JP3973478B2 - Information display device for viewing restriction control - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a receiver having a viewing restriction function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there is a parental lock function as a kind of viewing control. This is because a restriction flag is mainly set for a television program which is not preferable for adolescents, and when such a television program is selected, it cannot be displayed unless a password is correctly input. If the parents of the youth set this password, the child does not know the password, so the child can be prevented from watching such a TV program without permission.
[0003]
The lock setting release procedure of the conventional parental lock function will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the receiver is turned on for the first time, the user first sets “Lock / Do Not Lock”, “Parental Lock Age”, “PIN”, etc. in the initial settings (S300), and receives TV video signals. The setting of “lock / do not lock” is stored as a flag in the nonvolatile memory of the machine (S301).
[0004]
After completing the above setting, the system waits for instruction input (S302), and if there is an input for changing the setting (S303), it requests a password input so that the child cannot change it arbitrarily (S304). A match with the entered password is checked (S305). Only when the two passwords match, it is possible to change the setting of “lock / not lock” or “parent age for parental lock” (S306), and update the flag correctly according to the change (S307, In step S308, the process returns to waiting for instruction input.
[0005]
On the other hand, when there is a channel selection instruction waiting for instruction input (S302, S303), it is checked whether the flag is set to lock (S309). ). If the lock setting is set, viewable age data of the corresponding TV program is extracted from the TV program information transmitted together with the TV program (S311), and compared with the set parental lock age (S312). At this time, if the set parental lock age is higher than the viewable age data, it is displayed as being selected as satisfying the condition (S310), but if it is lower, the password is entered as not satisfying the condition. A request is made (S313). If the numbers match, it is displayed as selected (S310), but if they do not match, a warning screen or the like is displayed to prevent viewing (S315).
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the parental lock function lock setting releasing method, even when the parent himself selects a television program, the password must be input each time. Considering a normal viewing mode, it is difficult for parents to view a television program that is unfavorable for adolescents when a child is present because it deviates from the purpose of viewing control. Therefore, it is convenient to enter the password only when there is no parent and only the child. To change this in the current system, after entering the password (S304), change the lock condition setting. From the menu (S306), “lock / do not lock” must be set again, which is troublesome.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an information display device that performs viewing restriction control that does not require a password input every time a lock setting / release switching operation is performed. With the goal.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.
The gist of the present invention is that, for example, in a receiver for digital cable television that retransmits BS digital broadcasting or SkyperfecTV !, a B-CAS card and a C-CAS card are used for descrambling, which is a kind of viewing control. Each insertion slot is required, and the correspondence between this B-CAS card and C-CAS card and both insertion slots is not 1: 1. No.
[0009]
Therefore, using this, the insertion location or replacement of the B-CAS card and the C-CAS card is used as information.
Specifically, for viewing, A) If the card is correctly inserted, the process proceeds to input of a personal identification number. If the card matches, the lock is released. If the card does not match, the lock is left. ) If you insert the card in reverse, lock it.
[0010]
According to the gist of the present invention, in order to see when the parent has no children, first, the card is correctly inserted in A) and the personal identification number is entered, so that the lock is always released. When you have finished watching the TV program, insert the card back in B) to return the lock. Therefore, it is only necessary to input the personal identification number once, and the lock setting release of the parental lock function can be realized with a simple configuration and work.
[0011]
That is, the first gist of the present invention is an information display device that performs viewing restriction control based on a password number input, a password number input unit for inputting a password for releasing a part of the viewing restriction, A first connection part for connecting a first viewing member for releasing a part of the viewing restriction of the first display signal, and a second part for releasing a part of the viewing restriction of the second display signal A second connection portion for connecting the viewing member, and connecting the first viewing member to the second connection portion to wait for input of the password from the password input portion. The information display device performs the viewing restriction control.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information display device for performing viewing restriction control based on a password number input, a password number input unit for inputting a password for releasing a part of the viewing restriction, A first connecting part for connecting a first viewing member for releasing a part of the viewing restriction of the display signal, and a second viewing member for releasing a part of the viewing restriction of the second display signal A second connecting portion for connecting the first viewing member to the second connecting portion, and connecting the second viewing member to the first connecting portion. In the information display device for performing viewing restriction control, the personal computer enters a state waiting for input of the personal identification number from the personal identification number input unit.
[0013]
The third gist of the present invention is the viewing restriction control according to gist 1 or 2, wherein the first viewing member and the second viewing member are a B-CAS card and a C-CAS card. It is in the information display device that performs.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a timer for measuring a time when the viewing restriction is released, and when the viewing restriction release time exceeds a predetermined time, the input of the personal identification number is awaited. The information display device performs the viewing restriction control described in the feature 1 or 2.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the first display signal or the second display signal is any of a wireless or wired broadcast signal, a display signal transmitted from the Internet, or a display signal recorded on a storage medium. Or an information display device for performing viewing restriction control according to the first or second aspect, which is characterized by being a combination thereof.
[0016]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, simply by connecting the first viewing member to the second connection unit, the personal identification number is input from the personal identification number input unit. It is not necessary to perform a setting operation for inputting a complicated password for waiting for the input of the password. Also, it can be understood at a glance that the first viewing member is in the input waiting state by looking at the state where the first viewing member is connected to the second connecting portion. In addition, since it can be realized with existing hardware, the cost is not increased.
[0017]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, only by connecting the first viewing member to the second connecting portion and connecting the second viewing member to the first connecting portion, Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need for a setting operation for inputting a complicated password for waiting for the input of the password again after the end of viewing. Further, if the connection state of the first and second viewing members to the first and second connection portions is seen, it can be understood at a glance that the input waiting state is established. In addition, since it can be realized with existing hardware, the cost is not increased.
[0018]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, BS digital broadcasting and SKY Perfect TV! Can be used in a cable television receiver that retransmits the image.
[0019]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to save the trouble of releasing the viewing control and to forget to restore the viewing control by using the function of automatically returning to the original state over time. Can be prevented from being released.
[0020]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the present invention can be applied to a broadcast signal for performing viewing restriction control, the Internet, and a storage medium.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the present embodiment, for example, a receiver for digital cable television that retransmits BS digital broadcasting or SkyperfecTV! Is a B-CAS card and a C-CAS card for descrambling that is a kind of viewing control. Each insertion slot is required, and the correspondence between this B-CAS card and C-CAS card and both insertion slots is not 1: 1. No.
[0022]
Therefore, using this, the insertion location or replacement of the B-CAS card and the C-CAS card is used as information.
[0023]
Specifically, for viewing, when the card is correctly inserted, the process proceeds to the input of a personal identification number, and if it matches, the lock is released, and if it does not match, the lock is kept. After the end of viewing, the card shifts to the locked state by inserting the card in reverse. When the unlock time exceeds a predetermined time, the lock state is automatically restored.
[0024]
With the above configuration, in order to see when the parent has no children, the card is first inserted correctly and the lock number is always entered by inputting the personal identification number. After watching the TV program, connect the card to the wrong insertion position, i.e., the opposite insertion position, or both cards to the opposite insertion position, and enter the lock state that requires you to enter your PIN code the next time you want to watch. return.
[0025]
Therefore, the input number of the personal identification number during one viewing cycle from the viewing request instruction to the lock state setting at the end of viewing is only once at the time of the viewing request instruction, and is unnecessary when the lock state is set again after the viewing end. Therefore, the lock setting release and the lock setting of the parental lock function can be realized with a simple configuration and work.
[0026]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a television broadcast receiver according to this embodiment.
[0027]
The receiving unit 101 receives an RF signal of cable television broadcasting and extracts a transport stream.
[0028]
The viewing control card 1 interface unit (I / F) 105 and the viewing control card 2 interface unit (I / F) 106 generate an IC card for generating a decryption key for releasing the scramble applied to the pay program. BS digital broadcasting and SKY PerfecTV TV! In the cable system for digitally retransmitting the card, the two scrambled viewing control systems are different from each other, so two card insertion slots called the B-CAS card 109 and the C-CAS card 110 are required.
[0029]
The IC card for the viewing control card 1 interface unit (I / F) 105 is the B-CAS card 109, and the IC card for the viewing control card 2 interface unit (I / F) 106 is the C-CAS card 110. is there.
[0030]
The descrambling unit 102 releases the scramble applied to the pay broadcast transport stream using the decryption key generated by the IC card.
[0031]
The display unit 103 demultiplexes the transport stream, performs AV decoding and video composition output processing, and outputs the result as a television signal.
[0032]
The measuring unit 107 measures the unlocking time with a timer, and the input unit 108 receives a remote control signal. The control unit 104 controls the entire television broadcast receiver.
[0033]
Next, the lock setting releasing method of the television broadcast receiver is performed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The same steps as those in the conventional example (FIG. 3) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
[0034]
In the following, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 2, when the receiver is turned on for the first time as in the prior art, the user makes an initial setting (S300), and the “lock / not lock” setting is flagged in the non-volatile memory (main As a lock flag). Further, a new flag (auxiliary lock flag) is initialized without being locked as not locked, and is stored in the nonvolatile memory (S200), and an initial value 0 is given to the timer for measuring the unlock time described above (S201).
[0035]
Then, the normal operation is started, and it is first checked whether or not the timer measurement time has elapsed by the above-described unlocking permission time T _limit (S202). Then, if the time has elapsed, the auxiliary lock flag is returned to the lock so as to lock again (S205), the timer measurement is finished and time 0 is set (S206), and the instruction input is waited (S302). If not, the process proceeds to a card replacement check (S203). That is, in the viewing control card 1 I / F 105, a C-CAS card that is not the B-CAS card 109 to be originally inserted to generate a decryption key for descrambling via the viewing control card 1 I / F 105. 110 is inserted in the C-CAS card 110 that should be inserted in the viewing control card 2 I / F 106 in the same way, and generates a decryption key for descrambling via the viewing control card 2 I / F 106. A replacement check is made as to whether or not a non-B-CAS card 109 is inserted.
[0036]
In the card replacement check (S203), if there is no card replacement (a state in which an appropriate IC card is inserted (connected) into the original interface unit), the process waits for instruction input (S302), but there is a card replacement ( In a state where an appropriate IC card is not inserted (connected) into the original interface section), the contents of each card are read out to determine which card is which card (S204), and two correctly. If the card is inserted, a password input request is requested (S207), and a match between the input number and a preset password is checked (S208). Then, after the auxiliary lock flag is unlocked so as not to lock if the numbers match (S209), the timer starts measuring the unlocking time (S210). The lock flag is locked (S211), and in either case, the instruction input is waited (S302). In addition, when the card position determination (204) indicates that the positions of the two cards are inserted in reverse, the auxiliary lock flag is locked, and if the timer measurement is performed, the time is ended and time 0 is set ( S206), the process again waits for instruction input (S302).
[0037]
As described above, the polarity (lock / non-lock) of the auxiliary lock flag according to the card insertion position is given. Then, when there is an input for setting change (S303) after entering the waiting for input (S302), the process is performed in accordance with the same flow as the conventional process from the request for inputting the personal identification number (S304). Omitted.
[0038]
When there is a channel selection instruction waiting for input (S302, S303), it is first checked whether the main lock flag reflecting the lock setting in the setting menu is locked or not (S309). If the main lock flag is not locked, it is displayed as selected (S310). If the main lock flag is locked, it is further checked whether the auxiliary lock flag is locked (S212). If the auxiliary lock flag is not locked, it is displayed as selected (S310). Note that this auxiliary lock flag is not locked (= unlocked) means that the card has been correctly inserted and the password has been successfully input, and the lock release permission time (T _limit ) has not yet elapsed.
If the auxiliary lock flag is locked, the subsequent processing is completely in accordance with the flow starting from the viewing of the program viewing restriction data from the program information (S311). The auxiliary lock flag is locked in any of the following states (1) to (3).
[0039]
(1): The card is inserted in reverse.
(2): The card is inserted correctly, but the PIN code entry fails.
(3): Since the card was correctly inserted and the PIN number was successfully input, the lock was once unlocked, but the unlocking permission time (T _limit ) has already passed.
[0040]
As described above, in the television broadcast receiver according to the embodiment, it is possible to easily perform temporary unlocking and re-locking by replacing the cards 109 and 110 with respect to the viewing control card I / Fs 105 and 106, and reception. If you look at the card inserted in the machine, you can tell at a glance whether it is locked or not, so you can prevent forgetting to lock.
[0041]
Furthermore, even in the unlocked state, when the unlocking permission time (T _limit ) elapses, the locked state is restored, so that even if the card 109 or 110 is forgotten to be switched from the viewing state, the locked state is surely restored. be able to.
[0042]
Also, no additional hardware such as a switch is required, so the cost is not increased. It can be applied to other than parental lock such as a channel lock that prevents viewing of a channel that a child does not want to show and a PPV lock that restricts the purchase amount of PPV.
[0043]
In the above embodiment, the preferred example of the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
[0044]
For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the cards 109 and 110 are replaced with the viewing control card I / Fs 105 and 106 has been described as means for returning the locked state from the viewing state. However, any of the cards is inserted into an incorrect interface unit. You may return to the locked state. For example, the locked state is restored by inserting the card 110 into the viewing control card I / F 105 or inserting the card 109 into the viewing control card I / F 106. Also in the case of such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as in the above embodiment.
[0045]
In the above embodiment, the television broadcast receiver has been described as an example of the information display device that restricts viewing. However, the video (information) signal that restricts viewing is not limited to a wired or wireless broadcast signal, but DVD software There are information signals recorded in storage media (storage media) such as information signals transmitted from the Internet (received).
[0046]
Therefore, a plurality of interface units for connecting, for example, an IC card-like release member for descrambling, which is viewing control, are provided on the storage medium or the information display device from the Internet, and the locked state is set depending on the connection state of the release member. It can also be configured to automatically return.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, simply by connecting the first viewing member to the second connection portion, the input of the personal identification number from the personal identification number input unit is awaited. It is not necessary to perform a setting operation for inputting a complicated password for waiting for the password to be entered again after the viewing ends. Also, it can be understood at a glance that the first viewing member is in the input waiting state by looking at the state where the first viewing member is connected to the second connecting portion. In addition, since it can be realized with existing hardware, the cost is not increased.
[0048]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, only by connecting the first viewing member to the second connecting portion and connecting the second viewing member to the first connecting portion, Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need for a setting operation for inputting a complicated password for waiting for the input of the password again after the end of viewing. Further, if the connection state of the first and second viewing members to the first and second connection portions is seen, it can be understood at a glance that the input waiting state is established. In addition, since it can be realized with existing hardware, the cost is not increased.
[0049]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, BS digital broadcasting and SKY Perfect TV! Can be used in a cable television receiver that retransmits the image.
[0050]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to save the trouble of releasing the viewing control and to forget to restore the viewing control by using the function of automatically returning to the original state over time. Can be prevented from being released.
[0051]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the present invention can be applied to a broadcast signal for performing viewing restriction control, the Internet, and a storage medium.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a receiver with a viewing restriction function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a lock setting releasing procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a conventional lock setting release procedure;
[Explanation of symbols]
100 TV broadcast receiver 101 receiving unit 102 descrambling unit 103 display unit 104 control unit 105 viewing control card 1 I / F
106 Viewing control card 2I / F
107 Measurement unit 108 Input unit

Claims (8)

An information display device that performs viewing restriction control based on a password input,
A password input part for inputting a password for releasing a part of the viewing restriction;
A first connecting part for connecting a first viewing member for releasing a part of the viewing restriction of the first display signal;
A second connection part for connecting a second viewing member for releasing a part of the viewing restriction of the second display signal,
An information display device for performing viewing restriction control, wherein the first viewing member is connected to the second connection unit to enter a state of waiting for the password from the password input unit. An information display device that performs viewing restriction control based on a password input,
A password input part for inputting a password for releasing a part of the viewing restriction;
A first connecting part for connecting a first viewing member for releasing a part of the viewing restriction of the first display signal;
A second connection part for connecting a second viewing member for releasing a part of the viewing restriction of the second display signal,
By inputting the personal identification number from the personal identification number input unit by connecting the first viewing member to the second connection unit and connecting the second viewing member to the first connection unit. An information display device for performing viewing restriction control characterized by being in a waiting state. 3. The information display device for performing viewing restriction control according to claim 1, wherein the first viewing member and the second viewing member are a B-CAS card and a C-CAS card. 3. A timer for measuring the time when viewing restriction is released, and when the viewing restriction release time exceeds a predetermined time, the personal computer enters a waiting state for inputting the personal identification number. Display device that controls viewing restrictions. The information display device for performing viewing restriction control according to claim 1, wherein the first display signal or the second display signal is a wireless or wired broadcast signal. The information display device for performing viewing restriction control according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first display signal or the second display signal is a display signal transmitted from the Internet. The information display device for performing viewing restriction control according to claim 1, wherein the first display signal or the second display signal is a display signal recorded in a storage medium. The first display signal and the second display signal are signals selected from a wireless or wired broadcast signal, a display signal transmitted from the Internet, and a display signal recorded on a storage medium. The information display device for performing viewing restriction control according to claim 1 or 2.

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