Signal processing apparatus and associated methodology for controlling the recording of data streams

A signal processing method for controlling a signal processing apparatus into which a control information packet is inputted together with a contents information packet in the form of a single stream, comprising the steps of:

• detecting, in a data control circuit, a leading pulse in the single stream;
• detecting, in the data control circuit, attribute information of said stream from said control information packet in said stream relative to the leading pulse;
• determining, in a system controller, whether said detected attribute information is identical to previously-set information;
• and
• replacing or deleting, in the data control circuit, said control information packet in accordance with a predetermined setting if it is determined that said detected attribute information is identical to said previously-set information, the control information packet being output to the single stream when the detected attribute information is different from the previously-set information.

A recording limiting apparatus for use in recording an information signal into which a control information packet is inputted together with a contents information packet in the form of a single stream, comprising:

• means for detecting a leading pulse in the single stream;
• means for detecting attribute information of said stream from said control information packet relative to the leading pulse;
• means for determining whether said detected attribute information is identical to previously-set information;
• and
• means for replacing or deleting said control information packet in accordance with a predetermined setting when said detected attribute information is identical to said previously-set information, the control information packet being output to the single stream when the detected attribute information is different from the previously-set information,
• wherein said means for replacing or deleting outputs a processed output to a means for recording after replacing said control information packet with a copy guard control information packet.

A recording limiting method for causing a signal processing apparatus to record an information signal into which a control information packet is inputted together with a contents information packet in the form of a single stream, comprising:

• detecting, in a data control circuit of the signal processing apparatus, a leading pulse in the single stream;
• detecting, in the data control circuit, attribute information of said stream from said control information packet relative to the leading pulse;
• determining, in a system controller of said signal processing apparatus, whether said detected attribute information is identical to previously-set information;
• and
• replacing or deleting, in the data control circuit, said control information packet in accordance with a predetermined setting when said detected attribute information is identical to said previously-set information, the control information packet being output to the single stream when the detected attribute information is different from the previously-set information,
• wherein in said replacing or deleting a processed output is transmitted to a recording device after said control information packet is replaced with a copy guard control information packet.