Abstract: Bits of a first bit sequence are rearranged in a first matrix according to a predetermined arrangement rule. The first bit sequence represents information being a base of a key. Blocks are formed in the first matrix. Each of the blocks has bits, the number of which is smaller than the number of bits composing the first matrix. Logical operation is executed among bits in each of the blocks, and a bit being a result of the logical operation is generated. The logical-operation-result bits are combined into a second bit sequence. The number of bits composing the second bit sequence is smaller than the number of bits composing the first bit sequence. There is a second matrix composed of predetermined third bit sequences. The second matrix is accessed and one is read out from among the third bit sequences in response to the second bit sequence. The read-out third bit sequence is outputted as information representative of the key.

Abstract: A first-key signal representative of a first key is generated from first-key base information being a base of the first key. Contents information is encrypted into encryption-resultant contents information in response to the first-key signal. A second-key signal representative of a second key is generated from second-key base information being a base of the second key. The first-key base information is encrypted into encryption-resultant first-key base information in response to the second-key signal. Second-key-related information is generated from the second-key base information and additional information according to a predetermined function. The encryption-resultant contents information, the encryption-resultant first-key base information, and the second-key-related information are transmitted or recorded.

Abstract: A picture signal includes a luminance signal and a color signal. A first predetermined number of sample points of the luminance signal are located on every actual scanning line. A second predetermined number of sample points of the color signal are located on every actual scanning line. The second predetermined number is equal to the first predetermined number multiplied by “1/n”, where “n” denotes a predetermined integer equal to or greater than 2. Virtual scanning lines are set which correspond to respective pairs each having two successive actual scanning lines. Sample points of the color signal are moved from each pair of two successive actual scanning lines to a corresponding virtual scanning line while being rearranged thereon so that the picture signal is converted. The total number of sample points of the color signal per virtual scanning line is equal to the first predetermined number multiplied by “2/n”.

Abstract: A format for the recording of trick play signals is proposed in which trick play segments comprising sync blocks of information of a trick play signal are recorded in groups of p successive tracks. At least first and second trick play signals are recorded on the record carrier. The first trick play signal is meant for reproduction in a reproduction apparatus at a reproduction speed n1 times the recording speed with which the trick play signals are recorded on the record carrier. The second trick play signal is meant for reproduction in the said reproduction apparatus at a reproduction speed n2 times the recording speed. Both trick play signals are recorded such that upon reproduction at said speed n1 times the recording speed m1 sync blocks of information of the first trick play signal and m1 sync blocks of the second trick play signal are read from the record carrier during one revolution of the head drum in the reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: A digital signal recording apparatus includes an amble generator for generating an amble signal representing a bit-sequence amble pattern. The bit-sequence amble patter can be detected and reproduced by a partial-response detection system “PR(1, 0, −1)” as a detected amble pattern having a period of state inversions which is shorter than a period of state inversions in a detected amble pattern corresponding to a recorded amble pattern of alternation of “1” and “0”. The amble signal generated by the amble generator and a first digital information signal are combined into a second digital information signal on a time sharing basis. The second digital information signal is recorded on a magnetic recording medium. For example, the bit-sequence amble pattern represented by the amble signal has repetition of six bits of “11000”.

Abstract: Code words, which correspond to orthogonal-transform-resultant coefficients having order numbers equal to or higher than an order number “n+1”, are deleted from code words composing each 1-intra-frame segment of an input digital picture signal to generate special picture data with a frame period NS on the basis of the input digital picture signal. Estimation is made as to a code amount CF(nmin) of special picture data generated by deleting code words, which correspond to orthogonal-transform-resultant coefficients having order numbers equal to or higher than an order number “nmin+1”, from code words composing a 1-intra-frame segment of the input digital picture signal, where “nmin” denotes a lower limit of an order number “n”. The frame period NS of the special picture data and a target code amount C are decided so that the estimated code amount CF(nmin) will be equal to or smaller than the target code amount C.

Abstract: A digital signal recording apparatus includes an amble generator for generating an amble signal representing a bit-sequence amble pattern. The bit-sequence amble patter can be detected and reproduced by a partial-response detection system “PR(1, 0, −1)” as a detected amble pattern having a period of state inversions which is shorter than a period of state inversions in a detected amble pattern corresponding to a recorded amble pattern of alternation of “1” and “0”. The amble signal generated by the amble generator and a first digital information signal are combined into a second digital information signal on a time sharing basis. The second digital information signal is recorded on a magnetic recording medium. For example, the bit-sequence amble pattern represented by the amble signal has repetition of six bits of “111000”.

Abstract: A digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus includes a plurality of heads. A digital signal containing an information signal is recorded on a recording medium via heads among the heads while tracks are sequentially formed on the recording medium. The digital signal is reproduced from the recording medium via heads among the heads. A reproduced signal processing circuit operates for processing the reproduced digital signal at a changeable data processing rate to recover the information signal from the reproduced digital signal. During the recording, a speed of the heads, a speed of the recording medium, a data rate of the recording, and a number of used heads are set to changeable values respectively. The digital signal and a mode signal representative of the set values are recorded on the tracks at approximately a predetermined constant recording wavelength.

Abstract: In an information signal recording method for recording one information signal on slant tracks formed on a magnetic tape housed in tape cassette usable in a conventional magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing another information signal by using a plurality of rotary heads and recording a control signal used as a reference in a tracking control during reproducing operation on the magnetic tape, a digital information signal is recorded by shifting rotation phase of the rotary head which is determined on the basis of a control signal 21a by about 180 degrees with respect to rotation phase of the rotary head during the recording of an analog information signal.

Abstract: A method of selectively recording one of plural kinds of video signals having different frame (field) rate and the accompanied sound signal comprises the steps of: converting one of plural kinds of video signals and the sound signal into another digital signal; generating the error check codes from the digital signal; recording the digital signal and the generated error check codes on a recording medium, wherein one of a plural kinds of video signals and the digital sound signal are converted and the error check codes are generated to have the same data rate between the plural kinds of video signals to form the same M tracks (sectors) for the same interval on the recording medium between the plural of kinds of digital video signals. The error check codes are generated every N tracks (sectors), the M being natural number more than one: N being a divisor of the M.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information recording apparatus having a rotary drum, plural rotary heads provided on the rotary drum. Each of the plural rotary heads has a rotary transformer to record a recording signal which is obtained by processing a digital information signal to be recorded with a predetermined treatment, on a magnetic tape to form a predetermined track pattern by supplying the recording signal to the plural rotary heads through the rotary transformers. The apparatus further has a signal generating device for generating a signal having an intermediate voltage of an amplitude of the recording signal to be supplied to the rotary heads.

Abstract: An encoder demodulates an input signal of a program. Main data of the program are recorded in a recording medium as main information in the form of data blocks. Auxiliary information of the program are recorded in the recording medium as packs having a fixed length shorter than a length of the data block. A memory temporarily stores designated auxiliary information of a concerned program in connection with identification information of the recording medium in response to a recording of the main data into the recording medium. A controller causes the encoder to read all of the auxiliary information of the program stored in the memory at a time. The readout auxiliary information have same identification information corresponding to the same recording medium. The readout auxiliary information are modulated as packs and recorded in the subcode areas of the recording medium having the corresponding identification information.

Abstract: A digital signal recording and reproducing method and apparatus that record and reproduce sequentially a normal reproducing digital signal and a multiple kind special reproducing digital signal on and from a tape-like recording medium. The data rate of the normal reproducing digital signal is detected. According to the detected data rate, either of the normal reproducing digital signal or special reproducing digital signal is selected. The selected digital signal is recorded at the predetermined location on a recording medium for recording the special reproducing digital signal. The sequentially recorded digital signal is reproduced, and each reproduced signal is detected either the normal reproducing digital signal or the multiple kind special reproducing digital signal. The digital signal detected as either of the digital signals is outputted separately.

Abstract: A magnetic playback system wherein, during high-speed playback, the speed of rotation of a drum motor is controlled so that the data rate of the playback signal from that one of two rotary heads for which the scanned area on the magnetic tape from which a playback signal can be obtained is larger, will be equal to the data rate of the recorded digital data signal. This drum motor speed control is effected by a speed control servo loop that includes a frequency detector which controls the speed control servo loop based on a speed detection signal and a speed information voltage generated by a speed information voltage generator. The speed information voltage generator generates this speed information voltage based on a control signal played back from the tape by a control head and a tape direction signal.

Abstract: Additional information of multi-programs can be recorded using a source pack which indicates channel numbers and the like in multi-channel or single-channel recording. An additional flag AF in this pack indicates whether the pack is auxiliary information which is constructed with a plurality of pack groups or auxiliary information which is constructed with a single pack. If AF is 0 and the total pack number (T.P. No.) is 0, the pack is a source pack of a single channel. If AF is 0 and T.P. No. is n (.noteq.0), the T.P. No. is defined to indicate the source pack number. Also, if AF is 1 and T.P. No. is 0, the pack is the last pack; if AF is 1 and T.P. No. is n (.noteq.0), the T.P. No. indicates the total number of packs appended to the pack.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus is provided which is designed to record and reproduce digital information signals on and from a magnetic tape at a reduced error rate in a long play mode. When the long play mode is entered, the travel speed of the magnetic tape is changed to 1/(2n) (n=a natural number) times that in a normal play mode, and the rotational speed of a rotary drum is changed to (2n+1)/(2n) times that in the normal play mode. Tracks are written on the magnetic tape with alternate helical scans of a pair of rotary heads, one every (2n+1)/2 rotations of the rotary drum to record the digital information signals on the tracks. In an alternative form of the invention, digital information signals are recorded on the magnetic tape in the long play mode using a third rotary head and one of the pair of the rotary heads.

Abstract: Digital signals are recorded in sequential tracks on a tape-form recording medium. In the case where the digital signals are recorded in accordance with a first recording format, at least first digital signals for normal reproduction are recorded in a single area of the first format on each track. In the case where the digital signals are recorded in accordance with at least a second recording format, at least the first digital signals are recorded in a specific area among divided areas of the second format, the divided areas being rewritable independently on each track, the specific area being common for both the first and second formats. And, second digital signals for special reproduction are recorded in previously determined areas among recording areas on each track, the recording areas being common for both the first and second formats.

Abstract: A device for recording an information signal on a magnetic tape by using a helical scan include a rotary drum, a plurality of types of magnetic heads including at least one magnetic head of each of said types provided on the rotary drum for recording a corresponding type of the information signal, and switching units which switch said at least one magnetic head between a recording of the information signal and an erasing of the information signal. During rotation of the rotary drum, one type of said at least one magnetic head erases the information signal prerecorded on the magnetic tape before another type of said at least one magnetic head records a corresponding type of the information signal on the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A method of recording video data and the accompanied sound data capable of editing the video data and sound data track by track without editing gaps is disclosed. The track format includes a first block of tracks for video data and a second block of tracks for sound data for a predetermined number of frames. Another method of selectively recording one of a plurality of kinds of video data having different amounts of data per frame or field and the accompanied sound data (NTSC and PAL for example) is provided. In this method, the video data and sound data are recorded with a recording and editing unit which is a determined by a common multiple of the selected one of kinds of video data among the amounts of data of the different kinds of video data.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing method which is capable of responding to the recording of various applications by flexibly changing the format of recording regions on a track of a recording medium. A track 20 is divided into a plurality of recording regions 22-32, and the data format of each recording region is selected in accordance with applications to be recorded. The preamble (or IBG) E.sub.PI is provided at the head portion of a track and the recording region to be independently rewritten or reloaded as occasion demands. A format information D.sub.PI indicating the presence of preamble or IBG is recorded in the data region E.sub.D. By designating required number of recording regions using the preamble (or IBG) E.sub.PI, it becomes possible to flexibly respond to the recording of various applications.