Patent ID: 7657904

Claim:
A program viewing control apparatus comprising: a detection unit for detecting rating information regarding a viewing lock level of contents, which is added to data of the contents; a storing unit for storing rating information regarding the viewing lock level; a control unit for locking the contents based on comparison between the rating information detected by the detection unit and the rating information stored in the storing unit; a selection unit for inputting an input signal for updating the rating information stored in the storing unit and inputting a selection signal for selecting whether to limit viewing of the contents or not when contents video based on data of the contents is displayed on a display section; a display control unit for causing the rating information stored in the storing unit to be displayed on the display section, when the input signal for updating the rating information stored in the storing unit is inputted from the selection unit; an update unit for updating the rating information stored in the storing unit so that the viewing of contents having not less than the viewing lock level of the contents is limited when the selection signal for limiting the viewing of the contents is inputted from the selection unit, and for updating the rating information stored in the storing unit so that the viewing of contents having not more than the viewing lock level of the contents is allowed when the selection signal for not limiting the viewing of the contents is inputted from the selection unit; and a personal identification information input unit for inputting personal identification information; wherein in case that the control unit does not limit the viewing of the contents, the update unit verifies the personal identification information inputted from the personal identification information input unit and updates the rating information stored in the storing unit based on the selection signal inputted from the selection unit when the personal identification information inputted from the personal identification information input unit matches with personal identification information which is previously registered; and wherein in case that the control unit limits the viewing of the contents, the update unit verifies the personal identification information inputted from the personal identification information input unit and cancels the limiting of the viewing of the contents when the personal identification information inputted from the personal identification information input unit matches with the personal identification information which is previously registered.