AU744546B2 - Recording medium and apparatus for protecting copyrighted digital data - Google Patents

Description

I S&F Ref: 321234D1

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Sony Corporation 6-7-35, Kitashinagawa Shinagawa-ku Tokyo 141 Japan Koichi Sugiyama and Etsurou Sakamoto Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 Recording Medium and Apparatus for Protecting Copyrighted Digital Data The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c 450100-3399 Recording Medium and Apparatus for Protecting Copyrighted Digital Data BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to digital data recording medium, AV apparatus, and AV system which can easily control the recording or dubbing of a digital signal which is supplied from.

for example, a television station or a digital

VCR.

The invention also relates to a recording medium and a recording and reproducing apparatus which inhibits or restricts the recording (dubbing) and reproduction of a digital signal in order to protect its copyright.

In a digital recording and reproducing apparatus, for example, a digital VCR, there is hardly any deterioration of picture quality or sound quality during a dubbing copying) process. Therefore, it is necessary to inhibit or restrict the dubbing or reproduction of certain data to protect a copyright.

When an analog signal is input, converted to a digital signal and Soo 0.

recorded, copyright protective information is superimposed in a vertical blanking period (V blanking period) of the analog signal to inhibit or restrict the dubbing of the digital signal.

In a pre-recorded tape for a conventional analog VCR, in order to protect the copyright, a copyright protective signal formed of a plurality of pairs, each comprising a sync pulse and a positive pulse, is superimposed in the V blanking period of the television signal. An Automatic Gain Control (AGC) of the recording section of a VCR is "confused" by such a signal, so that the dubbing cannot be-performed. That is, in case of 450100-3399 illegally copying a pre-recorded tape, the dubbed tape is copied so that it is unreproducible. Thus, the copyright is protected.

A VCR for an image compression system has been studied and developed. A digital VCR in which video and audio data are encoded, recorded and reproduced, such as the D1 component system, D2 composite system, and the like for business or professional use have been proposed with copyright protection.

For instance, in an industrial-use digital VCR, signals such as the V blanking period and the horizontal blanking peripd (H blanking period) which do not represent image information are not recorded. Namely, only signals in the useful image portion are extracted, compressed, and recorded. Upon reproduction, such image data is subjected to processes opposite to those executed upon recording, so that the V and H blanking periods which were 15 not recorded are added to the processed image data and the resultant data is output as a composite video signal.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an AV (audio/video) system for dubbing a pre-recorded tape onto a blank tape using digital VCRs. In Fig. 10, when a pre-recorded tape 101 is reproduced by a VCR 102, digital data, such as AV data, recorded on tape 101 is supplied through a cable 103 to a VCR in which a blank tape 105 is loaded. Tape 101, recorded by a compression system used in professional digital VCRs, as mentioned above, only contain data of the useful image portion; therefore, since there is no V blanking period, the analog VCR copyright protection techniques -3are not adequate when recording or dubbing signals using the digital VCR.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate one or more disadvantages of the prior art.

Accordingly, the invention discloses a recording medium, comprising: a recording section for storing at least an information component of new data, said new data also including a protective information component; and 1o a recording condition memory having copy permission information stored therein, said copy permission information and said protective information component of V said new data, in combination, being determinative of whether or not said information component of said new data is to be stored in said recording section, said copy permission •...information being stored in said memory prior to recording of said information S 15 component of said new data into said recording section, and wherein said copy permission information is determined at least in part based upon a recording history of said recording medium.

The invention further discloses a recording method, comprising the steps of: 20 storing at least an information component of new data in a recording section in a o oo recording medium, said new data also including a protective information component; and determining whether or not said information component of said new data is to be stored in said recording section in accordance with a combination of copy permission information stored in a recording condition memory in said recording medium and said protective information component of said new data, said copy permission information being stored in said memory prior to recording of said information component of said new data into said recording section, and wherein said copy permission information is recording section, and wherein said copy permission information is determined at least in part based upon a recording history of said recording medium.

The invention further discloses a recording apparatus, comprising: means for storing at least an information component of new data in a recording section, said new data also including a protective information component; and determining means for determining whether or not said information component i of said new data is to be stored in said recording section in accordance with a [I:ADayLib\LBCC]O I 742.doc: eaa combination of copy permission information stored in a recording condition memory and said protective information component of said new data, said copy permission information being stored in said memory prior to recording of said information component of said new data into said recording section, and wherein said copy permission information is determined at least in part based upon a recording history of said recording medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an AV system used for dubbing: Fig. 2 is a table showing the relations among protective information, copy permission information, and copy permission/inhibition; 15 Figs. 3A and 3B are block diagrams of the reproducing and recording sections of digital VCRs; eFig. 4 is a block diagram of a digital VCR used for recording; •Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the digital VCR used for dubbing; Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are diagrams showing methods of recording, storing or 20 adding copy permission information or protective information onto a pre-recorded tape or a blank tape; The Next Page is Page 6 [I:\DayLib\LBCC01742.doc eaa EDITORIAL NOTE NO. 63037/99 This specification does not contain page numbered 450100-3399 Figs. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are system diagrams for recording digital TV data; Figs- BA, 8B, SC, and 8D are system diagrams f or dubbing using a digital VCR; Figs. 9AI 9B, 9C and 9D are system diagrams for using protective infor"mation levels of two stages for dubbing using a digitaf VCR; Fig 10is. a diagra hwn nA system%-for dubbing a pre-recorded tape onto 'a .blank tape using digital VCRs'- Fig. 31ia block diagram showing. a recording and reproduciing systemto which the invention can be applied; Fig. 1.2 is a. block diagram showing a recording system to which the invention can be applied; Fig. 13 is. a block diagram showing a reproducing system *6 to which the invention can be applied; Fi. 4&a, diagram showing copyrigqht protective *.:-information superimposed in a vertical blanking period; Fig. 1i is'-a.diagram showing the structure of copyright protective information superimposed in a vertical blanking S:period; .:Pig. 16A and 16B are diagrams showing the copyright .:protective information superimposed on digital data; Fig-. 17 is a diagram showing the structure of the s*.copyright protective information superimposed on the digital dataL; and -6- 450ioo-3399 Fig. 18 is a diagram showing a copyright protective information pack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an AV system used for dubbing AV data and protective information recorded on a pre-recorded tape loaded in a reproducing apparatus 1 (for example, a digital VCR). the reproduced data being output to a recording apparatus.2 (for example, a digital VCR). The protective information is stored in the digital data of the pre-recorded tape loaded in the reproducing apparatus or, for a transmission system, in the digital television data (DTV), which will be described later, transmitted from a broadcasting station. This protection o 15 information indicates whether dubbing is permitted or inhibited by the recording apparatus and is transmitted together with the AV data or DTV data. Rather than always transmitting the S protective information, the protective information can be transmitted when dubbing is inhibited and not transmitted when dubbing is permitted.

A blank tape containing previously recorded copy permission information is loaded in recording apparatus 2. The S copy permission information indicates whether the AV or DTV data can be recorded onto the blank tape. For example, if the copy r: e -perision information is indicative of permission to copy or not 450100-3 399 onto a blank tape, -copyrighted data can be Properly protected.

Par instance, where the protective information is not supplied from reproducing apparatus 1 or where the protective information indicative of the permission to copy is supplied from reproducing apparatus 1, dubbing can be executed regardless of the permission information recorded on the blank tape. Where the protective information indicative of copy inhibition is supplied from reproducing apparatus 1, that is, when copyrighted. data constitutes the reproduced AV data, the copy permission information is important. Namely, where the copy permission information is indicative copy inhibition, the signal cannot be dubbed onto the blank tape. However, where the copy permission information is indicative of permission to copy, dubbing can be executed.

Fig. 2 is a table showing the relations among the 1 :protective information, copy permission information, and copy .::permission/inhibition. As mentioned above, 'where no protective information is transmitted, the AV or DTV data can be copied regardless of the copy permission information of the recording medium loaded in the recording apparatus. In addition, where .*:protective information indicative of copy inhibition is nsmitted f rom the .reproducing apparatus and where there is no copy permission information in the recording medium or the copy permission information is indicative of copy inhibition, then ***.:copying cannot be performed. Even -when the protective 450100-33 99 information indicative of the copy inhibition is transmitted from the reproducing medium, where the copy permission information indicates that copying is permitted onto the recording medium, the AV or DTV data can be copied. Where copying is inhibited, the user is notified by using, for example, an On Screen Display (OSD) on a monitor or the like.

Figs. 3A and 3B are diagrams of the recording and reproducing sections of 'dgtlVCRs. Reproducing apparatus 1, Tshown in Fig. 3A, reproduces the AV data recorded on the prerecorded tape from a recording/reproducing unit 3 and outputs the data to a control unit 5. Protective information, previously recorded on the pre-recorded tape, is read from the pre-recorded rtipe by a protective information' reading unit 4 and output to control unit 5. The AV data and protective information are output from the control unit.

.In the recording apparatus 2, shown iFg.313, a .*.control unit 6 receives the AV data and protective information .transmitted from reproducing apparatus 1. The AV data and protective information are supplied from control unit to a *~o..recording/reproducing unit a.

.Ifn the protective information indicates that copying is *:permitted or if there is no protective information, regardless of copy permission information stored on the blank tape loaded in recording apparatus 2, the AV data reproduced by reproducing :appa'ratus 1 can be recorded by recording apparatus 2.

450100-3399 When the protective information is indicative of copy inhibition, a copy permission information reading unit 7 reads whether copy permission information has been recorded on the loaded blank tape and outputs the result to control unit 6.

Control unit 6 sends a copy permis sion signal to recording/ reproducing unit 8 based on the copy permission information.

When there i~s no copy permission information or when the copy permiasion information is indicative of copy inhibition, the reproduced data cannot be copied. However, when.the copy permission information indicates that copying is permitted, the reproduced data can be copied.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a digital VCR used for recording. The digital VCR comprises an input/output selector 11, a tuner unit 12, a recording and reproducing apparatus 13 in which a blank tape (not shown) has been loaded, a controller 14, and a power supply circuit 15. The tuner unit -receives r:.2 broadcasted DTV data and protective information indicative of :whether copying is permitted. The controller generates a control Ssignal indicating that data can be recorded by recording and .000?0 reproducing apparatus 13. When the protective infor-mation is not esai:: transmitted from the tuner unit to the controller, a control signal indicating that the DTV data can be recorded reg~rdless of S..*:the copy permission. information that may be read from the loaded S S* :tape is supplied to the recording and reproducing apparatus.

450100-3399 When the protective information input to the controller from the DTV data is indicative of copy inhibition, the controller reads copy permission information from the blank tape.

If the copy permission information from the blank tape indicates that data can be recorded, the DTV data can be copied; whereas if the copy permission information indicates recording inhibition, the DTV-.data cannot be recorded.

1 Fig. 5 in a block diagram of a digital _VCR used for dubbing data from a pre-recorded tape. In Fig. 5, the same component elements as those shown in Pig 4. are designated by the same reference numerals and so are not described;below. Digital data and protective information from another digital VCR (not shown) are supplied to a signal processing apparatus 16, through an I/O selector 11. The protective information is inputted from the signal processing apparatus to controller 14. The controller generates a control signal indicating whether the AV data can be dubbed based on the protective information supplied from the signal processing apparatus. If no protective information or if protective information indicating that copying is permitted is supplied, then dubbing can be performed regardless of copy permission information stored on the blank tape.

When protective information indicative of copy inhibition is supplied to the controller 14, the controller reads the copy permission information from the blank tape loaded in 25 recording and reproducing apparatus 13. If the copy permission .11 -11- 450100-3399 information indicates that copying is permitted, such information is output from the recording and reproducing apparatus to the controller. Thus, dubbing can be executed. If the copy permission information indicates copy inhibition, then dubbing cannot be executed.

Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are diagrams showing a method of recording, storing or adding the foregoing copy permission information or protective information to a pre-recorded tape or a blank tape. In Fig. 6A, a memory device such as ROM, RAM, or the like is built into the tape cassette. The copy permission information or protective information is stored in the memory device. When the tape is loaded into recording and/or reproducing apparatus, information data in the memory device is read by that apparatus. In Fig. 6B, the presence of copy 1. permission information or protective information is determined by states of detection holes formed on the cassette. In Fig. 6C, bar codes provided on the tape cassette are discriminated by the :.apparatus to determine whether copy permission information or protective information is stored on the tape. If Fig. 6D, tracks of copy permission information or protective information are provided at predetermined positions on the tape (for example, in a longitudinal track in an upper portion of the tape) Copy o permission information or protective information may be recorded throughout the entire length of tape or only in a partial interval of the tape. The copy permission information or -12- 450100 -33 99 protective information recorded on the longitudinal track is read -by a read-only fixed head of the apparatus. As mentioned above, by reading the copy permission or protective information in the memory device, detecting the states of the detection holes, discriminating bar codes, or reading the track, the copy per-mission information or protective information stored on the pre-recorded or blank tape is determined. Thus, whether I recording or dubbing can be performed onto the loaded blank- tapeor from the pre-recorded tape is judged.

o0 Figs. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are diagrams showing the relation between the protective information and copy permission information when recording DTV data. Fig. 2 is referred to in order to better appreciate the following description.

AB shown in Fig. 7A, when no protective information is 5 transmitted with the DTV data and no copy permission information :is stored on the blank tape loaded into the recording apparatus, recording is permitted.

As shown in Fig. 7B, when the protective information indicative of copy inhibition is transmitted with the DTV data Q.*and no copy permission information is stored on the blank tape *.:loaded into the recording apparatus, recording is inhibited. If the protective information indicates that copying is permitted :.:and no copy permission information is stored on the blank tape, recording is permitted, as in Fig. 7A.* 1 ~6 0 6 -13- 450100-3399 As shown 'in Figs-. 7A and 7C, when no protective information is transmitted with the D)TV data then the copy permission information stored on the blank tape loaded into the recording apparatus is irrelevant and recording is permitted.

When the protective information is transmitted with the DTV data and copy permission information is stored on the blank tape in the recording apparatus, an. shown in Fig. 7D, there are 'four possibilities.

First, when protective information. indicative of copy inhibition is transmitted and the copy permission information is indicative of copy inhibition, recording is not possible. Second and third, when the protective information indicates that copying is permitted and the copy permission information indicates that copying is permitted or inhibited, recording is permitted.

2.5 Fourth, when the protective information is indicative of copy inhibition and the copy permission information indicates that :copying is permitted, recording is permitted. in Fig- 7D, when recording is permitted pursuant to the fourth possibility. the protective information is recorded with the DTV data, so that la:similar protection and copy permission can be maintained for the dubbed data.

S. S S S S 5 5 a *5 S P a Figs- BA, B, 8C and OD are system diagrams showing the relation between the protective information and copy permission information when dubbing data from a digital

VCR-

-14- 450100- 3399 1nf Fig. BA, when a medium, such as a video tape or the -like, having no protective information is loaded into the reproducing apparatus, dubbing is permitted regardless of the copy permission information of the recording medium, such as a tape, in the recording apparatu..

In Fig. 8B, when the medium, such as a pre-recorded tape or the like, which contains protective information Sindicative of copy inhibition is loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a blank tape without copy permission information is loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbing cannot be executed.

in Fig. ad, when a mnedium having no protective information in loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a blank tape having copy permission information is loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbing is permitted.

In Fig. 8D, when a medium having protective information is0 1 loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a blank tape having COP **cPermission information is loaded into the recording apparatus, there are four possible cases.

First, in the case where the protective information is indicative of copy inhibition and the copy permission information i s indicative of copy inhibition, dubbing cannot be executed.

Second and third, when the protective information indicates that *.:copying is permitted and the copy permission information indicates that copying is permitted or inhibited, dubbing is 2N** permitted. Fourth, when the protective information is indicative S. 450100-3399 of copy inhibition and the copy permission information indicates that copying is permitted, dubbing is permitted. In Fig. 8D, the protective information is dubbed with the digital data for the fourth possibility, so that similar protection and copy permission can be maintained for the dubbed data.

Figs. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D show system diagrams for dubbing using a digital VCR when two stages or levels of protective information are used. By allocating states or levels to the protective information, even when copy permission information is stored on the blank tape loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbing onto the blank tape can be inhibited.

As shown in Fig. 9A, when the reproducing medium, such as a pre-recorded tape or the like, with a first level of protective information is loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a recording medium, such as a blank tape or the like, having no copy permission information is loaded into .the recording apparatus, dubbing cannot be executed.

As shown in Fig. 9B, where a reproducing medium having a second level of protective information is loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a recording medium having no copy permission information is loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbing cannot be executed.

As shown in Fig. 9C, when a reproducing medium having a first level of protective information is loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a recording medium having copy -16- 450100-3399 permission information indicating that recording is permitted is loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbing is permitted. in this case, the protective information is recorded onto the blank tape together with the digital data. Therefore, similar protection and copy permission can be maintained for the dubbed data.

As shownwin Fig-. 9D, if a reproducing medium having a .~second level of protective information is loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a recording medium having op permission information is loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbing cannot be executed. Protective information of. two levels is provided so that illegal dubbing can be restricted- The first level of protective information is set to the same level of the copy permission information and the second level of protective information is set to a level higher than that of the copy *'permission information.

.In the foregoing explanation, the invention uses a tape the medium, however, the invention can also be realized with a disk or the like used as the reproducing and recording media-.

~Fig-. 11 is a block diagram of a recording and reproducing system, for example, a digital VCR or a disk apparatus, to which the invention can be applied. A digital VCR 201 comprises a condition judgment logic circuit 20:3, a recording 0.0circuit 204, a reproducing circuit 205, and time information fomingUnit206.A condition memory 209 is provided for a tape -17- 450100-3399 cassette 202 of the digital VCR. The condition memory is prepared for every recording medium capable of recording a digital video signal. The condition memory is in a predetermined area (for instance, a subcode area) of, for example, a magnetic tape 211. Alternatively, the condition memory may be provided in a semiconductor memory, such as a MIC (Memory in Cassette), integratedly attached to tape cassette 202. Of course, the condition memory may be provided in both the subcode area of magnetic tape 211 and the MIC integratedly attached to the tape cassette.

99 9 *s.

9 99 *i In Fig. 11, an analog video signal or a digital video signal is input from an input terminal 207. If the input signal is an analog video signal, copyright protection information (bitl to bit20) shown in Figs. 14 and 15 will have been superimposed in, for example, the vertical blanking period. If the input signal is a digital signal, for example, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the copyright protective information will have been superimposed in the digital data. The copyright protective information will be explained in detail later. The input signal is subjected to the usual processing by recording circuit 204 and is recorded onto magnetic tape 211 through a recording and reproducing head 210.

The following six kinds of information can be stored as copyright protective information in condition memor.y 209: information indicating whether recording is permitted or not go *o*o eeoe eeee 2 25 25 -18- 450100-3399 or indicating the inhibition or restriction of recording; (2) prepaid fee information corresponding to recording duration information whose dubbing is permitted or to an allotted recording duration; information indicating whether reproduction is permitted or not or indicating reproduction inhibition or restriction; prepaid fee information corresponding to reproduction duration information whose Sreproduction is permitted or to its allotted reproduction duration; information indicative of a fee category corresponding to a royalty which is charged per unit of recording duration of the recording program; and information indicative of a fee category corresponding to the royalty which is charged per unit of time of reproduction duration of the recorded data.

In the recording mode, condition judgment logic circuit i" 203 controls recording circuit 204 in the following three ways S* based on the copyright protection information in condition memory 9 209. When there is no protective information indicative of dubbing inhibition or restriction in the input signal, normal recording of the input signal by recording circuit 204 can be 2: performed. When the protective information is indicative of dubbing inhibition or restriction and there is no-information indicating that recording is permitted in the condition memory, normal recording of the input signal by the recording circuit cannot be executed. For example, recording may be inhibited .or 25 disrupted by distorting the operation of the recorder AGC, or the -19- 450100-3399 input signal to the recorder may be scrambled, or descrambling of the reproduced input signal may be inhibited, and the like. (3) If protective information is indicative of dubbing inhibition or restriction in the input signal and information in the condition memory indicates that recording is permitted, normal recording of the input signal by recording circuit 204 can be performed in accordance with the recording time information or the prepaid fee information corresponding to the recording duration. When the input signal is recorded, the copyright protective information in the input signal is stored in the condition memory and/or a predetermined area of magnetic tape 211, the latter being different from the condition memory.

In place of the copyright protective information in the input signal, copyright protective information regarding the IS input signal can also be input to condition judgment logic circuit 203 from outside of the digital VCR.

*In the reproducing mode, condition judgment logic *a S. circuit 203 controls reproducing circuit 205 in the following two ways based on the copyright protective information in condition 20 memory 209. When protective information is not present in the condition memory to indicate whether reproduction is permitted or not or to indicate reproduction inhibition or restriction, normal reproduction of the recording signal by reproducing circuit 205 can be performed. When protective information is present in the condition memory and indicates 25 information is present in the condition memory and indicates 450100-33 99 whether reproduction is permitted or not or is indicative of -reproduction or restrict ion, normal reproduction of the recording signal by the reproducing circuit can or can~not be performed depending upon wiihether the reproduction duration informnat ion or the prepaid fee information. The foregoing inhibition or distorting techniques may be used to prevent reproduction.

The control operation of condition judgment logic circuit 203 where protective information in the input signal is *indicative of dubbing inhibition or restriction but protective information is present in the condition memory to indicate that recording is permitted will now be described.

It is now assumed that the recording duration information is set to RTO and the prepaid fee information corresponding to the recording duration is set to RMO in the 1S.copyright protection information. It is also assumed that the royalty, which is charged per unit of time the copyright :::protected input signal is recorded, is set to RCi (i =1 n :n 1 The royalty RCi can be set to a single value. Also, differ-ent royalties RCi can be charged for every pre-recorded 2EQ:": program, such that, for example, the royalty is set to a high value for recently released material, such as a software program, 00 0 vdeo-tape or the like, while the royalty is set to a low value for.matforal which has been reeae for a long timne, or the like.

-21- 45Q00-3399 The input signal with a royalty equal to Rd 1 which is -recorded for a certain duration RTl, will now be described. The recording duration RT1 is obtained by time information forrming unit 206. A royalty RCP which is charged for the duration RT1 is obtained by the following equation.

RCP -RCi x RMl When the recording is completed, the recording duration information or the prepaid fee information corresponding to the recording duration in the copyright protective information in condition memory 209 is rewritten. The rewriting of RTO or RMO can be performed once at the end of the dubbing or can be performed at a predetermined time interval. The recording duration information RTO is rewritten by the following equation-.

S

S S. 55 S S *5 *9 5 5 5

S

S *5 *5 S S S RTO RT1= RTO When RTO is determiined for a certain FZCi (i v- 1) and the input signal has a different the recording duration information RTO is converted and rewritten as follows.

RTO -(RT1 x RC1/Rci)

=*RTO

The prepaid fee information Rm corresponding to the recording duration in rewritten as follows- RMO RCP =*RMO -22- 450100-3399 when RTO or RMO is equal to 0, dubbing is inhibited or restricted. Thus, normal recording of the input signal cannot be performed.

Condition judgment logic circuit 203 discriminates whether RTO or RMO is equal to 0, therefore, RTO or RMO can be used as information indicating whether recording is permitted or not or indicating recording inhibition or restriction.

t The recording duration information RTO, the prepaid fee information RMO corresponding to the recording duration, and the royalty RCi (i -n n 1) charged for the recording duration of the copyright protected input signal can be replaced by information RTO indicative of the number of times the data is permitted to be recorded, the prepaid fee information RMO corresponding to the number of times the data is permitted to be recorded, and the royalty RCi (i 1 n n 1) charged for the number of times the copyrighted protected input signal is o permitted to be recorded, respectively.

t" Upon dubbing, the royalty RCi charged for the recording duration the input signal or the royalty input from outside of *:00 the digital VCR can be stored to the condition memory as information indicative of a fee category corresponding to the royalty of the pre-recorded program.

Further, the royalty RCi charged per unit of time the input signal is reproduced or the royalty input from outside of o* o 25 the digital VCR can be stored to the condition memory as W660 So -23- 450100-32 99 information indicative of a fee category corresponding. to the -royalty of the pre-recorded program.

The operation of condition judgment logic circuit 203 where protective information is present in the condition memory to determine whether reproduction is permitted or not or whether reproduction is inhibited or restricted will now be explained.

It is assumed that the reproduction duration Sinformation is set to PTO and the prepaid fee information corresponding to the reproduction duration is set to P140. It is also assumed that the royalty which is charged for the duration of the reproduction of the copyright protected input signal is set to PCi (i 1 n ;n z The royalty PCi can be set to a single value. A plurality of royalties PCi also can be set to allow different royalties to be charged for every pre-recorded or ::broadcast program so that, for example, the royalty is Bet to a ::.high value for a recently released program and the royalty is set to a low value f or program which has been released for a long time, or the like.

In this instance, the input signal whose royalty is PCi 2Q is reproduced for a duration PTl. The reproducing duration PTl .is obtained by duration information derived from time information forming unit 206. A royalty PCP which is charged for the duration PTI is obtained as follows.

0 0. C 0 4 lY 'Lk' k'~.1-24-J 4SO100339 When the reproduction is completed, the reproduction duration informnation or the prepaid fee information corresponding to the reproduction duration of the copyright protective information is rewritten. The rewriting of PTO or PMO can be performed once at the end of the dubbing or can be performed at predetermined time intervals. The reproducing duration information PTO is rewritten as follows.

PTO -PT1 PTO When PTO in determined for a certain PCi (i s and the input signal has a different PCI, the reproducing duration information PTO is rewritten as f ollows.

PTO (PT1 x PCi/PCi)

=*PTO

The prepaid fee information 2MG corresponding to the reproduction duration is obtained by the following expression- MO PCP I. MO When PTO or PMO is equal to 0, reproduction is inhibited or restricted. Thus, normal reproduction of the recording signal cannot be executed-.

Condition judgment logic circuit 203 discriminates whether PTO or PMO is equal to 0 or not, therefore, PTO or PMO :can be used as information which indicates whether reproduction is permitted or not or which indicates reproduction inhibition or :restriction.

450100-33 99 The reproduction duration information PTO, the prepaid fee information P140 corresponding to the reproducing duration, and the royalty PCi (i I n :n a 1) charged per unit of time the copy-right protected input signal is reproduced can be replaced by the information PTO indicative of the number of times the signal is permitted to be reproduced, the prepaid fee information P140 corresponding to the number of times the signal is permitted to be reproduced, and the royalty PCi Ui 1 nl :n 2: 1) charged for the number of times the copyr ight protected input signal1 is permitted to be reproduced, respectively.

Fig. 12 shows an example of a recording system, for example, a recording system of a digital VCR, to which the invention ca n be applied. A digital VCR 201 is comprised of condition judgment logic circuit 203, recording circuit 204, and 1%66. time information forming unit 206. Tape cassette 202 of the .::digital VCR has condition memory 209. Those portions having the :same reference numerals an in Fig. 13- have similar construction and function, therefore, their descriptions are omitted.

SFig. 13 shows an example of a reproducing system, for example, a reproducing system of a digital VCR, to which the invention is applied. Digital VCR 201 is comprised of condition judgment logic circuit 203, reprodu'cing circuit 205, and time information forming unit 206. Tape cassette 202 of the digital VCR has condition 4emory 209. These -components correspond to those designated by the same reference numerals in Fig. 11 having -26- 450100 -33 99 the same construction and functions, and therefore, their.

descriptions are omitted.

Figs. '14 and 15 are diagrams which show copyright protective information superimposed in the VI blanking period of an analog video signal. The copyright protective informiation is a signal of 20 bits which is superimposed in the V blanking period. A reference bit in provided before the signal of bits.

As shown in Fig. 15, the signal of 20 bits is constructed by wordo of six bits, wordi of four bits, word2 of four bits, and CRC of six bits. Basic parameter and identification ID information regarding a transmission formation are inserted at wordO. Bits indicating the presence or absence of copyright protection and indicating whether the softwar-e in Soriginal or not are incLuded at wordi. For example, the third bit of wordi indicates the presence or absence of copyright *protection. When the third bit is equal to 1"0o, copyright protection is present. When the third bit is equal to there is no copyright protection. The fourth bit of the wordi 1K ~:indicates whether the software is original or not. When the fourth bit is equal to there is no designation. When the :fourth bit is equal to "in, the software is a recorded software *.*.which was commercially released. A category code of the -apparatus is inserted thne word2.

:-27- 450100-3399 Figs. 16A, 16B and 17 are diagrams which show copyright protective information superimposed on a digital video signal.

As shown in Figs. 16A and 16B, a dubbing number restriction code 212 consisting of one byte is inserted in the head portion of main data 213 and 214 in an image data block VB and an audio data block AB, respectively. In the dubbing number restriction code, for example, as shown in Fig. 17, the head bit is a check bit indicating whether the software is copyright protected or not, the next two bits contain data indicative of the present number of dubbing times and the remaining five bits contain classification data indicating whether a source of the image data is a tape, a disk, or a broadcast program.

For example, if the image and audio data are copyright protected and the source is a magnetic tape which has already been dubbed once, dubbing number restriction code 212 is "101XXXXX" (the XXXXX indicates that the category code is set to a "don't care" state).

Fig. 18 is a diagram which show copyright protective information stored in condition memory 209. The copyright 40': protective information is described by, for example, a pack S structure. The "pack" indicates a minimum unit of a data group and each pack is constructed of five bytes. The first byte is a header and the remaining four bytes contain data. The eight bits of the header are divided to four upper bits and four lower bits, 25 to form a hierarchy structure. Although a fixed length of five r a r r r r r r r r r a a r r r r a r r -28- 450100-33 99 bytes iB set as the basic length of the pack structure, a -structure having a variable length can also be used.

The four upper bits (DOO) of PCI contain information indicative of a tee category corresponding to the royalty charged S per unit of time for recording a pre-recorded program. Sixteen dubbing fee categories can be expressed in those four bits.

The four lower bits (DOI) of PCI contain information 'indicative of a fee category corresponding. to the royalty charged per unit of time a pre-recorded program is reproduced. Sixteen r eproduction fee categories can be expressed in these four bits.

Byte PC2 indicates recording duration information or prepaid fee information corresponding to the recording duration.

The recording duration information or the prepaid fee information corresponding to the recording duration can be expressed by the bits (D02) of PC2 within a range 0 to 255 times as large as a :*.unit of time for recording or a unit prepaid fee.

555.Byte PC3 indicates reproduction duration information orprepaid fee information corresponding to its reproduction :duration. The reproduction duration information or the prepaid *fee information corresponding to its reproduction duration can be expressed by the bits (D03) of PC3 within a range 0 to 255 times as large as a unit of time for reproduction or a unit prepaid fee.

The f our upper bits (Do4) of PC4 contain information indicating whether the recording is permitted or not or -29- 450100-33 99 indicating recording inhibition or restriction. Thus;' the presence or absence of the copyright protection and, for example, the number of times the signal is dubbed can be expressed.

The four lower bits (D05) of PC4 contain information indicating whether the reproduction ia permitted or not or indicating reproduction inhibition or restriction. Thus, the presence or absence of the copyright protection and, for example, the number of times the signal is reproduced can be expressed.

Although an example of the digital VCR has been described so far as a recording and reproducing system, the invention can also be similarly embodied in a disk apparatus or a recording and reproducing system using another recording mediuM.

According to the invention, permitting, restricting or inhibiting the recording or dubbing of digital data can easily be .*controlled by using protective information and copy permission .::information. The copyright can be further protected by using multiple stages or levels of protective information. Thus, although a broadcast video image can be seen on a television or a .*monitor, the recording of the video image can be controlled. By 20 recording the protective information of the original data. with -o the-data when copies are made, similar protection/copy permission *.can be maintained even when the dubbed/recorded contents are *..*recorded or dubbed again.

According to the invention, permission, inhi.bition, or restriction of the dubbing of the information signal can be 450100 -3 399 effectively performed at the time of recording by using the recording permiission information used to determine recording permission, a recordable duration of the information signal, or the number of times the information signal is permitted to be recorded and copyright protective information indicative of the fee for recording a predetermined unit of time of the information signal.or the number of times the information signal is permitted to be recorded stored in the recording medium.

Even if the fee for recording a predetermined unit of time of the information signal or the number of times the information signal is recorded is set so as to be dif ferent for every information signal, a royalty for the dubbing of each information ignal can be correctly charged.

According to the invention, the reproduction of the information signal can be permitted, inhibited or restricted .::effectively at the time of the recording using the reproduction ***permission information to determine reproduction permission for a *reproducible duration of the information signal or the number of :~:times the information signal is permitted to be reproduced and 2 copyright protection information indicative of the fee for *:reproducing the information signal for a predetermined unit of time or the number of times the information signal is reproduced stored in the recording medium.

Even when the fee regarding the reproduction for a 2; predetermined unit of time of the information signal or the -31- 450100-3B99 number of times the information signal is reproduiced in set so as to be different for every information signal, a royalty for the reproduction of each information signal can be correctly charged.

The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments but many modifications and variations are possible within the spirit And scope of the appended claims of the invention.

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Claims (14)

1. A recording medium, comprising: a recording section for storing at least an information component of new data, said new data also including a protective information component; and a recording condition memory having copy permission information stored therein, said copy permission information and said protective information component of said new data, in combination, being determinative of whether or not said information component of said new data is to be stored in said recording section, said copy permission information being stored in said memory prior to recording of said information :.component of said new data into said recording section, and wherein said copy o permission information is determined at least in part based upon a recording history of said recording medium. 15

2. A recording method, comprising the steps of: storing at least an information component of new data in a recording section in a recording medium, said new data also including a protective information component; and :determining whether or not said information component of said new data is to be stored in said recording section in accordance with a combination of copy permission 2o information stored in a recording condition memory in said recording medium and said *protective information component of said new data, said copy permission information being stored in said memory prior to recording of said information component of said new data into said recording section, and wherein said copy permission information is determined at least in part based upon a recording history of said recording medium.

3. The recording method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said new data is digital data.

4. The recording method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said copy permission information includes an indication of a number of times said data can be recorded in said recording section.

The recording method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said copy permission information includes an indication of a period of time for which recording of 5 said data into said recording section can be conducted. [I:\DayLib\LIBCC]01742.doc: aa -34-

6. The recording method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said copy protection information includes an indication of a fee for recording said data into said recording section, said fee being for a number of times said data can be recorded in said recording section and/or for a period of time for which recording of said data into said recording section can be conducted.

7. A recording apparatus, comprising: means for storing at least an information component of new data in a recording section, said new data also including a protective information component; and determining means for determining whether or not said information component of said new data is to be stored in said recording section in accordance with a combination of copy permission information stored in a recording condition memory and said protective information component of said new data, said copy permission information being stored in said memory prior to recording of said information component of said new data into said recording section, and wherein said copy permission information is determined at least in part based upon a recording history of said recording medium. S. 20

8. The recording apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said new data is digital data.

9. The recording apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said copy permission information includes an indication of a number of times said data can be recorded in said recording section.

The recording apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said copy permission information includes an indication of a period of time for which recording of said data into said recording section can be conducted.

11. The recording apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said copy protection information includes an indication of a fee for recording said data into said recording section, said fee being for a number of times said data can be recorded in said recording section and/or for a period of time for which recording of said data into said R 35 recording section can be conducted. [I:\DayLib\LIBCC] 01742.doc:eaa 35

12. A recording medium, comprising: a recording section for storing at least an information component of new data, said new data also including a protective information component; and a recording condition memory having copy permission information stored therein, said copy permission information and said protective information component of said new data, in combination, being determinitive of whether or not said information component of said new data is to be stored in said recording section, said copy permission information being stored in said memory prior to recording of said information component of said new data into recording section.

13. A recording method, comprising the steps of: -storing at least an information component of new data in a recording section in a recording medium, said new data also including a protective information component; and :0 0. determining whether or not said information component of said new data is to be s15 stored in said recording section in accordance with a combination of copy permission information stored in a recording condition memory in said recording medium and said protective information component of said new data, said copy permission information being stored in said memory prior to recording of said information component of said inew data into said recording section. 0• oo

14. A recording medium, comprising: a recording section for storing at least an information component of new data, said new data also including a protective information component; and a reproduction condition memory having reproduction control information stored therein, said reproduction control information and said protective information component of said new data, in combination, being determinative of whether or not said information component of said new data is to be reproduced from said recording section, wherein said reproduction control information is determined at least in part based upon a reproduction history of said recording medium. A reproduction method, comprising the steps of: reproducing at least a protective component of data from a recording section in a recording medium, said data also including an information component; and determining whether or not said information component of said data is to be 3 5 reproduced from said recording section in accordance with a combination of copy [I:\DayLib\Ll BCC] 01742.doc:caa -36- permission information reproduced from a recording condition memory in said recording medium and said protective information component of said data, wherein said copy permission information is determined at least in part based upon a recording history of said recording medium. DATED this seventh Day of December, 2001 Sony Corporation Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON o* [I:\DayLib\LIBCC]01742.doc:caa