KR20110061097A - Restricting access to contetns in network television - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A content access limitation method for network TV is provided to limit content access by designating one password per user. CONSTITUTION: A network-connectable display device includes a network interface unit, a user interface unit, a control unit, and a display unit. The network interface unit receives content from a content provider server through the network. The user interface unit receives user input of a password which is set by each user and user input requesting access to content provided by a content provider server. The control unit limits access according to the determination result. The display unit displays the content.

Description

How to restrict content access for network TVs {RESTRICTING ACCESS TO CONTETNS IN NETWORK TELEVISION}

The present invention relates to a method of restricting access of content provided over a network. More specifically, the present invention provides a method or function for setting a password for each user or for a defined level, and determining whether the password input by the user is allowed based on the level of the content to be accessed or the function or the like. It relates to a display device having a.

As digital-based digital TV technology has been developed and commercialized in existing analog broadcasting, various types of products such as real-time broadcasting, contents on demand (GOD), games, and news can be obtained by using the internet network connected to each home in addition to the existing radio media. It is now possible to provide content services to users.

An example of providing a content service using the Internet network may be an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV). The IPTV refers to transmitting a variety of information services, moving picture content and broadcasting to a user's television using a high-speed Internet network.

Recently, the concept of broadband TV, web TV, etc. has been proposed as a form of network TV which has been further developed in such IPTV. Unlike a conventional IPTV, a broadband TV or a web TV has a plurality of content providers, and a user can individually access a plurality of content providers to receive various VODs, games, and video call services provided by the content providers. have.

Such content may be graded according to age or other grades, thereby preventing minors from restricting adult content. In the past, a method of restricting access to such a content has been proposed, but in reality, an easier and more efficient method is required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for restricting content access more easily.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for restricting content access by specifying a password for each user.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a display apparatus connectable to a network. The display apparatus may include a network interface unit configured to receive content from a content provider server through the network; A user interface configured to receive a user input for requesting access to content provided by the content provider server and a user input for inputting a password set for each user; Receive and process the content so that it can be output, search for user information corresponding to the user-specific password, determine whether the user corresponding to the password can access the content, and restricts access according to the determination result A control unit; And a display screen for inputting the password and an access restriction message, and displaying the content if a user corresponding to the password can access the content.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of restricting content access of a display apparatus connectable to a network is provided. The method includes receiving a request for access to content; Receiving rating information of the content; Receiving a password of a user; Determining whether a user corresponding to the password is accessible to the contents; And limiting access if the user is inaccessible.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for restricting content access more easily.

In addition, the present invention can provide a method for restricting content access by specifying a password for each user.

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

1 shows a network configuration of a network TV system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a system of a network TV according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a network operator 10, at least one contents provider (CP) 20, and at least one network TV 30. And they are connected to each other by a network such as the Internet.

The network operator 10 provides the network TV 30 with the base software necessary for the contents provided by the content provider 20 to operate normally in the network TV 30 or the software necessary for the network TV 30 to operate. In addition, the content provider 20 also provides hardware information of the network TV 30 necessary for the content to be normally executed on the network TV 30.

For example, the network operator 10 provides a basic screen frame for providing contents provided by the content providers to the network TV 30, and the user selects the content, inputs various commands, or displays the output accordingly. It provides a user interface for doing so. In addition, the network operator 10 also serves to provide data for updating the firmware or software of the network TV 30. The network operator 10 may be the same subject as the manufacturer of the network TV 30.

The content provider 20 generates various contents that can be provided on the network, configures the contents in a format that can be reproduced on the network TV 30, and provides contents according to the request of the network TV 30. The content according to the invention can be any multimedia content that can be serviced via a network.

According to an embodiment, the content provided by the content provider 20 may be provided by the content provider 20 directly to the network TV 30 through the Internet, or through the network operator 10 to the network TV 30. May be provided.

The network TV 30 may be equipped with dedicated firmware for reproducing, searching, displaying a list, and the like of each content provider 20. The firmware may be installed in the network TV 30 during the manufacturing process of the network TV 30, or may be downloaded and installed by the user from the content provider 20 or the network operator 10 during use.

The firmware of the network TV 30 may be referred to as a program for playing or executing content provided by the content provider 20. The firmware may vary depending on the type of content provided by the content provider 20. For example, when the content provider 20 is a VOD provider, the firmware may be a VOD playback program. When the content provider 20 is an AOD or MOD service provider, the content provider 20 may be an AOD or MOD playback program. If the content provider 20 is a video telephone operator, it may be a video telephone program.

The network TV 30 receives the content from the content provider 20 to play or execute the content. The network TV 30 of the present invention includes any display device equipped with a network module such as a TV, a broadcast receiving device such as a set-top box, a network phone, or the like. Although the present specification describes a broadcast receiving device having a broadcast receiving function as an example, embodiments of the present invention can be applied to any display device capable of network connection, and all of them are included in the scope of the present invention.

In more detail, the content provider 20 may be a provider of making or distributing various contents to be provided to the network TV 30. The content provider 20 may include a TV station, a radio station, a VOD operator, an AOD operator, a game operator, a video phone service provider, a weather information provider, a photo related service provider, and the like.

The TV station refers to a conventional terrestrial or cable broadcasting station. The broadcasting station may create and store a program that users can watch and convert it digitally.

The radio station may provide audio content, and may provide only audio content with or without video content.

VOD operators and AOD operators have different characteristics from TV stations and radio stations. In other words, in the case of VOD or AOD, it saves the broadcasting program, movie, and music that I want and then plays it for viewing. For example, if there is a broadcast program that was not properly viewed because there is no time to watch the current broadcast program, it is possible to access a site that provides such a broadcast service and download the file or play it immediately.

The AOD provider provides a streaming service of audio content.

Music On Demand (MOD) service provider allows me to download and listen to the music I want.

The video telephony provider provides a relay service for making a video call with a user of another network TV through the network. Weather providers provide weather information for various locations, and photo service providers provide tools for editing and storing photos.

In addition, the content provider 20 may provide various services to the network TV through the Internet, such as a packet filter (PF) server, an EPG service provider, an electronic content guide (ECG) service provider, and a portal server operator. It can be any server operator.

The PF server is serviced by a company that manages all broadcasting information and location information provided by the content provider. This service mainly contains broadcasting time or location information necessary for broadcasting and information that a user can access.

The EPG service provides EPG information so that a user can search a broadcast program by time zone and grasp by channel.

The ECG service provides the user with the information of the content that the content provider has, the location and access authority of the access server. In other words, it is an electronic program guide that provides detailed information on the content and the function to easily access the server having the content.

The portal server is a web service provided by each broadcasting station. When the portal server receives a request from the user terminal, the portal server connects to the broadcasting server or the web server of the service provider. The role of the portal server is to search for a list of programs provided by each broadcasting station or a content provider providing a content service.

The network TV 30 basically has a network interface capable of accessing the network, receives an IP address, receives and processes a data packet through the network, and stores or plays the data packet when the data packet is multimedia data such as video or audio. have.

The network TV 30 may operate to transmit the user's requirements in both directions while processing the multimedia data. In addition, the user input unit such as a remote controller or an operation button for controlling the network TV 30 is preferably provided with buttons for controlling the network TV, that is, buttons for selecting various menus.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the above-described network TV 30 will be described in detail. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network TV 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The network TV 30 may have a function of receiving a broadcast signal in the form of an RF signal through a radio or a cable through the broadcast receiver 41 in addition to a function of receiving content through a network.

As shown in FIG. 2, the network TV 30 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a broadcast receiver 41, a demultiplexer 42, a video signal processor 43, a display 44, and a network interface unit. 45, an OSD generator 46, a user interface 47, a storage interface 48, a storage 49, an external signal input 39, and a controller 50.

Among the above components, the broadcast receiver 41, the demultiplexer 42, and the image signal processor 43 receive a broadcast signal and process the broadcast signal in a form that can be output to the display 44 through various processes. Can be configured.

When the content is digital broadcast, the digital broadcast signal is transmitted in the form of a packetized transport stream by time division multiplexing the video signal, the audio signal and the additional data.

The broadcast receiver 41 may include an antenna for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted from the outside, and a tuner for tuning a broadcast signal having a frequency band corresponding thereto according to a tuning control signal of the controller 50 to be described later; It may include a demodulator (demodulator) for outputting the broadcast signal of the tuned specific channel in the form of a transport stream through a VSB (Vestigial Sideband) demodulation process and error correction process.

In addition, the broadcast signal received through the broadcast receiver 41 is divided into various types of additional data defined by the demultiplexer 42 as a video signal, an audio signal, and PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol) information, and the like. Is output.

The video data separated by the demultiplexer 42 is processed by the image signal processor 43 and displayed on the display 44.

In this case, the video signal processor 43 includes an MPEG-2 decoder and a scaler for converting video data to match the vertical frequency, resolution, aspect ratio, etc., of the output standard of the display 44.

The display unit 44 may use various types of displays, such as digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), and the like.

The audio signal is processed by a voice signal processor (not shown) and output to the speaker, which may include an AC-3 decoder.

On the other hand, the additional data included in the additional data separated by the demultiplexer 42 is stored in the storage device 49 through the storage interface 48 to be described later.

The storage device 49 may be implemented by an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or the like.

The user interface unit 47 is a means for receiving a request command from a user, and generally includes an infrared ray receiving unit for receiving an infrared signal input through a remote controller or a local key input unit provided at one side of the panel.

The network interface unit 45 receives contents or data from the content provider 20 or the network operator 10 through a network. That is, content such as broadcasts, games, VODs, broadcast signals, and the like, which are provided from a content provider through a network, are received. In addition, the network interface unit 45 also receives the update information and the update file of the firmware provided by the network operator 10.

The OSD generator 46 generates a menu screen for receiving a user's determination signal in the form of an OSD.

That is, the OSD generator 46 may display information related to the content received through the network interface 45 through the display.

The external signal input unit 39 is an interface capable of receiving input from another playback device such as a DVD player, a game machine, or the like. Another playback device may be connected to the external signal input unit 39 to output the multimedia stored in the playback device to the display unit 44.

The controller 50 performs overall operation control according to the command input from the user interface 47. The controller 50 receives and executes an update file of software, that is, firmware, of the content provider 20 received from the network operator 10.

According to an embodiment, the broadcast reception device 40 according to the present invention may output a 3D image. The menu screen of the broadcast reception device 40 may be provided in 3D. If the content provided by the content provider 20 is 3D content, the menu screen may be received and output.

Additional components are required to output 3D images. 3 illustrates a configuration of a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of processing a 3D image according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the remaining components except for the 3D formatter 38 is the same as that of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, a 3D formatter 38 is disposed at an output terminal of the image signal processor 48. The 3D formatter 38 converts the image processed by the image signal processor 48 into a 3D image and transmits the image to the display unit 44. According to an embodiment, the OSD generator 46 may include a separate 3D formatter for converting the OSD output to 3D.

The configuration shown in FIG. 3 is only one embodiment, and various known techniques may be used for 3D image processing.

4 and 5 illustrate an example of a remote controller for controlling the network TV 30 of FIG. 2 or 3. The remote controller may transmit a control signal to the controller 50 through a wireless signal receiver such as an RF signal or an infrared signal which may be included in the user interface 47 of the network TV 30. The remote controller described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 is a remote controller responding to a user's gesture as well as a user's button input.

In the present embodiment, the operation recognition remote control 51 may transmit and receive a signal with the network TV 30 according to the RF communication standard. As shown in FIG. 4, a pointer 53 may be displayed on the network TV 30 at a point where the motion recognition remote controller 51 points.

The user may move or rotate the motion recognition remote controller 51 up, down, left, and right. The pointer 53 displayed on the network TV 30 corresponds to the movement of the motion recognition remote controller 51. FIG. 5 illustrates a bar in which the pointer displayed on the network TV 30 moves in response to the movement of the motion recognition remote controller 51.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the user moves the motion recognition remote controller 51 to the left side, the pointer displayed on the network TV 30 also moves to the left side correspondingly. In the present embodiment, the motion recognition remote controller 51 may include a sensor capable of determining a movement. Information about the movement of the motion recognition remote controller 51 sensed by the sensor of the motion recognition remote controller 51 is transmitted to the network TV 30. The network TV 30 determines the operation of the motion recognition remote controller 51 from the information regarding the movement of the motion recognition remote controller 51 and calculates the coordinate value of the pointer 53 corresponding thereto.

Accelerometers, gyro sensors, or geomagnetic sensors may be used as sensors that can determine movement.

4 and 5 illustrate an example in which the pointer 53 displayed on the display 49 moves in response to the up, down, left, or right rotation of the motion recognition remote controller 51. The moving speed or the moving direction of the pointer 53 may correspond to the moving speed or the moving direction of the motion recognition remote controller 51.

In this embodiment, the pointer displayed on the network TV 30 is set to move in response to the operation of the motion recognition remote controller 51. As another example, a predetermined command may be input to the network TV 30 in response to an operation of the operation recognition remote controller 51. That is, when moving forward and backward of the motion recognition remote controller 51, the size of the image displayed on the network TV 30 may be enlarged or reduced.

6 is an internal block diagram of the interface unit 47 of the network TV 30 of FIG. 1 and the operation recognition remote controller 51 of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the above-described network TV 30 may include a coordinate value calculator 115 and a wireless communication unit 111. The coordinate value calculator 115 may be included in the controller 50 described above. The wireless communication unit 111 may be included in the user interface unit 47 described above. The wireless communication unit 111 may include an RF module 112 or an IR module 113.

On the other hand, the operation recognition remote control 51, the wireless communication unit 120, the user input unit 130, the sensor unit 140, the output unit 150, the power supply unit 160, memory 170, the controller 180 It may include.

The wireless communication unit 120 transmits and receives a signal with the network TV 30. In the present embodiment, the motion recognition remote controller 51 may include an RF module 121 capable of transmitting and receiving a signal with the interface unit 40 of the network TV 30 according to the RF communication standard. In addition, the operation recognition remote controller 51 may include an IR module 123 capable of transmitting and receiving a signal with the interface unit 40 of the network TV 30 according to the IR communication standard.

In the present embodiment, the motion recognition remote control 51 transmits a signal containing information on the operation of the motion recognition remote control 51 to the network TV 30 through the RF module 121. In addition, the operation recognition remote control 51 may receive a signal transmitted from the network TV 30 through the RF module 121. In addition, the operation recognition remote controller 51 may transmit a command regarding power on / off, channel change, volume change, etc. to the network TV 30 through the IR module 123 as necessary.

The user input unit 130 may be configured as a keypad or a button. The user may input a command related to the network TV 30 by the operation recognition remote controller 51 by manipulating the user input unit 130. When the user input unit 130 includes a hard key button, the user may input a command related to the network TV 30 to the motion recognition remote controller 51 through a push operation of the hard key button. When the user input unit 130 includes a touch screen, the user may input a command related to the network TV 30 with the motion recognition remote controller 51 by touching a soft key of the touch screen. In addition, the user input unit 130 may include various kinds of input means that the user can operate, such as a scroll key or a jog key, and this embodiment does not limit the scope of the present invention.

The sensor unit 140 may include a gyro sensor 141 or an acceleration sensor 143 as a motion sensor. The gyro sensor 141 may detect the movement of the motion recognition remote controller 51. For example, the gyro sensor 141 may sense information about an operation of the motion recognition remote controller 51 based on the x, y, and z axes. The acceleration sensor 141 may sense information regarding a moving speed of the motion recognition remote controller 51. The output unit 150 may output a video or audio signal corresponding to an operation or a signal transmitted from the network TV 30 to the user input unit 130. The user may recognize whether the user input unit 130 is manipulated or whether the network TV 30 is controlled through the output unit 150.

For example, the output unit 150 is an LED module 151 that is turned on when the user input unit 130 is manipulated or a signal is transmitted and received with the network TV 30 through the wireless communication unit 120, the vibration module 153 generating vibration. ), A voice output module 155 for outputting a voice, or a display module 357 for outputting an image.

The power supply unit 160 supplies power to the operation recognition remote controller 51. The power supply unit 160 may reduce power waste by stopping power supply when the motion recognition remote controller 51 does not move for a predetermined time. The power supply unit 160 may resume power supply when a predetermined key provided in the operation recognition remote controller 51 is operated.

The memory 170 may store various types of application data required for controlling or operating the operation recognition remote controller 51. If the motion recognition remote control 51 transmits and receives a signal wirelessly through the network TV 30 and the RF module 121, the motion recognition remote control 51 and the network TV 30 transmits and receives a signal through a predetermined frequency band. . The controller 180 of the motion recognition remote controller 51 stores information on a frequency band or the like that can wirelessly transmit and receive a signal to and from the network TV 30 paired with the motion recognition remote controller 51 in the memory 170. And reference.

The controller 180 controls various items related to the control of the motion recognition remote controller 51. The controller 180 transmits a signal corresponding to a predetermined key operation of the user input unit 130 or a signal corresponding to an operation of the motion recognition remote controller 51 sensed by the sensor unit 140 through the wireless communication unit 120 through a network TV ( 30 may be transmitted to the wireless communication unit 111.

As described above, the network TV 30 calculates coordinate values of a wireless communication unit 120 capable of transmitting and receiving a signal wirelessly with the operation recognition remote controller 51 and a pointer corresponding to the operation of the operation recognition remote controller 51. The coordinate value calculator 115 may be provided.

The wireless communication unit 111 may transmit and receive a signal wirelessly with the operation recognition remote controller 51 through the RF module 112. In addition, the operation recognition remote controller 51 may receive a signal transmitted according to the IR communication standard through the RF module 112.

The coordinate value calculator 115 corrects a hand shake or an error from a signal corresponding to an operation of the motion recognition remote controller 51 received through the wireless communication unit 111 and displays a coordinate value of the pointer 53 to be displayed on the display 49. (x, y) can be calculated.

In addition, the operation recognition remote control 51 transmission signal input to the network TV 30 through the interface unit 40 is transmitted to the control unit 47 of the network TV 30. The controller 47 may determine the information on the operation of the operation recognition remote controller 51 and the key operation from the signal transmitted from the operation recognition remote controller 51, and control the network TV 30 correspondingly.

Hereinafter, a menu screen of the network TV 30 and a method of operating the same will be described.

The menu screen of the network TV 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention provides an operation mode for providing a menu so that the network TV 30 selects and connects one of a plurality of content providers (CPs). Hereinafter, the initial screen or the main screen when entering the netcast mode. The menu screen may include a plurality of icons 212 representing a plurality of content providers, and in some embodiments, may also include a background image 201 having a specific theme. 7 shows a menu screen of the network TV 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As a background image 201 of the menu screen of FIG. 7, an image based on a city is used, and icons 212 representing content providers are displayed on the front thereof. The background image of the menu screen may have a specific theme. In addition to the city illustrated in FIG. 6, the background image of the menu screen may have various themes such as a jungle, a department store, a beach, a universe, and a fairy tale scene. The background image may include graphic objects that can selectively insert a different image from the base image according to the subject.

The icons 212 are buttons for accessing a plurality of content provider servers, and a user may access a server of a selected content provider by selecting one of the icons 212 to receive a desired service. Preferably icon 212 may also be associated with background image 201. That is, the icon 212 may be composed of graphic objects that match the theme of the background image 212. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the icons 212 may be displayed in the form of a billboard or a structure erected on a city street. The image displayed on the icon 212 may be provided by each content provider.

If the background image 201 is changed according to the user information, for example, the region, the icons 212 or the image displayed on the icon 212 may also be changed.

When selecting the icons 212, the user may use the motion recognition remote controller 51 described above with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

In FIG. 7, as an example of content providers, icons of content providers, such as natural geographic 202, weather information 203, NETFLY 204, Pecasa 205, and youtube 206, are displayed.

Natural geographic 202 is a content provider that provides content related to natural sciences, weather information 203 is a content provider that provides weather information, NETFLY 204 provides film or video related content, and Pecasa 205 ) Is a content provider providing content related to a photo, and the YouTube 206 is a content provider providing content related to a Video on Demand (VOD).

According to an embodiment, in addition to the above icons, various types and numbers of icons may be additionally displayed on the menu screen. Scroll bars 207a and 207b are disposed on the left and right sides of the icons 212 so that additional icons may be displayed when the user selects the scroll bars 207a and 207b.

When the user selects one of the icons 212, such as the NETFLY icon 204, the selected icon 204 is highlighted to distinguish it from other icons. When the selected icon 204 is highlighted, the arrow button of the gesture recognition remote controller is operated or when another icon is selected, the highlight can be moved to the selected icon. When the icon is selected and the ENTER button of the motion recognition remote controller or a button corresponding to the icon is pressed, the server accesses the server of the content provider corresponding to the selected icon and displays the initial screen of the content provider server.

The number, size, position, and arrangement method of icons displayed on one screen may vary according to embodiments.

The icons 212 may include a name or an image for identifying each content provider, and may be embedded and sold in the network TV 30 sold by the manufacturer of the network TV 30. In addition, according to an embodiment, while the user purchases and uses the network TV 30, the network operator 10 of FIG. 1 receives an image to be used as an icon from the content provider 20 and transmits the image to the network TV 30. You can do it or update it. In addition, the network TV 30 may be directly connected to the server of the content provider 20 to download.

When a plurality of users use the above-described network TV according to an embodiment of the present invention, access to content may be restricted by setting different passwords for each user.

8 illustrates a screen for setting a user-specific password according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For example, suppose you have four families A, B, C, and D in your home. Suppose A and B are adults as parents, C is 15 years old, and D is 8 years old. As shown in FIG. 8, a password can be set for each of the four people in the network TV.

9 illustrates a screen for setting a rating for each user according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, a grade may be set for each of A, B, C, and D. In Korea, airwaves are classified into 'over 19', 'over 15', 'over 12' and 'overall age'. Ratings can be set for each user A, B, C, or D. The rank can be set by selecting the pull-down button 301 in each cell of the table. Such a class setting may be performed using the motion recognition remote controller described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. Also, the screen may be composed of 3D images, and in particular, menus or tables may be composed of 3D images.

According to an embodiment, if user information, that is, information about age, name, gender, etc. of A, B, C, D, and the like is stored in the network TV, a user-specific rating process as shown in FIG. 9 may be omitted. have. The age can be set automatically by extracting the age from the stored user information.

Content ratings are determined in various ways in different countries. As described above, grades are simply classified based on age. However, grades may be set by dividing into several genres. For example, according to "Rating Sex and Violence in the Media: Media Ratings and Proposals for Reform" set by the US KAISER FAMILY, ratings can be set for various genres, such as Age, Violence, Sex, and Language. In this way, the content is rated by Age, Violence, Sex, and Language. For example, suppose that there are four ratings of R1, R2, R3, and R4 for each genre. Age is rated R1, Violence is R2, Sex is R3, and Language is R2. Can be.

In this way, when the rating is graded by genre, it is not possible to determine which content is accessible only by user information, that is, age and gender, and it is necessary to set the rating for each user.

FIG. 10 illustrates a screen for setting grades broken down by genre for each user according to an exemplary embodiment.

A rating can be set for each genre for each user A, B, C, and D. The rank can be set by selecting the pull down button 302 in each cell of the table.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a user attempts to access a content, a content group, or a content provider server while the rating is set for each user as described above, a password is input and a rating of each content, content group, or content provider is determined. The user's ratings can be compared to determine whether the user is accessible and to allow or restrict access.

11 to 13 illustrate screens for inputting a password when accessing a content, a content group, or a content provider according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, when a user connects to a server of a content provider, for example, a server of a video content provider called NETFLY, it is displayed on a menu screen as shown in FIG. 11. Icons representing the contents may be displayed on the menu screen. The menu screen provided by the content provider may be different for each content provider.

For example, when a user attempts to access the VIDEO3 content 303, the password input window 304 may be displayed. When the user enters his or her password, it is determined whether the user is accessible by comparing the content rating of VIDEO0 provided from the NETFLY content provider with the rating stored for each user. If access is possible, play VIDEO3, if not, restrict access.

12 illustrates a method of restricting access for each user when accessing a content provider server.

When attempting to connect to a content provider server called NETFLY, a password input window 306 is displayed as shown in FIG. 12 so that a password can be input. When the user inputs a password, the user corresponding to the input password may determine whether or not the user can access the content provider server, thereby restricting or allowing access.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment in which a content provider provides access in units of content groups classified by ratings according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Depending on the content provider, a menu for accessing a content group classified by grade may be provided as shown in FIG. 13. In this case, when the user selects and accesses the group 307, the password input window 308 may be displayed, and access may be restricted or allowed by determining whether the user of the input password is accessible to the group.

14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of restricting access to content using a user-specific password according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S11, a content access request or attempt is received from a user. Here, the access request for the content includes the content request server as shown in FIG. 12 as well as the content request as shown in FIG. In step S12, the rating information of the content is received from the content provider. In step S13, a user's personal password is input from the user. In step S14, the rating of the received content is compared with the rating of the user corresponding to the password. In step S15, it is determined whether the user corresponding to the password can access the corresponding content.

If it is an accessible user, in step S16, access is allowed to the content. If it is an inaccessible user, access is blocked in step S17. When the access is blocked, a message indicating that the access is blocked and a message about why the access is blocked may be displayed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a password may be set for each specific level, not for each user. That is, a password is set for each level, and if a password corresponding to the level is input, access is allowed or blocked.

15 is a screen for setting a password for each level according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 15, when there are four grades of content grades of '19 years old 'or above, '15 years old', '12 years old 'and' all ages available ', 19 years old, 15 years old, and You can set a password for anyone over 12 years old. In the above-described embodiment, the parents A and B in the family consisting of A, B, C, D know the password corresponding to 19 years old or older, C knows the password for 15 or more, D is 12 You may know the password for ages 3 and up. A or B can set all passwords and tell others the corresponding passwords. A and B can access all content ratings, C can only access content lower than '15 years old 'and D can access only content lower than '12 years old'.

In the case where the content rating system can be divided and set by genres, necessary ratings can be defined and used as shown in FIG. 16. For example, three grades of X, Y, and Z may be defined, and a grade for each genre may be set. After setting a password for a class defined as shown in FIG. 17, the user may be informed of one of X, Y, and Z passwords for each user. This setting can be set by either parent A or B. Parents A and B can use passwords corresponding to X level, youth C can use passwords corresponding to Y level, and children D can use passwords corresponding to Z level.

18 is a flowchart illustrating a method of restricting content access using a password set for each grade according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S21, an access request or attempt to access content is received from the user. In step S22, rating information of the content is received from the content provider. In step S23, a password set for each class is received from the user. In step S24, the grade corresponding to the received password is compared with the grade of the received content. In step S25, it is determined whether the received grade-specific password is accessible.

In step S26, access is permitted in step S22 if accessible, and in step S27, access is restricted in case of inaccessibility.

The methods according to the embodiments of the present invention described above may be implemented as a program for execution in a general-purpose processor such as a computer, and in particular, may be implemented using a flash application or a 3D flash application. The implemented program can then be stored in a computer readable recording medium in a network TV. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, and the like, and may be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission via the Internet) .

The computer readable recording medium can be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. In addition, functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the broadcast reception method may be easily inferred by programmers in the art to which the present invention belongs.

Although the embodiments have been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, which are included in the scope of the invention.

1 shows a network configuration of a network TV system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network TV that can implement a 3D image according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 5 illustrate an example of a remote controller for controlling the network TV of FIG. 2.

6 is an internal block diagram of an interface unit of the network TV of FIG. 1 and an operation recognition remote controller of FIG. 3.

7 shows a menu screen of a network TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 illustrates a screen for setting a user-specific password according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 illustrates a screen for setting a rating for each user according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a screen for setting grades broken down by genre for each user according to an exemplary embodiment.

11 to 13 illustrate screens for inputting a password when accessing a content, a content group, or a content provider according to an embodiment of the present invention.

14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of restricting access to content using a user-specific password according to an embodiment of the present invention.

15 is a screen for setting a password for each level according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a screen for setting grades broken down by genre according to an embodiment of the present invention.

17 is a screen for setting a password for each class set in FIG. 16 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

18 is a flowchart illustrating a method of restricting content access using a password set for each grade according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (20)

A display device connectable to a network, comprising: A network interface unit receiving content from a content provider server through the network; A user interface configured to receive a user input for requesting access to content provided by the content provider server and a user input for inputting a password set for each user; Receive and process the content so that it can be output, search for user information corresponding to the user-specific password, determine whether the user corresponding to the password can access the content, and restricts access according to the determination result A control unit; And And a display configured to display a menu screen for inputting the password and an access restriction message, and to display the content if a user corresponding to the password can access the content. The method of claim 1, And the user information includes an age of the user. The method of claim 1, And the user information includes grade information accessible by the genre of the content. The method of claim 1, The content device includes a display initial screen of the content provider server. The method of claim 1, The content device includes a content group classified for each class provided by the content provider. A display device connectable to a network, comprising: A network interface unit receiving content from a content provider server through the network; A user interface configured to receive a user input for requesting access to content and a user input for inputting a password set for each access level; A control unit configured to receive and output the content, process the access level information corresponding to the password for each access level, determine whether the content is accessible using the input password, and limit access according to the determination result; And And a display unit for displaying a menu screen for inputting the password and an access restriction message, and for displaying the content if the content can be accessed using the input password. The method of claim 6, The access level is set based on age. The method of claim 6, The access level is set for each genre. The method of claim 6, The content device includes a display initial screen of the content provider server. The method of claim 6, And the content includes an initial screen of a rating group provided by the content provider. In the content access restriction method of the display device connectable to the network, Receiving a request for access to the content; Receiving rating information of the content; Receiving a password of a user; Determining whether a user corresponding to the password is accessible to the contents; And If the user is inaccessible, restricting access. The method of claim 11, The rating information of the content is set based on the age, and determining whether the content can be viewed, Confirming an age of the user corresponding to the password; And And comparing the identified age with an age criterion of the content rating information. The method of claim 11, Rating information of the content is set for each genre, and determining whether the content is accessible, Checking grade information for each genre of the user corresponding to the password; And And comparing the genre rating information of the user with the genre rating information of the content. The method of claim 11, The content is a content access restriction method comprising a connection initial screen of the content provider server. The method of claim 11, And the content includes a content group classified by a rating provided by the content provider. In the content access restriction method of the display device connectable to the network, Receiving a request for access to the content; Receiving rating information of the content; Receiving a password of a user; Determining whether the level of the input password is a level accessible to the contents; And If the rating is inaccessible, restricting access. The method of claim 16, The rating information of the content is set based on the age, and determining whether the content can be viewed, Confirming an age of the user corresponding to the password; And And comparing the identified age with an age criterion of the content rating information. The method of claim 16, Rating information of the content is set for each genre, and determining whether the content is accessible, Checking grade information for each genre of the user corresponding to the password; And And comparing the genre rating information of the user with the genre rating information of the content. The method of claim 16, The content is a content access restriction method comprising a connection initial screen of the content provider server. The method of claim 16, And the content includes a content group classified by a grade provided by the content provider.

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