Recording apparatus, reproducing apparatus, data processing apparatus, recording/reproducing apparatus, and data transmitting apparatus

• US 20030120942A1
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuno, Yoshiki, Kubo, Noriaki, Shimizu, Ryosuke, Komeno, Jyun-ichi, Yoshida, Shuichi, Okada, Takanori, Koudo, Toshikazu
• Granted Patent: US 7,706,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/193
• 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 20/00188 involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised devices recording or reproducing contents to/from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00246 wherein the key is obtained from a local device, e.g. device key initially stored by the player or by the recorder
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00492 wherein content or user data is encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00666 involving a step of erasing or nullifying data, e.g. data being overwritten with a random string
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00746 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific number
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0084 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific time or date
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/12 Formatting, e.g. arrangement of data block or words on the record carriers within interface between computers and data recorders G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91307 by adding a copy protection signal to the video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91321 the copy protection signal being a copy protection control signal, e.g. a record inhibit signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91328 the copy protection signal being a copy management signal, e.g. a copy generation management signal [CGMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 the video signal being scrambled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42661 for reading from or writing on a magnetic storage medium, e.g. hard disk drive
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 : Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 : Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

In the case that data such as AV data is recorded in a recording apparatus and/or in the case that data is reproduced by a reproduction apparatus, there is no concrete mechanism that protects copyright.

An encryption means 11 for encrypting AV data sent from an interface 4, a control means 14 for controlling the encrypted AV data to be recorded and a recording means 15 controlled by the control means 14 for recording the encrypted AV data in a magnetic disk are provided such that the control means 14 controls the recorded data to be reproduced, the recording means 15 is controlled by the control means 14 so as to reproduce the data recorded on the disk and a decryption means 12 decrypts the reproduced data that is sent to the interface.

Claims

1. A recording apparatus characterized by comprising:

an encryption means of encrypting data sent from an interface;

a control means of controlling said encrypted data to be recorded; and

a recording means controlled by said control means of recording said encrypted data on a disk.

2. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said encryption means encrypts said data by using a device unique key that is a numeric value and/or a symbol allocated to, and specific to, said recording apparatus.

3. A recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said encryption means encrypts said data by using recording unit information that is a numeral and/or a symbol specific to a recording block corresponding to a recording unit that is a minimum unit for said control means to sequentially access said recording means.

4. A recording apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the encryption of said data by using said recording unit information indicates the encryption of said data by using a key gained based on said recording unit information.

5. A recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at least said encrypted data recorded in said recording block and additional information added to said encrypted data are encrypted in the entire portion and are recorded in said recording means.

6. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that:

copy permission information is added to said data;

said control means controls said recording means to record said copy permission information;

said encryption means generates first information that includes at least either said device unique key or said copy permission information;

said encryption means generates, by using said recording unit information, a content key that is information gained by encrypting said first information;

said encryption means encrypts said data by using said content key; and

said control means controls said recording means to record said encrypted data.

7. A recording apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that:

a title key that is a numeric value and/or a symbol specific to said data is allocated to said data;

said encryption means encrypts said title key by using said device unique key; and

said control means controls said recording means so that said encrypted title key is recorded in said recording means.

8. A recording apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said encryption means encrypts said data by using said title key.

9. A recording apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that:

said encryption means encrypts said title key by using said device unique key;

said control means controls said recording means to record said encrypted title key;

said encryption means generates third information that includes said title key;

said encryption means generates a content key, which is information gained by encrypting said third information, by using recording unit information that is a numeral and/or a symbol specific to a recording block based on a recording unit that is a minimum unit for said control means to sequentially access said recording means;

said encryption means encrypts said data by using said content key; and

said control means controls said recording means to record said encrypted data.

10. A recording apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that:

copy permission information is added to said data; and

said encryption means encrypts said data by using said copy permission information.

11. A recording apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that:

said encryption means encrypts said title key by using said device unique key;

said control means controls said recording means to record said encrypted title key;

said control means controls said recording means to record said copy permission information;

said encryption means generates second information that includes at least either the said title key or said copy permission information;

said encryption means generates a content key that is information gained by encrypting said second information by using recording unit information that is a numeral and/or a symbol specific to a recording block based on a recording unit that is a minimum unit for said control means to sequentially access said recording means;

said encryption means encrypts said data by using said content key; and

said control means controls said recording means to record said encrypted data.

12. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:

said encryption means encrypts data sent from the interface to which copy permission information is attached by using said copy permission information; and

said control means controls said recording means to record said copy permission information before and/or after said recording means records said data.

13. A recording apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said control means controls said recording means to record said copy permission information before, at least, said recording means records said data.

14. A recording apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said control means controls said recording means to record said copy permission information only after said recording means records said data.

16. A reproduction apparatus characterized by comprising:

a control means of controlling encrypted data recorded on a disk by means of a recording apparatus according to claim 1 to be reproduced;

a reproduction means, which is controlled by said control means, of reproducing said data; and

a decryption means of decrypting said reproduced data that is sent to the interface.

17. A reproduction apparatus characterized by comprising:

a control means of controlling encrypted data recorded on a disk by means of a recording apparatus according to claim 2 to be reproduced;

a reproduction means, that is controlled by said control means, of reproducing said data; and

a decryption means of decrypting said reproduced data that is sent to the interface,

wherein said decryption means decrypts said reproduced data by using said device unique key.

18. A reproduction apparatus characterized by comprising:

a control means of controlling encrypted data recorded on a disk by means of a recording apparatus according to claim 3 to be reproduced;

a reproduction means, that is controlled by said control means, of reproducing said data; and

a decryption means of decrypting said reproduced data that is sent to the interface,

wherein said decryption means decrypts said reproduced data by using said recording unit information.

19. A reproduction apparatus characterized by comprising:

a control means of controlling encrypted data recorded on a disk by means of a recording apparatus according to claim 4 to be reproduced;

a reproduction means, that is controlled by said control means, of reproducing said data; and

a decryption means of decrypting said reproduced data that is sent to the interface,

wherein said decryption means decrypts said reproduced data by using a key gained based on said recording unit information.

20. A reproduction apparatus characterized by comprising:

a control means of controlling encrypted data recorded on a disk by means of a recording apparatus according to claim 14 to be reproduced;

a reproduction means, which is controlled by said control means, of reproducing said data; and

a decryption means of decrypting said reproduced data that is sent to the interface,

wherein said decryption means attempts to decrypt the entirety of, or a portion of said encrypted data by assuming that said copy permission information has a variety of values in the case that said copy permission information cannot be recorded in a normal manner in said recording means at the time when said data is recorded, and

wherein said reproduced data is decrypted by using the value of said copy permission information in the case that said reproduced data can be decrypted in a normal manner as a result of said attempts.

22. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said interface, said encryption means and said control means are integrated and provided on the same printed circuit board.

23. A recording apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that said interface, said encryption means and said control means are integrated in one chip.

24. A reproduction apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that said interface, said decryption means and said control means are integrated and provided on the same printed circuit board.

25. A reproduction apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that said interface, said decryption means and said control means are integrated in one chip.

26. A recording apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that a signal detected from a terminal on said printed circuit board that outputs a signal that can be reproduced as data by a third party is entirely encrypted and/or is inscribed in an undisclosed format.

27. A reproduction apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that a signal detected from a terminal on said printed circuit board that outputs a signal that can be reproduced as data by a third party is entirely encrypted and/or is inscribed in an undisclosed format.

28. A recording apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the property of a terminal on said printed circuit board that outputs a signal that can be reproduced as data by a third party is defined according to an undisclosed format.

29. A reproduction apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the property of a terminal on said printed circuit board that outputs a signal that can be reproduced as data by a third party is defined according to an undisclosed format.

30. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that said device unique key cannot be accessed by an external device.

31. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 6, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, characterized in that said copy permission information is recorded in a system region that cannot be directly accessed by a user of said recording means.

32. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 15, 22, 23, 26, 28, 30 and 31, characterized in that:

copy permission information is added to the data sent from said interface; and

said control means can control said recording means to record said data even in the case that said copy permission information of said data represents “

Copy Never”

according to a predetermined condition.

33. A recording apparatus according to claim 32, characterized in that said predetermined condition is the case wherein said recorded data becomes unreproducible after a predetermined period of time.

34. A recording apparatus according to claim 32, characterized in that said predetermined condition is the case wherein said recorded data becomes unreproducible according to fee imposition conditions.

35. A reproduction apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 21, 24, 25, 27 and 29, characterized in that:

copy permission information is added to said encrypted data that is recorded; and

said control means controls said reproduction means to reproduce said data at least one time in the case that said copy permission information of said data represents “

Copy Never”

according to a predetermined condition.

36. A reproduction apparatus according to claim 35, characterized in that said predetermined condition is the case wherein said recorded data becomes unreproducible after a predetermined period of time.

37. A reproduction apparatus according to claim 35, characterized in that said predetermined condition is the case wherein said recorded data becomes unreproducible according of fee imposition conditions.

38. A reproduction apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 21, 24, 25, 27 and 29, characterized in that:

copy permission information is added to said encrypted data that is recorded; and

said control means controls said reproduction means to copy and to output said data only once so as to allow said copy permission information of said data, after being once copied by means of said recording means, to permit copying only one additional time (copy once) in the case that said copy permission information of said data represents the permission of copying only one (copy once) according to a predetermined condition.

39. A reproduction apparatus according to claim 38, characterized in that said predetermined condition is the case wherein said data or the key used for encrypting said data are erased after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since said reproduction means has copied and outputted said data.

40. A reproduction apparatus according to claim 38, characterized in that said predetermined condition is the case wherein a recorder of said data that has been only once copied and outputted is an apparatus for recording said data as a backup.

41. A reproduction apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that said data recorded as a backup in said recorder is unreproducible from said recorder.

42. A reproduction apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that said data recorded as a backup in said recorder is unreproducible unless said data is returned to the original reproduction apparatus.

43. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 14, 22, 23, 26 and 30 to 34 characterized in that said encryption means encrypts data regardless of the value of the copy permission information of said data sent from said interface.

44. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 14, 22, 23, 26 and 30 to 34 characterized in that:

said encryption means does not encrypt said data in the case that copy permission information of the data sent from said interface represents that the data can be freely copied (copy free); and

said control means controls said recording means to record said unencrypted data.

15. A recording apparatus characterized by comprising:

a control means of controlling encrypted data sent from an interface to be recorded; and

a recording means, that is controlled by said control means, of recording said encrypted data on a disk.

21. A reproduction apparatus characterized by comprising:

a control means of controlling encrypted data recorded on a disk by means of a recording apparatus according to claim 15;

and

a reproduction means, which is controlled by said control means, of reproducing said data,

wherein said reproduced data is sent to the interface.

45. A data processing apparatus comprising at least a move means of moving data that is recorded in a recording medium for recording data to another recording apparatus, characterized in that, in the case that data that is attempted to be moved by said move means is copy prohibited data prohibited from being copied, the copy prohibited data is encrypted by using an encryption key specific to said data processing apparatus when at least being outputted from said data processing apparatus.

47. A data processing apparatus according to claim 45 or 46, characterized by further comprising an encryption means of encrypting said copy prohibited data by using said encryption key.

48. A data processing apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 47, characterized by further comprising a reproduction means of decryption, by using said encryption key, said copy prohibited data encrypted using said encryption key and of reproducing said copy prohibited data.

49. A data processing apparatus according to claim 48, characterized in that:

said reproduction means is a means of reproducing said copy prohibited data at a rate required at the time of viewing and listening by the user;

a storage means of storing said copy prohibited data that has been transmitted at a rate faster than said rate that is required at the time of viewing and listening by the user in the case that said copy prohibited data encrypted using said encryption key is transmitted at a rate faster than said rate required at the time of viewing and listening by the user from said other recording apparatus is provided; and

said reproduction means can reproduce said copy prohibited data stored in said storage means or data stored in said storage means in advance at the time when said storage means stores said copy prohibited data from said other recording apparatus.

50. A data processing apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 49, characterized in that:

said other recording apparatus is an apparatus that can record data in a second recording medium;

a judgment means of judging whether or not said second recording medium is a recording medium corresponding to said data processing apparatus is further provided; and

said move means or said copying means moves or copies said copy prohibited data in the case that said second recording medium is judged to be a recording medium corresponding to said data processing apparatus by said judgment means.

51. A data processing apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 49, characterized in that:

said other recording apparatus is an apparatus that can record data in a second recording medium;

a judgment means of judging whether or not said other recording apparatus is an apparatus corresponding to said data processing apparatus is further provided; and

said move means or said copying means moves or copies said copy prohibited data in the case that said other recording apparatus is an apparatus corresponding to said data processing apparatus by said judgment means.

52. A data processing apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 51, characterized in that said move means or said copying means outputs said copy prohibited data as data that can be copied only once when said copy prohibited data is moved or is copied.

53. A recording and reproduction apparatus, characterized by comprising a recording means of recording said copy prohibited data that is encrypted using said encryption key from a data processing apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 47 in a second recording medium.

54. A recording and reproduction apparatus, characterized by comprising:

a recording means of recording said copy prohibited data that is encrypted using said encryption key from a date processing apparatus according to claim 48 in a second recording medium; and

a transmission means of transmitting said copy prohibited data that is recorded in said second recording medium and that is encrypted using said encryption key to said data processing apparatus while still encrypted using said encryption key.

55. A recording and reproduction apparatus, characterized by comprising:

a recording means of recording said copy prohibited data that is encrypted using said encryption key from a data processing apparatus according to claim 50 or 51 in said second recording medium; and

a transmission means of transmitting said copy prohibited data that is recorded in said second recording medium and that is encrypted using said encryption key to said data processing apparatus while still encrypted using said encryption key.

56. A recording and reproduction apparatus, characterized by comprising:

a recording means of recording said copy prohibited data encrypted using said encryption key from a data processing apparatus according to any of claims 45, 46, 47, 50 and 51 in a second recording medium; and

a decryption and reproduction means of decrypting, by using said encryption key, said copy prohibited data that is recorded in said second recording medium and that is encrypted using said encryption key and of reproducing said copy prohibited data.

57. A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 56, characterized by further comprising:

a key reproduction means of reproducing an encrypted key recording medium wherein said encryption key is recorded; and

a key storage means of storing said encryption key reproduced by said key reproduction means,

wherein said decryption and reproduction means reproduces said copy prohibited data by utilizing said encryption key stored by said key storage means.

58. A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 56, characterized by further comprising a reception means of receiving said encryption key that is transmitted from said data processing apparatus,

wherein said decryption and reproduction means reproduces said copy prohibited data by utilizing said encryption key received by said reception means.

70. A data processing apparatus according to any of claims 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67, characterized by further comprising a fee imposition information transmission means of transmitting fee imposition information with respect to move or copying of said data to a management apparatus for managing said data processing apparatus when said move means carries out the move of said data or when said copying means carries out the copying of said data.

71. A data processing apparatus according to any of claims 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67, characterized in that said move means moves said copy prohibited data to, or said copying means copies said copy prohibited data into, said other recording apparatus when at least a management apparatus, which has the ability of imposing a fee on the move or on the copying of said copy prohibited data, is confirmed to be connected to an interface to which said data processing apparatus and said other recording apparatus are connected.

46. A data processing apparatus comprising at least a copying means of copying data that is recorded on a recording medium for recording data into another recording apparatus, characterized in that, in the case that data that is attempted to be copied by said copying means is copy permission information that is prohibited from being copied, the copy prohibited data is encrypted by using an encryption key specific to said data processing apparatus when at least being outputted from said data processing apparatus.

59. A data processing apparatus, characterized by comprising at least a move means of moving data that is recorded in a recording medium for recording data to another recording apparatus as data in a format that can be decrypted in the other recording apparatus,

wherein data that is attempted to be moved by said move means is copy prohibited data that is prohibited from being copied.

61. A data processing apparatus according to claim 59 or 60, characterized in that the data in a format that can be decrypted in said other recording apparatus means plain sentence data, data that is encrypted using a key specific to said other recording apparatus or data that is encrypted using a key attached to a second recording medium in said other recording apparatus.

62. A data processing apparatus according to claim 61, characterized in that the data in a format that can be decrypted in said other recording apparatus is also data in a format used in said other recording apparatus.

63. A data processing apparatus according to any of claims 59 to 62, characterized in that:

said other recording apparatus is an apparatus that can record data in said recording medium;

a judgment means of judging whether or not said second recording medium corresponds to said data processing apparatus is further provided; and

said move means or said copying means moves or copies said copy prohibited data in the case that said second recording medium is judged to be a recording medium corresponding to said data processing apparatus according to said judgment means.

64. A data processing apparatus according to claim 63, characterized in that:

said judgment means carries out said judgment by using said key in the case that a key indicating that said second recording medium is a recording medium corresponding to said data processing apparatus is attached to said second recording medium;

an encryption means of encrypting said copy prohibited data by using said key in the case that said second recording medium is judged to be a recording medium corresponding to said data processing apparatus by said judgment means is further provided; and

said move means or said copying means moves or copies said encrypted copy prohibited data.

65. A data processing apparatus according to any of claims 59 to 62, characterized in that:

said other recording apparatus is an apparatus that can record data in a second recording medium;

a judgment means of judging whether or not said other recording apparatus is an apparatus corresponding to said data processing apparatus is further provided; and

said move means or said copying means moves or copies said copy prohibited data in the case that said other recording apparatus is judged to be an apparatus corresponding to said data processing apparatus by said judgment means.

66. A data processing apparatus according to claim 65, characterized in that:

in the case that said judgment means has a key that indicates that said other recording apparatus is an apparatus corresponding to said data processing apparatus, said judgment means carries out said judgment by using said key;

an encryption means of encrypting said copy prohibited data by using said key, in the case that said other recording apparatus is judged to be an apparatus corresponding to said data processing apparatus by said judgment means, is further provided; and

said move means or said copying means moves or copies said encrypted copy prohibited data.

67. A data processing apparatus according to any of claims 59 to 66, characterized in that said move means or said copying means outputs said copy prohibited data as data that can be copied only once when said copy prohibited data is moved or copied.

68. A recording and reproduction apparatus for recording said copy prohibited data, from a data processing apparatus according to claim 59 or 60, in a second recording medium and for reproducing said copy prohibited data from said second recording medium,

wherein said copy prohibited data is plain sentence data, and

wherein said recording and reproduction apparatus is characterized by comprising:

an encryption means of encrypting said copy prohibited data by using an encryption key attached to said second recording medium or by using an encryption key specific to said recording and reproduction apparatus;

a recording means of recording said copy prohibited data encrypted by said encryption means in said second recording medium; and

a reproduction means of decrypting said encrypted copy prohibited data that is recorded in said second recording medium by utilizing said key so as to reproduce said copy prohibited data.

69. A recording and reproduction apparatus for recording said copy prohibited data, from a data processing apparatus according to claim 59 or 60, in a second recording medium and for reproducing said copy prohibited data from said second recording medium,

wherein said copy prohibited data is data encrypted by a key specific to said recording and reproduction apparatus or data encrypted by using a key attached to said second recording medium,

wherein said recording and reproduction apparatus is characterized by comprising:

a recording means of recording said encrypted copy prohibited data in said second recording medium; and

a reproduction means of decrypting said encrypted copy prohibited data that is recorded in said second recording medium by utilizing said key so as to reproduce said copy prohibited data.

60. A data processing apparatus, characterized by comprising at least a copying means of copying data that is recorded in a recording medium for recording data in another recording apparatus as data in a format that can be decrypted in the other recording apparatus,

wherein data that is attempted to be copied by said copying means is copy prohibited data that is prohibited from being copied.

72. An encrypted data decrypting and recording apparatus system characterized by comprising:

a plurality of recording apparatuses that respectively record encrypted copy prohibited data, of which the content is identical, that is prohibited from being copied; and

a decrypting and recording apparatus having a decryption means of decrypting said encrypted copy prohibited data that is outputted from said plurality of recording apparatuses and a recording means of recording encrypted, or unencrypted, copy prohibited data, of which the content is identical to said copy prohibited data.

73. A decrypting and recording apparatus, characterized by comprising:

a decryption means of decrypting encrypted copy prohibited data, which is prohibited from being copied and which is outputted from a plurality of recording apparatuses in which said encrypted copy prohibited data, of which the content is identical, is respectively recorded; and

a recording means of recording encrypted, or unencrypted, copy prohibited data, of which the content is identical to that of said copy prohibited data.

74. A recording apparatus, characterized by being one of a plurality of recording apparatuses that respectively record encrypted copy prohibited data, of which the content is identical, that is prohibited from being copied,

wherein said recording apparatus comprises a recording means of recording said encrypted copy prohibited data and an output means of outputting said encrypted copy prohibited data that is recorded in said recording means, and

wherein said encrypted copy prohibited data outputted from said output means is data that can only be decrypted in a decrypting and recording apparatus having at least a decryption means of decrypting said encrypted copy prohibited data.

75. A data transmission apparatus characterized by comprising a transmission means of transmitting a stream formed of a plurality of pieces of data,

wherein each of said pieces of data in said stream, or within each of blocks forming said stream, is data that cannot be reproduced unless the piece of data chronologically positioned one position before said data is reproduced, and

wherein said transmission means transmits each piece of said data, of data in said stream, or each of the blocks forming said stream, in the order of from the rear toward the head in a chronological manner.

76. A recording apparatus for allowing copy restricted content, comprising data that is set so as to be prohibited from, or restricted from, being copied, to become reproducible in a time shift manner, characterized by comprising:

a recording medium wherein a predetermined capacity of recording of said copy restricted content is possible; and

a recording means of recording data in said recording medium,

wherein said recording means records said copy restricted content in said recording medium and allows data of said copy restricted content recorded in said recording medium to convert to the condition wherein viewing and listening is impossible after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the time the recording of said copy restricted content has started.

77. A recording apparatus according to claim 76, characterized in that said condition wherein viewing and listening is impossible is implemented by erasing the data of said copy restricted content.

78. A recording apparatus according to claim 76, characterized in that said condition wherein viewing and listening is impossible is implemented by not erasing the data of said copy restricted content.

79. A recording apparatus according to claim 76, characterized in that said condition wherein viewing and listening is impossible is implemented by allowing the data of said copy restricted content to become unreproducible.

80. A recording apparatus according to claim 79, characterized in that said condition wherein viewing and listening is impossible is implemented by encrypting the data of said copy restricted content after reproduction.

81. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 76 to 80, characterized in that the timing according to which said recording means starts the recording of said copy restricted content is defined by referring to judgment information in conjunction with said copy restricted content.

82. A recording apparatus according to claim 81, characterized in that said recording means carries out recording by differentiating said copy restricted content from other content by using said judgment information.

83. A recording apparatus according to claim 81, characterized in that said judgment information is copyright information included in a data column of said copy restricted content.

84. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 76 to 82, characterized in that the timing according to which said recording means starts the recording of said copy restricted content is defined based on an input from the outside.

85. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 76 to 80, characterized in that said recording medium has a recording buffer for temporarily recording said copy restricted content.

86. A recording apparatus according to claim 85, characterized in that said recording buffer is a ring buffer wherein it is possible to record a constant amount of data by repeating overwriting recording in the same region.

87. A recording and reproduction apparatus characterized by comprising:

a recording apparatus according to any of claims 76 to 85; and

a reproduction means of reproducing data recorded in said recording medium,

wherein said reproduction means reproduces said copy restricted content that has been recorded after a predetermined period of standby time has elapsed since the time of the start of the recording of said copy restricted content.

88. A recording and reproduction apparatus characterized by comprising:

a recording apparatus according to claim 86;

and

a reproduction means of reproducing data recorded in said recording medium,

wherein said reproduction means reproduces said copy restricted content that has been recorded after a predetermined period of standby time has elapsed since the time of the start of the recording of said copy restricted content.

89. A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 88, characterized in that, at the time when said reproduction means carries out a reproduction operation under the condition wherein overwriting recording is being carried out in said ring buffer, the reproduction of said data is carried out starting from the position where the oldest piece of data is recorded in said ring buffer.

90. A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 89, characterized in that, at the time when said reproduction means carries out a reproduction operation under the condition wherein overwriting recording is not carried out in said ring buffer, the reproduction of said data is carried out starting from the recording start position on said ring buffer.

91. A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 87 or 88, characterized in that, in the case that copy restricted content recorded in said recording medium is not reproduced within said predetermined period of standby time, said recording apparatus stops the recording operation of said copy restricted content.

92. A recording and reproduction apparatus according to claim 87 or 88, characterized by further comprising a notification means of making a notification of operational content of said recording apparatus or of said reproduction means in advance based on either said predetermined period of time or based on said predetermined period of standby time.

93. A recording apparatus according to claim 76, characterized in that said recording means can measure time information including said predetermined period of time.

94. A recording apparatus according to claim 76, characterized in that said copy restricted content includes time information including said predetermined period of time.

95. A recording apparatus according to claim 76, characterized in that the time information including said predetermined period of the time is gained from the outside independently of said copy restricted content.