Data recording/reproduction apparatus and method

A data recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

• compression means for compressing an image signal into compressed data;
• first conversion means for converting the compressed data into converted data of a format for recording in a recording medium;
• recording means for recording the converted data in the recording medium;
• reproducing means for reproducing data from the recording medium;
• second conversion means for demodulating an image signal from the format in which reproduced data is recorded in the recording medium, and converting a demodulated image signal into a compressed format;
• expansion means for expanding compressed data converted in said second conversion means in accordance with the format of compression, said compression means and said expansion means including authentication means for determining whether the data exchange between parties mutually sending and receiving data is permitted or not, compressed data and the data accompanying said compressed data being exchanged after ascertaining the establishment of mutual authentication;
• first detection means for detecting added information embedded in image information data of the image signal, the compressed data output being controllable in accordance with the detection result of the added information detected by said first detection means;
• second detection means for detecting the added information embedded in the image signal produced as a result of expansion, the output of the image signal during the expansion processing or after the expansion processing of said expansion means being controllable in accordance with the detection result of the added information detected by said second detection means;
• said recording means recording a compliant information for indicating that the recording means is a compliant device when said recording means records data into the recording medium;
• and
• said reproducing means including third detection means for detecting whether the recording means which recorded data in the recording medium is a compliant device or not, wherein the reproduction is suspended or the output of said reproducing means is suspended in a case where it is detected that the recording means is not the compliant device.