KR20000009187A - Apparatus for limiting the number of audition and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus is provided to limit the number of audition of specified program to protect CONSTITUTION: The apparatus comprises memory consisted of row address and column address and storing information of limiting the number of audition and control portion for controlling to store record media identification code and program identification code in a record media. The control portion manages information of limit the number of audition stored in the memory and controls audition of reproduced program by using the media identification code and program identification code.

Description

Frequency limit device and method

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording and reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for limiting the number of viewing for limiting the number of viewing of a specific program.

For copyright protection, methods are generally used to prohibit illegal recording and copying of programs protected by copyright law, to charge fees for recording or copying, or to control the number of times a program can be supplied and reproduced. It is becoming. That is, a method of making the copy tape always playable, the copy tape not playable at all, the copy tape being made playable a limited number of times, or the copy tape being made playable for a limited time after being recorded or copied is selected. Among them, information for limiting viewing of a program supplied by a program provider by a limited number of times is called pay per program (PPP) information for convenience of description.

Conventionally, such PPP information was initially recorded in a dummy area of a recording medium such as a tape as shown in FIG. The dummy area depends on the tape format, which may be in the middle of the track of the tape or at both ends.

The user modified the PPP information of the dummy area whenever the user played back the tape and changed the contents such as the number of times the program could be played.

This causes a problem in that whenever a user views a program, reproduction is performed in the data area of the tape and at the same time, the modified contents are recorded in the dummy area.

In addition, if the actual amount of one program is equal to b in FIG. 2 and once the amount of this program is equal to a in FIG. 2, the modified PPP information is recorded only in the a area, and the previous PPP information is stored in the area b minus a. It is inserted. Therefore, if the user plays the program next time as shown in FIG. 2C, the user may exceed the limit of the predetermined program. In the fast rewind mode, the user may see the limit even when the limit is reached.

If the program is reproduced at double or n times, the head scans several tracks at high speed while the head drum rotates only a portion of the head drum. Therefore, it is almost impossible to correct the PPP information recorded in the dummy area.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for limiting viewing frequency to use a separate memory without managing PPP related information on a tape.

1 shows an example of a dummy region in a typical tape

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which a program is recorded and reproduced on a tape as shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram of an information recording and reproducing apparatus for limiting the number of viewing times according to the present invention;

4A illustrates the memory structure of FIG. 3.

4B is a view showing a state in which several programs are recorded on one tape

FIG. 4C illustrates an example of a view number limit (PPP) information format for one program of FIG. 4A; FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a recording process in the method of limiting the number of viewing according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart showing a playback process in the method of limiting the number of viewing according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

300: PPP control unit 301: memory

302: encryption unit 303: smoothing buffer

304: shuffle memory 305: external ECC encoder

306: Internal ECC encoder 307: Sync / ID insert

308: Scrambled section 309: Sync detection section

310: ID detection unit 311: Descrambler

312: internal ECC decoder 313: deshuffle memory

314: external ECC decoder 315: smoothing buffer

316: detoxification unit

The apparatus for limiting viewing frequency according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a memory having a row address and a column address to record viewing limit information, and recording only a recording medium identification code and a program identification code on the recording medium. And a control unit for controlling the viewing time limit information recorded in the memory and the viewing of a reproduced program by using the recording medium identification code and the program identification code recorded on the recording medium.

The number of viewing restriction information recorded in the memory includes a recording medium identification code for identifying a recording medium, a program identification code for identifying a program, a viewing count limit field indicating a viewing count, and a flag indicating whether viewing is possible. The restriction information is characterized in that it is rewritten in memory each time it is modified.

The flag is set when a program to be played is available for viewing, and is cleared when a predetermined number of viewing times is reached.

The row address of the memory is used as a recording medium identification code during reproduction, and the column address is used as a program identification code.

In the case of recording a new viewing limit program on the one recording medium, the viewing limit information of the program to be recorded is recorded in an area in which a flag in the same row address of the memory is cleared.

The recording medium identification code and the program identification code are recorded in a predetermined area when the recording medium is initially formatted to determine whether data is recorded on the recording medium.

The flag and the number of viewing limits field of the viewing limit information can be modified by the program provider.

When the viewing frequency limit information is recorded in the memory, the recording medium identification code and the program identification code of the viewing frequency restriction information are recorded in a predetermined area while recording the corresponding program on the recording medium.

The method of limiting the number of viewing according to the present invention includes a memory in which the number of viewing limiting information is recorded, and if recording is selected after the recording medium is inserted, if the data is not recorded by checking whether data is recorded in the recording medium, A first step of recording the number of viewing restriction information of a program to be recorded in an empty area of the memory; and if it is determined that data is recorded in the recording medium inserted in the first step, a recording medium identification code recorded on the recording medium. A second step of retrieving an area corresponding to the memory from the memory and recording the viewing limit information of the program to be recorded in the area; and if the viewing limit information is recorded in the memory in the first step or the second step, the recording is performed. The recording medium identification code of the number of viewing restriction information in a predetermined area And a third step of recording the program identification code.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for limiting viewing frequency, when a recording medium is inserted and playback is selected, a first step of searching for corresponding viewing limit information stored in the memory using a recording medium identification code and a program identification code on the recording medium; A second step of correcting the number of times of viewing after playing the corresponding program when the number of viewing times is determined to be the number of viewing times among the viewing limit information found in the first step; and viewing of the viewing limit information found in the first step; If it is determined that the number of viewing times has been determined, the reproducing process is performed by including a third step of not playing the corresponding program.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a block diagram of an information recording and reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, which is an embodiment of an apparatus for preventing illegal copying, illegal viewing, and limiting the number of times a specific program is viewed.

That is, the encryption unit 302 encrypts the input data in order to prevent illegal copying or illegal viewing, and outputs the encrypted data to the smoothing buffer 303. The smoothing buffer 303 has the encrypted data variable. When input at a rate, it is temporarily stored to convert it to a constant rate.

Data stored in the smoothing buffer 303 is stored in the shuffle memory 304 in units of sync blocks for shuffling, and an external error correction code (ECC) encoder 305 is stored in the shuffle memory 304. The external codeword of the stored data is read to add the external code, and then stored in the shuffle memory 304 again. The internal ECC encoder 305 reads the internal codeword of the data to which the external code is added from the shuffle memory 304, adds the internal code, and outputs the internal code to the synchronization / ID insertion unit 307. . The sync / ID inserter 307 adds a predetermined sync pattern and ID to the data to which the internal code is added and outputs the same to the scrambler 308. The scrambler 308 is also for preventing illegal copying and illegal viewing. The scrambler 308 scrambles the input data in a predetermined manner and records the data on a tape.

On the other hand, the reproducing process may be performed in the reverse process as described above. That is, the synchronization signal detection unit 309 detects a synchronization signal from the signal reproduced on the tape and divides the reproduction signal in units of sync blocks. The ID detector 310 detects an ID from signals divided in sync block units to have the same position as when these signals are recorded, and outputs the same to the descrambler 311. The descrambler 311 is a type of decoder for allowing only a user who has a reproduction authority to view a program.

Accordingly, when the input signal is scrambled, the descrambler 311 outputs the descrambled signal to the internal ECC decoder 312. The internal ECC decoder 312 performs error correction on the input data using the added internal code and stores the data in the deshuffle memory 313. The external ECC decoder 314 reads an external codeword of data stored in the deshuffle memory 313 to perform error correction, and then temporarily stores the decoded buffer 315 through the deshuffle memory 313. . The data stored in the smoothing buffer 315 is read at a writing rate and input to the decryption unit 316. The decryption unit 316 decrypts the input data when the data is encrypted to the display device. Output

On the other hand, the PPP control unit 300 is for controlling the recording, modification, playback, etc. of the PPP information, and uses a separate memory 301 to manage the PPP information without using a tape. That is, only the tape number and the program number are recorded on the tape for the interface with the memory 301, and the tape number and the program number, the number of times of viewing and the like are recorded in the memory 301 and corrected when necessary.

4A shows the structure of the memory 301, which shows the state of writing PPP information.

That is, one piece of PPP information is composed of a flag, a tape number, a program number, a viewing frequency, etc. as shown in FIG. 4C and stored in the memory 301. At this time, each state is modified and stored again.

Here, the flag is set when the number of viewing of the program is valid and is cleared when the number of viewing is reached. The number of viewing times is changed to -1 (or +1) each time the user plays the program once. The program number is for distinguishing multiple programs because they can be recorded on one tape, and the tape number is assigned to each tape.

The tape number may be used as a row address in the memory 301 and a program number as a column address during reproduction. For example, when several different programs such as e, f, and g are recorded on one tape as shown in FIG. 4B, the row addresses are the same but the column addresses are different. At this time, since the tape number and the row address coincide, the tape number does not need to be separately recorded in the memory 301. However, in the present invention, the tape number is also recorded in the memory 301. In another embodiment, the row address may be used as a program number and the column address may be used as a tape number during reproduction.

In addition, when a new program is to be recorded in one tape, the PPP information for the program can be recorded by finding an area in which the flag in the same row address is cleared. That is, the newly recorded program can be assigned a column address in which the flag is cleared. If the column address is 5 in the same row address, that is, the flag of the area where the program number is 5 is cleared, the new program number to be recorded is 5, and the program previously assigned the program number 5 is no longer played. It doesn't work. This also means that if the number of the e program is 1 and the number of the g program is 3, the number of the f program does not necessarily become 2.

On the other hand, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of a blank tape as a control signal when the tape is initially loaded. In other words, if there is no control pulse, it can be determined as a blank tape. It is also possible to determine the shank of the tape number and program number. In other words, when the tape number is out of the row address of the memory or when the program number is out of the column address in the range, it is determined as a blank tape. To do this, record the tape number and program number that are out of range in the header, subcode, or dummy area of the main data during the initial format of the blank tape.

Each time a program is recorded, a tape number and a program number are recorded in a dummy or sub code area or a header of main data. That is, the tape number and the program number are periodically recorded in the header of the main data using the output of the encryption unit 302 or the output of the smoothing buffer 303 under the control of the PPP control unit 300, or the shuffle memory 304 The tape number and program number are recorded discontinuously in the sub code or a part of the dummy area using the output of This is for interfacing with the memory 301, in order to find and manage the inserted tape number and program number from the memory 301 when the tape is inserted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of such a recording process. If a recording key is input after a recording medium, for example, a tape is inserted, check whether data is recorded on the tape (step 501). This is to determine the presence or absence of a blank tape, and can be determined by a control signal or a tape number and a program number as described above.

If it is determined as blank tape in step 501, the tape number and flag of the memory 301 are checked (step 502). That is, it is determined whether there is an unused row address in the memory 301, and if there is an unused row address, the column address whose flag is cleared is searched for. This is to find an empty memory part, and if the memory is full, it is notified to the user and the user can delete the desired row address or the whole. Alternatively, you can set an arbitrary condition and delete it automatically when the condition is met. If there is a row address in which all flags are cleared, this is a row address that is no longer used, and thus may be used as it is.

If the empty row address is found in step 502, the empty row address is designated as the number of the inserted blank tape, and the column address whose flag is cleared in the designated row address is designated as the program number to be recorded (step 503).

Then, the flag is set, and the designated tape number, program number, and number of views are recorded in the memory area (step 510).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 501 that it is not a blank tape, it is determined whether the data to be recorded is a PPP broadcast (step 504). If it is determined that it is not a PPP broadcast, it is recorded as a normal broadcast (step 505). If it is a PPP broadcast, it is determined whether PPP information is recorded in the header, sub code or dummy area of the main data on the tape (step 506).

If PPP information is recorded on the tape in step 506, a tape number and a program number are detected (step 507). At this time, it is recognized that the tape number and the program number recorded on the dummy area or subcode area are repeated the same n times (n is a natural number). This is to prevent the case of recognizing wrong numbers.

When the tape number and the program number are detected in step 507, the flag of the row address corresponding to the tape number is checked from the memory 301 to find a column address whose flag is cleared (step 508). If a column address whose flag is cleared is found in step 508, the column address is designated as a program number (step 509).

Then, the flag of the column address is set, and the tape number, the designated program number, and the number of viewing times are recorded in the corresponding area of the row address corresponding to the tape number (step 510). Here, the viewing frequency may be transmitted by the program provider together with the PPP broadcast or may be set to a default value in the set.

When all the PPP information is recorded in the memory 301, recording starts on the tape (step 511). At this time, it is determined whether there is a header or sub code of the main data or a dummy area (step 512), and if not, video data is recorded (step 513). If so, a tape number and a program number are recorded there (step 514). Here, the number of viewing times is not recorded on the tape. The increase and decrease of the viewing frequency is made in the memory 301.

When recording is performed in the same manner as described above and recording ends (step 515), fast rewinding is performed for a predetermined time (step 516). This is an optional service and can be made to proceed to the beginning of the currently recorded program for user convenience.

6 is a flowchart showing an example of a reproducing process which is a reverse process of recording. When a reproducing key is input (step 601), the synchronizing signal detecting unit 309 detects a synchronizing signal from a signal reproduced from a tape and reproduces the reproducing signal. Divide by the sync block unit. The ID detector 310 detects an ID from signals divided in sync block units to have the same position as when these signals are recorded, and outputs the same to the descrambler 311. When the input signal is scrambled, the descrambler 311 outputs the descrambled signal to the internal ECC decoder 312. At this time, the PPP control unit 300 uses the output of the internal ECC decoder 312 or the output of the deshuffle memory 313 to determine whether PPP information is recorded in the header, sub code or dummy area of the main data on the tape. Check (step 602).

If PPP information is not recorded on the tape, normal playback is performed because it is normal playback (step 603). If PPP information is recorded, the tape number and program number on the tape are checked (step 604). If the tape number and the program number are checked in step 604, the row address corresponding to the tape number and the column address corresponding to the program number are found in the memory 301 (step 605). When the corresponding row address and column address, that is, the tape number and the program number, are found in the memory 301, it is checked whether a flag corresponding to the program number is set (step 606).

At this time, if the flag is cleared, the program has been watched a predetermined number of times, and thus, the PPP control unit 300 controls the descrambler 311 so that the program is no longer played. Decrease (or increase) one by one to overwrite memory 301 (step 607). Then, it is determined whether the number of viewing times overwritten in the memory 301 becomes 0 (step 608). If the number of viewing times is 0 (or the maximum possible number of times) in step 608, the program flag is cleared to prevent the next play (step 610). If the program flag is not 0, the program flag is set (step 609). (Step 611).

At this time, as shown in FIG. 4B, playback is automatically stopped when the program is changed, for example, from the e program to the f program. This is to determine whether the next program is to be played. The descrambler 311 is controlled to perform the next program only when the flag of the next program is set by the above process.

In addition, when the user desires or automatically displays the number of times the user can watch or view the number of times of the currently played program on a certain portion of the screen. In addition, the user may inform the user of the number of available tapes and the number of tapes containing PPP information after the flag of the memory 301 is retrieved.

This mode is valid only for a program requiring PPP information, and in some cases, a signal indicating whether the program requires PPP information may be required.

If the user wants to pay more for the program and view the same program, the program provider is notified, and the flag of the program in the memory 301 can be set and the number of views can be modified. In addition, the flag and the number of viewing of the PPP information of the program can be set in a storage medium including a VCR, and can be modified by a program provider.

As described above, according to the apparatus and method for limiting the number of viewing according to the present invention, by using a separate memory without managing the PPP information on the tape, the user does not have to modify the dummy area of the tape every time the user views the program. It allows you to limit the number of views accurately. This is more effective at double speed reproduction.

In addition, by determining whether to play the next program after stopping the program once the playback of the program is finished, it is possible to solve the problem of exceeding the limit number of times actually set or the limit number set in the fast rewind (REW) mode.

Claims (24)

A viewing time limiting device of an information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing input data on a recording medium, A memory including a row address and a column address to record viewing count restriction information; Recording only a recording medium identification code and a program identification code on the recording medium, and then managing the viewing frequency limit information recorded in the memory by using the recording medium identification code and the program identification code recorded on the recording medium; Viewing limit device characterized in that it comprises a control unit for controlling the. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewing number limit information recorded in the memory includes: A recording medium identification code for identifying a recording medium, a program identification code for identifying a program, a viewing limit field indicating a viewing count, and a flag indicating whether viewing is possible, and the viewing limit information is rewritten in a memory each time it is modified. Viewing limit device characterized in that. The method of claim 2, wherein the flag is Set when the program being played is available for viewing, and is cleared when the predetermined number of viewing times reaches. The method of claim 2, wherein the number of viewing of the viewing limit field is Device for limiting the number of viewing, characterized in that is modified each time the program is played. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the row address of the memory is used as a recording medium identification code and the column address is used as a program identification code during playback. 6. The method according to claim 3 or 5, wherein when recording a new viewing limit program on one recording medium, the viewing limit information of the program to be recorded is recorded in an area in which a flag in the same row address of the memory is cleared. A limiting device for viewing. The method of claim 1, And the recording medium identification code and the program identification code are recorded in a predetermined area when the recording medium is initially formatted to determine whether data is recorded on the recording medium. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the predetermined area is a dummy area or a sub code area of a recording medium. The method of claim 1, The flag and the number of viewing limits field of the viewing limit information can be modified by the program provider, the number of viewing limits device. The method of claim 1, And a recording medium identification code and a program identification code of the viewing limit information in a predetermined area while recording the corresponding program in the recording medium when the viewing limit information is recorded in the memory. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the predetermined area includes at least one of a dummy area, a sub code area of a recording medium, and a header of main data. A method of limiting the number of viewing times of an information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing input data on a recording medium, A memory for recording viewing limit information, and if recording is selected after the recording medium is inserted, the program is to be recorded in an empty area of the memory if it is determined that data is not recorded by checking whether data is recorded in the recording medium. A first step of recording the viewing limit information of the; If it is determined that data is recorded in the inserted recording medium in the first step, the area corresponding to the recording medium identification code recorded on the recording medium is retrieved from the memory, and the number of viewing restriction information of the program to be recorded in the area is retrieved. The second step of recording, A third step of recording a recording medium identification code and a program identification code of the viewing limit information in a predetermined area while recording a program in the recording medium when the viewing limit information is recorded in the memory in the first or second step; Method of limiting the number of viewing, characterized in that the recording process, including. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first step is And a recording medium identification code and a program identification code which are out of range during the initial format of the recording medium are recorded on the recording medium and then used for determining whether data is recorded on the recording medium. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first step is And determining whether or not data is recorded on the recording medium by using the control pulse of the recording medium. The method of claim 12, wherein the viewing limit information recorded in the memory is: And a recording medium identification code for identifying a recording medium, a program identification code for identifying a program, a viewing limit field indicating a viewing count, and a flag indicating whether or not to view the recording medium. How to limit the number of viewing, characterized in that the rewrite to the memory. The method of claim 12 or 15, wherein the second step When a new program is to be recorded in one recording medium, the area corresponding to the recording medium identification code recorded on the recording medium is retrieved from the memory, and then the number of viewing times of the program to be recorded in the area where the flag in that area is cleared is limited. A method of limiting the number of viewing, characterized by recording information. The method of claim 12, wherein the row address of the memory is designated by a recording medium identification code, and the column address is designated by a program identification code. The method of claim 17, When a new program is to be recorded in one recording medium, the row address corresponding to the recording medium identification code recorded on the recording medium is retrieved from the memory, and then the viewing of the program to be recorded in the area in which the flag in the row address is cleared. And limiting the number of viewing, characterized by recording the limit information. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined area of the third step includes at least one of a header, a sub code, and a dummy area of main data on a recording medium. A recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing input data on a recording medium, wherein the recording medium identification code and the program identification code are recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium, and the number of viewing is limited after recording the viewing number limiting information in the memory. , A first step of retrieving the corresponding view number limit information stored in the memory using the recording medium identification code and the program identification code on the recording medium when the recording medium is inserted and reproduction is selected; A second step of correcting the number of views after playing the corresponding program when the number of viewing times is determined to be the number of viewing times among the viewing number limitation information retrieved in the first step; And a third step of not playing the corresponding program if it is determined that the number of viewing times is the predetermined number of viewing times among the viewing number limitation information retrieved in the first step. The method of claim 20, wherein the viewing limit information is And a recording medium identification code for identifying a recording medium, a program identification code for identifying a program, a viewing limit field indicating a viewing count, and a flag indicating whether or not to view the recording medium. How to limit the number of viewing, characterized in that the rewrite to the memory. The method of claim 21, wherein the flag is Set when the program being played is available for viewing, and is cleared when the predetermined number of viewing times reaches. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the view limit field is The method of limiting the number of viewing, characterized in that the correction is made by adding or subtracting the number of viewing each time the corresponding program is played. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the row address of the memory is used as a recording medium identification code and the column address is used as a program identification code.