Apparatus and method for recording and reproducing a digital signal

Abstract: A digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus for recording an input digital signal on a recording medium to reproduce it therefrom, comprising first means for recording the same identification code as an identification number particular to the digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus when the input digital signal has a specified sampling frequency at the time of recording, and second means for reproducing the recorded identification code at the time of reproduction, thus permitting the digital signal recorded on the recording medium to be reproduced only when the reproduced identification code is coincident with the identification number particular to the apparatus.

Description: This invention relates to an apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital signal, and more particularly to an apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital signal, which is adapted so that, when an input digital signal is recorded onto a recording medium and is reproduced therefrom, reproduction is permitted with the apparatus thus recorded, but reproduction is impossible with a recording and reproducing apparatus or a reproducing apparatus except for the above recorded apparatus. In a DAT (Digital Audio Tape Recorder) using rotary head among DATs capable of recording pulse code modulated sound data obtained by applying pulse code modulation (PCM) to an analog audio signal on a magnetic tape and reproducing them therefrom, magnetization pattern to be recorded on the magnetic tape is recorded with azimuth angles of adjacent tracks being different from each other and guard bands between tracks being absent. In such a DAT, subcodes are recorded on a portion of a fixed period from the initial end of each track and a portion of a fixed period immediately before the terminating end thereof, respectively, and PCM signal data are recorded on the track intermediate portion except for the above portions in accordance with a predetermined format. The data thus recorded are reproduced. CDs (Compact Disks) on which PCM sound data (digital signals) are recorded have been widely used. When the PCM sound data reproduced from the CD is recorded onto a magnetic tape with it being in the form of the digital signal, by means of, e.g., the above-mentioned DAT using rotary head, high quality sound free from degradation of the sound quality can be recorded. Meanwhile, where information (software) such as music recorded on CDs are recorded onto the magnetic tape, such a recording is permitted in accordance with the requirement of the Copyright Law only in connection with the case where individuals enjoy recorded information. On the other hand, when information (digital signals) recorded on CDs is recorded onto a magnetic tape in the form of a digital signal, by means of DAT as stated above, (which is so called "digital copy" hereinafter), high quality sound free from degradation of sound quality can be recorded. Accordingly, a large number of magnetic tapes digitally copied from a CD may be obtained. This is becoming a large problem from a viewpoint of the Copyright Law. Thus, there is a need for a copy guard system for preventing the production of large numbers of magnetic tapes digitally copied from CDs. In view of the above-mentioned prior art, an object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital signal, which is adapted so that when an input digital signal is recorded onto a recording medium and is reproduced therefrom, reproduction is solely permitted with the apparatus used for the recording, and reproduction is impossible with a recording and reproducing apparatus or a reproducing apparatus other than that apparatus. In the field of computer software a related problem has been encountered, namely to ensure that a particular computer system will only operate with certain authorised software. The authorised software is provided with one or more identification codes for recognition by the computer system. One example of such a system is disclosed in GB-A-2123597. This system includes the improvement of encoding "virgin" (ie: not previously authorised) discs with an additional code which if recognised in a subsequent use, overrides the usual authorisation checking procedure. The present invention has a more specific aim, namely to ensure that a recording of a CD can only be reproduced on the same recording/reproducing equipment. A first aspect of the present invention provides apparatus for recording digital signals on a recording medium and reproducing digital signals recorded thereon, said apparatus comprising: code recording means for recording on the recording medium an identification code being an identification number particular to said digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus; and code reproducing means for reproducing a recorded identification code at the time of reproduction of recorded digital signals, for comparing the reproduced identification code with said identification number particular to said digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus and for permitting access to the recording medium in the case of coincidence characterised by frequency detection means for determining whether input digital signals to be recorded represent a digital recording of analog data sampled at a predetermined sampling frequency; said code recording means being responsive to said frequency detection means for recording said identification code only when said input digital signals represent a digital recording of analog data sampled at said predetermined sampling frequency, and being operative to record said identification code at repeated intervals on said medium between blocks of recorded digital data; and said code reproducing means being operative to permit an input digital signal recorded on a recording medium and including an identification code particular to a digital recording and reproducing apparatus to be reproduced only when the reproduced identification code is coincident with the identification code particular to said digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus. A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of recording a digital signal on a recording medium and reproducing a recorded signal therefrom, the method comprising: recording an identification code on the recording medium being an identification number particular to the digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus being used to carry out the recording; and reproducing said identification code at the time of reproducing digital signals recorded on the recording medium comparing the reproducing identification code with said identification number particular to said digital recording and reproducing apparatus and permitting access to the digital signal in the case of coincidence; characterised in that said recording step includes: determining whether input digital signals to be recorded represent a digital recording of analog data sampled at a predetermined sampling frequency; recording said identification code on the recording medium only when said input digital signals do represent a digital recording of analog data sampled at said predetermined sampling frequency, said identification code being recorded at repeated intervals on said medium between blocks of recorded digital data; and said reproducing step includes: permitting an input digital signal recorded on a recording medium and including an identification code particular to a digital recording and reproducing apparatus to be reproduced only when the reproduced identification code is coincident with the identification code particular to said recording and reproducing apparatus. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an apparatus according to this invention; Fig. 1A is a block diagram showing the detail of the circuit configuration in Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is a flowchart for explanation of the operation of an embodiment according to this invention; and Figs. 3 to 7 are explanatory views showing the format of a digital signal recorded and reproduced in the embodiment according to this invention. This invention is directed to a digital signal recording/reproducing apparatus which permits a magnetic tape on which a digital signal reproduced from CD etc. is recorded using, e.g., DAT to be reproduced as long as individual enjoys it. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a plurality of DAT equipments S₁, S₂, ..., S n permit recording of digital signals reproduced (digital copy) from CD etc., respectively. It is now assumed that magnetic tapes on which digital signals from CD etc. are recorded (digitally copied) using respective DAT equipments are represented by T₁, T₂, ..., T n , respectively. In this case, an arbitrary magnetic tape Ti taken out from these tapes is adapted so that when an attempt is made to reproduce it using an arbitrary DAT equipment Sj (i≠j) thereamong, a reproduced output signal is subjected to muting, and one cannot listen to sound. As long as the condition of i=j holds, i.e., as long as an owner of the DAT equipment Si reproduces the magnetic tape Ti recorded by the specific DAT equipment Si using the own DAT equipment Si, the muting is released, whereby one can listen to sound. To realize the above function, it is required to go through the following process. 1 ○ Identification numbers particular to respective DAT equipments are assigned or allocated thereto, respectively (Such numbers are individually determined by manufacturing makers). For instance, in the case of allocating numbers of No. 1 to No. n to identification numbers particular to p·n DAT equipments, respectively, P·DAT equipments of the same number exist. For realizing it as an actual electric circuit, a non-volatile memory or a switch is used, thereby to memorize such numbers. If 16 bits can be represented, different numbers can be allocated to 2¹⁶ DAT equipments. 2 ○ It is assumed that a CD having a sampling frequency fs of 44.1 KHz and the number of quantization bits of 16 bits is used. In the case of digitally copying a digital signal from the CD of fs = 44.1 KHz to the DAT equipment Si, the same identification code I as the specific identification number i allocated to the DAT equipment Si is recorded on a specified item {e.g., "Reserved item" or "Catalog item"} of PCM-ID in the magnetization pattern (a predetermined format which will be described later) recorded on the magnetic tape. It is to be noted that in the case of "Catalog item", it is required to use together a sensing hole (Recognition hole) provided in a magnetic tape cassette for identifying or discriminating whether or not the tape is a commercially available pre-recorded tape (hereinafter simply called a pre-recorded tape). This can be controlled by a microcomputer as described later. The reason why the identification code I is recorded on PCM-ID is that the PCM-ID is difficult to carry out after recording (Actually, after recording of PCM-ID is not carried out). In contrast, the subcode ID may be reproduced by carrying out after recording. 3 ○ In the case of reproduction, as long as the sampling frequency fs is 44.1 KHz, the identification code recorded on the specified item of PCM-ID in the above-mentioned item 2 ○ is reproduced, and comparison between the reproduced identification code and the specific identification number allocated to the DAT equipment is made. As a result, when they are coincident with each other, muting is not effected. In contrast, when they are not coincident with each other, muting is effected so that sound is unable to listen to. It is to be noted that when "Catalog item" is used, it is required to further identify the sensing hole (Recognition hole) for discriminating whether or not the magnetic tape is a pre-recorded tape and when it is a pre-recorded tape as a result of this discrimination, the processings subsequent to the procedure for reproducing the above-mentioned identification code will not be executed. The magnetization pattern (format) recorded on the magnetic tape will be now explained. Fig. 3 is an explanatory view showing a single track pattern formed in a slanting manner on the magnetic tape. This single track pattern is composed of 196 blocks wherein subcodes SUB-1, 2 are recorded on a portion of a fixed period from the initial end and a portion of a fixed period immediately before the terminating end, respectively, and PCM signal data PCM are recorded on the track intermediate portion except for the above portions. The subcodes SUB-1, 2 are composed of 8 blocks, respectively, and the PCM signal data PCM is composed of 128 blocks. Fig. 4 is an explanatory view showing one block pattern comprised of 288 bits. As shown, from the initial end, a synchronizing signal of 8 bits, an ID code W1 of 8 bits, a block address W2 of 8 bits, a parity P of 8 bits, and data of 256 bits are arranged in succession in order recited. The ID code W1 serves as "PCM-ID" in the PCM signal data PCM of the track pattern and also serves as "SUB-ID" in the subcode SUB-1 thereof. Fig. 5 is an explanatory view showing the data configuration of PCM-ID which is ID code W1, and a block address W2 in the PCM signal data PCM of the track pattern. As shown in this figure, names are given to respective portions of the ID code W1 in correspondence with the value of lower order 3 bits of the block address W2. Moreover, ID-1 to ID-8 are indispensable data which are called "items of MUST". In addition, at odd block addresses, in the ID code W1 (PCM-ID) in correspondence with the value of lower order 4 bits of the block address W2, optional code is constituted in accordance with a format as shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 6, the optional code is comprised of search codes SC1 to SC4 and auxiliary codes AC1 to AC4. Further, the higher order 4 bits of the auxiliary code AC1 is allocated to item. In addition, lower order 4 bits of the auxiliary code AC1, and higher order and lower order 4 bits of the auxiliary codes AC2 to AC4 are allocated to data N1 to N6 and parity P, respectively. The data N1 to N6 are represented by numeric values of 24 bits and the parity P is expressed as follows: P = N1 ⊕ N2 ⊕ ... ⊕ N6 where ⊕ represents MOD2. Fig. 7 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the item of the auxiliary code AC1. In this embodiment, the same identification codes I as the specific identification number i allocated to the DAT equipment Si are recorded on the data N1 to N6 and their parity as specified item {e.g., "Reserved item" or "Catalog item"} of the auxiliary code AC1 (Fig. 7) of the optional code (Fig. 6) of the PCM-ID (Fig. 5) in the above-mentioned track pattern (format) recorded on the magnetic tape. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital signal. As shown in this figure, on the revolving surface of rotary drum 1, a set of rotary heads 2 and 2 are affixed at positions opposite to each other on the rotary drum 1. A magnetic tape 3 is, e.g., 3.81 mm wide and is wound onto the rotary drum 1 with it being obliquely contact therewith over an angular range of 90 degrees with respect to the rotary drum 1. The magnetic tape 3 is caused to run in a direction indicated by an arrow with it being tightly supported by a capstan and a pinch roller (which are not shown). The set of rotary heads 2 and 2 have gaps of which azimuth angles are opposite to each other. They have a track width broader (e.g. 1.5 times) than that of the recording track and is revolved in a body with the rotary drum 1. This digital signal recording/reproducing apparatus is provided with an input terminal 4 to which an analog audio signal is input, an input terminal 5 to which a digital audio signal reproduced from CD, etc. is input, an output terminal 6 from which an analog audio signal is output, and an output terminal 7 from which a digital audio signal is output. At the time of recording, an analog audio input signal from the input terminal 4 is delivered to a digital signal processing circuit 10 through an amplifier 8 and an A/D converter 9 and through the terminal a of a changeover switch S. In addition, a digital audio input signal from the input terminal 5 is also delivered to the digital signal processing circuit 10 through the terminal b of the changeover switch S. On the other hand, at the time of reproduction, a digital signal output from the digital signal processing circuit 10 is changed to an analog signal by a D/A converter 11 and the analog signal thus obtained is then output as an analog audio signal to the output terminal 6 through an amplifier 12. The same digital signal as stated above which is output from the digital signal processing circuit 10 is directly output to the output terminal 7 as a digital audio signal. The digital signal recording/reproducing apparatus further comprises a subcode memory 13, an interface 14, a microcomputer 15, and a non-volatile memory or switch 16. It is to be noted that in the same manner as in the definition of the DAT standard agreed in the industry, "Subcode" includes not only subcodes recorded on the subcode areas SUB-1, 2, but also PCM-ID recorded on the PCM area in this specification. Subcodes including PCM-ID to be recorded or reproduced are memorized into the subcode memory 13. The digital signal processing circuit 10 adds error correcting codes C1 and C2 (both of which are read-solomon code) to a digital signal delivered through the A/D converter 9 at the time of recording or a digital audio signal (including at least two channel data of Right and Left) reproduced from CD, etc. delivered from the input terminal 5 to generate PCM data, and adds the error correcting code C1 to a portion of data sent from the subcode memory 13 and adds an error detection simple parity code to the remaining portion thereof. After these PCM audio data and subcode data are formated so as to have forms allocated thereto, respectively, these formated data are subjected to modulation (8 to 10 conversion) so as to have form easy to effect data transmission. An Automatic Track Finding (ATF) signals are added thereto, thus to generate a digital signal for recording onto the magnetic tape 3 to deliver it to the rotary heads 2 and 2. Further, at the time of reproduction, the digital signal processing circuit 10 takes out a signal reproduced from the magnetic tape 3 to make an error correction, thus to generate a digital audio signal. On the other hand, this circuit 10 makes an error correction of a portion of subcodes SUB-1, 2 on the subcode areas and PCM-ID on the PCM area of the magnetic tape 3 and carries out an error detection of the remaining portion thereof, thus to write corrected data into the subcode memory 13. The subcode memory 13 serves to store data of subcode. At the time of recording, the signal flows via the microcomputer 15, the interface 14, the subcode memory 13, and the digital signal processing circuit 10. In contrast, at the time of reproduction, the signal flows in an opposite direction via the digital signal processing circuit 10, the subcode memory 13, the interface 14, and the microcomputer 15. The interface 14 is a circuit for effecting reception and transmission of data among the microcomputer 15, the subcode memory 13, and the non-volatile memory or switch 16. The non-volatile memory or siwtch 16 is a memory or a switch for memorizing a specific identification number allocated to the DAT equipment concerned. Fig. 1A is a block diagram showing the detail of the circuit in Fig. 1. This circuit has a configuration different from that in Fig. 1 in part. The data processing circuit 10 comprises, in the same manner as in the ordinary DAT equipment, a circuit element or component for delivering an input from the digital input 5 or the analog input 4 to the magnetic head 2 to record it thereon and a circuit component for producing a signal taken out from the magnetic head 2 on the digital output 7 or the analog output 6 as a reproduced output. For the recording element thereamong, a recording signal processing circuit 102 is provided. This circuit 102 applies interleave or addition or error detecting/correcting code, etc. to the PCM audio signal to add a subcode from the subcode memory 13 thereto, thereafter to deliver the signal thus obtained to the magnetic tape 2 through an amplifier and a mode changeover switch 101. In addition, for the reproducing element, a regenerative signal processing circuit 103, a subcode identification circuit 106, and a mute circuit 104 are provided. PCM data in teh signal reproduced by the magnetic head 2 is subjected to error detection/correction by the regenerative signal processing circuit 103 and the data thus processed is delivered to the mute circuit 104. In addition, the subcode signal in the reproduced signal is delivered to the subcode identification circuit 106, at which the kind of the subcode is identified. The subcode signal thus identified is stored at a predetermined address in the subcode memory 13 allocated in advance in correspondence with the kind identified. The microcomputer (which will be simply called a "µ-com" hereinafter) 15 reads the reproduced subcode stored in the subcode memory 13 through a section 141 (I/F-1) of the interface 14 according to need, thus to display reproducing mode, program number, and performance passing time, etc. on a display (not shown). When the apparatus is in a recording mode, when the running speed has not reached a predetermined value immediately after the reproducing mode, or when error uncorrectable data occur in succession in the PCM data reproduced and deinterleaved, a mute signal is delivered from the µ-com 15 to the mute circuit 104, thus to mute off an output signal. Further, for an element or component used at the time of recording and reproducing, a changeover circuit 105 operated by a mode switch signal from the µ-com 15 is provided. When the recording input is a digital input, this changeover circuit 15 detects a sampling frequency from the DAI 17 to deliver the signal detected to the µ-com 15. In addition, at the time of recording and reproduction of an analog input, this changeover circuit 105 selects and switches a sampling frequency according to the mode from a plurality of sampling signals obtained by frequency-dividing a signal from an oscillator 107 using a frequency-dividing circuit 108, thus to deliver it to the A/D converter 9 or to the DAI 18 and the D/A converter 11. DAIs 17 and 18 in Fig. 1A are not provided in the circuit configuration in Fig. 1, which are constituted in accordance with EIAJ standard, CP-340, Digital Audio Interface (instituted Sept., 1987). This digital signal processing circuit 10 is controlled by the µ-com 15. The µ-com 15 responds to, as a key input, an analog/didital input switch command by a push-button switch 19A and a recording/reproducing switch command by another push button switch 19B to carry out determination of mode by the level judgement. Further, the µ-com 15 makes a judgement whether the magnetic tape is a pre-recorded tape on the basis of an input by the Recognition switch 20. This Recognition switch 20 is automatically opened and closed in dependence upon whether or not a recognition hole for a pre-recorded tape is provided at a predetermined portion of the tape cassette loaded on the DAT equipment. The elements or components in Fig. 1A and the operations thereof which have been described above are the same as those in the conventional DAT equipment. In this embodiment, a code setting circuit 16 and an interface section or unit 142 (I/F-2) are newly added and the program in the µ-com 15 is altered. The operation of the portions added and altered will be now described. The code setting circuit 16 is comprised of a plurality of switches accommodated in a portion where a user is unable to readily access, and a plurality of registers. One terminal of each switch is grounded and the other terminal thereof is connected to a high voltage power supply and to the interface unit 142. Switches combined in correspondence with identification code particular to the DAT equipment are set OFF. Other switches are set ON. The code setting circuit 16 delivers a high or low level signal parallelly to the interface unit 142 in dependence upon the set condition of OFF or ON of these switches. In the case of the mode to record a digital input having a sampling frequency fs of 44.1 KHz, or in the case of the reproducing mode, the interface unit 142 receives a command (a load signal and a read clock) from the µ-com 15 to convert parallel identification code signals from the code setting circuit 16 to a serial identification code signal, thus to deliver it to the µ-com 15. In the case of the recording mode having a sampling frequency fs of 44.1 KHz, the µ-com 15 delivers the identification code thus delivered to the memory 13 through the interface unit 141 to memorize it at a predetermined address (step 23 in Fig. 2). The µ-com 15 further delivers it to the recording signal processing circuit 102 to record it on the tape along with PCM data and other subcodes. In the case of the recording mode having a sampling frequency except for 44.1 KHz, the µ-com 15 resets (clears) the data at the predetermined address mentioned above of the subcode memory 13 (step 25). In the case of the reproducing mode, the µ-com 15 reads data at the predetermined address of the subcode memory 13 through the interface unit 141 to judge whether or not an identification code is present thereat (step 28). As a result, when the identification code is present, this code is compared with an identification code obtained from the code setting circuit 16 through the interface unit 142 (step 29). The µ-com 15 is programmed so that it makes a judgment in accordance with the flowchart shown in Fig. 2, or controls respective elements. Since the operations at respective steps are the same as those in ordinary DAT equipment and the whole operation becomes apparent from the flowchart in Fig. 2, further explanation in regard to Fig. 1A will be omitted. The operation of the digital signal recording/reproducing apparatus thus constituted will be explained with reference to Fig. 2. First, judgement as to whether the apparatus is in a recording or reproducing (playback) mode is made (step 21). In the recording mode, judgement as to whether or not the sampling frequency fs is 44.1 KHz is made (step 22). As a result, when it is 44.1 KHz [YES], the same identification code as the specific identification number allocated to the DAT equipment concerned is set at the subcode memory 13 (step 23). Then, the sampling frequency fs is allowed to be equal to 44.1 KHz to start recording (step 24). In contrast, when the sampling frequency of the input digital signal is not 44.1 KHz [NO], the identification code is reset (step 25). Then, a sampling frequency fs except for 44.1 KHz is set at the subcode memory 13 (step 26). Then, the sampling frequency fs is allowed to be equal to a value except for 44.1 KHz to start recording (step 27). On the other hand, at the time of reproduction or playback, judgement as to whether or not an identification code in the reproduced signal is present is made (step 28). As a result, when the identification code is present [YES], judgement as to whether that identification code is coincident with the own identification number allocated to the DAT equipment concerned is made (step 29). As a result, when both are coincident with each other [YES], the sampling frequency fs is set to 44.1 KHz (step 30). Then, muting is turned off (step 31) to start reproduction or playback (step 32). In contrast, when both are not coincident with each other [NO], discrimination as to whether or not the magnetic tape is a pre-recorded tape is made by the detection hole (Recognition hole) provided in the magnetic tape cassette (step 33). As a result, when the mangetic tape is a pre-recorded tape [YES], the program execution shifts to the above-mentioned step 30. In contrast, when the magnetic tape is not a pre-recorded tape [NO], muting is turned on (step 34). Thus, the program execution shifts to the above-mentioned step 32. On the other hand, when the identification code is absent at the step 28 [NO], discrimination as to whether the magnetic tape is a pre-recorded tape by the detection hole (Recognition hole) provided in the magnetic tape cassette is made in the same manner as in the step 33 (step 35). As a result, when the magnetic tape is a pre-corded tape [YES], the program execution shifts to the step 30. In contrast, when the magnetic tape is not a pre-recorded tape [NO], the sampling frequency is set to a value except for 44.1 KHz (step 36) to turn on muting (step 37). Thus, the program execution shifts to the above-mentioned step 32. Since the above-mentioned digital signal processing for identification code is carried out by the microcomputer, where parity adding and checking of the identification code are an overload on the computer, in place of parity of identification code using the equation expressed as P = N1 ⊕ N2 ⊕ ... ⊕ N6 , data corresponding thereto may be stored. Also in this case, since parity of PCM-ID using the equation expressed as P = W1 ⊕ W2 is carried out by the microcomputer, only each value judged to be OK among respective numeric values of the above-mentioned AC is written into the subcode memory. Accordingly, it can be said that protection of data is actually effective. In addition, since there may be employed a method such that where identification codes which have been read several times are considered to be the same at a rate of 100%, such discrimination codes are judged to be correctly reproduced, thus to utilize the result thereof. As described above in detail, an apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital signal according to this invention is adapted so that, when an input digital signal is recorded on a recording medium to reproduce it therefrom, reproduction is possible with the apparatus thus recorded whereas reproduction is impossible with a recording/reproducing apparatus and a reproducing apparatus except for the above apparatus. Thus, for example, while a large number of magnetic tapes digitally copied from a CD can be obtained, such large number of magnetic tapes can be recorded only using the recorded apparatus. This substantially permits copy guard.

Claims: Apparatus for recording digital signals on a recording medium (3) and reproducing digital signals recorded thereon, said apparatus comprising: code recording means (16,102) for recording on the recording medium an identification code being an identification number particular to said digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus; and code reproducing means (103) for reproducing a recorded identification code at the time of reproduction of recorded digital signals and for comparing the reproduced identification code with said identification number particular to said digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus and for permitting access to the digital data in the case of coincidence characterised by frequency detection means (105) for determining whether input digital signals to be recorded represent a digital recording of analog data sampled at a predetermined sampling frequency; said code recording means being responsive to said frequency detection means for recording said identification code only when said input digital signals represent a digital recording of analog data sampled at said predetermined sampling frequency, and being operative to record said identification code at repeated intervals on said medium between blocks of recorded digital data; and said code reproducing means (103) being operative to permit an input digital signal recorded on a recording medium and including an identification code particular to a digital recording and reproducing apparatus to be reproduced only when the reproduced identification code is coincident with the identification code particular to said digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus. Apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital signal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said code recording means comprises code formation means (16) for forming an identification code which is particular to said digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus; and recording means (1,2) for recording the identification code from said code formation means on said recording medium (3) when said frequency detection means detects that the sampling frequency of said input digital signal is said predetermined frequency. A method of recording a digital signal on a recording medium and reproducing a recorded signal therefrom, the method comprising: recording an identification code on the recording medium being an identification number particular to the digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus being used to carry out the recording; and reproducing said identification code at the time of reproducing digital signals recorded on the recording medium, comparing the reproduced identification code with said identification number particular to said digital recording and reproducing apparatus and permitting access to the digital signal in the case of coincidence; characterised in that said recording step includes: determining whether input digital signals to be recorded represent a digital recording of analog data sampled at a predetermined sampling frequency; recording said identification code on the recording medium only when said input digital signals do represent a digital recording of analog data sampled at said predetermined sampling frequency, said identification code being recorded at repeated intervals on said medium between blocks of recorded digital data; and said reproducing step includes: permitting an input digital signal recorded on a recording medium and including an identification code particular to a digital recording and reproducing apparatus to be reproduced only when the reproduced identification code is coincident with the identification code particular to said recording and reproducing apparatus. A method as claimed in claim 3 in which digital information is recorded in tracks defined on the recording medium and the tracks are divided into a number of blocks, each block including a first portion reserved for recorded digital data and a second portion reserved for other operational data to be identified by recording and reproducing apparatus, the said identification code being recorded on the second portion of each block.

Inventors: NAGASHIMA SATORU, SHIRAI TATSURO, YOSHIDA SHIRO, NAGASHIMA, SATORU, SHIRAI, TATSURO, YOSHIDA, SHIRO
Applicants: VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, LIMITED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G11B20
IPC codes: G11B27, G11B20, G06F1