Abstract: Unique identification information is prerecorded on a disc. The identification information is registered to a server along with user's license when he or she buys the disc. When an terminal unit reproduces data from the disc, identification information is read and transmitted to the server through the Internet. The server creates a key that controls to reproduce data from the disc in accordance with the license identified by the identification information and transmits the key to the terminal unit along with the user's license information for the disc. The terminal unit controls to reproduce contents of the disc in accordance with key and license information transmitted from the server. The license for each disc is managed in accordance with the identification information. Thus, different services can be provided for individual discs.

Abstract: Unique identification information is prerecorded on a disc. The identification information is registered to a server along with user's license when he or she buys the disc. When an terminal unit reproduces data from the disc, identification information is read and transmitted to the server through the Internet. The server creates a key that controls to reproduce data from the disc in accordance with the license identified by the identification information and transmits the key to the terminal unit along with the user's license information for the disc. The terminal unit controls to reproduce contents of the disc in accordance with key and license information transmitted from the server. The license for each disc is managed in accordance with the identification information. Thus, different services can be provided for individual discs.

Abstract: According to the type of each of a plurality of external input interfaces, it is decided whether digital watermark information is to be detected from data entered via the external input interface. Digital watermark information is not detected from data entered via the external input interface and from which it has been decided not to detect any digital watermark information, but the data is recorded. Thus, there can be provided a data recording apparatus which is not applied with a any heavy load owing to the omission of any unnecessary detection of digital watermark information.

Abstract: A data transmission method and apparatus for transmitting data, such as encrypted content data. A device that is to be a destination of transmission is authenticated. If the device has not been authenticated, encrypted data read out from a storage unit is decrypted to give decoded data which then is re-encrypted based on innate key data acquired from the device that is to be the destination of transmission to give re-encrypted data. The re-encrypted data is then transmitted to the device that is to be a destination of transmission.

Abstract: Unique identification information is prerecorded on a disc. The identification information is registered to a server along with user's license when he or she buys the disc. When an terminal unit reproduces data from the disc, identification information is read and transmitted to the server through the Internet. The server creates a key that controls to reproduce data from the disc in accordance with the license identified by the identification information and transmits the key to the terminal unit along with the user's license information for the disc. The terminal unit controls to reproduce contents of the disc in accordance with key and license information transmitted from the server. The license for each disc is managed in accordance with the identification information. Thus, different services can be provided for individual discs.

Abstract: Unique identification information is prerecorded on a disc. The identification information is registered to a server along with user's license when he or she buys the disc. When an terminal unit reproduces data from the disc, identification information is read and transmitted to the server through the Internet. The server creates a key that controls to reproduce data from the disc in accordance with the license identified by the identification information and transmits the key to the terminal unit along with the user's license information for the disc. The terminal unit controls to reproduce contents of the disc in accordance with key and license information transmitted from the server. The license for each disc is managed in accordance with the identification information. Thus, different services can be provided for individual discs.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: A recording medium including at least a lead-in region, a recording region in which information is recorded, and a lead-out region. In this configuration, medium information including medium identification information and relevant information is recorded in at least any one of the lead-in region, the recording region, and the lead-out region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data processing method for encrypting or decrypting contents data using contents key data. The method comprises generating the reference information including data encrypted from contents key data using a plurality of device key data proper to a plurality of apparatus, by encrypting the contents key data using the device key data associated with those of the plural apparatus for which recording or reproduction is allowed, supplying the generated reference information along with the device key data to the plural apparatus, decrypting the contents key data from the supplied reference information, by the plural apparatus, using the device key data proper to the plural apparatus, and encrypting or decrypting the contents data using the decrypted contents key data.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: An administrative system receives unique ID information of disk from an orderer for ordering manufacture of the disks and provides the unique ID information for a disk maker. The maker stores on the disk unique attribute information of the disk including identification information for the disk maker side. The administrative system obtains normal recording information generated if normal recording is carried out when recording on the disk the unique attribute information of the disk. Alternatively, the administrative system obtains abnormal recording information generated if abnormal recording is carried out. Disk administrative information, for example, number of pieces of the disks delivered from the factory, is generated from the obtained normal and abnormal recording information.

Abstract: A recording medium is applicable to information service system for receiving and transmitting information when a terminal device on the user's side accesses an administrative server, which is a server device, using a communication line such as the Internet. This recording medium (10a) comprises a lead-in region (16a), a data recording region (14a) positioned on an outer region than the lead-in region, and a lead-out region (12a) positioned on an outer region than the data-recording region. In at least any one of these regions (12a), (14a), and (16a), multiple pieces of identification information are recorded.

Abstract: A recording method for a recording medium, wherein an encrypting process is executed to inputted contents data by using either key data, which becomes key data only for use of the recording medium by being recorded, or by using fixed value data. When an encoding process is executed to the encryption-processed data, if the key data which becomes the key data only for use of the recording medium by being recorded, is used at the time of the encrypting process, that key data is embedded, and the encoding-processed data is recorded onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium is applicable to information service system for receiving and transmitting information when a terminal device on the user's side accesses an administrative server, which is a server device, using a communication line such as the Internet. This recording medium (10a) comprises a lead-in region (16a), a data recording region (14a) positioned on an outer region than the lead-in region, and a lead-out region (12a) positioned on an outer region than the data-recording region. In at least any one of these regions (12a), (14a), and (16a), multiple pieces of identification information are recorded.

Abstract: First, an ID added disc is loaded. A disc ID is read from the disc at step S2. The disc ID matches a hardware ID of hardware that can use software recorded on the disc. If the disc ID has not been read from the disc, an error process is performed. At step S3, a hardware ID of hardware connected to a personal computer is obtained. At step S4, it is determined whether or not both the IDs match. When the determined result represents that they match, at step S5, an application starts. When the determined result at step S4 represents that they do not match, at step S6, an error message is displayed on a display of the personal computer.

Abstract: On a CD-R, a UID that is unique identification information is pre-recorded. When the CD-R is loaded into an information terminal unit, the UID is read and transmitted to a management server through the Internet. The management server determines whether predetermined data can be recorded onto the CD-R in accordance with the received UID. For example, when the UID is valid, contents data is downloaded from the management server to the information terminal unit and recorded onto the CD-R. In addition, for example, when the UID is valid, a notification that represents that contents data is permitted to be copied or moved is transmitted from the management server to the information terminal unit. As a result, contents data recorded on another recording medium can be copied or moved to the CD-R.

Abstract: The present invention provides a content-on-demand system capable of managing users' system-utilization frequencies such as download counts and connection times as well as changing the quality of a content transmitted from a server to a user in dependence on the system-utilization frequency of the user. Thus, a high-quality content or a highly functional content is provided to a user with a high system-utilization frequency. By differentiating contents provided to users in accordance with the system-utilization frequencies of the users, network businesses can be activated.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to data of a disc, comprising the steps of determining whether or not information intrinsic to a writable disc has been detected from data that had been read from the disc; when the determined result represents that information intrinsic to a writable disc has been detected, determining that the disc is a writable disc and at least restricting a regular operation of the disc; and when the determined result represents that information intrinsic to a writable disc has not been detected, determining that the disc is not a writable disc and executing a regular operation of the disc.

Abstract: A data transmission method and apparatus for transmitting data such as encrypted content data, wherein a device that is to be a destination of transmission is authenticated and, if the device has not been authenticated, encrypted data read out from a storage unit is decrypted to give decoded data, which then is re-encrypted, based on innate key data acquired from the device that is to be the destination of transmission, to give re-encrypted data. The re-encrypted data is then transmitted to the device that is to be a destination of transmission.

Abstract: Data areas AR1 and AR2, lead-in areas LIN1 and LIN2, and lead-out areas LOUT1 and LOUT2 are provided on a disc. For example, in case of encrypting and recording data into the data area AR2, copyright management information R2 and key information K2 are recorded into the lead-out area LOUT2. Only information in a Q channel of a subcode is recorded in the lead-out area and this area is filled with dummy data. A position of the lead-out is obtained from TOC information. The fact that a light spot has entered the lead-out area can be judged from the information in the Q channel. The copyright management information and key information are recorded by using the lead-out area. The lead-out area is not rewritten or accessed by an ordinary CD player, so that the copyright management information and the key information can be safely held.