JP2000324443A - Encoding device and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent video information without the deterioration of picture quality from being illegally copied from an accumulation medium recording video information which is permitted to be copied once by detecting copy generation management information attached to inputted video information and executing encoding at a low picture quality mode when management information permitted to be copied once is detected. SOLUTION: When a generation management information detection circuit 30 detects generation management information permitted to be copied once, a resolution selection circuit 40 outputs a signal indicating low resolution. A resolution reduction circuit 20 generates moving picture data whose resolution is reduced from moving picture data inputted to a video input terminal 10. A selection circuit 50 selects moving picture data outputted from the resolution reduction circuit 20 and supplies it to an encoding circuit 60. The encoding circuit 60 executes an encoding processing based on an MPEG 2 system. An output judgment circuit 190 outputs an indication for executing output and an output limit circuit 70 supplies encoding data outputted from the encoding circuit 60 to an encoding data output terminal 80.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an encoding device and a recording device for restricting recording of generation-controlled video information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A video signal processing apparatus, a video signal processing method, and a technology relating to a recording medium for preventing duplication of a high-quality video signal obtained by a video disk, a digital VTR, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, and the like are described. For example, it is described in JP-A-1-178656.

[0003]

The above publication discloses a technique for preventing duplication when a video signal whose duplication is restricted is reproduced. However, there is no mention of a method of restricting recording when recording a generation-managed video signal or a recording device for recording a generation-managed video signal.

In a recording apparatus such as a DVD-RAM recorder capable of recording video information on a storage medium with high image quality, protection of copyright is an important issue. This is because it is possible to easily copy video information that hardly degrades image quality compared to the original video.

[0005] In order to protect the copyright, a technique for attaching generation management information to video information is known. The generation management information is bit information indicating that copying is not possible or that copying is possible once. One-time copying is a setting that permits one-time copying for the purpose of broadcast recording as a time shift, but prohibits further copying. In the recording apparatus, it is necessary to perform some kind of recording restriction based on the generation management information and securely protect the copyright.

The generation management information is superimposed on a blanking period of an analog video signal or time-division multiplexed with digital video data, and is attached to the video information.
Also, a so-called digital watermarking technique for directly superimposing on video information in a form that cannot be detected even when viewed is being studied. A recording device that considers copyright protection detects the above-mentioned generation management information. Then, if it indicates that copying is not possible, the recording may be stopped. Thereby, the copyright of the video information that cannot be copied is reliably protected. However, there is a problem in protecting the copyright of video information that can be copied once.

[0007] If the generation management information indicates that copying is permitted once, recording may be performed once, but there is some restriction on the act of reproducing and recording again.
Copyright must be reliably protected. However,
In a recording device such as a DVD-RAM recorder that records on a removable storage medium, the recorded storage medium can be reproduced by a completely different reproduction device, so that it cannot be guaranteed what kind of reproduction is performed. That is, it is difficult to reliably stop the act of reproducing and re-recording, no matter what efforts are made at the time of recording. Therefore,
If video information that can be copied once is recorded with almost no image quality deterioration, there is a possibility that video information with little image quality deterioration is illegally copied from the recorded storage medium.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for preventing video information having almost no image quality deterioration from being illegally copied from a storage medium in which video information that can be copied once is recorded, and an encoding apparatus using these techniques. And a recording device.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An encoding apparatus according to the present invention has an encoding means having a low image quality mode for performing encoding with low image quality, and detects copy generation management information accompanying input video information. Generation management information detection means, and encoding for controlling the encoding means so as to perform encoding in a low image quality mode when copy generation management information that can be copied once is detected by the generation management information detection means. It has a control means.

[0010] The encoding means of the encoding apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the low image quality mode, encoding is performed by reducing the resolution of input video information.

The resolution of the coded video information in the low image quality mode of the coding apparatus according to the present invention is 352 horizontal pixels, 480 horizontal pixels, or 544 horizontal pixels.

Further, the recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: recording means having a low image quality mode for performing recording with low image quality; generation management information detecting means for detecting duplicate generation management information accompanying the input video information; It is characterized by having a recording control means for controlling the recording means so that the recording is performed in the low image quality mode when the generation management information detecting means detects once-copyable copy generation management information.

The recording means of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the low image quality mode, the resolution of the input video information is reduced and then encoded and recorded.

The resolution of the recorded video information in the low image quality mode of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is 352 horizontal pixels, 480 horizontal pixels, or 544 horizontal pixels.

Further, the recording means of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the low image quality mode, the codes of the inputted encoded video information are thinned out and recorded.

In the low-quality mode, the recording means of the recording apparatus according to the present invention reduces the resolution after decoding the input encoded high-resolution video information, and converts the encoded high-resolution video information into low-resolution video information. It is characterized by being re-encoded and recorded.

Further, the recording apparatus according to the present invention detects the resolution of the input encoded video information, and detects the copy generation management information accompanying the input encoded video information. Generation management information detection means;
Recording control for controlling recording so that recording is not performed when copy generation management information that can be copied once is detected by the generation management information detection means and the input encoded video information has a high resolution. It is characterized by having means.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Explanation of First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a signal flow of an embodiment of an encoding apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a video data input terminal, 20 a resolution reduction circuit, 20 selection circuits, and 60 encoding circuits, which constitute an encoding means having a low image quality mode for performing encoding with low image quality. A generation management information detection circuit as generation management information detection means, a resolution selection circuit 40 as encoding control means, an output limiting circuit 70, an encoded data output terminal 80, and an output determination circuit 190.

The present embodiment is a so-called encoder board for compressing and encoding moving picture data by the MPEG2 system.
The encoded data output from the encoded data output terminal 80 is a DVD-RAM connected to a personal computer.
Recorded on a storage medium such as

The generation management information detection circuit 30 detects the generation management information accompanying the moving image data input from the video data input terminal 10. The generation management information identifies at least copying not possible and copying once at least, thereby limiting the encoding operation. The resolution selection circuit 40 selects a resolution of moving image data to be coded according to the detected generation management information. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing operating conditions for encoding.

As the generation management information, for example, a method of distinguishing four generation management states by 2-bit information is used.
The correspondence between the bits and the state is, for example, bit 11 is a state in which duplication is originally prohibited, bit 10 is a state in which only one generation of duplication is permitted, and bit 01 is a state in which only one generation of duplication is permitted. Bit 00 indicates a state in which copying is no longer permitted, and bit 00 indicates a state in which copying is not restricted. In the description of the embodiment of the present invention, the bit 10 is expressed as "copy once", and the bit 00 is expressed as "no copy restriction". Further, both bit 11 and bit 01 are expressed as non-reproducible and are not distinguished.

When the generation management information detection circuit 30 does not detect the generation management information or detects the generation management information without copy restriction, the resolution selection circuit 40
A signal indicating the resolution of 04 pixels and 480 vertical pixels is output. The selection circuit 50 selects the video data input to the video data input terminal 10 and supplies the video data to the encoding circuit 60. The encoding circuit 60 encodes 704 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels based on the MPEG2 system. Output determination circuit 190 outputs a signal instructing output, and output limiting circuit 70 supplies the encoded data output from encoding circuit 60 to encoded data output terminal 80.
Thus, when moving image data whose duplication is not restricted is input, encoding is performed at a high image quality resolution.

When the generation management information detection circuit 30 detects generation management information that can be copied once, the resolution selection circuit 40
Outputs a signal indicating the resolution of 352 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels. The resolution reduction circuit 20 generates moving image data having a reduced resolution of 352 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels from the moving image data input to the video data input terminal 10. The selection circuit 50 selects the video data output from the resolution reduction circuit 20 and supplies the video data to the encoding circuit 60. The encoding circuit 60 encodes 352 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels based on the MPEG2 system. Output determination circuit 190 outputs a signal instructing output, and output limiting circuit 70 supplies the encoded data output from encoding circuit 60 to encoded data output terminal 80. Thus, when moving image data that can be copied once is input, encoding is performed at a low image quality resolution.

When the generation management information detection circuit 30 detects the generation management information that cannot be copied, the output determination circuit 190 outputs a signal indicating that the output is not performed, and the output restriction circuit 70 outputs the coded data output signal. No signal is supplied to terminal 80. Thus, when moving image data that cannot be copied is input, the output of the encoded data is stopped.

According to this embodiment, once-copyable moving image data is encoded with a low-resolution image quality comparable to that of an analog VTR. Therefore, when the encoded data is recorded on a storage medium such as a DVD-RAM, even if it is illegally copied, only the moving image data whose image quality is clearly deteriorated compared to the original moving image data is copied. Can be

In the embodiment described above, the resolution at the time of encoding moving image data that can be copied once is 352 pixels in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operating conditions of the encoding of this embodiment when the resolution at the time of encoding the once-copyable moving image data is 480 pixels horizontally. The signal flow is the same as in the block diagram shown in FIG. The resolution reduction circuit 20 generates, from the moving image data input to the video data input terminal 10, moving image data having a reduced resolution of 480 pixels in the horizontal and 480 pixels in the vertical direction. When the generation management information detection circuit 30 detects generation management information that can be copied once, the encoding circuit 60 performs encoding processing of 480 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels based on the MPEG2 system.

Also in this case, once-copyable moving image data is encoded with a low-resolution image quality. Therefore,
When coded data is recorded on a storage medium such as a DVD-RAM, even if the data is illegally copied, only moving image data whose image quality has deteriorated compared to the original moving image data may be copied. it can.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing operating conditions for encoding in this embodiment when the resolution at the time of encoding moving image data that can be copied once is 544 pixels horizontally. The signal flow in this case is also the same as the block diagram shown in FIG. The resolution reduction circuit 20 generates moving image data having a reduced resolution of 544 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels from the moving image data input to the video data input terminal 10. If the generation management information detection circuit 30 detects generation management information that can be copied once, the encoding circuit 60
An encoding process of 544 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels based on the two methods is performed.

Also in this case, the once-copyable moving image data is encoded with a low-resolution image quality. Therefore,
When coded data is recorded on a storage medium such as a DVD-RAM, even if the data is illegally copied, only moving image data whose image quality has deteriorated compared to the original moving image data may be copied. it can.

Under the operating conditions of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the resolution for encoding moving image data for which no generation management information is detected is set to 704 horizontal pixels.
This may be 720 horizontal pixels. The horizontal 704 pixels and the horizontal 720 pixels have the same pixel interval, that is, the same resolution, only the length of the horizontal blanking changes. In this case, in FIG. 1, when the generation management information detection circuit 30 does not detect the generation management information or detects the generation management information without duplication restriction, the encoding circuit 60
Encoding processing of 720 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels based on the PEG2 system is performed.

In the operating conditions of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the resolution is all 480 pixels vertically, which is a number corresponding to a television system having 525 scanning lines. . In the case of an encoding device corresponding to a television system having 625 scanning lines, the resolution may be all 576 pixels in the vertical direction. In this case, in FIG.
0 performs encoding processing of 576 vertical pixels based on the MPEG2 system.

The resolutions of 720 horizontal pixels, 704 horizontal pixels, 544 horizontal pixels, 480 horizontal pixels, 352 horizontal pixels, 480 vertical pixels, and 576 vertical pixels described above are as follows.
This is a standard recording format. Therefore, by selecting the resolution setting to these numerical values, the encoded data can be recorded on the DVD-RAM and a standard disc can be made.

In the above-described embodiment, the encoding quality of the once-copyable moving image data is reduced by reducing the resolution. However, in the encoding circuit 60 shown in FIG.
When encoding video data that can be copied once, only the mode with a low bit rate after encoding may be selected to reduce the encoded image quality.

Alternatively, in the encoding circuit 60 shown in FIG. 1, when encoding video data that can be copied once, the quantization roughness used for rate control cannot be made finer than a predetermined threshold value. Then, the encoded image quality may be reduced.

In short, when encoding moving image data that can be copied once, only the encoding mode of low image quality accompanied by sufficient image quality deterioration can be selected as compared with the original moving image data, so that the original image can be selected. Only the moving image data whose image quality has deteriorated compared to the moving image data can be copied.

<Explanation of the Second Embodiment> FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the flow of signals in the embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention. 5, reference numeral 10 denotes a video data input terminal;
A recording unit having a low image quality mode for performing recording with low image quality is constituted by 20 resolution reducing circuits, 50 selecting circuits, 60 encoding circuits, and 90 writing circuits, and 30 is generation management information detecting means. A generation management information detection circuit, a resolution selection circuit 40 as a recording control means, a recording restriction circuit 100,
110 is a storage medium, and 180 is a recording determination circuit.

This embodiment is a so-called recorder for compressing and recording moving image data by the MPEG2 system. The encoded data is stored in a storage medium 11 such as a DVD-RAM.
Recorded to 0.

The generation management information detection circuit 30 detects the generation management information accompanying the moving image data input from the video data input terminal 10. The generation management information identifies at least one copy permitted and one copy permitted, thereby restricting the recording operation. The resolution selection circuit 40 selects the resolution of moving image data to be recorded according to the detected generation management information. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing operating conditions for recording.

When the generation management information detection circuit 30 does not detect the generation management information or detects the generation management information without copy restriction, the resolution selection circuit 40
A signal indicating the resolution of 04 pixels and 480 vertical pixels is output. The selection circuit 50 selects the video data input to the video data input terminal 10 and supplies the video data to the encoding circuit 60. The encoding circuit 60 encodes 704 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels based on the MPEG2 system. The writing circuit 90 converts the encoded data output from the encoding circuit 60 into a signal format to be recorded on the storage medium 110. The recording determination circuit 180 outputs a signal instructing to perform recording, and the recording limiting circuit 100 supplies the recording signal output from the writing circuit 90 onto the storage medium 110 and performs recording. As a result, when moving image data whose duplication is not restricted is input, recording is performed with high resolution.

When the generation management information detection circuit 30 detects generation management information that can be copied once, the resolution selection circuit 40
Outputs a signal indicating the resolution of 352 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels. The resolution reduction circuit 20 generates reduced-resolution moving image data of 352 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels from moving image data of 704 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels input to the video data input terminal 10. . The selection circuit 50 selects the video data output from the resolution reduction circuit 20 and supplies the video data to the encoding circuit 60. The encoding circuit 60 encodes 352 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels based on the MPEG2 system. The writing circuit 90 converts the encoded data output from the encoding circuit 60 into a signal format to be recorded on the storage medium 110. The recording determination circuit 180 outputs a signal instructing to perform recording, and the recording limiting circuit 100 supplies the recording signal output from the writing circuit 90 onto the storage medium 110 and performs recording. Thus, when moving image data that can be copied once is input, recording is performed at a low image quality resolution.

When the generation management information detection circuit 30 detects the generation management information that cannot be copied, the recording determination circuit 180 outputs a signal indicating that recording is not performed, and the recording restriction circuit 100 transmits the signal to the storage medium 110. Of the recording signal is stopped. Thus, when moving image data that cannot be copied is input, recording is not performed.

According to the present embodiment, once-copyable moving image data is recorded with a low-resolution image quality comparable to an analog VTR. Therefore, even if the recorded storage medium is illegally copied, it is possible to copy only moving image data whose image quality is clearly deteriorated compared to the original moving image data.

In this embodiment, the resolution for recording moving image data that can be copied once is 352 pixels horizontally.
The horizontal 352 pixels need not be used as long as image degradation is obtained. This is the same as in the first embodiment, and may be, for example, 480 horizontal pixels or 544 horizontal pixels.
352 horizontal pixels or 480 horizontal pixels or 5 horizontal pixels
With 44 pixels, a standard disc can be made.

In this embodiment, the recording quality of moving image data that can be copied once is reduced by reducing the resolution. However, in the encoding circuit 60 shown in FIG. When encoding data, only the mode with a low bit rate after encoding may be selected to reduce the recording image quality.

Alternatively, in the encoding circuit 60 shown in FIG. 5, when encoding video data that can be copied once, the quantization roughness used for rate control cannot be made finer than a predetermined threshold value. Then, the recording image quality may be reduced.

In short, when recording moving image data that can be copied once, only the low image quality recording mode with sufficient image quality deterioration compared to the original moving image data can be selected, so that the original moving image can be selected. Only the moving image data whose image quality has deteriorated compared to the data can be prevented from being copied.

<Explanation of Third Embodiment> FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the flow of signals in the embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention. 7, reference numeral 120 denotes an encoded data input terminal, 130 denotes a code thinning circuit, 140 denotes a generation management information detection circuit, 150 denotes a thinning selection circuit, 160 denotes a selection circuit,
90 is a writing circuit, 100 is a recording limiting circuit, 110 is a storage medium, and 180 is a recording determination circuit.

This embodiment is a so-called stream recorder for recording encoded data that has been compressed and encoded by the MPEG2 system. The encoded data is recorded on a storage medium 110 such as a DVD-RAM.

The generation management information detection circuit 140 detects generation management information accompanying the encoded data input from the encoded data input terminal 120. The generation management information identifies at least one copy permitted and one copy permitted, thereby restricting the recording operation. Thinning-out selection circuit 150
Selects whether to thin out the encoded data to be recorded according to the detected generation management information. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing operating conditions for recording.

When the generation management information detection circuit 140 does not detect the generation management information or detects the generation management information without copy restriction, the thinning selection circuit 150 outputs a signal indicating that no thinning is performed. I do. The selection circuit 160 selects the encoded data input to the encoded data input terminal 120 and supplies the encoded data to the writing circuit 90.
The writing circuit 90 converts the encoded data output from the selection circuit 160 into a signal format to be recorded on the storage medium 110. The recording determination circuit 180 outputs a signal instructing to perform recording, and the recording limiting circuit 100
The recording signal output from 0 is supplied onto the storage medium 110 to perform recording. As a result, when encoded data for which copying is not restricted is input, recording is performed with the encoded image quality.

When the generation management information detection circuit 140 detects generation management information that can be copied once, the thinning selection circuit 1
50 outputs a signal instructing to perform thinning. The code thinning circuit 130 analyzes the coded data input to the coded data input terminal 120, and thins out codes so that appropriate image quality degradation occurs. The selection circuit 160 selects the thinned-out encoded data output from the code thinning-out circuit 130 and supplies it to the writing circuit 90. The bit rate is reduced by the decimation. The writing circuit 90
The encoded data output from the selection circuit 160 is converted into a signal format to be recorded on the storage medium 110. The recording determination circuit 180 outputs a signal instructing to perform recording, and the recording limiting circuit 100 supplies the recording signal output from the writing circuit 90 onto the storage medium 110 and performs recording. As a result, when moving image data that can be copied once is input, low-quality recording in which the codes are thinned out is performed.

When the generation management information detection circuit 140 detects the generation management information that cannot be copied, the recording judgment circuit 180
Outputs a signal instructing not to perform recording, and the recording restriction circuit 100 stops supplying the recording signal to the storage medium 110. Thus, when moving image data that cannot be copied is input, recording is not performed.

Hereinafter, a specific method of code thinning will be described. The encoded data compressed and encoded by the MPEG2 method is subjected to two-dimensional frequency conversion for each small block of an image, quantized, and then arranged in order from a lower-order frequency component to a higher-order frequency component, using a variable-length code. Run-length encoded. The code thinning circuit 130 analyzes the run-length code for each small block of the image. For example, when the order of the frequency component exceeds a predetermined value, the code after that is discarded. Alternatively, if the number of run-length codes exceeds a predetermined value for each small block of the image, the subsequent codes are discarded. Alternatively, the total number of run-length codes is counted for each small block of the image, and if the number exceeds a predetermined ratio with respect to the total number, the subsequent codes are discarded. By thinning out the codes in this manner, image quality degradation such as mosquito noise can be caused on the decoded image.

According to the present embodiment, once-copyable moving image data is recorded with appropriate image quality deterioration. Therefore, even if the recorded storage medium is illegally copied, it is possible to copy only moving image data whose image quality is clearly deteriorated compared to the original moving image data.

In this embodiment, the recording quality of the once-copyable moving image data is reduced by thinning out the codes. However, when recording the once-copyable moving image data is shown in FIG. Instead of the code thinning circuit 130, the encoded data may be temporarily decoded, the resolution may be reduced, and then the data may be re-encoded to reduce the recording image quality.

Alternatively, when recording moving image data that can be copied once, instead of the code thinning circuit 130 shown in FIG. 7, the encoded data is once decoded and re-encoded in a low bit rate mode. Alternatively, the recording image quality may be reduced.

In short, when recording moving image data that can be duplicated once, the original encoded data is reduced in resolution and some image quality degradation such as mosquito noise or block noise is caused to occur. Only the moving image data whose image quality has deteriorated compared to the moving image data can be copied.

<Explanation of the Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a signal flow of an embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention. It is a block diagram of the Example which re-encodes. 9, reference numeral 120 denotes an encoded data input terminal, 140 denotes a generation management information detection circuit, 160 denotes a selection circuit, 90 denotes a writing circuit, 100 denotes a recording restriction circuit, 110 denotes a storage medium, and 180 denotes a storage medium.
Is a recording determination circuit, 200 is a decoding circuit, 20 is a resolution reduction circuit, 60 is an encoding circuit, and 40 is a resolution selection circuit.

This embodiment is a so-called stream recorder for recording encoded data of a high-resolution (HD) television. The encoded data is recorded on a storage medium 110 such as a DVD-RAM.

The generation management information detection circuit 140 detects generation management information accompanying the encoded data input from the encoded data input terminal 120. The generation management information identifies at least one copy permitted and one copy permitted, thereby restricting the recording operation. The resolution selection circuit 40
The user selects whether or not to reduce the resolution of the encoded data to be recorded according to the detected generation management information. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating operating conditions for recording.

When the generation management information detection circuit 140 does not detect the generation management information or detects the generation management information without duplication restriction, the resolution selection circuit 40 outputs a signal instructing not to reduce the resolution. Output. The selection circuit 160 selects the encoded data input to the encoded data input terminal 120 and supplies the encoded data to the writing circuit 90. The writing circuit 90 converts the encoded data output from the selection circuit 160 into a signal format to be recorded on the storage medium 110. The recording determination circuit 180 outputs a signal instructing to perform recording, and the recording limiting circuit 100 supplies the recording signal output from the writing circuit 90 onto the storage medium 110 and performs recording. As a result, when encoded data for which copying is not restricted is input, recording is performed with high resolution image quality as encoded.

When the generation management information detection circuit 140 detects generation management information that can be copied once, the resolution selection circuit 4
0 outputs a signal instructing to reduce the resolution.
The decoding circuit 200 decodes the encoded data input to the encoded data input terminal 120, and outputs high-resolution moving image data of 1920 horizontal pixels and 1080 vertical pixels. The resolution reduction circuit 20 generates standard resolution (SD) moving image data of 704 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels with reduced resolution from the moving image data output from the decoding circuit 200. The encoding circuit 60 re-encodes the moving image data output from the resolution reduction circuit 20. Selection circuit 160
Selects the encoded data of the standard resolution output from the encoding circuit 60 and supplies it to the writing circuit 90. The writing circuit 90 converts the encoded data output from the selection circuit 160 into a signal format to be recorded on the storage medium 110. The recording determination circuit 180 outputs a signal instructing to perform recording, and the recording limiting circuit 100 supplies the recording signal output from the writing circuit 90 onto the storage medium 110 and performs recording. Thus, when high-resolution moving image data that can be copied once is input, recording is performed with standard resolution image quality.

When the generation management information detection circuit 30 detects generation management information that cannot be copied, the recording determination circuit 180 outputs a signal instructing not to perform recording, and the recording restriction circuit 100 sends the signal to the storage medium 110. Of the recording signal is stopped. Thus, when moving image data that cannot be copied is input, recording is not performed.

According to the present embodiment, once-copyable high-resolution moving image data is recorded with standard resolution image quality. Therefore, even if the recorded storage medium is illegally copied, it is possible to copy only moving image data whose image quality is clearly deteriorated compared to the original moving image data.

<Explanation of Fifth Embodiment> FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a signal flow of an embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention. 11, reference numeral 120 denotes an encoded data input terminal, 140 denotes a generation management information detection circuit, 170 denotes a resolution detection circuit, 180 denotes a recording determination circuit, 90 denotes a writing circuit, 100 denotes a recording restriction circuit, and 110 denotes a storage medium.

This embodiment is a so-called stream recorder for recording encoded data that has been compressed and encoded by the MPEG2 system. The encoded data is recorded on a storage medium 110 such as a DVD-RAM.

The writing circuit 90 stores the encoded data output from the encoded data input terminal 120 in the storage medium 110.
Convert to the signal format recorded above. The generation management information detection circuit 140 detects generation management information accompanying the encoded data input from the encoded data input terminal 120. The generation management information identifies at least one copy permitted and one copy permitted, thereby restricting the recording operation. The resolution detection circuit 170 analyzes the header information of the encoded data input from the encoded data input terminal 120, and detects the resolution of the encoded moving image data. The recording determination circuit 180 determines whether to perform recording according to the detected generation management information and the resolution. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing recording conditions.

When the generation management information detection circuit 140 does not detect the generation management information or detects the generation management information without duplication restriction, the recording determination circuit 180 outputs a signal instructing to perform recording. Recording restriction circuit 10
0 supplies the recording signal output from the writing circuit 90 onto the storage medium 110. As a result, when coded data whose copy is not restricted is input, recording is performed.

If the generation management information detection circuit 140 detects generation management information that can be copied once and the resolution is 704 pixels horizontally and 480 pixels vertically, the recording judgment circuit 18
0 outputs a signal instructing not to perform recording, and the recording limiting circuit 100 does not supply a recording signal to the storage medium 110. When the generation management information detection circuit 140 detects generation management information that can be copied once, and the resolution is 352 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels, the recording determination circuit 180 outputs a signal instructing to perform recording. Output and record limiting circuit 10
0 supplies the recording signal output from the writing circuit 90 onto the storage medium 110. As a result, when moving image data that can be copied once is input, only encoded data that has been encoded at a low image quality resolution is recorded.

When the generation management information detection circuit 140 detects the generation management information that cannot be copied, the recording judgment circuit 180
Outputs a signal instructing not to perform recording, and the recording restriction circuit 100 stops supplying the recording signal to the storage medium 110. Thus, when moving image data that cannot be copied is input, recording is not performed.

According to the present embodiment, as the moving image data that can be copied once, only coded data that is coded with a low resolution image quality comparable to that of an analog VTR is recorded. Therefore, even if the recorded storage medium is illegally copied, it is possible to copy only moving image data whose image quality is clearly deteriorated compared to the original moving image data.

In this embodiment, the resolution at which the recording of moving image data that can be copied once is permitted is set to 352 pixels in the horizontal direction. However, if the image degradation is obtained, the resolution may not be 352 pixels in the horizontal direction. This is the same as in the first embodiment, and may be, for example, 480 horizontal pixels or 544 horizontal pixels. With 352 horizontal pixels or 480 horizontal pixels or 544 horizontal pixels, a standard disc can be made.

[0075]

According to the present invention, once-copyable moving image data is always encoded or recorded with low image quality, so that only image information whose image quality is deteriorated compared to the original image is copied. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a signal flow of an encoding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing operating conditions for encoding of the encoding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another operation condition of encoding of the encoding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing still another operation condition of the encoding of the encoding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a signal flow of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing recording operation conditions of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a signal flow of a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing recording operation conditions of a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a signal flow of a recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing recording operation conditions of a recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a signal flow of a recording apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing recording operation conditions of a recording apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: video data input terminal, 20: resolution reduction circuit, 3
0: generation management information detection circuit, 40: resolution selection circuit, 5
0 ... selection circuit, 60 ... encoding circuit, 70 ... output limiting circuit, 80 ... encoded data output terminal, 90 ... writing circuit, 100 ... recording limiting circuit, 110 ... storage medium, 120
... coded data input terminal, 130 ... code thinning circuit, 1
40: generation management information detection circuit, 150: thinning selection circuit, 160: selection circuit, 170: resolution detection circuit, 18
0: recording determination circuit, 190: output determination circuit, 200: decoding circuit.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C053 FA13 FA25 GB06 GB21 GB26 GB38 JA21 JA30 KA09 5C059 KK43 MA00 ME01 RC35 SS13 5C078 BA21 CA00 DA00 DA01 DB00 DB04 9A001 BB03 EE02 EE04 HH27 JJ12 KK31 LL03 LL09

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An encoding apparatus for encoding video information, comprising: an encoding unit having a low image quality mode for encoding with low image quality; and a generation detecting duplicate generation management information accompanying the input video information. Management information detection means; and coding control for controlling the coding means so that coding is performed in a low image quality mode when copy generation management information that can be copied once is detected by the generation management information detection means. An encoding device comprising means. 2. The coding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coding means performs coding by reducing the resolution of the input video information in the low image quality mode. 3. The encoding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the resolution of the encoded video information in the low image quality mode is three horizontal.
An encoding device comprising 52 pixels, 480 horizontal pixels, or 544 horizontal pixels. 4. A recording apparatus for recording video information on a storage medium, comprising: recording means having a low image quality mode for performing recording with low image quality; and generation management for detecting copy generation management information accompanying the input video information. Information detecting means, and recording control means for controlling the recording means so as to perform recording in a low image quality mode when copy generation management information that can be copied once is detected by the generation management information detecting means. A recording device characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording means encodes and records after reducing the resolution of the input video information in the low image quality mode. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the resolution of the recorded video information in the low image quality mode is 35 horizontal.
A recording apparatus comprising two pixels, 480 horizontal pixels, or 544 horizontal pixels. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the input video information is encoded video information, and the recording means converts a code of the input encoded video information in the low image quality mode. A recording device characterized in that recording is performed by thinning out. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the input video information is coded high-resolution video information, and the recording means, in the low image quality mode, inputs the coded high-resolution video information. A recording apparatus which decodes high-resolution video information, reduces the resolution, converts the information into low-resolution video information, and re-encodes and records the information. 9. A recording apparatus for recording video information on a storage medium, comprising: resolution detection means for detecting the resolution of the input coded video information; and a copy generation associated with the input coded video information. A generation management information detecting means for detecting management information; a copy generation management information which can be copied once is detected by the generation management information detecting means, and the input encoded video information has a high resolution. A recording apparatus comprising recording control means for controlling not to perform recording.