MXPA06006305A - Method and apparatus for restricting playback of recorded digital signals - Google Patents

Abstract

A password protection function enables a user to assign a password to signals including audio and/or video signals recorded by their own digital recording apparatus, and is capable of providing both backward and forward compatibility for older and future digital playback apparatuses, respectively. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method (300) for performing digital recording and playback includes steps of enabling a user to record digital signals onto a digital storage medium, receiving a password from the user (325, 330), storing the password in at least one unreserved data field on the digital storage medium, wherein the at least one unreserved data field is included in a first presentation sequence for the recorded digital signals (335), and requiring the password to be input before playing back the recorded digital signals.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO RESTRICT THE REPRODUCTION OF RECORDED DIGITAL SIGNALS CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority for and all benefits resulting from an interim application filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 8, 2003, and the serial number assigned 60 / 527,946.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to the recording and playback field, and more particularly, to a password protection function that allows a user to assign a password to signals that include audio and / or video signals recorded by his own recording device. digital, and requires the user to enter the password before the recorded signals can be played. The present invention is also capable of providing both backward and forward compatibility with old and future digital playback apparatus, respectively.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Digital recording and reproducing devices such as recordable digital versatile disc players (DVD) are capable of recording and reproducing digital signals that include audio and / or video signals. Currently there are a number of different format standards available for DVDs to be recorded, deleted and re-recorded. The acronym DVD + RW / DVD + VR refers to an illustrative format standard that allows digital content on a DVD to be recorded, erased, and re-recorded by a user.

Currently, formatting standards that allow digital content on a DVD to be recorded, erased and re-recorded by a user (for example, DVD + RW / DVD + VR) do not provide a means to restrict the user's access to recordings. Other formatting standards that prohibit the user from recording everything together (DVD-ROM / DVD-VIDEO), on the other hand, can accommodate a parental handling feature that allows DVD distributors to release multiple ratings of a movie in an individual DVD and allows parents to close a desired rating on their DVD players with a password, so that potentially objectionable content is not played. However, this parental handling feature does not allow users to provide password protection for recordings made using their own DVD player. A technique for allowing users to provide password protection for recordings made using their own DVD burners is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0126596. In particular, this publication describes the technique for providing password protection that uses several reserved data fields on a DVD to store and retrieve password data. This type of password protection technique, however, is deficient since it is owned by a specific manufacturer's recordable DVD player. That is, this type of password protection technique requires the use of a property algorithm that is capable of storing and retrieving password data for and from certain data fields reserved on a DVD. Without the applicable property algorithm, the password protection technique can not be implemented effectively. Accordingly, the aforementioned type of password protection technique may not be backward compatible (i.e., it will not work on older players), or forward compatible (ie, it will not work on future players and / or other players of the manufacturers). Accordingly, there is a need for a password protection function that addresses the above problems and thereby allows users to provide password protection for recordings made using their own digital recording apparatus (e.g., recordable DVD player), and It is also capable of providing compatibility both forward and backward. The present invention addresses these and / or other issues.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the method for performing digital recording and reproduction is described. According to an illustrative embodiment, the method comprises the steps to allow the user to record digital signals in a digital storage medium, which receives a user password, which stores the password in at least one unreserved data field in the middle of digital storage, wherein at least one unreserved data field is included in a first display sequence for the recorded digital signals, and which requires that the password if input before playing the recorded digital signals. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a digital recording and reproducing apparatus is described. According to an illustrative embodiment, the digital recording and reproducing apparatus comprises interface means for coping with the digital recording and reproducing apparatus with a digital storage medium. The control means allows a user to record digital signals in the digital storage medium, receive a password from the user, and cause the password to be stored and in at least one data field not reserved in the digital storage medium. At least one non-reserved data field is included in a first display sequence for the recorded digital signals. In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a digital storage medium is described. According to an illustrative embodiment, the digital storage medium comprises a plurality of reserved data fields, a plurality of non-reserved data fields, and a first display sequence for digital signals recorded by a user. At least one of the plurality of non-reserved data fields is stored in a password assigned by the user for the recorded digital signals, and the first display sequence includes at least one of the plurality of non-reserved data fields. It requires the entry of the password assigned by the user before playing the recorded digital signals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The aforementioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner in which they are abided by, will be apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a suitable digital recording and reproducing apparatus for implementing the present invention; Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a presentation sequence for providing password protection according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating the steps for assigning a password to a recording according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The exemplifications mentioned herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1, there is shown a block diagram illustrating a digital recording and reproducing apparatus 100 suitable for implementing the present invention. For purposes of example and explanation, the digital recording and reproducing apparatus 100 is represented as a recordable DVD player capable of recording and reproducing digital audio and / or video signals, although other types of recording apparatus can also be used and digital reproduction according to the present invention. As will be described hereinafter, the digital recording and playback apparatus 100 includes a password protection function that allows users to assign a password for signals that include audio and / or video signals recorded by the digital recording and playback apparatus. 100, and is capable of providing both backward and forward compatibility for old and future digital playback apparatus, respectively. As shown in Figure 1, the digital recording and playback apparatus 100 comprises input means such as audio and / or video input (A / V) of baseband 10, tuning means such as tuner 20, interrupting means such as switch 30, control means such as controller 40, encoding means such as encoder 50, decoding means such as decoder 60, and interface means such as disk unit 70. Some of the above elements of the apparatus Recording and digital reproduction 100 can be represented using integrated circuits (ICs), and some elements for example can be included in one or more ICs. For clarity of description, certain conventional elements associated with the digital recording and reproducing apparatus 100 such as certain control signals, energy signals and / or other elements may not be shown in Figure 1. Also shown in Figure 1 are the output means such as display 110 and data storage means such as digital storage means 120. The baseband A / V input block 10 operates to receive signals that include audio and / or video band signals. base of one or more signal sources. The tuner 20 operates to receive signals that include audio and / or video signals from one or more signal sources such as terrestrial, cable, satellite, Internet and / or other transmission sources, and to perform a signaling procedure. tuning in the received signals to generate baseband signals. The tuner 20 may be an optional element of the digital recording apparatus 100. The switch 30 operates to perform an interrupting function by selectively providing output signals from any A / V input block of baseband 10 or tuner 20 to the controller 40. The controller 40 operates to perform various signal processing and control functions of digital recording and reproducing apparatus 100. According to an illustrative embodiment, the controller 40 operates to control and / or allow functions including recording, playback functions , and password protection of the digital recording and playback apparatus 100. Accordingly, the controller 40 operates to control various elements of the digital recording and playback apparatus 100 that includes the switch 30, encoder 50, decoder 60, and disk drive 70. Other details will be provided later regarding the controller 40. The encoded r 50 operates to perform functions that include a coding function. According to an illustrative embodiment, the encoder 50 operates to encode signals provided from the controller 40, and is capable of performing Expert Motion Movie Group (MPEG) encoding and / or other types of encoding. The decoder 60 operates to perform functions that include a decoding function. According to an illustrative embodiment, the decoder 60 operates to decode signals provided from the controller 40, and is capable of performing MPEG decoding and / or other types of decoding. Decoder 60 may also include analog format coding means such as a National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) encoder, Phase Alternating Line (PAL) encoder, and / or other type of analog format encoder. The disk unit 70 operates to perform functions that include an interface function between the digital recording and playback apparatus 100 and the digital storage means 120. According to an illustrative embodiment, the disk unit 70 is capable of writing and reading digital data to and from the digital storage medium 120 under the control of the controller 40. The display 110 operates to provide visual displays and / or other outputs in response to signals coming out of the decoder 60 under the control of the controller 40. The Digital storage 120 operates to store digital data that includes audio and / or video data. According to an illustrative modality, the digital storage medium 120 is represented as a recordable DVD, but may also be represented as another type of digital storage device such as a compact video disc (VCD), hard disk (HC), static random access memory ( SRAM), or another device. Other details will be provided hereinafter with respect to the digital storage medium 120. Referring now to Figure 2, a flow chart 200 is shown illustrating the steps of a presentation sequence to provide password protection according to a mode illustrative of the present invention. In particular, Figure 2 shows a presentation sequence for providing password protection using a recordable DVD player in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As described in the specification of the DVD player (for example, DVD specifications for Read Only Disc, Part 3 Video, Version 1.13), a given DVD recording (ie title) was represented as a "string of program "/ PGC formed from a plurality of linked data fields or cells. A given DVD + RW / DVD + VR recording, for example, is normally contained within an individual PGC. The term "display sequence" can be used herein to refer to a PGC or other similar sequence type. The data that define how a given PGC is presented can be referred to as "PGC information" (PGCI). As will be described hereinafter, the present and mentions restricts access to a given DVD recording by storing a password assigned by the user for a given recording in the same PGC as the same recording. Accordingly, all DVD players on the market (ie, past, present, and future) that are claimants with the DVD player specification are necessarily able to implement the password protection function of the present invention. As indicated in Figure 2, the presentation of a PGC in a DVD player occurs in three basic stages: execution of PRE commands, playback of audio and / or video content, and execution of POS commands represented by steps 210, 220, and 230, respectively. "Commands" are a group of internal DVD instructions that the DVD player must perform. For example, the PRE commands of step 210 may include instructions such as selecting the correct audio language or sub-picture tracks, and jumping to a menu or title on the DVD. The POS commands of step 230 for example may include instructions to jump to another menu (for example, main menu) or title on the DVD. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the set of commands available within a DVD player can be created on a DVD recorded in such a way as to allow or prohibit the reproduction of any given PGC (ie, recording), based only on in the user's income. As indicated in Figure 2, the password protection function of the present invention inserts PRE commands into the normal presentation sequence discussed above. These PRE commands cause the playback to be diverted to a password menu screen represented by step 240 in Figure 2. The password menu screen prompts the user to enter a password such as a sequence of alphabetic and / or numeric characters. . If the user enters a password that matches a stored password that was created on the DVD, then playback normally proceeds to step 220. Alternatively, if the user fails to enter the stored password correctly, then the POS commands are performed in step 230. For example, if the user fails to enter the password stored correctly, then the user can present himself with a main menu to select another recording (for example, title) for playback. According to an illustrative modality, the steps of Figure 2 are performed under the control of the controller 40 of the digital recording and playback apparatus 100. Referring to Figure 3, a flow chart 300 is shown illustrating the steps for assigning a password to a recording of according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. For purposes of example and explanation, the steps of Figure 3 will be described with reference to the digital recording and reproducing apparatus 100 of Figure 1. The steps of Figure 3 are illustrative only, and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way . In step 305, a user selects that an individual recording be password protected. According to an illustrative embodiment, the selected recording was previously created by a user through the digital recording and reproducing apparatus 100 or other digital recording apparatus. That is, the selected recording is not from a storage medium such as a DVD-ROM. The user may select the recording in step 305 through a user input device such as a portable remote control device or other device (not shown in the Figures) in response to an on-screen menu provided in presentation 110 under control of the controller 40 which lists the recordings currently stored in the digital storage medium 120. The recordings for example may represent audio and / or video presentations (e.g., movies, television shows, etc.), and / or other content that was recorded by a user in the digital storage medium 120 using the digital recording and reproducing apparatus 100 and / or other digital recording apparatus. In step 310, the user is provided with an opportunity to set or change a password for the selected recording. According to an illustrative embodiment, this option can be provided to the user in step 310 through an on-screen menu provided in the presentation 110 under the control of the controller 40. If the user decides not to set or change a password in step 310, the process flow proceeds to step 315 where the procedure ends. Alternatively, if the user decides to set or change a password in step 310, the procedure flow proceeds to step 320 where a determination is made whether a password already exists for the selected recording. According to an illustrative embodiment, the controller 40 makes the determination in step 320 by causing the disk unit 70 to create and provide data from the PGC for the selected recording in the digital storage medium 120. As will be described here below, a password assigned by the user for a given recording is stored in the same PGC as the same recording. If the determination of step 320 is positive, the procedure flow proceeds to step 325 where the user is prompted to enter both the old and the new password for the selected recording. According to an illustrative embodiment, the user is prompted to enter the old and new password in step 325 through an on-screen menu provided in presentation 110 under the control of controller 40. The user can enter the old and new passwords in step 325 by providing inputs to the digital recording and reproducing apparatus 100 through a user input device such as a portable remote control device or other user input device (not shown in the Figures). Although not expressly indicated in Figure 3, the user can be provided with an unlimited number of attempts to correctly enter the old password in step 325. If the user fails to correctly enter the old password within this limited number of attempts, the procedure may end. For purposes of example and explanation, however, it is assumed in Figure 3 that the user correctly enters the old password in step 325. From step 325, the procedure flow proceeds to step 335 where the new password is stored in the digital storage medium 120, as will be described hereinafter. Alternatively, if the determination in step 320 is negative, the procedure flow proceeds to step 330 where the user is prompted to enter only the new password. According to an illustrative embodiment, the user is prompted to enter the new password in step 330 through an on-screen menu provided in presentation 110 under the control of controller 40. The user can enter the new password in step 330 by providing inputs to the digital recording and reproducing apparatus 100 through a user input device such as a portable remote control device or other user input device (not shown in the Figures). From step 330, the procedure flow proceeds to step 335 where the new password is saved. According to an illustrative embodiment, the new password is stored in one or more non-reserved data fields in the digital storage medium 120 included in the same PGC as the selected recording. A non-reserved data field is a data field that is not designated for a specific function in a specification for a particular storage medium, such as a DVD. In particular, the password can be stored in step 335 in the PRE navigation commands of the given PGC. It is noted that the digital storage means 120 includes a plurality of reserved data fields, and a plurality of non-reserved data fields. As it is called here, a "reserved data field" is a data field that is reserved for future versions for a given standard or specification (for example, DVD specifications, etc.). Reserved data fields for example may include prescribed data (for example, all bits set to zero, etc.). Alternatively, a "non-reserved data field" is a data field other than a reserved data field. By storing the password assigned by the user in one or more non-reserved data fields in the digital storage medium 120 included in the same PGC as the selected recording, the present invention advantageously ensures that the password protection function is compatible both with respect to back as forwards with old and future digital playback devices, respectively. In step 340, a password menu screen and password menu processing commands are created. According to an illustrative embodiment, the controller 40 creates the password menu screen in step 340 by creating video object groups (VOBs) that represent the password menu screen and causing those VOBs to be stored in the middle. of digital storage 120 through the disk unit 70 as a separate PGC. That is, the password menu screen created in step 340 can be stored as a different PGC than the PGC for the selected recording. Alternatively, the password menu screen created in step 340 could be stored in the same PGC as the selected recording. Also in accordance with an illustrative embodiment, the controller 40 creates the password menu processing commands in step 340 that are stored in the digital storage medium 120 through the disk drive 70. The password menu processing commands they allow the digital playback apparatus such as a DVD player to compare a user input password with the stored password for the selected recording, and allow or prohibit the selected recording to be played depending on whether the user input password matches the stored password, as previously discussed in Figure 2. In step 345, the commands are inserted so that the playback is redirected to the password menu screen created in step 340. According to an illustrative mode, the controller 40 inserts PRE commands in the PRE commands box of the PGC for the selected recording. For example, the controller 40 may insert a first PRE command to establish a record to establish sub-picture groups, and also insert a second PRE command (eg, CallSS command in the DVD specification) that causes the recording apparatus and digital playback 100 jump to the PGC to the password menu screen. These new PRE commands ensure that the password menu screen created in step 340 will automatically be presented at any time the user attempts to play the selected recording. In step 350, the selected recording is now password protected. As a result of this password protection, the password assigned by the user for the selected recording must be entered before it can be played. The steps of Figure 3 can be repeated for each recording on the digital storage medium 70 that the user wishes to provide password protection. As described herein, the present invention provides a password protection function that allows users to provide password protection for recordings made using their own digital recording apparatus (e.g., recordable DVD player) and is compatible both backward and forward with old and future digital playback devices, respectively. Although this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can also be modified within the spirit and scope of this description. This application is therefore intended to cover any of the variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that use its general principles. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover such deviations from the present description while they are within the knowledge or usual practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which falls within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. - A method (300) for performing digital recording and reproduction, comprising the steps of: allowing a user to record digital signals in a digital storage medium; receive a password of said user (325, 330); storing said password in at least one data field not reserved in said digital storage means, wherein said at least one non-reserved data field is included in a first display sequence for said recorded digital signals (335); and require that said password be entered before playing said recorded digital signals.

2. The method (300) according to claim 1, wherein said digital storage means is a DVD.

3. The method (300) according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing menu data representing a password menu screen in said digital storage means (340).

4. The method (300) according to claim 3, wherein said menu data is stored in a second display sequence different from said first display sequence.

5. The method (300) according to claim 4, wherein said first and second display sequences represent different program chains.

6. The method (300) according to claim 3, further comprising the step of storing at least one command in said digital storage means that allows the presentation of said password menu screen (345).

7. The method (300) according to claim 6, wherein said password menu screen is presented in response to an attempt by the user to reproduce said recorded digital signals.

8. A digital recording and reproducing apparatus (100), comprising: interface means (70) for interconnecting said digital recording and reproducing apparatus (100) with a digital storage means (120); and control means (40) to enable a user to record digital signals in said digital storage means (120), receive a password from said user, and cause said password to be stored in at least one data field not reserved in said digital storage means (120), wherein said at least one non-reserved data field is included in a first display sequence for said recorded digital signals.

9. The digital recording and reproducing apparatus (100) according to claim 8, wherein said digital storage means (120) is a DVD.

10. The digital recording and reproducing apparatus (100) according to claim 8, wherein said control means (40) further cause the menu data representing a password menu screen to be stored in said digital storage means (120).

11. The digital recording and reproducing apparatus (100) according to claim 10, wherein said menu data is stored in a second display sequence different from said first display sequence.

12. The digital recording and reproducing apparatus (100) according to claim 11, wherein said first and second display sequences represent different program chains.

13. The digital recording and reproducing apparatus (100) according to claim 10, wherein said control means (40) further cause at least one command that allows the presentation of said password menu screen to be stored in said digital storage means (120).

14. The digital recording and reproducing apparatus (100) according to claim 13, wherein said control means (40) allow the presentation of said password menu screen in response to an attempt by the user to reproduce said signals digital

15. The digital recording and reproducing apparatus (100) according to claim 14, wherein said control means (40) further require that said password be entered in response to said password menu screen before reproducing said signals recorded.

16. A digital storage medium (120), comprising: a plurality of reserved data fields; and a plurality of non-reserved data fields and a first display sequence for digital signals recorded by a user; and wherein at least one of said non-reserved data fields is stored in a password assigned by the user for said recorded digital signals, said first display sequence includes said at least one of said non-reserved data field, and the entry of said password assigned by the user before playing said recorded digital signals.

17. The digital storage medium (120) according to claim 16, wherein said digital storage means (120) is a DVD.

18. The digital storage medium (120) according to claim 16, further comprising a second display sequence for a password menu screen.

19. The digital storage medium (120) according to claim 18, wherein said first and second presentation sequences represent different program chains.

20. The digital storage medium (120) according to claim 18, wherein said password menu screen drives the entry of said password and is presented in response to an attempt to reproduce said recorded digital signals.