Digital information recording apparatus, reproducing apparatus and transmitting apparatus

Abstract

A digital information recording apparatus includes a recording circuit for recording information of a retention period included in the digital information and indicating a period for permitting the digital information to be held in the recording medium, starting with a time at which the digital information is recorded on the recording medium; and information of a playback permission period included in the digital information and indicating a period for permitting the digital information to be played back starting with a time at which the information is reproduced initially following recording of the digital information on the recording medium, permitting temporary recording or copying for the information permitted for "copy never" or "copy one generation."

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording or reproducing digital information such as video and audio data, more particularly, to digital information recording and reproducing apparatus capable of setting a limit to playback or copying of the information to be recorded or reproduced by the authority of copyright holders and the like. Further, the present invention relates to a transmitting apparatus suitable for transmitting digital information to the recording and reproducing apparatus as above.[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art[0004] Digital television broadcasting has been started and digital recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing digital information have been brought to market. In addition, even in the field of package medium such as movie software, package software to be used with this type of apparatus will be developed and practiced in the near future.[0005] The digital recording scheme h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] According to the invention, the effective period, available inside a recording medium, of information permitted for temporary recording is prescribed. The apparatus has a unit for disabling reproduction and playback after expiration of a prescribed time following recording initiation. Through this, the information temporarily recorded on the medium can be prevented from being used later for unauthorized purposes. The effective period inside the recording medium referred to herein will be called "retention period". Further, the effective period starting with playback initiation is also prescribed. The apparatus has a unit for disabling repetitive reproduction and playback after expiration of a prescribed time following the initial start of playback. Through this, playback by many and unspecified users can be prevented. The effective period referred to herein will be called "playback permission period".

[0019] When the copyright holder originally sets a limit to copying such as "copy one generation" for instance, copying permitted for the user is limited to some extent. To prevent the temporarily recorded information from staying in the medium for a long time while being conditioned to "copy one generation", the present invention prescribes the effective period for the information, conditioned to "copy one generation" to stay in the recording medium following recording of the information. The apparatus has a unit for handling the information as being subject to "no more copies" after expiration of the prescribed period following recording so as to prevent copying, thereby eliminating anxiety of the copyright holder about the long-term stay of the information subject to "copy one generation". The effective period referred to herein will be called "copy permission period". In the medium in which the copy permission period has expired or information is copied within the copy permission period, the copy control information changes to "no more copies" to disable copying.

Problems solved by technology

But in the event that many high-quality copies are prepared and circulated at a site unknown to a copyright holder, there arises a problem that profits cannot be returned to the copyrighters.

This is a pending problem for which countermeasures have been discussed in various fields since a case of digital audio tape deck at issue.

More particularly, when a visitor comes accidentally while the copy control information being set to "copy never" in broadcasting, a user in question disadvantageously looses a chance of playing back a broadcast program.

But the problem involved in copyright cannot be solved satisfactorily by the conventional methods that inflict one-sided profit or loss to copyright holders, broadcasting or software developing firms or general users.

But, when copying of the temporarily recorded information is permitted, though only once, the copy permission remains for a long time, giving anxiety to the copyright holders.

On the other hand, when "no more copies" is once set, desired exchange of the medium storing the contents becomes impossible and disadvantageously the users are forced to suffer from inconvenience.

Many types of reproducing apparatus cause their operation to temporarily pause or stop during reproduction.

When the copyright holder originally sets a limit to copying such as "copy one generation" for instance, copying permitted for the user is limited to some extent.

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