KR20050028633A - Method for seeing and hearing restriction of multi unit digital satellite broadcasting receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of putting restriction on watching a multi-unit digital satellite broadcast receiver is provided to make it easy to set restriction on watching each unit by making it possible to set the restriction on watching channels and programs of all units in one subordinate unit or a main unit. A grade level of restriction on watching programs of a main unit and a subordinate unit is set through a menu picture in the main unit. Information on a watching restriction grade of each unit is stored in a storage apparatus. When channel selection signals are inputted from the main unit and the subordinate unit, corresponding channels are tuned and demodulated. A watching restriction grade level included in a program of a demodulated channel and a watching restriction grade level set in a unit which requests the program are read from the storage apparatus and compared with each other. If it is determined that the program is not allowed to be watched in the unit, the program is controlled so that it can not be normally displayed on a display apparatus of the unit.

Description

Method for seeing and hearing restriction of multi unit digital satellite broadcasting receiver

The present invention provides a digital satellite broadcasting receiver for simultaneously tuning multi-channels through one main unit and simultaneously viewing different channels tuned by the main unit in each of the sub units and the main unit installed in a plurality of independent spaces. In particular, the present invention relates to a parental control method of restricting the viewing of a specific channel or program in such a digital satellite broadcasting receiver.

In general, digital satellite broadcasting has spread rapidly to Europe, Japan, Asia, and Africa since the world's first DirecTV in 1994, and can be viewed anywhere in the world. Digital satellite broadcasting is a method of compressing video / audio / additional data and transmitting digitally through satellites in MPEG 2 standard, and is related to a wide coverage area and region which are inherent to satellites compared to other transmission media. Due to the lack of equal broadcasting quality, economics of establishing a satellite broadcasting network, and simplicity of satellite channels, it is mainly led by pay broadcasting companies.

In addition, the receiver capable of receiving the digital satellite broadcast employs a CAS (Conditional Access System) that restricts the reception so that only subscribers can receive the pay broadcast.

The CAS receives a TV program and a data service signal scrambled by a transmitting station in a receiver for pay per channel (PPC) or pay per view (PPV) other than the free and basic channel of satellite broadcasting. It is a system for managing authorized subscribers to receive service by descrambling using a smart card. Here, the PPC is a service that collects a predetermined fee for receiving a channel and is able to receive a broadcast, and the PPV is a service that calculates and charges a fee per program as a reception time. To this end, the CAS operator issues a smart card to the subscriber. The smart card is also referred to as a CAM (Conditional Access Module).

The smart card stores, for example, channel information that a user can view in the memory portion in the case of a pay channel, and usage information in the case of a PPV.

The PPV service allows a user to purchase a movie or sporting event in advance, for example. That is, the user may purchase a paid viewing program through the smart card.

Therefore, it is possible to extract the information stored in the smart card at the request of the limited reception system operator or the receiver. Also, the smart card has a decryption function that can descramble the scrambled signal. Provide the required key.

The digital satellite broadcast includes not only a program but also program guide information. The program guide information is called APG (Advanced Program Guide) in digital satellite broadcasting such as DirecTV, and EPG (Electronic Program Guide) in digital terrestrial broadcasting. The program guide information is additional data information that allows the viewer to more conveniently use the TV to watch TV, and the viewer can obtain information about the current broadcast program and the future broadcast program directly on the screen without a newspaper or other guide medium. .

On the other hand, as people's income levels rise and their lives get better, nowadays, it is common to have more than one television in a household.

However, in the related art, in order to receive a digital satellite broadcast from a plurality of televisions in a home, a satellite broadcasting receiver (Integrated BReceiver &Decoder; IRD) must be installed for each TV and a smart card is issued, thereby increasing the user burden including the subscription fee. . That is, a smart card is issued with one smart card per IRD to limit illegal viewing of non-subscribers.

In addition, when a user purchases a pay-per-view program such as a movie or a sports event through a two-way communication with a satellite broadcasting service provider, a modem is required. In the conventional case, a modem is installed for each IRD. There was this.

Accordingly, in order to solve this problem, the present applicant has a display device, a CAS unit, and a modem, and installs a main unit capable of simultaneously tuning multi-channels at a specific location in a home, and is installed in a plurality of independent spaces, respectively. In a sub unit equipped with a display device, a digital satellite broadcasting receiver (application number: 2003-38879, application date: 2003.06.16; hereinafter referred to as '38879') for receiving a specific channel tuned by the main unit to perform decoding and display. Has been filed.

However, in the above-mentioned satellite broadcasting, cable broadcasting, terrestrial broadcasting, etc., there may be a program that is difficult to watch by a certain layer. Especially in families with children, it is important to prevent children from watching programs that are inappropriate for children, such as violence or adult programs.

An object of the present invention is to set a viewing limit of all units including one main unit or one subunit in a digital satellite broadcasting receiver such as '38879' described above, and to view each subunit including itself in the main unit. The present invention provides a method for restricting viewing of a digital satellite broadcast receiver, which enables control of a restriction.

Another object of the present invention is to set the parental control level of all units including the main unit or one sub-unit in a digital satellite broadcasting receiver such as '38879' described above and according to its parental control setting value in each sub-unit. The present invention provides a method for restricting viewing of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver to control viewing restrictions.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for restricting viewing of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention includes a display device, a CAS unit, and a modem, and simultaneously tunes a plurality of received channels and then programs the tuned channels. After demodulation, descrambling and re-encrypting the main unit, the CAS unit and the modem are not provided, but are installed in a separate space together with the display device to receive, decode, decode and display a program of a specific channel from the main unit. In the parental control method of the digital satellite broadcasting receiver comprising a plurality of sub-units for transmitting the channel selection or purchase information input by the user to the main unit,

(a) in the main unit, a user setting a program viewing restriction level level of the main unit and each of the sub units through a menu screen;

(b) storing the parental level information of each set unit in a storage device;

(c) When a channel selection signal is input from the main unit and each subunit, the corresponding channels are tuned and demodulated, and the parental level level included in the program of the demodulated channels and the parental level set in the unit requesting the program are stored. Reading from the device and comparing with; And

(d) if it is determined that the program is not viewable in the unit, controlling the program not to be normally displayed on the display device of the unit.

The step (a) may further include a step of setting, by the user, a program viewing restriction level level of the main unit and each of the sub units in one of the plurality of sub units through a menu screen.

The setting of the program viewing restriction level level of the main unit and each subunit in the one subunit may further include transmitting the viewing restriction level information of the set main unit and each subunit to the main unit. It is done.

The step (a) further includes transmitting the parental level information of each subunit from the main unit to the corresponding subunit, wherein each subunit stores its own parental level information transmitted from the main unit. And when the program requested to the main unit is received by the sub unit through the main unit, the sub unit comparing the parental level level included in the program with its parental level level, and the program that the program is not viewable. If it is determined that the password is input, checking whether the password input in the step is the correct password, and if the correct password is determined, outputting the program to the display device through decoding and decoding normally, If it is determined that it is not a password, It is characterized in that it comprises a step of performing the decoding and decoding.

In step (a), when a user selects a parental control menu item for setting parental control of each unit on a menu screen, only a user who has received a password from the user and inputs a correct password allows access to the parental control menu item. Characterized in that.

The step (a) may include displaying an identifier of each unit and a selectable parental level level when a parental control menu item for setting parental control of each unit in the menu screen is accessed by a user who has authenticated the user; Repeatedly selecting the identifier of the unit to be viewed on the display screen and selecting the parental level of the unit identifier selected in the step to sequentially set the parental level for each unit It is done.

The step (a) may include displaying an identifier of each unit and a selectable parental level level when a parental control menu item for setting parental control of each unit in the menu screen is accessed by a user who has authenticated the user; And selecting at least a plurality of unit identifiers of the plurality of unit identifiers to be restricted to the same class level on the display screen at once, and selecting a parental level of the plurality of unit identifiers selected in the step.

In step (a), if the parental control menu item for setting the parental control of each unit in the menu screen is accessed by a user who has authenticated the user, the identifier of each unit, selectable parental level, and 'all units' Displaying a menu item meaning 'a' and setting one parental level level and an 'all unit' menu item on the display screen to set the same parental level level to the main unit and all subunits connected to the main unit; Characterized in that it comprises a step.

In step (a), if a parental control menu item for setting a parental control of each unit in the menu screen is accessed by a user who has authenticated a user, an identifier of each unit and a selectable parental level, and a 'current unit' And displaying a menu item meaning a parental control level, and setting a parental level level of a unit for which the parental level is currently set by selecting one parental level and a 'current unit' menu item on the display screen. Characterized in that made.

The password received for accessing the parental control menu item in the menu screen is a password registered in a smart card inserted in the CAS unit.

If an ID and a password are registered for each of the main unit and the sub unit in the smart card, the password inputted to access the parental control menu item is a password of the main unit.

The step (d) is a step of receiving a password if it is determined that the program requested to be viewed in the main unit is a program that cannot be viewed in the main unit, checking whether the password input in the step is a correct password, and using the correct password. Outputting the program to the display device through descrambling and decoding when it is determined, and not descrambling and decoding the program when it is determined that the password is not correct.

The step (a) may further include setting viewing restrictions on channels of units including itself in the main unit or one sub-unit and limiting viewing of the corresponding channel according to the set value.

In the digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention, the parental control method includes a display apparatus, a CAS unit, and a modem, and simultaneously tunes a plurality of received channels, and then demodulates and descrambles a program of the tuned channel, respectively. The main unit for encrypting and outputting, the CAS unit and the modem are not provided, but are installed in separate spaces together with the display device, and receive a program of a specific channel from the main unit, decrypt, decode and display the selected channel, In the parental control method of the digital satellite broadcasting receiver comprising a plurality of sub-units for transmitting purchase information to the main unit,

(a) setting a program viewing restriction level level of the main unit and each sub-unit through a menu screen by a user who has authenticated a user for setting a parental level in the main unit or one sub-unit;

(b) when setting a program viewing restriction level level of the main unit and each subunit in one subunit, transmitting the set main unit and the viewing restriction level information of each subunit to the main unit;

(c) storing the parental level information of each unit in the main unit;

(d) When a channel selection signal is input from the main unit and each sub-unit, the main unit tunes and demodulates the corresponding channels, and the parental level specified in the program of the demodulated channels and the parental level set in the unit requesting the program. Comparing the grade levels; And

and (e) if it is determined that the program is not viewable in the corresponding unit, controlling the program not to be normally displayed on the display device of the corresponding unit.

In the digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention, the parental control method includes transmitting parental level information of each subunit from the main unit to a corresponding subunit, and each subunit has its own parental level transmitted from the main unit. Storing the information, and each sub-unit compares the parental control level level included in the received program with its parental control level level when the program requested by the main unit is received through the main unit; If it is determined that the viewing is not possible, the step of controlling the program is not displayed on the display device is characterized in that it further comprises.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the configuration and operation of the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration and operation of the present invention shown in the drawings and described by it will be described as at least one embodiment, By the technical spirit of the present invention described above and its core configuration and operation is not limited.

1 is a conceptual block diagram of a digital satellite broadcasting receiver disclosed in No. 38879, in which an antenna 101 capable of receiving a digital satellite broadcast in a high frequency band and a satellite in a high frequency band received through the antenna 101 are shown in FIG. A low noise amplifier (LNB) 102 for low noise amplifying a signal, a multi switching unit 103 for dividing a plurality of satellite signals output from the LNB 102 through each path, and the multi switching The unit 103 receives a plurality of satellite signals output through each path, tunes and demodulates each channel to a channel requested by each subunit through a multi tuner, converts them into a transport stream (TP), and descrambles each. A descrambled stream of a channel requested by one of the channels tuned by the main unit 110 and installed in an independent space, respectively; Consists of a plurality of sub-unit 120 for display after the A / V decoding by receiving from a group main unit 110. The

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the main unit 110, and includes a plurality of tuners and demodulators 211 to 21n to receive satellite RF signals output through the respective paths from the multi-switching unit 103 to receive each sub. A multi-tuner unit 210 that simultaneously tunes channels required by the unit, demodulates them, and outputs them in the form of TP, and a CAS unit 250 that performs user authentication and descrambling of the main unit and each subunit using an integrated smart card. A display device (eg, outputting the TP signal output from each tuner and demodulator of the multi-tuner unit 210 to the CAS unit 250 to perform descrambling, and then connect the descrambled stream signal to the main unit (for example, TV) and a multi-channel TP distribution unit 220 for distribution to each sub unit, controlling the overall operation of the main unit, and also the main unit and satellite broadcasting service provider, and A central processing unit (CPU) 200 that controls data communication between the main unit and each sub unit, and a main unit that is descrambled and output by the multi-channel TP distribution unit 220 under the control of the CPU 200. A / V decoder 230 which receives the stream of the audio stream and separates the audio stream into the video stream, decodes the separated audio stream and the video stream using the corresponding decoding algorithm, and outputs them to the display device connected to the main unit 110 for display. An encryption engine 260 which receives a stream of each sub-unit descrambled by the multi-channel TP distribution unit 220 under the control of the CPU 200 and performs encryption using a predetermined encryption algorithm. The encryption engine 260 transmits the encrypted stream to each sub unit, or for user authentication transmitted from each sub unit. Information for purchasing and transmitting user information transmitted from each sub-unit installed in the main transceiver unit 270 and the main unit 110 to receive information, channel selection information, purchase information, etc., and output them to the CPU 200. And a modem 240 for receiving information and the like through the CPU 200 and transmitting the received information to the satellite broadcasting service provider, and receiving the relevant information from the satellite broadcasting service provider and outputting the information to the CPU 200.

Each sub unit is a sub IRD (Integrated Receiver & Decoder) that receives an encrypted stream signal transmitted from the main unit 110, decrypts it with a predetermined decryption algorithm, and restores the original digital video and audio signal. A display device (for example, a TV) for displaying the video signal is connected and does not include a satellite tuner, a modem, and a CAS. That is, the modem is not installed in each subunit but only in the main unit 110, and data communication between each subunit and the satellite broadcasting service provider is performed through the modem of the main unit 110. The main unit 110 independently transmits purchase information of each subunit to the satellite broadcasting service provider, and transmits the result back to the corresponding subunit.

Therefore, there is no need to install a modem for each subunit, so that the burden on the user can be reduced, and the configuration of each subunit is simplified.

Meanwhile, the satellite signal tuned by the main unit 110 includes program guide information (called EPG or APG) and a program of one or more channels. Therefore, the main unit 110 adds an A / V decoder 230 or a separate demultiplexer and parses and supplements additional data information such as program guide information from the tuned and demodulated TP signal to each subunit. You can also share at. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the program guide information stored in the DB is referred to as EPG DB 280.

Then, each sub unit requests additional data information, such as program guide information, to the main unit 110, and the main unit 110 only adds additional data information requested by the sub unit from the database of additional information data. Can be sent to the unit. In this case, since the additional data information does not need to be separately DBized in each subunit, the memory usage efficiency of the subunit can be increased, thereby reducing the memory capacity of each subunit, thereby reducing the user's burden. .

Here, the main unit 110 and each sub unit 120 may be connected by wire or wirelessly. When the main unit and each sub unit are wirelessly connected, there is no need for a cable between the main unit and each sub unit, which makes it easy to install, move, and add each sub unit.

Like the modem, the CAS unit 250 is also installed in the main unit 110 without being installed in each sub unit, and the smart card inserted into the CAS unit 250 is a family smart card. In this case, the satellite broadcasting service provider may provide a subscriber service such as discounting the subscription fee according to the number of sub units controlled by the main unit.

 The smart card manages information related to user registration, authentication, and billing through data communication between the main and sub units and the satellite broadcasting service provider, and stores a decryption key for descrambling scrambled data. .

In addition, only one ID and password may be registered in the smart card, or an ID and password may be registered for each main unit and each subunit.

For example, when only one ID and password are registered in the smart card, the main unit and the main unit may be authenticated by inputting the ID and password registered in the smart card only in the main unit. All subunits connected to the unit can be logged on normally. As another example, an ID and a password registered in the smart card may be inputted in the main unit and any subunit to receive user authentication, and when the user authentication is received, the main unit and all subunits may be normally logged on.

If an ID and password are registered for each main unit and each subunit in the integrated smart card, the subunit may receive its user authentication only by inputting its ID and password. In this case, security can be kept secure for each subunit.

For example, assuming that IDs and passwords are registered for each main unit and subunit in the smart card, the ID and password inputted by the user in subunit B are transmitted to the main unit, and the main unit is transferred from the smart card of the CAS unit. The ID and password of the sub unit B are read, and if the ID and password transmitted from the sub unit B are compared and matched, the sub unit B transmits a signal indicating that user authentication has been performed. Then, the sub unit B is logged on and can be used normally.

In this case, the ID and password of the main unit may be able to receive user authentication in any sub unit as well as the main unit, for example, may be used by the parent. That is, the ID and password of a sub unit may receive user authentication only in the corresponding sub unit, but the ID and password of the main unit may receive user authentication in all sub units as well as the main unit.

If the main unit receives user authentication with the ID and password of the main unit, the user who has been authenticated may set parental locks of each subunit including itself in the main unit. In addition, when the subunit receives user authentication using the ID and password of the main unit, a parental lock of each subunit including itself may be set in the subunit that has received user authentication. After that, a user who has been authenticated by the ID and password of the main unit is referred to as a main user for convenience of explanation.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu for setting a parental control in a main unit or one sub-unit according to the present invention. That is, the user displays the menu screen as shown in FIG. 3A by using an input device such as a remote controller in one of the main units or a plurality of subunits, and parental lock among menu items of the menu screen. ), The parental level setting screen as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed on the display device.

Then, the user selects the main unit and the sub unit to set the parental level, and selects the maximum viewable grade level of the selected unit. In this case, a unit identifier for distinguishing a main unit from each sub unit is displayed on the unit selection screen of FIG. 3B. Here, each unit identifier may be set by a user or automatically set by the system. For example, the user may set the sub unit in the child room as the child name or the room name.

In the present invention, the parental level of the parental level selection screen shown in FIG. 3B is based on the class specified in the class standard of satellite broadcasting. This is to effectively limit the viewing of each subunit by using the grade information included in the satellite broadcasting program and transmitted.

That is, a broadcaster divides the ratings of satellite broadcast programs into various rating levels, places them in an event information table (EIT), which is service information, and transmits them to each satellite broadcasting receiver through satellites. An example of the rating information is as follows. .

Y grade: Any child can watch.

Y7 grade: Children 7 years of age and older can watch.

Grade G: People of all ages can watch.

PG rating: Parents can watch.

14 ratings: Children under 14 are not allowed to watch.

MA grade: Not allowed to watch under 18 years old.

For example, if a MA unit is set in a sub unit, viewing of a program corresponding to 19 years or older is not possible in that sub unit.

In this case, the user may set different parental level levels for each unit including the main unit, or may set the same parental level for all sub units connected to the main unit and the main unit by wire / wireless.

In addition, the user may set the parental level only to the unit currently performing the parental level setting, or may set the same parental level to at least a plurality of units but not all units.

If a different parental level is set for each unit, select a unit to set the parental level, and set the desired parental level to the selected unit sequentially, and then select 'OK'. . At this time, if you do not want to set the parental control, select 'Cancel'.

In addition, when the same parental level is set to the main unit and all the sub units connected to the main unit, the above-described process may be set, or a menu item indicating 'all units' may be added to the screen of FIG. 3B. You can also set it at once.

In addition, when the parental level is to be set only for the unit currently performing parental level setting, the parental level may be set after selecting the current unit as described above, or the menu item indicating 'current unit' may be recalled. After the addition to the screen of FIG. 3B, the desired parental level is selected, and then 'current unit' can be selected to set the parental level only for the current unit. This case makes it easier and easier for the user to set the parental level.

On the other hand, if not all units but want to set the same parental control level to a plurality of units may be set sequentially for each unit as described above, or the main unit and all the sub-unit identifiers connected to the main unit screen of Figure 3b If the display is displayed on the screen, and a plurality of units are selected at a time by using a remote controller, a desired parental level is set, and after inputting 'confirmation', the parental level of the plurality of units can be set at once. Here, the process of selecting a plurality of units is known to those skilled in the art as a process of selecting a plurality of files at one time for copying or deleting in a computer, and will not be discussed in detail in the present invention.

In this case, when the user accesses the parental control menu item on the menu screen of FIG. 3A, a password may be input. Thus, the menu screen as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed only when the user inputs the correct password. This is to prevent the main user, i.e. anyone other than the parent, for example, the children, from changing the class of the unit.

For example, if an ID and a password are registered for each main unit and subunit in the smart card, the password may be a password of the main unit. In addition, if only one ID and password can be registered in the smart card, the password may be a password registered in the smart card. Alternatively, the main user may store the password in the main unit, and then use the password registered by the user in setting parental level.

In this embodiment, only a password is input to access the parental control menu item, but both an ID and a password may be input, or only an ID may be input, which may be changed by a designer.

In addition, the menu screen and the parental level setting screen of FIGS. 3A and 3B are exemplary embodiments and may be modified by those skilled in the art, and thus the present invention will not be limited to the examples described above.

In addition, the above-described parental level setting may be performed in the main unit or one of a plurality of subunits, and FIG. 4 shows examples of the parental level setting process.

4A illustrates an example in which the main user sets a parental level of the main unit in the main unit. That is, after the main user undergoes user authentication through a password input in the main unit, the viewing restriction of the main unit may be set in the above-described process of FIG. 3.

4B illustrates an example of communication between the main unit and the sub unit B when the user sets the parental level of the sub unit B in the main unit. That is, when the main user sets the parental level for the sub unit B through the process of FIG. 3 described above after the user authentication through the password input in the main unit, the main unit receives the parental level information of the set subunit B. Transmit to sub-unit B so that sub-unit B knows the parental level information about itself.

4C illustrates an example of communication between units in the process of setting a parental level for the sub unit B in the sub unit A. Referring to FIG. That is, when the main user sets the parental level for the subunit B by the process of FIG. 3 described above after the user authentication through the password input in the subunit A, the subunit A is the parental level of the set subunit B. Send the information to the main unit. The main unit 110 stores the received parental level information of the sub-unit B and transmits it to the sub-unit B so that the sub-unit B knows the parental level information about itself.

In addition, the main unit may store the parental control level of the main unit and each sub-unit as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C and then use the main unit to control the parental control of each unit. In this case, the parental level for the main unit and each sub unit may be stored in a smart card or in an internal storage device. For example, the ID, password, and parental level information for each unit may be tabulated and stored in the smart card.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a parental control process for the main unit when viewing a program through the display device of the main unit.

FIG. 5A illustrates a case in which the parental level is not set in the main unit or the rating level of the program selected for viewing in the main unit does not exceed the viewable rating level preset in the main unit. In the case of the viewing level, the video / audio data of the corresponding program is normally output to the display device of the main unit.

If the rating level included in the program selected in the main unit in FIG. 5A exceeds the parental level set in the main unit, the main unit does not decode the video / audio data of the selected program or returns to the display device. Do not print. Alternatively, when the video / audio data is scrambled, the video / audio data may be output to the display device without being descrambled. In this case, the main unit cannot normally watch the program.

5B illustrates a case in which a parental level is set in the main unit, and a rating level of a program selected in the main unit exceeds a viewable rating level preset in the main unit, that is, the selected program is not a viewable level. A password is input and an example of outputting video / audio data of a corresponding program to the display device of the main unit normally only when a correct password is input.

That is, the main unit requests the user to input a password when the rating level of the selected program exceeds the viewable rating level preset in the main unit, that is, the selected program is not the viewable level. If the password input by the user is the correct password, the video / audio data of the selected program is normally output to the display device. That is, if the correct password is input in the main unit, even if the grade level included in the program transmitted to the main unit exceeds the grade level set in the main unit, the corresponding program can be viewed in the main unit. However, if the input password is not the correct password, the video / audio data of the selected program is not output to the display device. In other words, if the password is not correct, the main unit does not decode, display, or descramble the corresponding program.

On the other hand, the main unit may control the parental control of each subunit, or each subunit may control its own parental control. In the former case, the video / audio data of a program exceeding the viewable level is not output to the subunit in which the parental level is set in the main unit. In the latter case, if video / audio data of a program exceeding its parental control setting value in each sub-unit is encrypted, it is not decrypted or decoded or output to the display device.

6 (a) to 6 (d) illustrate a parental control process of each subunit, and show examples of the parental control process of subunit B. Referring to FIG.

FIG. 6A illustrates a case in which the parental level is not set in the sub unit B, or the grade level of a program transmitted to the sub unit B through the main unit does not exceed the parental level set in the sub unit B. In the case of a program that can be viewed, the video / audio data of the corresponding program is normally output to the display device of the sub unit B.

In this case, if the parental control of the sub-unit B is controlled by the main unit, the main unit may tune and demodulate the program of the channel requested by the sub-unit B, and then compare the demodulated program with the parental level set in the sub-unit B to be able to watch. Determine if it is a program. If the program is determined to be a viewable program in the sub unit B, the program is transmitted to the sub unit B. If it is determined that the program is not a viewable program, the program is not transmitted to the sub unit B. Therefore, viewing of the program in the sub unit B becomes impossible. For example, assuming that the class level of the sub unit B is set to 14 class, the main unit does not transmit the program to the sub unit B when the sub unit B requests a program that can only be watched for those over 19 years old. . Instead, the main unit may send an error message or the like to subunit B.

If the parental control of the sub-unit B is controlled by the sub-unit B, the sub-unit B receives the corresponding program from the main unit and then compares the received program with the parental level set in the sub-unit B to view the program. Determine if it is. If the program is determined to be a viewable program in sub-unit B, the program is normally decoded and decoded and output to the display device. If it is determined that the program is not a viewable program, the program is not decoded, decoded, or output to the display device so that the sub-unit B cannot normally watch the program.

6 (b) and 6 (c) illustrate a case in which each sub unit controls its parental control. In particular, when a program received by the sub unit via the main unit is a program that cannot be viewed, the user's password is input to restrict the parental control. This is the case when controlling.

6B illustrates a case where the password is checked by the sub unit, and FIG. 6C illustrates a case where the password is checked by the main unit. Here, when performing the password check in the main unit, the sub unit should transmit the password input by the user to the main unit and receive a test result. When performing the password check in the sub unit, the sub unit will input the correct password in advance. Or store it from a smart card.

That is, FIG. 6B illustrates the sub-unit B when the grade level of the program transmitted to the sub-unit B through the main unit exceeds the parental level set in the sub-unit B, that is, when the program is not viewable. Receives a password from the user, and checks whether the input password is the correct password. If the inputted password is the correct password, the sub unit B decrypts the video / audio data of the received program, decodes it, and outputs the decoded image to the display device of the sub unit B. However, if the input password is not the correct password, normal viewing of the program is impossible by not decoding, decoding or outputting the video / audio data of the received program. In this case, it may be displayed on the screen of the display device that the password is incorrect using the OSD.

FIG. 6C illustrates that when the rating level of the program received through the main unit to the sub unit B exceeds the parental level level set in the sub unit B, that is, when the program is not viewable, the sub unit B is a user. Password is input from the controller, and the password is transmitted back to the main unit. The main unit checks whether the password transmitted from the sub unit B is the correct password. Then, the test result is notified to the sub unit B again. If the password check result transmitted from the main unit is the correct password, the sub unit B decrypts the video / audio data of the received program and then decodes the decoded image to output to the display unit of the sub unit B. In addition, if the test result is not the correct password, the video / audio data of the received program is not decrypted, decoded, or output to the display device. At this time, it is also possible to display that the password is incorrect on the screen using the OSD.

6D illustrates a case in which the main unit controls viewing restriction of each sub unit, wherein the main unit tunes and demodulates a program requested by the sub unit B, and then sets the class level of the demodulated program and the sub unit B. FIG. The parental level is compared to determine whether the program is viewable. If it is determined that the program is not viewable, the subunit B receives a password to control the viewing restriction of the subunit B.

In this case, the password input by the user in the sub unit B may be inspected in the sub unit B as shown in FIG. 6B or may be performed in the main unit as shown in FIG. 6C.

As shown in (b) of FIG. 6, if the sub unit B performs the password test, the sub unit B transmits the test result to the main unit, and the main unit transmits the video / audio data of the corresponding program according to the test result. With or without Similarly, even when the password is checked by the main unit as shown in FIG. 6C, the main unit does not transmit or transmit the video / audio data of the corresponding program to the sub unit B according to the result of the inspection. That is, if it is determined that the password is correct, the main unit transmits the video / audio data of the program to the subunit B. If it is determined that the password is not correct, the main unit does not transmit the video / audio data of the program to the subunit B. .

5 and 6 described above, the password may be a password registered in a smart card or a password registered separately in a storage device by a main user. For example, if an ID and a password are registered for each main unit and subunit in the smart card, the password may be a password of the main unit. In addition, if only one ID and password can be registered in the smart card, the password may be a password registered in the smart card. In this embodiment, only the password is input, but both the ID and the password may be input, and only the ID may be input, which may be different by the designer, and thus the present invention is not limited to the above example.

On the other hand, the present invention can set viewing restrictions on channels as well as programs. This is because the number and types of satellite broadcasting channels vary widely, and may include adult channels. In this case, at least one specific channel may be blocked in the main unit and all sub units or a unit designated by the user. Similarly, the main unit or one sub-unit may set and control the parental control of at least one or more specific channels for all units including itself, which process is the parental control of the program of FIGS. 3 to 6 described above. Similar to

That is, the user may change a channel blocked for each main unit and each sub unit, or may block the same channel for all sub units connected to the main unit and the main unit by wire / wireless. In addition, the user may set the channel blocking only to the unit currently performing the channel viewing restriction setting, or may select not all units but at least a plurality of units at once to block the same channel. In addition, the subchannel may control its own channel blocking according to preset channel blocking information, or the main unit may control the channel blocking of each subunit. In addition, when the transmitted channel is set as the blocking channel, a password may be received from the corresponding sub unit, and the sub unit or the main unit may perform a password check, and may receive the channel only when the correct password is used.

As described above, according to the parental control method of the digital satellite broadcasting receiver according to the present invention, the multi-channel is simultaneously tuned through one main unit, and not only the main unit but each sub unit in a plurality of independent spaces is provided in the main unit. Receives a program of a specific tuned channel and performs decoding and display. In this case, one of the main units or one of a plurality of subunits sets a parental control level of the program or channel of the unit including itself, and the main unit or the corresponding unit. It is possible to limit viewing of the program (or channel) of each unit in the sub unit. In particular, it is easy to set the parental level of each unit by allowing the main unit or one sub unit to set the parental level of programs or channels of all units including itself. In addition, minor children can prevent children from watching inappropriate programs through subunits installed in their rooms.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

1 is a conceptual block diagram of a digital satellite broadcast receiver according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed block diagram of the main unit of Figure 1

3A and 3B illustrate examples of a parental level setting menu screen according to the present invention.

4A to 4C are flowcharts showing examples of the parental level setting process according to the present invention.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are flowcharts showing examples of the parental control process of the main unit according to the present invention.

6 (a) to (d) is a flow chart showing an example of the parental control process of the sub-unit according to the present invention

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

101: satellite antenna 102: LNB

103: multi-switching unit 110: main unit

200: CPU 210: multi tuner unit

220: multi-channel TP distribution unit 230: A / V decoder

240: modem 250: CAS unit

260: encryption engine 270: EPG DB

280: main transceiver

Claims (15)

A main unit including a display device, a CAS unit, and a modem and simultaneously tuning a plurality of received channels, demodulating and descrambled the program of the tuned channel, and then encrypting and outputting the same, and the CAS unit and the modem are not provided. It is installed in a separate space together with a display device, and consists of a plurality of sub-units that receive, decode and decode a specific channel program from the main unit, and display the channel selection or purchase information input by the user to the main unit. In the method of restricting viewing of a digital satellite broadcast receiver, (a) in the main unit, a user setting a program viewing restriction level level of the main unit and each of the sub units through a menu screen; (b) storing the parental level information of each set unit in a storage device; (c) When a channel selection signal is input from the main unit and each subunit, the corresponding channels are tuned and demodulated, and the parental level level included in the program of the demodulated channels and the parental level set in the unit requesting the program are stored. Reading from the device and comparing with; And and (d) if it is determined that the program is not viewable in the unit, controlling the program not to be normally displayed on the display unit of the unit. . The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) The method for restricting viewing in a digital satellite broadcasting receiver, further comprising the step of setting, by a user, a program viewing restriction level level of the main unit and each sub-unit through a menu screen in any one of the plurality of sub-units. . The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) And transmitting the parental level information of each subunit from the main unit to the corresponding subunit. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step (a) When the user selects a parental control menu item for setting parental control of each unit on the menu screen, only the user who receives a password from the user and inputs the correct password allows access to the parental control menu item. Method of restricting viewing in satellite broadcast receivers. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step (a) Displaying an identifier of each unit and a selectable parental level when the parental control menu item for setting a parental control of each unit in the menu screen is accessed by a user who has authenticated the user; Selecting an identifier of a unit to be viewed on the display screen; And repeating the step of selecting the parental level of the unit identifier selected in the step to sequentially set the parental level for each unit. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step (a) Displaying an identifier of each unit and a selectable parental level when the parental control menu item for setting a parental control of each unit in the menu screen is accessed by a user who has authenticated the user; Selecting at least a plurality of unit identifiers to be viewed at the same grade level on the display screen at one time; And selecting a parental level of the plurality of unit identifiers selected in the step. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step (a) When a parental control menu item for setting a parental control of each unit in the menu screen is accessed by a user who has authenticated a user, an identifier of each unit, a selectable parental level, and a menu item meaning 'all units' are displayed. Displaying, Selecting one parental level and a menu item 'all units' on the display screen to set the same parental level to all the subunits connected to the main unit and the main unit; Method of restricting viewing in satellite broadcast receivers. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step (a) When a parental control menu item for setting a parental control of each unit in the menu screen is accessed by a user who has authenticated a user, an identifier of each unit, a selectable parental level, and a menu item meaning 'current unit' are displayed. Displaying, In the digital satellite broadcasting receiver comprising the step of setting the parental level of the unit for which the parental level is currently set by selecting one parental level and a 'current unit' menu item on the display screen. How to restrict viewing. The method of claim 1, A password received to access a parental control menu item in a menu screen is a password registered in a smart card inserted in a CAS unit. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) And the parental level information of the set main unit and each sub unit is stored in a smart card inserted into the CAS unit. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) And if the program requested for viewing in the main unit is determined to be a non-viewable program in the main unit, the program is not output to the display device of the main unit. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) Receiving a password if it is determined that the program requested to be viewed by the main unit is a program that cannot be viewed by the main unit; Checking whether the password input in the step is a correct password; If the correct password is determined, outputting the program to the display apparatus through descrambling and decoding; And if it is determined that it is not the correct password, descrambling and decoding the program. The method of claim 12, wherein the password is A parental control method in a digital satellite broadcast receiver, characterized in that the password is a main unit registered in a smart card or a storage device. A main unit including a display device, a CAS unit, and a modem and simultaneously tuning a plurality of received channels, demodulating and descrambled the program of the tuned channel, and then encrypting and outputting the same, and the CAS unit and the modem are not provided. It is installed in a separate space together with a display device, and consists of a plurality of sub-units that receive, decode and decode a specific channel program from the main unit, and display the channel selection or purchase information input by the user to the main unit. In the method of restricting viewing of a digital satellite broadcast receiver, (a) setting a program viewing restriction level level of the main unit and each sub-unit through a menu screen by a user who has authenticated a user for setting a parental level in the main unit or one sub-unit; (b) when setting a program viewing restriction level level of the main unit and each subunit in one subunit, transmitting the set main unit and the viewing restriction level information of each subunit to the main unit; (c) storing the parental level information of each unit in the main unit; (d) When a channel selection signal is input from the main unit and each sub-unit, the main unit tunes and demodulates the corresponding channels, and the parental level specified in the program of the demodulated channels and the parental level set in the unit requesting the program. Comparing the grade levels; And and (e) if it is determined that the program is not viewable in the corresponding unit, controlling the program not to be normally displayed on the display device of the unit. . The method of claim 14, Transmitting, by the main unit, the parental level information of each sub unit to the corresponding sub unit; Each sub unit stores its parental level information transmitted from the main unit; Each sub unit compares its parental level with the parental level included in the received program when the program requested by the main unit is received through the main unit; And controlling the program not to be normally displayed on a display device when it is determined that the program is not viewable as a result of the comparison.