Method for protection of data reproduction according to both medium protection data and apparatus protection data

Abstract

In a reproduction apparatus, for reproducing an original signal conveyed as main data by a data medium such as a recording disk or broadcasting system, with medium protection data which are specific to the data medium being conveyed together with the main data, the apparatus includes a section for generating apparatus protection data which are specific to the reproduction apparatus, a section for combining the apparatus protection data with the medium protection data to define a protection level, and a section for applying the protection level to restrict reproduction of the original signal, with stepwise variations in restriction occurring in accordance with changes in protection level. The medium protection data may include information for specifying restricted reproduction of portions of the original signal, such as by producing degraded resolution within specified regions of specified frames of a video signal.

1. A reproduction protection method for operating on main data which are conveyed by a data medium, the method comprising the steps of:
 detecting medium protection data which are specific to said data medium and are also conveyed by said data medium;   limiting reproduction based upon at least a film classification system;   generating apparatus protection data which comprise at least first apparatus protection data and second apparatus protection data,   wherein said first apparatus protection data are specific to a region or a country in which said main data are to be reproduced, and can not be modified by a recipient of said reproduced main data, and wherein said second apparatus protection data can be modified by the recipient to selectively define a plurality of protection levels including at least two levels which are respectively specific to adults and to children;   defining a protection level based on said medium protection data and said apparatus protection data in combination; and   executing reproduction of said main data in accordance with said protection level,   wherein the combination of said medium protection data and said first apparatus protection data determines whether said main data are reproduced in their entirety or not at all, and the combination of said medium protection data and said second apparatus protection data determines whether said main data are reproduced in their entirety, partially, or not at all,   wherein said data medium conveys both said medium protection data and said main data in an identical form.   
     
     
       2. A reproduction protection method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said step of executing reproduction of said main data comprises:
 reproducing said main data either in their entirety or not at all, in accordance with said combination of said medium protection data and said first apparatus protection data, and   reproducing said main data in their entirety, partially, or not at all, in accordance with said combination of said medium protection data and said second apparatus protection data.   
     
     
       3. A reproduction protection method in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising the step of conveying said medium protection data and said main data in an identical form. 
     
     
       4. A reproduction method providing real time reproduction protection, for operating on main data which are conveyed by a broadcasting system, said method comprising steps of:
 detecting medium protection data from said broadcasting system,   wherein said medium protection data comprises first medium protection data and second medium protection data,   specifying first protect information in response to a combination of said first medium protection data with first apparatus protection data,   wherein said first apparatus protection data are specific to a region or a country in which said real time reproduction is to be used,   producing second apparatus protection data which can be designated by user to selectively define a plurality of protection levels,   determining second protect information which indicates specific protection level to be set among a plurality of protection levels by use of said first protect information and said second apparatus protection data,   generating third protect information in response to a combination of said second protect information with said second medium protection data, and   executing reproduction of said main data in accordance with said third protect information.   
     
     
       5. The reproduction method as recited in claim 4, wherein said main data comprise at least a video signal of said broadcasting system, and only unprotected scene of said video signal is reproduced among whole video signal. 
     
     
       6. The reproduction method as recited in claim 4, wherein said main data comprise at least a video signal of said broadcasting system, and less than all of protected scene of the video signal is reproduced among whole video signal. 
     
     
       7. The reproduction method as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of determining the second protect information comprises a matrix manipulation. 
     
     
       8. The reproduction method as recited in claim 4, wherein said second apparatus protection data can be designated by user at least at five protection levels.