Digital information recording apparatus and outputting apparatus

• US 20030026425A1
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Okamoto, Hiroo, Yoshioka, Atsushi, Owashi, Hitoaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/255
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00768 wherein copy control information is used, e.g. for indicating whether a content may be copied freely, no more, once, or never, by setting CGMS, SCMS, or CCI flags

Abstract

A digital information recording apparatus, which solves a conventional problem that, when information of which copying is limited for a recording/reproducing apparatus provided with a plurality of recording circuits is to be copied on or moved to recording media over the authorized number of media.

When information conditioned as “one generation of copies is permitted” is to be copied, it is recorded on one recording medium by one recording circuit or it is recorded once on a plurality of recording media, then reproduction of the information is enabled from only one of those media. The information provider can detect the total number of recording media to which information is to be copied and limit the number of apparatuses enabled for copying. When information conditioned as “No More Copies” is to be moved, it is recorded on one recording medium by one recording circuit or it is recorded once on a plurality of recording media, then all of those recording media but one is disabled to reproduce the information.

Claims

1. A digital information recording apparatus provided with a function for recording inputted digital information on a plurality of recording media, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of recording circuits which record said inputted digital information on said plurality of recording media;

wherein, when the copy control information added to said inputted digital information indicates a limit of copying, the number of recording media for recording said digital information is limited within a predetermined number.

2. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein, when the copy control information added to said digital information indicates that one generation of copies is permitted, the number of recording media for recording said digital information is limited within a predetermined number.

3. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a recording medium for backup recording is not included in the limited number of said recording media.

4. A digital information outputting apparatus capable of outputting digital information to a plurality of external information recording apparatuses, said apparatus comprising:

an authenticating circuit that authenticates said plurality of external information recording apparatuses and detects the total number of recording media mounted in said plurality of external information recording apparatuses; and

an output control circuit that controls the output of said digital information to said plurality of external information recording apparatuses;

wherein, when the copy control information added to said digital information indicates a limit of copying and the total number of recording media mounted in said plurality of external information recording apparatuses detected by said authenticating circuit exceeds said predetermined number, said output control circuit disables the output of said digital information to some of said plurality of external information recording apparatuses.

5. The digital information outputting apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein, when the control information added to said digital information indicates that one generation of copies is permitted, the output of said digital information is disabled for some of said plurality of external information recording apparatuses.

10. The digital information outputting apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said authenticating circuit does not include a recording medium for specific usage, mounted in said plurality of external information recording apparatuses, in said total number of recording media.

6. A digital information recording apparatus provided with a function for recording inputted digital information on a plurality of recording media, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of recording circuits which record said inputted digital information on said plurality of recording media;

wherein, when the copy information added to said inputted digital information indicates a limit of copying, said plurality of recording circuits are enabled to record said digital information on said plurality of recording media, then at least one of said plurality of recording media is enabled to reproduce said digital information while reproduction from other media is disabled.

11. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein, when digital information is recorded on a recording medium for specific usage among said plurality of recording media other than recording medium on which recorded digital information is to be not disabled, reproduction of said digital information recorded on said recording medium for specific usage is not disabled.

12. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein disabling of reproduction in said recording apparatus is done when recording of said digital information is completed or in a predetermined time after said completion.

14. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein disabling of reproduction in said recording apparatus is done when any one of said plurality of recording media is removed from said apparatus or in a predetermined time after said removal.

7. A digital information recording apparatus provided with a function for recording inputted digital information on a plurality of recording media, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of recording circuits which record said inputted digital information on said plurality of recording media;

wherein, when the copy information added to said inputted digital information indicates a limit of copying, only one of said plurality of recording circuits is enabled to record said digital information on one recording medium.

8. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein, when said copy control information indicates a move of digital information of which copying is not permitted, only one of said plurality of recording circuits is enabled to record said digital information on one recording medium.

9. A digital information recording apparatus provided with a function for recording inputted digital information on a plurality of recording media, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of recording circuits which record said inputted digital information on said plurality of recording media;

wherein, when the copy control information added to said digital information indicates a move of digital information of which copying is not permitted, said plurality of recording circuits are enabled to record said digital information on said plurality of recording media, then only one of said plurality of recording media is enabled to reproduce said digital information while reproduction from other media is disabled.

13. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein disabling of reproduction in said recording apparatus is done when recording of said digital information is completed or in a predetermined time after said completion.

15. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein disabling of reproduction in said recording apparatus is done when any one of said plurality of recording media is removed from said apparatus or in a predetermined time after said removal.

16. A digital information recording apparatus capable of recording inputted digital information on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:

a recording circuit which records said inputted digital information on said recording medium;

wherein, when the copy control information added to said inputted digital information indicates a limit of copying, limits the number of copies of said digital information to be made on said recording medium within a predetermined number.

17. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein, when said copy control information indicates that one generation of copies is permitted, the number of copies of said digital information to be made on said recording medium is limited within a predetermined number.

20. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 16;

wherein said digital information is recorded at two copies on said recording medium.

22. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein said apparatus is provided with a plurality of recording circuits which record said inputted digital information on a plurality of recording media.

18. A digital information recording apparatus for recording inputted digital information on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising:

a recording circuit which records said inputted digital information on said recording medium;

wherein, when the copy control information added to said inputted digital information indicates a limit of copying, the number of recording media enabled to record said digital information is limited within a predetermined number.

19. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein, when said copy control information indicates that one general of copies is permitted, the number of recording media enabled to record said digital information is limited within a predetermined number.

21. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein said digital information is recorded at two copies on said recording medium.

23. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein said apparatus is provided with a plurality of recording circuits which record said inputted digital information on a plurality of recording media.

24. A digital information recording apparatus for recording inputted digital information on a recording medium;

wherein said apparatus is provided with a plurality of recording circuits which record said inputted digital information on said recording medium;

wherein, when the copy control information added to said inputted digital information indicates a limit of copying, only one of said plurality of recording circuits is enabled to record said digital information.

25. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 24,

wherein, when said copy control information indicates a move of digital information of which copying is disabled, only one of said plurality of recording circuits is enabled to record said digital information.

26. A digital information recording apparatus for recording inputted digital information on a recording medium,

wherein said digital information includes:

first copy control information that indicates whether or not recording of said digital information on a recording medium is permitted; and

second copy control information that indicates whether or not temporary recording of said digital information is permitted even when said first copy control information indicates prohibition of recording, said temporary recording having a specified retention period for reproduction;

wherein said apparatus is provided with;

a recording circuit which records said digital information on a recording medium;

a detecting circuit for detecting said first and second copy control information included in said digital information; and

a recording control circuit for controlling recording operation of said recording circuit according to a result of detection by said detection circuit;

wherein, when said second copy control information indicates permission of temporary recording having a specified retention period for reproduction, said digital information is recorded on said recording medium.

27. The digital information recording apparatus according to claim 26,

wherein, when said retention period is up after said temporary recording of digital information on said recording medium, reproduction of at least part of said digital information recorded temporarily is disabled.

28. A digital information recording apparatus for recording inputted digital information on a recording medium and reproducing recorded digital information from said recording medium;

wherein said digital information includes;

first copy control information that indicates whether or not recording of said digital information on said recording medium is permitted; and

second copy control information that indicates whether or not temporary recording of said digital information is permitted even when said first copy control information indicates prohibition of recording, said temporary recording having a specified retention period for reproduction;

wherein said apparatus includes;

a recording/reproducing circuit that records said digital information on a recording medium, and reproduces said processed digital information from said recording medium;

a detecting circuit that detects copy control information added to said digital information or control information added to said reproduced digital information; and

a recording control circuit that controls the recording/reproducing operation of said recording/reproducing circuit according to a result of detection by said detecting circuit; and

wherein, when said second copy control information indicates permission of said temporary recording having a specified retention period for reproduction, said digital information is recorded on said recording medium; and

wherein, when said specified retention period is up, output of reproduced information is disabled.

29. The digital information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 28,

wherein, when said second copy control information indicates permission of said temporary recording having a specified retention period for reproduction and said specified retention period still remains after said temporary recording, said reproduced information added an information for prohibiting said temporary recording is outputted.

30. The digital information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 28,

wherein, reproduction of at least part of said digital information is disabled after said specified retention period is up after said temporary recording or after reproduction of temporary-recorded digital information.

31. A digital information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording inputted digital information on a recording medium and reproducing recorded digital information from said recording medium;

wherein said digital information includes;

first copy control information that indicates whether or not recording of said digital information on said recording medium is permitted; and

second copy control information that indicates whether or not temporary recording of said digital information is permitted even when said first copy control information indicates prohibition of recording, said temporary recording having a specified retention period for reproduction; and

third copy control information that specifies said retention period;

wherein said apparatus includes;

a recording/reproducing circuit that records said digital information on a recording medium, and reproduces recorded digital information from said recording medium;

a detecting circuit that detects copy control information added to said digital information or control information added to said reproduced digital information; and

a recording control circuit that controls the recording/reproducing operation of said recording/reproducing circuit according to a result of detection by said detecting circuit; and

wherein, when said second copy control information indicates permission of said temporary recording having a specified retention period for reproduction, said digital information is recorded on said recording medium; and

wherein, when said specified retention period specified by said third copy control information is up, output of reproduced information is disabled.

32. The digital information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein, when said second copy control information indicates permission of said temporary recording having a specified retention period for reproduction and said specified retention period still remains after said temporary recording, said reproduced information added an information for prohibiting said temporary recording is outputted.

33. The digital information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein, reproduction of at least part of said digital information is disabled after said specified retention period is up after said temporary recording or after reproduction of temporary-recorded digital information.

34. A digital information transmitter that transmits digital information to a recording apparatus, said transmitter includes:

a transmitting circuit that adds first copy control information that indicates whether or not recording of said digital information on a recording medium is permitted and second copy control information that indicates whether or not temporary recording of said digital information is permitted even when said first copy control information indicates prohibition of recording, said temporary recording having a specified retention period for reproduction to said digital information to be transmitted.

35. The digital information transmitter according to claim 34,

wherein said transmitting circuit adds third copy control information that specifies said retention period to said digital information to be transmitted.

36. A digital information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording inputted digital information on a recording medium and reproducing recorded digital information from said recording medium;

wherein said digital information includes copy control information that indicates whether or not one generation of copies is permitted;

wherein said apparatus includes;

a recording/reproducing circuit that records said digital information on a recording medium, and reproduces recorded digital information from said recording medium;

a detecting circuit that detects copy control information added to said digital information or control information added to said reproduced digital information; and

a recording/reproducing control circuit that controls the recording/reproducing operation of said recording/reproducing circuit according to a result of detection by said detecting circuit; and

wherein, when said copy control information added to said digital information indicates permission of one generation of copies, said reproduced information added an information that indicates permission of one generation of copies is outputted within a predetermined period after recording.