Recording control apparatus

• US 5,084,790 A
• Filed: 07/24/1990
• Issued: 01/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Endoh, Kenjiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Canney, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US07/512,416
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 360/60
• US Class Current: 360/60
• 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 20/00724 wherein a prepaid credit balance is registered on the recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing

Abstract

A recording/reproducing system according to this invention for use in, for example, a digital audio tape recorder is applied to a type in which recording of an input information signal on a recording medium is restricted, and can ensure releasing of the recording restriction by using release-signal-holding mediums on which a release signal for releasing the recording restriction is recorded. In this case, the release signal is affixed with frequency data for restricting the quantity of the information signal to be recorded on recording medium, and this frequency data is updated in such a way that the greater the number of recording the information signal on recording medium, the smaller the recordable quantity of the information signal.

Claims

1. A release signal holding medium for use in a system in which recording of an information signal on a recording medium is restricted comprising:

a release signal recording medium physically separate from the recording medium on which the information signal is recorded; and

a release signal, recorded on said release signal recording medium, for releasing the restriction of the recording of said information signal on said information recording medium.

2. A release signal holding medium according to claim 1, wherein said release signal holding medium is composed of a card.

3. A release signal holding medium according to claim 1, wherein said release signal holding medium is composed of a tape.

4. A release signal holding medium for use in a system in which recording of an information signal on a recording medium is restricted comprising:

a release signal holding medium;

a release signal recorded on the release signal holding medium for releasing the restriction of the recording of said information signal on said recording medium; and

frequency data recorded on the release signal holding medium for restricting a quantity of information contained in said information signal which is to be recorded on said recording medium while the recording restriction is released by said release signal.

5. A release signal holding medium according to claim 4, wherein said release signal holding medium is composed of a card.

6. A release signal holding medium according to claim 4, wherein said release signal holding medium is composed of a tape.

7. A release signal distribution device for use with a recording apparatus which includes restricting means for restricting the recording of an information signal and releasing means for releasing the restriction on recording of the information signal comprising:

a storage medium holding a release signal while engaged and disengaged from the recording apparatus and physically unconnected with a medium holding the information signal; and

a housing holding the storage medium when in both engaged and disengaged relations with the recording apparatus, the release signal recorded on the storage medium activating the releasing means to release the restriction on recording of the information signal when the storage medium is engaged with the recording apparatus.