JP2000339853A - Recording medium, reproducing device, and reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable only a prescribed person to reproduce prescribed data by providing a recording region in which both contents having a reproduction limit and contents having no reproduction limit are recorded and a control region in which control data controlling so as to reproduce only contents having no reproduction limit is recorded in a medium. SOLUTION: When a user desires that the prescribed track is made reproduction prohibition specified data for the sake of keeping secrecy and the like, reproduction prohibition registration of the prescribed track is performed by operating a disk device being used, and a code number is inputted. The inputted code number is stored in a RAM in the inside or the outside of a system controller 11 in a disk device. When the operation of reproduction prohibition registration of the prescribed track is performed, the system controller 11 rewrites TOC data written in a RAM 13, writes them in a disk 1, and a UTOC sector 6 or a sector 0 is rewritten.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a recording medium on which information is recorded by a data structure including management data corresponding to audio data and video data, and a reproducing apparatus and a reproducing method for the recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A magneto-optical disk as a recording device, a reproducing device and a recording medium capable of recording / reproducing music or the like has been put into practical use. And the like (for example, a mini-disc) capable of recording a voice such as a sound.

When using this mini disk system,
Generally, audio signals such as music are recorded / reproduced. For example, in this mini-disc system, video data can be recorded / reproduced in synchronization with music such as music.

[0004]

By the way, in consideration of adding video as recording / reproducing data to a system originally developed for recording / reproducing audio, such as a mini-disc system, compatibility is maintained. Is difficult. In other words, not only a system capable of recording and reproducing video and music is provided, but also a recording medium (disk) to which video data is newly added is recorded / recorded only with audio data in a normal mini-disc player / recorder. Playback is possible and you can enjoy music and the like, and in the player / recorder compatible with video input / output,
It is desired to ensure compatibility such that audio data and video data can be simultaneously reproduced and a karaoke with video or a video device can be enjoyed.

Further, in such a recording / reproducing system, for example, when the recorded data has high confidentiality, there is a case where it is desired that the data cannot be reproduced except by a specific individual. For example, there is a request that only a person who knows a personal identification number can reproduce predetermined video or audio data.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means by which specific data cannot be normally reproduced and only a specific person can reproduce.

For this reason, the recording medium of the present invention has a recording area in which a content for which reproduction restriction is set and a content for which reproduction restriction is not set are mixedly recorded;
And a management area in which management data for controlling to reproduce only the content for which the reproduction non-restriction is set is provided. Further, a password for permitting the reproduction of the content for which the reproduction restriction is set is recorded in the management area. In the management area, second management data for controlling the reproduction of both the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and the content for which the reproduction restriction is not set is recorded.

[0008] In the reproducing apparatus of the present invention, a content in which the reproduction restriction is set and a content in which the reproduction restriction is not set are mixedly recorded, and only the content in which the reproduction restriction is set is set. In a reproducing apparatus for reproducing a recording medium on which management data for controlling reproduction of the recording medium is recorded, the management data recorded on the recording medium, the content for which the reproduction restriction is set, and / or the non-reproduction restriction are set. Playback means for playing back the content being stored, memory means for storing a password registered by a user operation, comparison means for comparing the password input by the user operation with the password stored in the memory means, If the password input by the user operation by the comparing means does not match the password stored in the memory means, In this case, based on the management data reproduced by the reproducing means, the reproduction of the content for which the reproduction restriction is set is prohibited by the reproducing means, and the password inputted by the user operation by the comparing means is prohibited. If it is determined that the number and the password stored in the memory unit match, based on the management data reproduced by the reproduction unit, at least the content to which the reproduction restriction is set is reproduced by the reproduction unit. Control means for permitting. Here, it is assumed that the password is recorded on the recording medium. The memory means may further store an identifier for identifying the recording medium.

In the reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the content in which the reproduction restriction is set and the content in which the reproduction restriction is not set are mixedly recorded, and only the content in which the reproduction restriction is set is recorded. Is recorded, and second management data is controlled to reproduce both the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and the content for which the reproduction is not restricted. Playback device for playing back the recorded medium,
A reproducing means for reproducing the first management data and the second management data recorded on the recording medium, the content to which the reproduction restriction is set and / or the content to which the reproduction non-restriction is set; Memory means for storing a registered password, comparison means for comparing a password inputted by a user operation with a password stored in the memory means, and a password inputted by the user operation in the comparison means If the number and the password stored in the memory unit do not match, the content for which the reproduction restriction is set based on the first management data reproduced by the reproduction unit is reproduced by the reproduction unit. And the password input by the user operation in the comparing means and the password stored in the memory means. Are determined to match, the reproduction means for both the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and the content for which the reproduction is not restricted based on the second management data reproduced by the reproduction means. And control means for permitting reproduction by the control unit.
Here, the password is assumed to be recorded on the recording medium.

[0010] According to the reproduction method of the present invention, the content in which the reproduction restriction is set and the content in which the reproduction restriction is not set are mixedly recorded, and only the content in which the reproduction restriction is set is set. As a reproducing method for reproducing a recording medium on which management data for controlling the reproduction of the recording medium is recorded, a personal identification number input by a user operation is compared with a personal identification number stored in a memory, and as a result of the comparison, the user operation If the personal identification number input by the user and the personal identification number stored in the memory means do not match, the reproduction of the content for which the reproduction restriction is set based on the reproduced management data is prohibited, and the comparison is performed. As a result, when the password input by the user operation matches the password stored in the memory, the At least the reproduction restriction based on the sense data is assumed to allow reproduction of the content set.

[0011] Further, according to the reproduction method of the present invention, the content in which the reproduction restriction is set and the content in which the reproduction restriction is not set are mixedly recorded, and the content in which the reproduction restriction is set is recorded. The first management data for controlling reproduction of only the content and the second management data for controlling reproduction of both the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and the content for which the reproduction restriction is not set are recorded. As a reproducing method of reproducing the recorded recording medium, the personal identification number input by the user operation is compared with the personal identification number stored in the memory, and as a result of the comparison, the personal identification number input by the user operation and the password are stored in the memory means. If the stored passwords do not match, the content in which the reproduction restriction is set based on the reproduced first management data is set. Is prohibited, and if the result of the comparison is that the password entered by the user operation matches the password stored in the memory means, the password is reproduced based on the reproduced second management data. The reproduction of both the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and the content for which the non-reproduction restriction is set is permitted.

As a result of the comparison between the personal identification number input by the user operation and the personal identification number stored in the memory, if they do not match, the reproduction of the content for which the reproduction restriction is set is prohibited. By permitting the reproduction of the content for which is set, the content for which the reproduction restriction is set can be reproduced only for the user who has correctly input the password.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A data structure, a recording medium, and a disk device (a disk device capable of simultaneously recording and reproducing both video and audio) as an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. A description will be given of a disk device capable of reproducing predetermined data based on the following. In this embodiment, a mini disc system is used to record and reproduce video data in addition to audio data. The description will be made in the following order. 1) Configuration of a disk device compatible with video and audio 2) Configuration of a disk device compatible with audio only 3) Track structure on disk 4) P-TOC format on disk 5) U-TOC format on disk 6) Audio data sector structure on disk 7) Video data sector structure on disk 8) Video data generation method 9) Track structure in which audio data and video data are mixed 10) Video data format 11) Recording and reproduction management method 12) Reproduction prohibited only in normal U-TOC sector Management method for obtaining a part 13) Reproduction method when a reproduction prohibited part is obtained only in a normal U-TOC sector 14) Management method when a password request U-TOC sector is used 15) When a password request U-TOC sector is used Playback method

<1. Configuration of Disk Apparatus Compatible with Video and Audio> FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a disk apparatus according to an embodiment.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a magneto-optical disk on which audio data and video data are recorded in a mixed manner (time division multiplexing), as will be described later. Reference numeral 3 denotes an optical head for irradiating a laser beam to the magneto-optical disk 1 during recording / reproducing, which produces a high-level laser output for heating a recording track to the Curie temperature during recording, and uses a magnetic Kerr effect during reproduction. A relatively low level laser output for detecting data from the reflected light.

For this purpose, the optical head 3 is equipped with a laser diode as laser output means, an optical system including a polarizing beam splitter and an objective lens, and a detector for detecting reflected light. The objective lens 3a is held by the biaxial mechanism 4 so as to be displaceable in the radial direction of the disk and in the direction of coming into contact with and separating from the disk.

Reference numeral 6a denotes a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field modulated by the supplied data to the magneto-optical disk, and is arranged at a position facing the optical head 3 with the magneto-optical disk 1 interposed therebetween. The entire optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6a can be moved in the disk radial direction by the thread mechanism 5.

The information detected by the optical head 3 from the magneto-optical disk 1 by the reproducing operation is supplied to the RF amplifier 7. The RF amplifier 7 performs a calculation process on the supplied information to reproduce RF signals, tracking error signals, focus error signals, absolute position information (absolute position information recorded as a pre-groove (wobbling groove) on the magneto-optical disk 1), The address information, the focus monitor signal and the like are extracted. Then, the extracted reproduction RF signal is supplied to the encoder / decoder unit 8. Further, the tracking error signal and the focus error signal are supplied to a servo circuit 9, and the address information is supplied to an address decoder 10. Further, the absolute position information and the focus monitor signal are supplied to a system controller 11 constituted by a microcomputer, for example.

The servo circuit 9 generates various servo drive signals based on the supplied tracking error signal, focus error signal, track jump command and seek command from the system controller 11, and information on the rotational speed of the spindle motor 2, and the like. Shaft mechanism 4 and thread mechanism 5
To control focus and tracking, and control the spindle motor 2 to a constant angular velocity (CAV) or a constant linear velocity (CLV).

The reproduced RF signal is supplied to the encoder / decoder 8
After decoding processing such as EFM demodulation and CIRC in the buffer RAM 13
Is written to. The reading of data (audio data and video data) from the magneto-optical disk 1 by the optical head 3 and the transfer of reproduced data in the system from the optical head 3 to the buffer RAM 13 are performed at, for example, 1.41 Mbit / sec.

The data written in the buffer RAM 13 is read out at a timing at which the transfer of the reproduced data becomes, for example, 0.3 Mbit / sec, and the audio data is supplied to an encoder / decoder 14 for performing audio compression / expansion processing. You. Then, the signal is subjected to reproduction signal processing such as decoding processing for the audio compression processing, converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A converter 15, supplied to a predetermined amplifier circuit from a terminal 16, and reproduced and output. For example, they are output as L and R audio signals.

The video data is supplied from the memory controller 12 to the encoder / decoder 21 for image signals. The encoder / decoder unit 21 is configured to perform, for example, an encoding process and a decoding process according to the MPEG system. Reference numeral 23 denotes a video RAM for holding video data during encoding and decoding, and reference numeral 24 denotes a video signal generator.

The video signal (R, G, B video signal) decoded by the encoder / decoder section 21 is supplied to the D / A converter 2
The analog signal is converted into an NTSC video signal (for example, an NTSC composite video signal) by a converter 26 and output from a terminal 27.

Here, data which is once written to the buffer RAM 13 and thereafter read (data is
Write / read is performed in sector units)
The system decoder 22 can determine from the data contents whether the sector data is audio data or video data. The read data is read by the encoder / decoder 14 and the encoder / decoder 21. It is determined when to supply.

The address information output from the address decoder 10 and the subcode data used for the control operation are transmitted to the system controller 1 via the encoder / decoder 8.
1 and used for various control operations. further,
A lock detection signal of a PLL circuit for generating a bit clock for a recording / reproducing operation, a monitor signal indicating a lack of a frame synchronization signal of reproduced data, and the like are also supplied to the system controller 11.

The system controller 11 outputs a laser control signal S _LP for controlling the operation of the laser diode in the optical head 3. The system controller 11 controls on / off of the output of the laser diode. It is possible to switch between an output during reproduction in which the power is relatively low and an output during recording in which the power is relatively high.

When a recording operation is performed on the magneto-optical disk 1, an audio signal to be recorded (analog audio signal) is supplied to a terminal 17. The video signal (NTSC composite video signal) is supplied to a terminal 28.

The analog audio signal supplied to the terminal 17 is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 18 and then supplied to the encoder / decoder section 14 where it is subjected to audio compression encoding. Encoder / decoder unit 1
The audio data compressed by 4 is once written into the buffer RAM 13 by the memory controller 12, read out at a predetermined timing, and sent to the encoder / decoder section 8. Then, the encoder / decoder unit 8
After being subjected to encoding processing such as IRC encoding and EFM modulation, it is supplied to the magnetic head drive circuit 15.

The NTSC composite video signal supplied to the terminal 28 is converted by the converter 29 into R, G,
After being converted into a B video signal and further converted into digital data by the A / D converter 30, the digital data is supplied to the encoder / decoder unit 21 and subjected to an encoding process according to the MPEG system. That is, processes such as DCT conversion, requantization for compressing the number of bits, and run-length coding are performed.

The video data compressed and encoded by the encoder / decoder section 21 is temporarily written into the buffer RAM 13 by the memory controller 12, read out at a predetermined timing, and sent to the encoder / decoder section 8. Then, the encoder / decoder unit 8
After being subjected to encoding processing such as IRC encoding and EFM modulation, it is supplied to the magnetic head drive circuit 6. Audio data and video data are supplied to the magnetic head drive circuit 6 in a time-division manner.

The magnetic head drive circuit 6 supplies a magnetic head drive signal to the magnetic head 6a according to the supplied recording data. That is, the application of the N or S magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk 1 by the magnetic head 6a is performed. Also,
At this time, the system controller 11 supplies a control signal to the optical head so as to output a recording level laser beam.

Reference numeral 19 denotes an operation input unit provided with keys for user operation, and reference numeral 20 denotes a display unit constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal display. The operation input unit 19 is provided with a recording key, a reproduction key, a stop key, an AMS key, a search key, and the like so as to be used by a user.

When performing a recording / reproducing operation on the disk 1, management information recorded on the disk 1, that is, P-TOC (pre-mastered TOC), UT
By reading the OC (user TOC), the system controller 11 determines the address of the segment to be recorded on the disk 1 and the address of the segment to be reproduced according to the management information. The data is held in the buffer RAM 13. Therefore, in the buffer RAM 13, the buffer area for the recording data / reproduced data and the area for holding the management information are divided and set.

Then, the system controller 11 reads out the management information by executing the reproduction operation on the innermost circumference side of the disk on which the management information is recorded when the disk 1 is loaded, and stores the information in the buffer RAM 13. In advance, the information can be referred to at the time of the recording / reproducing operation for the disc 1.

The U-TOC is edited and rewritten in accordance with recording and erasing of data. The system controller 11 executes this editing process every time a recording / erasing operation is performed. The rewriting operation is performed on the TOC information, and the U-TOC area of the disc 1 is also rewritten at a predetermined timing in accordance with the rewriting operation.

<2. Configuration of Disk Device Supporting Only Audio> FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a disk device as a mini-disk system. In other words, recording / recording only for audio data
This is a disk device that performs a reproducing operation. In this case, the disk unit of FIG. 1 has a configuration in which a circuit unit required for adding video data is removed, that is, the encoder /
Decoder unit 21, system decoder 22, video RAM
23, video signal generator 24, D / A converter 25, A /
D converter 30, converters 26 and 29, terminals 27 and 28
Is not provided. The operation for recording / reproducing the audio data is almost the same as that of the disk device of FIG. 1 described above, and the description is omitted.

<3. Track Structure of Disk> The track structure of the magneto-optical disk 1 in the mini disk system is as shown in FIG. That is, FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b)
A cluster CL (= 36 sectors−) composed of a sub data area of 4 sectors (1 sector = 2352 bytes) and a main data area of 32 sectors (SC0 to SC31) is formed continuously, as shown in FIG. It is the minimum unit for recording and playback. This one cluster corresponds to two or three tracks. The address is recorded for each sector. The 4-sector sub-data area is used as sub-data and linking area, etc.
Recording of data, audio data, video data, and the like is performed in a main data area of 32 sectors.

The audio data area recorded in the sector is further divided into sound groups, and two sectors are divided into 11 sound groups. (Note that
(The sector configuration of video data realized in the present embodiment will be described later.)

That is, when a cluster whose sector is shown in FIG. 3B is used for audio data recording,
Even sectors (SC0, SC2, SC4) in (b)
... Are configured as shown in FIG. 3 (c), and FIG.
Odd sectors in (SC1, SC3, SC5 ...)
Is configured as shown in FIG. Each sector has a synchronization pattern (SYN) at the beginning as shown in FIGS.
C), and a header in which the address is recorded is provided,
Subsequently, a subheader is provided. Then, the actual audio data is recorded following the subheader. The sound data to be recorded is a 212-byte sound frame S
F is the minimum data unit, and each sector includes 11 sound frames. One sound frame is L
Alternatively, it is data obtained by compressing an audio signal of 11.6 msec for the R channel.

Here, first, even-numbered sectors include L-channel sound frame SF _(L0) , R-channel sound frame SF _(R0) , L-channel sound frame SF _(L1) ,. , R are recorded alternately for each channel, and the sound frame S of the L channel is recorded.
F _(L5) is recorded. On the other hand, in the odd-numbered sectors, the sound frame SF _{(R5) of} the R channel, the sound frame SF _{(L6) of} the _L channel, the sound frame SF _{(R6) of} the R channel are recorded alternately. Up to the sound frame SF _(R10) .

One sound group (SG0 to SG10) is constituted by the pair of L and R sound frames. Accordingly, the first half of the sound groups SG0 to SG4 and the sound group SG5 are recorded in the even-numbered sectors, and the second half of the sound group SG5 to the sound group 10 are recorded in the odd-numbered sectors. Will be recorded.

<4. P-TOC Sector> Here, the P-TOC sector will be described first as management information for managing the recording / reproducing operation of the audio data and the video data on the disk 1. As the P-TOC information, designation of an area such as a recordable area (recordable user area) of the disc, management of a U-TOC area, and the like are performed. When the disc 1 is a pre-mastered disc which is a read-only optical disc, it is also possible to manage music recorded in a ROM by the P-TOC.

FIG. 4 shows the format of the P-TOC.
FIG. 4 shows P-TOC repeatedly recorded in an area used for P-TOC (for example, a ROM area on the innermost peripheral side of the disk).
One sector (sector 0) of the TOC information is shown. The P-TOC is optional for sector 1 and subsequent sectors following sector 0.

The data area of the P-TOC sector (4 bytes × 588, 2352 bytes) has an all 0
Alternatively, a synchronization pattern composed of all-one 1-byte data is provided, followed by a 4-byte header including an address indicating a cluster address and a sector address.

Following the header, an identification ID using an ASCII code corresponding to the character "MINI" is added at a predetermined address position. Then, the disc type and recording level, the track number of the first track recorded (First TNO), the track number of the last track (Last TNO), the sector usage status (Used sectors), and the lead-out start address RO _A , Power cal area start address PC
_A , U-TOC (U-TOC sector 0 in FIG. 5 described later)
Start address UST _A of the data area) of the start address RST _A, etc. recordable area (recordable user area) is recorded.

Subsequently, there is provided a correspondence table instruction data section having table pointers (P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) for associating each recorded music or the like with a parts table in a management table section described later.

In the area following the corresponding table instruction data portion, (01h) to (FF) correspond to the table pointers (P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) in the corresponding table instruction data portion.
A management table section provided with 255 parts tables up to h) is prepared (note that “h” in this specification).
The numerical value marked with is in a so-called hexadecimal notation). In each of the parts tables, a start address as a starting point, an end address as an end, and mode information (track mode) of the segment (track) for a certain segment can be recorded.

The track mode information in each part table includes, for example, information indicating whether the segment is set to prohibit overwriting or data copying,
Whether the information is audio information, a monaural / stereo type, and the like are recorded.

Each part table from (01h) to (FFh) in the management table section indicates the contents of the segment by the table pointer (P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) of the corresponding table instruction data section. In other words, for the first song, a part table (for example, (01h)) is used as the table pointer P-TNO1. However, the table pointer is actually a byte position in the P-TOC sector 0 by a predetermined calculation process. In this case, the start address of the parts table (01h) is the start address of the recording position of the first music piece, and the end address is the same as the end address of the first music piece. The end address of the position where the first song is recorded. Further, the track mode information is information on the first music piece.

Similarly, for the second tune, the parts table indicated by the table pointer P-TNO2 (for example, (02h))
The start address, the end address, and the track mode information of the recording position of the second music piece are recorded in the record. Similarly, since the table pointer is prepared up to the P-TNO255, it is possible to manage up to the 255th music on the P-TOC. By forming the P-TOC sector 0 in this manner, for example, at the time of reproduction, a predetermined music piece can be accessed and reproduced.

In the case of a recordable / reproducible magneto-optical disc, since there is no so-called premastered music area, the above-described correspondence table instruction data section and management table section are not used (these are referred to as U-recording sections). TO
C), so that each byte is set to "00h". However, for a hybrid type disc having both a ROM area and a magneto-optical area as areas for recording music and the like, the correspondence table instruction data section and the management table section are used to manage the music in the ROM area. .

<5. U-TOC sector> followed by U-T
The OC will be described. FIG. 5 shows the format of the first sector (U-TOC sector 0) of the U-TOC, and mainly shows the music recorded by the user and the unrecorded area (free area) where new music can be recorded. This is a data area in which management information is recorded. Note that U
-TOC is optional for sector 1 and subsequent sectors following sector 0. However, in the present embodiment, in order to realize the operation of the disk device shown in FIG. 1 which can record / reproduce not only audio but also video, this U-TO
A sector having the same format as that of the C sector 0 (for example, U-TOC sector 6) is prepared. And this U
-TOC sector 0 is management information only for audio data, and is used for recording / reproducing operations by the disk device of FIG.
1 is used as management information when performing a recording / reproducing operation of only audio data in the disk device of FIG.
The TOC sector 6 is used as management information when the disk device of FIG. 1 performs simultaneous recording / reproducing operations of audio data and video data.

In the mini-disc system, when a certain music piece is to be recorded on the disc 1, the system controller 11 searches for a free area on the disc from the U-TOC, and records audio data there. It is made to be able to go. At the time of reproduction, the area in which the music to be reproduced is recorded is determined from the U-TOC, and the reproduction operation is performed by accessing the area.

In the U-TOC sector (sector 0) shown in FIG. 5, a synchronization pattern and a header are first provided similarly to the P-TOC, and then a maker code, a model code, and a first music piece are placed at predetermined address positions. Track number (First TN
O), last track number (LastTNO), sector usage
(Used sectors), disk serial number, disk I
Data such as D is recorded.

Usage status of 1 byte (8 bits) sector
The first to eighth bits of (Used sectors) are their MSB
LSB correspond to the U-TOC sector 7 to the U-TOC sector 0, and not only the audio data but also the video data are recorded on the disc 1, and the U-TOC sector is recorded as described above.
When the sector 6 is used, for example, the U-TOC
Used sectors in sector 0
The bit (second bit) corresponding to the U-TOC sector 6 is set to "1", thereby determining that the disc is a disc in which video data and audio data are mixed.

Further, in the U-TOC sector 0, the correspondence table instruction data is used to identify the area of the music or the unrecorded area recorded by the user by associating it with a management table section described later. Various table pointers (P-DFA, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-
An area for recording TNO1 to P-TNO255) is prepared.

Then, 255 parts tables (01h) to (FFh) are provided as a management table section to be associated with the table pointers (P-DFA to P-TNO255) of the corresponding table instruction data section. 4, a start address serving as a starting point, an end address serving as an end, and mode information (track mode) of the segment are recorded in the same manner as the P-TOC sector 0 in FIG. This U-TO
In the case of C sector 0, since the segment indicated by each part table may be successively connected to another segment, link information indicating the part table in which the start address and end address of the connected segment are recorded Can be recorded.

In this type of recording / reproducing apparatus, for example, the data of one music piece is physically discontinuous, that is, a plurality of segments (the segment means a track portion on which physically continuous data is recorded). ), There is no problem in the playback operation by playing back while accessing between segments, so for the music etc. to be recorded by the user, for the purpose of efficient use of the recordable area, etc. Sometimes they are recorded separately. When video data and audio data are mixed, they are multiplexed in a time-division manner, so that, for example, audio data of one music is segment-divided.

For this purpose, link information is provided, for example, the numbers (01h) to (FFh) given to each parts table.
(Actually, U-TOC sector 0 is determined by a predetermined arithmetic processing.
The part tables to be connected can be connected by designating the part tables to be connected. (Because music or the like recorded in advance on a premastered disc dedicated to audio data is not usually divided into segments, as shown in FIG.
In C sector 0, the link information is all "(00h)". )

That is, in the management table section in the U-TOC sector 0, one part table expresses one segment. For example, music composed of three segments connected is connected by link information. The segment position is managed by the three parts tables.

Each part table from (01h) to (FFh) in the management table section of the U-TOC sector 0 is a table pointer (P-DF) in the corresponding table instruction data section.
A, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-TNO1 ~ P-TNO255)
The contents of the segment are shown as follows.

The table pointer P-DFA indicates a defective area on the magneto-optical disk 1, and indicates a track portion (= segment) which becomes a defective area due to a scratch or the like.
One part table or the first part table in a plurality of part tables is specified. In other words, if there is a defective segment, the table pointer P-DFA
One of (01h) to (FFh) is recorded, and the corresponding part table indicates a defective segment by a start and end address. If another defective segment exists, another part table is specified as link information in the part table, and the defective segment is also shown in the part table. If there is no other defective segment, the link information is set to "(00h)", for example, and there is no link thereafter.

The table pointer P-EMPTY indicates the head part table of one or a plurality of unused part tables in the management table section. If there is an unused part table, the table pointer P-EMPTY is set as the table pointer P-EMPTY. , (01h) to (FFh) are recorded.
If there are multiple unused part tables, the part table specified by the table pointer P-EMPTY is sequentially specified by link information, and all unused part tables are connected on the management table section Is done.

The table pointer P-FRA indicates a free area (including an erasure area) on which data can be written on the magneto-optical disk 1, and a track 1 (= segment) indicating a free area track portion (= segment) is indicated. The first part table in multiple parts tables is specified. In other words, if there is a free area, the table pointer P-
In the FRA, any one of (01h) to (FFh) is recorded, and in the corresponding parts table, a segment which is a free area is indicated by a start and end address. When there are a plurality of such segments, that is, when there are a plurality of parts tables, the link information sequentially designates the parts tables whose link information is "(00h)".

FIG. 6 schematically shows the management state of a segment that becomes a free area using a parts table. This is because when the segment (03h) (18h) (1Fh) (2Bh) (E3h) is set as a free area, this state will be
Following P-FRA, parts table (03h) (18h) (1Fh) (2Bh)
The state represented by the link (E3h) is shown. It should be noted that the above-described management of the defective area and the unused parts table is the same.

By the way, if it is a magneto-optical disk on which no sound data such as music is recorded and there is no defect,
Parts table (01h) by table pointer P-FRA
This indicates that the entire recordable user area of the disc is an unrecorded area (free area). And, in this case, it remains (02h)-(FFh)
Because the parts table of is not used,
The parts table (02h) is specified by the table pointer P-EMPTY, the parts table (03h) is specified as the link information of the parts table (02h), and the part table (03h) is specified as the link information of the part table (03h).
(04h) is specified, and the parts table (FFh)
Is linked to In this case, the link information of the parts table (FFh) is set to "(00h)" indicating that there is no connection thereafter. At this time, in the parts table (01h), the start address of the recordable user area is recorded as the start address, and the address immediately before the lead-out start address is recorded as the end address.

The table pointers P-TNO1 to P-TNO255 indicate the music recorded by the user on the magneto-optical disk 1. For example, the table pointer P-TNO1 has one or more pieces of data on which the data of the first music is recorded. The part table indicating the temporally leading segment of the segments is specified.

For example, in the case of the first music piece, the tracks are not divided on the disk (that is, in one segment).
If it has been recorded, the recording area of the first music piece is recorded as a start and end address in the parts table indicated by the table pointer P-TNO1.

When the second music piece is discretely recorded in a plurality of segments on the disc, for example, each segment is designated in order of time to indicate the recording position of the music piece. In other words, from the part table specified by the table pointer P-TNO2, another part table is sequentially specified by the link information according to the temporal order, and linked to the part table in which the link information is "(00h)". (Same form as above, FIG. 6). In this way, for example, since all the segments in which the data constituting the second tune are recorded are sequentially designated and recorded, the data of the U-TOC sector 0 can be used to reproduce the second tune or the second tune. When performing overwriting on the area, it is possible to access the optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6 to extract continuous music information from discrete segments, and to perform recording using the recording area efficiently.

As described above, the area management on the disk is P
The audio data such as music recorded in the recordable user area and the free area where audio data can be recorded are recorded by the U-TOC. The TOC information is read into the buffer RAM 13 so that the system controller 11 can refer to it.

By the way, in the present embodiment, especially in the case of a disk in which video data and audio data are mixed,
In the U-TOC sector 0, it is not appropriate to manage a segment in which video data is recorded as a recordable area or a reproduction area. For this reason,
The segment where the video data is recorded is an invalid area (for example, a table pointer) in the U-TOC sector 0.
Defect area linked and managed from P-DFA) or nonexistent area (table pointer P-FRA)
Or an area that is not connected to any of P-TNO1 to P-TNO255). That is, depending on the U-TOC sector 0, the segment in which the video data is recorded cannot be recorded / reproduced.
Although a specific management method for recording / reproducing audio data and video data will be described later, this management is realized in the U-TOC sector 6. In the present embodiment, U-
It is assumed that the structure of TOC sector 6 is similar to the structure of U-TOC sector 0 shown in FIG.

<6. Audio Data Sector Structure on Disk> The format of the sector in which audio data is recorded is set as shown in FIG. This sector (23
(52 bytes), the first 12 bytes are used as synchronization data, 3 bytes are set for a cluster address and a sector address, and the next 1 byte is used as a mode and used as a header.

Four bytes following the header are used as a subheader, and the byte following the subheader, that is, the second
2332 bytes from the first byte to the 2352nd byte are used as a data area (Data0 to Data2331). In the 2332-byte data area, 11 units of a 212-byte sound frame (see FIG. 3) are recorded. Therefore, a 5.5-unit sound group is recorded in one sector, and the sector address is an even number (address L).
An 11-unit sound group is recorded in two sectors, an even-numbered sector whose SB is 0) and an odd-numbered sector whose sector address is odd (the LSB of the address is 1).

<7. Video Data Sector Structure on Disk> The format of the sector of video data recorded in a time-division multiplexed manner with audio data is set as shown in FIG. Also in this sector (2352 bytes), the leading 12 bytes are used as synchronous data, 3 bytes are set for a cluster address and a sector address, and the next 1 byte is used as a mode and used as a header.

The 8 bytes following the header are used as a subheader, and the bytes following the subheader, that is, the second
2324 bytes from the 5th byte to the 2348th byte are the area (PACK) of video data (one pack of video data).
-Data0 to PACK-Data2323). This 2324
In the byte data area, one frame of video signal compressed and coded according to the MPEG system is recorded as one pack of video data. Last 4 of the sector
The bytes are reserved.

FIG. 9 shows the video data sector of FIG. 8 and the audio data sector of FIG. 7 in a simplified manner so that they can be compared.

<8. Video data generation method> where MP
Video data compressed and coded according to the EG method will be described. In the present embodiment, the video signal before compression is set to NT
The SC system is used. In the case of the NTSC system, one second is constituted by a video signal of 30 frames. MPEG
In this method, each video signal (one frame) is divided into blocks (330 blocks in 22 horizontal blocks divided into 15 vertical blocks divided) in the plane direction, and the data of each block is subjected to DCT conversion to further reduce the number of bits. For this purpose, requantization is performed (the high-frequency component is set to 0). Then, the blocks are rearranged in a zigzag order from the block at the upper left of the screen of one frame, and run-length coding is performed to further compress the number of bits.

Each frame of the video signal which is subjected to the compression processing in this way is very similar as the video information before and after the temporal frame, and the information is further compressed using this. , Three types of video data having different degrees of compression (video data of one frame) are provided. These are an I picture (Intra Picture), a P picture (Predicated Picture), and a B picture (Bidirecti).
onari Picture).

In general, I picture, P picture and B picture are arranged as shown in FIG. 10 (a) for each of 30 frames per second.
For example, in this case, frames at 1/2 second intervals are defined as I pictures I ₁ and I _2, and eight P pictures P ₁ to P ₁ .
P ₈ and 20 B pictures B _{1 to} B ₂₀ are arranged as shown.

The I picture is regular image data encoded by DCT as described above. As shown in FIG. 10B, the P picture is generated by coding using the motion compensation from the closest I picture or P picture. For example, P picture P ₁ is I picture I ₁
And P picture P ₂ is replaced by P picture P ₁
Is generated using Therefore, the P picture is compressed from the I picture. Since an error is generated from the preceding I picture or P picture, the error propagates.

The B picture is generated using both past and future I pictures or P pictures as shown in FIG. For example, B pictures B ₁ and B ₂ are generated using I picture I ₁ and P picture P ₁ ,
Pictures B ₃ and B ₄ are generated using P picture P ₁ and P picture P ₂ . The B picture is the most compressed data. In addition, since it is not a data generation reference, no error is propagated.

In the MPEG algorithm, it is allowed to select the position and synchronization of an I picture, and this selection is determined from circumstances such as the degree of random access and scene cut. For example, if emphasis is placed on random access, FIG.
At least two I-pictures are required for one second as in 0 (a). Further, the frequency of the P picture and the B picture can be selected, which is set according to the memory capacity of the encoding means.

Further, the encoding means in the MPEG system rearranges and outputs the video data stream so that the efficiency is improved in the decoder.
For example, in the case of FIG. 10 (a), the frame order to be displayed (decoder output order) is the same as the frame number shown in the lower part of FIG. 10 (a). An earlier P-picture is required as a reference. Therefore, on the encoder side, the frame order of FIG.
They are rearranged as shown in (b) and transmitted as a video data stream.

<9. Track structure in which audio data and video data are mixed> In the present embodiment, the MPEG
It allows video data compressed according to the system to be recorded / reproduced simultaneously with audio data.
For example, when considering audio data of a certain music piece and video data as an image corresponding to the music piece, the data structure of one music piece (track N) is as shown in FIG.
Note that FM is a front margin, RM is a rear margin, and these are vacant data areas of 15 sectors or more.

The video data as the video data stream and the audio data as the audio data stream are shown in FIG.
As shown in 3, the data is multiplexed in a time-division manner by n: 1 interleaving and recorded on the disk. here,
V _MPEG indicates a data unit as video data, and _AMD indicates a data unit as audio data. These data units have, for example, at least a length of 4 clusters, and are interleaved with this being the minimum unit.

FIG. 13 shows the head of the track N in FIG. 12 in detail.
M is composed of 15 or more empty sectors E.
_Assuming that each video data unit V _MPEG has four clusters (144 sectors), the first sector in the video data unit V _{MPEG at} the head of the music is a video data sector V _sh to which a system header is added. , The normal video data sector V is continued. The video data sectors _Vsh and V have the format described with reference to FIG. Assuming that each audio data unit _AMD is, for example, four clusters (144 sectors), each audio data unit _AMD has
The audio data sector shown in FIG.

<10. In the video data format> where pack data of 2324 bytes in the video data sector V _sh and V (in FIG. 8 PACK-Data0~PACK-Data232
The usage form of 3) will be described below. FIG. 14A shows the structure of the video data sector shown in FIG. 9 again, and the structure of one pack of the video data is shown in FIGS. 14B to 14E. . FIG. 14B shows the pack data for the video data sector _Vsh which is the head sector of the music.

A pack header of 12 bytes (PACK-Data0 to PACK-Data11) is provided at the head of the pack data in the sector. The pack header is provided with a 4-byte pack start code, followed by a 5-byte system clock reference (SCR), and finally with a 3-byte MUX rate.

System clock reference (SCR)
Is a kind of code that means absolute time.
A PTS (Presentation Time Stamp: image output start time) is determined based on R. This SCR is
(i) = C + i * 1200. i is the index number of the sector in the video data stream, which is set to “0” in the front margin FM at the beginning. C is a constant and is always “0”. 1200 is 75Hz
90KHz system clock value in the sector (90000/75
= 1200). The pack header is provided in all sectors ( _Vsh , V) of the video data.

[0089] In the video data sector V _sh, subsequent to the pack header 15 bytes (PACK-Data12 ~PACK-Dat
a26) The system header is provided. Then, 2297 bytes following the system header (PACK-Data27 to PACK-D
ata2323) is a padding packet normally filled with FFh. The 15-byte system header is configured as shown in FIG. First, a 4-byte system header start code is provided, followed by a 2-byte rate bound. After that, one byte each, audio bound, fixed flag, CSPS flag,
A system audio lock flag, a system video lock flag, a video bound, a stream ID, an STD buffer bound scale, and an STD buffer size bound are provided.

In the video data sector V following such a video data sector _Vsh , FIGS. 14 (c), (d) and (e)
It is configured as follows. At least video data sector V
The video data sector V following the _sh is configured as shown in FIG. 14C, that is, a packet header of 18 bytes (PACK-Data12 to PACK-Data29) is provided following the pack header. 2294 bytes (PACK
-Data30 to PACK-Data2323) are video packets,
Actual video data is recorded.

The packet header is configured as shown in FIG. 16A, and the first three bytes are used as a packet start code. And 1 byte ID, 2 byte packet length,
1-byte STD buffer scale, 1-byte STD
A buffer size, a 5-byte PTS, and a 5-byte DTS (decoding time stamp) are recorded. The PTS, which is the image output start time, is set so as to synchronize with the audio data. DTS indicates a decoding start time.

In the first image data sector V,
As shown in FIG. 14 (c), the maximum size of the video packet is 2294 bytes. However, in the subsequent sectors, the STD buffer scale, STD buffer size, PTS, and DTS in the packet header can be omitted. It can be 6 bytes as in b). In this case, the configuration of one pack is as shown in FIG. 14D, and the video packet is expanded to 2306 bytes.
As for the last video data sector V in one song (track N), as shown in FIG. 14E, a 4-byte end code is recorded at the end of the sector.

<11. Recording / reproduction management method> In the present embodiment, the video data configured as described above is recorded / reproduced on / from the disk 1 together with the audio data in the original mini-disc system. The management method for is described.

Now, it is assumed that audio data of a certain music piece (for example, track 1) and video data corresponding thereto are recorded on the disk 1 as shown in FIG. That is, the audio data of a certain music piece is divided into _{AMD1 to} AMD _(n) segments, and is recorded after being interleaved with the video data V _MPEG . For example, A _{MD1 to} A _MD
Each segment of _{MD (n)} has an audio data amount corresponding to, for example, about 8 seconds. Also, 4 to 6 units of video data (V _MPEG ) located between the audio data segments is equivalent to about 8 seconds of video data. It is the amount of data. Where Ad
_{1 to} Ad _(N) indicate addresses on the disk 1.

As described above, in the U-TOC sector 0, only the audio data segment in such data is managed. However, in order to indicate that video data is mixed and simultaneous recording and reproduction of video data and audio data are managed in, for example, the U-TOC sector 6, the sector usage status (Used) in the U-TOC sector 0 is used. The second bit serving as the information of the U-TOC sector 6 in (sectors) is "1".

In the U-TOC sector 0, a link structure as shown in FIG. 18, for example, is formed following the table pointer P-TNO1 in order to manage the first music piece. For example, if the table pointer P-TNO1 had shown the part table "02h", the part table (02h) is used to manage the audio data segment A _MD1, in other words start address Ad _3, the end address is Ad
₄ is recorded, for example, a parts table (03h) is recorded as link information. Linked part table (03h) becomes to be used to manage the audio data segment A _MD2, i.e. the start address Ad _7, the end address are recorded as Ad _8, for example, the part table as the link information (04h) Is recorded.

Further, the linked parts table (04
h) is used for management of the audio data segment A _MD3 , the start address is recorded as Ad ₁₁ , the end address is recorded as Ad _12, and the link information of the parts table that continuously manages the audio data segment (A _MD4 ) Is recorded.

The link form described above includes a parts table (for example, a parts table (0Eh)) for the audio data segment A _{MD (n).}
In h), the start address is recorded as Ad _(N-1) and the end address is recorded as Ad _(N), and the link information is set to "00h" indicating no link thereafter.

In the U-TOC sector 0, the portion where the video data is recorded must be neither a song nor a newly recordable free area. Assuming that the table pointer P-
It will be managed by the link structure from DFA.

For example, if the table pointer P-DFA indicates the parts table "10h", the parts table (10h) contains the video data segments (V _{MPEG1 to} V _MPEG1 ).
_MPEG6 ) is indicated as a defect area, that is, the start address is recorded as Ad ₁ and the end address is recorded as Ad _2.
h) is recorded.

The linked parts table (11h) is used for managing the video data segment (V _{MPEG7 to} V _MPEG10 ) as a defect area. That is, the start address is Ad ₅ and the end address is Ad _6. Then, for example, a parts table (15h) is recorded as link information.

Further, the linked parts table (15
h) is used for managing the video data segment (V _{MPEG11 to} V _MPEG14 ) as a defect area, and the start address is Ad ₉ and the end address is Ad.
₁₀ and the video data segment (V
Link information of a parts table that manages _MPEG15- ) as a defect area is recorded.

In the above-mentioned link form, this music piece has a part table (for example, a part table (1F) for video data segments (V _{MPEG (m-3) to} V _{MPEG (m)} ).
h)), the start address is Ad _(N-3) and the end address is Ad in the parts table (1Fh).
_(N-2) is recorded. Here, as the link information, link information to a parts table that manages the next video data segment is recorded so that video data segments of other music pieces are also regarded as defect areas. If only one song is recorded and no actual defect area exists, the link information in the parts table (1Fh) is set to "00h" indicating no link.

In the U-TOC sector 0, the audio data segment is managed as a music piece as described above, while the video data segment is managed as an unrecordable / reproducible area as a damaged area.

On the other hand, in U-TOC sector 6, which is configured similarly to U-TOC sector 0, segment management is performed so that video and audio output are performed simultaneously. In this case, the segment is divided into the video data portion V
Not performed between _MPEG and audio data portion A _MD, for example, up to V _MPEG1 ~A _{MD (n)} is regarded as one segment. (If this track is divided in the middle and recorded at physically separated positions, it is managed as two or more segments by two or more parts tables.)

Then, in order to manage the data of the first music piece in the U-TOC sector 6, this segment is indicated as shown in FIG. 20, for example, following the table pointer P-TNO1. For example, if the table pointer P-TNO1 indicates the parts table "02h", the parts table (0
In 2h), if the start address is recorded as Ad ₁ and the end address is recorded as Ad _(N), and if this track (first song) is physically continuously recorded on the disk 1, the link information is “00h”. Is recorded as Also, this U
-In TOC sector 6, table pointer P-FRA
Thereafter, an area in which data (video data or audio data) is not actually recorded is managed as a free area.

As described above, since the recorded audio and video data are managed in the U-TOC sector 0 and the U-TOC sector 6, such a disk 1 is different from the disk device shown in FIG. Compatibility among the disk devices. That is, in the disk device of FIG. 2 which is a recording / reproducing apparatus for only audio data, by performing a reproducing operation using the U-TOC sector 0, it is possible to execute a reproducing output of only audio and to record video data. Area is managed as a free area (table pointer P-FR
A is not regarded as a recording / reproducing area as a defect area, so that the video data is not erased by the recording operation of the audio data.

Further, in the disk device of FIG. 1 corresponding to both audio and video, the U-T
Used sector in OC sector 0
If the information that the U-TOC sector 6 is used (second bit = 1) is recorded when confirming s), it can be determined that the disc 1 also has video data recorded thereon, In this case, referring to the U-TOC sector 6, the video data (V _MPEG ) and the audio data ( _AMD )
Can be reproduced and scanned as it is.

At this time, whether the data read from the disk is video data or audio data is determined by the system decoder 22 as described above, and under the control of the system decoder 22, the encoder / decoder section 14 and the encoder By performing synchronous control of the decode output in the / decoder unit 21, video and audio can be reproduced and output simultaneously. Therefore, using the mini-disc system, it is possible to use it as a karaoke with video or video equipment similar to a laser disk device or VTR device. When recording video data and audio data, a free area is searched from the table pointer P-FRA in the U-TOC sector 6, and a track (music or the like) in the form shown in FIG. 17 is recorded. Become.

In the disk device of FIG. 1, when the second bit in the sector usage status (Used sectors) in U-TOC sector 0 is “0”, the U-TOC
Since the sector 6 is not used, that is, there is no video data, the recording / reproduction of the audio data can be performed using the U-TOC sector 0 as it is. Further, even if the disc has video data, the U-file may be used in response to a user's mode selection operation, for example.
Recording / reproduction of only audio data using TOC sector 0 may be performed.

In this embodiment, the U-TOC
In the sector 0, the video data segment is managed by considering it as a defect area, but may be a segment that does not appear on the management table at all. That is, the table pointers P-FRA, P-DFA, P-TNO1 to P-TN
The segment is not indicated by any of the part tables linked from each of O255, and is regarded as an area that does not exist on the disc in U-TOC sector 0.

The management of simultaneous recording / reproduction of video and audio is not limited to the U-TOC sector 6, but may be another sector in the U-TOC. When such a disc in which video data and audio data are mixed is created as a pre-mastered disk for reproduction only, the above-described U-data in the P-TOC sector 0 is used.
Only the audio data such as the TOC sector 0 is managed, and in the other sectors in the P-TOC, the U
-Management such as TOC sector 6 may be performed.

Further, the present invention can be applied to a hybrid type having an area in which data is stored in a ROM and a magneto-optical area in which data can be recorded / reproduced. For example, the ROM data is stored in P-TOC sector 0 and P-TOC sector 6. U-TOC sector 0 and U-TOC sector 6
For the magneto-optical data, audio data and audio and video data may be managed in the same manner as described above.

In the embodiment, the disk device is a recording / reproducing device. However, the disk device can be realized as a reproduction-only device or a recording-only device.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to a system in which video data that is simultaneously recorded and reproduced is added to audio data, the present invention is applied to, for example, L and R audio data. A system for recording and reproducing by adding two-channel audio data of the center and the rear is realized, and when video data is added, a still image is recorded and reproduced instead of a moving image. A system such as a still camera that performs reproduction can also be used.

<12. Management Method for Obtaining Reproduction Prohibited Part Only in Normal U-TOC Sector> By the way, as can be seen from the method described above, an area (segment) managed from the table pointer P-DFA in the U-TOC sector
Is an area that cannot be recorded / reproduced by a normal operation using the U-TOC sector. By utilizing this, it is possible to manage audio and video data that is desired to be kept secret and to allow only a specific user to reproduce the data. That is, it is possible to generate data that the data portion cannot be recorded / reproduced without inputting the password (such data is referred to as reproduction prohibition designation data for the sake of explanation).

As described above, two methods will be described as to the management / reproduction method of generating the reproduction inhibition designation data using the table pointer P-DFA and inputting the password.
One is a management method / reproduction method for obtaining a reproduction prohibited part only in a normal U-TOC sector. Here the usual UT
The OC sector refers to a sector such as the sector 0 or the sector 6 in the above-mentioned U-TOC. The other method is a management method / reproduction method when a password request U-TOC sector is used.
The sector refers to a sector prepared in addition to the sector 0 or the sector 6 in the above-mentioned U-TOC.

Note that the two types of systems described below are not limited to the above-described mixed audio / video disc using U-TOC sectors 0 and 6, but also to a disc in which only audio data is recorded, and also to an audio / video It is possible to realize a disk which does not have the compatibility as described above even if the disk is a mixed disk.

First, a description will be given of a management method for obtaining a reproduction prohibited portion only in a normal U-TOC sector. now,
It is assumed that five tracks from track 1 to track 5 are recorded on the disk 1 as shown in FIG. Assuming that the disk 1 is a mixed audio / video disk, tracks 1 to 5 have data recorded thereon as described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, respectively. U recorded in the lead-in area
-Only the audio data can be reproduced in the TOC sector 0, and the U-
It is managed so that audio and video data can be reproduced simultaneously in the TOC sector 6 (mixed compatibility disc).

In the case of a disk containing only audio data, all the sectors in the main data area are allocated as shown in FIG.
(D), data is recorded in the format described with reference to FIG. 7, and its management is performed in U-TOC sector 0;
-TOC sector 6 is not used (audio disc).

Further, although not mentioned in the description of the above-described embodiment, a disc which is a mixed audio / video disc and which is not compatible with the audio-compatible disc apparatus shown in FIG. Conceivable. That is, data is recorded on the tracks 1 to 5 as described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, respectively.
The audio and video data are managed so as to be reproduced simultaneously in sector 0, and only the audio data is not managed for reproduction (mixed incompatible disc).

The three types of discs (ie, mixed compatible disc, audio disc, and mixed incompatible disc) will be described together. The recording state of FIG.
It is managed as shown in FIG. The U-TOC sector in FIG. 22 indicates U-TOC sector 6 for a mixed compatible disc, and U-TOC sector 0 for an audio disc or a mixed incompatible disc.

[0123] As in FIG. 22, a track 1 part table from the table pointer P-TNO1 (01h) is designated, the start address A ₂₀ and the end address A ₂₁ is indicated. Similarly, for the tracks 2 to 5, the start and end addresses are indicated by the parts tables (02h) to (05h) indicated by the table pointers P-TNO2 to P-TNO5, respectively.

Here, if the user wants to set reproduction prohibition data for track 3 to maintain confidentiality or the like, the user operates the disk device used to register reproduction prohibition of track 3 and Enter your PIN. The input personal identification number is stored in the internal or external RAM of the system controller 11 in the disk device of FIG. 1 or FIG. Note that this RAM needs to have a backup configuration so that data is not lost even when the power is turned off, or be configured with a nonvolatile RAM or the like.

When the reproduction prohibition registration operation is performed on the track 3 in this way, the system controller 11 rewrites the TOC data read in the RAM 13 and writes it on the disk 1.

That is, the U-TOC sector 6 or sector 0 is rewritten as shown in FIG. First, the segment (addresses A ₂₄ to A ₂₅₎ serving as the track 3 is incorporated as a part table designated by the table pointer P-DFA as the defect area (03h). Tracks 1, 2, 4, and 5 are managed as the first to fourth tracks by the parts tables (01h), (02h), (04h), and (05h) indicated by the table pointers P-TNO1 to P-TNO4, respectively. Thus, apparently, only four tracks are usually managed.

When the reproduction prohibition registration operation is performed on both track 3 and track 5, for example, the system controller 11 rewrites the U-TOC sector 6 or sector 0 as shown in FIG. That is, the segment (addresses A ₂₈ to A ₂₉₎ serving as the track 5 and the segment (addresses A ₂₄ to A ₂₅₎ serving as the track 3 parts table designated by the table pointer P-DFA as the defect area (03h) (05h ), And tracks 1, 2, and 4 are managed as the first to third tracks by the parts tables (01h), (02h), and (04h) indicated by the table pointers P-TNO1 to P-TNO3, respectively. Is done.

Further, for example, when the operation of the reproduction inhibition registration is performed for all of the tracks 1 to 5, the system controller 11 rewrites the U-TOC sector 6 or the sector 0 as shown in FIG. In other words, each segment comprising a track 1-5 is collectively as one segment (addresses A ₂₀ to A _29), which is incorporated as a part table designated by the table pointer P-DFA as the defect area (01h) The part table is not specified by the table pointer P-TNO *.

Although FIG. 25 shows a state in which the segments are grouped into one segment, each segment is linked and managed as a defect area while being divided into parts tables (01h) to (05h). You may.

For example, by performing the management as shown in FIGS. 23 to 25, an area registered as reproduction inhibition is set as a defect area during normal reproduction and is not reproduced.

FIGS. 23 to 25 show a specific example, and a similar state may be entered in the same reproduction prohibition registration state. For example, the actual state varies depending on the part table used, the link form of each track, and the like.

When it is desired to register a part of a certain track as reproduction inhibition, track division editing processing is performed to make that part into one track, and a reproduction inhibition registration operation is performed on the track. If there are a plurality of data portions to be registered as playback prohibition, each data portion is divided and edited as one track, and then each track is connected and edited to be combined into one track (or according to the designation of a plurality of tracks). The system controller 11 automatically performs the link editing) and incorporates it into the defect area. That is, the configuration may be as shown in FIGS.

In the case of a read-only disc, PT
Similarly, a predetermined area in the OC sector 6 or 0 may be managed as a defect area (by the disc manufacturer).

<13. Reproduction method when reproduction prohibited area is obtained only in normal U-TOC sector> FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 shows a disc which may have been managed in this manner.
26 performs the processing shown in FIG. 26 during reproduction.

When a reproduction operation is performed (F101), it is first determined whether or not there is a defect area on the disc, that is, an area for which reproduction inhibition has been designated (F102). For this determination, the disk device of FIG. 1 first determines whether or not the U-TOC sector 6 is used from the sector usage status of the U-TOC sector 0, and determines whether the U-TOC sector 6 is used, that is, whether it is a mixed compatible disk. For example, it is determined whether the table pointer P-DFA of the U-TOC sector 6 is "00h" or whether a certain parts table is designated.

If the U-TOC sector 6 is not used, that is, if it is an audio disk or a mixed incompatible disk, the table pointer P-DF of the U-TOC sector 0 is used.
It is determined whether A is "00h" or whether a certain parts table is designated. In the case of the disk device shown in FIG. 2, the determination is made based on the table pointer P-DFA of the U-TOC sector 0.

If the table pointer P-DFA is "00h", there is no reproduction prohibition designation data.
The process proceeds to F106 to start a normal reproduction operation. If the table pointer P-DFA is not "00h", it means that the reproduction prohibition designation data exists. Therefore, first, step F103
Prompts for a PIN. For example, a display prompting the input of a personal identification number is displayed on the display unit 20.

Here, when the user cannot input the correct password, that is, the password registered in the disk device, for example, when the user performs the reproduction execution operation again without inputting the password, or when the input cannot be performed for a predetermined time, If the time has elapsed, the process proceeds from step F105 to F107 to perform normal reproduction (the reproduction operation control is the same as step F106). In other words, only the data managed from the table pointer P-TNO * is reproduced, and the part regarded as a defect area for management is not reproduced at all. Therefore, only the data that is not registered as the reproduction prohibition is reproduced.

On the other hand, if the user has entered the correct password, the process proceeds from step F104 to F108, where the reproduction inhibition data is also reproduced. For example, following the reproduction of data managed from the table pointer P-TNO *, the table pointer
It also plays back data managed from P-DFA. Alternatively, in this case, only the data managed from the table pointer P-DFA may be reproduced.

That is, in the operation of step F108, the data managed from the table pointer P-DFA in the U-TOC sector 6 in the case of the mixed compatibility disk, and the data managed by the U-TOC sector 6 in the case of the audio disk or the mixed incompatible disk. -TO
The data managed from the table pointer P-DFA in the C sector 0 is reproduced.

By performing such processing, the user can conceal desired data by using a password.

In the case of a mixed compatibility disc in which video data portions are managed as defect areas in U-TOC sector 0, and when only audio is reproduced on the audio-compatible disc of FIG. TO
Since C sector 0 is used, U-TOC sector 6
It is conceivable that only the audio data in the data portion designated to be prohibited from being reproduced will be reproduced.

In order to prevent this, if the reproduction prohibition is specified, in the U-TOC sector 0, the audio data segments in the reproduction prohibition specified data portion are edited in the defect area together with the video data. It is possible to do it. Or, for the segment of the audio data for which the playback is prohibited,
In the U-TOC sector 0, the area is not included in the link from any table pointer and is an area that is not managed at all. That is, when the reproduction prohibition is specified, the audio data is reproduced at all by the audio-compatible disk device of FIG. In this case, the video / audio compatible disk device shown in FIG. 1 may be reproduced simultaneously with the video only when the password is input.

By the way, in the system described only above,
Only for a certain disk device for which a password has been registered, the reproduction prohibition designation data is not reproduced without the password.For example, if another person has registered the password on another disk device, the password is not used. Data can be reproduced. Therefore, this system is suitable as a device that can execute reproduction prohibition designation for relatively confidential data. For example, a disc on which video / audio for adults is recorded is protected from being seen by children at home. It is suitable as a means for performing such operations.

To provide a relatively high degree of confidentiality,
It is conceivable that the disk device holds data for identifying the disk together with the password. For example, for a disk in which part or all of the data has been designated as reproduction prohibition data, data unique to the disk is generated using a part of the TOC data as a custom file, and registered in a nonvolatile RAM or the like. deep. Further, as shown in the U-TOC sector in FIG. 5, a data area as a disc ID exists in the U-TOC,
By using this, an ID can be assigned to each disk with a 2-byte random number or a continuous numerical value, and this may be registered in a nonvolatile RAM or the like.

Since the disc device holds the identification information of the disc having the reproduction prohibition designation data in this way, the reproduction prohibition designation data is reproduced only by the disc device and when the personal identification number is input. Will be.

In other words, if there is reproduction prohibition designation data for a disc loaded for reproduction, FIG.
In the process of Step F104 of Step 6, the process proceeds to Step F108 only when a correct password is input and it is determined that the loaded disc is a disc registered as a disc ID or a custom file. .

If a higher level of confidentiality is required, a method of writing the input personal identification number on a disk may be considered. That is, a password can be written using unused bytes in the U-TOC sector 0 or sector 6. Then, the disk device does not hold the password in particular (in this case,
It is not necessary for the disk device to hold the password), and when the password is written in the U-TOC sector 0 or sector 6 at the time of reproducing the disk, the user is prompted to input the password, and the input password is input. And the password on the U-TOC match. If they match, the data managed from the table pointer P-DFA can be reproduced.

In this manner, the reproduction prohibition designation data cannot be reproduced with any disk device unless the written password is known. In this method, when a password is written on the U-TOC, it is preferable that another person cannot rewrite the password. For example, at the time of rewriting the personal identification number, a process of requesting the input of the personal identification number up to that time and performing the processing of rewriting to the newly input personal identification number only when the personal identification numbers match is performed.

<14. Management method when using password request U-TOC sector> By the way, in the method described above, the reproduction prohibition designation data is managed as being regarded as one track linked from the table pointer P-DFA. Even if the number is entered correctly, the original track may not be played back in some cases.

For example, when the reproduction prohibition of the track 3 in FIG. 21 is specified, the position as the third track is lost at the specified time, and the reproduction prohibition of the plural tracks such as the track 3 and the track 5 is specified. In such a case, they are linked and combined into one track, so that they cannot be reproduced in the order before designation.

Therefore, the above method does not cause a serious problem when each track is divided into one piece of music or the like, but when the data recorded on the disc is one movie or the like as a whole, a part of the data is reproduced. If you specify prohibition,
Even if a password is input, the original reproduction cannot be performed. For example, only the data portion of the track 3 is reproduced last, and the temporal order (story order) is incorrect.

Accordingly, a plurality of data portions can be individually designated as reproduction inhibition, and a password request U-TOC is used as a method for enabling reproduction in an original state (state before reproduction inhibition designation) at the time of inputting and reproducing a password. A management method / reproduction method when using a sector will be described.

This is to use a different U-TOC depending on whether a personal identification number is input or not at the time of reproduction. Normal U-TOC sectors such as U-TOC sector 0 and sector 6 described above are used. In addition to the U-TOC sector, the password request U-TOC sector is used. For example, U-
The case where the TOC sector 5 is the password request U-TOC sector will be described as an example.

For example, when an operation is performed to set a certain track to the reproduction prohibition designation data from the data state as shown in FIG. 21, rewriting in the U-TOC sector 6 or sector 0 is performed in the above-described example shown in FIGS. Similarly to the above, one or a plurality of segments serving as the reproduction prohibition designating data are collectively managed by a link from the table pointer P-DFA. However, this U-TOC sector 6 or sector 0
Before editing the file, make sure that the U-TO
The table pointer and the part table (that is, the data of FIG. 22) in sector C or sector 0 are shown in FIG.
7, the U-TOC sector 5 is written,
Let TOC sector 5 be a password request U-TOC sector.

When the data is written to the U-TOC sector 5 at the time of the operation of designating the reproduction prohibition, the bit corresponding to the sector 5 (third bit) is used as the information of the sector use status in the U-TOC sector 0. )
Is set to “1”.

Thus, the U-TOC sector 6 or 0
In the case of, when the reproduction is performed using the U-TOC sector 6 or 0, since the reproduction prohibition designation data portions are collectively regarded as the defect area as in the examples of FIGS. Prohibition specified data is not reproduced.

On the other hand, in the U-TOC sector 5,
As shown in FIG. 27, the reproduction prohibition designation data and the normal data are managed in a state before the reproduction prohibition designation.
If the reproduction is performed by using the OC sector 5, the reproduction can be performed in the original reproduction order, and each reproduction prohibition designation data portion is managed as one track. Even when the data is designated as prohibition, it is managed without being collected.

To cancel all the reproduction prohibition designation data, the information of the U-TOC sector 5 is written into the U-TOC sector 6 or 0, and the U-TOC sector 5 is set to be unused. , U-TOC sector 0
In this case, the bit (third bit) corresponding to the sector 5 may be rewritten to "0" as the information on the sector use status in this case, whereby the disk can be returned to the state before the reproduction prohibition was designated.

<15. Reproduction method in the case of using password request U-TOC sector> For a disk that may have been managed in such a method, the disk device of FIG. 1 or FIG. Will do it.

When a reproduction operation is performed (F201), it is first determined whether or not a reproduction prohibited area exists on the disc (F202). For this determination, in each of the disk devices of FIGS. 1 and 2, it is first determined whether or not the U-TOC sector 5 is used based on the sector usage status of the U-TOC sector 0. Regardless of the mixed compatibility disk, the audio disk, or the mixed incompatible disk, if the U-TOC sector 5 is used on the disk, there is an area designated to be prohibited from reproduction.

Here, if the U-TOC sector 5 is not used, since there is no reproduction prohibition designation data, the flow proceeds to step F206 to start a normal reproduction operation. If the reproduction prohibition designation data exists, the input of the personal identification number is requested in step F203. For example, a display prompting the input of a personal identification number is displayed on the display unit 20.

Here, if the user cannot input the correct password, that is, the password registered in the disk device, for example, if the user performs the reproduction execution operation again without inputting the password, or if the input cannot be performed for a predetermined time, If the time has elapsed, the process proceeds from step F205 to F207 to perform normal reproduction (the reproduction operation control is the same as step F206). That is, when the mixed compatible disc is reproduced by the disc device of FIG. 1, the U-TOC sector 6 is used,
When the mixed compatible disk is reproduced by the disk device shown in FIG. 2, the reproduction is performed using the U-TOC sector 0. In the case of an audio disk or a mixed incompatible disk, U-TOC sector 0 is used.

In this case, the table pointer P-TN
Only the data managed from O * is reproduced, and the defect area is not reproduced at all. Therefore, only the data that is not registered as the reproduction prohibition is reproduced.

On the other hand, if the user inputs a correct password, the process proceeds from step F204 to step F208, where a reproducing operation is performed using the U-TOC sector 5 which is a password requesting sector. As described above, the U-TOC sector 5 includes the reproduction prohibition designation data and manages each track in the usual manner.
It can be played as usual.

By performing such a process, the user can keep desired data confidential by the password, and can also perform the original reproduction by inputting the password.

When the reproduction prohibition is partially specified for a certain disc, if the password is not input, only that portion is skipped and reproduced. By inputting the password, the reproduction is prohibited. Since the designated portion is also reproduced at the original temporal position, it is also suitable for a case where reproduction of a part of data such as a movie is prohibited.

Note that this method also applies to a mixed compatibility disc in which video data portions are managed as defect areas in U-TOC sector 0, as shown in FIG.
When only audio is reproduced on the audio-compatible disc, U-TOC sector 0 is used.
It is conceivable that only the audio data of the data portion designated as reproduction prohibited in the TOC sector 6 will be reproduced.
In the sector 0, the audio data segment in the reproduction prohibition designation data portion is edited together with the video data in the defect area, or included in the link from any table pointer in the U-TOC sector 0. It can be considered that the area is not managed at all.

Further, in order to further enhance the confidentiality, as described as a modified example of the above-described system example, the identification information of the disk having the reproduction prohibition designation data is transmitted to the disk device by using a custom file or a disk ID. May be stored, and the reproduction prohibition designation data may be reproduced only in the disk device when a password is input.

When a higher degree of confidentiality is required, a personal identification number is written in the U-TOC of the disc in the same manner as described as a modification of the above-described system example, and the U-TOC is used during reproduction. The password read from the TOC is compared with the password input by the user. Then, only when they match, the U-TOC sector 5
It is possible to perform a reproducing operation using the (password request sector).

Further, in the case of a read-only disc, at the time of manufacture of the disc, a predetermined area in the P-TOC sector 6 or 0 is similarly managed as a defect area, and the P-TOC sector 5 is used as a password requesting sector. You should do so. Note that the password requesting sector does not need to be generated using the sector 5 in the U-TOC or the P-TOC, and for example, the sector 7 may be used.

The video / audio data structure and the disk device compatible between the video / audio-compatible disk device and the audio-compatible disk device have been described above, followed by such mixed compatible disk and audio disk. Although the method for realizing the reproduction prohibition designation data that can be adopted in another kind of disc called the mixed incompatible disc has been described, the method for realizing the reproduction prohibition specification data is specifically described in the above-described embodiment. It goes without saying that various modifications are possible in the modification of the embodiment. Although the embodiment has been described in detail from the viewpoint of prohibition of reproduction, a recording prohibition method, that is, a method in which data can be rewritten only at the time of inputting a password, can be realized by the same method.

[0173]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reproduce a content for which a reproduction restriction is set, by correctly inputting a password by the user. This is suitable for user management of a recording medium on which audio / video data that needs to be kept secret, audio / video data for adults, and the like are recorded.
In addition, regarding the management of playback-restricted content and playback-unrestricted content, it is possible to set a non-reproducible part (reproduction-restricted content area) that cannot be played back when the password is not correctly entered in the management data. Can be easily realized. Alternatively, with regard to the management of playback-restricted content and playback-unrestricted content, in the first management data, a portion that cannot be played back when a password is not correctly input (a region of content for which playback limitation is set) is set. In addition, in the second management data, both the content of which the reproduction is restricted and the content of which the reproduction is not restricted are managed so that they can be reproduced. In addition, in the case where the content is managed by the first and second management data in this manner, there is an effect that the content for which the reproduction restriction is set can be reproduced in a state before the reproduction restriction is set.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a disk device that supports only audio.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a track structure of a disk according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of P-TOC information in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of U-TOC information in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a link structure of U-TOC information in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an audio data sector in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a video data sector in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an audio data sector and a video data sector in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of MPEG video data.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a video data stream of the MPEG system.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a track in which audio data and video data are mixed in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a track structure in which audio data and video data are mixed in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of video data in the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a system header of video data in the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a packet header of video data in the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a track configuration example according to the embodiment;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a voice data management method in U-TOC sector 0 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a video data management method in U-TOC sector 0 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a management method of a track in which video data and audio data are mixed in the U-TOC sector 6 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a track form for explaining a management example of reproduction prohibition designation data according to the embodiment;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of U-TOC sector 0 or sector 6 in the normal state according to the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a U-TOC in a reproduction prohibition designation state according to the embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing of sector 0 or sector 6.

FIG. 24 shows a U-TOC in a reproduction prohibition designation state according to the embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing of sector 0 or sector 6.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a U-TOC in a reproduction prohibition designation state according to the embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing of sector 0 or sector 6.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of processing at the time of reproduction of the disk device of the embodiment.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of a password request U-TOC sector according to the embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of processing at the time of reproduction of the disk device of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 disk, 3 optical heads, 8 encoders / decoders, 11 system controllers, 12 memory controllers, 13 buffer RAMs, 14 audio encoders / decoders, 15, 25 D / A converters, 18,
30 A / D converter, 21 video encoder / decoder section, 22 system decoder, 23 video RAM, 2
4 Video signal generator, 26, 29 converter

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A recording area in which a content for which reproduction restriction is set and a content for which reproduction restriction is set are recorded in a mixed manner, and only the content for which reproduction restriction is set are reproduced. And a management area in which management data to be controlled as described above is recorded. 2. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein a password for permitting reproduction of the content for which the reproduction restriction is set is recorded in the management area. 3. A second control unit for controlling the management area so that both the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and the content for which the reproduction restriction is not set can be reproduced.
2. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said management data is recorded. 4. A method in which a content for which reproduction restriction is set and a content for which reproduction restriction is not set are mixedly recorded, and only the content for which reproduction restriction is set is reproduced. In a reproducing apparatus for reproducing a recording medium on which management data to be controlled is recorded, reproduction of the management data recorded on the recording medium and the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and / or the content for which the reproduction restriction is not set is performed. Reproducing means, a memory means for storing a password registered by a user operation, a comparing means for comparing a password inputted by a user operation with a password stored in the memory means, If the password input by the user operation does not match the password stored in the memory means, As well as inhibits reproduction by said reproducing means of the content which the reproduction limit is set on the basis of the management data reproduced by the reproducing means,
If it is determined by the comparing means that the password input by the user operation matches the password stored in the memory means, at least the reproduction restriction is performed based on the management data reproduced by the reproducing means. And a control means for permitting reproduction of the content for which the reproduction means has been set. 5. The reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the personal identification number is recorded on the recording medium. 6. The reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said memory means further stores an identifier for identifying a recording medium. 7. A content in which reproduction restriction is set and a content in which reproduction restriction is not set are mixedly recorded, and only the content in which the reproduction restriction is set is reproduced. Reproducing a recording medium on which first control data to be controlled and second management data for controlling to reproduce both the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and the content for which the reproduction restriction is not set are reproduced. Reproducing means for reproducing the first management data, the second management data, the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and / or the content for which the reproduction restriction is not set, recorded on the recording medium. Memory means for storing a personal identification number registered by a user operation, and storing the personal identification number inputted by a user operation and the memory means Comparing means for comparing the passwords inputted by the user operation, and when the password inputted by the user operation and the password stored in the memory means do not coincide with each other, the password is reproduced by the reproducing means. In addition to prohibiting the reproduction means from reproducing the content for which the reproduction restriction is set based on the first management data, the personal identification number input by the user operation by the comparing means and the password stored in the memory means are stored. If it is determined that the passwords match each other, based on the second management data reproduced by the reproducing means, both the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and the content for which the reproduction is not restricted are set. A playback device, comprising: control means for permitting playback by the playback means. 8. The reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the personal identification number is recorded on the recording medium. 9. A method in which content for which reproduction restriction is set and content for which reproduction restriction is not set are recorded in a mixed manner, and only content to which reproduction restriction is set is reproduced. A playback method for playing back a recording medium on which management data to be controlled is recorded compares a password input by a user operation with a password stored in a memory, and as a result of the comparison, the password input by the user operation. If the number and the password stored in the memory means do not match, reproduction of the content for which the reproduction restriction is set based on the reproduced management data is prohibited, and as a result of the comparison, the user If the password input by the operation matches the password stored in the memory, a small number is set based on the reproduced management data. Reproducing method and permits the reproduction of the content Kutomo the reproduction limit is set. 10. A content in which reproduction restriction is set and a content in which reproduction restriction is not set are mixedly recorded, and only the content in which the reproduction restriction is set is reproduced. Reproducing a recording medium on which first control data to be controlled and second management data for controlling to reproduce both the content for which the reproduction restriction is set and the content for which the reproduction restriction is not set are reproduced. In the reproducing method, the personal identification number input by the user operation is compared with the personal identification number stored in the memory, and as a result of the comparison, the personal identification number input by the user operation and the personal identification number stored in the memory means are compared. In the case of a mismatch, the reproduction of the content for which the reproduction restriction is set is prohibited based on the reproduced first management data. In both cases, as a result of the comparison, when the password input by the user operation matches the password stored in the memory means, the reproduction restriction is set based on the reproduced second management data. A reproduction method for permitting reproduction of both the current content and the content for which reproduction restriction is set.