Digital Information Recording and Reproducing Method and Apparatus Therefor

Abstract

A method is disclosed wherein a first piece of digital information and copy control information of the first piece of digital information is received. The copy control information is for controlling the recording of the first piece of digital information on a recording medium. When the received copy control information is Copy One Generation indicating that only one generation copy of digital information is allowed, then a plurality of the first pieces of digital information are recorded on a first recording medium as the first piece of digital information and a second piece of digital information, wherein the first piece of digital information is different in format or in bit rate from the second piece of digital information.

1 . A digital information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:
 an inputting unit to input digital information including digital contents information, first copy control information and second copy control information;   a detecting unit to detect said first copy control information and said second copy control information from said inputted digital information;   a first recording unit to record said inputted digital contents information on a first recoding medium;   a reproducing unit to reproduce said recorded digital contents information from said first recoding medium;   a digital interface to output said reproduced digital contents information reproduced by said reproducing unit;   a second recording unit to record said reproduced digital contents information reproduced by said reproducing unit, on a second recoding medium; and   a controlling unit to control said first recording unit, said reproducing unit, said digital interface, and said second recording unit,   wherein in the case where said first copy control information detected by said detecting unit is “Copy One Generation” indicating that only one generation copy of digital contents information is allowed, and said second copy control information detected by said detecting unit indicates that pre-set number of copies of said digital contents information are allowed, said controlling unit limits the total number of copies of digital contents information from said first recoding medium to different destinations including said digital interface and second recoding medium to no more than said pre-set number.   
     
     
         2 . A digital information recording and reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein when said controlling unit controls said digital interface to output said reproduced digital contents information across said digital interface, said reproduced digital contents information reproduced by said reproducing unit is outputted with copy control information that indicates “Copy One Generation” or moved with copy control information that indicates “No More Copies”. 
     
     
         3 . A digital information recording and reproducing method executed in a digital information recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising a step of:
 inputting digital information including digital contents information, first copy control information and second copy control information;   detecting said first copy control information and said second copy control information from said inputted digital information;   recording said inputted digital contents information on a first recoding medium;   reproducing said recorded digital contents information from said first recoding medium;   outputting said reproduced digital contents information across a digital interface; and   recording said reproduced digital contents information on a second recoding medium;   controlling the total number of copies of digital contents information from said first recoding medium to different destinations including said digital interface and second recoding medium,   wherein in the case where said first copy control information detected in said detecting step is “Copy One Generation” indicating that only one generation copy of digital contents information is allowed, and said second copy control information detected in said detecting step indicates that pre-set number of copies of said digital contents information are allowed, limiting said total number of copies to no more than said pre-set number in said controlling step.   
     
     
         4 . A digital information recording and reproducing method according to  claim 3 , wherein in said outputting step, said reproduced digital contents information reproduced in said reproducing step is outputted with copy control information that indicates “Copy One Generation” or moved with copy control information that indicates “No More Copies”.