MXPA01002616A - Information playback apparatus and method as well as recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an information playback apparatus and method by which enjoyment of a DVD can be restricted with certainty. A disk ID of a DVD video whose enjoyment is to be restricted and a password are stored in a corresponding relationship to each other in a flash ROM. When the DVD video of the disk ID stored in the flash ROM is loaded, a controller permits playback of the DVD video only if the corresponding password is inputted.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD OF INFORMATION REPRODUCTION AS WELL AS RECORDING MEDIA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus and method of reproducing information as well as to a recording medium, and more particularly to an apparatus and method of reproducing information as well as a recording medium wherein, when he prefers that children do not see a scene like a scene of violence recorded on a disc, the disc can not be played. A DVD (Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) in which image information is recorded has been and is popularized recently. The DVD sometimes has information related to blocking by adults registered in it. If an adult level is set for blocking by adults on the DVD, then only those who know the password set in advance can enjoy the video information recorded on the DVD. A conventional DVD player performs a playback process as illustrated in the flow diagram in FIGURE 1. Referring to FIGURE 1, first in step YES, the DVD player shows an adult level reading recorded in a disc (DVD) of the disc. The adult level is set in advance by the DVD manufacturer. In step S2 the DVD player discriminates if an adult level is shown or not. If an adult level is displayed, then the process proceeds to step S3, in which the DVD player displays an adult level reading stored in the DVD player itself. In step S4, the DVD player compares the reading of the adult level of the disc in step SI and the adult level stored in the DVD player itself and the reading shown in step S3 to each other to discriminate whether the level of Adults of the DVD player is more severe or not than the adult level of the disc. If the adult level of the DVD player is more severe than the adult level of the disc, then the process advances to the S5 process, in which the DVD player causes a password access screen to be displayed. When the password access screen is displayed, a user will enter a password in the DVD player. The password is usually known only by the parents who own the DVD player but not known by the children. Therefore, parents can enter the correct password but the child can not enter the correct password. In step S3, the DVD player waits until a password is entered, and when this happens, the process proceeds to step S7, in which it is discriminated whether the password accessed is correct or not. If the password accessed is correct, then the process proceeds to step S8, in which the DVD player plays the disc in a normal manner. On the other hand, if it is discriminated in step S7 that the password entered is not correct, then the process proceeds to step S9, in which the DVD player performs restricted controlled reproduction. In the process of normal reproduction, for example, scenes B suitable for adults are reproduced and displayed next to a scene A as can be seen in FIGURE 2, and then another scene D is played and displayed. On the other hand, in the process of controlled reproduction, scene C suitable for children is played and displayed next to scene A, and scene D is then played and displayed.

Therefore, a child who does not know the password can not enjoy scenes B that are suitable for adults. If it is discriminated in step S4, that the adult level of the DVD player is not more severe than the adult level of the disc, then the process proceeds to step S8, in which a normal reproduction process is immediately executed. In particular, if the parents consider that their child can enjoy a record that includes some violent scenes or given that the child is old enough or for some other reason, parents will then set the adult level of the DVD player to a comparatively low value. In such a case, as described, the disc can be reproduced in a normal manner. Also when it is discriminated in step S2 that an adult level will not be displayed because the DVD disc does not have an adult level registered therein or for some other reason, the process proceeds to step S8, in which it is performed a normal playback of the DVD disc. In this way, the conventional DVD player can prevent a DVD disc from being played normally by a child or those people who do not know the password if an adult level has been set on the disc. However, the conventional DVD player has the disadvantage that, when an adult level is not recorded on the DVD disc, the DVD player can not restrict the enjoyment of the DVD disc even though the DVD disc includes the image of a scene whose Enjoyment for a child is not desirable. Likewise, the conventional DVD player has the disadvantage that even if an adult level is recorded on a DVD disc, if the established adult level of the DVD disc is comparatively forgiving and the DVD includes images whose enjoyment for children is not desirable, the DVD player can not restrict the enjoyment of the disc unless the adult level stored in the DVD player is changed to a more severe level.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method of reproducing information as well as a recording medium by means of which the enjoyment of a DVD can be restricted with certainty. In order to obtain the object described above according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing a recording medium on which image information is recorded, comprising first extraction means for extracting identification information. used for the identification of the recording medium, second extraction means for extracting a permission condition to allow the reproduction of the recorded image information in a recording medium, storage means for storing the identification information extracted by the first recording means. extraction and a permission condition extracted by the second extraction means, extracting means for extracting the identification information recorded in a recording medium loaded in the information reproducing apparatus, first comparison means for comparing the identification information ext. broken by the extraction means and the identification information stored in the storage means with each other, third extraction means for extracting a permit condition when the identification information extracted by the extraction means and the information means stored in the means of storage coincide with each other, second comparison means for comparing the permission condition extracted by third extraction means and the permission condition stored in the storage means with each other, and control means for controlling the reproduction of the image information recorded on the recording medium in response to result of the comparison by the second comparison means. The permission condition can include a password. Alternatively or additionally the condition of permission can include an adult level. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reproducing information for an information reproduction apparatus that reproduces a recording medium in which it is recorded. image information, comprising a first extraction step for extracting identification information used for the identification of a recording medium, a second extraction step for extracting a permission condition to allow reproduction of the information of image recorded on a recording medium, a control step ^ Storage ** to control the storage of the identification information extracted by the process in the first extraction step and the permission condition extracted by the process in the second extraction step, an extraction step to extract the information from identification recorded in a recording medium loaded in the information reproduction apparatus, a first comparison step for comparing the identification information extracted by the process in the extraction step and the identification information whose storage has been controlled by the process in the storage control step with each other, a third extraction step to extract a permit condition when the identification information extracted by the process in the extraction step and the identification information whose storage has been controlled by the process in step of storage control matches each other, and a second comparison step to compare the condition of permission extracted by the process in the third extraction step and the permit condition whose storage has been controlled by the process in the storage control step with each other, and a control step to control the reproduction of the image information recorded on the recording medium in response to the result of the comparison by the process in the second comparison step.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a recording medium is provided in a computer-readable program for reproducing information for an information reproducing apparatus that reproduces a means of reproducing information in which image information is recorded, the program comprises a first extraction step for extracting identification information used for the identification of an information recording medium, a second extraction step for extracting a permission condition to allow the reproduction of the image information recorded in an environment of information recording, a storage control step to control the storage of the identification information extracted by the process in the first extraction step and the permission condition extracted by the process in the second extraction step, an extraction step for extract the identification information grab In a recording medium of information loaded in the information player apparatus, a first comparison step for comparing the identification information extracted by the process in the extraction step and the identification information whose storage has been controlled by the process in the storage control step with each other, a third extraction step to extract a permit condition when the identification information extracted by a process in the extraction step and the identification information whose storage has been controlled by the process in the storage control step that matches each other, a second comparison step to compare the permit condition extracted by the process in the third extraction step and the permit condition whose storage has been controlled by the process in the control step of storage with each other, and a control step to control playback of the image information recorded in the information recording medium in response to the result of the comparison by a process in the second comparison step. With the apparatus and method of reproducing information and the program recorded on the recording medium, identification information is stored for the identification of a recording medium and a permission condition to allow the reproduction of the image information recorded in the medium. of recording, and an extracted permit condition and the stored permit condition are compared with each other. Next, the reproduction of the image information recorded on the recording medium is controlled in response to the result of the comparison. Consequently, a blocking by adults can be freely applied to the recording medium based on the discrimination of the user. The above objects and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements are denoted by similar reference symbols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a flow chart illustrating a reproduction process of a conventional DVD player; FIGURE 2 is a schematic view illustrating an adult blocking function; FIGURE 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the construction of a DVD player to which the present invention is applied; FIGURES 4 and 5 are flow diagrams illustrating a DVD player level registration process of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 6 is a schematic view showing an example of a level registration menu in step S21 of the flow chart of FIGURE 4; FIGS. 7 through 11 are flowcharts illustrating an adult blocking establishment registration process of the DVD player of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 12 is a schematic view showing an example of a disk registration menu in step S54 of FIGURE 7; FIGURE 13 is a schematic view showing an example of a register change menu in step S64 of FIGURE 8; FIGURES 14 and 15 are flow charts illustrating a reproduction process of the DVD player of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 16 is a schematic view illustrating a format of the video contents of a DVD video shown in FIGURE 3; FIGURE 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the configuration of the video handling information; FIGURE 18 is a view illustrating the configuration of a video handling information handling table; FIGURE 19 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the configuration of the video title setting information; and FIGURE 20 is a view illustrating the configuration of the video title establishment information handling table.

^ - ^, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Referring to FIGURE 3, an example of the construction of a DVD player to which the present invention is applied is shown. The DVD player is generally denoted by 1 and includes a controller 2 which controls the operation of the entire DVD player 1 according to an operation command of a user entered into an interface controller 3 or a control signal (which will be described later) provided by a decoder 18 AV. The interface controller 3 detects an operation by a user of a remote controller or an operation button or a similar item provided in the body of a DVD player 1 and sends a corresponding signal to the controller 2. A flash ROM (NAND Flash ROM ) 4 has stored therein an adult level set in the DVD player 1, a password, an ID as identifying information of each disc, an adult level of each disc and other necessary information such as adult information. A servo circuit 5 adjusts the operation of a picker 7 under the control of the controller 2. The servo circuit 5 further controls the rotation speed of an axes motor not shown built in the DVD player 1 so that an error of linear velocity introduced by a linear speed error detection circuit 17 (CLV (Constant Linear Velocity)). A 6 DVD video has video content recorded on it. The collector 7 irradiates a laser beam on the video 6 DVD and receives the reflected light of video 6 DVD to read the information recorded in the video 6 DVD as an RF signal (radio frequency), and sends the RF signal to the RF amplifier 9 of a section 8 of pre-processing. The RF amplifier 9 digitizes and amplifies the RF signal introduced therein by the collector 7 and sends a resultant signal to the circuit 10 PLL (Locked Phase Circuit). The circuit 10 PLL sends the digital input signal input to this of the RF amplifier 9 and a clock signal extracted from the digital signal to an EFM (Eight-Catorce Modulation) + demodulation circuit 11. The EFM + demodulation circuit 11 EFM + demodulates a signal introduced into this circuit 10 PLL and sends a resulting signal to a microcomputer (MMU: Memory Management Unit) 12 and to a linear speed error detection circuit 17. An error detection code circuit 14 (EDC: Error Detection Code) detects an error of a code and a signal introduced therein of the EFM + demodulation circuit 11 under the control of the microcomputer 12. A circuit 15 of code error correction (ECC: Error Correction Code) corrects an error of a code of a signal input therein of the EFM + demodulation circuit 11 under the control of the microcomputer 12 and sends a resulting signal to the demultiplexer circuit 19 ( DMX) of an 18 AV encoder. A CD-ROM decoder 16 executes, when a VIDEO CD is played in place of the video 6 DVD, predetermined decoding processing for a signal input thereon of the EFM + demodulation circuit 11 under the control of the microcomputer 12. The circuit 19 demultiplexer demultiplexes a code signal entered therein of the pre-processing section 8 into audio data, video data, sub-video data and / or navigation data, and sends them to an audio decoder (Audio dec) 20 , a video decoder (Video dec) 22, a closed section data decoder 25, a sub-picture decoder (Sub-pic dec) 24 and / or a NAVI packet circuit 21. The audio decoder 20 decodes the audio data in a coded compression form input thereto from the demultiplexer circuit 19 under the control of the microcomputer (MMU) 26 and sends the decoded audio data to a DAC (converted from digital to digital). analog) 28. The DAC 28 converts a digital audio signal input to it to a similar audio signal and sends the analog audio signal, for example, to a horn (not shown) in the next stage. The NAVI packet circuit 21 suitably processes the navigation data input thereto from the demultiplexer circuit 19 under the control of the microcomputer 26 to produce a control signal and sends the control signal to the controller 2. The decoder 22 decodes video the video data in a coded compression form input thereto from the demultiplexer circuit 19 under the control of a microcomputer 26 and sends the decoded video data to a letterbox conversion circuit 23 (L-BOX). The letterbox conversion circuit 23 suitably performs the letterbox conversion of an image of video data input thereto from the video decoder 22 under the control of the microcomputer 26 and sends a resulting signal to an NTSC decoder. 30. The sub-image decoder (Sub-pic dec) 24 suitably decodes the sub-image data input thereto from the demultiplexer circuit 19 under the control of the microcomputer 26 and sends the resulting data to the NTSC encoder 30. The data decoder 25 of the closed section suitably decodes the data of the closed section included in the video data entered therein from the demultiplexer circuit 19 under the control of the microcomputer 26 and sends the resulting data to the NTSC encoder 30. In OSD control circuit 29 (On Screen Display) it produces an OSD image under the control of the microcomputer 26 and sends the OSD image to the NTSC encoder 30. The NTSC encoder suitably superimposes images input thereto from the letterbox conversion circuit 23, the sub-picture decoder 24, the closed-circuit data decoder 25 and / or the OSD control circuit 29 to obtain a NTSC signal and sends the NTSC signal, for example, to the display unit (not shown) such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) in the next step. A pair of DRAMs (Dynamic Random Access Memories) 13 and 27 are used as areas for temporarily storing data to be processed by microcomputers 12 and 26, respectively. A disk unit 41 is connected to controller 2.

A magnetic disk 51, an optical disk 52, a magneto-optical disk 53, a semiconductor memory 54 or a similar means are loaded in the disk drive 41. Now, the operation of the DVD player 1 will be described. First, a process for recording a blocking level by adults in the DVD player 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGURES 4 and 5. This process is initialized when a user enters an instruction for a level recording of the controller 2 through the interface controller 3.

First, in step S21, the controller 2 causes a menu to be displayed for a level register. The level register menu data is stored in advance in the Flash ROM 4. The controller 2 reads the menu data of the Flash ROM 4 and supplies the menu data to the OSD control circuit 29. The OSD control circuit 29 produces image data of the data entered therein and sends the image data to the NTSC encoder 30. The NTSC encoder multiplexes the image data input thereto from the OSD control circuit 29 with a video signal from the NTSC system and sends a resulting signal to the display unit as the CRT not shown so that the resulting signal can be displayed in the deployment unit. Consequently, for example, a level registration menu is displayed as shown in FIGURE 6. In the example of FIGURE 6, either the function "(1) register a level" and "(2) change the level" it is selected by entering the number 1 or the number 2. In this way, the controller 2 discriminates in step S22 whether or not an instruction is entered to select the function "Register a level" from the interface controller 3. If it is discriminated that the instruction is not entered, then the processing proceeds to step S23, in which it is discriminated if the function of "changing the level" or not is selected. If the "change level" function is not selected, then the process returns to step S22 so that the process that starts with step S22 is repeated. If it is discriminated in step S22 that the "register a level" function is selected, then the process proceeds to step S24, in which the controller 2 causes a password entry screen to be displayed. In Flash ROM 4 the data corresponding to the password entry screen is stored in advance. In this way, the data is supplied to the OSD control circuit 29 and converted to image data by the OSD control circuit 29, and the image data is sent and displayed in the display unit as the CRT through the encoder 30 NTSC. When the password entry screen is displayed, the user will enter a password, which the user wants to use, through the interface controller 3. Therefore, controller 2 waits in step S25 until a user enters a password, and when the password is entered, the process proceeds to step S26, in which controller 2 causes a level introduction screen to be displayed. . Also the image data corresponding to the level entry screen are stored in advance in the Flash ROM 4 and are supplied to the OSD control circuit 29, by which the image data is converted to image data. In this way the image data is sent from the NTSC encoder 30 to and displayed in the display unit. Then, the user will enter a level for the blocking of adults in the DVD player 1 through the interface controller 3. Therefore, controller 2 waits in step S27 until a level is entered. Then, when a level is entered, the process proceeds to step S28, in which the password and the level entered by the user are recorded in the Flash ROM 4. Through the process described above, the user uses the DVD player 1 to complete the registration process of an adult level that allows the enjoyment of children and the registration process of a password that is entered when the user himself enjoys a DVD without taking into account the level of adults in the DVD player 1 . To be able to change the level of adults already established in this way, the user will enter the number 2 through the interface controller 3 while displaying a level registration menu as shown in FIGURE 5. At this time, it is discriminated in step S23 that the "change level" function is selected, and the process proceeds to step S29, in the. which controller 2 causes a password entry screen to be displayed. The data of the password input screen is also stored in advance in the Flash ROM 4. In this way, the data is supplied to the OSD control circuit 29, by which they are converted to image data, and the image data they are sent through the NTSC encoder 30 and are deployed in the deployment unit. When the password entry screen is displayed, the user will enter a password set in advance through the interface controller 3. In this way, the controller 2 waits in step S30 until a password is entered. Then, when the password is entered, the process advances to step S31, in which it is discriminated if the entered password is new or not, that is, if the entered password is identical or not to the password stored in Flash ROM 4. If it is discriminated in step S31 that the password entered is not correct, then the process proceeds to step S32, in which the controller 2 executes a process to display an error message. In particular, a message such as "the password is incorrect" stored in the Flash ROM4 is shown immediately and is sent from the OSD control circuit 29 through the NTSC encoder 30 to a display unit and is displayed therein. . Therefore, the process returns to step S29 so that the process beginning with step S29 is repeated. If it is discriminated in step S31 that the password entered matches the password stored in advance in Flash ROM 4, then the process proceeds to step S33, in which controller 2 shows the level stored in Flash ROM 4 and causes the level is displayed through the OSD control circuit 29 and the NTSC encoder 30 and further causes a screen to be displayed to introduce a new level. The user will refer to the screen and enter a level for a blocking by adults that will be established again through the interface controller 3. In this way, the controller 2 waits in step S34 until a new level is entered. Then, when a new level is introduced, the process proceeds to step S35, in which the entered level is written on the original level, this is the original level is erased and the new level is stored in the Flash ROM 4. Subsequently, a process is performed when the blocking establishment record by adults for each DVD is described with reference to the flow charts of FIGURES 7 through 11. This process starts when an instruction for this is entered through the controller 3 of Interface. First, in step S51 of FIGURE 7, controller 2 discriminates whether a disk is loaded or not. If there is no disk loaded, then controller 2 waits until a disk loads. If it is discriminated in step S51 that a disk exists ^^ "¡^ ^^ loaded, then the process proceeds to step S52, in which the controller 2 reads the ID of the disk from the disk. Where the loaded disc is a DVD, the disk ID is VMGI / VMGI_MAT / VMG-EA (4 bytes) and VTSI / VTSI_MAT / VTS_EA (4 bytes) of VTS # 1. However, where the loaded disc is a compact disc of video or a compact disc of music, the ID of the disc is a number of maximum track and a number of sector of beginning of reading registered in the TOC (Table of contents) of the disc . It should be noted that the disc ID of the DVD will be described below with reference to FIGS. 16 to 20. In step S53, the controller 2 discriminates whether the disk ID reading in step S52 is already registered in the Flash ROM 4. If the disk ID reading in step S52 is not already registered in Flash ROM 4, then the process proceeds to step S54, in which controller 2 executes a process to display the disk registration menu . Accordingly, a menu as shown, for example, in FIGURE 12 is read from the Flash ROM 4 and is sent through the OSD control circuit 29 and the NTSC encoder 30 to the display unit and is displayed therein. . In the example shown in FIGURE 12, a sentence of "want to record the disk" and the words "YES" and "NO" is displayed. The user will refer to the display and enter the number 1 (YES) if the loaded disk should be registered, but enter the number 2 (NO) if the loaded disk will not be registered, through the interface controller 3. The controller 2 discriminates in step S55 whether or not the disk must be registered, that is, whether the number 1 of the interface controller 3 is entered or not. If the number 1 is not entered, that is if the number 2 is entered, then the controller 2 ends with the process of registration of blocking establishment by adults described above. On the other hand, if the number 1 is entered, then the process proceeds to step S56, in which the password entry screen is displayed to enter a password that is to be registered by the controller 2. This password is a related password with the currently loaded disk and is basically the same as the password entered in the process in steps S24 and S25 of FIGURE 3, but it can otherwise be a different password. In step S57, controller 2 waits until a password is entered. When a password is entered, the process proceeds to step S58, in which the controller 2 discriminates whether or not the number of disc IDs recorded in the flash ROM 4 is equal to the maximum value for the same. If the number of registered disk IDs is not equal to the maximum value, then the process proceeds to step S59, in which the controller 2 stores the ID of the disk read in step S52 in a relation corresponding to the password extracted in the process in steps S56 and S57 in the flash ROM box 4. On the contrary, if it is discriminated in step S58 that the registered number of disk IDs is equal to the maximum value, then the process proceeds to step S60, in the which controller 2 writes the ID of the read disk and the password in a corresponding relation on the oldest disk ID and the corresponding password. Otherwise it is possible that in step S60 a list of IDs and passwords of already registered discs is made to unfold, to urge the user to select one of the predetermined disc IDs, to erase the selected disc ID and a password corresponding to the ID selected disk and causes the new disk ID and password to be registered. After processing in steps S59 or S60, the process proceeds to step S61, in which controller 2 causes the level entry screen to be displayed for the registration of a level. The user will refer to the level entry screen and enter an adult level that will be set on the newly loaded disk through the interface driver 3. In step S62, controller 2 waits until a level is entered. When a level is entered, the process proceeds to step S63, in which the controller 2 stores the level entered in the frame in Flash ROM 4 in a relation corresponding to the disk ID. Thus, a level for blocking by adults and a password necessary to cancel the blocking by adults is stored on each disk in the Flash ROM 4 box in such a manner as described above. On the other hand, if it is discriminated in step S53 that the disk ID read in step S52 is already stored in the Flash ROM 4 box, then the process proceeds to step 64 shown in FIGURE 8. Referring now to FIGURE 8, in step S64, controller 2 causes a record change menu to be displayed as shown, for example, in FIGURE 13. The menu shown in FIGURE 13 allows the selection of one of the functions of "(1) change the level", "(2) change the password" and "(3) erase disk record" through the numbers 1 to 3. In this way, the controller 2 waits in steps S65 to S67 , until one of "change the level", "change the password" and "delete the disk record", be selected. If it is discriminated in step S65 that the "change level" function is selected, then the process proceeds to step S68 shown in FIGURE 9. Referring now to FIGURE 9, in step S68, controller 2 causes that the level introduction screen is displayed. Simultaneously, the already registered disc level is also displayed. The user will refer to the introduction screen and enter a level that will be reset on the disk along with a password through the controller 3 of the interface. In this way, the controller 2 waits in step S69 until a level and a password are entered. When a level and a password are entered, the process proceeds to step S70, in which the controller 2 discriminates whether the password entered is correct or not, that is, whether the password entered matches or does not match the already registered password corresponding to the disk ID If the password entered is correct, then the process proceeds to step S71, in which the controller 2 executes a process of rewriting the preceding level with a newly introduced level. If the password entered is not correct in step S70, then the process proceeds to step S72, in which the controller 2 executes an error process. In particular, a message is displayed such as, for example, "The level can not be changed because the password is incorrect". After the process in step S71 or S72, the process ends. Referring again to FIGURE 8, if it is discriminated in step S66 that the function of "changing the A * password "is selected, then the process proceeds to step S73 shown in FIGURE 10. Referring to FIGURE 10, in step S73, controller 2 causes the password entry screen to be displayed. to the password entry screen and enter a password.The controller 2 waits in step S74 until a password is entered.If a password is entered, then the process proceeds to step S75, in which the controller 2 discriminates whether the If the password entered is correct, then the process proceeds to step S76, in which the controller 2 causes the password to be displayed. a new password entry screen.The user will enter a new password in response to the password entry screen.In step S77, controller 2 waits until a new password is entered. Then, when a new password is entered, the process proceeds to step S78 in which the original password is deleted and the new password is stored in a relation corresponding to the disk ID of the recently loaded disk. On the contrary, if it is discriminated in step S75 that the entered password is incorrect, then the controller 2 executes an error process in step S79. In this case, a message is displayed such as, for example, "the password can not be changed because the password entered is incorrect". After processing in step S78 or S79, controller 2 ends the process. Referring once again to FIGURE 8, if it is discriminated in step S67 that the "erase disk record" function is selected, then the process proceeds to step S80 shown in FIGURE 11. Referring to FIGURE 11 , controller 2 causes the password entry screen to be displayed in step S80. The user will enter a password in response to the password entry screen. In step S81, controller 2 waits until a password is entered. Then, when a password is entered, the process proceeds to step S82, in which the controller 2 discriminates whether the password entered is correct or not, that is, whether the entered password coincides or not with the password already registered. If the password entered is correct, then the process proceeds to step S83, in which the controller 2 clears the record of the read disk ID and the corresponding level and password. If it is discriminated in step S82 that the entered password is not correct, then the process proceeds to step S84, in which the controller 2 executes an error process. At this time, a message is displayed such as, "the disk record can not be deleted because the password is not correct". Subsequently, a reproduction process executed by the controller 2 will be described with reference to the flow diagrams of FIGURES 14 and 15.

The present process starts when the power supply to the DVD player 1 becomes available. Referring to FIGURE 14, first in step S91, controller 2 waits until the disk is loaded. When it is discriminated that the disk is loaded, the process proceeds to step S92, in which the controller 2 reads the disk ID of the loaded disk. In step S93, the controller 2 discriminates whether an instruction to initiate a reproduction process is entered or not by a user through the interface controller 3. If the instruction to start a playback process is not entered, then controller 2 waits until the instruction is entered. If it is discriminated in step S93 that an instruction to start playback is entered, then the process proceeds to step S94, in which the controller 2 discriminates whether the ID of the disk read in step S92 is already registered in the Flash ROM 4 If the ID of the read disk is already registered, then the process proceeds to step S95, in which the controller 2 discriminates whether the level of the player is already set or not in the DVD player 1, that is, the level recorded in step S28 of FIGURE 4, is lower that the stored level corresponding to the ID of the disk read in step S92, that is, if the adult level of the player is more severe or not than that of the disk. If the level of the DVD player 1 is lower than the level of the disc, that is, if the adult level of the player is more severe than that of the disc, then the process proceeds to step S96, in which the controller 2 causes the password entry screen is displayed. At this time the user will enter a password through the interface driver 3. In step S97, controller 2 waits until the password is entered. Then, when a password is entered, the process proceeds to step S98, in which the controller 2 discriminates whether the password entered is correct or not. If the password entered is not correct, then the process proceeds to step S99, in which the controller 2 causes a message to be displayed that represents that the intended reproduction is impossible. At this time, a message is displayed such as, for example, "This disc can not be played." After this, the process returns to step S91 so that the process in steps S91 et seq. described above are executed repeatedly. In this way, a child who does not know the password can not play the disc on which the restriction of enjoyment was applied in this way, that is, the enjoyment of the disc is restricted to the child. If it is discriminated in step S98 that the entered password is correct, then the process proceeds to step S100, in which the controller 2 causes the newly loaded disk to start playing. If it is discriminated in step S94 that the ID of the read disc is not already registered, or if it is discriminated that the level of the player is not less than the level of the disc, since the enjoyment of the disc does not need to be restricted, it jumps to the disc. process in steps S96 to S98, but the process proceeds directly to step S100, in which playback is started immediately. After the playback of the disc is started, for example, a playback signal read from the video 6 DVD by the picker 7 is input to the RF amplifier 9. The RF amplifier 9 digitizes the RF signal introduced therein from the picker 7 and sends the digital signal to the 10 PLL circuit. The circuit 10 PLL supplies the digital signal of the amplifier 9 RF to the EFM + demodulation circuit 11, and produces a clock signal of the digital signal and also supplies the clock signal to the EFM + demodulation circuit 11. The EFM + circuit demodulation 11 demodulates the digital signal input thereto in synchronism with the clock signal input therein and supplies the result of the demodulation to the microcomputer 12. The microcomputer 12 performs an error correction process by means of the code circuit 14 of error detection and the error correction code circuit 15 thereof and supplies resulting demodulation data to the demultiplexer circuit 19. Where the disc reproduced by the picker 7 is a CD, the player signal read from the CD is decoded by the decoder 16 CD-ROM 16 and is then supplied to the demultiplexer circuit 19. The demultiplexer circuit 19 supplies video data to the video decoder 22 and supplies audio data to the audio decoder 20. The audio decoder 20 decodes the audio data input thereto and supplies the resulting audio data to the DAC 28. The DAC 28 converts the audio data to digital input therein to an analog audio signal and sends the audio signal analogous to a horn or a similar element not shown. The video decoder 22 decodes the video data entered therein and sends the decoded video data to the letterbox conversion circuit 23. The letterbox conversion circuit 23 converts the data entered therein from the audio decoder 20 into aspect ratio data of the letterbox and sends the resulting data to the NTSC decoder 30. The NTSC encoder 30 converts the video data input thereto to a video signal of the NTSC system and sends the video signal of the NTSC system to the display unit to be displayed in the display unit. While reproduction proceeds in such a way as described above, the controller 2 discriminates in step S101 through the interface controller 3 whether the instruction to stop the reproduction is entered or not. Controller 2 waits until an instruction is entered to stop playback. When an instruction to stop playback is entered, the process proceeds to step S102 shown in FIGURE 15. Referring now to FIGURE 15, in step S102, controller 2 discriminates whether the disc is ejected or not. If the disc is not ejected, then the process proceeds to step S103, in which the controller 2 discriminates whether or not the instruction to start playback is reintroduced. If it is discriminated in step S103 that the instruction to start playback is not entered, then the process returns to step S102 so that the process in steps S102 et seq. run repeatedly.

If it is discriminated in step S103 that the instruction to start playback is entered, then the process returns to step S100 of FIGURE 14, in which the disc is started playing. After this, such a process as described above is executed once more. If it is discriminated in step S102 that the disk is ejected, then the process returns to step S91 of FIGURE 14 so that the process in steps S91 et seq. repeat themselves. In this way, at this moment, the process similar to that which is executed when a new disk is loaded, is executed once more. Thus, once the password is first entered, the user can repetitively perform a disc without entering the password each time unless the previously loaded disc is ejected. If the disk is ejected once, then when the disk is reloaded, the user is prompted to enter the password once more. Therefore, even if the power supply of the DVD player 1 is disconnected, only if the disc is ejected, a possible inadvertent enjoyment of the disc by a child can be avoided otherwise. Subsequently, a disc ID of the video DVD 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 20. As shown in FIGURE 16, the content recorded in the video DVD includes a single video handler (VMG) of one unit. logic, and a plurality of (equal to or less than 99) sets of video titles (VTSs). The video handler is a logical unit to form a content box that specifies all the titles present on the DVD. Also a system menu for the selection of a title using an image, an introduction message, etc., can be registered in the video handler. A set of video titles is a logical unit to form a single title of a plurality of titles that commonly share part of the video data in order to be ready for a plurality of adult levels. It is also possible to register a system menu that uses an image related to a title for the selection of an audio language / sub-video language, for the selection of a chapter or the like in a set of video titles. The video handler includes control data (video handler information (VMGI)) that includes navigation data, a set of video objects for a menu (VMGM_VOBS) and control data for backup (VMGI_BUP). A set of video titles includes control data (video title set information (VTSl)) that includes navigation data, a set of video objects for a menu (VTSM_VOBS), a set of video objects for a title (VTSTT_VOBS), and control data for backups ( VTSI_BUP). A set of video objects includes one or more video objects (VOBs), and a video object includes one or more cells. A cell is a scene in a title decided by a content producer and is a basic unit for reproducing the title. The reproduction path of a title is determined by the definition of an order in which such cells should be reproduced. Referring to FIGURE 17, the video handler information (VNGI) includes a video handler information management box (VMGI_MAT), a title search pointer box (TT_SRPT), a PGCI unit menu box video handler (VMGM_PGCI_UT) ', an adult handling information box (PTL_MAIT), a video title set attribute information box (VTS_ATRT), a text data handler (TXTDT_NG), a text box video handler menu cell address (VMGM_C_ADT) and a video handler unit video address unit address map (VMGM_VOBU_ADMAP). Of the components of the video handler information (VNGI) mentioned above, the video handler information management box (VMGI_MAT) includes an identifier. VMG (VMG_ID), a final address VMG (VMG_EA) etc., as can be seen in FIGURE 18. In this modality, the final address VMG (VMG EA) of 4 bytes is used as part of the disk ID. Meanwhile, as can be seen in FIGURE 19, the video title set information (VTSl) includes a 5-video title set information handling box (VTSI_MAT), a set PTT search pointer box of video titles (VTS_PTT_SRPT), a video title set program string information box (VTS_PGCIT), a PGCI unit box of the video title set menu (VTSM_PGCI_UT), a frame of video title set time map (VTS_TMAPT), a video title set cell address box (VTSM_C_ADT), a video object unit address map of video title set menu (VTSM_VOBU_ADMAP ), a cell address box of set of video titles (VTS_C_ADT) and a video object unit address map of video title set (VTS_VOBU_ADMAP). Of the components of the video title set information (VTSl) mentioned above, the table of video title set information handling (VTSI_MAT) includes a VTS identifier (VTS_ID), a VTS final address (VTS_EA) etc., as can be seen in FIGURE 20. Of the components of the information management table of set of video titles (VTSI_MAT), the final address VTS (VTS EA) of 4 bytes is used as part - • "- - • -" -of the ID of the DVD disc. Therefore, the ID of the DVD disc is composed of 8 bytes in total of VMG_EA and VTS_EA. The final address VGM (VMG_EA) and the final address VTS (VTS_EA) can theoretically be the same between different disks. However, currently, the values in most cases are different between different disks. Therefore, each disk can be substantially identified based on the data of the total 8 bytes. Naturally, data different from those described above can be used as disk ID. It should be noted that, when an adult level is recorded on a DVD itself, also the DVD player 1 of FIGURE 3 performs processes similar to those described above with reference to FIGURE 1. While the series of processes described above may executed by hardware, they can otherwise be executed by software. When the process series is executed by software, a program that builds the software is installed from a recording medium on a computer built into the hardware for exclusive use or, for example, a personal computer for a universal use that can be executed Various functions by installing several programs. The recording medium is formed as a package means such as, as shown in FIGURE 3, a magnetic disk 51 (including a soft disk), an optical disk 52 (including a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Memory Only) Reading) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), a magneto-optical disc 53 (including an MD (Minidisco)), or a semiconductor memory 54 having the program recorded therein or within it and distributed in a manner separately from a computer in order to provide the program to a user, or as a flash ROM 4 or a hard disk that has the program recorded in it and is provided to the user in a form where it is incorporated into a computer. It should be noted that, in the present specification, the steps describing the program recorded on a recording medium may, but not necessarily be processed in a series of time in the order as described above, and include processes running parallel or individually without being processed in a time sequence. Furthermore, in the present specification, the term "system" is used to represent an entire apparatus composed of a plurality of apparatuses. While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described using specific terms, such a description is provided for illustrative purposes only, and it should be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims

Claims (5)

1. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing a recording medium in which image information is recorded, comprising: first extraction means for extracting identification information used to identify a recording medium; second extraction means for extracting a permission condition to allow reproduction of the image information recorded on a recording medium; storage means for storing the identification information extracted by the first extraction means and the permission condition extracted by the second extraction means; extracting means for extracting the identification information recorded in a recording medium loaded in the information player apparatus; first comparison means for comparing the identification information extracted by the extraction means and the identification information stored in the storage means among themselves; third extraction means for extracting a permit condition when the identification information extracted by the extraction means and the identification information stored in the storage means coincide with each other; second comparison means for comparing the permit condition extracted by the third extraction means and the permit condition stored in the storage means with each other; and control means for controlling the reproduction of the image information recorded on the recording medium in response to the result of the comparison by the second comparison means. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the permit condition includes a password. 3. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the permit condition includes an adult level. 4. A method of reproducing information for an information reproducing apparatus reproducing the recording medium in which image information is recorded comprising: a first extraction step for extracting identification information used to identify a recording medium; a second extraction step for extracting a permission condition to allow reproduction of the recorded image information on a recording medium; a storage control step for controlling the storage of the identification information extracted by the process in the first extraction step and the permission condition extracted by the process in the second extraction step; an extraction step for extracting the identification information recorded in a recording medium loaded in the information player apparatus; a first comparison step for comparing the identification information extracted by the process in the extraction step and the identification information whose storage has been controlled by the process in the storage control step with each other; a third extraction step for extracting a permit condition when the identification information extracted by the process in the extraction step and the identification information whose storage has been controlled by the process in the storage control step coincide with each other; a second comparison step to compare the permit condition extracted by the process in the third extraction step and • the permit condition whose storage has been controlled by the process in the storage control step with each other; and a control step for controlling the reproduction of the image information recorded on the recording medium in response to the comparison result by the process in the second comparison step. 5. A recording medium on which a program readable by a computer is recorded for reproducing information for an information reproducing apparatus that reproduces a recording medium of information on which image information is recorded, the program comprising: first extraction step to extract identification information used for the identification of an information recording medium; a second extraction step to extract a permission condition to allow the reproduction of the image information recorded in an information recording medium; a storage control step for controlling the storage of the identification information extracted by the process in the first extraction step and the permission condition extracted by the process in the second extraction step; an extraction step for extracting the identification information recorded in an information recording medium loaded in the information reproduction apparatus; a first comparison step for comparing the identification information extracted by the process in the extraction step and the identification information whose storage has been controlled by the process in the storage control step with each other; a third extraction step for extracting a permit condition when the identification information extracted by the process in the extraction step and the identification information whose storage has been controlled by the process in the storage control step coincides with each other; a second comparison step to compare the permit condition extracted by the process in the third extraction step and the permit condition whose storage has been controlled by the process in the storage control step with each other; and a control step for controlling the reproduction of the image information recorded in the information recording medium in response to the comparison result by the process in the second comparison step.