JP2002245724A - Recording medium and information recording and/or reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium, an information recording device, an information reproducing device, and an information recording and reproducing device for constructing a recording medium reproduction system which judges whether or not to permit the reproduction of the recording medium on the basis of the reproduction time of the recording medium. SOLUTION: Information including reproduction information subject to reproduction, and reproduction permitted period information associated with time, a period, etc., during which the reproduction is permitted, is recorded on a recording medium 31. A signal processing part 22 separates and extracts the reproduction information and the reproduction permitted period information from a signal extracted by a pickup 21 from the recording medium 31. Current time information such as a current date and time is held in a current time information holding part 23, and a reproduction permission deciding part 24 collates the reproduction permitted period information of the recording medium 31 with the current time information of the current time information holding part 23 to decide whether or not the reproduction of the recording medium 31 is permitted. Then, in the case where it is decided that the reproduction is permitted by the current time information holding part 23, the reproduction information is outputted to a monitor 40 from a reproduction control part 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium such as a TR, an information recording apparatus for recording information on the information recording medium, an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on the recording medium, and an information recording and reproducing apparatus for performing both of them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, with respect to a DVD disk or the like, an operation regulation of regional management is defined for the purpose of protecting the copyright of a content creator. Therefore, at least information as to whether or not copyright protection is to be performed is recorded on the DVD disc. Be recorded.

On the other hand, a unique area number is previously set as area information in a DVD reproducing apparatus, and when reproducing a DVD disk, area management information recorded on the DVD disk to be reproduced and DVD reproducing information are stored. By comparing the DVD disc with the area information set in the apparatus itself, it is determined whether or not the DVD disc can be reproduced. That is, processing is performed such that only a disc having area management information corresponding to the unique area number set in the DVD playback apparatus can be played.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional DVD reproducing apparatus. In this figure, 130 is video / audio /
A DVD disk on which regional management information is recorded together with data and the like, 110 is a DVD reproducing device, and 140 is a monitor for displaying information reproduced from the DVD disk 130. Further, the DVD reproducing device 110 is a DVD disc.
A signal processing unit 112 for separating and extracting reproduction information and region management information from the signal extracted by the pickup 111; a region information setting unit 1 in which a region number unique to the DVD reproducing device 110 is set.
13. Area information determination unit 1 for comparing the area management information of DVD disc 130 with the area number of DVD reproducing apparatus 110
14. It comprises a playback control unit 115 for controlling whether or not the DVD disc 130 can be played back.

Next, the operation of the DVD reproducing apparatus 110 shown in FIG. 5 will be described. When the DVD disc 130 is inserted into the DVD reproducing device 110, the pickup 110
A signal including reproduction information to be reproduced and area management information is read from the disk 130 and output to the signal processing unit 112. The signal processing unit 112 separates and extracts the reproduction information and the area management signal from the signal extracted by the pickup. A region number unique to the device is set in the region information setting unit 113, and the signal processing unit 112 sets the region management information unique to the separated DVD disk 110 and the region number set in the region information setting unit 113. And D
It is determined whether or not the VD disc 130 can be reproduced. When the area information determination unit 114 determines that reproduction is possible, the reproduction information is decoded by the reproduction control unit 115 and output to the monitor 140.

[0006]

As described above, in the area management system for copyright protection, the area information is recorded on the DVD disk, and the area number unique to the apparatus is set in the DVD reproducing apparatus. The reproduction is controlled to protect the copyright.

However, DVD content producers,
For example, if you want to unify the game start date different from the release date for the purpose of making many users compete for the time from game start to game clear with game software etc., the conventional method based on regional information management I can't handle it. In such a case, it is necessary to determine whether or not reproduction is possible based on the date and time of reproduction.

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and is intended to construct a recording medium reproduction system for determining whether to permit reproduction of a recording medium based on a time for reproducing the recording medium. Recording medium and information recording device,
An object is to provide an information reproducing apparatus and an information recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium on which information is recorded, wherein the information is main information to be reproduced, and It is characterized by including reproduction permission period information associated with a time and a period in which reproduction is permitted.

An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect is an information recording and / or reproducing apparatus for recording information on a recording medium and / or reproducing information recorded on the recording medium, The information to be recorded and the information to be reproduced include main information which is information to be reproduced and reproduction permission period information associated with a time and a period during which reproduction of the main information is permitted. It is characterized by.

An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to a third aspect is the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus is an information recording apparatus or an information recording apparatus. The recording / reproducing apparatus further includes a reproduction permission period setting unit that can arbitrarily set reproduction permission period information of the recorded information.

An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to the second or third aspect, wherein the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus is an information recording and / or reproducing apparatus. A recording device or an information recording / reproducing device, further comprising recording information separating means for separating and extracting the main information and the reproduction permission period information from the recorded information.

An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus is an information reproducing apparatus or an information reproducing apparatus. A recording / reproducing apparatus, further comprising: reproduction information separating means for separating and extracting the main information and the reproduction permission period information from the reproduced information; and current time information holding current time information such as current date and time. Holding means, and reproduction permission determining means for determining whether to permit reproduction of the main information extracted by the reproduction information separating means based on the reproduction permission period information and the current time information, When the permission determining unit determines that the reproduction of the main information is permitted, the main information extracted by the reproduction information separating unit is output.

An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the current time information held by the current time information holding means is: It is set based on a current time signal input from outside the device.

An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, wherein the setting of the current time information is performed based on the current time signal. Only performed.

[0016]

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a recording medium, which includes recording information (main information) to be reproduced, such as video, audio, and data, and a reproduction permission associated with a time or a period during which the reproduction of the recording information is permitted. Period information is recorded. Reference numeral 50 denotes an information recording device, which records recording information and reproduction permission period information on the information recording medium 30. Reference numeral 60 denotes an information input device for inputting recording information such as a video signal to the information recording device 50, such as a video camera or a personal computer. The information recording apparatus 50 further includes a reproduction permission period information setting unit 11 that can arbitrarily set reproduction permission period information recorded on the recording medium 30, and selectively controls the input recording information and reproduction permission period information to control the recording medium 30. A recording control unit 12 for specifying a block to be recorded; a process of adding an error correction code to recording information and reproduction permission period information; a modulation process; a position of the pickup 14 and a laser power in accordance with the processed signal; Processing unit 13 for controlling the recording medium 3
It is constituted by a pickup 14 for recording information to 0.

Next, the operation of the information recording device 50 will be described. First, the user sets the reproduction permission period information such as the date, time, and period according to the time to start the reproduction permission of the recording information to be recorded on the recording medium 30 and the time to end the reproduction permission. Set in the information setting unit 11. Then, recording information such as video, audio, and data to be reproduced is input by an information input device 60 such as a video camera or a personal computer. The recording control unit 12 selectively controls the recording information from the information input device 60 and the reproduction permission period information from the reproduction permission period information setting unit 11, and
By specifying a block to be recorded on the recording medium 30,
The processed recording information and reproduction permission period information are transmitted to the signal processing unit 13. The signal processing unit 13 performs processing such as adding an error correction code to the recording information and the reproduction permission period information from the recording control unit 12 and modulating, and controls the position and the laser power of the pickup 14 based on the processed signal. Then, the recording information and the reproduction permission period information are recorded on the recording medium 30. By the above operation, the recording medium 30 on which the recording information and the reproduction permission period information are recorded is created.

As described above, the information recording apparatus 50 of the present embodiment can create the recording medium 30 on which the recording information and the reproduction permission period information arbitrarily set by the user are recorded.

In the recording medium 30 on which the recording information and the reproduction permission period information are recorded, the reproduction is controlled by the reproduction permission period information at the time of reproduction, so that in addition to the strict protection of the copyright, for example, (1) ) Release of movies, etc., setting and unifying the date and time when game software can be used,
The use of the recording medium is greatly increased, such as (2) promotion activities using a recording medium with a limited reproduction period, and (3) creation of an original "memorial disc" that can be reproduced on an anniversary or the like.

Here, the reproduction permission period information includes information that reproduction is always permitted regardless of the reproduction time.

The input of the reproduction permission period information to the reproduction permission period information setting section 11 may be, for example, an input via a remote controller attached to the information recording device 50 or a user interface such as a menu screen.

In the present embodiment, the information recording apparatus has been described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to an information recording / reproducing apparatus.

<Embodiment 2> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an information recording apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a recording medium, which includes recording information (main information) to be reproduced, such as video, audio, and data, and a reproduction permission associated with a time or a period during which the reproduction of the recording information is permitted. Period information is recorded. Reference numeral 51 denotes an information recording device which records recording information and reproduction permission period information on the information recording medium 30. Reference numeral 61 denotes a network server such as the Internet. Reference numeral 62 denotes an information input device such as a personal computer that receives information transmitted by the network server 61 and inputs the information to the information recording device 51. Here, the information received by the information input device 62 from the network server 61 includes recording information to be reproduced and reproduction permission period information thereof. The information recording device 51 further selects and controls the input recording information and reproduction permission period information to specify a block to be recorded on the recording medium 30, and the like, an error in the recording information and reproduction permission period information. In accordance with processing such as addition of a correction code and modulation, and the processed signal, the pickup 1
Signal processing unit 1 for controlling the position of 4 and laser power
3. Pickup 1 for recording information on recording medium 30
4. A recording information separation unit 1 for separating and extracting recording information and reproduction permission period information from information input from the information input device 62
5.

Next, the operation of the information recording device 51 will be described. First, the information input device 62 receives information to be recorded on the recording medium 30 from the network server 61. As described above, the information received by the information input device 62 from the network server 61 includes the record information to be reproduced and the reproduction permission period information thereof. Then, the information is input to the information recording device 51. The recording information separation unit 15 of the information recording device 51 separates and extracts recording information and reproduction permission period information from the information input from the information input device 62, and separates them into the recording control unit 1.
Output to 2. The recording control unit 12 includes the recording information separating unit 1
5 to select and control the recording information and the reproduction permission period information input from the user, designate a block to be recorded on the recording medium 30, and send the processed recording information and reproduction permission period information to the signal processing unit 13. introduce. Signal processing unit 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes processing such as addition of an error correction code to the recording information and reproduction permission period information from the recording control unit 12 and modulation, and the position and laser power of the pickup 14 based on the processed signal. The recording information and the reproduction permission period information are recorded in 30. By the above operation, the recording medium 30 on which the recording information and the reproduction permission period information are recorded is created.

As described above, the information recording device 51 of the present embodiment can create the recording medium 30 on which the recording information and the reproduction permission period information are recorded. Therefore, when the recording medium 30 is reproduced, by controlling the reproduction based on the reproduction permission period information recorded on the recording medium, it is possible to contribute to not only strict protection of the copyright but also expansion of the usage of the recording medium. .

Further, the information recording apparatus 51 of the present embodiment
Is provided with a recording information separation unit 15 that separates and extracts recording information and reproduction permission period information from information including recording information and reproduction permission period information, so that the information can be input to the device, for example, by downloading information from a network such as the Internet. It is possible to cope with a case where the information to be recorded includes recording information and reproduction permission period information.

Since the reproduction permission period information recorded on the recording medium 30 is included in the information downloaded from the network server 61, the reproduction permission period information determined by the creator of the downloaded information is not included. It will be recorded on the recording medium 30. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to the copyright protection of the content creator.

Although the present embodiment has been described by taking an information recording apparatus as an example, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to an information recording / reproducing apparatus.

<Embodiment 3> FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an information reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a recording medium, which includes reproduction information (main information) to be reproduced, such as video, audio, and data, and a reproduction permission associated with a time and a period in which the reproduction of the reproduction information is permitted. Period information is recorded. Reference numeral 52 denotes an information reproducing apparatus that reproduces reproduction information based on reproduction permission period information included in the information recorded on the information recording medium 31. Reference numeral 40 denotes a monitor for displaying information reproduced from the recording medium 31. Further, the information reproducing device 52
Is a pickup 2 for extracting a signal from the recording medium 31.
1. A signal processing unit 22, which decodes a signal extracted by the pickup 21 and further serves as a reproduction signal separation unit for separating and extracting reproduction information and reproduction permission period information from the signal; A current time information holding unit 23 that holds current time information, and a reproduction permission that determines whether or not to permit reproduction of the reproduction information by comparing the reproduction permission period information of the recording medium 31 with the time information of the current time information holding unit 23. The determination unit 24 includes a reproduction control unit 25 that outputs reproduction information when reproduction is permitted by the reproduction permission determination unit 24.

Next, the operation of the information reproducing apparatus 52 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. When the recording medium 31 is inserted into the information reproducing device 52, the pickup 21 reads information including reproduction information and reproduction permission period information from the recording medium 31, and outputs the information to the signal processing unit 22. The signal processing unit 22 includes the pickup 2
The signal extracted in step 1 is decoded, and reproduction information and reproduction permission period information are separated and extracted from the signal. The current time information storage unit 23 stores current time information such as the current date and time, and the reproduction permission determination unit 24
1 is compared with the current time information held by the current time information holding unit 23 to determine whether or not the playback of the recording medium 31 is permitted. When it is determined by the current time information holding unit 23 that the reproduction is permitted, the reproduction control unit 25 outputs the reproduction information to the monitor 40.

As described above, the information reproducing apparatus 52 of the present embodiment, when reproducing the recording medium 31,
Permission period information and current time information holding unit 2 recorded in
It is determined whether or not the reproduction is permitted based on the current time information of No. 3 and the reproduction is controlled. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to strict protection of copyright and expansion of use of the recording medium.

Although the present embodiment has been described by taking an information reproducing apparatus as an example, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to an information recording / reproducing apparatus.

<Embodiment 4> FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an information reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a recording medium, which includes reproduction information (main information) to be reproduced, such as video, audio, and data, and a reproduction permission associated with a time and a period in which the reproduction of the reproduction information is permitted. Period information is recorded. An information reproducing device 53 reproduces reproduction information based on reproduction permission period information included in information recorded on the information recording medium 31. Reference numeral 40 denotes a monitor for displaying information reproduced from the recording medium 31. Reference numeral 62 denotes, for example, a public facility for transmitting a current time signal such as a current date and time. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that an institution other than the user, such as the public facility 62, provides a service for distributing current date and time information. Reference numeral 64 denotes a current time information receiving unit that receives a current time signal from the public facility 63. Further, the information reproducing device 53 includes the pickup 2
1, a signal processing unit 22, a reproduction permission determination unit 24, a reproduction control unit 25, and a current time information holding unit 26. The pickup 21, the signal processing unit 22, the reproduction permission determination unit 24,
The reproduction control unit 25 is an element equivalent to that shown in FIG. 3 by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The current time information holding unit 26 holds current time information such as the current date and time. The current time information is set according to the current time from the public facility 63 input from the current time information receiving unit 64. Only done by signal.

The operation of the information reproducing apparatus 53 is based on the fact that the current time information held in the current time information holding unit 26 is the current time from the public facility 63 input from the current time information receiving unit 64 as described above. The information reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment is the same as the information reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment except that the setting is made by a signal, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

That is, in the information reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment, the current time information held by the current time information holding unit 26 is set based on the current time signal from the public facility 63. That is, the current time information holding unit 26 can hold accurate current time information. Therefore, the reproduction permission determination unit 24
The determination as to whether or not to permit reproduction can be made based on accurate current time information, so that the information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention can strictly protect copyright and expand the use of recording media. The contribution can be made effectively.

Further, by limiting the setting of the current time information held by the current time information holding unit 26 to only the setting based on the current time signal from the public facility, the current time information of the current time information holding unit 26 is intentionally set. It is possible to prevent improper reproduction even during a period in which reproduction is prohibited.

In the present embodiment, the current time information receiving section 64 for receiving the current time signal from the public facility 63 is shown as an external device of the information reproducing device 53. Good.

In this embodiment, the information reproducing apparatus has been described as an example. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to an information recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0039]

As described above, according to the recording medium of the first aspect of the present invention, the information recorded on the recording medium is the main information to be reproduced, and the main information to be reproduced. And reproduction permission period information associated with a time, a period, and the like in which reproduction is permitted, so that when reproducing the recording medium, the reproduction is controlled based on the reproduction permission period information recorded on the recording medium. This can contribute to not only strict protection of copyright but also expansion of use of the recording medium.

According to the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the information recorded on the recording medium and the information reproduced from the recording medium are the same as the information to be reproduced and the information to be reproduced. Since the information includes reproduction permission period information associated with a time, a period, and the like in which reproduction of information is permitted, a recording medium on which the information and the reproduction permission period information are recorded can be created.

Therefore, when reproducing a recording medium, by controlling reproduction based on the reproduction permission period information recorded on the recording medium, strict protection of copyright and expansion of usage of the recording medium can be achieved. Can contribute.

According to the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus of the third aspect, the information recording apparatus or the information recording / reproducing apparatus is capable of setting the reproduction permission period information of the information recorded on the recording medium arbitrarily. Since it has a period setting means,
It is possible to create a recording medium on which this information and any information on the permitted reproduction period are recorded.

Therefore, when reproducing the recording medium, by controlling the reproduction according to the reproduction permission period information recorded on the recording medium, in addition to the strict protection of the copyright, the use of the recording medium can be expanded. Can contribute.

According to the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the information recording apparatus or the information recording / reproducing apparatus separates and extracts the main information and the reproduction permission period information from the information recorded on the recording medium. Since the recording information separating means is provided, it is possible to cope with a case where the information input to the apparatus includes the main information and the reproduction permission period information, such as downloading information from a network such as the Internet.

Since the reproduction permission period information recorded on the recording medium is included in the information downloaded from the network server, for example, the reproduction permission period information determined by the creator of the information is recorded on the recording medium. Will be recorded. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to the protection of the copyright of the information creator.

According to the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus of the fifth aspect, the information reproducing apparatus or the information recording / reproducing apparatus separates and extracts the main information and the reproduction permission period information from the information reproduced from the recording medium. Reproduction information separating means, current time information holding means for holding current time information such as the current date and time, and reproduction of the main information extracted by the reproduction information separating means based on the reproduction permission period information and the current time information Reproduction permission determining means for determining whether or not to permit the reproduction, and reproduction control means for outputting the main information extracted by the reproduction information separating means when the reproduction permission determining means determines that the reproduction of the main information is permitted. Prepare.

Therefore, when reproducing the recording medium, it is determined whether or not the reproduction is permitted based on the reproduction permission period information and the current time information recorded on the recording medium, and the reproduction is controlled. This can contribute to strict protection of copyright and expansion of use of the recording medium.

According to the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, in the information reproducing apparatus or the information recording / reproducing apparatus, the current time information held by the current time information holding means is stored in the current time information input from outside the apparatus. It is set based on the time signal. Therefore, by setting the current time information based on, for example, a current time signal from a public facility, the current time information holding unit can hold accurate current time information.

Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not to permit reproduction, based on accurate current time information, and to effectively contribute to strict protection of copyright and expansion of use of a recording medium. Can be performed.

According to the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus of the present invention, in the information reproducing apparatus or the information recording / reproducing apparatus, the setting of the current time information held by the current time information holding means is based on the current time signal. In this case, the current time information is intentionally shifted, and illegal reproduction can be prevented even during a period in which reproduction is prohibited.

Thus, the strict protection of the copyright and the contribution to the expansion of the use of the recording medium can be more effectively performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information recording device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an information recording device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an information reproducing apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an information reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional DVD playback device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 playback permission period information setting unit, 12 recording control unit, 1
3 signal processing unit, 14, 21 pickup, 15 recording signal separation unit, 22 signal processing unit, 23 current time information holding unit, 24 reproduction permission determination unit, 25 reproduction control unit, 3
0, 31 recording medium, 40 monitor, 50, 51 information recording device, 52, 53 information reproducing device, 60, 62
Information input device, 61 network server, 64 current time information receiving unit.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium on which information is recorded, wherein said information is main information which is information to be reproduced, and reproduction is associated with a time or period during which reproduction of said main information is permitted. A recording medium comprising permission period information. 2. An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus for recording information on a recording medium and / or reproducing information recorded on the recording medium, wherein the information to be recorded and the information to be reproduced are: An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus, comprising: main information which is information to be reproduced; and reproduction permission period information associated with a time or a period in which reproduction of the main information is permitted. 3. The information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus is an information recording apparatus or an information recording / reproducing apparatus, and further, the information to be recorded is An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus, comprising: a reproduction permission period setting means capable of arbitrarily setting reproduction permission period information. 4. The information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus is an information recording apparatus or an information recording / reproducing apparatus. An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus, comprising: recorded information separating means for separating and extracting the main information and the reproduction permission period information from information to be recorded. 5. The information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information recording and / or reproducing apparatus is an information reproducing apparatus or an information recording / reproducing apparatus, and further comprising the information to be reproduced. Reproduction information separation means for separating and extracting the main information and the reproduction permission period information from the current information, current time information holding means for storing current time information such as the current date and time, the reproduction permission period information and the current time Based on the information,
A reproduction permission determining unit that determines whether to permit reproduction of the main information extracted by the reproduction information separating unit.If the reproduction permission determining unit determines that reproduction of the main information is permitted, An information recording and / or reproducing apparatus for outputting the main information extracted by the reproduced information separating means. 6. The information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the current time information held by the current time information holding means is set based on a current time signal input from outside the apparatus. Information recording and / or reproducing apparatus. 7. The information recording and / or reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the setting of the current time information is performed only based on the current time signal. Or a playback device.