Abstract: The present invention relates to an information providing system. More particularly, this invention relates to an information management apparatus capable of reliable management of distributed information and an information providing system employing the same information management apparatus. The information management apparatus comprises a main information reproducing means for reproducing main information recorded in a given recording medium; and a reproduction management means for managing the main information reproducing means for reproducing the main information. The present invention provides a receiving means provided with a means for recording distributed information and control information limiting the number of main information reproducing cycles on a recording medium, and a main information reproducing means provided with a reproduction disabling means for limiting the reproduction of main information.

Abstract: An information recording and reproduction apparatus for recording and reproducing the information supplied through the transmission line is capable of protecting the copyright by limiting the reproduction of the recorded information. A main information signal supplied through the transmission line and a deadline signal attached to the main information signal and representing the reproduction deadline of the main information signal are recorded and reproduced by a recording device and a reproduction device respectively. A temporal information signal representing the date and time is acquired. The deadline signal reproduced is compared with the temporal information signal acquired. The reproduction output of the main information signal is cut off in accordance with the comparison signal produced by the comparison. In the case where the temporal information has passed the deadline, the reproduction output of the main information signal is cut off.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a transmission system for transmitting an information signal, and a reception system including an information receiving unit for receiving the information signal, and an information recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing the received information signal on/from a recording medium.

Abstract: A communication system has an analog signal broadcasting station for transmitting an analog signal, a digital signal broadcasting station for transmitting a digital signal and a receiving unit for receiving the analog signal from the analog signal broadcasting station and the digital signal from the digital signal broadcasting station. The receiving unit has a recording and reproducing unit for selectively recording one of received analog and digital signals. The recording and reproducing unit has heads for analog signal each having a predetermined azimuth angle and operative to record an analog signal and heads for digital signal each having an azimuth angle larger than that of the analog signal head and operative to record a digital signal, and performs selective recording and reproduction of the analog signal and the digital signal on and from a recording medium.

Abstract: A digital information recording-reproducing apparatus is disclosed, in which a signal temporally compressed to 1/n and transmitted is encoded for recording by a recording encoder. The rotation speed of a rotary drum is set at R.sub.1, and the running speed of a magnetic tape at V.sub.1. The signal encoded is recorded on the magnetic tape by magnetic heads. At the time of reproduction, the rotary drum is driven at a speed m/n times faster than for recording, and the magnetic tape is run at a speed 1/n times faster than for recording. The signal reproduced by the magnetic heads is decoded and restored into the original digital information signal by a reproducing decoder. As a result, there is provided a recording-reproducing apparatus having the function of time-base expansion with a reduced recording time applied to a system for transmitting and recording the software information of video or the like through radio wave or cable.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital signal, by which time information specifying to each packet an interval relative to the adjacent packet is added to a digital signal of a format in which packets of a fixed data length are arranged at unfixed intervals, the digital signal added with time information is recorded on a recording medium, a digital signal added with the above-mentioned time information is reproduced from the recording medium, and the digital signal is output in such a manner that the packets of the reproduced digital signal are arranged at intervals as same as recording intervals on the basis of the time information.

Abstract: An input terminal (240) for assigning at least one information to be requested and a control circuit (100) for controlling a recording operation, a tape stopping operation and a detecting operation of a head of recorded information of a recording and reproducing apparatus (80) are provided on the side of a subscriber terminal (FIG. 1) having the recording and reproducing apparatus and, after all of information (A, B, C) assigned by the input terminal and received from an information transmitting station (FIG. 2) are recorded, a head of the first recorded information is detected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information providing system. More particularly, this invention relates to an information management apparatus capable of reliable management of distributed information and an information providing system employing the same information management apparatus. The information management apparatus comprises a main information reproducing means for reproducing main information recorded in a given recording medium; and a reproduction management means for managing the main information reproducing means for reproducing the main information. The present invention provides a receiving means provided with a means for recording distributed information and control information limiting the number of main information reproducing cycles on a recording medium, and a main information reproducing means provided with a reproduction disabling means for limiting the reproduction of main information.

Abstract: A digital signal recording method and apparatus for recording a digital signal on a recording medium by dividing the digital signal at intervals of a certain byte number, adding to each of the divided signals a synchronizing signal, a control signal including block address information, and an error detection and correction code to form signal blocks, and precoding each of the signal blocks in order to detect a partial response. Before the precode processing, the digital signal and the error detection and correction code are scrambled on the basis of the control signal, and the control signal is inverted.

Abstract: In a reproducing apparatus, a generator circuit for adding copy information during the vertical blanking period of a reproduced video signal output is provided, and copy information in compliance with copy information contained in the reproduced signal is added and delivered. In a recording apparatus, a detection circuit for detecting copy information in an inputted video signal is provided, and permission/inhibition of copy is controlled on the basis of the detected copy information and when copy is permitted, necessary copy information is generated and added to a recording signal.

Abstract: A digital video tape recorder ("VTR") that selects data useful for generating images during trick playback operation and records the data in trick play tape segments arranged on a tape to form fast scan tracks and multi-speed playback tracks. Each fast scan track comprises trick play tape segments located on a diagonal, relative to the length of the tape, of the same angle as the angle at which the heads of a VTR are expected to pass over the tape during trick play operation at a specific speed and direction of operation. Each multi-speed playback track comprises a plurality of trick play tape segments arranged parallel to the length of the tape. Data which is used for at least one mode of trick play operation is recorded in each trick play tape segment. Each fast scan track and multi-speed track crosses multiple normal play tracks.

Abstract: A digital information signal transmitting/receiving method and system having a transmitter for transmitting an encrypted digital information signal and a plurality of receivers for receiving the encrypted digital information signal from the transmitter. The transmitter simultaneously distributes a plurality of identification codes associated with the receivers at a time ahead of the digital information signal. The receivers detect whether a particular identification code assigned to the receiver was included within a received plurality of identification codes. When the particular identification code has been detected as having been received the received encrypted digital information signal is decrypted into the original digital information. In order to request that a particular identification code be included so as to allow access to a program, either one of the receivers or the recorders each generate an information request signal.

Abstract: An information recording and reproduction apparatus for recording and reproducing the information supplied through the transmission line is capable of protecting the copyright by limiting the reproduction of the recorded information. A main information signal supplied through the transmission line and a deadline signal attached to the main information signal and representing the reproduction deadline of the main information signal are recorded and reproduced by a recording device and a reproduction device respectively. A temporal information signal representing the date and time is acquired. The deadline signal reproduced is compared with the temporal information signal acquired. The reproduction output of the main information signal is cut off in accordance with the comparison signal produced by the comparison. In the case where the temporal information has passed the deadline, the reproduction output of the main information signal is cut off.

Abstract: Methods of operating a digital video recording and playback device to identify trick play data, e.g., data that is intended for use during trick play modes of video playback device operation such as fast forward and reverse, by recording headers containing specific trick play information along with the trick play data are described. In one embodiment, the recording of headers which identify data as data intended for use during trick play as opposed to normal play operation is described. In addition to identifying data recorded data as normal play or trick play data headers associated with recorded data may identify the speed and direction of video tape recorder operation during which the specific data associated with the header is intended to be displayed at. When a data block includes data packets, a header may be used to identify various ones of the data packets as being for use during one mode of trick play operation, e.g.

Abstract: In a reproducing apparatus, a generator circuit for adding copy information during the vertical blanking period of a reproduced video signal output is provided, and copy information in compliance with copy information contained in the reproduced signal is added and delivered. In a recording apparatus, a detection circuit for detecting copy information in an inputted video signal is provided, and permission/inhibition of copy is controlled on the basis of the detected copy information and when copy is permitted, necessary copy information is generated and added to a recording signal.

Abstract: A digital video tape recorder ("VTR") that selects data useful for generating images during trick playback operation and records the data in trick play tape segments arranged on a tape to form fast scan tracks and multi-speed playback tracks. Each fast scan track comprises trick play tape segments located on a diagonal, relative to the length of the tape, of the same angle as the angle at which the heads of a VTR are expected to pass over the tape during trick play operation at a specific speed and direction of operation. Each multi-speed playback track comprises a plurality of trick play tape segments arranged parallel to the length of the tape. Data which is used for at least one mode of trick play operation is recorded in each trick play tape segment. Each fast scan track and multi-speed track crosses multiple normal play tracks.

Abstract: Methods of operating a digital video recording and playback device, such as a video tape recorder, to arrange trick play data into one or more groups, to generate error correction bits for each group of trick play data, e.g., a group of trick play data blocks, and to correct the data after being read back using the error correction bits is disclosed. The trick play data blocks are made to be smaller than normal play data blocks with multiple trick play data blocks being equal in size to a single normal play data block. By making a group of trick play data blocks equal in size to a single normal play data block, the group of trick play data blocks may be processed as a unit by the same error correction circuitry and in the same manner used to process individual normal play data blocks. In accordance with one embodiment, the error correction bits for a group of trick play data blocks are calculated treating the data in the group of trick play data blocks as a single unit.

Abstract: A digital magnetic recording method, recording apparatus, reproducing apparatus, and recording/reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a current digital video signal and a high-definition (HD) digital video signal in a common track format on a recording tape using rotary heads. In recording, the current digital video signal is compressed to a specified amount of data, the HD digital video signal is compressed to n (n is an integer of 2 or larger) times the amount of data of the compressed current digital video signal, and when recording the current digital video signal, digital audio signals of m (m is an integer of 2 or larger) channels are multiplexed with the current digital video signal in time division, and the multiplexed signal is azimuth-recorded with k (k is an integer of 2 or larger) magnetic heads on k tracks in every one revolution of the rotary drum, and when recording digital audio signals of n.times.

Abstract: A recording method is provided for a video tape recording apparatus having modes for recording PCM audio signals in a plurality of transmission rates. Index codes for a video signal, which enable a search reproduction and so on, are recorded on a video tape in a constant transmission rate irrespective of the transmission rate of a PCM audio signal to be recorded. Further, an amble pattern at the same frequency as the transmission rate of the PCM audio signal is recorded immediately behind the PCM signal recording area. A reproducing apparatus may be provided only with an index detecting circuit corresponding to the constant transmission rate.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus is provided which includes a head structure compatible with a long-time play mode in handling either of two kinds of signals containing different amounts of information, such as a current digital picture signal and a high-definition (HD) digital picture signal in the rate of two to one at a constant number of revolutions of the drum by restricting an increase of the number of heads. In an aspect of the apparatus, four heads are arranged on the rotating drum equally 90.degree. spaced, a fifth head of an opposite azimuth is mounted close to any of those heads, the number of drum revolutions is increased to twice larger than the normal number, the current digital picture signal is recorded and reproduced for each channel by using two heads, that is, the fifth head and a head positioned 180.degree. opposite to the fifth head.