DVD rental system and method

Abstract

A DVD includes a read-only ROM area in which video is previously recorded, and a readable/writable RAM area. A lender DVD apparatus writes a playback/recording control program in the RAM area of the DVD to be rented. A user DVD apparatus reads the playback/recording control program from the RAM area of the rented DVD. Following the playback/recording control program, the user DVD apparatus receives digital broadcasting, extracts CMs therefrom, and writes the extracted CMs in the RAM area. Then, the user DVD apparatus reads the video from the ROM area and the CMs from the RAM area for playback. Then, the user DVD apparatus generates history data indicating how many times and which CM has been played-back, and writes the generated history data in the RAM area.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A DVD rental system for recording software on a DVD and lending the DVD, comprising: 
 the DVD;    a lender DVD apparatus; and    a user DVD apparatus,    said DVD including 
 a read-only ROM area with said software previously recorded therein, and  
 a readable/writable RAM area,  
   said lender DVD apparatus including write means for writing a control program in the RAM area of the DVD to be rented, and    said user DVD apparatus including 
 read means for reading said control program from the RAM area of the DVD, and  
 control means for carrying out control by following the control program read by said read means, thereby achieving on the user DVD apparatus an environment for a predetermined operation when said software is read from the ROM area of the DVD.  
   
     
     
         2 . The DVD rental system according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said predetermined operation includes reading video and/or sound from the ROM area and a CM from said RAM area in each predetermined timing for playback.    
     
     
         3 . The DVD rental system according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said predetermined operation includes 
 receiving digital broadcasting and extracting a CM therefrom,  
 writing the extracted CM in said RAM area, and  
 reading video and/or sound from the ROM area and a CM from said RAM area in each predetermined timing for playback.  
   
     
     
         4 . The DVD rental system according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said predetermined operation includes 
 receiving digital broadcasting and extracting a CM therefrom,  
 writing the extracted CM in said RAM area,  
 reading video and/or sound from the ROM area and a CM from said RAM area in each predetermined timing for playback, and  
 generating history data indicating how many times and which CM has been played-back and writing the history data in the RAM area.  
   
     
     
         5 . A DVD rental system for recording video and/or sound on a DVD and lending the DVD, comprising: 
 the DVD;    a lender DVD apparatus; and    a user DVD apparatus,    said DVD including 
 a read-only ROM area with said video and/or sound previously recorded thereon, and  
 a readable/writable RAM area,  
   said lender DVD apparatus including 
 a first DVD write part for writing in said RAM area,  
 a second DVD read part for reading from said RAM area,  
 a write/read controller for controlling said first DVD write part and said first DVD read part, and  
 a playback/recording control program storage for storing a playback/recording control program for said user DVD apparatus to carry out a predetermined playback/recording operation,  
   said user DVD apparatus including 
 a second DVD write part for writing in said RAM area,  
 a second DVD read part for reading from said RAM area and said ROM area,  
 a digital broadcasting tuner for receiving digital broadcasting, and  
 a playback/recording controller for controlling said second DVD write part, said second DVD read part, and said digital broadcasting tuner,  
   said write/read controller controlling said first DVD write part to write said playback/recording control program in the RAM area of the DVD,    said playback/recording controller 
 controlling said second DVD read part to read said playback/recording control program from the RAM area of the DVD, and  
 controlling, by following the read playback/recording control program, said second DVD write part, said second DVD read part, and said digital broadcasting tuner,  
   thereby achieving on said user DVD apparatus an environment for a playback/recording operation including 
 receiving digital broadcasting and extracting a CM therefrom,  
 writing the extracted CM in the RAM area,  
 reading said video and/or sound from the ROM area of the DVD and the CM from the RAM area thereof in each predetermined timing for playback, and  
 generating history data indicating how many times and which CM has been played-back and writing the history data in the RAM area, and  
   said write/read controller further controlling said first DVD read part to read said history data from the RAM area of the returned DVD.    
     
     
         6 . The DVD rental system according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 said write/read controller adds personal data of said user to the playback/recording control program to be written in said RAM area, and    said playback/recording controller selects the CM to be extracted based on said personal data when receiving said digital broadcasting and extracting the CM therefrom.    
     
     
         7 . A lender DVD apparatus used in a DVD rental system for recording video and/or sound on a DVD and lending the DVD, 
 said DVD including 
 a read-only ROM area with said video and/or sound previously recorded thereon, and  
 a readable/writable RAM area,  
   said lender DVD apparatus including 
 a DVD write part for writing in said RAM area,  
 a DVD read part for reading from said RAM area,  
 a write/read controller for controlling said DVD write part and said DVD read part, and  
 a playback/recording control program storage for storing a playback/recording control program for a user DVD apparatus to carry out a predetermined playback/recording operation,  
   said write/read controller controlling said DVD write part to write said playback/recording control program in the RAM area of the DVD, thereby achieving on said user DVD apparatus an environment for a playback/recording operation including 
 receiving digital broadcasting and extracting a CM therefrom,  
 writing the extracted CM in the RAM area,  
 reading said video and/or sound from the ROM area of the DVD and a CM from the RAM area thereof in each predetermined timing for playback, and  
 generating history data indicating how many times and which CM has been played-back and writing the history data in the RAM area, and  
   said write/read controller further controlling said DVD read part to read said history data from the RAM area of the returned DVD.    
     
     
         8 . The lender DVD apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 said write/read controller adds personal data of a user to the playback/recording control program to be written in said RAM area,    thereby achieving in said user DVD apparatus an environment for a playback/recording operation in which said digital broadcasting is received and the CM to be extracted is selected based on said personal data.    
     
     
         9 . A user DVD apparatus used in a DVD rental system for recording video and/or sound on a DVD and lending the DVD, 
 said DVD including 
 a read-only ROM area with said video and/or sound previously recorded therein, and  
 a readable/writable RAM area with a playback/recording control program recorded thereon at the time of lending,  
   said user DVD apparatus including 
 a DVD write part for writing in said RAM area,  
 a DVD read part for reading from said RAM area and said ROM area,  
 a digital broadcasting tuner for receiving digital broadcasting, and  
 a playback recording controller for controlling said DVD write part, said DVD read part, and said digital broadcasting tuner,  
   said playback/recording controller 
 controlling said DVD read part to read said playback/recording control program from the RAM area of the DVD, and  
 controlling, by following the read playback/recording control program, said DVD write part, said DVD read part, and said digital broadcasting tuner,  
   thereby achieving on said user DVD apparatus an environment for a playback/recording operation including 
 receiving digital broadcasting and extracting a CM therefrom,  
 writing the extracted CM in the RAM area,  
 reading said video and/or sound from the ROM area of the DVD and the CM from the RAM area thereof in each predetermined timing for playback, and  
 generating history data indicating how many times and which CM has been reproduced and writing the history data in the RAM area.  
   
     
     
         10 . The user DVD apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 personal data of a user is added to said playback/recording control program written in said RAM area, and    said playback/recording controller achieves an environment for a playback/recording operation of selecting the CM to be extracted based on said personal data.    
     
     
         11 . A recording medium on which a playback/recording control program is recorded, the playback/recording control program to be executed in a user DVD apparatus used in a DVD rental system for recording video and/or sound on a DVD and lending the DVD, 
 said DVD including 
 a read-only ROM area with said video and/or sound previously recorded thereon, and  
 a readable/writable RAM area in which said playback/recording control program is written at the time of lending,  
   said playback/recording control program for achieving on said user DVD apparatus an environment for a playback/recording operation including the steps of: 
 receiving digital broadcasting and extracting a CM therefrom;  
 reading said video and/or sound from said ROM area and the CM from said RAM area in each predetermined timing for playback, and  
 generating history data indicating how many times and which CM is played-back and writing the history data in said RAM area.  
   
     
     
         12 . The recording medium according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 personal data of a user is further written in said RAM area at the time of lending, and    in extracting step, the CM to be extracted is selected based on said personal data.    
     
     
         13 . A DVD rental method for recording video and/or sound on a DVD and lending the DVD, 
 said DVD including 
 a read-only ROM area with said video and/or sound previously recorded therein, and  
 a readable/writable RAM area, wherein  
   a lender writes, in the RAM area of the DVD to be rented, a playback/recording control program for making a DVD apparatus for a user to carry out a predetermined playback/recording operation,    said user pays a fee for a value of said video and/or sound to said lender,    the DVD apparatus for said user 
 reads said playback/recording control program from the RAM area of the DVD, and  
 by following the read play-recording/control program, carries out the playback/recording operation including 
 receiving digital broadcasting and extracting a CM therefrom,  
 writing the extracted CM in the RAM area,  
 reading said video and/or sound from the ROM area of the DVD and the CM from the RAM area thereof in each predetermined timing for playback, and  
 generating history data indicating how many times and which CM has been played-back and writing the history data in the RAM area, and  
 
   when the DVD is returned from said user, said lender 
 reading said history data from the RAM area of the DVD,  
 paying an amount to said lender by referring to CM playback history, and  
 providing the history data to a third party and charging the third party for the history data to collect the fee paid to the user.  
   
     
     
         14 . The DVD rental method according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 said lender adds personal data of said user to the playback/recording control program to be written in said RAM area, and    the DVD apparatus for said user selects a CM to be extracted based on said personal data.