Recording-or Erasing-prevention Patents (Class 360/60)
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Patent number: 6865337Abstract: A system and method for detecting whether a video signal is modified by a video-tape-recorder-design based anti-copying process. A proper portion of the video signal is identified and filtered, and potential anti-copying artifacts in the filtered signal are counted by comparing the filtered output against a threshold derived from the video-tape-recorder-design based anti-copying process. By cross-correlating the number of potential anti-copying artifacts, found on multiple scan lines across multiple frames, with an expected minimum range and/or number of anti-copying artifacts derived from the video-tape-recorder-design based anti-copying process, anti-copying modifications of the video signal are detected. In this fashion, traditional video-tape-recorder-design based anti-copying processes are applied to modem digital video recording systems.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2000Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventor: Stephen C. Muller
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Patent number: 6865045Abstract: In a magnetic tape storage controlled by a server, three attributes, namely, “read/write,” “read only” and “protection” are provided for data to be written, and each magnetic tape is set to a mode in which multiple attributes can be handled or a mode in which only one attribute can be handled. By properly selecting an attribute and a mode, a backup state depending on the importance of data is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2002Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Tetsuo Kuriyama, Masahiro Shioya
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Patent number: 6839503Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring data which achieves balancing in profit and loss between a proprietor of copyright and a user includes an instruction section for providing an instruction of a transfer rate, a transfer control section for variably using one of various transfer control methods for data in response to the transfer rate of the instruction provided by the instruction section, and a billing control section for changing the transfer control method by the transfer control section in response to billing processing performed by a user of the transfer apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1999Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Jun Hirai
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Publication number: 20040264027Abstract: A movable information processing device which is provided with check means that checks whether or not both of moving distance information of the information processing device, which are stored in storage means for check and in a recording medium which can be dismounted from the information device when the storage medium is dismounted, agree with each other, and that allows supply of information such as navigation information only when these moving distance information agree with each other. The check means additionally checks at least one of difference between position information P1 stored in the storage medium when the storage medium is dismounted and present position information P2, and difference between day/time information T1 stored in the storage medium when the storage medium is dismounted and present day/time information T2, and allow supply of navigation information only when the checked results satisfy predetermined conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomohiro Nishio
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Publication number: 20040252397Abstract: An improved media player and a method for operating a portable computing device (e.g., media player) are disclosed. According to one aspect, a portable computing device is able to protect its disk drive when being subjected to undesired levels of acceleration. The portable computing device protects its disk drive by monitoring for such accelerations and operating to avoid usage of the disk drive during periods of acceleration. Through such protection, the likelihood of damage to the disk drive or loss of data stored on the disk drive is able to be substantially reduced. According to another aspect, a user of a portable computing device can be alerted when the portable computing device is being subjected to undesirable levels of acceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2003Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: Apple Computer Inc.Inventors: Andrew Bert Hodge, Guy Bar-Nahum, Jean-Paul Labrosse
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Publication number: 20040252401Abstract: A shock detection device can detect a slight shock without mis-detection of shocks due to noise in a shock sensor signal. The shock detection device is adapted to output a shock detection signal for stopping writing into a disk medium when a shock applied to the disk medium satisfies a prescribed condition. The shock detection device includes a shock sensor that detects a shock applied to the disk medium and outputs a corresponding shock sensor signal, a variable shock detection slice value setting part that sets a threshold for the shock sensor signal based on a position error signal, a shock sensor signal correction part that outputs, as a new shock sensor signal, a signal by removing noise generated in synchronization with writing from the shock sensor signal, and a shock determining part that outputs a shock detection signal when the shock sensor signal exceeds the variable shock detection slice value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Yukio Abe, Shigenori Yanagi
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Publication number: 20040240095Abstract: An HDC has first and second terminals. The first terminal is used to output a first write gate signal that dictates writing of data to the disk. The second terminal is used to input a second write gate signal output from an external circuit. The external circuit performs predetermined signal processing on write data in accordance with the first write gate signal output from the first terminal, and outputs the second write gate signal that reflects a signal delay in the circuit. A write inhibition controller incorporated in the HDC monitors the second write gate signal input via the second terminal, and detects, as a write inhibition state, a state in which writing of data to the disk is dictated during a period in which writing of data to the disk should be inhibited.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventor: Fubito Igari
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Publication number: 20040218906Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for the copy protection of distributed material after conditional access is applied, regardless of where the material is distributed. The solutions described provide the advantage of being sufficiently simple in implementation to qualify as “curb high” solutions. “Curb high” solutions provide a range of security from minimal security to a high level of security while requiring relatively fewer system resources to implement than prior approaches.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2004Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jack Chaney
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Publication number: 20040213554Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing a parental level of an optical disc can allow a user to set a parental level of a data stream recorded and stored on a rewritable optical disc or write-once optical disc, and can record and manage the set parental level as navigation information such as for the optical discs. The method and apparatus allow the user to conveniently set or change the parental level of the data stream, refer to the parental level recorded and managed therefore, and carry out a parental locking operation such that children or teenagers cannot arbitrarily reproduce a data stream of an adult program. Further, a parental grade code, a supplemental parental grade code or if the parental code was generated using parental management information previously supplied by the user can be determined. Accordingly, an authorized user can determine whether the previous set grade code is changed illegally.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: Young Kuk Kim, Yeo Han Yun
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Patent number: 6807024Abstract: A reproducing apparatus and method, the method comprising the steps of comprising recording a plurality of files and number-of-reproduction-times limitation information thereof, selecting a desired file from the plurality of files stored in the memory, and comparing whether the number-of-reproduction-times limitation information allows for reproduction of the selected file. The method further comprises the steps of counting the reproduced elapsed duration of the selected file and comparing whether the reproduced elapsed duration exceeds a predetermined value. The number-of-reproduction-times limitation information stored in the memory is edited when the reproduced elapsed duration exceeds the predetermined value to reduce the number of times the selected file may be subsequently be reproduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2000Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Teppei Yokota, Nobuyuki Kihara, Eiichi Yamada
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Patent number: 6804075Abstract: An expiration configuration is encoded into non-volatile memory embedded in media, such as a tape cartridge. The encoded expiration configuration specifies if the media is expired and the action to perform if the media is expired. The action may be performed by an application that reads the encoded expiration configuration or by a media device hosting the media. An expiration data for the media may be stored in the encoded expiration configuration or in an external data record.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.Inventors: Nathan Chan, Paresh J. Desai, Shinichiro Ken Torii
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Patent number: 6804638Abstract: A device process for event-activated recording generally includes the steps of providing an acquisition buffer having at least one finite extent of a recording medium. Events are recorded in the acquisition buffer. Current events in place of earlier events are then recorded within the acquisition buffer. Action by the user or triggering system activates the preservation of all or part of the record of the most recent events recorded in the acquisition buffer upon the detection of one or more predetermined events. A portion of the record of events selected by the user is preserved by reserving a portion of the record of events from being overwritten by other events, and/or by transferring the selected portions of the record of events to a predetermined permanent location. Portable devices and applications to the recording telephone conversations are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Recent Memory IncorporatedInventor: Mark Fiedler
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Publication number: 20040190187Abstract: A rotating storage apparatus is provided for high recording reliability in an environment in which a shock or vibration exists. Provided are means for outputting a shock out signal (SO) if an output from an acceleration sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, a latch circuit 21 for outputting a latch signal at high level during a predetermined write inhibit period after the shock out signal (SO) is input, and a write gate signal (WG) which goes high when a write is enabled. A write enable signal is generated by an AND circuit 23 having a NOT output of the latch signal as well as the write gate signal WO as its inputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Masashi Kisaka, Yutaka Ozawa, Kenji Toga
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Publication number: 20040190188Abstract: A magnetic read/write apparatus comprises: a recording medium; and a head for writing/reading data to/from each sector on the recording medium; wherein the magnetic read/write apparatus further comprises: a write inhibit slice setting circuit for, when data is written to the recording medium, setting a write inhibit slice for each sector based on the recording state of each sector on the recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Applicant: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.Inventor: Hideki Zaitsu
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Patent number: 6795262Abstract: A method of expanding the on-track operational range of a disk drive based upon detection of an external vibration condition. The method involves detecting that a vibration state exists and, while the existence of the vibration state is detected, modifying the default on-track-declaration algorithm such that a data transfer operation can be completed in less time than if the default on-track-declaration algorithm was in use.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Raffi Codilian, Kent W. Gibbons, Steven L. Webb
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Patent number: 6781780Abstract: A method and system are described for preventing data loss from an off-track write condition in a disk drive. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the disk drive comprises a disk surface comprising a first track and a second track adjacent to the first track, and a head for writing data to and reading data from the first and second tracks. The method of recovering from the off-track write condition comprises the steps of receiving a write command to write a first series of data blocks on the first track. Before writing the first series of data blocks, a second series of data blocks stored in the second track is read and stored in a data buffer.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2001Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Raffi Codilian
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Patent number: 6782190Abstract: An apparatus and method of copy protection for use in digital data recorders such as DVD-RAM recorders (30), which includes using DVD disks (1) with unique serial numbers stored in a read only part (2) of the disk for recording data. The serial number of each disk together with other copy control information is digitally signed. The digital signature is verified at the DVD player/recorder (13, 30) to check whether the disk being played is an original disk or an authorized copy. If not, play back and recording of the data on the disk is prevented. The use of copy control information also allows the implementation of a copy generation management system.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1999Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventor: Hajime Morito
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Patent number: 6779080Abstract: In a data storage subsystem, drive-level processing treats data storage media as WORM by automatically advancing a write append limiter as data is written, and preventing changes to data occurring before the write append limiter. Despite this media's WORM nature, the drive-level processing permits limited overwriting of data at the end of tape since the write append limiter lags the current write location by the margin of a write allowance index. Thus, despite the drive's treatment of the media as WORM, the drive permits overwriting of trailing metadata in order to facilitate write append operations.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2001Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Beverley Basham, Leonard George Jesionowski
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Patent number: 6778344Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2003Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Koichi Sugiyama, Etsurou Sakamoto
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Patent number: 6771446Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus to write and read copy protected data on a disc drive storage system using a servo wedge.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2001Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: Gayle L. Noble
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Patent number: 6768604Abstract: Embodiments of a data storage tape control system are disclosed that works to prevent or reduce frequency of off-track errors. The invented method slows tape speed in response to the writing head or writing element moving transversely away from a track center a predetermined distance, called an “off-center limit,” wherein the off-center limit is part of the way to an off-track error limit. The off-center limit is close enough to the center of the track that the writing operation is still effective, but wherein further movement out from the center would result in an off-track error and possible overwriting or unreadable data. The tape speed reduction is preferably done in increments until the writing head/element is closer to the center of the track than the off-center limit. Speed reduction is preferably done concurrently with writing, so that writing is not interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: James C. Anderson
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Patent number: 6766102Abstract: To prevent playback of pirated, non-encrypted video, a DVD-based system examines data read from a DVD disk for MPEG-like characteristics. If such attributes are detected, the data is examined for the presence of a video usage-control watermark. The presence of such watermark indicates that the video should be distributed only in encrypted form, so playback of video from the disk is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1999Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventor: Geoffrey B. Rhoads
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Patent number: 6765739Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a machine-readable medium such as a CD or a DVD disc is disclosed. The disc includes encoded copy protection data that, when decoded and re-encoded, produces a tracking prevention sequence of bits that causes a duplicate disc (containing the re-encoded copy protection data) to temporarily lose tracking. The temporary loss of tracking is utilized to render the duplicated disc unusable by placing key data immediately following the encoded copy protection data.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2002Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Josh N. Hogan, David K. Towner
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Publication number: 20040136108Abstract: In a disk drive which executes data read operation or data write operation from or into a disk, its CPU determines whether or not the temperature environment of the disk drive is in the high temperature condition exceeding a specified value according to a temperature detection value from a temperature sensor. Under high temperature environment, the CPU aborts re-assignment processing including write operation mode other than ordinary write operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Inventor: Kazushi Tanimoto
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Publication number: 20040136105Abstract: An information storage system has structure with a head that can effect information transfers with respect to a storage medium. According to one feature, a control portion monitors a characteristic of information read from the storage medium, and can take action to reduce the likelihood of non-recoverable errors based on the characteristic. According to a different feature, the control portion moves the head to a position adjacent a portion of a surface on the storage medium, waits while moving the head relative to the surface, and then moves the head to another position adjacent a different portion of the surface. According to another feature, the control portion calculates a distance of the head from the surface based on information read from the surface, and determines based on this distance whether the head or the storage medium may fail to satisfy a criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Inventors: Yiping Ma, Jose Castillo, David L. Hall, Lawrence M. Moon
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Patent number: 6760539Abstract: A video object is recorded on an optical disc. The video object is composed of at least one video object unit, and each video object unit contains control information and video data and has a presentation time of one second or shorter. The control information relates to display control and copying control for the video object unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shin Asada, Kazuhiro Tsuga, Kaoru Murase, Tomoyuki Okada
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Publication number: 20040126093Abstract: In a conditional access system, a headend transmits content to one or more receivers in encrypted transport streams. The system provides a multi-layer security architecture, rendering the system resistant to key replay attacks; if one layer is circumvented, subsequent layers remain intact. A first layer prevents unencrypted keys from being recorded by shielding the unencrypted keys from users and encrypting the path from the receiver's conditional access module to the transport decryption module; a second layer prevents a key recorded on one receiver from being played back to the transport decryption module on a second receiver; a third layer prevents a user from decrypting transport streams without the encryption module by encrypting the stream a second time prior to being passed through any user-accessible memory or processor. Events tables are transmitted with the transport stream, either unencrypted for immediate use or encrypted, to prevent unauthorized use.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2002Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: David C Platt, Andrew Goodman, Daniel Zenchelsky
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Patent number: 6754021Abstract: A rotating storage apparatus is provided for high recording reliability in an environment in which a shock or vibration exists. Provided are means for outputting a shock out signal (SO) if an output from an acceleration sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, a latch circuit 21 for outputting a latch signal at high level during a predetermined write inhibit period after the shock out signal (SO) is input, and a write gate signal (WG) which goes high when a write is enabled. A write enable signal is generated by an AND circuit 23 having a NOT output of the latch signal as well as the write gate signal WG as its inputs.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Masashi Kisaka, Yutaka Ozawa, Kenji Toga
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Publication number: 20040114265Abstract: A user-selectable and/or configurable system/process that ensures the destruction of data files a user wishes to completely erase from a NVM storage medium, such as a hard drive or removable disk. A system administrator can select secure erasure of every job upon its completion and can select secure erasure of at least one NVM of the marking device in which the system/process is used. Additionally, embodiments provide for user selection of secure job erasure via a UI of the marking device or a UI of driver software of the marking device implemented on a personal computer in communication with the marking device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2002Publication date: June 17, 2004Applicant: Xerox CorporationInventor: Bruce E. Talbert
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Publication number: 20040114907Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting copy protection included in an input video signal is described. Two types of copy protection are particularly addressed, including techniques that imbed copy protection pulses and copy protection phase flips in the video signal. A method for preserving copy protection is also presented, where the input video signal is first examined to determine if copy protection has been included in the input video signal. The input video signal then converted to component video data, which removes any copy protection present. An output video signal is then generated from the component video data, and when it was determined that the input video signal includes copy protection, the copy protection is recreated in the output video signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2003Publication date: June 17, 2004Applicant: ATI International, SRLInventor: Antonio Rinaldi
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Patent number: 6744577Abstract: A dual purpose piezoelectric element utilized in a disk drive for fine positioning of the head assembly relative to the surface of a disk and for sensing shocks and other vibrations. When a shock is sensed by the piezoelectric element that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, write operations are halted to prevent a write operation occurring at an incorrect location on the disk.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2001Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Maxtor CorporationInventors: Lin Guo, Douglas Martin, Jye-Kai Chang
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Patent number: 6744595Abstract: An indicator comprises a rotary device in the form of a right cylinder arranged to be rotatable in a chamber of a portable data storage cartridge, which has an exterior wall opening to the chamber. A peripheral surface of the rotary device has an encoded pattern of at least one cylindrical surface and a plurality of facets interrupting the cylindrical surface(s). The facets are located at various axial positions, and at various angularly spaced rotational positions, such that, at differing rotational positions of the rotary device, at least one or none of the facets is positioned at the exterior opening.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Ray Blair, Dennis Hurley Byrne, Allen Ronald Cox, David Michael Davis, James Mitchell Karp
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Patent number: 6744584Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2003Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Koichi Sugiyama, Etsurou Sakamoto
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Patent number: 6744588Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2003Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Koichi Sugiyama, Etsurou Sakamoto
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Publication number: 20040100711Abstract: Security of contents data can be enhanced by providing ID information in each of the recording tracks. The ID information can be made tamper proof by burying the ID information that is difficult to be rewritten in a substrate itself of a magnetic recording medium. This protect contents data from copyright piracy, such as unauthorized copying and tampering of the contents by relating contents data to be recorded to the buried ID information. The track ID information can be buried in each of the recording tracks with a pattern of pits formed in a non-magnetic substrate. When reading the contents data recorded in the recording track, the track ID information of the recording track is read out together with the contents data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Narumi Sato, Kiminori Sato
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Publication number: 20040101282Abstract: An apparatus for reading record information from a recording disk and outputting the read record information in order to reproduce the record information recorded on the recording disk, is provided. The record information includes: image information which represents an image or a picture; identification information which represents any one of at least never copy and copy free. The never copy indicates that copying of the record information is prohibited. The copy free indicates that the copying of the record information is permitted.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Applicant: PIONEER ELECTRONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuo Kuroda, Toshio Suzuki, Yoshiaki Moriyama, Kazumi Sugaya
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Publication number: 20040101273Abstract: DVD Stream Recording allows to recover or permanently erase on-the-fly preliminarily erased cells on the disc. In case of very low-bitrate stream recording there could be less than one application packet and therefore timestamp per Stream Object Unit. In such situation, stuffing is necessary in order to guarantee the proper functioning of the Mapping List data retrieval. To make on-the-fly preliminarily erasure, complete recovery or permanent erase possible even for stuffing data packets located at cell boundaries, to two special timestamps defining a preliminarily erased cell and two other timestamps defining the location of a normal cell a different meaning is assigned under specific circumstances.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Marco Winter, Harald Schiller
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Patent number: 6738211Abstract: Automatic-signal-selecting is provided for controlling which output is supplied from a switch, i.e., a digital signal or an analog signal. The control is carried out based on information selected by manual-signal-selecting and information judged by copyright-information-judging. This structure allows a recording and reproducing apparatus to record the content-prohibited from being recorded in a digital form according to copyright information-in an analog form.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2001Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuhiro Miyahara
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Patent number: 6735033Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering from shock event to a disk drive. Embedded servo wedges are read to generate position error signal (PES) values. The disk drive is transitioned to a write unsafe state if a PES value is greater than a write unsafe (WUS) threshold and is less than a shock detection threshold. The disk drive is transitioned to a shock recovery state if a PES value is greater than the shock detection threshold. The disk drive is transitioned from the shock recovery state to the write unsafe state if a first number of consecutively generated PES values remain less than the WUS threshold. The disk drive is transitioned from the write unsafe state to the on-track state if a second number of consecutively generated PES values remain less than the arrival threshold, which threshold is less than the WUS threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Raffi Codilian, Michael S. Rothberg
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Patent number: 6731445Abstract: A disk drive contains at least one sector that is protected from erasure, such as an erasure that may occur during reformatting. The sector(s) is used to store information related to one or more tests that may be performed on the disk drive and/or on other devices of a computer system in which the disk drive is located. This information may be used to facilitate a subsequent evaluation of the disk drive and/or computer system.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2000Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Akil Houston
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Patent number: 6731447Abstract: A process that ensures the destruction of data files a user wishes to completely erase from a storage medium, such as a hard drive or removable disk. A system administrator can select a quantity of and pattern to be used in overwrites of the data file so that no one can recover the data from the storage medium. In embodiments, a graphical user interface (GUI) can be provided to allow user triggering of and parameter setting for the process. The GUI can be implemented at a device in which the storage medium is a component or can be implemented in a device driver GUI on a personal computer in communication with the device.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2001Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Keith G. Bunker, Edward P. deJong
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Patent number: 6731451Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Ono, Kiyoshi Kano, Hideo Nishijima, Takao Arai, Takaharu Noguchi, Nobutaka Amada, Hiroo Okamoto, Hitoaki Owashi, Keizo Nishimura, Nobuyuki Kaku, Shinya Fujimori
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Publication number: 20040080856Abstract: There are provided a magnetic head and a magnetic disk apparatus wherein an upper magnetic pole is so shaped that, at a position where skew angle is maximum, the maximum of its projected length in the radial direction of a magnetic disk is not more than the track pitch of the magnetic disk, whereby acceleration of thermal relaxation of information recorded on adjacent tracks is obviated even in an area where the skew angle is large.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2003Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Futoshi Tomiyama, Takehiko Hamaguchi, Miki Hara, Fumiko Akagi, Yasutaka Nishida
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Patent number: 6728050Abstract: The present invention offers an apparatus and associated method to detect a skip write error occurring during a data storage device write process. The capacitance between the read/write head and the disc surface, called the “parasitic capacitance,” is used to determine whether a skip write error has occurred. The amount of parasitic capacitance is determined by monitoring the frequency change at the input of an oscillator of test circuit. A change in the read/write head fly height causes a change in the parasitic capacitance and a corresponding change in the frequency. The parasitic capacitance is compared to a threshold limit to determine whether a skip write error has occurred. The write operation is suspended when a skip write error is detected and a rewrite procedure is instituted.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2001Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: David Robert Wilson
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Publication number: 20040075929Abstract: A process, apparatus, and system are disclosed for inhibiting erroneous control signals due to disruptive electromagnetic signals. In one embodiment, the invention prevents erroneous information writing in a recording device under the effect of background electromagnetic waves. A conductor pattern is formed on a printed wiring board on which wiring constituting a control circuit of a hard disk drive is formed. Background electromagnetic waves are detected by an electromagnetic wave detection circuit. In the case where an electromagnetic wave signal detected by the electromagnetic wave detection circuit exceeds a predetermined power, voltage, or current threshold, a write gate signal is turned off to inhibit a potential write operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Inventors: Masahiro Shimizu, Nobuyuki Kitazaki
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Patent number: 6724554Abstract: A method of inhibiting inadvertent and unauthorized writing and reading of information to and from a storage medium comprises the steps of (a) writing a first code in a predetermined location on the storage medium, the first code being indicative of a first protection mode of the storage medium; (b) receiving a command to change the protection mode of the storage medium from the first protection mode to a second protection mode; and, in response to the command, (c) writing in the predetermined location on the storage medium, in place of the first code, a second code indicative of the second protection mode. A protection mode can inhibit writing to the storage medium, both writing and reading to and from the medium, or neither. Changing of protection modes can also be password protected.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: David G. Braithwaite, Clark C. Bruderer, Gregory M. Allen, David A. Thompson
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Publication number: 20040071443Abstract: A reproducing method and apparatus for receiving and reproducing data and outputting the data into an external device. After reproducing the data, a descrambler corresponding to a type of the reproduced data is selected from a plurality of descramblers and the external device is authenticated by a selected authenticator which is included in a plurality of authenticators for authenticating the external device and corresponds to the selected descrambler, and the data is outputted.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Osamu Kawamae, Toshifumi Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Kimura, Takao Arai, Hiroshi Yoshiura
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Patent number: 6721116Abstract: A method for recording data in a tape recorder, in particular, a method for determining whether a tape is recordable, and an apparatus therefor are provided. The method for determining whether a tape is recordable includes the steps of reproducing data and error correction data related to the data from a tape, correcting errors in the data using the error correction data, counting errors detected in said correcting step, determining that the tape is new and is recordable when the number of counted errors is larger than a first threshold value, and determining that the tape is not recordable when the number of counted errors is smaller than the first threshold value and is larger than a second threshold value. The first threshold value is larger than the second threshold value. According to the method for determining whether the tape is recordable, it is possible to inform the user whether the tape is recordable by determining the degree of deterioration and crosstalk of the tape.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Sei-Hyun Baik
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Publication number: 20040067045Abstract: An information generating apparatus is provided which can positively manage and control reproduction or the like on the main body for each country and so on after the illicit copy even when only the main body of recorded information is illicitly duplicated after a DVD is distributed, thereby positively preventing the illicit copy.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2003Publication date: April 8, 2004Inventors: Kazuo Kuroda, Yoshiaki Moriyama
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Patent number: 6717758Abstract: A disk is manufactured having a reduced capacity based on a quantity of addressable and non-addressable portions. The method of formatting the disk comprises identifying a first quantity of the storage portions; and labeling the first quantity of storage portions as non-addressable storage portions such that the non-addressable storage portions cannot be accessed by a user or a disk drive. The first quantity of storage portions may include addressable portions designated as non-addressable portions.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Chad Adams, Eric Ryon Peters, Robert L. Short, Mark Reimann, Daniel D. Rochat