EP0593305A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information carrier and recording and/or reproducing and/or initializing apparatus
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1993-10-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-10-15
Abstract
Abstract ID codes are given individually to each information carrier reproducing apparatus. Each information carrier (1) has a subsidiary storing area (18, 3, 17) for recording reproduction-management-information (RMI) and ID codes can be registered in this area. When the ID code of a reproducing apparatus is registered, that reproducing apparatus becomes permitted to reproduce main information from the information carrier. When the reproducing apparatus of which the ID code is not registered tries to reproduce the main information from the information carrier, the ID code of the reproducing apparatus itself is registered in the RMI of the information carrier and the main information is not reproduced. The number of ID codes permitted for registration in the RMI is restricted. When the area in the RMI for requesting the ID code is fully occupied, the main information cannot be reproduced from the information carrier by the reproducing apparatus of which the ID codes are not registered. When the reproducing apparatus digitally copy the main information reproduced from the information carrier where the ID code of the reproducing apparatus is registered, the ID code of the reproducing apparatus is registered in the information carrier of the copy destination. An initializing apparatus for initializing the RMI in the information carrier accumulates the total number of the ID codes registrable in the RMls of the information carriers initialized by the initializing apparatus. This system may be used to prevent the unauthorised re-coding of copyright material and/or to record the instances of copying so that an appropriate royalty fee can be charged.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinichi Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:54
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/28; G11B23/283; G11B23/284; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/16; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00094; G11B20/00115; G11B20/00188; G11B20/0021; G11B20/00217; G11B20/00246; G11B20/00253; G11B20/00297; G11B20/00304; G11B20/00347; G11B20/00485; G11B20/00557; G11B20/00681; G11B20/00695; G11B20/0071; G11B20/00731; G11B20/00746; G11B20/00876; G11B20/10; G11B20/12; G11B23/02; G11B23/03; G11B23/0301; G11B23/0302; G11B23/0305; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2135
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
An information carrier, comprising a recorded medium, a main information area composed of at least one unit information recorded on a recorded medium, and a subsidiary recording area for registering for each of the unit information an ID code given individually for individual reproducing apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
An information carrier, comprising a recorded medium, a main information area composed of at least one unit information recorded on a recorded medium, and a subsidiary recording area for registering for each of the unit information an ID code given individually for individual reproducing apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 1, where the main information is recorded, in a non- rewritable form, on a recorded medium, and at least a part of a subsidiary recording area is an area where an additional recording operation on the recorded medium can be effected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the information showing the numeral of the ID code of a reproducing apparatus for permitting the registration is recorded on the subsidiary storing area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the subsidiary storing area has a plurality of registration blocks for registering the ID code of one reproducing apparatus, given information is recorded on each of the registration block(s) for permitting the registration of the ID code of the reproducing apparatus, and information except for the given information is recorded on the other registration block(s) where the registration is not permitted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 4, wherein the given information is indicatively recorded on a portion disposed on the recorded medium of the subsidiary storing area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein a portion of the subsidiary storing area can be recorded only one time and cannot be rewritten.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 6, wherein the portion of the subsidiary storing area has a plurality of registration blocks for individually registering the ID code of a reproducing apparatus, and information is recorded in advance so that information cannot be newly recorded on at least one of the registration blocks where the registration of the ID code of the reproducing apparatus is adapted not to be permitted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein the recorded medium with main information being recorded on it, a case for enclosing the recorded medium therein is provided, and a portion of the subsidiary storing area is provided in this case.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 8, wherein a key for encrypting/decrypting information is recorded on the subsidiary storing area, at least a part of information recorded on the portion of the subsidiary storing area is encrypted with the key, and a portion of the subsidiary storing area for recording the key is disposed on the recorded medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 8, wherein the portion of the subsidiary storing area is disposed on a magnetic recording zone provided on the case.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 8, wherein the portion of the subsidiary storing area is disposed within a substantially non-volatile memory in a semiconductor IC.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
An information carrier as defined in claim 11, where the semiconductor IC is provided with an encryption means for encrypting information to be inputted, and the encrypted information is recorded on the portion of the subsidiary storing area, and the key for encrypting/decrypting the information is disposed on the recorded medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
An information carrier as defined as claim 11, wherein the semiconductor IC is provided with an decryption means for decrypting the information before information is outputted, and the information is recorded on the portion of the subsidiary storing area, and the key for encrypting/decrypting the information are disposed in the recorded medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
142 words
A reproducing apparatus for reproducing main information composed of at least one unit information from a information carrier provided with a recorded medium for carrying the main information on it and a subsidiary storing area for storing for each of the unit information a reproducing-management-information (RMI) for management of the reproduction operation of each of the unit information, comprising a reproducing means for reproducing the main information from the recording surface of the recorded medium, an ID code storing means for storing an ID code individually given to the apparatus itself, a RMI reading means for reading the RMI from the subsidiary storing area of the information carrier, and control means for selecting and executing either the reproducing operation of the main information or the suspension of the reproduction for the reproducing means in accordance with the RMI and the ID code.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
142 words
A reproducing apparatus for reproducing main information composed of at least one unit information from a information carrier provided with a recorded medium for carrying the main information on it and a subsidiary storing area for storing for each of the unit information a reproducing-management-information (RMI) for management of the reproduction operation of each of the unit information, comprising a reproducing means for reproducing the main information from the recording surface of the recorded medium, an ID code storing means for storing an ID code individually given to the apparatus itself, a RMI reading means for reading the RMI from the subsidiary storing area of the information carrier, and control means for selecting and executing either the reproducing operation of the main information or the suspension of the reproduction for the reproducing means in accordance with the RMI and the ID code.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
A reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein when the unit information is reproduced from the information carrier, the control means confirms the registration of the ID code of the reproducing apparatus itself in the RMI corresponding to the unit information, then, activates the reproducing means and reproduces the unit information in response to a reproduction command.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
106 words
A reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the RMI writing means for writing the RMI in a subsidiary storing area of an information carrier is further provided, a control means activates the RMI writing means to register the ID code in the RMI, when registering room is available although the ID code is not registered in the RMI, to activate the reproducing means so as to reproduce the unit information in response to the reproduction command, and the control means cancels the reproduction command when the ID code is not registered in the RMI and room for registering the ID code is not available.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
123 words
A reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the information carrier has the RMI divided into a first RMI and a second RMI and is provided with the subsidiary storing area divided into a portion for storing the first RMI disposed on a case enclosing the recorded medium in it and the other portion for storing the second RMI disposed on the recorded medium, wherein the second RMI includes a key for encrypting/decrypting at least one portion of the first RMI, the RMI reading means has a decryption means for decrypting at least one portion of the encrypted RMI in accordance with the key, and the RMI writing means has an encryption means for encrypting the RMI in accordance with the key.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
125 words
A reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the information carrier has the RMI divided into a first RMI and a second RMI and is provided with the subsidiary storing area divided into a portion for storing the first RMI disposed in a semiconductor IC mounted on a case enclosing the recorded medium in it and the other portion for storing the second RMI disposed on the recorded medium, said semiconductor IC includes an encryption means for encrypting at least part of the first RMI, wherein a key for decrypting the encrypted RMI portion is included in the second RMI, the RMI reproducing means has a decryption means for decrypting, in accordance with the key, the encrypted RMI portion read from the semiconductor IC.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
116 words
An reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the information carrier has the RMI divided into a first RMI and a second RMI and provided with the subsidiary storing area divided into a portion for storing the first RMI disposed in a semiconductor IC mounted on a case enclosing the recorded medium in it and the other portion for storing the second RMI disposed on the recorded medium, said semiconductor IC includes a decryption means for decrypting, outputting the encrypted first RMI, wherein a key for encrypting the first RMI is included in the second RMI, and the RMI writing means has an encryption means for encrypting in accordance with the key, the first RMI.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
A reproducing apparatus defined as in claim 16, wherein the loading means for loading/unloading an information carrier having a case for enclosing a recorded medium and also, to form a magnetic recording stripe where at least a portion of the subsidiary storing area is disposed, the RMI reading means reads at least a part of the RMI from the magnetic recordings strap when the loading means moves for loading the information carrier, the RMI writing means writes the part of the RMI, when the loading means moves for unloading the information carrier, in an order opposite to that when the RMI reading means reads the part of RMI.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the ID code storing means is detachable.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the controlling means outputs the ID code of the reproducing apparatus itself with the unit information reproduced from the information carrier in digital form.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A reproducing apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein the control means effects an operation on the outputting unit information in accordance with the ID code of the reproduction apparatus itself.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
139 words
A recording apparatus for recording main information composed of at least one unit information, an information carrier provided with a recorded medium for recording the main information and a subsidiary storing area for storing, for each of the unit information, the reproducing-management-information (RMI) for management of the reproducing operation of each of the unit information, comprising a protective level checking means for checking the level of the protection of the copyright of the unit information to be recorded, a RMI generating means for generating at least a part of the RMI for restricting an apparatus for permitting the reproduction in accordance with the level of the protection, a RMI writing means for recording the generated part of the RMI on the subsidiary storing area, and recording means for recording the unit information to be recorded on the information carrier.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
139 words
A recording apparatus for recording main information composed of at least one unit information, an information carrier provided with a recorded medium for recording the main information and a subsidiary storing area for storing, for each of the unit information, the reproducing-management-information (RMI) for management of the reproducing operation of each of the unit information, comprising a protective level checking means for checking the level of the protection of the copyright of the unit information to be recorded, a RMI generating means for generating at least a part of the RMI for restricting an apparatus for permitting the reproduction in accordance with the level of the protection, a RMI writing means for recording the generated part of the RMI on the subsidiary storing area, and recording means for recording the unit information to be recorded on the information carrier.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
91 words
A recording apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the protective level checking means outputs a copy inhibition signal, when it is recognized that a copying operation is inhibited from the unit information recorded, although the unit information to be recorded is permitted to be directly recorded, and the RMI generating means registers the ID code of the apparatus itself into the RMI, when the copy inhibition signal is outputted from the protective level checking means, to generate the RMI so that the ID of any other apparatus cannot be registered.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
88 words
A recording apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the protective level checking means outputs an ID code recognition signal and an ID code when the protective level checking means recognizes that the ID code is included in the unit information to be recorded, a RMI generating means registers in the RMI the ID code the protective level checking means outputs, when the ID code recognition signal is outputted from the protective level checking means, to generate the RMI so that any other ID code cannot be registered.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
104 words
An initializing apparatus for initializing a reproducing-management-information (RMI) on an information carrier provided with a recorded medium for carrying main information composed of at least one unit information and a subsidiary storing area for storing for each the unit information the RMI for managing the reproducing operation to each of the unit information, comprising a RMI generating means for generating at least one portion of the RMI so that the number of the ID codes for permitting registration may be increased by at least one, the RMI writing means for writing on the subsidiary storing area at least one portion of the generated RMI.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
104 words
An initializing apparatus for initializing a reproducing-management-information (RMI) on an information carrier provided with a recorded medium for carrying main information composed of at least one unit information and a subsidiary storing area for storing for each the unit information the RMI for managing the reproducing operation to each of the unit information, comprising a RMI generating means for generating at least one portion of the RMI so that the number of the ID codes for permitting registration may be increased by at least one, the RMI writing means for writing on the subsidiary storing area at least one portion of the generated RMI.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
132 words
An initializing apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the information carrier has the RMI divided into a first RMI and a second RMI and is provided with a subsidiary storing area divided into a portion for storing the first RMI disposed on a case enclosing the recorded medium in it and the other portion for storing the second RMI disposed on the recorded medium, a key reading means for extracting a key from a signal reproduced from the second RMI is further provided, the RMI generating means generates the first RMI and encrypt it in accordance with the key read by the key reading means, the RMI wiring means writes the first RMI produced by the RMI generating means on the portion of the subsidiary storing area disposed on the case.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
An initializing apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the RMI generating means is provided with a counting means for counting and accumulating the number of the registrable ID codes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
An initializing apparatus as defined in claim 29, wherein the counting means separately accumulates the counted values for each sort of information carriers.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
48 words
An initializing apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the control means connected through a communication line with an external apparatus is provided, and a control means outputs the values accumulated in the counting means through the communication line in accordance with the demand from the external apparatus.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
54 words
An initializing apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the control means connected through a communication line with an external apparatus is provided, a control output starts a timer in accordance with the instruction from the external apparatus, and the apparatus becomes substantially inoperative after the timer starts and a given time period lapses.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
110 words
An initializing apparatus for initializing a reproducing-management-information (RMI) on an information carrier provided with a record medium for carrying a main information composed of at least one unit information and a subsidiary string means for storing at least a part of the RMI, comprising a RMI reading means for reading the RMI from the subsidiary storing means of the information carrier for registering for each of the unit information an ID code individually given to individual reproducing apparatus, a storing means for storing the RMI read by the RMI reading means, and a RMI wring means for writing in the subsidiary storing means the RMI stored in the storing means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
110 words
An initializing apparatus for initializing a reproducing-management-information (RMI) on an information carrier provided with a record medium for carrying a main information composed of at least one unit information and a subsidiary string means for storing at least a part of the RMI, comprising a RMI reading means for reading the RMI from the subsidiary storing means of the information carrier for registering for each of the unit information an ID code individually given to individual reproducing apparatus, a storing means for storing the RMI read by the RMI reading means, and a RMI wring means for writing in the subsidiary storing means the RMI stored in the storing means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
138 words
A reproducing method for managing reproducing main information composed of at least one unit information is provided from the information carrier provided with auxiliary a recorded medium for carrying the main information and a subsidiary storing area for storing for each the unit information a reproducing-management-information (RMI) for managing the reproducing operation of each of the unit information, comprising a first step of reading the RMI by an apparatus trying to reproduce, a second step of discriminating whether the apparatus is permitted to reproduce the unit information from the information carrier or not in accordance with the RMI read in the first step and an ID code given individually to an apparatus which tries to reproduce, and a third step of managing the reproducing operation of the unit information in accordance with the result of the second step.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
138 words
A reproducing method for managing reproducing main information composed of at least one unit information is provided from the information carrier provided with auxiliary a recorded medium for carrying the main information and a subsidiary storing area for storing for each the unit information a reproducing-management-information (RMI) for managing the reproducing operation of each of the unit information, comprising a first step of reading the RMI by an apparatus trying to reproduce, a second step of discriminating whether the apparatus is permitted to reproduce the unit information from the information carrier or not in accordance with the RMI read in the first step and an ID code given individually to an apparatus which tries to reproduce, and a third step of managing the reproducing operation of the unit information in accordance with the result of the second step.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
68 words
A reproducing method as defined in claim 34, wherein the second step includes a step of checking whether an ID code individually given to an apparatus which tries to reproduce is registered or not in the RMI, and the third step includes a step of reproducing unit information when the registration of the ID code of the reproducing apparatus is recognized in the RMI at the second step.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
90 words
A reproducing method as defined in claim 35, wherein the second step includes a step of further including a step of checking whether the ID code of an apparatus which tries to reproduce can be registered in the RMI or not, and the third step includes a step of reproducing the unit information and also, registering the ID code in the RMI when it is confirmed at the second step that the ID code is not registered in the RMI, and the ID code can be registered in the RMI.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
63 words
A management method as defined in claim 36, wherein the third step includes a step of, at first, registering the ID code, when the ID code of an apparatus which tries to reproduce has not been registered but is registrable and reading the RMI again, confirming the registration of the ID code in the RMI read again, and thereafter, reproducing the unit information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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