Recording and reproducing system, recording apparatus and reproducing apparatus having copy protection function

Abstract

An apparatus for reading record information from a recording disk and outputting the read record information in order to reproduce the record information recorded on the recording disk, is provided. The record information includes: image information which represents an image or a picture; identification information which represents any one of at least never copy and copy free. The never copy indicates that copying of the record information is prohibited. The copy free indicates that the copying of the record information is permitted. The apparatus comprises: a read device for reading the record information from the recording disk; a first determination device for determining whether the identification information included in the read record information indicates the never copy or the copy free; a second determination device for determining whether the recording disk is a recording disk of a recordable type or a recording disk of a read-only type; an output control device for determining on the basis of determinations of the first determination device and the second determination device whether outputting the read record information is permitted or prohibited; and an output device for outputting the read record information in accordance with a determination of the output control device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for reading record information from a recording disk and outputting the read record information in order to reproduce the record information recorded on the recording disk, 
 the record information including: image information which represents an image or a picture; identification information which represents any one of at least never copy and copy free,    the never copy indicating that copying of the record information is prohibited, the copy free indicating that the copying of the record information is permitted,    the apparatus comprising: 
 a read device for reading the record information from the recording disk;  
 a first determination device for determining whether the identification information included in the read record information indicates the never copy or the copy free;  
 a second determination device for determining whether the recording disk is a recording disk of a recordable type or a recording disk of a read-only type;  
 an output control device for determining on the basis of determinations of the first determination device and the second determination device whether outputting the read record information is permitted or prohibited; and  
 an output device for outputting the read record information in accordance with a determination of the output control device.  
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second determination device comprises: 
 a detection device for detecting a form of a track formed on a surface of the recording disk; and    a disk determination device for determining on the basis of a detection of the detection device whether the recording disk is the recording disk of the recordable type or the recording disk of the read-only type.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second determination device comprises: 
 a detection device for detecting a wobble of a track formed on a surface of the recording disk; and    a disk determination device for determining on the basis of a detection of the detecting device whether the recording disk is the recording disk of the recordable type or the recording disk of the read-only type.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of the recording disk of the recordable type and the recording disk of the real-only type has a spiral track, the spiral track is formed on a surface of the recording disk, the record information is recorded on the spiral track,    the recording disk of the recordable type further has a loop track, the loop track is formed on the surface of the recording disk together with the spiral track, the loop track is different from the spiral track in form, and    the second determination device comprises: 
 a detection device for detecting the loop track formed on the surface of the recording disk; and  
 a disk determination device for determining on the basis of a detection of the detecting device whether the recording disk is the disk of the recordable type or the disk of the read-only type.  
   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the recording disk has disk information, the disk information is recorded on the recording disk as digital data, the disk information indicates the type of the recording disk, and    the second determination device comprises: 
 a detection device for detecting the disk information from the recording disk; and  
 a disk determination device for determining on the basis of a detection of the detecting device whether the recording disk is the recording disk of the recordable type or the recording disk of the read-only type.  
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the recording disk has standard information, the standard information is recorded on the recording disk as digital data, the standard information indicates a standard of the recording disk, and    the second determination device comprises: 
 a detection device for detecting the standard information from the recording disk; and  
 a disk determination device for determining on the basis of a detection of the detecting device whether the recording disk is the recording disk of the recordable type or the recording disk of the read-only type.  
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification information is a watermark to be embedded in the image or the picture.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification information is CGMS (Copy Generation Management System) information.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for reading record information comprising image information and identification information from a recording disk and outputting the read record information in order to reproduce the record information recorded on the recording disk, the apparatus comprising: 
 a read device with reading means for reading the record information comprising image information and identification information from the recording disk;    a first determination device with first determining means for determining whether copying of the record information is prohibited or permitted on the basis of the identification information;    a second determination device with second determining means for determining whether the recording disk is a recording disk of a recordable type or a recording disk of a read-only type on the basis of a form of a track formed on a surface of the recording disk;    an output control device with third determining means for determining, on the basis of determinations of the first determination device and the second determination device, whether outputting the read record information is permitted or prohibited; and    an output device for outputting the read record information in accordance with a determination of the output control device.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the second determination means comprises: 
 a detection device for detecting a wobble of a track formed on a surface of the recording disk; and    a disk determination device for determining on the basis of a detection of the detecting device whether the recording disk is the recording disk of the recordable type or the recording disk of the read-only type.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 each of the recording disk of the recordable type and the recording disk of the real-only type has a spiral track, the spiral track is formed on a surface of the recording disk, the record information is recorded on the spiral track,    the recording disk of the recordable type further has a loop track, the loop track is formed on the surface of the recording disk together with the spiral track, the loop track is different from the spiral track in form, and    the second determination means comprises: 
 a detection device for detecting the loop track formed on the surface of the recording disk; and  
 a disk determination device for determining on the basis of a detection of the detecting device whether the recording disk is the disk of the recordable type or the disk of the read-only type.  
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the identification information is a watermark to be embedded in the image or the picture.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the identification information is CGMS (Copy Generation Management System) information.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the identification information is standard information that indicates a standard of the recording disk.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the identification information indicates whether or not the record information is encrypted.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the identification information is certification information that indicates the recording apparatus that has recorded the record information onto the recording disk.