Abstract: Copyright of contents to be transmitted may be protected for an analog signal produced by converting a digital signal representative of the contents. A signal transmission apparatus determines whether the contents are protected by copyright by detecting copyright protection information of a digital image signal of the contents at a protection information detecting unit, and scrambles an analog image signal converted from the digital image signal to output when the copyright is protected, or prohibits outputting of the analog image signal. When a receiving apparatus receives a transmitted signal, the apparatus generates a digital image signal and the analog image signal based on the transmitted signal.

Abstract: Recording control with additional information superposed on data and recording control in response to a type of a recording medium on which data are recorded are disclosed. A recording apparatus for recording data onto a recording medium includes an identification data detection section for detecting identification data for identification of data from the data, a copying count data detection section for detecting copying count data for limiting the number of times of copying the data from the data, and a recording control section for controlling recording of the data onto the recording medium based on the identification data detected by the identification data detection section and the copying count data detected by the copying count data detection section.

Abstract: Recording control with additional information superposed on data and recording control in response to a type of a recording medium on which data are recorded are disclosed. A recording apparatus for recording data onto a recording medium includes an identification data detection section for detecting identification data for identification of data from the data, a copying count data detection section for detecting copying count data for limiting the number of times of copying the data from the data, and a recording control section for controlling recording of the data onto the recording medium based on the identification data detected by the identification data detection section and the copying count data detected by the copying count data detection section.

Abstract: An information signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information signal from a recording medium on which the information signal, including added copy control information is recorded, comprising a first detector for detecting whether the information signal read out from said recording medium is encrypted and for producing an output representative thereof; a second detector for detecting said copy control information from the information signal read out from the recording medium and for producing an output representative thereof; and a controller for selectively restricting reproduction of the information signal based on the outputs of the first detector and the second detector.

Abstract: To enable usage of content at a receiver which does not have a copying function even if copyright protection is provided. Model names of receivers not having a function enabling copying of content are held in an authentication processing circuit (151) of a transmitter (10). When a model name obtained from a connected receiver (40) is held, regardless of whether the content is copyright protected, a signal selection circuit (122) selects a terminal a side, a switch (123) is turned on, and an unencrypted signal is transmitted. When a change of the receiver (40) is detected by a hot plug detection function or a plug and play function at a processing circuit (152) during the transfer of a signal of copyright protected content without providing copyright protection, the selection circuit (122) is made to select a terminal b side or the switch (123) is turned off to suspend the transfer of the non-copyright protected signal. The information indicating the receiver is held in a tamper-proof updateable manner.

Abstract: An information signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information signal from a recording medium on which the information signal, including added copy control information is recorded, comprising a first detector for detecting whether the information signal read out from said recording medium is encrypted or not-encrypted and for producing an output representative thereof; a second detector for detecting said copy control information from the information signal read out from the recording medium and for producing an output representative thereof; and a controller for selectively restricting reproduction of the information signal based on the outposts of the first detector and the second detector.

Abstract: A content signal having a control signal added thereto indicating whether a playback restricting function for restricting reproduction is activated is recorded on a disk. When an encryption key generation section determines at the time of reproduction that the content signal has the control signal added thereto indicating that the playback restricting function is activated, it is determined whether a playback permission condition is satisfied. The playback permission condition is read from the disk, or acquired via a communication section if it is not stored on the disk. A correct encryption key (Kp) is supplied to an encryption processing section only when the playback permission condition is satisfied. The encryption processing section decrypts the encrypted content signal recorded on the disk with the encryption key (Kp) and the correctly decrypted content signal is outputted from an output control section.

Abstract: A signal transmission device and method wherein the signal transmission device includes a first communication part for transmitting a signal through a number of high-speed serial buses, and a second communication part for transmitting a signal through a low-speed serial bus having a transmission speed lower than that of the high-speed serial buses; each signal transmission device is disposed on the terminal side of a transmission line which is configured of the number of high-speed serial buses and the low-speed serial bus, and a signal transmitting operation through the high-speed serial buses is controlled on the basis of the result of communications through the low-speed serial bus.

Abstract: A recording medium cartridge includes a memory circuit for storing information concerning signals recorded on the recording medium within the cartridge. The information is stored in the memory circuit in the form of a hierarchic data structure which includes a plurality of data packets having a predetermined form and length. Each data packet includes a code indicative of a level in the data structure to which the data packet belongs. At least some of the data packets include data indicative of starting and ending positions on the recording medium of recorded signals which the data packet represents. The hierarchic (or “tree”) data structure facilitates rapid retrieval and reproduction of the signals recorded on the recording medium, particularly when the recording medium is a magnetic tape. The tree structure also facilitates storage of information in connection with recording of additional signals on the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium cartridge includes a memory circuit for storing information concerning signals recorded on the recording medium within the cartridge. The information is stored in the memory circuit in the form of a hierarchic data structure which includes a plurality of data packets having a predetermined form and length. Each data packet includes a code indicative of a level in the data structure to which the data packet belongs. At least some of the data packets include data indicative of starting and ending positions on the recording medium of recorded signals which the data packet represents. The hierarchic (or “tree”) data structure facilitates rapid retrieval and reproduction of the signals recorded on the recording medium, particularly when the recording medium is a magnetic tape. The tree structure also facilitates storage of information in connection with recording of additional signals on the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium cartridge includes a memory circuit for storing information concerning signals recorded on the recording medium within the cartridge. The information is stored in the memory circuit in the form of a hierarchic data structure which includes a plurality of data packets having a predetermined form and length. Each data packet includes a code indicative of a level in the data structure to which the data packet belongs. At least some of the data packets include data indicative of starting and ending positions on the recording medium of recorded signals which the data packet represents. The hierarchic (or “tree”) data structure facilitates rapid retrieval and reproduction of the signals recorded on the recording medium, particularly when the recording medium is a magnetic tape. The tree structure also facilitates storage of information in connection with recording of additional signals on the recording medium.

Abstract: An information signal copy managing method for properly protecting the copyright of information signals and, at the same time, guaranteeing user advantages in copying information signals within a limited range. Information indicative of the start and end of each piece of information content covered by copyright is superimposed thereon as electronic watermark information. The resultant information signal is transmitted. When the received information signal is copied, both the information indicative of the start of the information content and the information indicative of the end thereof are detected from the electronic watermark information, determining the completion of copying. Thus, copying of information content is managed.

Abstract: A video-signal output apparatus performs scrambling, and a video-signal input apparatus performs descrambling. The scrambling and the descrambling are performed so that signal lines are shifted for each period corresponding to one horizontal scanning interval of analog component video signals which corresponds to a horizontal scanning period or for each period which is n times one horizontal scanning period (where n represents a natural number not less than 2). The signal lines are also shifted with timing in a horizontal blanking period of the analog component video signals. When authorization is established as a result of mutual communication between the output apparatus and the input apparatus, scramble and descramble patterns each are determined based on mutually obtained information in the mutual communication.

Abstract: An information signal copy managing method for properly protecting the copyright of information signals and, at the same time, guaranteeing user advantages in copying information signals within a limited range. Information indicative of the start and end of each piece of information content covered by copyright is superimposed thereon as electronic watermark information. The resultant information signal is transmitted. When the received information signal is copied, both the information indicative of the start of the information content and the information indicative of the end thereof are detected from the electronic watermark information, determining the completion of copying. Thus, copying of information content is managed.

Abstract: A recorder provides to a recorder/player via a high-speed bus content-related information such as a digital audio signal as information, a content ID being identification information on the digital audio signal and a standard playing time of the digital audio signal. The recorder/player has a controller which stores the content ID into a copy-history information management memory when the same content ID is not existent in the memory. The content ID is held for a period measured by a timer. For this period, the recording function of the recorder/player is limited so that the same digital audio signal cannot be copied at a high speed.

Abstract: A system, which includes a video-signal output apparatus and a video-signal input apparatus, has a construction in which scrambling or descrambling is performed with a scramble key generated using copy-control information. If the copy-control information has been falsified, a scramble key for a scrambling mode will not coincide with a scramble key for a descrambling mode, whereby appropriate descrambling is not performed. By performing no scrambling in a vertical blanking interval, the copy-control information can be easily detected from a scrambled video signal.

Abstract: A recorder provides to a recorder/player via a high-speed bus content-related information such as a digital audio signal as information, a content ID being identification information on the digital audio signal and a standard playing time of the digital audio signal. The recorder/player has a controller which stores the content ID into a copy-history information management memory when the same content ID is not existent in the memory. The content ID is held for a period measured by a timer. For this period, the recording function of the recorder/player is limited so that the same digital audio signal cannot be copied at a high speed.

Abstract: Recording control with additional information superposed on data and recording control in response to a type of a recording medium on which data are recorded are disclosed. A recording apparatus for recording data onto a recording medium includes an identification data detection section for detecting identification data for identification of data from the data, a copying count data detection section for detecting copying count data for limiting the number of times of copying the data from the data, and a recording control section for controlling recording of the data onto the recording medium based on the identification data detected by the identification data detection section and the copying count data detected by the copying count data detection section.

Abstract: Recording control with additional information superposed on data and recording control in response to a type of a recording medium on which data are recorded are disclosed. A recording apparatus for recording data onto a recording medium includes an identification data detection section for detecting identification data for identification of data from the data, a copying count data detection section for detecting copying count data for limiting the number of times of copying the data from the data, and a recording control section for controlling recording of the data onto the recording medium based on the identification data detected by the identification data detection section and the copying count data detected by the copying count data detection section.

Abstract: Recording control with additional information superposed on data and recording control in response to a type of a recording medium on which data are recorded are disclosed. A recording apparatus for recording data onto a recording medium includes an identification data detection section for detecting identification data for identification of data from the data, a copying count data detection section for detecting copying count data for limiting the number of times of copying the data from the data, and a recording control section for controlling recording of the data onto the recording medium based on the identification data detected by the identification data detection section and the copying count data detected by the copying count data detection section.