KR20000003821A - Method of limiting a watching television through a sorting according to a blocking operation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method of limiting a watching television through a sorting according to a blocking operation is provided to reduce a V-chip signal detection delay time. CONSTITUTION: The method comprises steps of: automatically searching all of channels to detect a V-chip signal(S1); comparing the V-chip signal to a degree data stored at a memory to perform a blocking operation or an unblocking operation(S2); muting the video and audio signal of the blocked channel(S3); sorting the channels with unblocking signals and blocking signals(S4); and displaying each of channel corresponding to each of the unblocking signals(S5). Thereby, it is possible to reduce a V-chip signal detection delay time.

Description

Viewing restriction method by sorting according to blocking in TV with parental control function.

The present invention relates to a parental control method through sorting according to blocking in a television having a parental control function, and more particularly to a two-tuner having a V-CHIP (violent chip) function, that is, a parental control function. On TV, the main tuner and the sub tuner automatically checks and memorizes all the channels in the sub tuner and stores them in the microcomputer to sort the unblocked and blocked signals in the V-Chip signal and display them in the OSD. Provides a method for restricting viewing through sorting according to whether or not blocking on a television.

Recently, in the case of a TV which includes a V-chip function, that is, a viewer restriction function for each viewer, the program classification information such as the rating of the program and the stored viewer password are transmitted according to the encoding of the broadcast signal when the television is broadcast. The viewing is prevented by restricting a channel, a program type or a grade, or a time zone of a television specified according to a password inputted by the viewing restriction information. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a part related to the parental control function among the internal components of a general TV receiver having such parental control function.

In FIG. 1, a composite video signal includes a signal indicating program classification information such as a program grade during the vertical synchronization period of the video signal, and when the composite video signal is received by airwaves or connected by cable or input from a VRL. The program classification information signal is detected so that the program to be viewed can be viewed or not viewed by the viewer.

As shown in Fig. 1, program classification information data according to a program type, a degree of violence or obscenity, etc., is encoded and transmitted in a broadcast signal, or is recorded on a video tape and reproduced from a composite video signal reproduced in a VCR. The program classification information data is detected in the V-decoder 30, which is a data decoder, and the decoded program classification information data is stored by the microcomputer 40 at the time of power input, channel change, program change or periodically. 50). In addition, the viewer-specific password input through the menu and the viewing restrictions such as the rating are stored in the memory means 50.

Subsequently, upon input of the television power source, channel change, or input of new program classification information data, the microcomputer 40 is required to input the password of the corresponding viewer and corresponds to the viewer password that matches the input password. When the viewing restriction content is compared with the program classification information, the transmission of the video signal of the program is blocked by the microcomputer 40 so that the viewing cannot be viewed when it is within the viewing restriction range. The video signal processor 10 and the sound are adjusted and processed so that they can be viewed normally. Accordingly, the display of the image in the CT 20 is blocked or normally displayed.

In addition, the remote control device is a device for the viewer to control the output volume, channel switching, or remotely control the overall device, and transmits an infrared signal and receives it at the receiving unit of the television to convert into an electric code signal, to the microcomputer 40 By outputting, the whole apparatus is controlled by the microcomputer 40 according to the electrical code signal. Such a remote control device serves as a keypad for setting a password and a parental control range.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of setting, canceling, and entering a password for a parental control function, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a parental control mode for performing a parental control function as an example.

When the menu is selected in Fig. 2, the main menu is displayed on the screen in step S11, and when the submenu of the parental level control function is selected in step S12, the input of the universal password is requested (step S13). In step S13, if the universal password matches the stored universal password, the process goes to step S14. If there is a mismatch, the user returns to the main menu by selecting a submenu of the parental control function by a person who does not have permission to set / change / disable parental control functions. do. In step S14, the user can select whether to turn on or off the parental control function. If the user selects off, the parental control mode is stored in the variable "viewing parental mode" to turn off the parental control mode in step S15. Save on in the variable "Viewability Mode" to turn the mode on. Subsequently, at step S17, whether to input or change is asked, and if yes, at step S18, the password, parental control content or range is entered or changed, and the submenu of the parental control function is completed.

Meanwhile, the parental control mode of FIG. 3 may be configured to be executed when the power is turned on, when the channel is changed and when the program is changed, or periodically.

When the parental control mode is executed, it is determined whether the variable "Parental Control Mode" is on, and if it is off, the video signal processing unit 10 or the like is controlled and completed in step S26 for normal operation of the television. If ON, a password is requested in step S22, and a grade corresponding to the input password is queried in step S23, and the grade viewed in step S24 is compared with the grade detected in the V-decoder 30 to view the program. Determine if it is possible. In this case, limit variables may be set in various ways such as time zones, channels, program types, and the like. If it is determined in step S24 that the viewable range is reached, a control signal for normal operation is generated in step S26. If it is determined that the viewing range is limited, the viewing restriction phrase is displayed and completed in step S25.

In the step S25, the viewable time zone or channel may be displayed when the viewable time zone or channel is within the viewing limitation range together with or without display of the viewing restriction phrase.

In addition, although the illustration is omitted, when the channel is changed and when the viewing program is changed or when the rating is changed during the viewing, the input password is stored so as not to require the input of the password in step S22, and the change of the channel instead of the completion step is performed. The program change (grade change) may be continuously monitored, and when such a change is made, the current password may be queried and the grade may be queried accordingly, and then returned to the step S24. It may also be configured to separate the parental control mode that is executed when the power of the television is turned on and the parental control mode that is executed when the rating is changed.

In the conventional parental control method configured and performed as described above, there is a problem in that a time is delayed in checking the current V-chip signal of the changed channel in the microcomputer and displaying it on the screen when the channel is changed.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a viewer-specific viewing prevention method of a two-tuner television having a V-CHIP (violent chip) function, that is, a parental control function. When the sub-tuner is not used, the sub-tuner is used. Sorting according to blocking on TVs with parental control function that automatically retrieves and memorizes program grades across all channels and stores them in the microcomputer to sort unblocked and blocked signals in V-Chip Signals and display them in OSD. To provide a method for viewing restriction through.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of a part related to a parental control function in a circuit of a television receiver;

2 is a flowchart for setting, releasing, and entering a password for a parental control function;

3 is a flowchart of a parental control mode for a parental control function;

4 is a partial block diagram showing the configuration of a V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus of a two-tuner television according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a sub-tuner search mode in which the V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus of the present invention automatically retrieves V-chip signal data and performs sorting according to whether blocking is performed. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment in which the unblocked and blocked signals of FIG. 5 are sorted and displayed in an OSD; FIG.

* Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: video signal processing unit 20: CRT

30: V-decoder (V-chip) 40: Microcomputer

50: memory means 60: main tuner

70: subtuner 80: main IC

90: PIP module 100: video amplifier

In order to achieve the above object, a viewing restriction method through sorting according to whether or not blocking of a two-tuner television according to an embodiment of the present invention is performed by the rating and storage of a television broadcast program using a V-chip signal and a viewer password inputted thereto. A method for preventing viewers from watching a two-tuner television by restricting the rating of a program specified by a password to prevent viewing: When a channel is viewed using a main tuner, the sub-tuner is controlled by a microcomputer and sequentially over all channels. An automatic search step of all channels for receiving the composite video signal and automatically searching the channels to detect the V-chip signal (step S1); A blocking / unblocking step (step S2) of inquiring the grade of the grade data for each channel stored in the memory when the V-chip signal is detected and performing unblocking if the grade is viewable and blocking if the grade is not viewable; A mute processing step (step S3) of muting the video signal and the audio signal with respect to data of an unviewable grade; A sorting step of performing sorting by dividing into an unblocked signal and a blocked signal (step S4); And a display step (step S5) of selecting a channel of the unblocked signal from the sorted data to display on the screen.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus of a two-tuner television according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is shown by the V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus of the present invention. A flow chart of a subtuner search mode for retrieving the V-chip signal data and sorting into nonblocking and blocking signals is shown.

In the television broadcast receiving apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as TV) having a general PIP function as shown in FIG. 4, other broadcasts may be output on a sub-screen while outputting a constant broadcast on a main screen, for example, an entire channel being broadcast, for example, When confirming broadcast programs such as 02 channels, 07 channels, 09 channels, 11 channels, and the like, the entire channel may be output as a sub-screen at a predetermined position of the CRT.

In FIG. 4, the composite broadcast signal received by the antenna ANT is controlled and tuned by the microcomputer 40 from the main tuner 60 and the subtuner 70, respectively, and the channels are tuned, respectively. After receiving and amplifying the intermediate frequency (IF) signal from the IC 80, the video signal for the main picture and the sub picture and the sub picture are divided and output, respectively, and the video signal for the main picture and the sub picture are PIP modules. The synthesized housekeeping synthesized video signal is synthesized by converting the digital data into a signal and compressing the signal to form one of two screens which are separated from each other at 90, and the synthesized housewife synthesized video signal is obtained from the main IC 80. The housewife screen or the normal screen is displayed on the CALTI 20 through the video amplifier 100 by controlling the microcomputer 40 together with the video signal.

In a television having the PIP module 90 configured as described above, according to the present invention, the microcomputer 40 allows the subtuner 70 to sequentially receive a composite video signal over all channels when the sub-screen is not displayed. Is controlled by In addition, when the V-chip 30 is also configured as one, the V-chip signal is detected not only from the composite video signal input from the main tuner 60 or V-CAL, but also from the composite video signal input from the sub-tuner 70. The V-chip 30 and the main IC 80 are controlled by the microcomputer 40.

An example of a specific configuration of the sub-tuner search mode performed by the microcomputer 40 for the above-described control is shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sub-tuner 70 is controlled by the microcomputer while the sub-screen is not displayed in step S1 and receives the composite video signal sequentially over all channels in step S1 to automatically search for the channel. To detect the V-chip signal.

When the V-chip signal is detected in step S2, the grade of the grade data for each channel of the memory means 50 is inquired, and when the grade is viewable, unblocking is performed, and when the grade is not viewable, blocking is performed.

Data of an unviewable grade is muted with respect to the video signal and the audio signal (step S3). In step S4, the data is sorted, and the data is sorted into an unblocked signal and a blocked signal. The channel of the unblocked signal is selected from the sorted data and displayed on the screen (step S5).

6 illustrates an embodiment in which the unblocked signal and the blocked signal of the V-chip signal are sorted and displayed on an OSD so that the unblocked signal can be selected and viewed on the screen.

The V-chip signal blocking automatic retrieval apparatus is configured to perform the search using the sub tuner 70 when the sub-screen is not being viewed.

Meanwhile, although two V-chips 30 may be used for the above-described search, the performance of the parental control mode of FIG. 3 may be temporarily stopped and the subtuner 70 may be temporarily executed while the parental control function is performed on a normal screen. The main IC 80 and the V-chip 30 may be controlled to detect the V-chip signal from the composite image signal input from the subtuner 70.

According to the configuration and operation of the parental control method through the sorting according to the blocking of the two-tuner television according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when the sub-tuner is not in use, the sub-tuner V-chip signal detection delay time can be eliminated by automatically searching and memorizing the grade and storing it in the microcomputer and sorting the unblocked and blocked signals in the V-Chip signal and displaying them in the OSD. It is also possible to eliminate the delay time for displaying the grade of the display via the OSD.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention may be variously modified and changed without departing from the spirit or the field of the present invention. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims (1)

A method of preventing viewer-viewing of a two-tuner television by limiting the rating or less of a program specified according to the password by the rating and storage of a television program by V-chip signal and the inputted viewer password: When watching the channel using the main tuner, the sub-tuner receives the composite video signal sequentially over all channels under the control of the microcomputer and automatically searches the channels to detect the V-chip signal. ); A blocking / unblocking step (step S2) of inquiring the grade of the grade data for each channel stored in the memory when the V-chip signal is detected and performing unblocking if the grade is viewable and blocking if the grade is not viewable; A mute processing step (step S3) of muting the video signal and the audio signal with respect to data of an unviewable grade; A sorting step of performing sorting by dividing into an unblocked signal and a blocked signal (step S4); And a display step (step S5) of selecting a channel of the unblocked signal from the sorted data and displaying the screen on the screen.