Copy prevention method and apparatus of a digital recording/reproducing system employing a marker including copy protection information and code data for descrambling

Abstract

A copy prevention method and apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system performs the copy prevention function by encoding to insert a marker involving copy prevention function information and executing the function and allows a program supplier to realize a desired copy prevention function of various patterns, in which the marker formed by a control word for scrambling audio and video bit straps and copy prevention information for preventing an illegal copy is encrypted by an encoded key to be multiplexed with the audio and video bit strips scrambled by the control word. The marker transmitted is detected from the bit strips to be decrypted and analyzed by the encoded key to determine whether the copy is permitted or not, so that the detected marker is updated to be recorded on a video tape and the control word is produced from the marker to perform the descrambling to supply the result to a monitor to be displayed. Thus, the program supplier selects the copy prevention function, and a separate format converting apparatus is not required since a field defined within a GA format is utilized while an existing DVCR is not need to be changed for performing the copy prevention function as the data amount to be recorded is not increased.The method and apparatus for transmitting and/or recording digital data generates control data and initializes a scrambler based on the control data. Digital data is scrambled using the scrambler. A marker is formed including the control data and the scrambled digital data and the marker are transmitted or recorded as a packet. The packet includes a header, which includes the marker. When the scrambled digital data and the marker, as a packet, are received, the marker is detected and the control data is obtained from the marker. A descrambler is initialized based on the control data, and the scrambled digital data is descrambled using the descrambler.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system comprising: 
       an audio and video signal transmitting process of encrypting a marker formed by a control word for scrambling audio and video bit strips and copy prevention information for preventing an illegal copy by means of an encoding key, and multiplexing said marker with said audio and video bit strips scrambled by said control word, and  
       an audio and video signal receiving/recording process of detecting said marker from said transmitted bit strips, decrypting and analyzing the detected marker by means of an encoded  said encoding key to determine whether copy is permitted or not, updating said detected marker to be recorded on a video tape, and generating said control word from said marker to perform a descrambling and supply the audio and video signals to be displayed on a monitor.  
     
     
       2. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  1 , wherein said marker is placed on a transport-private-data field within said bit strips. 
     
     
       3. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  2   1 , wherein said marker is comprised of a copy prevention information area recorded with said copy prevention information for preventing said illegal copy, and a control word area recorded with said control word for descrambling. 
     
     
       4. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  3 , wherein said marker is formed of 8 bytes. 
     
     
       5. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  4 , wherein said copy prevention area is formed of one byte. 
     
     
       6. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  4 , wherein said control word area is formed of four bytes. 
     
     
       7. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  3 , wherein said copy prevention information is formatted by including a generational copy control field for restricting the number of permitting said copy of a program. 
     
     
       8. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  7 , wherein said generational copy control field comprises: 
       an allowable generational field for restricting the copy number of said program; and  
       a current generational field representing a current generation of a duplicated program.  
     
     
       9. A copy prevention-method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  1 , wherein said audio and video transmitting process comprises: 
       an audio and video bit-strip encoding step of encoding said audio and video bit strips;  
       a control word generating step of generating said control word for scrambling;  
       a scrambling step for scrambling said encoded audio and video bit strips by means of said generated control word;  
       a copy prevention information generating step of generating said copy prevention information for preventing said illegal copy;  
       a marker generating and encrypting step of generating said marker by means of said generated control word and copy prevention information and encrypting said marker by means of said encoded  encoding key; and  
       a multiplexing and transmitting step of multiplexing to transmit said scrambled audio and video bit strips and encrypted marker.  
     
     
       10. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  1 , wherein said audio and video signal receiving/recording process comprises: 
       a marker detecting step of demultiplexing said transmitted bit strips to detect said marker, and decrypting said marker by means of said encoded  encoding key;  
       a marker analyzing step of analyzing said detected marker to determine whether said copy is permitted or not, and detecting said control word;  
       an audio and video decoding step of descrambling and decoding said transmitted audio and video bit strips by means of said detected control word, and outputting said audio and video signals; and  
       a marker inserting step of updating said detected marker and encrypting said updated marker by means of said encoded  encoding key to insert the result when it is determined that said copy is permitted after analyzing said marker.  
     
     
       11. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  10 , wherein said marker analyzing step comprises: 
       a copy prevention information detecting step of detecting said copy prevention information for preventing said illegal copy from said detected marker;  
       a copy number restricting step of comparing an allowable generation of said allowable generational field and a current generation of said current generational field representing said current generation for restricting the number of permitting said copy of said program within said detected copy prevention information, and determining whether said copy is permitted or not-to process the result; and  
       a control word detecting step of detecting said control word for descrambling from said detected marker.  
     
     
       12. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  11 , wherein said copy number restricting step comprises: 
       comparing said allowable generation of said allowable generational field with said current generation of said current generational field to determine whether said allowable generation is below said current generation;  
       inhibiting said copy when it is determined that said allowable generation is below said current generation; and  
       permitting said copy when it is determined that said allowable generation is-not below said current generation, and proceeding to said marker inserting step.  
     
     
       13. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  12 , wherein said step of inhibiting said copy is performed by destructing said control word or impeding an output of said control word to block a reproduction after recording. 
     
     
       14. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  10 , wherein said control word is periodically changed. 
     
     
       15. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  14 , wherein said control word is changed in the interval of 0.6 second. 
     
     
       16. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  14 , wherein said marker is placed on said transport-private-data field within said bit strips whenever said control word is changed. 
     
     
       17. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  16   14 , wherein said marker inserting step comprises the steps of: 
       updating said marker when the analysis of said marker determines to permit said copy;  
       encrypting said updated marker by means of said encoded  encoding key; and  
       replacably inserting said encrypted marker with a succeeding marker.  
     
     
       18. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  1 , wherein said encoded  encoding key is transported via a separate transmission line to be stored. 
     
     
       19. A copy prevention method of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  18 , wherein said encoded key is transported via said separate transmission line for a prescribed time interval. 
     
     
       20. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system comprising: 
       an encrypted marker detecting and inserting part for detecting a marker from input bit strips, and inserting an updated marker to said bit strips to output the result;  
       a marker analyzing and processing part for decrypting and analyzing the encrypted marker from said marker detecting and inserting part by means of an encoded  encoding key, outputting a control word for descrambling said bit strips, and updating and encrypting the decrypted marker by means of said encoded  encoding key to output the result;  
       a buffer part for buffering said control word and updated and encrypted marker from said marker analyzing and processing part, and inserting said updated and encrypted marker in said marker detecting and inserting part; and  
       a descrambler for descrambling said bit strips provided via said marker detecting and inserting pant by means of said control word from said buffer part.  
     
     
       21. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  20 , wherein said encoded  encoding key is transported via a separate transmission line to be stored. 
     
     
       22. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  21 , wherein said encoded key is transported via said separate transmission line for a prescribed time interval. 
     
     
       23. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  20 , wherein said marker is placed on a transport-private-data field within said bit strips whenever said control word is changed. 
     
     
       24. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  23   20 , wherein said marker is comprised of a copy prevention information area recorded with said  copy prevention information for preventing said illegal copy, and a control word area recorded with said control word for descrambling. 
     
     
       25. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  24 , wherein said marker is formed of 8 bytes. 
     
     
       26. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  25 , wherein said copy prevention area is formed of one byte. 
     
     
       27. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  25 , wherein said control word area is formed of four bytes. 
     
     
       28. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  24 , wherein said copy prevention information is formatted by including a generational copy control field for restricting the copy number of a program. 
     
     
       29. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  28 , wherein said generational copy control field comprises: 
       an allowable generational field for restricting the number of permitting the copy of a program; and  
       a current generational field representing a current generation of a duplicated program.  
     
     
       30. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  20 , wherein said control word is periodically changed. 
     
     
       31. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  30 , wherein said control word is changed in the interval of 0.6 second. 
     
     
       32. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  30 , wherein said marker is placed on a transport-private-data field within said bit strips whenever said control word is changed. 
     
     
       33. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  30 , wherein said marker detecting and inserting part replacably inserts said updated marker with a succeeding marker. 
     
     
       34. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  20 , wherein said marker detecting and inserting part comprises: 
       a marker detecting section for detecting to output said encrypted marker from said input bit strips to said marker analyzing and processing part, outputting a marker detection flag signal for informing of the position of said encrypted marker within said bit strips to said descrambler to be used as a reference signal of initializing said descrambler, and outputting said bit strips; and  
       a marker inserting section for inserting said updated and encrypted marker from said buffer part to said bit strips from said marker detecting section in accordance with said marker detection flag signal from said marker detecting section to output the result to said descrambler.  
     
     
       35. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  24 , wherein said marker analyzing and processing part comprises: 
       a marker decoding section for decrypting said encrypted marker from said marker detecting and inserting part by means of said encoded  encoding key;  
       a marker analyzing section for analyzing said copy prevention information within said marker from said marker decoding section, and outputting said control word to said buffer part and a control signal for updating said marker when said copy is permitted; and  
       a marker updating and encoding section for updating said marker from said marker decoding section in accordance with said control signal from said marker analyzing section, and encrypting said updated marker by means of said encoded  encoding key to output the result to said buffer part.  
     
     
       36. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  35 , wherein said marker analyzing and processing part further comprises an encoded  encoding key storage section for storing said encoded  encoding key to output it to said marker analyzing section and marker updating and encoding section. 
     
     
       37. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  35 , wherein said marker analyzing section compares an allowable generation of an allowable generational field with a current generation of a current generational field representing a current generation of a duplicated program to determine whether said copy is permitted or not. 
     
     
       38. A copy prevention apparatus of a digital magnetic recording/reproducing system as claimed in claim  20 , wherein said buffer part comprises: 
       a marker buffer for temporally storing said updated and encrypted marker from said marker analyzing and processing part, and outputting the result to said marker detecting and inserting part; and  
       a control word buffer for temporally storing said control word from said marker analyzing and processing part, and outputting the result to said descrambler.  
     
     
       39. A method of copy protecting digital data, comprising: 
       
         generating copy prevention information;  
       
       
         generating control data;  
       
       
         scrambling digital data based on said control data such that said control data controls a parameter of said scrambling operation;  
       
       
         forming a marker, said marker including said copy prevention information and said control data; and  
       
       
         transmitting said scrambled digital data and said marker.  
       
     
     
       40. The method of claim  39 , further comprising: 
       
         combining said scrambled digital data and said marker; and wherein said transmitting step transmits output from said combining step.  
       
     
     
       41. The method of claim  40 , wherein said combining step periodically multiplexes said marker into said scrambled digital data.  
     
     
       42. The method of claim  39 , further comprising: 
       
         encrypting at least said control data.  
       
     
     
       43. The method of claim  42 , wherein said encrypting step encrypts said control data based on a key.  
     
     
       44. The method of claim  39 , wherein said distal data includes audio and video data.  
     
     
       45. The method of claim  39 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least current generation information indicating a number of times said digital data has been copied.  
     
     
       46. The method of claim  39 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least allowable generation information indicating a number of permitted copies of said digital data.  
     
     
       47. The method of claim  39 , wherein said generating a control data step periodically changes said control data.  
     
     
       48. The method of claim  39 , wherein said scrambling step comprises: 
       
         initializing a scrambler using said control data.  
       
     
     
       49. The method of claim  39 , further comprising: 
       
         generating identification information indicating that said marker includes data for copy protection; and wherein  
       
       
         said transmitting step transmits said digital data, said identification information and said marker.  
       
     
     
       50. A method of copy protecting digital data, comprising: 
       
         generating copy prevention information;  
       
       
         generating control data;  
       
       
         scrambling digital data based on said control data such that said control data controls a parameter of said scrambling operation;  
       
       
         forming a marker, said marker including said copy prevention information and said control data; and  
       
       
         recording said scrambled digital data and said marker.  
       
     
     
       51. The method of claim  50 , further comprising: 
       
         encrypting at least said control data.  
       
     
     
       52. The method of claim  51 , wherein said encrypting step encrypts said control data based on a key.  
     
     
       53. The method of claim  51 , wherein said encrypting step encrypts said marker.  
     
     
       54. The method of claim  50 , further comprising: 
       
         combining said scrambled digital data and said marker; and wherein  
       
       
         said recording step records output from said combining step.  
       
     
     
       55. The method of claim  54 , wherein said combining step multiplexes said marker and said scrambled digital data.  
     
     
       56. The method of claim  54 , wherein said combining step periodically multiplexes said marker into said scrambled digital data.  
     
     
       57. The method of claim  50 , wherein said digital data includes audio and video data.  
     
     
       58. The method of claim  50 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least current generation information indicating a number of times said digital data has been copied.  
     
     
       59. The method of claim  50 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least allowable generation information indicating a number of permitted copies of said digital data.  
     
     
       60. The method of claim  50 , wherein said generating a control data step periodically changes said control data.  
     
     
       61. The method of claim  50 , wherein said scrambling step comprises: 
       
         initializing a scrambler using said control data.  
       
     
     
       62. The method of claim  50 , further comprising: 
       
         generating identification information indicating that said marker includes data for copy protection; and wherein  
       
       
         said recording step records said digital data, said identification information and said marker.  
       
     
     
       63. A method of processing copy protected digital data in a digital data processing apparatus, comprising: 
       
         receiving scrambled digital data and a marker, said marker including copy prevention information and control data, said control data controlling a parameter of a descrambling operation for descrambling said scrambled digital data; and  
       
       
         performing a copy prevention function based on said copy prevention information.  
       
     
     
       64. The method of claim  63 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least current generation information indicating a number of times said digital data has been copied.  
     
     
       65. The method of claim  63 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least allowable generation information indicating a number of permitted copies of said digital data.  
     
     
       66. The method of claim  63 , further comprising: 
       
         descrambling scrambled portions of said digital data for monitoring based on said control data.  
       
     
     
       67. The method of claim  63 , wherein 
       
         said receiving step receives said marker encrypted; and further including,  
       
       
         detecting said encrypted marker in said digital data, said encrypted marker including said copy prevention information and control data;  
       
       
         decrypting said detected marker; and  
       
       
         descrambling scrambled portions of said digital data for monitoring based on said control data.  
       
     
     
       68. The method of claim  63 , wherein said receiving step receives said digital data reproduced from a digital recording medium.  
     
     
       69. The method of claim  63 , wherein said performing step comprises: 
       
         determining from said copy prevention information whether copying is permitted;  
       
       
         updating said copy prevention information if said determining step determines that a copy is permitted;  
       
       
         inserting said updated copy prevention information in place of said copy prevention information only in said digital data for recording if said determining step determines that a copy is permitted; and  
       
       
         recording output from said inserting step.  
       
     
     
       70. The method of claim  63 , wherein the receiving step further receives identification information indicating that said marker includes data for copy protection.  
     
     
       71. A copy protected recording medium having a data structure for controlling operation of a descrambler in a reproducing device, comprising: 
       
         a digital data area storing scrambled digital data; and  
       
       
         a marker area storing a marker, said marker including copy prevention instructions and control data, said control data controlling a parameter of a descrambler descrambling said scrambled digital data.  
       
     
     
       72. The copy protected recording medium of claim  71 , further comprising a plurality of periodically located marker and digital data areas.  
     
     
       73. The copy protected recording medium of claim  71 , wherein at least said control data is encrypted.  
     
     
       74. The copy protected recording medium of claim  71 , further comprising: 
       
         an identification area preceding said marker area and storing identification information indicating that said marker includes data for copy protection.  
       
     
     
       75. The copy protected recording medium of claim  71 , wherein said copy prevention instructions indicate a number of times said scrambled digital data can be copied.  
     
     
       76. A apparatus for copy protecting digital data, comprising: 
       
         a copy prevention generator generating copy prevention information;  
       
       
         a control data generator generating control data;  
       
       
         a scrambler scrambling digital data based on said control data such that said control data controls a parameter of said scrambling operation;  
       
       
         marker forming means for forming a marker, said marker including said copy prevention information and said control data; and  
       
       
         a transmitting unit transmitting said scrambled digital data and said marker.  
       
     
     
       77. The apparatus of claim  76 , further comprising: 
       
         combining means for combining said scrambled digital data and said marker; and wherein  
       
       
         said transmitting unit transmits output from said combining means.  
       
     
     
       78. The apparatus of claim  76 , further comprising: 
       
         an encrypting unit encrypting at least said control data.  
       
     
     
       79. The apparatus of claim  78 , wherein said encrypting unit encrypts said control data based on a key.  
     
     
       80. The apparatus of claim  76 , wherein said digital data includes audio and video data.  
     
     
       81. The apparatus of claim  76 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least current generation information indicating a number of times said digital data has been copied.  
     
     
       82. The apparatus of claim  76 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least allowable generation information indicating a number of permitted copies of said digital data.  
     
     
       83. The apparatus of claim  76 , wherein said control data generator periodically changes said control data.  
     
     
       84. The apparatus of claim  76 , wherein said scrambler is initialized based on said control data.  
     
     
       85. The apparatus of claim  76 , further comprising: 
       
         an identifier generator generating identification information indicating that said marker includes data for copy protection; and wherein  
       
       
         said transmitting unit transmits said digital data, said identification information and said marker.  
       
     
     
       86. An apparatus for copy protecting digital data, comprising: 
       
         a copy prevention generator generating copy prevention information;  
       
       
         a control data generator generating control data;  
       
       
         a scrambler scrambling digital data based on said control data such that said control data controls a parameter of said scrambling operation;  
       
       
         marker forming means for forming a marker, said marker including said copy prevention information and said control data; and  
       
       
         a recording unit recording said scrambled digital data and said marker.  
       
     
     
       87. The apparatus of claim  86 , further comprising: 
       
         an encrypting unit encrypting at least said control data.  
       
     
     
       88. The apparatus of claim  87 , wherein said encrypting unit encrypts said control data based on a key.  
     
     
       89. The apparatus of claim  86 , further comprising: 
       
         combining means for combining said scrambled digital data and said marker; and wherein  
       
       
         said recording unit records output from said combining means.  
       
     
     
       90. The apparatus of claim  86 , wherein said digital data includes audio and video data.  
     
     
       91. The apparatus of claim  86 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least current generation information indicating a number of times said digital data has been copied.  
     
     
       92. The apparatus of claim  86 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least allowable generation information indicating a number of permitted copies of said digital data.  
     
     
       93. The apparatus of claim  86 , wherein said control data generator periodically changes said control data.  
     
     
       94. The apparatus of claim  86 , wherein said scrambler is initialized based on said control data.  
     
     
       95. The method of claim  94 , further comprising: 
       
         an identifier generator generating identification information indicating that said marker includes data for copy protection; and wherein  
       
       
         said recording unit records said digital data, said identification information and said marker.  
       
     
     
       96. An apparatus for processing copy protected digital data, comprising: 
       
         receiving scrambled digital data and a marker, said marker including copy prevention information and control data, said control data controlling a parameter of a descrambling operation for descrambling said scrambled digital data; and  
       
       
         a copy prevention means for performing a copy prevention function based on said copy prevention information.  
       
     
     
       97. The apparatus of claim  96 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least current generation information indicating a number of times said digital data has been copied.  
     
     
       98. The apparatus of claim  96 , wherein said copy prevention information includes at least allowable generation information indicating a number of permitted copies of said digital data.  
     
     
       99. The apparatus of claim  96 , further comprising: 
       
         a descrambler descrambling scrambled portions of said digital data for monitoring based on said control data.  
       
     
     
       100. The apparatus of claim  96 , wherein 
       
         said receiving unit receives said marker encrypted, detects said encrypted marker in said digital data;  
       
       
         said analyzing unit decrypts said detected marker; and further including,  
       
       
         a descrambler descrambling scrambled portions of said digital data for monitoring based on said control data.  
       
     
     
       101. The apparatus of claim  96 , wherein said copy prevention means comprises: 
       
         an analyzing unit determining from said copy prevention information whether copying is permitted, and updating said copy prevention information if a copy is permitted;  
       
       
         an inserting unit inserting said updated copy prevention information in place of said copy prevention information only in said digital data for recording if a copy is permitted; and  
       
       
         a recording unit recording output from said inserting unit.  
       
     
     
       102. The method of claim  96 , wherein the receiving unit further receives identification information indicating that said marker includes data for copy protection.