Copy control using digital speed bumps

A digital media recorder capable of recording digital media sequences on a digital media carrier, comprising:

• means for comparing the sub-sequence fingerprint with at least one second reference fingerprint, said second reference fingerprint being fetched from a secondary database of fingerprints, yielding a second comparison value,
• means for storing the fingerprint in the secondary database
• means for extracting, from an input media sequence, a media sub-sequence,
• means for calculating a sub-sequence digital fingerprint from the media sub-sequence,
• means for comparing the sub-sequence fingerprint with at least one first reference fingerprint, said first reference fingerprint being fetched from a primary database of fingerprints, yielding a first comparison value,
• means for analyzing the first comparison value,
• means for recording the input media sequence on the media carrier,
• means for obstructing recording of the input media sequence on the media carrier depending on the first comparison value,
• means for updating the primary database with information from the secondary database that the digital media sequence has been recorded on the media carrier.