Patent ID: 7006754
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A picture image outputting apparatus for outputting a picture image for display, said apparatus comprising: storage means for storing a playing time for enabling an output operation of a picture image and a locking time for disabling the output operation of a picture image; playing time timing means for timing the playing time; locking time timing means for timing the locking time; mode selecting means for selecting a playing time limiting mode for controlling the picture image outputting apparatus on a basis of the playing time and the locking time; and control means for starting timing of said playing time timing means after the playing time limiting mode has been selected and for starting timing of said locking time timing means when passage of the playing time is detected to disable the output operation of the picture image until the locking time has passed, said apparatus further comprising: calculation means for calculating remaining playing time of information being played in progress when the passage of the playing time is detected; and comparison means for comparing the calculated remaining playing time with a reference time, wherein: said control means immediately starts the timing of said locking time timing means and disables the output operation of the picture image until the locking time has passed when the remaining playing time is larger than the reference time, and starts the timing of said locking time timing means and disabls the output operation of the picture image until the locking time has passed after the remaining playing time has passed when the remaining playing time is smaller than the reference time.