Abstract:
A digital image signal processing apparatus includes a storage device to store a plurality of identification information for identifying the respective the plurality of recording media, an acquiring device to acquire a registration file describing identification information of the respective recording media in initial registration, when there occurs a request to execute at least one of writing and reading of a digital image signal, a detector which detects change in the identification information of the designated recording medium by comparing an identification information corresponding to the designated recording medium in the registration file with the corresponding identification information stored in the storage device, and a controller which displays on the display a message indicating failure in access to the recording medium, when the detector detects change in the identification information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-280695, filed Sep. 27, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to a digital image signal processing apparatus, which selectively performs reading and writing of any digital image signal to a designated recording medium among a plurality of recording medium, such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a memory card, and displays the digital image signal which is being read or written on a television set, and a controlling method used in the digital image signal processing apparatus.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     As is generally known, digitalization of television broadcasting has recently been promoted. For example, in Japan, terrestrial digital broadcasting has been started, as well as satellite digital broadcasting such as BS (Broadcasting Satellite) digital broadcasting and CS (Communication Satellite) 110° digital broadcasting.  
         [0006]     Digital broadcasting receivers which receive such digital television broadcasting can record received programs in digital form, and reproduce the recorded programs, by connecting digital recording apparatuses of a large capacity such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) thereto.  
         [0007]     Further, currently, a plurality of digital recording apparatuses are connected to one digital broadcasting receiver to form a network, and thereby the digital broadcasting receiver can designate any one of the digital recording apparatuses to have it record broadcasting contents, and designate any one of the digital recording apparatuses to have it reproduce a recorded broadcasting contents. Further, there have been proposed a digital broadcasting receiver having an Image displaying function which a plurality of recorded picture on the memory card.  
         [0008]     In most cases, in the digital broadcasting receiving apparatuses, digital recording apparatuses on the network or software which records broadcasting content is managed by NetBios name or IP (Internet Protocol) address (for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Pub. No. 2003-299008).  
         [0009]     In the meantime, in the digital broadcasting receivers, it is probable that the NetBios name or the IP address is automatically changed not only by the user but also due to change of the network environment. Therefore, after a digital recording apparatus has stored a broadcasting content, it is possible that the receiver fails to access the digital recording apparatus storing the content, and that the receiver misidentifies another digital recording apparatus as the digital recording apparatus storing the content. The user cannot identify the cause of such problems.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The object of the present invention is to provide a digital image signal processing apparatus, which can inform the user of change in identification information when a digital image signal is recorded in or reproduced from a recording medium whose identification information has been changed, even if identification information for identifying the digital recording apparatus is changed, and a controlling method used in the digital image signal processing apparatus.  
         [0011]     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital image signal processing apparatus selectively performing reading and writing of any digital image signal to a designated recording medium among a plurality of recording media, to each of which a digital image signal is writable, and displaying the digital image signal which is being at least one of read and written on a display, the apparatus comprising: a storage device to store a plurality of identification information for identifying the respective recording media; an acquiring device to acquire a registration file describing identification information of the respective recording media in initial registration, when there occurs a request to execute at least one of writing and reading of a digital image signal, the request designating one of the recording media; a detector which detects change in the identification information of the designated recording medium by comparing an identification information corresponding to the designated recording medium in the registration file with the corresponding identification information stored in the storage device; and a controller which displays on the display a message indicating failure in access to the recording medium, when the detector detects change in the identification information.  
         [0012]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a controlling method used in a digital image signal processing apparatus selectively performing reading and writing of any digital image signal to a designated recording medium among a plurality of recording media, to each of which a digital image signal is writable, and displaying the digital image signal which is being at least one of read and written on a display, the method comprising: storing a plurality of identification information for identifying the respective information media on a nonvolatile memory; acquiring a registration file describing identification information items of the respective recording media in initial registration, when there occurs a request to execute at least one of writing and reading of a digital image signal, the request designating one of the recording media; comparing an identification information corresponding to the designated recording medium in the registration file with the corresponding identification information stored in the nonvolatile memory, and thereby detecting change in the identification information of the designated recording medium; and displaying on the display a message indicating failure in access to the recording medium, when the change in the identification information of the designated recording medium is detected.  
         [0013]     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0014]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically illustrating a digital television broadcasting receiver according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and an example of a network system including the digital television broadcasting receiver as a main part.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a main signal processing system of the digital television broadcasting receiver of the first embodiment.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating operation in which the digital television broadcasting receiver accesses a designated HDD.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a registration procedure of registering a storage ID by the digital television broadcasting receiver in the first embodiment.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an access procedure of accessing a designated HDD by the digital television broadcasting receiver in the first embodiment.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a main signal processing system of a digital television broadcasting receiver according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of storage contents of a guidance memory in the digital television broadcasting receiver of the second embodiment.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an access procedure of accessing a designated HDD by the digital television broadcasting receiver in the second embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to drawings.  
       FIRST EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an appearance of a digital television broadcasting receiver  11  to be explained as a first embodiment of the present invention, and an example of a network system including the digital television broadcasting receiver  11  as main part.  
         [0025]     Specifically, the digital television broadcasting receiver  11  mainly comprises a thin cabinet  12 , and a support stand  13  which supports the cabinet  12  in a standing state. Further, the cabinet  12  is provided with a flat-panel image display  14  formed of a liquid crystal display panel and the like, a speaker  15 , an operating section  16 , and a light-receiving section  18  which receives operation information transmitted from a remote controller  17 .  
         [0026]     A first memory card  19 , such as an SD (Secure Digital) memory card, an MMC (Multimedia Card) and a memory stick, is removably inserted into the digital television broadcasting receiver  11 . Information such as programs and photographs are recorded on and reproduced from the first memory card  19 .  
         [0027]     Further, a second memory card (IC card)  20  recording contract information and the like is removably inserted into the digital television broadcasting receiver  11 . Information is recorded on and reproduced from the second memory card  20 .  
         [0028]     The digital television broadcasting receiver  11  also comprises a first LAN (Local Area Network) terminal  21 , a second LAN terminal  22 , a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal  23  and an i. Link terminal  24 .  
         [0029]     Among the terminals, the first LAN terminal  21  is used as a port dedicated to a LAN-ready HDD. The first LAN terminal  21  is used to record and reproduce information on and from a LAN-ready HDD  25 , which is a NAS (Network Attached Storage) connected to the LAN terminal  21 , by Ethernet (registered trademark).  
         [0030]     As described above, providing the first LAN terminal  21  as a port dedicated to a LAN-ready HDD enables stable information recording of programs with a high-definition television image quality on the HDD  25 .  
         [0031]     The second LAN terminal  22  is used as a general LAN-ready port using the Ethernet. For example, the second LAN terminal  22  is connected to apparatuses such as a LAN-ready HDD  27 , a PC (Personal Computer)  28 , an HDD-included DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) recorder  29  through a hub  26 , and is used to perform information transmission with these apparatuses.  
         [0032]     With respect to the DVD recorder  29 , the digital information of the DVD recorder  29  transmitted through the second LAN terminal  22  is only controlling information. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a dedicated analog transmission line  30 , to transmit analog image and sound information between the DVD recorder  29  and the digital television broadcasting receiver  11 .  
         [0033]     Further, the second LAN terminal  22  is connected to a network  32  such as the Internet through a broadband router  31  connected to the hub  26 , and is used to perform information transmission with a PC  33  and a cellular phone  34  and the like through the network  32 .  
         [0034]     The USB terminal  23  is used as a general USB-ready port. For example, the USB terminal  23  is connected to USB apparatuses such as a cellular phone  36 , a digital camera  37 , a card reader/writer  38  for a memory card, an HDD  39 , and a keyboard  40 , through a hub  35 , and is used to perform information transmission with these USB apparatuses.  
         [0035]     The i. Link terminal  24  is connected to an AV-HDD  41  and a D (Digital)-VHS (Video Home System)  42  in series, and is used to perform information transmission with these apparatuses.  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  illustrates a main signal processing system of the digital television broadcasting receiver  11 . Specifically, satellite digital television broadcasting signals received by an antenna  43  for receiving BS/CS digital broadcasting are supplied to a satellite digital broadcasting tuner  45  through an input terminal  44 , and thereby a broadcasting signal of a desired channel is selected from the signals.  
         [0037]     The broadcasting signal selected by the tuner  45  is supplied to a PSK (Phase Shift Keying) demodulator  46 , demodulated to a digital image signal and a digital sound signal, and thereafter outputted to a signal processing section  47 .  
         [0038]     Terrestrial digital television broadcasting signals received by an antenna  48  for receiving terrestrial broadcasting are supplied to a terrestrial digital broadcasting tuner  50  through an input terminal  49 , and thereby a broadcasting signal of a desired channel is selected from the signals.  
         [0039]     The broadcasting signal selected by the tuner  50  is supplied to an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) demodulator  51 , demodulated to a digital image signal and a digital sound signal, and outputted to the signal processing section  47 .  
         [0040]     Terrestrial analog television broadcasting signals received by the antenna  48  for receiving terrestrial broadcasting are supplied to a terrestrial analogue broadcasting tuner  52  through the input terminal  49 , and thereby a broadcasting signal of a desired channel is selected from the signals. The broadcasting signal selected by the tuner  52  is supplied to an analogue demodulator  53 , demodulated to an analogue image signal and an analogue sound signal, and outputted to the signal processing section  47 .  
         [0041]     The signal processing section  47  selectively performs a predetermined digital signal processing to the digital image signals and the digital sound signals provided from the PSK demodulator  46  and the OFDM demodulator  51 , and outputs them to a graphic processing section  54  and a sound processing section  55 .  
         [0042]     A plurality of (4 in the illustrated example) input terminals  56   a ,  56   b ,  56   c  and  56   d  are connected to the signal processing section  47 . Each of the input terminals  56   a  to  56   d  enables input of analogue image signals and analogue sound signals from the outside of the digital television broadcasting receiver  11 .  
         [0043]     The signal processing section  47  selectively digitizes analogue image signals and analogue sound signals supplied from the analogue demodulator  53  and the input terminals  56   a  to  56   d , performs a predetermined digital signal processing to the digitized image signals and sound signals, and outputs them to the graphic processing section  54  and the sound processing section  55 .  
         [0044]     Among them, the graphic processing section  54  has a function of superposing an OSD (On Screen Display) signal generated by an OSD signal generating section  57  on the digital image signal supplied from the signal processing section  47 , and outputting the superposed signal. The graphic processing section  54  can selectively output the output image signal of the signal processing section  47  and the output OSD signal of the OSD signal generating section  57 . Further, the graphic processing section  54  can output both the signals in combination such that each of them form a half of the screen.  
         [0045]     The digital image signal outputted from the graphic processing section  54  is supplied to an image processing section  58 . The image processing section  58  converts the input digital image signal into an analogue image signal in a format which enables display thereof on the image display  14 . Then, the image processing section  58  outputs the converted signal to the image display  14  to display it as an image, and guides it to the outside through an output terminal  59 .  
         [0046]     The sound processing section  55  converts the input digital sound signal into an analogue sound signal in a format which enables reproduction thereof by the speaker  15 . Then, the sound processing section  55  outputs the converted signal to the speaker  15  to reproduce it as sound, and guides it to the outside through an output terminal  60 .  
         [0047]     A control section  61  controls all the operations of the digital television broadcasting receiver  11 , including the above receiving operations. The control section  61  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like. The control section  61  receives operation information from the operating section  16 , or receives operation information transmitted from the remote controller  17  through the light-receiving section  18 , and controls the sections of the receiver  11  to reflect the operation indicated by the operation information.  
         [0048]     In this example, the control section  61  mainly comprises a ROM (Read Only Memory)  62  storing a control program to be executed by the CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory)  63  which provides a work area to the CPU, and a nonvolatile memory  64  storing various setting information and control information and the like.  
         [0049]     The control section  61  is connected to a card holder  66 , into which the first memory card  19  is can be fitted, with a card I/F (Interface)  65  interposed therebetween. Thereby, the control section  61  can perform information transmission with the first memory card  19  fitted into the card holder  66  through the card I/F  65 .  
         [0050]     Further, the control section  61  is connected to a card holder  68 , into which the second memory card  20  can be fitted, with a card I/F  67  interposed therebetween. Thereby, the control section  61  can perform information transmission with the second memory card  20  fitted into the card holder  68  through the card I/F  67 .  
         [0051]     The control section  61  is also connected to the first LAN terminal  21  through a communication I/F  69 . Thereby, the control section  61  can perform information transmission with the LAN-ready HDD  25  connected to the first LAN terminal  21 , through the communication I/F  69 . In this case, the control section  61  has a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function, and performs control by assigning an IP (Internet Protocol) address to the LAN-ready HDD  25  connected to the first LAN terminal  21 .  
         [0052]     The control section  61  is also connected to the second LAN terminal  22  through a communication I/F  70 . Thereby, the control section  61  can perform information transmission with the apparatuses (see  FIG. 1 ) connected to the second LAN terminal  22  through the communication I/F  70 .  
         [0053]     The control section  61  is also connected to the USB terminal  23  through a USB I/F  71 . Thereby, the control section  61  can perform information transmission with the apparatuses (see  FIG. 1 ) connected to the USB terminal  23  through the USB I/F  71 .  
         [0054]     The control section  61  is also connected to the i. Link terminal  24  through an i. Link I/F  72 . Thereby, the control section  61  can perform information transmission with the apparatuses (see  FIG. 1 ) connected to the i. Link terminal  24  through the i. Link I/F  72 .  
         [0055]     In the first embodiment, the HDD  25  stores a registration file describing storage IDs (including IP addresses and apparatus names) assigned to the respective HDD  25 , HDD  27 , PC  28 , DVD recorder  29  in initial registration.  
         [0056]     Further, the nonvolatile memory  64  stores respective storage IDs of the HDD  25 , HDD  27 , PC  28  and DVD recorder  29 .  
         [0057]     Furthermore, the control section  61  is provided with a file acquiring function  611 , a determining function  612 , and a display controlling function  613 , as functions related to the present invention. The file acquiring function  611  acquires a registration file from the HDD  25 , if there occurs a request of executing any one of recording or reproduction of a digital image signal, which designates the HDD  27 , for example.  
         [0058]     The determining function  612  compares the storage ID of the HDD  27  in the registration file with the storage ID of the HDD  27  stored in the nonvolatile memory  64 , and thereby determines whether the storage IDs match.  
         [0059]     If the storage IDs match, the display controlling function  613  executes recording or reproduction of the digital image signal to the HDD  27 . If the storage IDs do not match, the display controlling function  613  displays a message indicating it with the storage IDs on the image display  14  by an OSD.  
         [0060]     Next, processing operation in the above structure is explained.  
         [0061]     Suppose that the HDD  27  is connected to the digital television broadcasting receiver  11  as shown in  FIG. 3 , for example. Then, the control section  61  of the digital television broadcasting receiver  11  enters a registration mode, and executes the procedure shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0062]     First, the control section  61  displays a storage ID input guidance picture on the image display  14  (step ST 4   a ). When the user inputs a storage ID of the PC  28  in this state, the control section  61  registers the input storage ID in the registration file stored in the HDD  25  (step ST 4   b ), and determines whether the registration succeeded or not (step ST 4   c ).  
         [0063]     When the registration ended in failure (No), the control section  61  displays an error message on the image display  14  (step ST 4   d ). If the registration succeeded (Yes), the control section  61  ends the registration.  
         [0064]     In the meantime, if a digital image signal is to be recorded on, for example, the HDD  27 , the control section  61  executes the procedure shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0065]     When recording is performed, the user places the receiver  11  in a recording mode, by operating the remote controller  17 . Then, the control section  61  displays the input guidance picture on the image display  14 , and determines whether the user inputs a designated storage ID (step ST 5   a ).  
         [0066]     If the storage ID designating the HDD  27  is input (Yes), the control section  61  reads the registration file from the HDD  27  (step ST 5   b ), compares the designated storage ID in the registration file with the storage ID stored in the nonvolatile memory  64 , and thereby determines whether the storage ID has been changed or not (step ST 5   c ).  
         [0067]     If the storage IDs match (Yes), the control section  61  executes normal access to the designated HDD  27  (step ST 5   d ). If the storage ID has been changed (No), the control section  61  supplies a message indicating change of the ID and the storage IDs to the image display  14 , and display them in an OSD form on the image display  14  (step ST 5   e ). Therefore, this display notifies the user of change in the storage. ID of the HDD  27  designated.  
         [0068]     Further, if the user input ends in failure in the step ST 5   a , the control section  61  supplies a message indicating the input failure and the storage IDs to the image display  14 , and display them in an OSD form on the image display  14 .  
         [0069]     As described above, according to the first embodiment, storage IDs of the HDD  25 , HDD  27 , PC  28  and DVD recorder  29  to be connected to the digital television broadcasting receiver  11  are registered in file form in the HDD  25  in initial registration, and the storage IDs of the HDD  25 , HDD  27 , PC  28  and DVD recorder  29  are registered in the nonvolatile memory  64 . When there occurs a request, which designates the HDD  27 , to execute recording or reproduction of a digital image signal, the control section  61  acquires the registration file from the HDD  25  prior to execution thereof, compares the storage ID in the registration file with the storage ID stored in the nonvolatile memory  64 , and determines whether the storage ID has been changed or not. If the storage ID has been changed, the control section  61  displays a message indicating failure in access to the HDD  27  on the image display  14 .  
         [0070]     Therefore, the structure of the first embodiment prevents access to a wrong apparatus, registration of a wrong storage ID, unauthorized change of apparatuses, and unauthorized change of the storage ID. Further, the structure of the first embodiment also prevents recording and reproduction of an improper digital image signal.  
       SECOND EMBODIMENT  
       [0071]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating functions and configuration of a digital television broadcasting receiver  11  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 6 , the same reference numerals are assigned to the same respective members as those in  FIG. 2 , and their detailed explanations are omitted.  
         [0072]     Specifically, a control section  61  is provided with a guidance memory  73 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the guidance memory  73  stores correlation between comparison results of the registration file with the stored contents of the nonvolatile memory  64  and guidance data to be displayed on the image display  14 .  
         [0073]     Further, the registration file stored in the HDD  25  describes not only storage IDs but also the number of initializations of the respective apparatuses corresponding to the storage IDs. Further, the nonvolatile memory  64  stores not only the storage IDs but also information of the number of initializations of the respective apparatuses corresponding to the storage IDs.  
         [0074]     Next, the processing operation in the above structure is explained.  
         [0075]     For example, when a digital image signal is recorded on the HDD  27 , the control section  61  executes processing as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0076]     When recording is performed, the user places the receiver  11  in a recording mode by operating the remote controller  17 . Then, the control section  61  displays an input guidance picture on the image display  14 , and determines whether the user inputs a predetermined storage ID (step ST 8   a ).  
         [0077]     If the storage ID designating the HDD  27  is input (Yes), the control section  61  reads the registration file from the HDD  27  (step ST 8   b ), compares the registration file with the data stored in the nonvolatile memory  64 , and thereby determines whether the storage ID has been changed and the numbers of initializations match with each other (step ST 8   c ).  
         [0078]     If the storage IDs match (Yes), the control section  61  performs normal access to the designated HDD  27  (step ST 8   d ). If the storage ID has been changed (No), the control section  61  reads the corresponding guidance data “Register Again” from the guidance memory  73  (step ST 8   e ), and supplies a message indicating change, the storage IDs and the guidance data to the image display  14  to display them in the OSD form on the image display  14  (step ST 8   f ).  
         [0079]     Further, if the numbers of initializations differ, the control section  61  reads the corresponding guidance data “Initialized” from the guidance memory  73 , and supplies a message indicating that the numbers of initializations differ and the guidance data to the image display  14  to display them in the OSD form on the image display  14  (step ST 8   f ).  
         [0080]     As described above, according to the second embodiment, the control section  61  is provided with the guidance memory  73  which stores guidance data corresponding to the comparison results of the registration file with the registered data of the nonvolatile memory  64 , to display on the image display  14  not only a message indicating failure in access to the designated HDD  27 , but also the reason or corresponding guidance data. This enables the user to understand the cause of the failure and perform an appropriate reattempt operation and the like.  
         [0081]     Further, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to check the number of initializations of the designated HDD  27 , and thereby it is possible to check inappropriate initialization, connection of an unauthorized apparatus, and unauthorized initialization of the apparatuses.  
       OTHER EMBODIMENTS  
       [0082]     The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiments, explained is an example wherein the registration file is stored in the HDD  25 . However, the present invention is not limited to it, but the registration file may be registered in a memory card or the like. This structure enhances the security against unauthorized change of the storage ID.  
         [0083]     The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be variously modified in carrying out it without departing from the gist of the invention. Further, various inventions can be made by combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments according to necessity. For example, some of the constituent elements disclosed in an embodiment may be deleted. Further, constituent elements of different embodiments may be combined.  
         [0084]     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.