Abstract: The additional information inserting apparatus according to the present invention encodes additional information signals using two or more kinds of encoding methods/encoding formats to generate two or more kinds of insertion patterns encoded by respective methods, and multiplexes and superimposes the respective encoded insertion patterns to main information signals. Thus, the additional information can be detected by decoding the encoded insertion patterns in accordance with at least either of the encoding methods/encoding formats. Even though one set of the additional information is deteriorated due to signal processing, attack, or other causes, the additional information can be detected correctly using the other set of the additional information.

Abstract: Video signals are converted into one or more blocks for each predetermined unit amount of data, and a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) process is performed in the blocks a convert the video signal from a time-base area signal to a DCT coefficient in a frequency area for data compression. One chip of a spread spectrum signal is allocated to each block of the video signal or to each of a plurality of blocks, and additional information is superimposed on the video signal at a constant level corresponding to the chip value for transmission. A video signal on which the additional information consisting of the spread spectrum signal transmitted has been superimposed is received, and from this received signal, a DC component of the DCT coefficient is extracted. Inverse spread spectrum processing is performed for the DC component of the DCT coefficient extracted to detect the additional information.

Abstract: A spread code string containing a plurality of chips per interval in one horizontal interval or containing a plurality of chips per interval in one vertical interval is generated synchronously with the vertical sync signal at the generation star timing having a period of one vertical period or having a period of a plurality of vertical periods. The generated spread code string repeats over a plurality of horizontal intervals or a plurality of vertical intervals so that the chips having the same data are arranged in spatial direction of the vertical-direction or the time axis direction in picture unit. The additional information is spectrally spread so that the chips having the same data are arranged at least in the interval in each 1 horizontal interval or in each 1 vertical interval of the above-mentioned repetition interval, and the generated spectral spread signal is superimposed on the video signal.

Abstract: The level of the spectrally spread anti-duplication control signal to be superimposed on an information signal such as a video signal is changed by using a random number RD generated by a random number generation unit 163. Since it is difficult to follow after the change of the level of the spectrally spread anti-duplication control signal, elimination of the anti-duplication control signal from the information signal is made further difficult. This can reliably provide the anti-duplication control signal to the receiving side.

Abstract: When digital image signals inputted through an inputting terminal are recorded on a disc, a medium-related information (a serial number in an TOC) of the disc, read from the disc, with a medium-related information reading section is spectrum-spread in an SS additional information generating section and then digital image signals S2 on which the spectrum-spread medium-related information is superimposed in an SS additional information superimposing section are recorded on the disc. When the signals attempt to be reproduced, the reproduction can be performed in the case wherein the medium-related information superimposed on the image signals recorded on the disc is consistent with the medium-related information of the disc on which the image signals are recorded. Thus, copying of the information signals can be limited to the copying for private use.

Abstract: If only any of a pair of an SS anti-duplication control signal S5 and copy guard signal S6 generated correlatively each other added on the video signal played back from the disk is detected, or if the specific anti-duplication control signal is not detected, the video signal recorded in the disk is judged to be an illegally duplicated video signal, and the output control signal generation section controls the output control section so as not to output the playback video signal S4.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for superimposing additional information, such as duplication control information, on an image signal made up of first pictures encoded without using a predictive encoding and second picture encoded using a motion compensating prediction. Codes are generated with a timing based on an appearance of the first picture and then the additional information is superimposed on the image signal using the generated codes. The additional information already superimposed on such an image signal can be extracted in a similar fashion by generating codes based on the appearance of the first picture.

Abstract: If only any one of a pair of an SS anti-duplication control signal S5 and copy guard signal S6 generated correlatively each other added on the video signal played back from the disk is detected, or if the specific anti-duplication control signal is not detected, the video signal recorded in the disk is judged to be an illegally duplicated video signal, and the output control signal generation section controls the output control section so as not to output the playback video signal S4.

Abstract: An anti-duplication control signal detection section detects an anti-duplication control signal added on a video signal S1 and supplies it to a system controller as a duplication prevention control information S2. A write control section of the system controller stops the duplication of the video signal in a disk if the anti-duplication control information is an information which indicates duplication inhibition. In this case, the video signal recorded in the disk is erased under the control from the erasing control section by the time the duplication prevention control corresponding to the anti-duplication control signal becomes active.

Abstract: An additional information produced by an additional information signal producing curcuit is spectrum-spread by a spectrum spreading code generated on the basis of the timing of the synchronous signal of digital video signal and is then added to the digital video signal by means of a signal adder. The digital video signal to which the spectrum spread additional information signal is added is then written into a recording medium by a signal writing device. Thereby, the additional information signal can be added to the video signal under the condition that the reproducing quality of the video signal is never deteriorated and alteration and deletion are impossible and moreover the additional information signal can be detected for use as required from the video signal.

Abstract: A playback device generates a Pseudo-random noise (PN) code sequence repeatedly with a predetermined period in synchronism with a video sync signal. An anti-duplication control signal is spectrally spread using this generated PN code sequence, is superimposed on the video signal, and is output. A PN code sequence having the same timing and code pattern as the PN code sequence used in the playback device is similarly generated based on the video sync signal on the receiving side which receives the output video signal. Using this PN code sequence, reverse spectral spread is performed, the anti-duplication control signal superimposed on the video signal is extracted, and anti-duplication control is performed according to the extracted anti-duplication control signal.

Abstract: A spread code generation section outputs selectively one of a plurality of different spectral spread codes corresponding to an anti-duplication control signal for indicating the content of the duplication prevention control such as duplication permission, duplication inhibition, and duplication of generation restriction of a video signal in a recording medium. The plurality of spectral spread codes is different in phase or series, or generated by multiplying a specified spread code by the plurality of different orthogonal codes. An additional information signal is spectrally spread using the selected spread code, and superimposed on the video signal to output a combined information signal.

Abstract: A playback device 10 generates a PN code with a start timing based on a video sync signal, and generates a PN inverse code which has a reverse polarity to that of the PN code with a timing based on the video sync signal. An anti-duplication control signal is spectrally spread using this PN code, superimposed on the video signal and supplied to a recording device. A PN inverse code which is the same as the PN inverse code used in the playback device is also generated in the recording device based on the video sync signal, and reverse spectral spread is performed using this PN inverse code.

Abstract: The invention intends to secure the control of duplicating information signals. In the duplication control method according to the invention, a main information signal containing a duplication control information transformed into a spread spectrum signal to be superimposed and a duplication control information superimposed by a processing different from the spectrum spreading is transmitted. The duplication control information transformed into a spread spectrum signal is extracted from the main information signal by the reverse spectrum spreading, and the duplication control information superimposed by the different processing is extracted from the main information signal. One information most closest to duplication prohibition is selected as an output duplication control information out of the plural extracted duplication control information. On the basis of the selected output duplication control information, the main information signal is controlled on duplication.

Abstract: A new additional information generating section generates new additional information FS1 based upon information from an additional information reading section. The spectrum of the new additional information FS1 is spread by an SS additional information generating section and supplied to a signal superimposing section as SS additional information SF1. The signal superimposing section generates a digital video signal S2 by superimposing the SS additional information SF1 on a digital video signal S1. A writing section records the digital video signal S2 on which the SS additional information SF1 is superimposed on a recording medium. Hereby, adding additional information to an information signal without deteriorating the quality of the read information signal so that the falsification and deletion are disabled, detecting the additional information added to the information signal if necessary and utilizing it are enabled.

Abstract: The invention intends to secure the control of duplicating information signals. In the duplication control method according to the invention, a main information signal containing a duplication control information transformed into a spread spectrum signal to be superimposed and a duplication control information superimposed by a processing different from the spectrum spreading is transmitted. The duplication control information transformed into a spread spectrum signal is extracted from the main information signal by the reverse spectrum spreading, and the duplication control information superimposed by the different processing is extracted from the main information signal. One information most closest to duplication prohibition is selected as an output duplication control information out of the plural extracted duplication control information. On the basis of the selected output duplication control information, the main information signal is controlled on duplication.

Abstract: In an SS additional information detecting unit, detection of a correlation between an image signal Si superimposed with a copying preventive control signal which is spectrum-spread and a PN code series is carried out at every vertical section. In the case where a correlation value between the copying preventive control signal which is superimposed on the image signal Si and is spectrum-spread and a PN code for inverse spreading does not exceed a predetermined threshold value, the correlation value calculated at every vertical section is added. The copying preventive control signal which is spectrum-spread and is superimposed on the image signal is detected by changing the threshold value of whether the correlation between the copying preventive control signal which is superimposed on the image signal Si and is spectrum-spread and the PN code for inverse spreading is established in accordance with a number of vertical sections constituting an object of detecting the correlation.

Abstract: When a spectrally spread additional information signal, obtained by spectrum spreading additional information such as an anti-duplication control signal or copyright information, is superimposed on a video signal, the level of the spectrally spread additional information signal is controlled according to the scatter of pixel values in each block comprising plural pixels. The sensitivity of detecting additional information from the spectrally spread additional information signal is therefore improved, and the visual effect of the spectrally spread additional information signal on a reproduced image is suppressed.

Abstract: An additional information is spectrally spread and superimposed on a video signal over a plurality of fields, and the superimposed additional information is detected easily. A time code information is spectrally spread using the first spectrally spreading code string synchronous to the video signal, and the spectral spread signal of the time code information is superimposed on the video signal. An additional information is spectrally spread using the second spectrally spreading code string generated synchronously to the sync signal of the video signal and having a different period or different content corresponding to the time code information, and the spectral spread signal of the additional information is superimposed on the video signal.

Abstract: When digital image signals inputted through an inputting terminal are recorded on a disc, a medium-related information (a serial number in an TOC) of the disc, read from the disc, with a medium-related information reading section is spectrum-spread in an SS additional information generating section and then digital image signals S2 on which the spectrum-spread medium-related information is superimposed in an SS additional information superimposing section are recorded on the disc. When the signals attempt to be reproduced, the reproduction can be performed in the case wherein the medium-related information superimposed on the image signals recorded on the disc is consistent with the medium-related information of the disc on which the image signals are recorded. Thus, copying of the information signals can be limited to the copying for private use.