Controlled-access broadcast signal receiving system
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for receiving, recording, and reproducing data signals, comprising:
- receiving means for receiving said data signals and an access-control signal generated by a remote provider which grants users rights to reproduce said data signals;
processing means, coupled to said receiving means, for processing said data signals to produce processed data signals;
control means for controlling said processing means in response to said access-control signal;
storage means for storing said processed data signals and for storing said access-control signal;
means for reproducing said stored processed data signals to produce reproduced data signals and for retrieving said stored access-control signal; and
reprocessing means coupled to said control means for reprocessing said reproduced data signals in response to said retrieved access-control signal.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for transferring from a broadcaster to a receiver a limited reproduction right in data. A signal indicating the limited reproduction right is transmitted by the broadcaster and stored by the receiver with the data. The receiver reproduces and processes the data as a function of this signal.
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Citations
247 Claims
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1. Apparatus for receiving, recording, and reproducing data signals, comprising:
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receiving means for receiving said data signals and an access-control signal generated by a remote provider which grants users rights to reproduce said data signals; processing means, coupled to said receiving means, for processing said data signals to produce processed data signals; control means for controlling said processing means in response to said access-control signal; storage means for storing said processed data signals and for storing said access-control signal; means for reproducing said stored processed data signals to produce reproduced data signals and for retrieving said stored access-control signal; and reprocessing means coupled to said control means for reprocessing said reproduced data signals in response to said retrieved access-control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for receiving and recording data signals, comprising:
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receiving means for receiving said data signals and an access-control signal generated by a remote provider which grants users rights to reproduce said data signals; processing means, coupled to said receiving means, for processing said data signals to produce processed data signals; control means for controlling said processing means in response to said access-control signal; and storage means for storing said processed data signals and said access-control signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Apparatus for reproducing processed data signals, comprising:
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means for reproducing stored processed data signals to produce reproduced data signals and for retrieving a stored access-control signal generated by a remote provider which grants users rights to reproduce said data signals; reprocessing means for reprocessing said reproduced data signals to produce reprocessed data signals; and control means for controlling said reprocessing means in response to said retrieved access-control signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for transferring from a broadcaster to a receiver a limited reproduction right in data, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting from said broadcaster to said receiver an access-control signal generated by a remote provider and said data, said access-control signal indicating said limited reproduction right; receiving, at said receiver, said access-control signal and said data; processing, at said receiver, said data in response to said access-control signal to produce processed data; storing, at said receiver, said processed data and said access-control signal; retrieving, at said receiver, said stored access-control signal; reproducing, at said receiver, said stored processed data to produce reproduced data; and reprocessing, at said receiver, said reproduced data in response to said retrieved access-control signal. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for transferring from a broadcaster to a receiver a limited reproduction right in prerecorded data, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting from said broadcaster to said receiver an access-control signal generated by a remote provider, said access-control signal indicating said limited reproduction right; receiving, at said receiver, said access-control signal; reproducing, at said receiver, said prerecorded data; and processing, at said receiver, said reproduced data in response to said access-control signal. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A method for reproducing prerecorded data comprising the steps of:
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reproducing an access-control signal generated by a remote provider which grants users rights to reproduce said data signals from a first storage medium; reproducing processed data from a second storage medium in response to said access-control signal to produce reproduced data; and reprocessing said reproduced data in response to said access-control signal.
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40. A method for erasing prerecorded data stored on a record medium in response to an access-control signal stored in a separate memory, comprising the steps of:
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retrieving said access-control signal from said separate memory; determining that said access-control signal is an ERASE signal; and erasing data stored on said record medium in response to said ERASE signal.
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41. Method comprising the steps of:
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receiving information in scrambled or coded form; receiving, at a device, access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce the information; descrambling or decoding the information; modifying the information with a key at a device to prevent unauthorized use thereof; providing the modified information to a storage usable externally from the device; and providing said key to said device for modifying the information. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. Apparatus comprising:
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a receiver for receiving information in scrambled or coded form, and for receiving an access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce the information; a unit for descrambling or decoding the information; a modifying unit that modifies the information with a key at a device to prevent unauthorized use thereof; a writing apparatus for writing the modified information to a storage medium usable externally from the information processing apparatus and for writing to said storage medium said key to modify the information. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. Method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at a device, information via communication medium; storing said received information in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof on a storage detachable from the device, and modifying the form of the information subsequently read from the detachable storage according to an access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce the information. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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50. Apparatus comprising:
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a receiver for receiving information via communication medium; a writing unit for writing to a storage medium detachable from the apparatus said received information in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof; and a modifier for modifying the form of the information subsequently read from the detachable storage medium according to an access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce the information. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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53. Method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a device, information in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof; receiving an access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce the information; and writing the received information in said form to prevent unauthorized use to a storage medium that is usable externally from the device. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. Apparatus comprising:
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a receiver for receiving information in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof and for receiving an access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce the information; and a writing apparatus for writing the received information in said form to prevent unauthorized use to a storage medium that is usable externally from the device. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. Apparatus comprising:
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a receiver for receiving an access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce information; a storage medium detachably coupled to the apparatus and being usable externally from the apparatus; a controller for controlling operation of the information processing apparatus; a modifying unit connected to the controller for modifying information to prevent unauthorized use thereof; an unmodifying unit connected to the controller for removing modifications to said information that prevent unauthorized use; and a decoder for decoding information. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method comprising the steps of:
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reproducing from a storage medium detachably coupled to a device information in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof; receiving, via said communication medium, an access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce the information; and altering the form of the information stored on the storage medium according to the access control signal. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A system, comprising:
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a storage medium usable externally from said information processing device, said storage medium adapted to store information in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof; an interface for connecting, via a communication medium, to a provider when information is reproduced from the storage medium, and for receiving an access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce the information; and a unit for altering the form of the information stored on the storage medium according to the access control signal. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A method for playing back prerecorded data comprising the steps of:
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reproducing an access-control signal generated by a remote provider which grants users rights to play back said data signals from a first storage medium; reproducing processed data from a second storage medium in response to said access-control signal to produce reproduced data, the reproduced data needing modification to enable the user to use said data; modifying said reproduced data in response to said access-control signal; and playing back said modified data in a form enabling the user to use said data. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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92. A playback apparatus for playing back prerecorded data, comprising:
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reading means for reproducing from a first storage medium an access-control signal generated by a remote provider which grants users rights to play back said data signals, and for reproducing processed data from a second storage medium in response to said access-control signal to produce reproduced data; a unit for modifying said reproduced data in response to said access-control signal; and output means for playing back said modified data in a form enabling the user to use said data. - View Dependent Claims (93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
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99. A method for controlling the reproduction of data signals, comprising the steps of:
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storing data signals received via a signal transmission medium; storing an access control signal received via said signal transmission medium, said access control signal being generated by a remote provider to grant a user rights to reproduce said stored data signals, and said access control signal defining the number of times said stored data signals can be reproduced or a temporal limit on which said stored data signals can be reproduced; reproducing the stored access control signal to determine if said data signals can be reproduced; reproducing said stores data signals depending upon said reproduced access control signal; and outputting to a monitor, in displayable form, said reproduced data signals. - View Dependent Claims (100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107)
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108. A reproduction apparatus for controlling the reproduction of data signals, comprising:
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a writing apparatus for writing data signals received via a signal transmission medium to a storage medium, and for writing an access control signal received via said signal transmission medium to said storage medium, said access control signal being generated by a remote provider to grant a user rights to reproduce said stored data signals, and said access control signal defining the number of times said stored data signals can be reproduced or a temporal limit on which said stored data signals can be reproduced; a reading apparatus for reproducing the stored access control signal to determine if said data signals can be reproduced, and for reproducing said stored data signals depending upon said reproduced access control signal; and output means for outputting to a monitor, in displayable form, said reproduced data signals. - View Dependent Claims (109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116)
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117. A method of controlling the use of data signals, comprising the steps of:
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receiving and storing data signals; receiving and storing a first access control signal generated by a remote site to grant a user rights to use said stored data signals; checking the stored first access control signal prior to processing the stored data signals to determine if said data signals can be used; receiving and storing a second access control signal generated by a remote site to grant a user rights to use said stored data signals if said first access control signal does not grant said user rights to use said stored data signals, said second access control signal defining a temporal limit on which said stored data signals can be used; processing said stored data signals; and outputting said processed data signals. - View Dependent Claims (118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127)
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128. An apparatus for controlling the use of data signals, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving and storing data signals, and for receiving and storing a first access control signal generated by a remote provider to grant a user rights to use said stored data signals; a controller for checking the stored first access control signal prior to processing the stored data signals to determine if said data signals can be used, said receiver further receiving and storing a second access control signal generated by a remote provider to grant a user rights to use said stored data signals if said first access control signal does not grant said user rights to use said stored data signals, said second access control signal defining the number of times said stored data signals can be used or a temporal limit on which said stored data signals can be used; a processor for processing said stored data signals; and an output controller for outputting said processed data signals. - View Dependent Claims (129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137)
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138. A method of controlling the reproduction of data signals, comprising the steps of:
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receiving data signals; storing said received data signals in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof; receiving a request to reproduce said stored data signals; determining, in response to said received request, whether said stored data signals can be reproduced; connecting to a remote site in response to the determination that said store data signals cannot be reproduced; receiving an access control signal which grants a user rights to reproduce said stored data signals modifying the form of said stored data signals; and reproducing said modified data signals. - View Dependent Claims (139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148)
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149. An apparatus for controlling the reproduction of data signals, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving and storing data signals in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof, and for receiving a request to reproduce said stored data signals; a controller for determining, in response to said received request, whether said stored data signals can be reproduced, said receiver further connecting to a remote location to receive an access control signal generated by a remote provider to grant a user rights to reproduce said control data signals if said stored data signals cannot be reproduced; a unit for modifying the form of said stored data signals; and a reproducing element for reproducing said modified data signals. - View Dependent Claims (150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159)
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160. A method of controlling access to digital data, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request from a user to use digital data; determining whether said user is a subscriber to use said digital data; determining if said request defines the number of times said digital data can be used or a temporal limit on which said digital data can be used; and transmitting to said user an access control signal determined by said request, if said user is determined to be a subscriber, said access control signal being generated to grant said user rights to use said digital data. - View Dependent Claims (161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170)
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171. An apparatus for controlling access to digital data, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a request from a user to use digital data; a controller for determining whether said user is a subscriber to use said digital data, and for determining if said request defines the number of times said digital data can be used or a temporal limit on which said digital data can be used; and a transmitter for transmitting to said user an access control signal determined by said request, if said user is determined to be a subscriber, said access control signal being generated by a remote provider to grant said user rights to use said digital data. - View Dependent Claims (172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181)
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182. A method of erasing stored data signals, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an access control signal generated by a remote site to grant a user rights to use said stored data signals wherein said access control signal includes an erase control signal which establishes a time on which said stored data signals are to be erased and either a temporal limit on the usage of data signals or a numerical limit on the number of times data signals can be used; and erasing said stored data signals at the time established by said erase control signal. - View Dependent Claims (183, 184, 185, 186, 187)
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188. An apparatus for erasing stored data signals, comprising:
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storage medium for storing an erase control signal which establishes a time on which said stored data signals are to be erased and either a temporal limit on the usage of data signals or a numerical limit on the number of times data signals can be used; a receiver for receiving an access control signal generated by a remote provider to grant a user rights to use said stored data signals; and a writer for erasing said stored data signals at the time established by said erase control signal. - View Dependent Claims (189, 190, 191, 192, 193)
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194. A method of controlling the reproduction of data signals, comprising the steps of:
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receiving and storing data signals; receiving and storing a first access control signal generated by a remote site to grant a user rights to reproduce a selected portion of said stored data signals; enabling reproduction of only said portion of said stored data signals, consistent with said first access control signal; transmitting a request to reproduce at least the remainder of said stored data signals; receiving a second access control signal generated by a remote site in response to said request to grant a user rights to reproduce said stored data signals, said second access control signal defining the number of times said stored data signals can be reproduced and a temporal limit on which said stored data signals can be reproduced; and reproducing said stored data signals consistent with said second access control signal. - View Dependent Claims (195, 196, 197, 198)
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199. An apparatus for controlling the reproduction of data signals, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving and storing data signals, and for receiving and storing a first access control signal generated by a remote provider to grant a user rights to reproduce a selected portion of said stored data signals; a controller for enabling reproduction of only said portion of said stored data signals, consistent with said first access control signal; a transmitter for transmitting a request to reproduce at least the remainder of said stored data signals, said receiver further receiving a second access control signal generated by a remote provider in response to said request to grant a user rights to reproduce said stored data signals, said second access control signal defining one or more of the number of times said stored data signals can be reproduced and a temporal limit on which said stored data signals can be reproduced; and a reader for reproducing said stored data signals consistent with said second access control signal. - View Dependent Claims (200, 201, 202, 203)
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204. A method for controlling access to data signals stored in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof, comprising the steps of:
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receiving via a signal transmission medium a first access control signal; receiving, subsequent to the reception of said first access control signal, a second access control signal, said first and second access control signals being generated by a same entity to grant a user rights to access said stored data signals, and said second access control signal representing a temporal limit on which said stored data signals can be accessed; replacing said first access control signal with said subsequently received second access control signal; and outputting said stored data signals if said second access control indicates that said stored data signals can be used. - View Dependent Claims (205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210)
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211. An apparatus for controlling access to data signals stored in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving via a signal transmission medium a first access control signal, and for receiving, subsequent to the reception of said first access control signal, a second access control signal, said first and second access control signals being generated by a remote provider to grant a user rights to access said stored data signals, and said second access control signal representing a temporal limit on which said stored data signals can be accessed; a controller for replacing said first access control signal with said subsequently received second access control signal prior to using said stored data signals; and a decryptor for decrypting said stored data signals if said second access control signal indicates that said stored data signals can be used. - View Dependent Claims (212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217)
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218. Method for controlling usage of data comprising:
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requesting data signals to be transmitted at a later time; receiving via a fiber optic network data signals in a form to prevent unauthorized use thereof; receiving a first access control signal corresponding to said data signals, wherein said first access control signal comprises a second access control signal which defines usage of a segment of said data signals, and wherein said first access control signal is generated by a remote provider which grants users rights to reproduce said data signals; storing said data signals in a solid-state memory; checking said access control signal; and modifying said data signals to a form authorized for use subsequent to checking said access control signal. - View Dependent Claims (219)
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220. An apparatus for controlling reproduction of data signals stored on a recording medium, comprising:
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a receiver for retrieving an access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce said data signals and which represents the number of times said data signals can be reproduced; a reader for reproducing said data signals from said recording medium wherein said data signals are stored in an encrypted form; a decryptor for decrypting said reproduced data signals; and a controller for controlling the reproduction and decryption of said data signals in response to said retrieved access control signal. - View Dependent Claims (221, 222, 223, 224)
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225. An apparatus for controlling reproduction of data signals stored on a recording medium, comprising:
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a receiver for retrieving an access control signal generated by a remote provider which grants a user rights to reproduce said data signals and which represents a temporal limit on which said data signals can be reproduced; a reader for reproducing said data signals from said recording medium, wherein said data signals are stored in an encrypted form; a decryptor for decrypting said reproduced data signals; and a controller for controlling the reproduction and decryption of said data signals in response to said retrieved access control signal. - View Dependent Claims (226, 227, 228, 229)
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230. An apparatus for receiving transferred data signals, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving said data signals transferred to said apparatus, an access control signal generated by a remote provider and transferred to said apparatus, the access control signal granting a user rights to reproduce said data signals at the apparatus and representing the number of times said data signals can be reproduced, and data signals transferred to the apparatus, and a storage device for storing said received data signals in an encrypted form, and for storing said received access control signal. - View Dependent Claims (231, 232, 233)
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234. An apparatus for receiving transferred data signals, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving said data signals transferred to the apparatus, an access control signal generated by a remote provider and transferred to the apparatus, the access control signal granting a user rights to reproduce said data signals at the apparatus and representing a temporal limit on which said data signals can be reproduced, and data signals transferred to the apparatus; and a storage device for storing said received data signals in an encrypted form and storing said received access control signal. - View Dependent Claims (235, 236, 237)
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238. An apparatus for controlling reproduction of data signals stored on a recording medium, comprising:
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a receiver for retrieving a first access control signal generated by a remote provider and stored on said recording medium together with said data signals, said first access control signal granting a user rights to reproduce the data signals from the recording medium; a writer for rewriting said first access control signal to produce a second access control signal; and a reader for reproducing said data signals from said recording medium. - View Dependent Claims (239)
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240. An apparatus for transferring data signals, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving from a user'"'"'s receiver apparatus a request for a desired data signal, and for receiving from said user'"'"'s receiver apparatus a request for limited rights to use said requested data signal at the receiver; an access signal provider for providing an access control signal as a function of said requested limited rights; and a transmitter for transferring said requested data signal and said generated access control signal to said receiver, said access control signal controlling an access controller at the user'"'"'s receiver apparatus to limit the user'"'"'s receiving apparatus to N uses of said data signal where N>
1, or to limit the user'"'"'s receiver apparatus to use said data signals for only a predetermined time duration.
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241. An apparatus for receiving data signals, comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting a request requesting a desired data signal, and requesting limited rights to use said requested data signal; a receiver for receiving said requested data signal, and receiving an access control signal that is generated by a remote provider as a function of said requested limited rights; a controller for controlling the use of said data signal in response to said received access control signal; and a storage device for storing said received data signal in an encrypted form. - View Dependent Claims (242, 243, 244, 245, 246)
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247. An apparatus for controlling the reproduction of data signals, comprising:
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a storage device for storing data signals received via a signal transmission medium, and for storing an access control signal received via said signal transmission medium, said access control signal being generated by a remote provider to grant a user rights to reproduce said stored data signals, and said access control signal defining one or more of the number of times said stored data signals can be reproduced and a temporal limit on which said stored data signals can be reproduced; a controller for checking the stored access control signal prior to reproducing the stored data signals to determine if said data signals are can be reproduced; a reader for reproducing said stored data signals depending upon said access control signal; and an output controller for outputting to a monitor, in recognizable form, said reproduced data signals.
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Specification