Abstract:
An information apparatus connectable with plural external apparatuses including an audio visual data outputting portion, a command input portion which inputs a command from an external apparatus for requesting audio visual data, an information managing portion which manages a number of external apparatuses to audio visual data can be distributed to be simultaneously viewed or recorded and a controller portion which controls distribution of the data to the external apparatus which sent the command depending upon a distributing condition. The controller portion makes a decision on whether the number of external apparatuses to which data can be distributed is equal to or smaller than a limited number, and controls the distribution of data to the external apparatus based on a result of the decision.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/428,140, filed Mar. 23, 2012; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/826,412, filed Jul. 16, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,233,504; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/245,347, filed Feb. 5, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,257,132, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a receiver set, an information apparatus and a system for receiving transmitted digital information. The present invention in particular, relates to connections of the apparatuses within the system which reproduces and records the received digital data upon a basis of a receiving contract. Hereinafter, the invention will be explained when being applied to the system, the apparatus and/or the receiver set for receiving video/audio information of various broadcast programs which are distributed by the digital broadcast services. However, the present invention not limited only to this, it also can be applied to a system and/or an apparatus relating to sending and receiving of data, such as one for data transmission, with a similar construction. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    In recent years, digital broadcasting services using a communication satellite began in United States of America, and also Japan started digital multi-channel broadcasting using the communication satellite (CS) from 1996, therefore, various kinds of digital broadcasting services will be available in the coming future. Further, the study in digitalization of the current broadcasting with use of ground radio waves (analogue broadcasting) has also progressed. 
         [0004]    In the current digital broadcasting services, with use of the format MPEG2-TS (Transport Stream), i.e., the multiplexing and separating method for coping with multi-programs, a plurality of programs are multiplexed and distributed, and the audio/video data of the aimed or designated program is extracted by a digital broadcast receiver set. 
         [0005]    As the broadcasting services, in addition to a free broadcasting service, there are also offered services, including a charge or pay broadcasting service, for which a receiving contract must be made, and a PPV (pay per view) broadcasting service, with which a fee must be paid for an amount of viewing thereof, etc. 
         [0006]    Under such the situation, in particular, in a field of household electric appliances and computers, etc., there is aggressively studied and developed a digital broadcast receiver set for receiving such the digital broadcast programs, as well as a digital TV for reproducing the received programs and a digital VTR for recording thereof. 
         [0007]    Further, as one of such communication systems, a transmission system using IEEE 1394 Serial Bus or USB (Universal Serial Bus) is proposed, in which the data and the control signals are transmitted and/or received between or among the digital apparatuses connected by a controller bus which can transmit the data and the control signals in mixture thereof. In this system, depending upon various connection modes of the apparatuses, a node ID is automatically assigned to each apparatus thereof. If an apparatus is newly added into that system, or is extracted or taken out therefrom, a bus reset is executed, so as to automatically assign the node IDs to them corresponding to the new mode of the connection, again. 
         [0008]    Here, in the current receiver for the digital broadcasting, only one program which is aimed or selected is extracted from the plurality of the programs which are distributed or transmitted in multiplexed condition, to be displayed onto an output device such as the TV, therefore, only one channel can be displayed to be viewed at onetime. Therefore, for a plurality of people to view the different broadcast programs respectively, there must be provided a plurality of the digital broadcast receiver sets. For instance, for viewing the plurality of digital broadcast programs on the plurality of output devices in a home, the plurality of the digital broadcast receiver sets must be purchased corresponding to the number thereof. This, however, causes a problem that it is very uneconomical or money consuming for the users. 
         [0009]    Further, for viewing the pay broadcast programs and the PPV broadcast programs with the digital broadcast receiver sets mentioned above, a receiving contract is necessary for each one set of the digital broadcast receiver. Accordingly, the contract must be made every time when a new digital broadcast receiver set is purchased or introduced into a home, and at the same time, a control or management of receiving contracts must be made for each of the digital broadcast receiver sets separately, therefore it takes a time and labor or is rather troublesome. 
         [0010]    Further, for viewing the PPV broadcast programs, other than the contract, a connection of the digital broadcast receiver set with a telephone circuit is also necessary so as to notify the charge information to the providers of the broadcast programs. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, in order to provide a plurality of the digital broadcast receiver sets, a consideration must be paid not only on the location thereof but also on the construction for connecting it with the telephone circuit. 
         [0012]    Moreover, it can be conceived that the broadcasting services basically comes to be the charge or pay services when the digitalization progresses in the future on the BS and the ground radio waves, and in that instance, any means will be necessitated for protecting from illegal viewing and recording of the programs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-receiving contract service, being convenient or friendly to both the broadcast service providers and the viewers, or to provide a digital broadcast receiver set, an information apparatus and a digital broadcasting receiving system, which are widely usable and able to reproduce the recorded broadcast programs. 
         [0014]    For achieving the object, according to the present invention, there is provided a receiver set connectable to a plurality of information apparatuses through a bus, comprising: 
         [0015]    receiving means for receiving multiplexed and compressed data sent through a predetermined channel; 
         [0016]    extracting means for extracting a desired compressed data from said multiplexed and compressed data on a basis of a channel requirement sent from the information apparatus; and 
         [0017]    outputting means for outputting said desired compressed data to said information apparatus. 
         [0018]    Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a receiver set connectable to a plurality of information apparatuses through a bus, comprising: 
         [0019]    receiving means for receiving multiplexed and compressed data sent through a predetermined channel; 
         [0020]    extracting means for extracting a desired compressed data from said multiplexed and compressed data on a basis of a channel requirement sent from the information apparatus; 
         [0021]    decision means for deciding whether said desired compressed data can be outputted to said information apparatuses upon a basis of whether unfair conduct is existed or not; and 
         [0022]    outputting means for outputting said desired compressed data to said information apparatus upon a decision made by said decision means. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is also provided a receiver set connectable to a plurality of information apparatuses through a bus, comprising: 
         [0024]    receiving means for receiving multiplexed and compressed data sent through a predetermined channel; 
         [0025]    extracting means for extracting a desired compressed data from said multiplexed and compressed data on a basis of a channel requirement sent from the information apparatus; 
         [0026]    management means for managing information relating to a receiving contract between a data provider; 
         [0027]    decision means for deciding whether said desired compressed data can be outputted to said information apparatuses upon a basis of the information relating to said receiving contract; and 
         [0028]    outputting means for outputting said desired compressed data to said information apparatus upon a decision made by said decision means. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is also provided a receiver set connectable to a plurality of information apparatuses through a bus, comprising: 
         [0030]    receiving means for receiving multiplexed and compressed data sent through a predetermined channel; 
         [0031]    extracting means for extracting a desired compressed data from said multiplexed and compressed data on a basis of a channel requirement sent from the information apparatus; 
         [0032]    management means for managing information relating to a receiving contract between a data provider; 
         [0033]    decision means for deciding whether said desired compressed data can be outputted to said information apparatuses upon a basis of the information relating to said receiving contract; and 
         [0034]    outputting means for outputting said desired compressed data to said information apparatus upon a decision made by said decision means. 
         [0035]    Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is also provided a receiver set connectable to a plurality of information apparatuses through a bus, comprising: 
         [0036]    receiving means for receiving multiplexed and compressed data sent through a predetermined channel; 
         [0037]    extracting means for extracting a desired compressed data from said multiplexed and compressed data on a basis of a channel requirement sent from the information apparatus; 
         [0038]    supervising means for supervising information relating to output to said plurality of information apparatuses; 
         [0039]    decision means for deciding whether said desired compressed data can be outputted to said information apparatuses upon a basis of the information relating to said output; and 
         [0040]    outputting means for outputting said desired compressed data to said information apparatus upon a decision made by said decision means. 
         [0041]    Moreover, according to the present invention, there is provided a receiver set connectable to a plurality of information apparatuses through a bus, comprising: 
         [0042]    receiving means for receiving multiplexed and compressed data sent through a predetermined channel; 
         [0043]    extracting means for extracting a desired compressed data from said multiplexed and compressed data on a basis of a channel requirement sent from the information apparatus; 
         [0044]    coding means for coding said desired compressed data; and outputting means for outputting said desired compressed data to said information apparatus. 
         [0045]    Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is also provided a receiver set connectable to a plurality of information apparatuses through a bus, comprising: 
         [0046]    receiving means for receiving multiplexed and compressed data sent through a predetermined channel; 
         [0047]    extracting means for extracting a desired compressed data from said multiplexed and compressed data on a basis of a channel requirement sent from the information apparatus; 
         [0048]    certifying means for certifying whether said information apparatuses be a regular one or not; 
         [0049]    decision means for deciding whether said desired compressed data can be outputted to said information apparatuses upon a basis of certification by said certifying means; and 
         [0050]    outputting means for outputting said desired compressed data to said information apparatuses on a basis of a decision made by said decision means. 
         [0051]    Moreover, according to the present invention, there is provided an information apparatus connectable to a receiver and/or an information apparatus through a bus, comprising: 
         [0052]    input means for inputting desired compressed data from the receiver or the other information apparatus on a basis of a channel requirement of sending to the receiver or the other information apparatus. 
         [0053]    And also, according to the present invention, there ‘is provided an information apparatus connectable to a receiver and/or an information apparatus through a bus, comprising: 
         [0054]    decision means for deciding whether desired compressed can be inputted or not on a basis of a decision send from the receiver whether said desired compressed data can be outputted or not; 
         [0055]    input means for inputting said desired compressed data from the receiver or the other information apparatus on a basis of a decision made by said decision means. 
         [0056]    Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided an information apparatus connectable to a receiver and/or an information apparatus through a bus, comprising: 
         [0057]    input means for inputting desired compressed data encoded from the receiver or another information apparatus, upon a channel requirement for sending to the receiver or the another information apparatus; and de-scrambling means for de-scrambling the desired compressed data scrambled. 
         [0058]    Moreover, according to the present invention, there is provided a receiving system, in which a receiver is connected with a plurality of information apparatuses through a bus, wherein said receiver comprises: 
         [0059]    receiving means for receiving multiplexed and compressed data which is sent on a predetermined channel; 
         [0060]    extracting means for extracting compressed data desired from said multiplexed and compressed data upon a channel requirement which is sent from the information apparatus; and output means for outputting said desired compressed data to said information apparatus, and wherein said information apparatus comprises: 
         [0061]    input means for inputting said desired compressed data from said receiver. 
         [0062]    And then, according to the present invention, there is further provided a receiving system, in which a receiver is connected with a plurality of information apparatuses through a bus, wherein said receiver comprises: 
         [0063]    receiving means for receiving multiplexed and compressed data which is sent on a predetermined channel; 
         [0064]    extracting means for extracting compressed data desired from said multiplexed and compressed data upon a channel requirement which is sent from the information apparatus; 
         [0065]    output means for outputting said desired compressed data to said information apparatus; 
         [0066]    decision means for deciding whether said the desired compressed data can be outputted to said information apparatus upon a basis that there is unfairness or not; and 
         [0067]    output means for outputting the desired compressed data to said information apparatus upon a basis of the decision of said decision means, and wherein, said information apparatus comprises: 
         [0068]    decision means for deciding whether said desired compressed can be inputted or not upon a basis of the decision whether desired compressed data can be outputted not; and 
         [0069]    input means for inputting said desired compressed data from said receiver upon a basis of the decision of said decision means. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0070]    Those and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0071]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which construction the present invention is applied to a digital broadcasting receiving system; 
           [0072]      FIG. 2  shows one example of construction of a digital broadcast receiver set of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0073]      FIG. 3  shows one example of construction of an output device such as a TV in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0074]      FIG. 4  shows one example of construction of a recording apparatus such as a VTR and a DVD; 
           [0075]      FIG. 5  shows one example of construction of a receiving contract information data; 
           [0076]      FIG. 6  shows one example of construction of an output destination status information; 
           [0077]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart for showing steps of distributing the broadcast programs in the digital broadcast receiver set; 
           [0078]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart for showing steps of receiving and reproducing the broadcast programs in a digital TV; 
           [0079]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart for showing steps of alternating the present distributed designation of the broadcast programs in the digital broadcast receiver set; 
           [0080]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart for showing steps of alternating the present distributed designation of the broadcast programs in the digital TV; 
           [0081]      FIG. 11  shows an example of an alarming or warning display which is indicated by the digital TV or the recording apparatus; 
           [0082]      FIG. 12  shows an example of a list display of apparatuses or devices being presently used, by the digital TV or the recording apparatus; 
           [0083]      FIG. 13  shows an another example of the alarming or warning display which is indicated by the digital TV or the recording apparatus; 
           [0084]      FIG. 14  shows an another embodiment of the present invention, in which construction the present invention is also applied to the digital broadcast receiving system; and, 
           [0085]      FIG. 15  shows the construction of the digital TV, in particular, in which the digital broadcast receiver set in  FIG. 14  is installed (i.e., a digital broadcast receiver set built-in digital TV). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0086]    Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be fully explained by referring to the attached drawings. 
         [0087]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment for explaining the present invention, in particular the construction in a case where the present invention is applied into a digital broadcasting receiving system within a home  20 . 
         [0088]    In this example, a digital broadcast receiver  100  for receiving digital broadcast programs with use of the communication satellites or the ground waves, digital TVs  110   a - 110   c  for displaying the broadcast programs, a digital VTR  120  for recording the broadcast program data onto a magnetic tape, a recording apparatus  130  for recording the broadcast program data onto a digital information recording medium such as the DVD, and a PC (personal computer)  140  are connected to one another through a bus  10 , such as the IEEE 1394 serial bus or USB. 
         [0089]    Here, as the digital broadcast receiver system for use in a home  20 , it is so assumed that the digital TV  110   a  and the digital VTR  120  are provide in a room A  21 , the digital TV  110   b,  the DVD  130  and the PC  140  in a room B  22 , and the digital TV  110   c  in a room C  23 . 
         [0090]    However, the digital VTR  120  or the DVD  130  may be a recording apparatus, such as so-called HD, MO, etc., with which the data is recorded onto a magnetic disc or an optical disc. 
         [0091]    Next, with reference to  FIG. 2 , the construction of the digital broadcast receiver set  100  will be explained. 
         [0092]    The digital broadcast receiver set  100  comprises a tuner portion  201 , a de-scrambling portion  202 , a designated program divider portion  203 , an output format converter  204 , a coding/decoding converter  205 , an AV data outputting portion  206 , a controller portion  207 , a command input/output portion  208 , a charge information managing portion  209 , a modem portion  210 , a timer program managing portion  211 , a receiving contract managing portion  212 , an output destination supervising portion  213 , and a certify processing portion  214 . 
         [0093]    The tuner portion  201  is a portion provided for selecting a one at a desire from a plurality channels, through which the programs are transmitted and for decoding the digitally coded program. 
         [0094]    The de-scrambling portion  202  for designated programs is a portion provided for removing or canceling the scramble put onto the broadcast program data, so as to enable only a receiving contractor to receive the broadcast programs from the broadcast provider with whom the receiving contract was made. 
         [0095]    The program divider portion  203  is a portion provided for extracting the video/audio data from the broadcast program data which is multiplexed and transmitted, corresponding to the broadcast programs at the desire of the user. 
         [0096]    The output format converter  204  is a portion provided for converting the broadcast program data which is received at the desire of the user into an output format required by a reproducing apparatus or a recording apparatus, which are connected to the present digital broadcast receiver set  100 . 
         [0097]    The coding/decoding converter  205  is a portion provided for executing the coding process onto data and commands to be sent and for executing the decoding process onto the data and commands received, for protecting from unfair or wrongful obtaining of the data on the way, when transmitting the broadcast program data and the various commands between the output device and the recording apparatus and so on, which are connected to the present broadcast receiver set  100 . 
         [0098]    The AV data outputting portion  206  is a portion provide for sending the broadcasting program data to the output device and the recording apparatus which are connected to the present digital broadcast receiver set  100 . 
         [0099]    The controller portion  207  is a portion for totally controlling the operations of various portions in the present digital broadcast receiver set  100 . 
         [0100]    The command input/output portion  208  is a portion provided for sending and receiving the various commands between the output device and/or the recording apparatus, which are connected to the present digital broadcast receiver set  100 . 
         [0101]    The charge information managing portion  209  is a portion provided for managing the information relating to the charges when viewing and recording the pay broadcast program and/or the PPV. 
         [0102]    The modem portion  210  is a portion provided for sending a program request instruction and/or the charge information to the broadcast provider. 
         [0103]    The timer program managing portion  211  is a portion provided for managing the timer program information in a timer programming process of viewing and recording the broadcast programs. 
         [0104]    The receiving contract managing portion  212  is a portion for managing the information relating to the receiving contract between the broadcast provider and the user or viewer. The output destination supervising portion  213  is a portion for supervising the device(s) and apparatus(es) to which the broadcast program data is outputted from the present digital broadcast receiver set  100 , at present. 
         [0105]    And, the certify processing portion  214  is a portion provided for certifying that it is a product regularly manufactured under an approval, to which apparatus the broadcast program data is outputted, (i.e., that the apparatus does not view the programs illegally nor copy unfairly). 
         [0106]    One of the features of the present invention lies in that, within the present digital broadcast receiver set  110   a,  there are provided the designated program divider portion  203 , the receiving contract managing portion  212 , and the output destination supervising portion  213 , thereby enabling protection of the broadcast programs from the illegal viewing and/or the unfair recording thereof. 
         [0107]    Next, with reference to  FIG. 3 , the constructions of the digital TVs  110   a - 110   c  of  FIG. 1  will be explained. However, all of those are same in the construction thereof, therefore, here will be explained the construction of only one of them, as that of the digital TV  110 . 
         [0108]    The digital TV  110 , as the one example of the present invention, comprises an AV data input portion  301 , a coding/decoding conversion portion  302 , a decoder portion  303 , a video DA portion  304 , an audio DA portion  305 , a command input/output portion  306 , a controller portion  307 , a timer program managing portion  308 , a certify processing portion  309 , a reproduced output managing portion  310 , and an alarm processing portion  311 . 
         [0109]    The AV data input portion  301  is a portion provided for sending and receiving the video audio data from the digital broadcast receiver set and/or the recording apparatus, which are connected to the present digital TV  110 . 
         [0110]    The coding/decoding conversion portion  302  is provided for executing the coding process on the data and commands to be sent or for executing the decoding process on the data and commands to be received, for protecting them from the unfair obtaining on the way, when sending and/or receiving the broadcasting program data and/or the various commands between the digital broadcast receiver set and the recording apparatus, which are connected to the present digital TV(s)  110 . 
         [0111]    The decoder portion  303  is provided for decoding the compressed video/audio data to be extended into the original video/audio data. 
         [0112]    The video DA portion  304  is provided for converting the video data which is extended by the decoder portion  303  into an analogue video signal to be outputted. 
         [0113]    The audio DA portion  305  is provided for converting the audio data which is extended by the decoder portion  303  into an analogue audio signal to be outputted. 
         [0114]    The command input/output portion  306  is provided for sending and receiving the various commands between the digital broadcast receiver set and the recording apparatus which are connected to the present digital TV  110 . 
         [0115]    The controller portion  307  is provided for totally controlling operations of various portions in the present digital TV  110 . 
         [0116]    The timer program managing portion  308  is provided for managing timer program information in the process of timer programming for the timer view (i.e., the viewing with use of the timer) of the broadcast programs. 
         [0117]    The certify processing portion  309  is provided for executing the certifying process to decide whether the apparatus, i.e., the digital broadcast receiver set or the recording apparatus, is regularly certified and is produced or not. 
         [0118]    The reproduced output managing portion  310  is provided for deciding whether the present digital TV  110  is reproducing the charge or pay broadcasting program or not at present. 
         [0119]    The alarm processing portion  311  is provided for notifying that the broadcast program which is designated by the user ‘is unable to be viewed, or for notifying that the viewing at the present time will be interrupted. 
         [0120]    In the same manner, with reference to  FIG. 4 , the construction of the digital VTR  120  of  FIG. 1  will be explained. Further, the DVD  130  has also similar construction thereto. 
         [0121]    The digital VTR  120  comprises an AV data input/output portion  410 , a coding/decoding conversion portion  420 , a recording/reproducing portion  430 , a command input/output portion  440 , a controller portion  450 , a recording management portion  460 , an alarm processing portion  470 , a timer program managing portion  480 , and a certify processing portion  490 . 
         [0122]    The AV data input portion  401  is a portion provided for sending and receiving the video audio data between the digital broadcast receiver set and/or the recording apparatus, which are connected to the present digital VTR  120 . 
         [0123]    The coding/decoding conversion portion  420  is a portion being same to the coding/decoding (scrambling/de-scrambling) conversion portion  302  in the above-mentioned present digital TV  110 . 
         [0124]    The recording/reproducing portion  430  is a portion provided for executing the recording and reproducing of the video/audio data received. 
         [0125]    The command input/output portion  440  is a portion same to the command input/output portion  306  in the above-mentioned present digital TV  110 . 
         [0126]    The controller portion  450  is a portion provided for totally control the operations of various portions in the present digital VTR  120 . 
         [0127]    The recording management portion  460  is a portion for deciding whether the present digital VTR is recording the charge or pay program at present or not. 
         [0128]    The alarm processing portion  470  is provided for notifying that the broadcast program which is designated by the user is unable to be recorded, or for notifying that the recording at the present time will be interrupted. 
         [0129]    The timer program managing portion  480  is provided for managing timer program information in a process of programming the timer recording of the broadcast programs. 
         [0130]    The certify processing portion  490  is same to the certify processing portion  309  in the above-mentioned present digital TV  110 . 
         [0131]    Next, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the contents of a receiving contract information data  500  which are controlled or managed by the receiving contract managing portion  212  in the digital broadcast receiver set  100 . 
         [0132]    The receiving contract information data  500  is composed of a contract ID  510 , a receiving contract channel  520 , a number of the viewing contracts  530 , and a number of recording contracts  540 . 
         [0133]    The contract ID  510  is an only one identifier for identifying to be the user with whom the broadcasting provider made the receiving contract (i.e., the digital broadcast receiver set  100 ), and it is determined when the receiving contract is made. 
         [0134]    The receiving contract channel  520  indicates the channel through which the user is able to view or record the programs upon the receiving contract identified by the contract ID  510 . In this example, the contracts are made for two of the channel  210  (CH  210 ) and the channel  430  (CH  430 ). 
         [0135]    The number of viewing contracts  530  indicates a number of the output apparatuses on which the broadcast program data can be seen or viewed at the same time by the user through the receiving contract channel  520 . In this example, the channel  210  can be viewed on two (2) sets at the same time, and the channel  430  on only one (1) set. 
         [0136]    The recording contract number  540  indicates the number of the recording apparatuses on which the broadcast program data can be outputted to be recorded at the same time through the receiving contract channel  520 . In this example, the channel  210  can be outputted for recording only to one (1) set, while the channel  430  zero (0) set. 
         [0137]    Next, with reference to  FIG. 6 , an example of contents of the output destination status information data, which is managed in the supervising portion  213  of  FIG. 2 , within the digital broadcast receiver set  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0138]    The output destinations status information data  600  is composed of a receiving contract channel  610 , a “viewing apparatus”  620 , and a “recording apparatus”  630 . 
         [0139]    The receiving contract channel  610  is same to the above-mentioned receiving contract channel  520 . Namely, in this example, the channel  210  (CH  210 ) and the channel  430  (CH  430 ) are shown. 
         [0140]    The “viewing apparatus”  620  indicates the only one identifier for identifying the output apparatus to which the broadcast program data on the receiving contract channel  610  is outputted at present, among the plurality of the output apparatuses connected onto the bus  10 . This may be an address of the apparatus which is previously given to each apparatus on the bus. In this example, with the channel  210 , it is indicated that only one (1) set of the apparatuses is outputted at present, and that the broadcast program data is outputted to the output apparatus  621  identified by a Node ID  1 . 
         [0141]    The “recording apparatus”  630  indicates the only one identifier for identifying the recording apparatuses to which the broadcast program data on the receiving contract channel  610  is outputted at present, among the plurality of the recording apparatuses connected onto the bus  10 . This may be an address of the apparatus which is previously given to each apparatus on the bus. In this example, with the channel  210 , it is indicated that only one ( 1 ) set of the apparatuses is recording at present, and that the broadcasting program data is outputted to the output apparatus  631  identified by a Node ID  3 . Here, the output destinations status information data  600  is produced based on the contents of the above-mentioned receiving contract information data  500 , which is managed in the above-mentioned receiving contract managing portion  212  and read into by the output destination supervising portion  213  when an electric power of the above-mentioned digital broadcast receiver set  100  is turned ON. 
         [0142]    Next, with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an explanation will be given on a process in which the digital broadcast receiver set  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  distributes the broadcast programs at the desire of the user to the digital TVs  110   a - 110   c  as the output apparatuses. For easily understanding, it is assumed that the broadcast program provided on the channel  210  is viewed on the digital TV  110   b  and is also recorded onto the DVD  130 , at the present, and a receiving requirement to the channel  210  is newly issued from the digital TV  110   a.    
         [0143]    First of all, with reference to  FIG. 7 , a process of distributing the broadcast programs at the side of the digital broadcast receiver set  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0144]    The digital broadcast receiver set  100 , after being turned ON with the electric power and completing a set-up process thereof, is in a condition of waiting for receiving the channel requirement from the other apparatuses connected with the bus  10  (step  711 ), and then watches whether there is the, channel requirement or not in the command input/output portion  208  of  FIG. 2  (step  712 ). Here, when receiving a distribution requirement of the channel  210  from the digital TV  110   a  of  FIG. 1 , the controller portion  207  of  FIG. 2  reads in the output destinations status information data which are managed in the output destination supervising portion  213  (step  713 ), and checks whether the broadcast program at the desire of the user can be distributed or not within a region of the receiving contract (step  714 ). According to the output destination status information data  600  of  FIG. 6 , the viewing contract number is two (2) with respect to the receiving contract channel  210  (see reference numeral  611  in the figure), and as mentioned previously, in  FIG. 1 , the broadcast program is distributed at present to the digital TV  110   b  (the output apparatus  621 ) and the DVD  130  (the recording apparatus  631 ). Accordingly, the distribution requirement from the digital TV  110   a  of  FIG. 1  is within the range of the contracted viewing number, therefore it is possible to distribute the broadcast program, then the fact is notified to the digital TV  110   a  of  FIG. 1  through the command input/output portion  208  of  FIG. 2 . And, in the certify processing portion  214  of  FIG. 2 , it is certified whether the digital TV  110   a  is the apparatus that is regularly certified and produced or not (i.e., whether it is the apparatus contributing the illegal viewing or not) (step  715 ), and if it is decided to be the regular or proper apparatus then is written into the “viewing apparatus”  622  in the above-mentioned output status information data  600  by the apparatus ID indicative of the digital TV  110   a  of  FIG. 1  (step  716 ). Then, the decoding process is treated upon the broadcast program data on the channel  210  in the coding/decoding conversion portion  205 , and it is distributed from the AV data output portion  206  to the digital TV  110   a  of  FIG. 1  (step  717 ). After the distribution, it turns back into the condition of waiting for receiving the channel requirement (step  711 ). Next, following the processes mentioned in the above, when the distribution requirement of the channel  210  is received from the digital TV  110   c  of  FIG. 1 , in the same manner mentioned in the above, the processes in the steps  713  and  714  are executed. As a result of this, it exceeds the viewable contract number two (2) of the receiving contract channel  210 , therefore it is impossible to distribute the broadcast program and then that fact is notified to the digital TV  110   c  of  FIG. 1  (step  718 ). Then, it is checked whether there is a requirement to alter or change the present distribution designation or not from the digital TV  110   c  (step  719 ). If there is no altering requirement, the step turns back into the condition of waiting for receiving the channel requirement (step  711 ), while if there is the altering requirement, a process for altering or changing the distribution designation is executed (step  720 ). In more detail of this altering process will be described later with referring to  FIG. 9 . 
         [0145]    Next, with referring to  FIG. 8 , an explanation will be given on a process of receiving and reproducing the broadcasting program at the desire the user in the digital TV  110   a  and  110   c.    
         [0146]    First, when the channel is selected by the user with use of the input device, such as a remote controller or the like (step  800 ), the digital TV  110   a  of  FIG. 1  issues a command for requiring the broadcast program on the channel to be distributed to it at the desire of the user, through the command input/output portion  306  of  FIG. 3  to the digital broadcasting receiver  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  (step  810 ). Then, the determination is made whether the broadcast program is distributed from the digital broadcast receiver set  100  or not (step  820 ). As the result of this, as was mentioned previously, since the distribution requirement of the digital TV  110   a  is accepted in the digital broadcast receiver set  100 , the digital TV  110   a  receives the decision that the distribution is possible. After that, the certify processing is executed between the digital broadcast receiver set  100  (step  830 ), and the AV data input portion  301  of  FIG. 3  receives the code-processed broadcast program data which is distributed from the digital broadcast receiver set  100  (step  840 ). Then, the removal of the coding onto the broadcast program data is executed in the coding/decoding portion  302 , and then is divided into the video data and the audio data in the decoder portion  303 . Thereby, the video data and the audio data are outputted to the user at the video DA portion  304  and the audio DA portion  305 , respectively (step  850 ). 
         [0147]    Next, an explanation will be given on a case where the digital TV  110   c  of  FIG. 1  issues the distribution requirement of the broadcast program. In those steps  800  through  820 , the same processes as mentioned in the above are executed. Since the digital broadcast receiver set  100  refuses the following distribution requirement received from the digital TV  110   c,  the digital TV  110   c  receives the notice that it cannot distribute in the step  820 . Then, the digital TV  110   c  notifies to the user by displaying the alarm or warning display screen noticing that the desired broadcast program cannot be viewed, or audibly explaining or indicating the alarm or warning in the alarm processing portion  311  (step  860 ). And, it is decided whether the requirement for alternating or changing the present output destination of the digital broadcast receiver set  100  is instructed from the user or not (step  870 ). As the result of this, if there is a requirement of interrupting the viewing of either one of the digital TV  110  an and  110   b,  which are presently outputting the view, from the user since the user insists to view with the digital TV  110   c,  the requirement for alternating or changing the output destination is issued to the digital broadcasting receiver  100  (step  880 ), thereby executing the alternating or changing process of the output destination (step  890 ). More detail of the alternating or changing process will be mentioned later with referring to  FIG. 10 . While, in the step  870 , the process is ended in the case where the alternation or change of the output designation is not instructed from the user. 
         [0148]    Next, with referring to  FIG. 9 , the detail of the alternating or changing process of the distribution destination for the broadcast programs (i.e., in the step  720 ) at the side of the digital broadcast receiver set  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  will be explained. 
         [0149]    The digital broadcast receiver set  100  reads in the contents of the output status information data  600  of  FIG. 6 , which is managed in the output destination supervising portion  213  of  FIG. 2 , when it receives the requirement for alternating or changing the distribution destination for the broadcast program from the digital TV  110   c  of  FIG. 1 , and obtains the information relating to the apparatus to which the output is presently provided (step  910  in  FIG. 9 ). Then, it sends the information to the digital TV  110   c  so as to require it to select the apparatus to be interrupted with the output, among the apparatuses (step  920 ). And, it decides whether the apparatus to be interrupted is selected by the user or not (step  930 ). As the result of this, when no apparatus to be interrupted is selected by the digital TV  110   c,  it turns back into the condition of waiting for receiving the channel requirement (step  711 ). When the apparatus to be interrupted is selected by the digital TV  110   c , for example, when the digital TV  110   a  is selected, first of all to the digital TV  110   a  is given the notice that the present distribution of program will be interrupted and the program distribution is interrupted directly after that or after a few minutes later than that. And, the data relating to the digital TV  110   a,  which is described in the output status information data  600 , is deleted (step  940 ). Then the processes after the above-mentioned certify processing (the step  715 ) are executed. 
         [0150]    Next, with referring to  FIG. 10 , detailed explanation will be given on the process (the step  890 ) of alternating or changing the distribution destination of the broadcast program at the side of the digital TV  110   c  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0151]    The digital TV  110   c  displays a screen listing up the apparatuses which are presently used (step  1010 ) on the basis of the information relating to the present output destination which is sent simultaneously, when it receives the selection requirement of the apparatus to be interrupted from the digital broadcast receiver set  100 , and lets the user to select the apparatus to be interrupted among them (step  1020 ). Then, it notifies to the digital broadcast receiver set  100  on the apparatus which is selected (step  1030 ). 
         [0152]    Here, an example of the alarming or warning screen  1100  displayed to the user by the digital TV  110   c  of  FIG. 1  in the step  860  of  FIG. 8  is shown in  FIG. 11 . On the displayed screen  1100 , if the user selects an item “complete process”  1110 , the process of requiring the program distribution is completed. 
         [0153]    If the user selects an item “interrupt apparatus now used”  1120 , a list-up screen  1200  of the apparatuses which are presently used as shown in  FIG. 12  is displayed in the step  1010 . On the screen  1200 , if the user instructs &lt;return&gt;  1220 , the screen turns back to the screen  1100 . If the user selects the apparatus to be interrupted and instructs &lt;determine&gt;  1210 , it waits for the distribution of the desired broadcast program. 
         [0154]    Further, in the step  940 , the digital TV  110   a,  to which the interruption of program distribution is notified from the digital broadcast receiver set  100 , displays such the alarming or warning screen  1300  as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0155]    In the example mentioned in the above, there are mainly mentioned about the processes of program distribution among the digital broadcast receiver set  100  and the digital TVs  110   a - 110   c.    
         [0156]    Next, a brief explanation will be given of the process of program distribution with the digital VTR  120  or the DVD  130 . 
         [0157]    First, it is assumed that the digital VTR  120  is recording the broadcast program of the channel  210 , and that the apparatus ID relating to the digital VTR  120  is described into the “recording apparatus” within the output status information data  600  of the output destination supervising portion  213  of the digital broadcast receiver set  100 . Here, if there is a recording requirement of the same broadcast program from the DVD  130 , the above-mentioned recording requirement is not accepted since the recording contract number is one (1). 
         [0158]    From the above, in the present embodiment, the designated program dividing portion  203  of  FIG. 2 , the receiving contract managing portion  212  and the output destination supervising portion  213  are provided in the digital broadcast receiver set  100 , with in the system where the digital broadcast receiver set  100 , the output apparatuses  110  ( 110   a - 110   c ) and the recording apparatuses  120  and  130  are connected to the control bus  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and the alarm processing portions  311  and  470  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  are provided in the output apparatuses  110  ( 110   a - 110   c ) and the recording apparatuses of  FIG. 1 . And, as mentioned in the above, if the digital broadcast receiver  100  receives the output requirement of broadcast program, it checks whether the requirement should be accepted or rejected on the contents of the receiving contract. Thereby, it is possible to protect the digital broadcast programs from the illegal viewing or the unfair recording with ease. 
         [0159]    Here, the output destination supervising portion  213  of the digital broadcast receiver set  100  supervises only the number of the present output destinations, but not the information relating to the output designations. In this instance, a requirement for obtaining the information relating to the present output condition or the recording condition and the programs is issued directly to the reproduced output managing portion  310  and the recording management portion  460  of the each apparatus connected onto the bus  10 , so as to obtain the information relating to the each apparatus. Further, in the present embodiment, the digital broadcast receiving system can be constructed by only one (1) set of the digital broadcast receiver set  100 , therefore, there is no necessity of purchasing the plurality of digital broadcast receiver sets, omitting the labor and time for making the receiving contracts which are separately necessary, thereby reducing the burden on the user. 
         [0160]    However, the digital broadcast receiver set  100  of  FIG. 1  may be combined as one body together with either one of the output apparatus and the recording apparatus, or with both of them, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
         [0161]    In the example of  FIG. 14 , the digital TV  1400 , which has a built-in digital broadcast receiver set in it, distributes the programs to the other output apparatus(es) and/or the recording apparatus(es). In this manner, the receiver set  100 , which is combined with or built-in within the output apparatus and/or the recording apparatus, distributes the programs to the other output apparatus(es) and/or the recording apparatus(es). 
         [0162]      FIG. 15  shows one example of the digital TV  1400  built in with the digital broadcast receiver set, and it is constructed by combining the digital broadcasting receiver  100  of  FIG. 2  and the digital TV  110  of  FIG. 3 . In this manner, the receiver set formed with the output apparatus and the recording apparatus as one body can be constructed by combining the digital broadcast receiver set  100  of  FIG. 2 , the digital TV  110  of  FIG. 3 , and the digital VTR  120  of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0163]    Furthermore, it can be also conceived that a priority is set up in advance, so that the digital TV will not interrupted with the present output from the digital broadcast receiver set  100 , in the similar manner as in the timer programming operation. 
         [0164]    According to the invention mentioned in the above, the following effects can be obtained: 
         [0000]    (1) Broadcasting program can be distributed or transmitted to the plurality of apparatuses at the same time by one receiver for the digital broadcasting, and the digital broadcasting programs can be viewed in a home or in a condominium including several households therein, efficiently and economically.
 
(2) A control or management of the receiving contracts becomes easy to be done.
 
(3) Illegal viewing and unfair recording of the charge or pay programs, including the PPV broadcasting program, can be easily inhibited thereby.
 
         [0165]    While we have shown and described several embodiments in accordance with our invention, it should be understood that disclosed embodiments are susceptible of changes and modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, we do not intended to be bound by the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications fall within the ambit of the appended claims.