Method for managing recorded streams in a rewritable recording medium

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing digital content are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes receiving digital content and protection information for protecting the digital content; obtaining flag information associated with time information; obtaining the time information indicating one of a relative time and an absolute time based on the flag information; and managing the digital content according to the time information, wherein the managing step prevents use of the digital content upon an expiration of the time indicated in the time information.

1 . A method of managing digital content, comprising:
 receiving digital content and protection information for protecting the digital content;   obtaining flag information associated with time information;   obtaining the time information indicating one of a relative time and an absolute time based on the flag information; and   managing the digital content according to the time information,   wherein the managing step prevents use of the digital content upon an expiration of the time indicated in the time information.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time indicated in the time information is a time after which accessibility of the digital content is considered expired, the accessibility including a playback or editing of the digital content. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the managing step includes:
 comparing the relative time and a predetermined time; and   controlling a playback of the digital content based on a result of the comparing step.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the controlling step includes deleting the digital content based on the result of the comparing step. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined time is a current elapsed time from an initial playback time of the digital content. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protection information is related to at least one of the flag information and the time information, and the managing step further manages the digital content based on the protection information. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for managing digital content, comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive digital content and protection information for protecting the digital content; and   a controller configured to obtain flag information associated with time information, to obtain the time information indicating one of a relative time and an absolute time based on the flag information, and to manage the digital content according to the time information,   wherein the managing of the digital content prevents use of the digital content upon an expiration of the time indicated in the time information.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the time indicated in the time information is a time after which accessibility of the digital content is considered expired, the accessibility including a playback or editing of the digital content. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the relative time and a predetermined time, and to control a playback of the digital content based on the comparison results. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to delete the digital content based on the comparison results. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined time is a current elapsed time from an initial playback time of the digital content. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the protection information is related to at least one of the flag information and the time information, and the controller is further configured to manage the digital content based on the protection information.