Information recording device, recording medium, and information recording system

A non-transitory recording medium comprising:

• a password register operable to store an input password;
• a password update counter operable to count each updating event of a password, the password being stored in the password register;
• a password related information storage operable to store an update count of the password;
• a password related information provider operable to provide the update count of the password stored in the password related information storage according to a READ request issued from an information recording device;
• a password comparator operable to compare an input password with a password stored in the password register;
• and
• a function limiter operable to limit a predetermined function of the recording medium according to the comparison result from the password comparator,
• wherein the password stored in the password register is a password which is selected with reference to the update count of the password and a password identification ID which is associated with the update count of the password.

An information recording system including a non-transitory recording medium capable of limiting a function by password and an information recording device for controlling the non-transitory recording medium, wherein

• the non-transitory recording medium comprises:
• a password register operable to store an input password;
• a password update counter operable to count each updating event of a password, the password being stored in the password register;
• a password related information storage operable to store an update count of the password;
• a password related information provider operable to provide information stored in the password related information storage in response to a READ request issued from the information recording device;
• a media ID storage operable to store a media ID specific to the recording medium;
• a password comparator operable to compare an input password with a password stored in the password register;
• and
• a function limiter operable to limit a predetermined function of the recording medium according to the comparison result from the password comparator, and
• the information recording device comprises:
• a password manager operable to store media password information which associates the media ID with a password and the update count of the password;
• and
• a limitation cancel requester operable to:
• select a password stored in the password manager with reference to the media ID and the update count of the password obtained from the recording medium;
• and input the selected password in the recording medium in order to cause the password comparator of the recording medium to compare the passwords;
• a password creator operable to create a new password;
• and
• a password setter operable to register the new password created in the password creator to the password register of the recording medium.

An information recording system including an information recording device for controlling a non-transitory recording medium which is capable of limiting a function by password and a password server for managing the password, wherein

• the information recording device comprises:
• a password manager operable to store media password information which associates a media ID specific to the recording medium with a password and an update count of the password;
• a limitation cancel requester operable to:
• select a password stored in the password manager with reference to the media ID and the update count of the password obtained from the recording medium;
• and input the selected password in the recording medium in order to cause the password comparator of the recording medium to compare the passwords;
• a password creator operable to create a new password;
• a password setter operable to register the new password created in the password creator to a password register of the recording medium;
• a data communicator operable to send/receive the media password information;
• a server verifier operable to verify the password server via the data communicator;
• a media password information provider operable to send the new password, the update count of the password after setting the new password, and the media ID to the password server;
• and
• a media password information updater operable to compare the update count of the password in the media password information received from the password server with the update count of the password in the media password information stored in the media password information provider with respect to the same media ID, and update the media password information stored in the password manager only for the recording medium which has the update count of the password received from the password server bigger than the update count of the password stored in the media password information provider, and
• the password server comprises:
• a data communicator operable to send/receive the media password information to/from the information recording device;
• a device verifier operable to verify the information recording device via the data communicator, and according to the verification result, control the media password information to be exchanged between the password server and the information recording device;
• an all password information manager operable to store media password information of all of the objective recording medium (media);
• a media password information provider operable to output the media password information to the information recording device;
• a media password information updater operable to compare the update count of the password in the media password information received from the information recording device with the update count of the password in the media password information in the all password information manager, and only when the update count of the password in the received media password information is bigger, update the media password information stored in the all password information manager.

An information recording device for controlling a non-transitory recording medium, the non-transitory recording medium being capable of limiting a function by password, comprising:

• a password manager operable to store media password information which associates a media ID specific to the recording medium with a password and an update count of the password;
• a data communicator operable to send/receive the media password information;
• a server verifier operable to verify a password server via the data communicator;
• a limitation cancel requester operable to:
• select media password information stored in the password manager with reference to the media ID and the update count of the password obtained from the recording medium;
• and output the password recorded in the selected media password information in the recording medium in order to cause the password comparator of the recording medium to compare the passwords;
• a password creator operable to create a new password;
• a password setter operable to register the new password created in the password creator to the recording medium;
• a media password information provider operable to send the new password which is set via the password setter, the update count of the password after setting the new password, and the media ID to the password server;
• and
• a media password information updater operable to compare the update count of the password in the media password information received from the password server with the update count of the password in the media password information stored in the media password information provider with respect to the same media ID, and update the media password information stored in the password manager only for the recording medium which has the update count of the password received from the password server bigger than the update count of password stored in the media password information provider.