered in a memory in the one predetermined memory group, a reception contract is made for a channel in which parental information is set. Even when you are, you can make sure that your child does not understand the reception contract.
[0048]
In addition, in a digital broadcast receiver in which a specific pay channel is registered in the memory in one of the predetermined memory groups, for example, a channel that pays a high viewing fee for each viewing is provided. By registering in the memory in this memory group, it is possible to prevent other people from selecting and viewing such a channel without knowing it, or from paying a large fee. .
[0049]
A preset memory registration / change unit for registering or changing data in the memories in both the memory groups, and registering or changing the data in the memory group selected by the memory group selection unit; In such a digital broadcast receiver, when data is registered or changed in the memory, it is possible to access the memory group on one side storing the channel in which the parental information is set unless a password is input in advance. Since this is not possible, it is possible to prevent the data from being changed by another person without knowing it or consciously.
[0050]
In addition, when the channel number registered in the memory of the one memory group is instructed to be directly selected from the station number input unit when the other memory group is selected, a display indicating that no reception contract is made is displayed. In the digital broadcast receiver that performs the same display as the above, when a channel in which parental information is set is registered in the memory of the one memory group, the other memory group is selected. When you directly enter the channel number of the channel and instruct the channel selection, a display that does not have a reception contract will be displayed. For example, a display that already has a reception contract, such as "Please enter your password." Because it is never done, I do not realize that other people who do not know the password have subscribed to such a channel.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an operation flow diagram mainly showing an operation when channel selection processing is performed in the embodiment of the present invention, particularly when a first memory group is selected.
FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart mainly showing an operation when performing a channel selection process in the embodiment of the present invention, particularly when a second memory group is selected.
FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart when performing preset memory registration / change processing in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of channels registered in a preset memory of each memory group in the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
30 preset memory for channel selection
31 First memory group
32 Second memory group
33 Memory group selector
34 Password match determination part
35 Password memory
36 Password Registration / Change Department
37 Password input section
41 preset tuning section
42 Station number input section
43 Preset memory registration / change section
44 Tuning data reading section

Claims (5)

A preset channel selection unit for designating a predetermined memory in the preset memory;
Two types of memory groups, each of which stores a channel for limiting viewing corresponding to the output of the preset channel selection unit and a memory for storing other channels ;
A memory group selection unit that selects a predetermined one of the memory groups at the time of password input at the time of channel registration to the preset memory ;
A digital broadcast receiver comprising: a channel selection data reading unit that reads a channel registered in the one predetermined memory only when the password is input at the time of channel selection by the preset channel selection unit. 2. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein a channel in which parental information is set is registered in a memory in the one predetermined memory group. 2. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein a specific pay channel is registered in a memory in the one predetermined memory group. A preset memory registration / change unit for registering or changing data in the memories in both memory groups, and registering or changing the data in the memory group selected by the memory group selection unit; The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein: Same as the display that indicates that the channel registered in the memory of the one memory group is not subscribed to when the channel number input unit directs the channel selection when the other memory group is selected. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein:

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