Combination system and copy error preventing method thereof

Abstract

A combo system and method having a play unit to play a signal recorded on a first recording medium and a recording unit to record the signal played by the play unit on a second recording medium. A detector detects whether a predetermined copy preventing signal exists within the signal played by the play unit. A controller controls the recording unit to stop a recording operation of the recording unit when the copy preventing signal is detected by the detector.

1 . An apparatus for a system comprising a playback unit to read data recorded on a first recording medium and a recording unit to record the data from the playback unit on a second recording medium, the apparatus comprising: 
 a detector to detect whether a predetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for the data read by the playback unit; and    a controller to control the recording unit to stop a recording operation of the recording unit in response to the copy preventing mechanism being detected by the detector.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the recording unit is a VCR unit to record the data on a magnetic tape.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the playback unit is a DVD playback unit to reproduce the data recorded on a DVD.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a signal generator to generate a warning signal indicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the warning signal is an audio signal.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the signal generator comprises an on-screen display unit and the warning signal is output as a character, sign, text, or video signal for a display.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detector detects the macrovision signal from the data read by the playback unit.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is a combo system comprising the playback unit and the recording unit integrated into the combo system.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the combo system further comprises a display unit to display a signal indicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the playback unit is an external device with respect to a device comprising the recording unit and the apparatus, or    the recording unit is an external device with respect to a device comprising the playback unit and the apparatus.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein a protocol is established between the playback unit and the recording unit using a cable to perform communication.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein reproduction of the data by the playback unit is uninterrupted by the stopping of the recording operation.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the data is a video and/or audio data.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for a system comprising a playback unit to read video and/or audio data recorded on a first recording medium and a recording unit to record the video and/or audio data from the playback unit on a second recording medium, the apparatus comprising: 
 a detector to detect whether a predetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for the video and/or audio data read by the playback unit; and    a signal generator to generate a warning signal indicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism in response to a command requesting the recording unit to record the video and/or audio data on the second recording medium.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising a controller to control the recording unit to stop a recording operation of the recording unit in response to the copy preventing mechanism being detected by the detector.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detector detects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio data read by the playback unit.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the warning signal is an audio signal, and/or a character, sign, text, or video signal for a display.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for a combo system comprising or receiving a first recording medium having a video and/or audio data recorded thereon and a second recording medium to record the video and/or audio data from the first recording medium, the apparatus comprising: 
 a detector to detect whether a predetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for the video and/or audio data from the first recording medium of the combo system; and    a controller to stop a recording operation to record the video and/or audio data on the second recording medium of the combo system in response to the copy preventing mechanism being detected by the detector.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising a signal generator to generate a warning signal indicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism for the video and/or audio data.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detector detects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio data.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the warning signal is an audio signal, and/or a character, sign, text, or video signal for a display.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the first recording medium is an optical recording medium.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus for a combo system comprising or receiving a first recording medium having a video and/or audio data recorded thereon and a second recording medium to record the video and/or audio data from the first recording medium, the apparatus comprising: 
 a detector to detect whether a predetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for the video and/or audio data from the first recording medium of the combo system; and    a signal generator to generate a warning signal indicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism in response to a command requesting the video and/or audio data be recorded on the second recording medium.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detector detects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio data.  
   
   
       25 . A system comprising: 
 a playback unit to read video and/or audio data recorded on a first recording medium;    a recording unit to record the video and/or audio data from the first recording medium on a second recording medium;    a detector to detect whether a predetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for the video and/or audio data read by the playback unit; and    a controller to control the recording unit to stop a recording operation of the recording unit in response to the copy preventing mechanism being detected.    
   
   
       26 . The system according to  claim 25 , further comprising a signal generator to generate a warning signal indicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism.  
   
   
       27 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein the warning signal is an audio signal.  
   
   
       28 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein the signal generator comprises an on-screen display unit and the warning signal is output as a character, sign, text, or video signal for a display.  
   
   
       29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein reproduction of the video and/or audio data for the display by the playback unit is uninterrupted by the stopping of the recording operation, and the warning signal is added to the video and/or audio data output to the display.  
   
   
       30 . The system according to  claim 26 , further comprising a display unit to display the warning signal.  
   
   
       31 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detector detects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio data read by the playback unit.  
   
   
       32 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the playback unit is an external device with respect to a device comprising the recording unit, the detector, and the controller, or    the recording unit is an external device with respect to a device comprising the playback unit, the detector, and the controller.    
   
   
       33 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein a protocol is established between the playback unit and the recording unit using a cable to perform communication.  
   
   
       34 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the system is a combo system comprising the playback unit, recording unit, detector, and controller integrated into the combo system.  
   
   
       35 . The system according to  claim 34 , further comprising an input unit to receive a video and/or audio data from an external device, wherein: 
 the detector detects whether a corresponding copy preventing mechanism is provided for the video and/or audio data received from the external device, and    the controller controls the recording unit to stop a recording to record the video and/or audio data of the external device on the second recording medium in response to the corresponding copy preventing mechanism being detected.    
   
   
       36 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein: 
 the controller comprises a playback unit controller to control the playback unit and a recording unit controller to control the recording unit, and one of the playback and recording unit controllers is used as a main controller of the combo system.    
   
   
       37 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the detector is connected between the playback unit and the recording unit controller, and one of the playback and recording unit controllers controls the reproduction and recording of the video and/or audio data.  
   
   
       38 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the macrovision signal from the detector is transmitted to the recording unit controller.  
   
   
       39 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the playback unit comprises the detector, the playback unit controller controls the reproduction of the video and/or audio data, and the recording unit controller controls the recording of the video and/or audio data.  
   
   
       40 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the playback unit is an optical recording medium playback unit.  
   
   
       41 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the recording unit reproduces video and/or audio data recorded on the second recording medium in response to a playback command.  
   
   
       42 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the detector is enabled when video and/or audio data recorded on the second recording medium is reproduced.  
   
   
       43 . A system comprising: 
 a playback unit to read video and/or audio data recorded on a first recording medium;    a recording unit to record the video and/or audio data from the playback unit on a second recording medium;    a detector to detect whether a predetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for the video and/or audio data read by the playback unit; and    a signal generator to generate a warning signal indicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism in response to a command requesting the recording unit to record the video and/or audio data on the second recording medium.    
   
   
       44 . The system according to  claim 43 , further comprising a controller to control the recording unit to stop a recording operation of the recording unit in response to the copy preventing mechanism being detected by the detector.  
   
   
       45 . The system according to  claim 44 , wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detector detects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio data read by the playback unit.  
   
   
       46 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein the warning signal is an audio signal, and/or a character, sign, text, or video signal for a display.  
   
   
       47 . A combo system comprising: 
 a detector to detect whether a predetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for video and/or audio data from a first recording medium; and    a controller to stop a recording operation to record the video and/or audio data on a second recording medium in response to the copy preventing mechanism being detected by the detector, wherein the combo system receiving or further comprising:    the first recording medium having the video and/or audio data recorded thereon, and    the second recording medium to record the video and/or audio data from the first recording medium.    
   
   
       48 . The combo system according to  claim 47 , further comprising a signal generator to generate a warning signal indicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism for the video and/or audio data.  
   
   
       49 . The combo system according to  claim 48 , wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detector detects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio data.  
   
   
       50 . The combo system according to  claim 48 , wherein the warning signal is an audio signal, and/or a character, sign, text, or video signal for a display.  
   
   
       51 . The combo system according to  claim 48 , wherein the first recording medium is an optical recording medium.  
   
   
       52 . A combo system comprising: 
 a detector to detect whether a predetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for video and/or audio data from a first recording medium; and    a signal generator to generate a warning signal indicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism in response to a command requesting the video and/or audio data be recorded on a second recording medium, wherein the combo system receiving or further comprising:    the first recording medium having the video and/or audio data recorded thereon, and    the second recording medium to record the video and/or audio data from the first recording medium.    
   
   
       53 . The combo system according to  claim 52 , wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detector detects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio data.