Apparatus and method for using content on an optical disc having plural partial areas for recording control information indicating that the use of the content is not permitted

A content usage method used in an apparatus for using content recorded on an optical disc, wherein

• the optical disc includes a control information area that is composed of a plurality of partial areas, each being for recording control information indicating that use of the content is not permitted,
• the apparatus comprises a position information holding unit holding therein position information indicating one of the partial areas that is allocated for the apparatus to record the control information,
• the content usage method comprises:
• a reading step of reading information within the control information area;
• a judgment step of judging whether use of the content is permitted, with use of the information read by the reading step and the position information;
• and
• a usage control step of using the content when use of the content is judged to be permitted.

A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing thereon a computer program used in an apparatus for using content recorded on an optical disc, wherein

• the optical disc includes a control information area that is composed of a plurality of partial areas, each being for recording control information indicating that use of the content is not permitted,
• the apparatus comprises a position information holding unit holding therein position information indicating one of the partial areas that is allocated for the apparatus to record the control information,
• the computer program causes the apparatus to perform:
• a reading step of reading information within the control information area;
• a judgment step of judging whether use of the content is permitted, with use of the information read by the reading step and the position information;
• and
• a usage control step of using the content when use of the content is judged to be permitted.

An integrated circuit used in an apparatus for using content recorded on an optical disc, wherein

• the optical disc includes a control information area that is composed of a plurality of partial areas, each being for recording control information indicating that use of the content is not permitted,
• the integrated circuit comprises:
• a position information holding unit holding therein position information indicating one of the partial areas that is allocated for the integrated circuit to record the control information;
• a reading unit configured to read information within the control information area;
• a judgment unit configured to judge whether use of the content is permitted, with use of the information read by the reading unit and the position information;
• and
• a usage control unit configured to use the content when use of the content is judged to be permitted.

An apparatus for using content recorded on an optical disc, wherein

• the optical disc includes a disc identifier area and a control information area, the disc identifier area being for holding a disc identifier specifying the optical disc, the control information area being composed of a plurality of partial areas, each being for recording control information indicating that use of the content is not permitted,
• the apparatus comprises:
• a disc identifier holding unit configured to hold therein an acquired disc identifier specifying an optical disc on which content, use of which is permitted, is recorded;
• a position information holding unit holding therein position information indicating one of the partial areas that is allocated for the apparatus to record the control information;
• an identifier reading unit configured to read the disc identifier from the disc identifier area of the optical disc;
• a first judgment unit configured to judge whether the control information is recorded in any of the partial areas other than the partial area indicated by the position information;
• a second judgment unit configured, when the first judgment unit judges negatively, to judge whether the control information is recorded in the partial area indicated by the position information;
• a third judgment unit configured, when the second judgment unit judges affirmatively, to judge whether the disc identifier read by the identifier reading unit is held in the disc identifier holding unit;
• and
• a usage control unit configured to use the content when the second judgment unit judges negatively and also the third judgment unit judges affirmatively.

A content usage method used in an apparatus for using content recorded on an optical disc, wherein

• the optical disc includes a disc identifier area and a control information area, the disc identifier area being for holding a disc identifier specifying the optical disc, the control information area being composed of a plurality of partial areas, each being for recording control information indicating that use of the content is not permitted,
• the apparatus comprises:
• a disc identifier holding unit configured to hold therein an acquired disc identifier specifying an optical disc on which content, use of which is permitted, is recorded;
• and
• a position information holding unit holding therein position information indicating one of the partial areas that is allocated for the apparatus to record the control information,
• the content usage method comprises:
• an identifier reading step of reading the disc identifier from the disc identifier area of the optical disc;
• a first judgment step of judging whether the control information is recorded in any of the partial areas other than the partial area indicated by the position information;
• a second judgment step of, when the first judgment step judges negatively, judging whether the control information is recorded in the partial area indicated by the position information;
• a third judgment step of, when the second judgment step judges affirmatively, judging whether the disc identifier read by the identifier reading step is held in the disc identifier holding unit;
• and
• a usage control step of using the content when the second judgment step judges negatively and also the third judgment step judges affirmatively.

A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing thereon a computer program used in an apparatus for using content recorded on an optical disc, wherein

• the optical disc includes a disc identifier area and a control information area, the disc identifier area being for holding a disc identifier specifying the optical disc, the control information area being composed of a plurality of partial areas, each being for recording control information indicating that use of the content is not permitted,
• the apparatus comprises:
• a disc identifier holding unit configured to hold therein an acquired disc identifier specifying an optical disc on which content, use of which is permitted, is recorded;
• and
• a position information holding unit holding therein position information indicating one of the partial areas that is allocated for the apparatus to record the control information,
• the computer program causes the apparatus to perform:
• an identifier reading step of reading the disc identifier from the disc identifier area of the optical disc;
• a first judgment step of judging whether the control information is recorded in any of the partial areas other than the partial area indicated by the position information;
• a second judgment step of, when the first judgment step judges negatively, judging whether the control information is recorded in the partial area indicated by the position information;
• a third judgment step of, when the second judgment step judges affirmatively, judging whether the disc identifier read by the identifier reading step is held in the disc identifier holding unit;
• and
• a usage control step of using the content when the second judgment step judges negatively and also the third judgment step judges affirmatively.

An integrated circuit used in an apparatus for using content recorded on an optical disc, wherein

• the optical disc includes a disc identifier area and a control information area, the disc identifier area being for holding a disc identifier specifying the optical disc, the control information area being composed of a plurality of partial areas, each being for recording control information indicating that use of the content is not permitted,
• the integrated circuit comprises:
• a disc identifier holding unit configured to hold therein an acquired disc identifier specifying an optical disc on which content, use of which is permitted, is recorded;
• a position information holding unit holding therein position information indicating one of the partial areas that is allocated for the integrated circuit to record the control information;
• an identifier reading unit configured to read the disc identifier from the disc identifier area of the optical disc;
• a first judgment unit configured to judge whether the control information is recorded in any of the partial areas other than the partial area indicated by the position information;
• a second judgment unit configured, when the first judgment unit judges negatively, to judge whether the control information is recorded in the partial area indicated by the position information;
• a third judgment unit configured, when the second judgment unit judges affirmatively, to judge whether the disc identifier read by the identifier reading unit is held in the disc identifier holding unit;
• and
• a usage control unit configured to use the content when the second judgment unit judges negatively and also the third judgment unit judges affirmatively.