# US 5,710,813 A · Digital voice recording/reproducing apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,710,813 A
- Document ID: US5710813A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/412,131
- Filed: 1995-03-28
- Granted: 1998-01-20
- Earliest claimed: 1995-03-28
- Assignees: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Nobuo Terui; Hidetaka Takahashi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710813A

## CPC

- G11B 20/0021: {involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier}
- G11B 20/00086: {Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy (indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00)}
- G11B 2020/10546: {specifically adapted for audio data}
- G11B 2220/60: Solid state media
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## Abstract

A digital voice recording/reproducing apparatus comprises a user identification code memory, provided in a main body, for storing a predetermined user identification code in advance before the apparatus is shipped from a factory, a voice cartridge attaching section for attaching a detachable voice cartridge having a semiconductor memory to the main body, and a user identification code writing section for writing the user identification code stored in the user identification code memory in advance to the semiconductor memory of the voice cartridge attached to the main body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A digital voice recording or reproducing apparatus comprising:
key number setting means for setting a key number for encryption;
encrypting means for converting digital voice data to encryption data in accordance with said key number set by said key number setting means;
a voice memory for recording one of encrypted digital voice data and unencrypted digital voice data;
decrypting means for decrypting said encrypted data recorded in said voice memory in accordance with said key number set by said key number setting means; and
selecting means for selecting whether or not encryption processing by said encrypting means and decrypting processing by said decrypting means are executed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a selecting operation by said selecting means and a setting of said key number by said key number setting means is executed by operating switches provided in a battery chamber for supplying power to the apparatus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a selection of the decrypting processing is automatically performed, when said key number is stored in the voice memory.

### Claim 4

A digital voice recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:
user identification code storage means, provided in a main body, for storing in advance a predetermined user identification code, said predetermined user identification code being used to maintain confidentiality of digital voice data and being uniquely assigned to the digital voice recording and reproducing apparatus without being disclosed to a user of the apparatus;
voice cartridge attaching means for attaching a detachable voice cartridge having a semiconductor memory to said main body;
user identification code writing means for writing said predetermined user identification code stored in said user identification code storage means to said semiconductor memory of said detachable voice cartridge when said predetermined user identification code has not been previously written in said semiconductor memory of said detachable voice cartridge;
a source of voice signals;
an A/D converter for converting said voice signals into digital voice data;
key number setting means for setting a key number for encryption;
encrypting means for converting said digital voice data to encryption data in accordance with said key number set by said key number setting means;
control means for causing said semiconductor memory of said voice cartridge to record at least one of said encrypted digital voice data and unencrypted digital voice data;
decrypting means for decrypting said encrypted data recorded in said voice memory in accordance with said key number set by said key number setting means; and
selecting means for selecting whether or not encryption processing by said encrypting means and decrypting processing by said decrypting means are executed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of a selecting operation by said selecting means and a setting of said key number by said key number setting means is executed by operating switches provided in a battery chamber for supplying power to the apparatus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a selection of the decryption processing by said selecting means is automatically performed, depending on whether or not a key number for encryption by said encrypting means is recorded in said semiconductor memory.

### Claim 7

A digital voice recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:
user identification code storage means, provided in a main body, for storing in advance a predetermined user identification code, said predetermined user identification code being used to maintain confidentiality of digital voice data and being uniquely assigned to the digital voice recording and reproducing apparatus without being disclosed to a user of the apparatus;
voice cartridge attaching means for attaching a detachable voice cartridge having a semiconductor memory to said main body, said semiconductor memory recording the predetermined user identification code from the user identification code storage means when an operation input is provided to said digital voice recording and reproducing apparatus;
user identification code comparing means for comparing said user identification code stored in said user identification code storage means with said user identification code recorded in said semiconductor memory of said voice cartridge, after said detachable voice cartridge is attached to said main body by said voice cartridge attaching means; and
controlling means for providing the operation input to said digital voice recording and reproducing apparatus based on a comparison result obtained by said user identification code comparing means;
a source of voice signals;
an A/D converter for converting said voice signals into digital voice data;
key number setting means for setting a key number for encryption;
encrypting means for converting said digital voice data to encryption data in accordance with said key number set by said key number setting means;
control means for causing said semiconductor memory of said voice cartridge to record at least one of said encrypted digital voice data and unencrypted digital voice data;
decrypting means for decrypting said encrypted data recorded in said voice memory in accordance with said key number set by said key number setting means; and
selecting means for selecting whether or not encryption processing by said encrypting means and decrypting processing by said decrypting means are executed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one of a selecting operation by said selecting means and a setting of said key number by said key number setting means is executed by operating switches provided in a battery chamber for supplying power to the apparatus.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a selection of the decryption processing by said selecting means is automatically performed, depending on whether or not a key number for encryption by said encrypting means is recorded in said semiconductor memory.