Reproduction apparatus and reproducing method

• US 20030142960A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Okaue, Takumi, Yokota, Teppei, Kihara, Nobuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/94
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0041 in coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/165 Memory card, i.e. removable module or card for storing music data for an electrophonic musical instrument
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/575 Adaptive MDCT-based compression, e.g. using a hybrid subband-MDCT, as in ATRAC

Abstract

A reproducing apparatus has three reproducing modes that are a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode. In the first mode, when a program that has been reproduction restricted is tried to be reproduced, the reproducing operation is paused and the user is asked whether he or she wants to reproduce the program. Corresponding to the user'"'"'s reply, the reproducing operation is performed or prohibited. In the second mode, a program that has been reproduction restricted is prohibited from being reproduced. In the third mode, a program that has been reproduction restricted is unconditionally reproduced. When the power of the apparatus is turned on at step S31, a prompt that causes the user to select one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode is displayed. At step S33, a process for designating a mode is performed. Information of the designated mode is stored in a nonvolatile memory.

Claims

1. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing a program from a record medium on which a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times and a program that has not been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times have been recorded, the record medium having a management area for managing an identifier that represents whether or not a program has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times, the reproducing apparatus comprising:

determining means for determining whether or not a program to be reproduced has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times corresponding to the identifier managed in the management area,

wherein the reproducing apparatus has a mode designating function that allows at least two of a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode to be designated, when the determined result of the determining means represents that the program to be reproduced has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times, the first mode asking the user whether or not he or she wants to reproduce the program, the second mode forcedly prohibiting the program from being reproduced, the third mode causing the program to be unconditionally reproduced.

2. The reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the mode designating function becomes valid when the power of the apparatus is turned on, the mode designating function causing the apparatus to reproduce a program in the designated mode until the designated mode is changed.

3. The reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein when the reproducing apparatus reproduces a program that has been reproduction restriction with respect to the number of reproduction times, the reproducing apparatus automatically creates a log file and records the log file to the management area of the record medium.

4. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing a program from a record medium on which a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times and a program that has not been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times have been recorded, the record medium having a management area for managing an identifier that represents whether or not a program has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times, the reproducing apparatus comprising:

determining means for determining whether or not a program repeat reproducing operation has been designated; and

controlling means for causing the reproducing apparatus to repeatedly reproduce a program except for a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times when the determined result of the determining means represents that the program repeat reproducing operation has been designated.

5. The reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 4,

wherein the program repeat reproducing operation is a program repeat reproducing operation for reproducing programs in the order of which they have been recorded on the record medium.

6. The reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 4,

wherein the program repeat reproducing operation is a program random repeat reproducing operation for reproducing programs in a different order of programs recorded on the record medium.

7. The reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 4,

wherein when the reproducing apparatus reproduces a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times, the reproducing apparatus automatically creates a log file and records the log file in the management area of the record medium.

8. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing a program from a record medium on which a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the duration of reproduction has been recorded, the reproducing apparatus comprising:

date and time counting means for counting the date and time;

operating means for allowing the user to input date and time information;

memory means for storing date and time information that is input by the operating means;

determining means for determining whether or not the date and time information has been stored in the memory means; and

controlling means for prohibiting a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the duration of reproduction from being reproduced when the determined result of the determining means represents that the date and time information has not been stored in the memory means.

9. A reproducing method for reproducing a program from a record medium on which a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times and a program that has not been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times have been recorded, the record medium having a management area for managing an identifier that represents whether or not a program has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times, the reproducing method comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not a program to be reproduced has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times corresponding to the identifier managed in the management area,

wherein the reproducing method has a mode designating function that allows at least two of a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode to be designated, when the determined result at the determining step represents that the program to be reproduced has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times, the first mode asking the user whether or not he or she wants to reproduce the program, the second mode forcedly prohibiting the program from being reproduced, the third mode causing the program to be unconditionally reproduced.

10. The reproducing method as set forth in claim 9,

wherein the mode designating function becomes valid in a power-on state, the mode designating function causing a program to be reproduced in the designated mode until the designated mode is changed.

11. The reproducing method as set forth in claim 9,

wherein when a program that has been reproduction restriction with respect to the number of reproduction times is reproduced, a log file is automatically created and recorded in the management area of the record medium.

12. A reproducing method for reproducing a program from a record medium on which a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times and a program that has not been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times have been recorded, the record medium having a management area for managing an identifier that represents whether or not a program has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times, the reproducing method comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not a program repeat reproducing operation has been designated; and

causing a program except for a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times to be repeatedly reproduced when the determined result at the determining step represents that the program repeat reproducing operation has been designated.

13. The reproducing method as set forth in claim 12,

wherein the program repeat reproducing operation is a program repeat reproducing operation for reproducing programs in the order of which they have been recorded on the record medium.

14. The reproducing method as set forth in claim 12,

wherein the program repeat reproducing operation is a program random repeat reproducing operation for reproducing programs in a different order of programs recorded on the record medium.

15. The reproducing method as set forth in claim 12,

wherein when a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the number of reproduction times is reproduced, a log file is automatically created and recorded in the management area of the record medium.

16. A reproducing method for reproducing a program from a record medium on which a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the duration of reproduction has been recorded, the reproducing method comprising the steps of:

allowing the user to input date and time information;

storing date and time information that is input to memory means;

determining whether or not the date and time information has been stored in the memory means; and

prohibiting a program that has been reproduction restricted with respect to the duration of reproduction from being reproduced when the determined result at the determining step represents that the date and time information has not been stored in the memory means.