JPH10269704A - Digital program recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a digital program recording and reproducing device which can charge different rates of account by each program according to the number of reproducing times, or time passing from the start of the program broadcasting, etc. SOLUTION: A digital program recording and reproducing device records and reproduces a digital broadcasting program, for which a program provider charges for viewing the program received from digital broadcast. The device is provided with a means to detect the number of reproducing times 6, which detects the number of reproducing times of the program when a recorded digital program is reproduced, accounting information of reproducing programs, where different accounting rates are set according to the number of reproducing times, and a means to decide an account 8 which decides an account for reproducing and viewing of the program based on the number of reproducing times detected by the means to detect the number of reproducing times 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital broadcast program received from a digital broadcast and charged by a program provider for viewing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital broadcast program in which a program provider charges for viewing received from a conventional digital broadcast, a method for charging for viewing is as follows. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-65652, there is a method in which charging is performed according to the amount of use of a decoder for decoding a digital signal.

[0003]

However, when charging is performed in accordance with the amount of use of the decoder, the type and newness of the program, such as changing the charging amount depending on the information to be decoded, etc.
There is a problem that it is difficult to charge more appropriately according to the number of times of reproduction and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. In recording and playing back a digital program to be charged, a program provider must provide a program for each program.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus capable of charging different charging fees according to the number of times of reproduction or the elapsed time from the broadcast of a program.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention (Claim 1) records a digital broadcast program received from a digital broadcast and charged by a program provider for viewing. , And a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded digital program, a reproduction number detecting means for detecting the number of reproductions of the recorded digital program, and charging information of the reproduced program for which a different charge is set according to the reproduction number. And charging fee determining means for determining a charging fee for the reproduction / viewing based on the number of times of reproduction of the program detected by the reproduction frequency detecting means.

The present invention (claim 2) provides a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital broadcast program which is received from a digital broadcast and for which a program provider charges for viewing. Program time information extracting means for extracting time information about the program included in the signal of the program when the digital program is reproduced,
Time information output means for outputting time information at the time of reproduction; billing information of a reproduced program for which a different billing fee is set according to the elapsed time from the time indicated by the program time information; Charging fee determining means for determining a charging fee for the reproduction / viewing based on the time information relating to the program and the elapsed time from the time indicated by the program time information obtained from the time at the time of output reproduction by the time information output means; It is provided with.

[0007] The present invention (claim 3) provides a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The billing information is transmitted from a broadcasting station while being superimposed on a broadcast signal of a digital program.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital program recording and reproducing apparatus according to the first or second aspect.
The billing information is composed of a billing code transmitted from a broadcasting station by being superimposed on a broadcast signal of each digital program, and a billing table in which a billing amount for each billing code is set.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the charging table is transmitted from a broadcasting station by being superimposed on a broadcast signal of the digital program. Things.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a tuner for receiving a digital program signal broadcasted by a broadcasting station, and 2 denotes a video, audio signal, etc. obtained by decoding the digital program signal received by the tuner 1 or the digital program signal reproduced by the recording / reproducing means. A decoder for receiving video and audio signals output from the decoder 2 and displaying an image or the like; 4, a billing information extracting means for extracting billing information of the program included in the digital program signal; Recording / reproducing means 6 for recording the digital program signal received by the tuner 1 on a recording medium and reproducing the digital program signal recorded on the recording medium are written in the recording medium by a reproduction number writing means 6 described later. The number-of-reproductions detecting means 7 detects the number of times the program is reproduced by the recording / reproducing means 5 based on the information obtained.
Means for adding 1 to the number of times of reproduction detected by (1) and writing the number to the recording medium. Reference numeral 8 denotes charging fee determining means for determining a charging fee for the reproduction / viewing based on the number of reproductions detected by the number-of-reproductions detecting means 6 and the charging information extracted by the charging information extracting means 4, and 9 denotes a memory for storing the charging fee. It is. In this embodiment, the charging fee determining means 8
And a memory 9 in an IC card 10. Reference numeral 11 denotes a modem for exchanging information with a broadcasting station center 12 via a high-speed telephone line or the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of billing information sent from a broadcasting station by being superimposed on digital program information.

Next, the operation of the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. At the time of normal broadcast reception display, a digital program signal broadcasted by a broadcast station received by the tuner 1 is converted by the decoder 2 into video and audio signals and displayed on the monitor 3. When recording a program, a digital program signal received by the tuner 1 and broadcasted by a broadcasting station is recorded by the recording / reproducing means 5.

FIG. 3 shows a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment in which a program charged for viewing recorded by the recording / reproducing means is reproduced and viewed by the recording / reproducing means. It is a flowchart figure for demonstrating the operation | movement of determination of a charging fee, and transmission of the determined charging fee to the program provider side.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment, a program charged for viewing recorded by the recording / reproducing means is reproduced by the recording / reproducing means. A description will be given of the operation of determining the charging fee and transmitting the determined charging fee to the program provider in the case where the charging is performed. When a digital program signal is input to the decoder 2, it is determined whether or not the input is an input from the recording / reproducing means 5 (step S1). End the operation. On the other hand, if the input of the digital program signal is an input from the recording / reproducing means 5, the number-of-reproductions detecting means 6 detects the number of reproductions of the program based on the information on the number of reproductions recorded on the recording medium (step S).
2). The number-of-reproductions writing means 7 includes a number-of-reproductions detecting means 6.
Is added to the detected number of times of reproduction (step S3), and the number of times of this addition is written to the recording medium in preparation for the next reproduction (step S4). On the other hand, the billing information extracting means 4 extracts billing information of the program from the digital program signal reproduced by the recording / reproducing means 5 and input to the decoder 2 (step S5). Here, the charging information of the digital program is transmitted by being superimposed on the broadcast signal of the digital program from the broadcasting station, and different charging fees are set according to the number of times of reproduction as shown in FIG. For example, when the program is “Program 2”, the charge information indicating the charge of “Program 2” in FIG. 2 is superimposed on the digital program signal, and the charge information extracting unit 4 extracts the charge information. Output. Next, the billing fee determining means 8 determines a billing fee based on the number of times of reproduction detected by the number-of-reproductions detecting means 6 and the billing information extracted and output by the billing information extracting means 4 (step S6). For example, if the number of times of reproduction detected by the number-of-times-of-reproduction detecting means 6 is three and the billing information extracted and output by the billing information extracting means 4 is “program 2” in FIG. Means 8 determines that the charge is 400 yen. The determined charging fee is stored in the memory 9 (step S7), and at a predetermined timing, via the modem 11, a high-speed telephone line or the like to the center 1 of the program provider.
2 (step S8). The program provider charges the user for viewing the program based on the information on the charging fee transmitted from the user's digital program recording / reproducing apparatus to the center 12.

As described above, in the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment, the number-of-reproductions detecting means 6 for detecting the number of times of reproduction of the recorded digital program and the charging fee differing according to the number of times of reproduction. Is set, and the charge rate determining means 8 for determining the charge for the reproduction / viewing based on the charging information of the reproduced program set with the number of times and the number of times of reproduction of the program detected by the number-of-times-of-reproduction detecting means 6 is provided. A digital program recording / reproducing apparatus which enables a program provider to charge a different fee according to the number of times of reproduction for each program when recording and reproducing / viewing a digital program to be charged. it can.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the billing fee determining means 8 and the memory 9 are incorporated in the IC card 10, the IC card can be easily replaced by replacing the IC card when the relevant part breaks down. What can be repaired can be realized.

In the first embodiment, the number-of-reproductions detecting means detects the number of times of reproduction for each program based on the information about the number of times of reproduction written on the recording medium by the number-of-times-of-reproductions writing means. The detection means may have any other configuration as long as the number of times of reproduction for each program can be detected.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 4, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding parts. Recording / reproducing means 16 for recording the digital program signal received by the tuner 1 on a recording medium, and for reproducing the digital program signal recorded on the recording medium;
Reference numeral 15 denotes time information about the program transmitted by being superimposed on the digital program signal from the digital program signal received by the tuner 1, and when the recording / reproducing means 16 records the digital program signal on the recording medium, A program time information extracting / writing means for writing the extracted time information in a specific area. Here, the time information on the program indicates the time at which the program was broadcast, and if the program is a rebroadcast program, indicates the time at which the program was first broadcast. Reference numeral 17 denotes time information / charging information extracting means for extracting time information on the program included in the digital program signal and charging information of the program, and 18 denotes time information output for outputting time information at the time of reproduction by the recording / reproducing means 16. Means 19, time information at the time of reproduction output by the time information output means 18, time information / billing information extraction means 17
Is a charge rate determining means for determining a charge rate for the reproduction / viewing based on the time information on the program and the charge information of the program, which are output by the user. The reference numeral 20 denotes a memory for storing the charge rate. Note that, in the present embodiment, as in the case of the above-described first embodiment, the charging fee determination means 19 and the memory 20 are incorporated in the IC card 21.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of billing information transmitted from a broadcasting station by being superimposed on digital program information.

Next, the operation of the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. The operation at the time of normal broadcast reception display and the operation of recording a program are the same as those of the digital program recording and reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment in which a program charged for viewing recorded by the recording / reproducing means is reproduced and viewed by the recording / reproducing means. It is a flowchart figure for demonstrating the operation | movement of determination of a charging fee, and transmission of the determined charging fee to the program provider side.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment, a program charged for viewing recorded by the recording / reproducing means is reproduced by the recording / reproducing means. A description will be given of the operation of determining the charging fee and transmitting the determined charging fee to the program provider in the case where the charging is performed. When a digital program signal is input to the decoder 2, it is determined whether or not the input is an input from the recording / reproducing means 5 (step S1). End the operation. On the other hand, when the input of the digital program signal is an input from the recording / reproducing means 5,
The program time information / charging information extraction means 17 detects time information (for example, information indicating the date and time when the program was broadcast) related to the program from the digital program signal reproduced and input to the decoder 2 (step S2). The time information output means 18 outputs time information at the time of reproduction (step S).
3) Further, the program time information / charging information extracting means 17 extracts the charging information of the program from the digital program signal reproduced by the recording / reproducing means 5 and input to the decoder 2 (step S4). Here, the billing information of the digital program is transmitted by being superimposed on the broadcast signal of the digital program from the broadcasting station. As shown in FIG. 5, the billing information varies depending on the elapsed time from the time indicated by the program time information. Fees are set. For example, when the program is “Program 2”, the charge information indicating the charge of “Program 2” in FIG. 5 is superimposed on the digital program signal, and the program time information / charge information extraction means 17 This is extracted and output. Next, the charging fee determining means 19 determines whether the program time information detected by the program time information / charging information extracting means 17, the reproduction time information output from the time information output means 18, and the program time information / charging information extracting means 17 are used. A billing fee is determined based on the billing information extracted and output (step S5). For example, the program time information detected by the program time information / charging information extraction means 17 is December 10, 1996, and the time information at the time of reproduction output by the time information output means 18 is 1997.
If the date is March 20, the elapsed time from the time information on the program (information indicating the date and time when the program was broadcast) is 3
If the charge information extracted and output by the program time information / charge information extracting means 17 is “program 2” in FIG. 5, the charge rate determining means 19 It is determined to be 400 yen. The determined fee is stored in the memory 20 (step S
6) At a predetermined timing, the data is transmitted to the center 12 of the program provider via the modem 11 via a high-speed telephone line or the like (step S7). The program provider charges the user for viewing the program based on the information on the charging fee transmitted from the user's digital program recording / reproducing apparatus to the center 12.

As described above, in the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment, at the time of reproducing the recorded digital program, the program time information extracting means 17 for extracting the time information on the program included in the signal of the program, Time information output means 18 for outputting time information at the time of reproduction; charging information of a reproduced program in which different charging charges are set according to the elapsed time from the time indicated by the program time information; Is determined based on the extracted time information on the program and the elapsed time from the time indicated by the program time information obtained from the time at the time of output reproduction by the time information output means 18. When the digital program to be charged is recorded, reproduced and viewed, the program provider is required to provide a program for each program. Depending on the time elapsed from the broadcast or the like of a program can be realized digital program recording and reproducing apparatus capable of charging different charging fees.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the billing fee determining means 19 and the memory 20 are incorporated in the IC card 21, the IC card can be easily replaced by replacing the IC card when the relevant part breaks down. What can be repaired can be realized.

In the second embodiment, the time information on the program is the time when the program was broadcast. However, the time information unique to the program may be set. For example, if the program is a movie, time information indicating the time when the movie was first broadcast in a theater or the like may be used instead of the broadcast time.

In the second embodiment, the program time information / charging information extracting means 17 extracts time information relating to a program from the digital signal input to the decoder. May be provided with means for directly reading the program time information written on the recording medium.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 7, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding parts. A recording / reproducing means 31 for recording the digital program signal received by the tuner 1 on a recording medium and reproducing the digital program signal recorded on the recording medium;
Reference numeral 30 denotes time information relating to the program transmitted by being superimposed on the digital program signal from the digital program signal received by the tuner 1, and when the recording / reproducing means 31 records the digital program signal on the recording medium, A time information extracting / writing means for writing the extracted time information in a specific area. 32 is a time information extracting / writing means 30
, Time information about the program written in the recording medium, and time information about the program reproduced based on the reproduction number information written in the recording medium by the reproduction number writing means described later, A number-of-reproductions / time information detecting means 33 for detecting the number of reproductions of the reproduction number 33 is a number-of-times-of-reproductions writing means for adding 1 to the number of reproductions detected by the number-of-reproductions / time information detecting means 32 and writing the result in the recording medium. Reference numeral 34 denotes a charging table holding means for holding a charging table in which charging charges for a plurality of charging codes are described. This charging table is transmitted in advance by being superimposed on digital broadcasting.
Extracts the billing table from the digital broadcast and holds it. 35 is a billing code extracting means for extracting a billing code included in the digital program signal and applied to the program, and 36 is a time information output means for outputting time information at the time of reproduction by the recording / reproducing means 31. Reference numeral 37 denotes time information at the time of reproduction outputted by the time information output means 36, the number of times of reproduction of the program and time information relating to the program outputted by the number-of-reproductions / time information detection means 32, and the billing output by the billing code extraction means 35. Charging fee determining means for determining the charging fee for the reproduction / viewing based on the code and the charging table held by the charging table holding means, and a memory 38 for storing the charging fee. Note that, in the present embodiment, as in the case of the first and second embodiments, the charging fee determination means 37 and the memory 38 are incorporated in the IC card 39.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an accounting code and an example of an accounting table sent from a broadcasting station so as to be superimposed on digital program information. Next, the operation of the digital program recording / playback apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described.

The digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment includes, as charging information used for determining a charging fee, a charging code transmitted by being superimposed on a digital signal of each program and a digital code being superimposed on the digital signal in advance. And the transmitted billing table. That is, in the present embodiment, a charging table superimposed on a digital signal and transmitted in advance is extracted from the digital signal and stored in the charging table holding means 34,
7 determines the charging fee based on the charging code superimposed on the program and using the charging fee set for the charging code in the charging table as the charging information of the program. For example, when the program to be reproduced is “Program 2” in FIG. 8, the charging code included in the reproduced digital signal is “B”, so the charging fee in the “B” column of the charging table is The billing fee set for “program 2” is used. Therefore, in this case, if the number of reproductions detected by the number-of-reproductions / program time information detecting means 32 is three, the charging fee determining means 37 determines that the charging fee is 400 yen. Here, in the present embodiment, the number-of-reproductions / program-time information detecting means 32 detects not only the number of reproductions but also the time information (for example,
Information indicating the date and time when the program was broadcast), the billing fee determination means 37 also uses the time information relating to this program and the time information at the time of reproduction output by the time information output means as an element of the billing fee determination. Can be used as In this case, besides the one shown in FIG.
For example, the billing fee may be determined using a billing table in which different rates are set according to the elapsed time from the time indicated by the time information on the program. For example, a multiplication rate of "~ 1 month", a multiplication rate of 0.8 for "~ 3 months", a multiplication rate of 0.6 for "~ 6 months",
In the case of “one year or more”, when a charging table set as a multiplication factor of 0.4 is used, if the elapsed time of the third reproduction of “program 2” is “「 6 months ”, charging is performed. Fee is 4
00 × 0.6 = 240 yen.

As described above, in the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment, the billing information is transmitted from the broadcasting station while being superimposed on the broadcast signal of each digital program, and the billing information for each billing code. Since it consists of a charging table in which the amount of money is set, when recording and reproducing / viewing a digital program to be charged, the program provider simply superimposes only the charging code on the broadcast signal of each program. It is possible to realize a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus capable of charging different charging fees for each program according to the number of times of reproduction, or according to the elapsed time from the broadcast of the program.

In the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment, the charge amount is determined based on both the number of times of reproduction and the elapsed time. A playback device can be realized.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the billing fee determining means 37 and the memory 38 are incorporated in the IC card 39, when the relevant part breaks down, the IC card can be easily replaced. What can be repaired can be realized.

In the above description, the billing amount is set in accordance with the number of times of reproduction, and the multiplication rate is set in accordance with the elapsed time. May be set according to. Further, instead of setting the multiplication rate according to the elapsed time or the number of times of reproduction, a discount amount according to the elapsed time or the number of times of reproduction may be set by the amount.

Also, in the case of determining the billing amount based on either the number of times of reproduction or the elapsed time as in the first or second embodiment, the digital signal of each program is used as the billing information. It is needless to say that a charging code transmitted by being superimposed on the digital signal and a charging table transmitted by being superimposed on the digital signal in advance can be used.

In the third embodiment, the charge table is transmitted by being superimposed on the digital broadcasting section. However, instead of transmitting the charge table by broadcasting, the charge table is recorded by an IC card or the like on which the charge table is recorded. The table may be provided to the user. In this case, the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus is configured to include a unit for reading information from an IC card or the like, and the charging fee determination unit is configured to read the charging table read from the IC card or the like. May be used to determine the charging fee.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention (claim 1), a digital broadcast program for recording and reproducing a digital broadcast program which is received from a digital broadcast and whose viewing is charged by a program provider is provided. In the program recording / reproducing apparatus, a reproduction number detecting means for detecting the number of reproductions of a recorded digital program when reproducing the program, charging information of a reproduction program for which a different charging fee is set according to the number of reproductions, Means for determining a charging fee for the reproduction / viewing based on the number of times of reproduction of the program detected by the means. In addition, there is an effect that a program provider can realize a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus that can charge different charging fees according to the number of times of reproduction for each program. .

According to the present invention (claim 2), there is provided a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital broadcast program which is received from a digital broadcast and charged by a program provider for viewing. A program time information extracting means for extracting time information about the program included in a signal of the recorded digital program during reproduction of the program, a time information output means for outputting time information at the time of reproduction, and the program time information indicates The charge information of the reproduced program for which a different charge has been set according to the elapsed time from the time, the time information on the program extracted by the program time information extracting means, and the time information output means obtained by the time information output means. Charging fee determining means for determining a charging fee for the reproduction / viewing based on the elapsed time from the time indicated by the program time information. When recording and playing back and viewing digital programs to be charged, the program provider charges different charging fees for each program according to the elapsed time from the broadcast of the program. There is an effect that a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus that can perform the operation can be realized.

According to the present invention (claim 3), in the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, the billing information is transmitted from a broadcast station by being superimposed on a broadcast signal of the digital program. Therefore, when recording and playing back a digital program to be charged, the program provider determines whether or not the program should be played back for each program according to the number of times of playback, or according to the elapsed time since the broadcast of the program. Thus, there is an effect that a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus can be realized in which different charging fees can be charged and the charging fee can be easily changed.

According to the present invention (claim 4), in the digital program recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, the billing information is superimposed on a broadcast signal of each digital program from a broadcast station. The billing code to be sent,
Since it consists of a billing table that sets the billing amount for each billing code, the program provider superimposes only the billing code on the broadcast signal of each program when recording and playing back digital programs to be billed. Just by doing, for each program,
There is an effect that a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus can be realized in which different charging fees can be charged according to the number of times of reproduction or the elapsed time from the broadcast of the program.

According to the present invention (claim 5), in the digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, the charging table is transmitted from a broadcasting station by being superimposed on a broadcast signal of the digital program. Therefore, when a digital program to be charged is recorded and played back for viewing, the program provider simply superimposes only the charging code on the broadcast signal of each program. Alternatively, a different charge can be charged according to the elapsed time from the broadcast of the program or the like, and a digital program recording / reproducing apparatus capable of easily changing the charge is realized. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital program recording / playback device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of billing information used in the digital program recording / playback device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital program recording / playback device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital program recording / playback device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of billing information used in the digital program recording / playback apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital program recording / playback device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital program recording / playback device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a billing code and a billing table used in the digital program recording / playback apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tuner 2 Decoder 3 Monitor 4 Charge information extraction means 5,16,31 Recording / reproduction means 6 Reproduction number detection means 7,33 Reproduction number writing means 8,19,37 Billing charge determination means 9,20,38 Memory 10,21 , 39 IC card 11 Modem 12 Center 15, 30 Program time information extracting / writing means 17 Program time information / charging information extracting means 18, 36 Time information output means 32 Number of reproduction / program time information detecting means 34 Charging table holding means 35 Billing code extraction means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A digital program recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital broadcast program which is received from a digital broadcast and for which a program provider charges for viewing the digital broadcast program. A number-of-reproductions detecting means for detecting the number of times of reproduction, charging information of a reproduced program for which a different fee is set according to the number of times of reproduction, and reproduction / viewing of the program based on the number of times of reproduction of the program detected by the number-of-reproductions detecting means A digital program recording / reproducing apparatus, comprising: a charging fee determining means for determining a charging fee for the digital program. 2. A digital program recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital broadcast program which is received from a digital broadcast and for which a program provider charges for viewing the digital broadcast program. A program time information extracting means for extracting time information on the program included in the signal, a time information output means for outputting time information at the time of reproduction, a charging fee different according to an elapsed time from the time indicated by the program time information, , The elapsed time from the time indicated by the program time information obtained from the time at the time of output reproduction by the time information output means and the time information on the program extracted by the program time information extraction means. Billing fee determining means for determining a billing fee for said reproduction / viewing based on time. Recording and playback device. 3. The digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the billing information is transmitted by being superimposed on a broadcast signal of the digital program from a broadcast station. Recording and playback device. 4. The digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the billing information includes a billing code transmitted by being superimposed on a broadcast signal of each digital program from a broadcasting station, and a billing code for each billing code. A digital program recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a charging table in which a charging amount is set. 5. The digital program recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the charging table is transmitted from a broadcasting station by being superimposed on a broadcast signal of the digital program. apparatus.