Data copying managing method and device and copy managing system

• US 20030123347A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Saito, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/47.12
• 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 20/00746 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific number
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/18 Error detection or correction; Testing , e.g. of drop-outs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]

Abstract

A system for managing the number of duplicates of digital data even when a variety of recording mediums capable of repeated recording are used. The statement of the values of the number of seconds of the recording time recorded in a UTOC sector 2 of a mini-disc is differentiated between a case of recording using a conventional duplication route duplicating the audio data from a CD block (4) and a case of recording using a new duplication route of duplicating audio data from a hard disc (3) through a host controller (2). The recording time the statement of which is differentiated depending on the routes of duplication or the discrimination information of the audio data is managed by the host controller (2) to perform duplication number management.

Claims

1. A duplication management method in duplicating the main information to a recording medium having a main information area in which said main information is recorded and a management area in which the management information for each item of said main information recorded in said main information area is recorded, wherein

said main information can be duplicated to said recording medium through one of a first route for duplicating said main information without performing duplication number management and a second route for duplicating said main information with duplication number management;

the statement of a portion of said management information for said main information duplicated to said recording medium through said first route is differentiated from the statement of a portion of said management information for said main information duplicated to said recording medium through said second route; and

wherein

said portion of said management information is stored and held as duplication hysteresis information at least in case said main information is duplicated to said recording medium through said second route.

2. The duplication management method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of said management information the statement of which is differentiated is a duplication inhibit flag for each item of said main information.

3. The duplication management method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of said management information the statement of which is differentiated is the time information for time of recording said main information on said recording medium.

4. The duplication management method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of said management information the statement of which is differentiated is an equipment identifier of an equipment with which said main information is recorded on said recording medium.

5. The duplication management method according to claim 3 wherein one of an even number and an odd number is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said first route on said recording medium and the other of the even number and the odd number is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said second route on said recording medium to differentiate the statement of said time information.

6. The duplication management method according to claim 3 wherein a preset fixed value is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said first route on said recording medium and a fixed value except said preset fixed value is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said second route on said recording medium to differentiate the statement of said time information.

7. The duplication management method according to claim 1 wherein said duplication hysteresis information includes the equipment identifier of the equipment which has made the duplication, in addition to said time information;

said equipment identifier being included in said management information.

8. A duplication management system comprising a recording device for duplicating the main information to a recording medium having a main information area in which the main information is recorded and a management area in which the management information for each item of said main information recorded in said main information area is recorded, and a management device for controlling and supervising duplication by said recording device;

said recording device comprising;

a first route for duplicating said main information without performing duplication number management;

a second route for duplicating said main information with duplication number management;

management information recording means for recording said management information in said management area of said recording medium, the statement of a portion of said management information differing between the case of duplicating said main information through said first route and the case of duplicating said main information through said second route; and

said management device including duplication hysteresis information storage means for storing and holding said portion of said management information recorded in said management area at least in case said main information is duplicated to said recording medium through said second route.

9. The duplication management system according to claim 8 wherein the portion of said management information the statement of which is differentiated is a duplication inhibit flag for each item of said main information.

10. The duplication management system according to claim 8 wherein the statement of the time information for time of recording the main information on said recording medium, as said portion of the management information, is differentiated.

11. The duplication management system according to claim 8 wherein the statement of an equipment identifier of a recording equipment used in recording said main information on said recording medium, as said portion of said management information, is differentiated.

12. The duplication management system according to claim 10 wherein one of an even number and an odd number is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said first route on said recording medium and the other of the even number and the odd number is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said second route on said recording medium to differentiate the statement of said time information.

13. The duplication management system according to claim 10 wherein a preset fixed value is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said first route on said recording medium and a fixed value except said preset fixed value is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said second route on said recording medium to differentiate the statement of said time information.

14. The duplication management system according to any one of claims 10, 12 and 13 wherein said management device includes equipment identifier acquisition means for acquiring an equipment identifier in said management information of said recording device which has duplicated said main information and wherein said duplication hysteresis information storage means stores and holds said equipment identifier acquired by said equipment identifier acquisition means as said equipment identifier also is included in said duplication hysteresis information.

15. A recording device for duplicating the main information to a recording medium having a main information area in which the main information is recorded and a management area in which the management information for each item of said main information recorded in said main information area is recorded;

said recording device comprising;

a first route for duplicating said main information without performing duplication number management;

a second route for duplicating said main information with duplication number management; and

management information recording means for recording said management information in said management area of said recording medium, the statement of a portion of said management information differing between the case of duplicating said main information through said first route and the case of duplicating said main information through said second route.

16. The recording device according to claim 15 wherein the portion of said management information, the statement of which is differentiated, is a duplication inhibiting flag associated with each item of said main information.

17. The recording device according to claim 15 wherein the portion of said management information is the time information for time of recording said main information on said recording medium.

18. The recording device according to claim 15 wherein the portion of said management information is an equipment identifier of an equipment which records said main information on said recording medium.

19. The recording device according to claim 17 wherein one of an even number and an odd number is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said first route on said recording medium and the other of the even number and the odd number is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said second route on said recording medium.

20. The recording device according to claim 17 wherein said management information forming means allocates a preset fixed value to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said first route on said recording medium and a fixed value except said preset fixed value to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said second route on said recording medium.

21. A duplication management apparatus for controlling and managing duplication by a recording device duplicating the main information to a recording medium having a main information area in which the main information is recorded and a management area in which the management information for each item of said main information recorded in said main information area is recorded;

wherein

said recording device is such a one which differentiates the statement of a portion of said management information corresponding to said main information duplicated to said recording medium through a first route designed for duplicating said main information without performing duplication number management from the statement of a portion of said management information corresponding to said main information duplicated to said recording medium through a second route designed for duplicating said main information with duplication number management; and

wherein

the duplication management apparatus includes duplication hysteresis information storage means for storing and holding a portion of said management information recorded in said management area at least in case said recording device duplicates the main information through said second route, as the duplication hysteresis information.

22. The duplication management apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the portion of said management information the statement of which is differentiated is a duplication inhibit flag corresponding to each item of said main information.

23. The duplication management apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the portion of said management information is the time information for time of recording said main information on said recording medium.

24. The duplication management apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said management information is an equipment identifier of an equipment used for recording the main information on said recording medium.

25. The duplication management apparatus according to claim 23 wherein one of an even number and an odd number is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said first route on said recording medium and the other of the even number and the odd number is allocated to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said second route on said recording medium.

26. The duplication management apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said management information forming means allocates a preset fixed value to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said first route on said recording medium and a fixed value except said preset fixed value to a preset digit of said time information for said main information recorded through said second route on said recording medium.

27. The duplication management apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising equipment identifier acquisition means for acquiring an equipment identifier of said recording device which has duplicated said main information included in said management information;

said duplication hysteresis information storage means storing and holding said equipment identifier acquired by said equipment identifier acquisition means as the so acquired equipment identifier is also included in said duplication hysteresis information.

28. A duplication management apparatus comprising:

first inputting means for receiving encrypted first digital signals;

second inputting means for receiving non-encrypted second digital signals;

decoding means for decrypting said first digital signals sent from said first inputting means;

switching means for selecting the first digital signals decoded by said decoding means or said second digital signals sent from said second inputting means; and

recording means for recording the digital signals selected by said switching means on a main information recording area on said recording medium and for recording in a management area on said recording medium an identifier for discriminating whether the digital signals recorded in said main information recording area is said first digital signals or said second digital signals.

29. The duplication management apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said identifier recorded in the management area on said recording medium for discriminating whether the digital signals recorded in said main information recording area formed in said management area on said recording medium are said first digital signals or said second digital signals is a duplication inhibit flag.

30. The duplication management apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said identifier recorded in the management area on said recording medium for discriminating whether the digital signals recorded in said main information recording area formed in said management area on said recording medium are said first digital signals or said second digital signals is an equipment identifier.

31. The duplication management apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said identifier formed in said management area on said recording medium for discriminating whether the digital signals recorded in said main information recording area are said first digital signals or said second digital signals enables the discrimination by differentiating the expression of the recording time information.