KR20000003827A - Apparatus for restricting viewing using caption data in television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is obscene. By using the V-CHIP (violent chip) function using caption codes such as violence terms, it is simple to configure and easy to operate and inexpensively restricts the viewing of violence and pornography. Provides a parental control device.

The parental control apparatus sets the caption character data display area on the screen of the CRT unit by inputting the composite video signal selected by the A / V switch 130 to the microcomputer 180, extracting and decoding only the caption code from the composite video signal. In a television equipped with a caption decoder 181 for outputting an RGB signal corresponding to a box signal and character data of the area, to a video signal processor: a terminology memory for storing a term code for viewing restriction such as violence and pornography 190; And when the caption code is extracted from the composite video signal by the caption decoder 181, when the caption code corresponds to the parental control term code stored in the restriction terminology 190, the video signal processor 160 sends the P signal to the video signal processor 160. And an X-checker 182 for prohibiting output to the CALTI 20 by outputting a / MUTE signal.

Description

TV parental control system using caption data

The present invention relates to an apparatus for restricting viewing of television using caption data, and more particularly, to perform pornography by performing a violence chip (V-CHIP) function using a caption code. The present invention relates to an apparatus for restricting viewing of television using caption data that can restrict viewing by violence terms.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When the parental control mode is executed, it is determined whether the variable "Parental Control Mode" is on, and if it is off, the video signal processing unit 10 or the like is controlled and completed in step S26 for normal operation of the television. If ON, a password is requested in step S22, and a grade corresponding to the input password is queried in step S23, and the grade viewed in step S24 is compared with the grade detected in the V-decoder 30 to view the program. Determine if it is possible. In this case, limit variables may be set in various ways such as time zones, channels, program types, and the like. If it is determined in step S24 that the viewable range is reached, a control signal for normal operation is generated in step S26. If it is determined that the viewing range is limited, the viewing restriction phrase is displayed and completed in step S25. In the step S25, the viewable time zone or channel may be displayed when the viewable time zone or channel is within the viewing limitation range together with or without display of the viewing restriction phrase.

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

The conventional parental control device configured and performed as described above requires a V-chip 30 and its configuration is complicated to increase the cost, and to perform various functions by the microcomputer 40. In order to perform the parental control function, the signal of the V-chip should be checked in the microcomputer 40, and there is a problem that a delay of about 3 seconds is also required to display it on the screen.

Therefore, this invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problem, and is obscene. By using the V-CHIP (violent chip) function by using caption codes such as violence terms, it is simple to configure and easy to operate and inexpensively restricts the viewing of violence and pornography. The purpose is to provide a parental control device.

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

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

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

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus for restricting viewing of television using caption data according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a partial block diagram specifically showing a relationship with the configuration of the microcomputer of the TV viewing limiter using the caption data of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: video signal processing unit 20: CRT

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

50: memory means 110: tuner

120: IF amplifier 130: A / V switch

140: voice processing unit 150: speaker

160: video signal processor 170: CALTI

180: microcomputer 181: caption decoder

182: X-checker 190: Limited term memory section

200: receiver

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus for restricting viewing of television using caption data according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided by inputting a complex video signal selected by an A / V switch to a microcomputer and extracting and decoding only a caption code from the complex video signal. A television having a box signal for setting a caption character data display area on a screen of a CRT unit and a caption decoder for outputting an RGB signal corresponding to the character data of the area to a video signal processing unit: Restriction of viewing such as violence and pornography Restrictive term memory for storing the term code for; And when the caption code is extracted from the composite video signal by the caption decoder, the P / MUTE signal is output to the video signal processor when the caption code corresponds to the parental control term code stored in the restriction term memory. And an X-checker to inhibit the output.

And outputting a mute signal not only to the video signal processor but also to the audio processor when the caption code detected by the X-checker corresponds to a parental control term code, and adding means for turning on / off the function of the X-checker. It is characterized by comprising as. This means may be a key of a remote controller, a special key, may be set on a menu, or may be configured to be operated by inputting a password as in the prior art.

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

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the TV viewing limiter using caption data according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram specifically showing the relationship with the structure of the microcomputer.

In FIG. 4, the antenna ANT receives a composite video broadcast signal in which caption information is included in a synchronization signal, and tunes the tuner 110 so that a specific broadcast signal is not affected by the outside and there is no high frequency traffic. Thereafter, the IF amplifier 120 amplifies the intermediate frequency (IF) signal output from the tuner 110, and the A / V switch 130 converts the intermediate frequency (IF) into an image intermediate frequency (PIF) and an audio intermediate. The image intermediate frequency PIF is separated into the frequency SIF and is input to the video signal processor 160, and the voice intermediate frequency SIF is input to the voice processor 140.

The voice processing unit 140 detects a voice signal, and performs voice processing such as base, treble, and volume according to a control signal transmitted from the microcomputer 180, and processes the processed voice. The signal is amplified and output to the speaker 150.

The video signal processor 160 detects an image signal from an image intermediate frequency (PIF) and processes the image signal according to a control signal input from a remote controller, and then processes color, tint, and blistist to correspond to the image signal. The CRT 170 is driven via the CRT driver by outputting red, G (Green), B (Blue), and luminance (Y) signals. In this case, R ', G', B 'and OSD blanking signals Y' generated from an OSD generator not shown may be synthesized and output.

On the other hand, the composite video signal containing the caption information is input to the microcomputer 180 from the A / V switch 130 and the caption in the caption decoder 181 integrally formed inside the microcomputer 180 as shown in FIG. By extracting and decoding the information, an RGB signal corresponding to the character data of the area is output to the video signal processor 160 together with a box signal for setting the caption character data display area on the screen of the CALTI 170.

At this time, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the caption decoder 181 and the X-checker 182 are connected such that the caption code detected by the caption decoder 181 is transferred from the X-checker 182.

On the other hand, the viewing restriction device for television using caption data of the present invention includes a restriction term memory 190 for storing term codes for restricting viewing of violence, pornography, and the like.

The X-checker 182 is configured to query the restriction term memory 190 to determine whether the same term code exists when the caption code is input to the X-checker 182, and the same When there is a term code, the video signal processor 160 outputs a P / MUTE control signal to the video signal processor 160 to block the video signal processor 160 to prohibit display of the corresponding video signal on the CAL 170. It is composed.

The operation of the TV viewing limiter using caption data according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is as follows.

First, the composite video signal encoded with caption information is tuned by the tuner 110, and the IF signal output from the tuner 110 by the IF amplifier 120 is amplified and input to the A / V switch 130. . In the A / V switch 130, the amplified intermediate frequency (IF) signal is divided into an image intermediate frequency (PIF) and an audio intermediate frequency (SIF), and the image intermediate frequency (PIF) is a video signal processor 160. And input to the caption decoder 181 of the microcomputer 180.

Then, the caption decoder 181 extracts the caption code from the composite video signal input from the A / V switch 130, and the caption code thus extracted is transferred to the X-checker 182 to transmit the X-checker ( The caption code transmitted from 182 is compared with the parental control term code stored in the table of the restriction terminology 190, and when there is the same parental control term code, the video signal processor in the X-checker 182 determines that it is the parental control range. The P / MUTE control signal, which is a blocking control signal, is output to the 160, and accordingly, the video signal processor 160 does not transmit the composite video signal input from the A / V switch 130. The video signal is not displayed on the CAL 170.

On the other hand, as in the case of using the conventional V-chip 30, it is preferable to have means for setting and releasing the parental control function. For example, by adding a key to the remote controller or using a special key, the parental control function may be set and released, or it may be configured to select on or off from the menu. At this time, it is preferable that the password is set so that it can not be arbitrarily set and released by an unauthorized viewer.

In addition, when the caption code detected by the X-checker 182 corresponds to the parental control term code, it is configured to output a mute signal not only to the video signal processing unit 160 but also to the audio processing unit 140, thereby causing a violent object to the voice. It is also possible to prohibit the broadcasting of sound of pornography.

It may also be configured to control the OSD generating device to display certain warning phrases on the screen when blocked.

According to the configuration and operation of the television parental control apparatus using caption data according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, in a television having a caption function, the caption code is stored in the restriction term memory 190 and Not only can be easily configured by performing the viewing restriction function in preparation, it is easy to operate and inexpensively limit the viewing of violent, pornographic material, etc. There is an effect such as to protect children.

Claims (2)

Input the composite video signal selected by the A / V switch 130 to the microcomputer and extract and decode only the caption code from the composite video signal to the box signal and the text data of the area to set the caption character data display area on the screen of the CRT unit. In a television equipped with a caption decoder 181 for outputting a corresponding RGB signal to the video signal processor 160: Restriction term memory 190 for storing a term code for restricting viewing of violence, pornography, etc .; And When the caption code is extracted from the composite video signal by the caption decoder 181, P / P is applied to the video signal processor 160 when the caption code corresponds to the parental control term code stored in the restriction terminology 190. And an X-checker (182) for prohibiting output to the CALTI (20) by outputting a MUTE signal. The method of claim 1, wherein when the caption code detected by the X-checker 182 corresponds to a parental control term code, the mute signal is output not only to the video signal processor 160 but also to the voice processor 140. And a means for turning on / off the function of said X-checker (182).