Recording and Reproducing Apparatus Adapted to Selectively Control the Number of Copies Made

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to recording and reproducing apparatuses and, more particularly, to a recording and reproducing apparatus capable of limiting copying of digital signals.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the past, in the recording and reproducing apparatus, for example, VTRs, no copying limitation was positively made. To take copies was, therefore, free and, from the point of view of copyright protection, gave rise to a problem. In the case of the analog signal recording type VTR, because the image quality in S/N, resolution, etc., deteriorates with the increase of the number of times the copying has been recycled, the freedom of copying was limited to some extent. In the case of the digital signal recording type VTR, no deterioration of the image quality takes place by copying (dubbing). Hence, the number of copyright issues is increasing. Yet, any effective method for copy limitation has so far not been disclosed.

In the conventional recording and reproducing apparatus, it is conceivable in the case of, for example, the digital signal recording type VTR that the problem of copyright is averted by performing all connection between the instruments for use in copying through an input/output system for analog signals. If so, the advantage of having influence of dubbing in the digital signal recording is lost.

Also, it is primarily desirable that as far as what the user has created by himself is concerned, the right of deciding whether or not it is possible to copy the source tape (original tape) is given to the user himself.

An object of the present invention is to provide a recording and reproducing apparatus which has overcome such problems as described above and can carry out copying with an effective limitation that meets practical demands.

To achieve such an object, according to the invention, in an embodiment thereof, a recording and reproducing apparatus comprises reproducing means for reproducing number-of-times-of-copy information and possible-number-of-times-of-copy information recorded on a recording medium, renewing means for renewing the number-of-times-of-copy information reproduced by the reproducing means, determining means for comparing the possible-number-of-times-of-copy information and the number-of-times-of-copy information with each other to determine whether or not it is possible to perform copying, and recording means for recording the number-of-times-of-copy information which has been renewed by the renewing means on the recording medium.

With the use of the recording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention, as the possible-number-of-times-of-copy information has been recorded, the number of times which the copying can be performed can be limited, or the copying can be prohibited.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following written specification and drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an example of the pattern recorded on the magnetic tape by the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the patterns in the recorded data area.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the connection between the source deck and the copy deck.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for the copy control by the CPU 121.

The invention is next described in connection with an embodiment thereof by reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a VTR body having an analog input terminal 151 for receiving analog signals including analog video signals and audio signals, a digital input terminal 152 for receiving digital signals including digital video signals and audio signals, and a copy request input/output terminal 153 arranged, when the VTR is used as the source-side deck, to supply a copy request signal from the copy-side deck to a CPU 121, or when the VTR is used as the copy-side deck, to supply a copy request signal from the CPU 121 to the source-side deck according to the operation of an operation part (not shown) connected to the CPU 121. Further, when the VTR is used as the copy-side deck, if the copy request signal is not produced, an output prohibition command is given to a multiplexer 105 by the CPU 121, so that no recording signals are produced.

The analog video signal (including the audio signal) received at the input terminal 151 passes through an A/D converter 101, a selector 102, a TCI encoder 103, a data compressor 104, a multiplexer (MPX) 105, an ECC encoder 106, a modulator 107 and a recording amplifier (Rec AMP) 108 to enter a recording head 109A mounted on a rotary drum 130, by which it is recorded as a series of digital data on a video tape 133. The A/D converter 101, the selector 102, the-TCI encoder 103, the data compressor 104, the multiplexer (MPX) 105, the ECC encoder 106, the modulator 107, the recording amplifier (Rec AMP) 108 and the recording head 109A constitute a recording means.

When the input signal is a digital signal, the digital signal is supplied through the input terminal 152 directly to the selector 102. The actual form of the input signal comprises a plurality of channels for a set of R, G and B, or another set of Y, C.sub.N and C.sub.W, along with digital audio signals, though in the drawing they are represented by only one signal line.

A subcode encoder 115 generates a subcode including control code values J and J.sub.0 to be recorded on the tape. The control code values J and J.sub.0 will be more fully described later.

This subcode including the control code values J and J.sub.0 is processed by the multiplexer 105 so that its output timing differs in time from that of the video signal, the audio signal and data such as a time code, and the subcode are recorded at a position 3C in each track on the tape as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 shows recording tracks formed on the tape 133 by the recording head 109A. FIG. 3 shows recording areas of each of the recording tracks.

A reproducing head 109B is arranged to trace each track while preceding the recording head 109A by at least one track. The reproduced signal output from the reproducing head 109B passes through a reproducing equalizer amplifier 110, a demodulator 111, an ECC decoder 112, a demultiplexer 113, a time-base expander 117, a TCI decoder 118, a selector 119 and a D/A converter 120 to be output from an output terminal 131. The reproducing head 109B, the reproducing equalizer amplifier 110, the demodulator 111, the ECC decoder 112, the demultiplexer 113, the time-base expander 117, the TCI decoder 118, the selector 119, the D/A converter 120 constitute a reproducing means.

A subcode decoder 116, in a reproduction mode, decodes the subcode including the copy control code values J.sub.0 and J recorded in each field, and its output is supplied to the CPU 121.

The CPU 121 determines whether or not it is possible to perform the copying, in other words, whether or not the digital signal is allowed to be output, according to the decoded control code values J.sub.0 and J, and further renews the control code values J.sub.0 and J.

In a case where the digital signal is allowed to be output, the CPU 121 commands the selector 119 to supply the digital video and audio signals directly to a digital output terminal 132.

Here, the control code values J.sub.0 and J are briefly explained.

The value J.sub.0 is data representing the possible number of times of copy. This is determined at the time of recording on the original tape, and is recorded in the recording area 3C on the tape. The other value J is data representing the number of times of copy. This is set to "0" at the time of recording on the original tape. If the value J.sub.0 is "0", copying cannot be performed at all. In a specific embodiment of the invention, if the value J.sub.0 is "8", the copy limitation is not imposed at all.

The various values J.sub.0 are related to the values of the allowable number of times of copy, as summarized in Table 1.

It is to be noted that the copy limitation by the aforesaid value J.sub.0 is imposed on the digital output, and does not work on copying of the analog output.

It is also to be noted that the value J.sub.0 is not restricted to the values exemplified in Table 1, but may take any other values "0" or more.

Therefore, on the source tape, the value J.sub.0 representing the possible number of times of copy and the value J which progressively increases according to the number of times of output of copy are previously recorded in the position 3C shown in FIG. 3. These values are recorded as eight-bit data whose four least significant bits are assigned to the value J.sub.0 and whose four most significant bits are assigned to the progressively increasing value J.

The fundamental concept of the present embodiment is that whether or not the present copying is prohibited is determined based on the control code values J.sub.0 and J reproduced and decoded by the source-side deck, and the control code values J and J.sub.0 are renewed as shown in Table 2 in order to rewrite the control code values recorded on the tape of the source-side deck and to record these renewed control code values as the control code values to be recorded on the tape of the copy-side deck.

The above-described process is explained below.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the copy control process by the CPU 121 as the VTR of FIG. 1 is utilized as the source-side deck.

The source-side desk and the the copy-side desk are connected to each other as shown in FIG. 4.

The CPU 121 takes in mode information M in a step S1. Whether or not the source-side deck and the copy-side deck are already set to operate in the copy mode MC is judged by checking the presence or absence of the copy request signal in a step S2. If the judgment result is that the copy mode MC is operating, that is, M=MC, the process advances to a step S3 where both decks are brought into synchronism and, as they stand in this state, they are simultaneously brought into the reproduction mode. At this time, a control signal corresponding to the reproduction mode is sent to a controller 114 for a drum motor, a capstan motor 121, reel motors 123 and 124, etc. To the reproducing equalizer amplifier 110, a read timing signal T.sub.R is sent for the purpose of reading the recording area shown in FIG. 3 on the magnetic tape which contains the subcode corresponding to the values J.sub.0 and J. Then, in a step S4, the value J.sub.0 and the value J which are reproduced and decoded by each field (track) are read in a RAM within the CPU 121. Then, the read value J.sub.0 is transferred to and stored in a register within the CPU 121 and whether this value J.sub.0 is "8" or not is determined in a step S5.

Then, if the judgment results in not J.sub.0 =8, in other words, in J.sub.0 <8, the J.sub.0 -times-copy-allowable mode is found. So, the value J.sub.0 is compared with the reproduced value J in a step S6. If J.sub.0 >J, it is then made possible to perform copying. After this, the process advances to a step S7. In the step S7, the value J is counted up as J=J+1. Thus, the digital output is allowed in a step S8. In a step S9, the renewed value J is recorded in the track which has been just read in replacement of the old value J by the recording head 109A that is tracing in such a way as to follow up the reproducing head 109B.

At this time, the value J.sub.0 and the renewed value J are supplied through the terminal 134 to the copy-side deck and recorded on the recording area 3C of the copy tape by the copy-side deck along with the digital signal output from the terminal 132.

Subsequently, the mode information M is taken in at a step S10, and then whether or not the taken-in mode is the stop mode is judged in a step S11. If the judgment results in the stop mode MS, the apparatus is brought into the stop mode. Thus, the processing is ended. If the mode information M is not the stop mode MS, the process returns to the step S4 and the next track is treated in a similar manner.

In the step S5, if the judgment results in J.sub.0 =8, or copy free, on the other hand, the process advances to a step S8 where the copy-allowable mode is selected to operate. Thus, the digital output is allowed. As to the value J, it is not rewritten. The procedure from the step S9 to the step S11 operates in a similar manner except that the value J.sub.0 and the value J are recorded only on the copy tape in the step S9.

Meanwhile, in the step S6, if the judgment results in J.sub.0 >J, the process advances to a step S12 where the digital output is stopped. In a step S13, the mode is taken in. Then, whether or not the taken-in mode is the stop mode is judged in a step S14. If the judgment results in not the stop mode, the process returns to the step S4 to treat the next track. And, if the judgment in the step S14 results in the stop mode, the apparatus is brought into the stop mode. Thus, the processing is ended.

Since the possibility of taking copies and the possible number of times of copy are controlled by each recording track, not only for a series of continuous motion picture frames, but also for still picture data of a smaller size than one field, the copy control can be made.

Though the foregoing embodiment has been described in connection with an example of using the same values for the parameters J and J.sub.0 to be recorded on the source tape (original tape) and the copy tape, variation may be made. In another embodiment shown in Table 3, after a copying operation is started, the values J and J.sub.0 which are to be recorded in the source-side deck and the values J and J.sub.0 which are to be recorded in the copy-side deck are made different from each other when they are output. For the tape obtained by the copying, in any case, J.sub.0 =0 is set to prevent the second and later generations of copy from occurring. With the use of such a measure, therefore, the source tape that, for example, was bought is allowed to be used for taking a predetermined number of copies therefrom, but the copy tape that was obtained from the source tape can no longer be used for taking any more copies therefrom.

Hence, it becomes possible to solve the problem of protecting the copyright against the copying capability of the VTR that has so far been serious. This is very advantageous not only to industry but also from the standpoint of protecting the cultural properties.

It should be noted that the invention is applicable not only to such VTRs as described above but also to the ordinary copying machines. In the latter case, the values J.sub.0 and J are recorded (copied, or printed) in the form of bar codes in a predetermined position (for example, back side) of an original manuscript, while the copying machine is provided with a bar code reader as the reading means.

As has been described above, according to the recording and reproducing apparatus of the invention, its features described above have a great advantage that the copy limitation that is commensurate with reality can be realized.