Apparatus and method for limiting the reproduction of main information

An information management apparatus, comprising:

• a recording circuit which records main information and control information onto a recording medium;
• a reproducing circuit which reproduces said main information and said control information recorded on said recording medium;
• and
• an erasing circuit which erases at least a portion of said main information based on reproduced control information,
• wherein said erasing circuit erases said main information which has been reproduced by said reproducing circuit while said reproducing circuit is operating.

An information management apparatus, comprising:

• a recording circuit which records main information and control information onto a recording medium;
• a reproducing circuit which reproduces said main information and said control information recorded on said recording medium;
• and
• an erasing circuit which erases at least a portion of said main information based on reproduced control information,
• wherein said erasing circuit erases said main information which has been reproduced by said reproducing circuit after said reproducing circuit has operated.

An information management method, comprising the steps of:

• recording main information and control information onto a recording medium;
• reproducing said main information and said control information recorded on said recording medium;
• and
• rewriting at least a portion of said main information based on reproduced control information,
• wherein said rewriting step comprises the step of:
• rewriting said main information which has been reproduced.

An information management method, comprising the steps of:

• recording main information and control information onto a recording medium;
• reproducing said main information and said control information recorded on said recording medium;
• and
• erasing at least a portion of said main information based on reproduced control information,
• wherein said erasing step comprises the step of:
• erasing said main information which has been reproduced while said reproducing step is being performed.

An information management method, comprising the steps of:

• recording main information and control information onto a recording medium;
• reproducing said main information and said control information recorded on said recording medium;
• and
• erasing at least a portion of said main information based on reproduced control information,
• wherein said erasing step comprises the step of:
• erasing said main information which has been reproduced after said reproducing step has been performed.

An information management apparatus, comprising:

• a recording circuit which records main information and control information onto a recording medium;
• and
• a reproducing circuit which reproduces said main information and said control information recorded on said recording medium,
• wherein said control information includes position information representing a reproduction starting position and a reproduction terminating position on said recording medium, and
• wherein said control information is rewritten in order that said operation in which said reproducing circuit reproduces at least a portion of said main information indicated by said position information is disabled based on reproduced control information.

An information management method, comprising the steps of:

• recording main information and control information onto a recording medium;
• reproducing said main information and said control information recorded on said recording medium;
• wherein said control information includes position information representing a reproduction starting position and a reproduction terminating position on said recording medium;
• and
• rewriting said control information in order that said reproducing at least a portion of said main information indicated by said position information is disabled based on reproduced control information.

An information management apparatus, comprising:

• a recording circuit which records main information onto a recording medium;
• a reproducing circuit which reproduces said main information recorded on said recording medium;
• and
• a disabling circuit which disables said main information recorded on said recording medium, and
• wherein said disabling circuit disables said main information which has been reproduced while said reproducing circuit is operating.

An information management apparatus, comprising:

• a recording circuit which records main information onto a recording medium;
• a reproducing circuit which reproduces said main information recorded on said recording medium;
• and
• a disabling circuit which disables said main information recorded on said recording medium;
• wherein, in the case that said main information recorded on said recording medium is prevented to be reproduced any more, said disabling circuit disables said main information which has been reproduced while said reproducing circuit is operating.