Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information recording device includes: a recording controller configured to control recording of information on a magnetic recording medium having tracks by a recording method; a managing module configured to manage two or more counters corresponding to each of plural track groups that are adjacent to each other; an updating module configured to update a count of one of the two or more counters corresponding to a second track group that is adjacent to a first track group of the plural track groups when information has been recorded on the first track group; a determining module configured to determine an attribute of the second track group based on the updated count of the one counter; and a rewriting module configured to rewrite information recorded in the second track group based on the determined attribute.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to reduce damage of a head element portion or a magnetic disk in a procedure for specifying a heater power value for adjusting a clearance between the head element portion and the magnetic disk. In an embodiment of the present invention, an HDC/MPU sequentially performs data writing and reading while increasing heater power. The HDC/MPU further determines whether or not a head slider has retrieved the data properly. When the data cannot be retrieved properly, the HDC/MPU specifies a heater power value in a normal operation based on the heater power value at which the data could not be retrieved properly.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for protection of streamed media content is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes control means for governance of content streams or content objects, decryption means for decrypting content streams or content objects under control of the control means, and feedback means for tracking actual use of content streams or content objects. The control means may operate in accordance with rules received as part of the streamed content, or through a side-band channel. The rules may specify allowed uses of the content, including whether or not the content can be copied or transferred, and whether and under what circumstances received content may be “checked out” of one device and used in a second device. The rules may also include or specify budgets, and a requirement that audit information be collected and/or transmitted to an external server. In a different aspect, the apparatus may include a media player designed to call plugins to assist in rendering content.

Abstract: There is provided a content reproduction apparatus including a reproduction request receiving unit that receives from a first external device conforming to a first communication standard a request to reproduce content data selected by the first external device, a content data obtaining unit that obtains from a second external device conforming to the first communication standard, which stores the content data selected by the first external device, the content data in response to the received request, a content reproduction unit that reproduces the obtained content data, and a data converting unit that converts data which can be transmitted according to the first communication standard into data which can be transmitted according to a second communication standard different than the first communication standard.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sensing a servo sensor while a longitudinal tape is moved past a magnetic head, determining position error between the magnetic head and a desired position related to the at least one defined servo track; providing signals to operate a fine actuator to translate the magnetic head laterally in a manner to reduce the determined position error; transitioning from a write state to a monitor state when the determined position error is greater than a threshold error value; transitioning from the monitor state to a stop write state when the determined position error is greater than the threshold error value for a first predetermined period; and transitioning from the monitor state to the write state when the determined position error is less than the threshold error value for a second predetermined period.

Abstract: Provided is imparting authentication codes to image data photographed by a camera connected to the apparatus for recording and reproducing images to generate encryption data and monitors control instructions input from the outside to the apparatus for recording and reproducing images, thereby interrupting the control instructions that store or cancel the image data stored in the apparatus for recording and reproducing images. As a result, the integrity of the image data cannot be questioned. Further, when the image data stored in the apparatus for recording and reproducing images are submitted as evidence, the integrity of the image data and the information on the corresponding image data submitted as evidence can be verified by using the authentication data generated for the original image data.

Abstract: In a controller of a tape drive, a command processing unit receives a request to write new data, an offset determination unit determines whether old data is not partially overwritten with new data, and if old data is not partially overwritten with new data, a head position management unit makes a write head offset toward the unoverwritten portion. Then, a channel input/output unit reads pattern data that disables old data from a pattern storage unit and outputs the data to the write head to thereby overwrite the old data with the pattern data. After that, a tape transport management unit rewinds a tape and the head position management unit returns the write head to the original position to overwrite the old data with the new data as usual.

Abstract: A method, and tape storage device configured to perform such method, according to various embodiments, includes writing data stored in a buffer onto a tape; writing an interval marker on the tape after the data stored in the buffer is written onto the tape; writing next data subsequent to the interval marker when the next data is stored in the buffer in a first round corresponding to a first-time write in a single track in the tape; writing data stored in the buffer in an area of the interval marker in a second round corresponding to a second-time write in the single track; and writing data stored in the buffer in an area of the interval marker in which no data is written in each of third and subsequent rounds corresponding to third- and subsequent-time writes in the single track.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a data write control apparatus includes a magnetic disk, a write controller, and a retry controller. The magnetic disk includes a track in which data is recorded in sector unit. The write controller is configured to execute control to write a sector data block to a predetermined sector in the track. The retry controller is configured to execute control to retry a write process to a predetermined number of sectors to which data has been written and which include a first sector, and to manage the number of retries performed on each sector.

Abstract: A data storage circuit includes a hard disk drive (HDD) and a fall sensor. The HDD includes a rotatable media platter operable to receive and store data; a read/write head operable to communicate with the media platter by writing data to the media platter and by reading the data from the media platter; an arm supporting the read/write head; a motor coupled to the arm and operable to move the arm to and from the media platter; a drive controller operable to control the media platter, the read/write head and the servo motor; a general purpose input/output (GPIO) terminal coupled to the drive controller; and a data interface terminal coupled to the drive controller. The fall sensor is communicatively coupled to the drive controller and is configured to send an interrupt trigger signal to the drive controller when the drive is falling.

Abstract: An image processing device comprises an image data input means 2, an image data storage means 12 for storing the image data being input, an image data processing means 6 having multiple processing modes for outputting the stored image data, and a image data erasing means for erasing the image data stored in the storage means 12. The device further comprises erase count control means 8, 14 for controlling the number of times for erasing image data capable of having the number of times of erase set arbitrarily according to the security level required for each mode, and capable of having the set number of times of erase changed in mid-flow. Confidentiality is protected by performing erase operations repeatedly to the region storing the unnecessary image data according to the security level.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a free fall sensing system having an amplifier and sampling circuit, a sampling data analyzer, a sampling clock duration controller, and a sampling clock generator. The amplifier and sampling circuit is configured to sample data signals from the free fall sensor based on an initial sampling signal and based on a variable sampling signal. The sampling data analyzer is configured to compare a magnitude of sampled data point to a predetermined magnitude, to output an alert signal when the magnitude of the sampled data point is below the predetermined magnitude. The sampling clock duration controller is configured to vary a duration and a frequency of a sampling signal control in response to the alert signal. The sampling clock generator is configured to send a variable sampling signal to the amplifier and sampling circuit in response to the variation of the duration and the frequency of the sampling signal control.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a recording medium controller includes a recording medium, an input module, a reading module, and a writing module. The recording medium includes a write area and an escape area. The write area includes track groups. Each of the track groups is a unit for writing data and includes tracks. The input module receives a write command for data. The reading module reads data stored in the escape area and data from a first track group of the track groups. The writing module writes data received for the write command to the escape area, and writes merged data obtained by merging the data read from the escape area and the data read from the first track group to each track of a second track group of the track groups by using a shingle recording technique in which adjacent tracks are partly overlapped with each other.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a grouping module and a refresh controller. The grouping module partitions a set of tracks on a disk into a plurality of groups. Each of the plurality of groups includes a plurality of tracks including at least two tracks with nonconsecutive physical positions. The refresh controller controls refresh process for each of the plurality of groups.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate systems, methods and arrangements for managing Adjacent Track Interference (ATI) risk through intelligent management of a table that logs individual tracks creating a risk of ATI in tracks adjacent thereto. Embodiments of the invention provide that tracks considered being at low risk for creating ATI be ejected from the table in order to maintain a track-level log of manageable size.

Abstract: There is provided an image recording/reproducing device that can discriminate a disk separation error that is specific to removable hard disks. A disk error detector (51) detects an occurrence of a disk error depending on whether a removable hard disk (15) can be recognized or not. A mount status detector (55) detects a presence or absence of the removable hard disk (15) as a disk mount status. The mount status detector (55) may detect the disk mount status based on a detection result of a write-protect switch (19) of the removable hard disk (15). An error type discriminator (57), based on the detected disk mount status, discriminates an error type of the disk error, and determines that the error type is disk separation if the removable hard disk (15) has become nonexistent. An error handler (59) performs error handling in accordance with the error type discriminated by the error type discriminator (57).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preserving data in a hard disk drive, in which data loss due to adjacent track erase (ATE) phenomenon can be minimized by relocating data, which is written in a zone where the ATE phenomenon is likely to occur since frequency of use is high, to another zone having a low TPI when writing the data in a disk.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk, a magnetic head, a position error signal output module, a vibration pattern detector, an adder, and a head positioning controller. The magnetic head moves over the magnetic disk. The position error signal output module outputs a position error signal based on a difference between a head position of the magnetic head over the magnetic disk and a target position on the magnetic disk. The vibration pattern detector detects a vibration pattern of the magnetic head caused by vibration. The adder adds the position error signal to an offset signal indicating amplitude of the vibration pattern. The head positioning controller moves the head position to the target position based on a result of addition by the adder.

Abstract: Systems and methods for writing data to a disk under write disturbance conditions are provided. In one embodiment, a disk drive comprises a disk and a detection system configured to detect a write disturbance condition. The disk drive further comprises a controller configured to alternately operate in a normal mode and a write disturbance mode, wherein, the controller is configured to write data to data tracks on the disk in the normal mode and to write data to data tracks on the disk that are spaced farther apart in the write disturbance mode, and the controller is configured to switch from the normal mode to the write disturbance mode when the detection system detects the write disturbance condition.

Abstract: Copying, dubbing or reproducing copyrighted digital data can be inhibited or restricted to properly protect a copyright. AV data recorded on a pre-recorded tape is output from a reproducing unit of a first digital VCR with protective information indicating whether the copy of the AV data is inhibited or not. The protective information is input with the A/V data to a second digital VCR. Copy permission information of a blank tape loaded in the second digital VCR is discriminated and the second digital VCR records the AV data supplied from the first digital VCR based on the protective information and the copy permission information.

Abstract: A process for secure distribution of original digital audiovisual streams including audio, video components or other data, including packetizing the original stream into packets that can be manipulated and have a flexible size, wherein each packet includes a header containing information about the packet and a useful load including part of the data of the stream, analyzing the packetized stream prior to transmission to client equipment to generate a main stream in conformity with a packetized format of the original stream, modified in that all or part of the packets were substituted by packets of the same structure, but whose content was modified, and generating complementary information with any format suitable to permit reconstruction of the original stream, and separately transmitting the modified main stream and complementary information generated from the server to addressed equipment.

Abstract: One or more target files are securely erased from a host storage medium such as a disk by overwriting the target files not just with “O's,” “1's” and/or random data, but also (or instead) by overwriting them with portions of other, selected, innocuous files found on the same medium. By booting the host using a secondary, preferably external mechanism, before the host operating system is allowed to load, logging of file accesses and process execution by the host OS is circumvented. Post-replacement fragmentation and defragmentation may also be used to further reduce the detectability of the erasure, and the success of the process may be evaluated using statistical analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bipolar writing of servo marks to perpendicular and non-oriented magnetic recording medium. The method includes applying a varying current to a servo write head to alternately AC-erase and write sets of servo marks to regions of a servo track of a magnetic recording medium proximate to first and second write gaps, each servo mark of the sets of servo marks comprising first and second abutting magnetic domains of opposite magnetization directions, the magnetic recording medium moving with respect to the first and second write gaps in a recording direction, the magnetic recording medium being either (i) a perpendicular magnetic storage medium having magnetic particles with their easy axes oriented perpendicular to a top surface of the perpendicular storage medium or (ii) a non-oriented magnetic storage medium having magnetic particles with their easy axes randomly oriented relative to a top surface of the non-orientated storage medium.

Abstract: Systems and methods for writing data on a magnetic tape having a plurality of partitions and accessed by a tape drive having an associated tape drive processor in communication with a host computer having an associated host processor include storing a read-only partition identifier associated with each of the plurality of partitions, comparing a requested write partition identifier with the stored read-only partition identifiers, and writing data to the requested write partition only if the associated read-only identifier indicates that the requested write partition is not a read-only partition.

Abstract: A digital media with encoded audio-visual content includes an encoded token. The token comprises visual data having defined characteristics, which are designed such that when the audio-visual content is output as analog output and then re-recorded as digital data, the resulting digital data includes an altered token. Digital data may be processed to detect altered tokens indicating that the data was recorded from an analog output. When an altered token is detected, the copy may be considered to be an unauthorized copy and handled accordingly.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus prevents, when a format instruction is given via an on-screen menu in an image format of one of HDTV and SDTV standards and the content item to be erased is in the other standard, erroneous erasure of a content item on a recording medium having mixed content items recorded using these standards. The recording and reproducing apparatus includes a controlling unit that instructs, upon a user instruction to format via an inputting unit, an image generating unit to generate an on-screen warning, the image generating unit that generates, following the instruction from the controlling unit, the on-screen warning, a display unit that displays the on-screen warning generated by the image generating unit, and a searching unit that searches a disc for a directory recorded using a standard other than used for recording a CONTENTS directory.

Abstract: Adaptive shock detection systems are provided according to various embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, an adaptive shock detection system comprises a shock sensing circuit, and a controller configured to receive shock detection signals from the shock sensing circuit and to dynamically adjust a sensitivity of the shock sensing circuit based the received shock detection signals.

Abstract: Control of the encryption of data for storage with respect to removable data storage cartridges having a recording media and having cartridge memory with at least a portion lockable to read-only, employs the steps of inspecting the read-only portion of the cartridge memory of the removable data storage cartridge for an “Encrypt-Only” flag. If the “Encrypt-Only” flag is present, writes to the recording media of the removable data storage cartridge are limited to data in an encrypted format, if any; and, else, writes to the recording media of the removable data storage cartridge are allowed for data in any of encrypted and unencrypted formats.

Abstract: This application discloses a hard disk drive using a self-resonant frequency band of a Voice Coil Motor far above its operational frequency band to predict Rapid Off Track events before its head stack assembly can deliver the disruption to the slider writing a track. A circuit board and/or an integrated circuit are disclosed in various embodiments to predict the ROT events using the self-resonant frequency band and/or to respond to the prediction to suppress the slider writing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for secure distribution of an original audiovisual stream constituted of a set of transport packets encapsulated according to a plurality of transport protocols suitable to be transmitted to a receiving device compatible with one of the said transport protocols include the steps of: generating a protected audiovisual stream from the original stream by modifying at least one of the original transport packets, and a complementary stream including digital information suitable from the protected stream, reconstituting on the receiving device the original audiovisual stream from the protected stream as function of the complementary stream, wherein the protected audiovisual stream includes a set of modified transport packets that are different from the corresponding original transport packets at modification positions, and the modification positions are in the complementary stream, the modification positions being generated according to each transport protocol of the plurality of transport p

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk comprises an area which comprises a plurality of data tracks and is partitioned into a first segment and a plurality of second segments. A controller detects that a segment to be refreshed next is one of the plurality of second segments. The controller saves data stored in the one of the plurality of second segments into the first segment when a segment to be refreshed next is the one of the plurality of second segments.

Abstract: In a method of electronically measuring reader/writer offset in a tape drive head, a plurality of sequentially adjacent data tracks are written on a tape with a write head. Error rate information is measured while reading a data track of the plurality of sequentially adjacent data tracks with a read head of the tape drive. A bathtub shaped curve is built from a set of the error rate information which is accumulated by reading the data track at a plurality of offsets of the read head relative to the data track. Offset of the read head relative to the write head is measured by determining an offset of the read head which correlates to a magnetic center of the data track as represented by a center point between edges of the bathtub shaped curve.

Abstract: A technique for improving the performance of head alignment during reading of data from and writing data to a tape medium. An apparatus controls writing of data by a tape drive that drives a tape medium in both forward and reverse directions to record data. The apparatus includes a position obtaining unit that obtains the current position of the head of the tape drive with respect to the tape medium, a determining unit that determines whether the current position of the head is within a predetermined range on the tape medium, a generating unit that generates dummy data in response to determination that the current position of the head is not within the predetermined range, and a write control unit that writes dummy data on the tape medium until the current position of the head is within the predetermined range on the tape medium.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for protection of streamed media content is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes control means for governance of content streams or content objects, decryption means for decrypting content streams or content objects under control of the control means, and feedback means for tracking actual use of content streams or content objects. The control means may operate in accordance with rules received as part of the streamed content, or through a side-band channel. The rules may specify allowed uses of the content, including whether or not the content can be copied or transferred, and whether and under what circumstances received content may be “checked-out” of one device and used in a second device. The rules may also include or specify budgets, and a requirement that audit information be collected and/or transmitted to an external server. In a different aspect, the apparatus may include a media player designed to call plugins to assist in rendering content.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for writing data accumulated in a buffer on a tape medium in such a way that overwriting is prevented. The apparatus comprises a write unit configured for writing first data in a first position extending over a first track and an area adjacent to the first track, writing second data in a second position extending over a second track and an area adjacent to the second track, and writing the first data and the second data in a third position extending over a third track and an area adjacent to the third track. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a processing unit configured for preventing the first data written in the first position from being overwritten with the second data written in the second position or with the first data written in the third position.

Abstract: A recording system controller according to one embodiment includes a controller capable of selecting a level of a current or voltage applied to a first writer during the creation of a magnetic transition based on a current in at least one nearby writer. A recording system controller according to another embodiment includes a controller capable of selecting a timing of a current change applied to a first writer based on a current in at least one nearby writer for compensating for an effect of crosstalk from the at least one nearby writer. A method according to yet another embodiment includes selecting a level of a current or voltage applied to a first writer or selecting a timing of a current change applied to the first writer based on a current in at least one nearby writer for compensating for an effect of crosstalk from the at least one nearby writer.

Abstract: Track pitch in a hard disk drive is selected to satisfy the requirements of both off-track capacity (OTC) and adjacent track interference (ATI). The invention separately measures the track pitch requirements for OTC and ATI. The track pitch for the drive is set with the larger of the OTC and ATI track pitches. The OTC track pitch is measured with a 747 curve, and the ATI track pitch is measured by the positions of adjacent tracks at which the on-track error rate is not worse than a given value after the targeted number of adjacent track writes in the ATI requirement.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) minimizes the effects of far track erasure (FTE) by counting the number of writes to the data tracks and incrementing counters based on the known effect of FTE on each track. The extent of the FTE effect is determined for each track within a range of tracks of the track being written, and based on the relative FTE effect for all the tracks in the range a count increment (CI) is determined for each track within the range. A counter is maintained for each track. For every writing to a track, a count for each track within a range of the track being written is increased by the CI value associated with the track number within the range. When the count value for a track reaches a predetermined threshold the data is read from that track and rewritten, preferably to the same track.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital sound recording device that prevents data stored as digital sound data from being forged. A digital sound recording device according to the present invention includes an input unit, a storage unit, a data communication unit, a processor, and a write protection unit that is provided between the storage unit and the data communication unit, thereby preventing the write control from being performed on the storage unit by the external unit.

Abstract: To limit the time capable of reproducing a plurality of contents as a whole recorded on a recording medium. Provided herein are a recording medium on which a plurality of contents and reproduction-enabled time which is a period of time for allowing a user to freely reproduce the plurality of contents as a whole are recorded, a reproduction device having an acquisition unit which acquires the reproduction-enabled time and a reproduction inhibit unit which inhibits the reproduction of each of the contents when the accumulated reproduction time of the plurality of contents as a whole exceeds the acquired reproduction-enabled time during the reproduction of each of the contents.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a recording medium controller includes a recording medium, an input module, a reading module, and a writing module. The recording medium includes a write area and an escape area. The write area includes track groups. Each of the track groups is a unit for writing data and includes tracks. The input module receives a write command for data. The reading module reads data stored in the escape area and data from a first track group of the track groups. The writing module writes data received for the write command to the escape area, and writes merged data obtained by merging the data read from the escape area and the data read from the first track group to each track of a second track group of the track groups by using a shingle recording technique in which adjacent tracks are partly overlapped with each other.

Abstract: Approaches for improving the write quality of a hard-disk drive (HDD) head experiencing temporary fly-height problem. When the hard-disk drive is idle and heads are parked on the ramp, fluid, such as a lubricant or the condensation of vapor, may collect between the surface of a platter and the head or a slider, thereby causing the head to temporarily fly higher than normal. An HDD may include electronic component(s) configured to (a) determine whether it is likely that fluid is interposed between the surface of a magnetic-recording disk and the slider or the head, and (b) temporarily adjust one or more of (i) a thermal fly height control setting of the head and (ii) a write parameter of the head to compensate for the head flying higher than normal as a result of the fluid being interposed between the surface of the disk and the slider or the head.

Abstract: Generally the more effective is the copy protection provided on an optical disc, such as a DVD, the greater is the likelihood that the copy protection will adversely interfere with legitimate uses of the optical disc. It is therefore proposed to include at least one region of subversive data within the content in the data area of an optical disc, and then to prevent access to each such region of subversive data during normal playback of the disc. For a DVD, the subversive data may be incorporated within video objects and/or may be in gaps between files in the DVD_Video zone. It is arranged that there are no navigable paths to the regions of subversive data.

Abstract: Protection against data overwrite of a rewritable non-WORM data storage cartridge is provided by a data storage drive operating cartridge data overwrite protection procedures independent of, or not withstanding, the absence of cartridge controls relating to data overwrite protection. Also for the non-WORM cartridge, the drive responds to an allow data overwrite command to allow an immediately subsequent write type command to write to the cartridge even if the write command overwrites existing data. The overwrite protection procedures and data overwrite procedures may be configured and enabled for the data storage drive.

Abstract: Write protection for data of a rewritable data storage cartridge having partitions is provided in certain circumstances by providing logical write protection; and in response to detection of an application issuing at least one partition-based command with respect to the rewritable data storage cartridge, the logical write protection is disabled with respect to the detected application. Thus, where the cartridge has a non-default index addressing location, in response to detection of an application issuing at least one command initially addressing a location other than the non-default index location, logical write protection is enabled with respect to the detected application; and if the non-default index location is addressed, the logical write protection is disabled.

Abstract: A copy prevention method and apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system performs the copy prevention function by encoding to insert a marker involving copy prevention function information and executing the function and allows a program supplier to realize a desired copy prevention function of various patterns, in which the marker formed by a control word for scrambling audio and video bit straps and copy prevention information for preventing an illegal copy is encrypted by an encoded key to be multiplexed with the audio and video bit strips scrambled by the control word. The marker transmitted is detected from the bit strips to be decrypted and analyzed by the encoded key to determine whether the copy is permitted or not, so that the detected marker is updated to be recorded on a video tape and the control word is produced from the marker to perform the descrambling to supply the result to a monitor to be displayed.

Abstract: A copy prevention method and apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system performs the copy prevention function by encoding to insert a marker involving copy prevention function information and executing the function and allows a program supplier to realize a desired copy prevention function of various patterns, in which the marker formed by a control word for scrambling audio and video bit straps and copy prevention information for preventing an illegal copy is encrypted by an encoded key to be multiplexed with the audio and video bit strips scrambled by the control word. The marker transmitted is detected from the bit strips to be decrypted and analyzed by the encoded key to determine whether the copy is permitted or not, so that the detected marker is updated to be recorded on a video tape and the control word is produced from the marker to perform the descrambling to supply the result to a monitor to be displayed.

Abstract: A copy prevention method and apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system performs the copy prevention function by encoding to insert a marker involving copy prevention function information and executing the function and allows a program supplier to realize a desired copy prevention function of various patterns, in which the marker formed by a control word for scrambling audio and video bit straps and copy prevention information for preventing an illegal copy is encrypted by an encoded key to be multiplexed with the audio and video bit strips scrambled by the control word. The marker transmitted is detected from the bit strips to be decrypted and analyzed by the encoded key to determine whether the copy is permitted or not, so that the detected marker is updated to be recorded on a video tape and the control word is produced from the marker to perform the descrambling to supply the result to a monitor to be displayed.

Abstract: A copy prevention method and apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system performs the copy prevention function by encoding to insert a marker involving copy prevention function information and executing the function and allows a program supplier to realize a desired copy prevention function of various patterns, in which the marker formed by a control word for scrambling audio and video bit straps and copy prevention information for preventing an illegal copy is encrypted by an encoded key to be multiplexed with the audio and video bit strips scrambled by the control word. The marker transmitted is detected from the bit strips to be decrypted and analyzed by the encoded key to determine whether the copy is permitted or not, so that the detected marker is updated to be recorded on a video tape and the control word is produced from the marker to perform the descrambling to supply the result to a monitor to be displayed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting access to audio and/or video data is accomplished when data is received, where the data may be audio data and/or video data. Having received the data, it is interpreted to determine whether an embedded data access parameter is active. If so, an indication of the particular type of data access is generated. The data access parameter may control access to the data as at least one of: copy restrictions, viewing restrictions, and/or use restrictions. The indication is subsequently provided to a computer system such that unauthorized accessing, including unauthorized copying, of the video and/or audio data is prohibited.