Apparatus and method for TV broadcast copy protection

A video recorder for copy protecting television broadcast program signals transmitted by a broadcasting system and received by a video recorder, said television broadcast program signals including a generation limiting signal, and said video recorder being operable to record said television broadcast program signals in a format reserving recording areas for accessory information relating to said format and reserving other recording areas for digital image signals, comprising:

• means for coding said input signals for recording in accordance with said format and for recording the coded input signals in said reserved other recording areas;
• means for recording, in said recording areas reserved for said accessory information, a generation limiting signal for copy protecting said input signals to be recorded in said other recording areas;
• means for determining whether said input signals are television broadcast program signals;
• and
• means for changing a state of said generation limiting signal to be recorded in said recording areas reserved for said accessory information from a state allowing the input signals, once recorded, to be copied, to a state for copy protecting said input signals to prevent said input signals, once recorded, to be copied, when said means for determining determines said input signals are television broadcast program signals.

A video recorder/reproducer for copy protecting television broadcast program signals transmitted by a broadcasting system and received by a video recorder, said television broadcast program signals including a generation limiting signal, and being operable to record said television broadcast program signals in said video recorder format reserving recording areas for accessory information relating to said format and reserving other recording areas for digital image signals, said recorder being further operable to reproduce those signals which have been recorded in said format, said apparatus comprising:

• means for coding said input signals for recording in accordance with said format and for recording the coded input signals in said reserved other areas;
• means for recording, in said recording areas reserved for said accessory information, a generation limiting signal for copy protecting said input signals to be recorded in said other recording areas;
• means for determining whether said input signals are television broadcast program signals;
• means for changing a state of said generation limiting signal to be recorded in said recording areas reserved for said accessory information from a state allowing the input signals, once recorded, to be copied, to a state for copy protecting said input signals to prevent said input signals, once recorded, to be copied, when said means for determining determines said input signals are television broadcast program signals;
• means for reproducing the recorded input signals and the recorded accessory information, including sid generation limiting signal;
• and
• means for inserting said generation limiting signal into television signals derived from the reproduced signals when said generation limiting signal reproduced from said recording areas reserved for said accessory information is set to inhibit copying, and for changing the state of said reproduced generation limiting signal from a state allowing copying to a state for preventing copying and inserting the changed generation limiting signal into said derived television signals, when said reproduced generation limiting signal indicates copy protection of the reproduced input signals.

A video reproducer for reproducing copy protected television broadcast program signals which include said television broadcast program signals having been recorded as digital video signals in respective video areas of a record medium and related accessory information in other areas reserved therefor, with said accessory information including generation limiting data derived from the generation limiting signal included in said television broadcast program signals, said apparatus comprising:

• means for reproducing said digital video signals and said generation limiting data from said record medium;
• means responsive to the reproduced generation limiting data for generating and inserting generation limiting signal into television signals derived from the reproduced digital video signals when said reproduced generation limiting data is set to a copy protecting state;
• means for changing the reproduced generation limiting data from a condition allowing copying to a condition that prevents copying;
• and
• means for generating and inserting a changed generation limiting signal into said derived television signals when said reproduced generation limiting data indicates copy protection of the reproduced digital video signals.