Information reproducing apparatus and information recording/reproducing apparatus

• US 7,385,775 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kiriyama, Hiroshi, Tanimura, Kazunari, Kikuchi, Hiroaki, Amano, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): TZENG, FRED
• Application Number:
  US11/291,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 360/69, 360/60, 360/77.12
• US Class Current: 360/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/80 in storage media based on magnetic or optical technology, e.g. disks with sectors preventing unauthorised reproduction or copying of disc-type recordable media G11B20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2121 Chip on media, e.g. a disk or tape with a chip embedded in its case
• 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 20/00115 wherein the record carrier stores a unique medium identifier
• 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 20/00195 using a device identifier associated with the player or recorder, e.g. serial numbers of playback apparatuses or MAC addresses
• 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 20/00253 wherein the key is stored on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00275 the key being stored on a chip attached to the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00695 said measures preventing that data are read from the recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00876 wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/08714 Auxiliary features sensing such features G11B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/285 on the container or cartridge

Abstract

An information reproduction system that provides an apparatus for reproducing audio/video information from an information recording medium having a tape form for example and circumventing problems associated with illegal copies of information recording media. If a match is found between the contents of identification data information read from a memory fixed to a cassette incorporating a magnetic tape and the contents of individual key data information stored in an information storage memory, a controller causes an information reproducing block to reproduce main information from the magnetic tape.

Claims

1. An information reproducing apparatus comprising:

information reproduction means for reproducing information from a recording area of an information recording medium;

data information read means for reading data information from an information recording medium or memory means fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium;

information storage memory means for storing unique individual key data information; and

operation control means for selectively setting an information reproduction restriction status for imposing a restriction on reproduction of main information read from a recording area of an information recording medium by said information reproduction means;

wherein, with said information recording medium for information reproduction loaded and said information reproduction restriction status set,

said operation control means compares contents of identification key data information read from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium obtained from said data information read means with contents of said individual key data information stored in said information storage memory means and, if a match is found,

said information reproduction means reproduces said main information read from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium.

2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said information storage memory means also stores master key data information in addition to said unique individual key data information and, if, with said information recording medium loaded and said information reproduction restriction status set, said operation control means is incapable of getting data information read from any one of said information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium by said data information read means, said information reproduction means reproduces main information from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium when contents of master key data information reproduced from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium match with contents of master key data information stored in said information storage memory means.

3. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said operation control means enters an operation status in which said individual key data information and said master key data information are stored in said information storage memory means.

4. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said data information read means reads data information from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium in a non-contact manner relative to any one of said loaded information recording medium and said case incorporating said information recording medium.

5. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said information storage memory means also stores master key data in addition to said unique individual key data information, said operation control means compares, with said information recording medium loaded and said information reproduction restriction status set, contents of unique identification data information read from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium with contents of unique identification data information reproduced from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium obtained from said information reproduction means, and, if a mismatch is found, said information reproducing means reproduces main information read from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium when contents of master key data information reproduced from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium obtained from said information reproduction means matches with contents of master key data information stored in said information storage memory means.

6. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said operation control means enters an operation status in which said individual key data information and said master key data information are stored in said information storage memory means.

7. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said data information read means reads data information from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium in a non-contact manner relative to any one of said loaded information recording medium and said case incorporating said information recording medium.

8. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data information read means reads data information from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium in a non-contact manner relative to any one of said loaded information recording medium and said case incorporating said information recording medium.

9. An information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

recording/reproducing means for recording information to a recording area of an information recording medium and reproducing information from a recording area of an information recording medium;

read/write means for reading data information from any one of information recording medium and memory means fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium and writing data information to any one of information recording medium and memory means fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium;

information storage memory means for storing unique individual key data information; and

operation control means for setting

an operation status in which said read/write means reads unique identification data information from any one of information recording medium and memory means fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium and said recording/reproducing means records said unique identification data information read by said read/write means to a recording area of said information recording medium,

an operation status in which said read/write means writes identification key data information having substantially the same contents as contents of individual key data information stored in said information storage memory means to any one of an information recording medium and memory means fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium, and

an information reproduction restriction status in which a restriction is imposed on reproduction of main information from a recording area of an information recording medium by said recording/reproducing means;

wherein, with said information recording medium for information reproduction loaded and said information reproduction restriction status set,

said operation control means compares contents of identification key data information read from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium obtained from said read/write means with contents of said individual key data information stored in said information storage memory means and, if a match is found,

said recording/reproducing means reproduces said main information read from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium.

10. The information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein

said information storage memory means also stores master key data information in addition to said unique individual key data information,

said operation controls means also sets an operation status in which said recording/reproducing means records master key data information stored in said information storage memory means to a recording area of an information recording medium, and,

with said information recording medium loaded and said information reproduction restriction status set, if data information is not obtained from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium, said recording/reproducing means reproduces main information read from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium when there is a match between contents of master key data information reproduced from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium obtained from said recording reproduction means and contents of master key data information stored in said information storage memory means.

11. The information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said operation control means enters an operation status in which said individual key data information and said master key data information are stored in said information storage memory means.

12. The information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said read/write means reads data information from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium in a non-contact manner relative to any one of said loaded information recording medium and said case incorporating said information recording medium.

13. The information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein

said information storage memory means also stores master key data information in addition to said unique individual key data information,

said operation control means sets an operation status in which said operation control means causes said recording/reproducing means to record master key data information stored in said information storage memory means to a recording area of an information recording medium,

with said information recording medium loaded and said information reproduction restriction status set, said operation controls means compares contents of unique identification data information read from any one of said loaded information recording medium and memory means fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium obtained from said read/write means with contents of unique identification data information reproduced from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium, and, if a mismatch is found,

if a match is found between the contents of said master key data information reproduced from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium obtained from said read/write means and the contents of said master key data information stored in said information storage memory means, said recording/reproducing means reproduces main information from a recording area of said loaded information recording medium.

14. The information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said operation control means enters an operation status in which said individual key data information and said master key data information are stored in said information storage memory means.

15. The information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said read/write means reads data information from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium in a non-contact manner relative to any one of said loaded information recording medium and said case incorporating said information recording medium.

16. The information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said read/write means reads data information from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory means fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium in a non-contact manner relative to any one of said loaded information recording medium and said case incorporating said information recording medium.

17. An information reproducing apparatus comprising:

an information reproduction unit for reproducing information from a recording area of an information recording medium;

a data information read unit for reading data information from an information recording medium or memory unit fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium;

an information storage memory unit for storing unique individual key data information; and

an operation control unit for selectively setting an information reproduction restriction status for imposing a restriction on reproduction of main information read from a recording area of an information by said information reproduction unit;

wherein, with said information recording medium for information reproduction loaded and said information reproduction restriction status set,

said operation control unit compares contents of identification key data information read from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory unit fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium obtained from said data information read means with contents of said individual key data information stored in said information storage memory unit and, if a match is found,

said information reproduction unit reproduces said main information read from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium.

18. An information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

a recording/reproducing unit for recording information to a recording area of an information recording medium and reproducing information from a recording area of an information recording medium;

a read/write unit for reading data information from any one of information recording medium and a memory unit fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium and writing data information to any one of the information recording medium and memory unit fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium;

an information storage memory unit for storing unique individual key data information; and

an operation control unit for setting

an operation status in which said read/write unit reads unique identification data information from any one of information recording medium and memory unit fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium and said recording/reproducing unit records said unique identification data information read by said read/write unit to a recording area of said information recording medium,

an operation status in which said read/write unit writes identification key data information having substantially the same contents as contents of individual key data information stored in said information storage memory unit to any one of an information recording medium and memory unit fixed to a case incorporating said information recording medium, and

an information reproduction restriction status in which a restriction is imposed on reproduction of main information from a recording area of an information recording medium by said recording/reproducing unit;

wherein, with said information recording medium for information reproduction loaded and said information reproduction restriction status set,

said operation control unit compares contents of identification key data information read from any one of said loaded information recording medium and said memory unit fixed to said case incorporating said information recording medium obtained from said read/write unit with contents of said individual key data information stored in said information storage memory unit and, if a match is found,

said recording/reproducing unit reproduces said main information read from said recording area of said loaded information recording medium.