Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing – Processing architecture – Microprocessor or multichip or multimodule processor having...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2003-03-25
Pan, Daniel H. (Department: 2783)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing
Processing architecture
Microprocessor or multichip or multimodule processor having...
C712S037000, C380S201000, C380S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06539468
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data copying system and a date copying method for providing a copyright protection function, as well as a reading apparatus, a writing apparatus, and a recording medium for use in such a data copying system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods for encrypting information recorded on a recording medium for providing a copyright protection function are known in the art. For example, unauthorized decryption of encrypted information can be made substantially difficult by adopting a hierarchical structure for encryption keys that are used for the encryption of the information. Such techniques are intended for preventing unauthorized copying of information which is recorded on the recording medium.
The standards which are proposed for DVD-Audio, a prospective next-generation audio medium, require that an enhanced copyright protection function be provided. The requirement includes the prohibition of a “third generation digital copy” from a ROM (read only memory) disk.
As used herein, the prohibition of a “third generation digital copy” means that, whilst a ROM disk (i.e., a “first generation copy”) may be allowed to be duplicated or copied once onto a RAM disk (random access memory disk) (i:e., “a second generation copy”), any further copying of that RAM disk to another RAM disk (which would result in “a third generation copy”) in prohibited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a copying system for copying information recorded on a first recording medium onto a second recording medium wherein the first recording medium is recorded with copying control information for representing conditions for permitting copying of the information recorded on the first recording medium, the copying control information being multiplexed within the information recorded on the first recording medium, wherein the copying system includes: a reading section for reading the information from the first recording medium; a detection section for detecting the copying control information within the information read from the first recording medium, a modification section for, if the copying control information represents a condition that “only copying to a second generation copy is permitted”, modifying the copying control information so as to prohibit any further copying, and a writing section for writing information including the modified copying control information, onto the second recording medium.
In one embodiment of the invention, the copying control information is represented by a combination of two kinds of watermarks.
In another embodiment of the invention, the information recorded on the first recording medium includes a plurality of frames, the copying control information being multiplexed within a predetermined number of frames among the plurality of frames.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a copying method for copying information recorded on a first recording medium onto a second recording medium, wherein the first recording medium is recorded with copying control information for representing conditions for permitting copying of the information recorded on the first recording medium, the copying control information being multiplexed within the information recorded on the first recording medium, wherein the copying method includes the steps of: reading the information from the first recording medium; detecting the copying control information within the information read from the first recording medium; if the copying control information represents a condition that “only copying to a second generation copy is permitted”, modifying the copying control information so as to prohibit any further copying; and writing information including the modified copying control information, onto the second recording medium.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a reading apparatus for reading information recorded on a first recording medium, wherein the first recording medium is recorded with copying control information for representing conditions for permitting copying of the information recorded on the first recording medium, the copying control information being multiplexed within the information recorded on the first recording medium, and wherein the reading apparatus is connected via a bus to a writing apparatus for writing the information onto a second recording medium, the reading apparatus including: a reading section for reading the information from the first recording medium; a detection section for detecting the copying control information within the information read from the first recording medium; and a control section for, if the copying control information represents a condition that “copying Is entirely prohibited”, prohibiting the information from being output to the bus.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a writing apparatus connected via a bus to a reading apparatus for reading information recorded on a first recording medium, the writing apparatus including: a detection section for receiving the information output from the reading apparatus via the bus and detecting copying control information within the received information read; a modification section for, if the detected copying control information represents a condition that “only copying to a second generation copy is permitted”, modifying the copying control information so as to prohibit any further copying; and a writing section for writing information including the modified copying control information, onto a second recording medium.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording medium recorded with information representing a content to be recorded, and copying control information representing a condition for permitting copying of the information recorded on the recording medium, wherein the copying control information is multiplexed within the information recorded on the recording medium.
In one embodiment of the invention, the copying control information is represented by a combination of two kinds of watermarks.
In another embodiment of the invention, the information recorded on the first recording medium includes a plurality of frames, the copying control information being multiplexed within a predetermined number of frames among the plurality of frames.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the copying control information selectively represents one of at least three conditions: “copying is permitted over an unlimited number of generations”; “only copying to a second generation copy is permitted”; or “copying is entirely prohibited”.
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages of (1) providing a data copying system and a data copying method which permit the copying of a first generation copy (e.g., a ROM disk) into a second generation copy (e.g., a RAM disk) in compliance with the DVD-Audio standards; and (2) providing a reading apparatus, a writing apparatus, and a recording medium for use in such a data copying system.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5729516 (1998-03-01), Tozaki et al.
patent: 5896454 (1999-04-01), Cookson et al.
patent: 0766468 (1997-04-01), None
patent: 0822550 (1998-02-01), None
patent: 0860823 (1998-08-01), None
patent: 0903736 (1999-03-01), None
patent: 98/16927 (1998-04-01), None
Search Report for European Application No. 99125894.8 dated Jun. 6, 2000.
Fukushima Yoshihisa
Harada Shunji
Inoue Mitsuhiro
Kozuka Masayuki
Serikawa Mitsuhiko
Pan Daniel H.
Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar
LandOfFree
Data copying system, data copying method, data reading... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Data copying system, data copying method, data reading..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Data copying system, data copying method, data reading... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3068725