JP4686251B2 - Recording / reproducing apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing information such as a received program and a control method therefor, and more particularly to an apparatus for protecting personal information when an owner changes due to resale or the like.

  As is well known, in recent years, a recording / reproducing apparatus that receives information such as a program distributed via a broadcast or a network and records / reproduces it on / from a recording medium such as an optical disk or a hard disk has become widespread.

  In this type of recording / playback device, if the owner changes due to resale, etc., for example, if the previous owner's connection settings to the network remain, the information of the latter owner will be leaked to the former owner. There is a possibility.

  For example, if the previous owner is set to automatically transfer information acquired from the server via the network to his / her mobile phone, the information acquired from the server via the network by the previous owner Will be transferred to the person's mobile phone.

In Patent Literature 1, when a program according to a user's preference is automatically searched from a plurality of programs broadcast on multiple channels and a recording reservation is made, a database including user's program preference information is encrypted and recorded. A configuration for protecting personal information of a user is disclosed.
JP 2002-262265 A

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and if there is a possibility that the owner will be changed due to resale, etc., and there is a possibility that the information of the rear owner may be leaked to the previous owner, the individual for the rear owner It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of protecting information and a control method thereof.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is intended for a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing information acquired from the outside with respect to a recording medium. Then, a determination means for determining that the owner of the recording / reproducing apparatus has changed, and information obtained by using the recording / reproducing apparatus when the determining means determines that the owner has changed, And a control means for preventing leakage to the previous owner.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus control method according to the present invention is directed to a method for controlling a recording / reproducing apparatus that records and reproduces information acquired from the outside with respect to a recording medium. Then, a determination step for determining that the owner of the recording / reproducing device has changed, and information obtained by using the recording / reproducing device when it is determined that the owner has changed in the determining step is And a control process for preventing leakage to the previous owner.

  According to the configuration and method described above, when it is determined that the owner has changed, information obtained by using the recording / reproducing device is prevented from leaking to the previous owner of the recording / reproducing device. Therefore, when the owner is changed due to resale or the like, and there is a possibility that the information of the post-owner may be leaked to the pre-owner, the personal information for the post-owner can be protected.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a recording / reproducing apparatus 11 described in this embodiment. The recording / reproducing apparatus 11 has two types of disk drive units.

  That is, it has an optical disk drive unit 13 that rotationally drives an optical disk 12 as a first medium that is an information recording medium capable of constructing a video file, and executes writing and reading of information. Further, it has a hard disk drive (HDD) unit 14 that drives a hard disk 14a as a second medium and executes writing and reading of information.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus 11 includes, as main components, an encoder unit 15 that constitutes a recording side, an MPEG decoder unit 16 that constitutes a reproducing side, and a control unit 17 that controls the operation of the apparatus body.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus 11 has an input-side selector 18 and an output-side selector 19. Among them, the selector 18 on the input side includes a communication unit 20 such as a local area network (LAN), a satellite broadcasting [BS (broadcasting satellite) / CS (communication satellite)] tuner unit 21, a terrestrial tuner unit 22, Are connected and output to the encoder unit 15. A satellite antenna 23 is connected to the BS / CS tuner unit 21, and a terrestrial antenna 24 is connected to the terrestrial tuner unit 22.

  The encoder unit 15 includes a multiplexing unit 25, which performs an encoding process, a multiplexing process, and the like on the input signal and outputs the result to the data editing unit 26. The data editing unit 26 performs desired data processing such as data editing on the signal supplied from the encoder unit 15, and then outputs the signal to the optical disc drive unit 13 and the HDD unit 14.

  The data editing unit 26 performs predetermined data processing on the signal supplied from the encoder unit 15 and the signals supplied from the optical disc drive unit 13 and the HDD unit 14 and outputs the processed data to the MPEG decoder unit 16. Yes.

  The MPEG decoder unit 16 includes a buffer unit 27 and a separation unit 28, and performs a decoding process on the signal supplied from the data editing unit 26. The signal decoded by the MPEG decoder unit 16 is used for video display on an external monitor 30 via the audio / video processing unit 29 and the selector unit 19 and externally via the interface unit 31. To be derived.

  Here, in the recording / reproducing apparatus 11, all the operations including the above-described various recording / reproducing operations are comprehensively controlled by the control unit 17. The control unit 17 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and the like, receives operation information from the operation unit 32 or the remote controller 33, and controls each unit so that the operation content is reflected.

  In this case, the control unit 17 uses the memory unit 34. The memory unit 34 mainly includes a ROM (read only memory) storing a control program executed by the CPU, a RAM (random access memory) providing a working area for the CPU, various setting information, control information, and the like. Is stored in a non-volatile memory.

  In addition, the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 includes a power supply unit 35. The power supply unit 35 is connected to each unit based on a commercial power source obtained by inserting a power plug 36 into a household outlet 37 by operating a power key (not shown) installed on the operation unit 32 or the remote controller 33. The power to be supplied is generated.

  Further, the communication unit 20 such as the LAN described above can communicate with a predetermined server 40 via the modem 39 via the Internet 39 or download content information or the like.

  A broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcast station 41 is received via the satellite antenna 23 and the terrestrial antenna 24, and a desired program is selected by the BS / CS tuner unit 21 and the terrestrial tuner unit 22 and demodulated. It is processed.

  These tuner units 21 and 22 support a wide variety of broadcast signals. For example, it covers terrestrial analog broadcasting, terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS analog broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, 110-degree CS digital broadcasting, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

  Next, the personal information protection function provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 will be described. In the personal information protection function, when the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 is changed to the owner due to resale or the like, the information on the subsequent owner is leaked to the previous owner because the setting state of the previous owner remains. This is to prevent this.

  FIG. 2 shows a flowchart for explaining an example of the processing operation for realizing the personal information protection function for the owner thereafter. This processing operation is disclosed (step S1) by operating a power key (not shown) installed on the operation unit 32 or the remote controller 33.

  Then, in step S2, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 has changed the owner due to resale or the like. This determination process is performed by measuring the time from when the power plug 36 is removed from the household outlet 37 to being plugged into the household outlet 37 again by a timer built in the control unit 17. When a predetermined time set in advance has passed, it is determined that the owner has changed due to resale.

  When it is determined that no change has occurred in the owner (NO), the control unit 17 ends the process (step S4). If it is determined that the owner has changed (YES), the control unit 17 may leak the personal information of the post-owner to the previous owner if the current setting is not changed in step S3. A warning indicating this is displayed on the monitor 30, and the process is terminated (step S4).

  In this case, the fact that the personal information of the post-owner leaks to the pre-owner means that information obtained by the post-owner using the recording / reproducing apparatus 11, that is, acquired using the recording / reproducing apparatus 11. This means that the information of the information itself and information that can be determined from the history of the acquired information are known to the previous owner.

  For example, the previous owner is set to automatically transfer the information acquired from the server 40 to the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 to his / her mobile phone, and the setting remains even after resale to the subsequent owner. Suppose. Then, the information acquired from the server 40 by the post-owner using the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 is automatically transferred to the mobile phone of the previous owner.

  Further, for example, the server 40 analyzes the program preference of the owner of the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 from the history of the program distributed to the recording / reproducing apparatus 11, and transmits the advertisement information of the new program corresponding to the program preference of the owner. It is assumed that the user has a function of transferring to a mobile phone and the previous owner has set that function. Also in this case, if the setting remains after resale to the subsequent owner, the program preference of the subsequent owner is known to the previous owner.

  According to the personal information protection function shown in FIG. 2, if it is determined that the owner has changed, the current information may be leaked to the previous owner if the current setting is not changed. Since the warning indicating this is displayed, it becomes possible to protect personal information for the subsequent owner.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the processing operation for realizing the personal information protection function for the post-owner. In FIG. 3, the same steps as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. When it is determined that the owner has changed in step S <b> 2 (YES), the control unit 17 determines the current setting in step S <b> 5. Is unconditionally canceled and the process is terminated (step S4).

  In this case, the setting is canceled by deleting setting information stored in the memory unit 34, for example. The setting information to be erased is, for example, information relating to settings including the possibility that information obtained by the subsequent owner using the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 will leak to the previous owner.

  According to the personal information protection function shown in FIG. 3, when it is determined that the owner has changed, the current setting is unconditionally canceled. It becomes possible to plan.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining still another example of the processing operation for realizing the personal information protection function for the post-owner. In FIG. 4, the same steps as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. When it is determined that the owner has changed in step S <b> 2 (YES), the control unit 17 determines the owner in step S <b> 6. A screen requesting the input of a personal identification number is displayed on the monitor 30.

  Thereafter, in step S7, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the password entered by the owner matches the password entered in advance and stored in the memory unit 34. If it is determined that they match (YES), the control unit 17 ends the process (step S4). If it is determined that the passwords do not match (NO), the current setting is canceled in step S5. Then, the process ends (step S4).

  According to the personal information protection function shown in FIG. 4, when it is determined that a change has occurred in the owner, the owner is requested to enter a password, and the entered password is set in advance. When the number does not match, the current setting is canceled, so that it is possible to protect personal information for the subsequent owner.

  In addition, when the password entered by the owner matches the password set in advance, the current setting is not canceled. For example, the power plug 36 is removed from the household outlet 37 by moving or the like. When it has been extracted for a predetermined time or more, that is, when the owner is not changed, there is no need to input the setting again.

  Here, in the above-described embodiment, in order to determine whether or not the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 has changed the owner due to resale or the like, the time during which the power plug 36 is removed from the household outlet 37 is a predetermined time. Whether it is the above or not is determined.

  However, the determination of whether or not the owner has changed is not limited to means that uses the time during which the power plug 36 is removed from the household outlet 37. For example, there is means for confirming an update state of EPG (electronic program guide) information that is periodically transmitted from the server 40 or the broadcasting station 41 and stored in the memory unit 34. According to this means, when the EPG information stored in the memory unit 34 has not been updated for a predetermined time or more, it can be determined that the owner has changed due to resale. It is also possible to detect that the owner has changed due to resale by detecting that the regional setting for receiving broadcast waves has been changed.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by variously modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements according to different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart shown in order to demonstrate an example of the processing operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment. The flowchart shown in order to demonstrate the other example of the processing operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment. The flowchart shown in order to demonstrate the further another example of the processing operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Recording / reproducing apparatus, 12 ... Optical disk, 13 ... Optical disk drive part, 14 ... HDD part, 15 ... Encoder part, 16 ... MPEG decoder part, 17 ... Control part, 18, 19 ... Selector part, 20 ... Communication part, 21 ... BS / CS tuner section, 22 ... Terrestrial tuner section, 23 ... Satellite antenna, 24 ... Terrestrial antenna, 25 ... Multiplexing section, 26 ... Data editing section, 27 ... Buffer section, 28 ... Separation section, 29 ... Audio Image processing unit, 30 ... monitor, 31 ... interface unit, 32 ... operation unit, 33 ... remote controller, 34 ... memory unit, 35 ... power supply unit, 36 ... power plug, 37 ... home outlet, 38 ... modem, 39 ... Internet, 40 ... server, 41 ... broadcast station.

Claims (7)

A recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing information acquired from the outside with respect to a recording medium,
Discriminating means for discriminating that the owner of the recording / reproducing apparatus has changed;
Control means for preventing information obtained by using the recording / reproducing apparatus from leaking to the previous owner of the recording / reproducing apparatus when it is determined by the determining means that the owner has changed. And a recording / reproducing apparatus.   2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit generates a warning indicating that information obtained by using the recording / reproducing apparatus leaks to an owner in front of the recording / reproducing apparatus. apparatus.   2. The recording according to claim 1, wherein the control unit cancels a setting including a possibility that information obtained by using the recording / reproducing apparatus leaks to an owner before the recording / reproducing apparatus. Playback device. The discriminating means discriminates that the owner of the recording / reproducing apparatus has changed when the time for which the power plug of the recording / reproducing apparatus has been removed from the outlet has exceeded a predetermined time. recording reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 to 3. The discriminating means is periodically distributed from the outside and stored in the recording / reproducing apparatus. When the information whose stored contents are updated every time it is distributed has not been updated for a predetermined time or more, the recording means recording reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that to determine the owner of the reproduction apparatus has changed. Said determining means, when the area setting for receiving the broadcast wave to obtain information is changed, the recording that the owner of the playback apparatus is judged to have changed to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The recording / reproducing apparatus as described. A method of controlling a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing information acquired from the outside with respect to a recording medium,
A determination step of determining that the owner of the recording / reproducing apparatus has changed;
A control step for preventing information obtained by using the recording / reproducing apparatus from leaking to a previous owner of the recording / reproducing apparatus when it is determined in the determining step that the owner has changed. A control method for a recording / reproducing apparatus.

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