Apparatus and method for effectively inhibiting unauthorized copying of picture signals which does not interfere with an authorized display thereof

A method for setting parameters of a copy protection circuit of a data receiving device, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a transmitted control code having parameter setting data associated with a plurality of different copy inhibiting signals for a plurality of monitor devices, in which each respective copy inhibiting signal is usable to adversely affect picture recording quality while not adversely affecting picture quality of a picture displayed only on a respective type of monitor device;
• extracting the parameter setting data associated with a respective monitor device from the control code;
• and
• setting parameter data of the copy protection circuit of said data receiving device for use with said respective monitor device based on the extracted parameter setting data and producing a respective copy inhibiting signal from the set parameter data.

A reproducing method comprising the steps of:

• reproducing signals recorded on a recording medium for display on a monitor device;
• generating a respective copy protection signal for said monitor device based on parameter information set by a user and information associated with a plurality of different copy protection signals, in which respective copy inhibiting signal is usable to adversely affect picture recording quality while not adversely affecting picture quality of a picture displayed only on a respective type of monitor device;
• and
• combining the reproduced signals and the respective copy protection signal.

A reproducing device comprising:

• reproducing means for reproducing signals recorded on a recording medium for display on a monitor device;
• means for generating a respective copy protection signal for said monitor device based on parameter information set by a user and information associated with a plurality of different copy protection signals, in which each respective copy inhibiting signal is usable to adversely affect picture recording quality while not adversely affecting picture quality of a picture displayed only on a respective type of monitor device;
• and
• means for combining the reproduced signals and said respective copy protection signal and for outputting the combined signal.

A data processing device comprising:

• means for receiving input signals having picture data and parameter data associated with a plurality of different copy inhibiting signals for a plurality of monitor devices, in which each respective copy inhibiting signal is usable to adversely affect picture recording quality while not adversely affecting picture quality of a picture displayed only on a respective type of monitor device;
• means for obtaining the parameter data associated with a respective one of said monitor devices from said input signals and for generating a respective copy inhibiting signal in accordance with the obtained parameter data;
• and
• means for combining said picture data and said copy inhibiting signal so as to form a combined signal and for outputting the combined signal for supply to the respective one of said monitor devices.

A data processing apparatus adapted to be coupled to a television monitor and a recording/reproducing device for effectively preventing unauthorized copying of designated picture data, said data processing apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving input signals having picture data and parameter data associated with a plurality of different copy inhibiting signals for a plurality of television monitors, in which each respective copy inhibiting signal is usable to adversely affect picture recording quality while not adversely affecting picture quality of a picture displayed only on a respective type of television monitor;
• means for obtaining the parameter data associated with the respective television monitor coupled to said data processing apparatus from said input signals and for producing a respective copy inhibiting signal for the respective television monitor in accordance with the obtained parameter data;
• and
• means for combining said picture data and said respective copy inhibiting signal so as to form a combined signal and for outputting the combined signal for supply to the respective television monitor and said recording/reproducing device;
• wherein the respective television monitor displays pictures corresponding to said picture data of said combined signal in an acceptable manner, and
• wherein, if said combined signal is recorded by said recording/reproducing device, picture signals reproduced therefrom will produce unacceptable pictures when displayed so as to effectively prevent unauthorized copying of said picture data.

A data transmission and reception system comprising:

• a data transmitting device having parameter generating means for generating parameter data associated with a plurality of different copy inhibiting signals for a plurality of television monitors in which respective copy inhibiting signal is usable to adversely affect picture recording quality while not adversely affecting picture quality of a picture displayed only on a respective type of television monitor and means for transmitting the generated parameter data and picture data;
• and
• at least one data reception device adapted to be coupled to a respective television monitor and a recording/reproducing device and including means for receiving the transmitted picture data and parameter data pertaining to said plurality of television monitors, means for obtaining the parameter data associated with the respective television monitor from the transmitted parameter data and for generating a respective copy inhibiting signal in accordance therewith, and means for combining said picture data and said respective copy inhibiting signal so as to form a combined signal and for outputting the combined signal for supply to the respective television monitor and said recording/reproducing device;
• wherein the respective television monitor displays pictures corresponding to said picture data of said combined signal in an acceptable manner, and
• wherein, if said combined signal is recorded by said recording/reproducing device, picture signals reproduced therefrom will produce unacceptable pictures when displayed so as to effectively prevent unauthorized copying of said picture data.

A data processing apparatus comprising:

• a device for receiving input signals having picture data and parameter data associated with a plurality of different copy inhibiting signals for a plurality of monitor units, in which each respective copy inhibiting signal is usable to adversely affect picture recording quality while not adversely affecting picture quality of a picture displayed only on a respective type of monitor unit;
• a device for obtaining the parameter data associated with a respective one of said monitor units from said input signals and for generating a respective copy inhibiting signal in accordance with the obtained parameter data;
• and
• a device for combining said picture data and said copy inhibiting signal so as to form a combined signal and for outputting the combined signal for supply to the respective one of said monitor units.

A data processing apparatus adapted to be coupled to a television monitor and a recording/reproducing device for effectively preventing unauthorized copying of designated picture data, said data processing apparatus comprising:

• a device for receiving input signals having picture data and parameter data associated with a plurality of different copy inhibiting signals for a plurality of television monitors, in which each respective copy inhibiting signal is usable to adversely affect picture recording quality while not adversely affecting picture quality of a picture displayed only on a respective type of television monitor;
• a device for obtaining the parameter data associated with the respective television monitor coupled to said data processing apparatus from said input signals and for producing a respective copy inhibiting signal for the respective television monitor in accordance with the obtained parameter data;
• and
• a device for combining said picture data and said respective copy inhibiting signal so as to form a combined signal and for outputting the combined signal for supply to the respective television monitor and said recording/reproducing device;
• wherein the respective television monitor displays pictures corresponding to said picture data of said combined signal in an acceptable manner, and
• wherein, if said combined signal is recorded by said recording/reproducing device, picture signals reproduced therefrom will produce unacceptable pictures when displayed so as to effectively prevent unauthorized copying of said picture data.

A data transmission and reception system comprising:

• a data transmitting device having a parameter generating device for generating parameter data associated with a plurality of different copy inhibiting signals for a plurality of television monitors in which each respective copy inhibiting signal is usable to adversely affect picture recording quality while not adversely affecting picture quality of a picture displayed only on a respective type of television monitor and a device for transmitting the generated parameter data and picture data;
• and
• at least one data reception device adapted to be coupled to a respective television monitor and a recording/reproducing device and including a device for receiving the transmitted picture data and parameter data pertaining to said plurality of television monitors, a device for obtaining the parameter data associated with the respective television monitor from the transmitted parameter data and for generating a respective copy inhibiting signal in accordance therewith, and a device for combining said picture data and said respective copy inhibiting signal so as to form a combined signal and for outputting the combined signal for supply to the respective television monitor and said recording/reproducing device;
• wherein the respective television monitor displays pictures corresponding to said picture data of said combined signal in an acceptable manner, and
• wherein, if said combined signal is recorded by said recording/reproducing device, picture signals reproduced therefrom will produce unacceptable pictures when displayed so as to effectively prevent unauthorized copying of said picture data.