Contents managing method and contents managing apparatus

Abstract

A contents managing method of regulating a number of copied contents storable on a storage medium includes giving a predetermined number of copyable contents for each content, recording the copied contents on the storage medium upon reception of an instruction for copy recording on the storage medium when there is a remainder in the number of copyable contents, decrementing the number of copyable contents by “1” every time one copied content is recorded on the storage medium at a time of recording, and incrementing the number of copyable contents by “1” every time one copied content is erased from the storage medium upon reception of an instruction to erase the copied contents from the storage medium.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A contents managing method capable of controlling content copying, comprising: 
 providing a content to which a predetermined number of allowable copies is allocated;    decreasing the number of allowable copies allocated to the content when the content is copied onto a recording medium; and    storing identification information of the recording medium in a restricted memory area that is accessible through security procedures when the content is copied onto the recording medium.    
   
   
       18 . The contents managing method according to  claim 17 , wherein the decreasing includes decreasing the number of allowable copies allocated to the content by “1” every time the content is copied onto the recording medium.  
   
   
       19 . The contents managing method according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 storing, in addition to the identification information of the content, a corresponding checkout list having identification information of the recording medium onto which the content has been copied; and    controlling checkout of the content by referring to at least the stored identification information of the content and the corresponding checkout list.    
   
   
       20 . A contents managing method capable of controlling content copying, comprising: 
 providing a content to which a predetermined number of allowable copies is allocated;    decreasing the number of allowable copies allocated to the content when the content is copied onto a recording medium; and    storing flag information, which indicates whether the copied content on the recording medium is movable, in a restricted memory area that is accessible through security procedures.    
   
   
       21 . The contents managing method according to  claim 20 , wherein the decreasing includes decreasing the number of allowable copies allocated to the content by “1” every time the content is copied onto the recording medium.  
   
   
       22 . The contents managing method according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 storing, in addition to the identification information of the content, a corresponding checkout list having identification information of the recording medium onto which the content has been copied; and    controlling checkout of the content by referring to at least the stored identification information of the content and the corresponding checkout list.    
   
   
       23 . A contents managing method capable of controlling content copying, comprising: 
 providing a content to which a predetermined number of allowable copies is allocated; and    decreasing the number of allowable copies allocated to the content when the content is copied onto a recording medium,    wherein the recording medium is one of a first type of recording medium comprising an area for storing identification information of the recording medium and a restricted memory area that is accessible through security procedures, a second type of recording medium comprising an area for storing information of the recording medium and an unrestricted memory area, and a third type of recording medium comprising an unrestricted memory area, and    wherein a type of the recording medium is determined and a content regulation process based on the type is performed when one of recording the content on the recording medium, erasing the copied content on the recording medium when the identification information of the recording medium is stored in the restricted memory area, or reproducing the copied content on the recording medium is executed.    
   
   
       24 . The contents managing method according to  claim 23 , wherein the decreasing includes decreasing the number of allowable copies allocated to the content by “1” every time the content is copied onto the recording medium.  
   
   
       25 . The contents managing method according to  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 storing, in addition to the identification information of the content, a corresponding checkout list having identification information of the recording medium onto which the content has been copied; and    controlling checkout of the content by referring to at least the stored identification information of the content and the corresponding checkout list.    
   
   
       26 . A contents managing apparatus capable of controlling content copying, comprising: 
 a storage device configured to provide a content to which a predetermined number of allowable copies is allocated; and    a manager configured to decrease the number of allowable copies allocated to the content when the content is copied onto a recording medium, and to store identification information of the recording medium in a restricted memory area that is accessible through security procedures when the content is copied onto the recording medium.    
   
   
       27 . The contents managing apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the manager decreases the number of allowable copies allocated to the content by “1” every time the content is copied onto the recording medium.  
   
   
       28 . The contents managing apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the manager is further configured to store, in addition to the identification information of the content, a corresponding checkout list having identification information of the recording medium onto which the content has been copied, and to control checkout of the content by referring to at least the stored identification information of the content and the corresponding checkout list.  
   
   
       29 . A contents managing apparatus capable of controlling content copying, comprising: 
 a storage device configured to provide a content to which a predetermined number of allowable copies is allocated; and    a manager configured to decrease the number of allowable copies allocated to the content when the content is copied onto a recording medium, and to store flag information, which indicates whether the copied content on the recording medium is movable, in a restricted memory area that is accessible through security procedures.    
   
   
       30 . The contents managing apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the manager decreases the number of allowable copies allocated to the content by “1” every time the content is copied onto the recording medium.  
   
   
       31 . The contents managing apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the manager is further configured to store, in addition to the identification information of the content, a corresponding checkout list having identification information of the recording medium onto which the content has been copied, and to control checkout of the content by referring to at least the stored identification information of the content and the corresponding checkout list.  
   
   
       32 . A contents managing apparatus capable of controlling content copying, comprising: 
 a storage device configured to provide a content to which a predetermined number of allowable copies is allocated; and    a manager configured to decrease the number of allowable copies allocated to the content when the content is copied onto a recording medium, and wherein the recording medium is one of a first type of recording medium comprising an area for storing identification information of the recording medium and a restricted memory area that is accessible through security procedures, a second type of recording medium comprising an area for storing information of the recording medium and an unrestricted memory area, and a third type of recording medium comprising an unrestricted memory area, and the manager is further configured to determine a type of the recording medium and perform a content regulation process based on the type when executing one of recording the content on the recording medium, erasing the copied content on the recording medium, or reproducing the copied content on the recording medium.    
   
   
       33 . The contents managing apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the manager decreases the number of allowable copies allocated to the content by “1” every time the content is copied onto the recording medium.  
   
   
       34 . The contents managing apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the manager is further configured to store, in addition to the identification information of the content, a corresponding checkout list having identification information of the recording medium onto which the content has been copied, and to control checkout of the content by referring to at least the stored identification information of the content and the corresponding checkout list.