Copy generation management method, information signal reproducing method, information signal reproducing apparatus, and information signal recording apparatus

Claim 2

A reproducing apparatus, including a system for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the apparatus comprising: a reader for reading out the information signal from a recording medium; detecting means for detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said detecting means being operable to detect said electronic watermark information; and adding means for adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said detecting means detects said copy control information to be in the no-more-copy state, said adding means adds electronic watermark copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 3

A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: determining means for determining a type of said recording medium; and reproducing controller for controlling permission/prohibition of reproducing said information signal read from said recording medium; wherein when said determining means determines that said recording medium is writable and said detecting means detects that said copy information is in the state of never-copy, said reproducing controller prohibits reproducing of said information signal.

Claim 4

A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising scramble detecting means for detecting whether said information signal is scrambled.

Claim 5

A reproducing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said determining means determines whether said recording medium is a RAM disk or a ROM disk.

Claim 6

A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting means includes watermark detecting means for detecting electrical watermark information that has been added to said information signal.

Claim 7

A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting means includes CGMS detecting means for detecting CGMS information that has been added to said information signal.

Claim 8

A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: encryption means for encrypting said information signal and producing an encrypted signal; and communication interface means for transmitting said encrypted signal and key information for decrypting said encrypted signal to an apparatus at a destination, said communication interface means being able to obtain, from said apparatus at the destination, information indicating a type of said apparatus at the destination.

Claim 9

A reproducing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said communication interface means does not transmit said key information to said apparatus at the destination when said detecting means detects said copy control information to be in the one-copy state and said apparatus at the destination is a recording apparatus.

Claim 10

A reproducing apparatus, including a system for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the apparatus comprising: a reader for reading out the information signal from a recording medium; determining means for determining a type of said recording medium; detecting means for detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said detecting means being operable to detect said electronic watermark information; and adding means for adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said determining means determines that said recording medium is writable and said detecting means detects that said copy control information is in the no-more-copy state or the one-copy state, said adding means adds electronic watermark copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 11

A reproducing apparatus, including a system for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the apparatus comprising: a reader for reading out the information signal from a recording medium; determining means for determining a type of said recording medium; detecting means for detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said detecting means being operable to detect said electronic watermark information; and adding means for adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said determining means determines that said recording medium is writable and said detecting means detects that said copy control information is in the no-more-copy state or the one-copy state, said adding means adds electronic watermark copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 12

A reproducing apparatus, including a system for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the apparatus comprising: a reader for reading out an information signal from a disk recording medium; detecting means for detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said detecting means being operable to detect said electronic watermark information; and adding means for adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said detecting means detects said copy control information to be in the one-copy state, said adding means adds electronic watermark copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 13

A reproducing apparatus, including a system for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the apparatus comprising: a reader for reading out an information signal from a disk recording medium; detecting means for detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said detecting means being operable to detect said electronic watermark information; and adding means for adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said detecting means detects said copy control information to be in the one-copy state, said adding means adds electronic watermark copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 14

A reproducing method, including a technique for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the method comprising the steps of: reading out the information signal from a recording medium; detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said step of detecting including detecting said electronic watermark information; and adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the no-more-copy state, said adding involves adding electronic watermark copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 15

A reproducing method, including a technique for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the method comprising the steps of: reading out the information signal from a recording medium; detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said step of detecting including detecting said electronic watermark information; and adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the no-more-copy state, said adding involves adding electronic watermark copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 16

A reproducing method according to claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: determining a type of said recording medium; and controlling permission/prohibition of reproducing said information signal read from said recording medium; wherein when said determining indicates that said recording medium is writable and said detecting indicates that said copy information is in the state of never-copy, said controlling involves prohibiting reproducing of said information signal.

Claim 17

A reproducing method according to claim 11 , further comprising the step of detecting whether said information signal is scrambled.

Claim 18

A reproducing method according to claim 12 , wherein said determining includes determining whether said recording medium is a RAM disk or a ROM disk.

Claim 19

A reproducing method according to claim 11 , wherein said detecting includes detecting electrical watermark information that has been added to said information signal.

Claim 20

A reproducing method according to claim 11 , wherein said detecting includes detecting CGMS information that has been added to said information signal.

Claim 21

A reproducing method according to claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: encrypting said information signal and producing an encrypted signal; and transmitting said encrypted signal and key information for decrypting said encrypted signal to an apparatus at a destination, and providing the capability to obtain from said apparatus at the destination information indicating a type of said apparatus at the destination.

Claim 22

A reproducing method according to claim 17 , wherein said key information is not transmitted to said apparatus at the destination when said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the one-copy state and said apparatus at the destination is a recording apparatus.

Claim 23

A reproducing method, including a technique for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the method comprising the steps of: reading out the information signal from a recording medium; determining a type of said recording medium; detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said step of detecting including detecting said electronic watermark information; and adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said determining indicates that said recording medium is writable and said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the no-more-copy state or the one-copy state, said adding involves adding electronic watermark copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 24

A reproducing method, including a technique for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the method comprising the steps of: reading out the information signal from a recording medium; determining a type of said recording medium; detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said step of detecting including detecting said electronic watermark information; and adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said determining indicates that said recording medium is writable and said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the no-more-copy state or the one-copy state, said adding involves adding electronic watermark copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 25

A reproducing method, including a technique for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the method comprising the steps of: reading out an information signal from a disk recording medium; detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said step of detecting including detecting said electronic watermark information; and adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the one-copy state, said adding involves adding copy electronic watermark control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 26

A reproducing method, including a technique for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy) which indicates that data has been copied from the data in the one-copy state and further copying thereof is prohibited, and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the method comprising the steps of: reading out an information signal from a disk recording medium; detecting said copy control information included in said information signal, said copy control information comprising electronic watermark information embedded in said information signal, and said step of detecting including detecting said electronic watermark information; and adding further copy control information to said information signal; wherein, when said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the one-copy state, said adding involves adding copy electronic watermark control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 27

A reproducing apparatus, including a system for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy), and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the apparatus comprising: a reader for reading out the information signal from a recording medium; detecting means for detecting said copy control information included in said information signal; adding means for adding further copy control information to said information signal; encryption means for encrypting said information signal and producing an encrypted signal; and communication interface means for transmitting said encrypted signal and key information for decrypting said encrypted signal to an apparatus at a destination, said communication interface means being able to obtain, from said apparatus at the destination, information indicating a type of said apparatus at the destination, wherein said communication interface means does not transmit said key information to said apparatus at the destination when said detecting means detects said copy control information to be in the one-copy state and said apparatus at the destination is a recording apparatus, wherein when said detecting means detects said copy control information to be in the no-more-copy state, said adding means adds copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 28

A reproducing apparatus, including a system for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy), and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the apparatus comprising: a reader for reading out the information signal from a recording medium; detecting means for detecting said copy control information included in said information signal; adding means for adding further copy control information to said information signal; encryption means for encrypting said information signal and producing an encrypted signal; and communication interface means for transmitting said encrypted signal and key information for decrypting said encrypted signal to an apparatus at a destination, said communication interface means being able to obtain, from said apparatus at the destination, information indicating a type of said apparatus at the destination, wherein said communication interface means does not transmit said key information to said apparatus at the destination when said detecting means detects said copy control information to be in the one-copy state and said apparatus at the destination is a recording apparatus, wherein when said detecting means detects said copy control information to be in the no-more-copy state, said adding means adds copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 29

A reproducing method, including a technique for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy), and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the method comprising the steps of: reading out the information signal from a recording medium; detecting said copy control information included in said information signal; and adding further copy control information to said information signal; encrypting said information signal and producing an encrypted signal; and transmitting said encrypted signal and key information for decrypting said encrypted signal to an apparatus at a destination, and providing the capability to obtain from said apparatus at the destination information indicating a type of said apparatus at the destination, wherein said key information is not transmitted to said apparatus at the destination when said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the one-copy state and said apparatus at the destination is a recording apparatus; wherein when said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the no-more-copy state, said adding involves adding copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.

Claim 30

A reproducing method, including a technique for controlling copy generation through the use of one or more pieces of copy control information, said copy control information being added to an information signal and being in at least one of three states including a one-copy allowed state (one-copy), a more-copy prohibited state (no-more-copy), and a copy absolutely prohibited state (never-copy), the method comprising the steps of: reading out the information signal from a recording medium; detecting said copy control information included in said information signal; and adding further copy control information to said information signal; encrypting said information signal and producing an encrypted signal; and transmitting said encrypted signal and key information for decrypting said encrypted signal to an apparatus at a destination, and providing the capability to obtain from said apparatus at the destination information indicating a type of said apparatus at the destination, wherein said key information is not transmitted to said apparatus at the destination when said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the one-copy state and said apparatus at the destination is a recording apparatus; wherein when said detecting indicates that said copy control information is in the no-more-copy state, said adding involves adding copy control information of the never-copy state to said information signal.