Copy protect recording and playback system that enables single authorized recording of protected broadcasts be made

Claim 1

A recording mechanism for selectively enabling a single authorized copy of a broadcast comprising: a receiving device for receiving a broadcast signal; a decoder for decoding the broadcast signal received to determine a copy protection on the broadcast signal, said decoder automatically causing the issuance of a copy control signal; a first switch coupled to receive the broadcast signal from the decoder; a recorder coupled to receive the broadcast signal from the first switch, the recorder for recording the broadcast signal on a recording medium, said recorder comprising a plurality of elements to condition the broadcast signal for copying onto the recording medium, said plurality of elements including, a first element which outputs an obscured broadcast signal if a copy protect signal has been placed in the broadcast signal; and a first copy protect generator coupled between the first element and the recording medium, the first copy protect generator further coupled to the decoder to receive the copy control signal such that the first copy protect generator places a copy protect signal in the broadcast signal to prevent additional recordings if the copy control signal indicates that one recording is permitted; wherein the first switch is responsive to the copy control signal such that if the copy control signal indicates that at least one copy of the broadcast is permitted, the first switch allows the broadcast signal to be transmitted from the receiving device to the recorder else, the first switch prevents the transmission of the broadcast signal from the receiving device to the recorder.

Claim 9

A method for selectively enabling a single authorized copy of a broadcast comprising the steps of: receiving a broadcast signal in a receiving circuit; decoding the broadcast signal received to determine a copy protection on the broadcast, including automatically causing the issuance of a copy control signal; transmitting the copy control signal to a switch; the switch selectively blocking the decoded broadcast signal from entering a recording circuit if the copy control signal transmitted to the switch indicates that no recording of the broadcast is permitted; recording the broadcast signal on a recording medium, comprising the steps of, conditioning the decoded broadcast signal for recording; the recording circuit receiving the copy control signal in a copy protect element of the recording circuit; the copy protect element of the recording circuit placing a copy protect signal in the conditioned broadcast signal to prevent additional recording if the copy control signal indicates that one recording is permitted; and placing the conditioned, broadcast signal with the copy protect signal on the recording medium, wherein said step of conditioning the decoded broadcast signal causes the conditioned broadcast signal to be obscured if a copy protect signal is in place.

Claim 10

A method for selectively enabling a single authorized copy of a broadcast comprising the steps of: receiving a broadcast signal in a receiving circuit; decoding the broadcast signal received to determine a copy protection on the broadcast, including automatically causing the issuance of a copy control signal; transmitting the copy control signal to a switch; the switch selectively blocking the decoded broadcast signal from entering a recording circuit if the copy control signal transmitted to the switch indicates that no recording of the broadcast is permitted; recording the broadcast signal on a recording medium, comprising the steps of, conditioning the decoded broadcast signal for recording; the recording circuit receiving the copy control signal in a copy protect element of the recording circuit; the copy protect element of the recording circuit placing a copy protect signal in the conditioned broadcast signal to prevent additional recording if the copy control signal indicates that one recording is permitted; and placing the conditioned, broadcast signal with the copy protect signal on the recording medium, wherein said step of conditioning the decoded broadcast signal causes the conditioned broadcast signal to be obscured if a copy protect signal is in place.