Abstract:
A transfer apparatus for transferring data which achieves balancing in profit and loss between a proprietor of copyright and a user includes an instruction section for providing an instruction of a transfer rate, a transfer control section for variably using one of various transfer control methods for data in response to the transfer rate of the instruction provided by the instruction section, and a billing control section for changing the transfer control method by the transfer control section in response to billing processing performed by a user of the transfer apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a transfer apparatus, a recording control apparatus, a transfer method and a recording control method for an information signal such as, for example, an audio signal or a video signal. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   As digital contents are popularized, infringement upon copyright by illegal copying of digital contents becomes an issue. In particular, since analog recording onto a tape medium or a like medium records audio data or video data in an analog fashion, copying of data deteriorates the quality of the data. In contrast, apparatus which record and reproduce audio data or video data in a digital fashion do not give rise to a problem of deterioration of the information quality by copying in principle and allows a large number of times of copying of information to be performed without any deterioration of the information quality. 
   Consequently, the damage by illegal copying by means of an apparatus which processes information digitally is much greater than that by means of an apparatus which processes information in an analog fashion. Therefore, it is very significant to prevent illegal copying by an apparatus which processes data in a digital fashion. 
   As a countermeasure to this problem, information for copy control is added to digital contents so that illegal copying may be prevented using the additional information. 
   For example, as a control for prevention of copying, a copyright protection measure according to a generation limiting copying control system called SCMS (Serial Copy Management System) wherein copying of audio contents is permitted once but further copying from the copy is inhibited is employed by a CD (Compact Disc), an MD (Mini Disc; trademark), a DAT (Digital Audio Tape) or a like medium. 
   A copying control system of the SCMS is described below with reference to FIG.  1 . 
   For example, an audio signal of an original source is recorded digitally on a disc  1 . The digital audio signal is recorded in a predetermined recording format on the disc  1 ; and additional information representing that copying is permitted only once according to the SCMS system is recorded, for example, in a particular area in the digital signal. 
   A reproduction apparatus  2  reads out a signal from the disc  1 , reproduces the digital audio signal from the read signal and transmits the reproduced audio signal to a recording apparatus  3  together with the additional information. Thereupon, the reproduction apparatus  2  transmits the digital audio signal to the recording apparatus  3  in a time equal to the time required for reproduction of the digital audio signal at a normal reproduction rate (normal or standard rate). 
   The recording apparatus  3  receives the digital audio signal and, if the additional information to the digital audio signal indicates that copying is permitted once, recognizes that copying of the input digital signal is possible. Thus, after the recording apparatus  3  confirms that the additional information indicates that copying is permitted once, it records the digital signal as a copy onto a recordable disc  4 . Thereupon, the recording apparatus  3  rewrites the additional information from “copying is permitted once” to “copying is inhibited”. Accordingly, copying recording of the digital recording is performed onto the recordable disc  4 , and the information of “copying is inhibited” is recorded as the additional information to the digital signal. 
   When the disc  4  (disc of the first generation) for which copying recording has been performed for the first time is reproduced by a reproduction apparatus  5  and the digital signal thus reproduced is supplied to a recording apparatus  6 , the recording apparatus  6  recognizes that the additional information indicates that copying is inhibited, and therefore cannot record the digital signal onto a recordable disc  7 . 
   The copying rate then is equal to the transmission rate of the audio signal from the reproduction apparatus  2  and is equal to a normal reproduction rate at which the audio signal is reproduced in a standard reproduction time. 
   As described above, the SCMS system achieves protection of the copyright by controlling so that, although copying of the first generation is permitted, copying of the second generation from a medium of the first generation is inhibited. 
   The copyright protection by the SCMS system, however, has a problem in that, although copying of the second generation is inhibited, copying of the first generation from one original source is permitted any number of times to produce copies. In the conventional copying control system described above, since the time required for copying is equal to the standard reproduction time, time is required for copying, and it has been considered that actual damage to copyright protection is not very significant. 
   However, according to digital recording onto a disc or a semiconductor memory in recent years, high rate copying can be performed readily when compared with conventional copying onto a tape by analog recording. Particularly where a signal compression technique is used for an audio signal or where an audio signal is transferred at a high bit rate, copying also at a multiple rate is possible. 
   Where such high rate copying as just described is allowed, copying of the first generation can be performed in a very short time, and this makes it possible to produce a large number of copies of the first generation in a short time from one original source. Consequently, there is a possibility that copyright protection may not be achieved effectively. Therefore, taking such a variation in technical environment regarding copying as described above into consideration, it is demanded to introduce a copyright protection system which limits copying more strictly than ever. 
   To an owner of copyright, it is advantageous to introduce a system which strictly limits copying in this manner. However, to a user, the system is not acceptable because copying which has been permitted till now is inhibited. 
   Therefore, if a new copyright protection system which strictly limits copying is adopted by a recording apparatus to be placed on the market newly, since copying by a conventional recording apparatus makes a loophole to illegal utilization, the recording apparatus which adopts the new copyright protection system may not possibly be accepted by the market. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer apparatus which can achieve balancing in profit and loss between a proprietor of copyright and a user. 
   In order to attain the object described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a transfer apparatus for transferring data, including instruction means for providing an instruction of a transfer rate at which the data is to be transferred, transfer control means for variably using one of transfer control methods for the data in response to the transfer rate of the instruction provided by the instruction means, and billing control means for changing the transfer control method by the transfer control means in response to billing processing performed by a user of the transfer apparatus. 
   With the transfer apparatus, the transfer control method to be used for copyright protection is varied in response to the transfer rate of the data to be transferred. Consequently, copyright protection wherein balancing in profit and loss between a proprietor of copyright and a user is achieved can be realized. 
   The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements denoted by like reference symbols. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view showing a conventional copying control system; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a general construction of an entire copying control system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a flow of processing operation of the copying control system of  FIG. 2  upon copying; 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an example of a construction of a reproduction machine of a copy control system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an example of a construction of a recording machine ready for high rate copying used in the copying control system of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments described below, the present invention is applied to a copying control system for an information signal. More specifically, in the embodiments, the copying control system uses a digital audio signal as the information signal, and adopts a copyright protection system according to an SCMS system similar to the conventional SCMS system when copying is to be performed at a copying rate like or equal to a rate at which the information signal is reproduced in a time equal to a standard reproduction time of time series information similarly as in a conventional copying control system, that is, when normal rate copying is to be performed. On the other hand, when copying at a higher rate is to be performed, the copying control system permits copying conditionally if charging is approved by a user. 
   It is to be noted that, in the following description, copying at a normal rate is referred to as normal rate copying and copying at a higher rate is referred to as high rate copying. 
   First Embodiment 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a general construction of a copying control system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The copying control system for an information signal according to the first embodiment uses, for example, a CD (compact disc) as a recording medium and includes a reproduction machine  10 , an SCMS-ready recording machine  20  similar to a conventional SCMS-ready recording machine, and a recording machine  30  ready for high rate copying. In the present copying control system, a digital audio signal transmitted from the reproduction machine  10  to the recording machine  20  or the recording machine  30  is data which is not compression data. 
   The reproduction machine  10  includes a reproduction drive section  11 , a switch circuit  12 , an encryption authentication section  13 , a billing system section  14 , a key inputting section  15  and a system control section  16 . 
   The reproduction drive section  11  drives a CD as a recording medium to rotate and reads out a digital signal recorded on the CD to reproduce a digital audio signal. The driving speed of the reproduction drive section  11  is variable in accordance with a drive control signal from the system control section  16 . The recording machine.  20  can vary the reproduction rate thereof by varying the drive speed in this manner. Accordingly, in the present copying control system, the data rate (data transmission rate) of a reproduction digital audio signal Au from the reproduction drive section  11  depends upon the drive speed. 
   In the present copying control system, the reproduction machine  10  can vary the reproduction drive speed between a normal speed at which an audio signal is reproduced in a standard reproduction time and multiple speeds at which an audio signal is reproduced while a CD is driven to rotate at a drive speed as high as twice or more. The multiple speeds may be such high drive speeds as, for example, twice, three times, four times, five times, . . . the normal speed. 
   The reproduction digital audio signal Au from the reproduction drive section  11  is supplied to the SCMS-ready recording machine  20  through the switch circuit  12 . The switch circuit  12  is provided to control the reproduction digital audio signal Au from the reproduction drive section  11  so that it may be transmitted to the SCMS-ready recording machine  20  or not. 
   The switch circuit  12  is controlled for switching with a switching control signal SW from the system control section  16 . Only when a copying instruction inputted to the system control section  16  from the key inputting section  15  indicates normal rate copying, the system control section  16  produces a switching control signal SW for controlling the switch circuit  12  to an on-state so that the reproduction digital audio signal Au may be supplied to the SCMS-ready recording machine  20 . In other words, when the copying instruction from the user is high rate copying, the switch circuit  12  is controlled to be switched off so that the reproduction digital audio signal Au may not be supplied to the SCMS-ready recording machine  20 . 
   The SCMS-ready recording machine  20  is a recording machine which performs copying control for copyright protection in accordance with the SCMS system described hereinabove and can perform copying of the first generation of a digital audio signal at the normal rate any number of times. In particular, when the additional information of the SCMS system is “copying is permitted once”, the SCMS-ready recording machine  20  executes copying recording of a digital audio signal. It is to be noted that a recording medium for use with the recording machine  20  may be a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disc such as an MD (Mini Disc: trademark), an optical disc, a magnetic disc, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic memory. 
   The reproduction digital audio signal Au from the reproduction drive section  11  is transmitted to the high rate copying-ready recording machine  30  through the encryption authentication section  13 . The high rate copying-ready recording machine  30  includes a decryption authentication section  31  which is paired with the encryption authentication section  13 , and a recording drive section  32 . It is to be noted that any of such recording media as mentioned above may be used as a recording medium for use with the recording drive section  32 . 
   The encryption authentication section  13  communicates predetermined data for authentication with the decryption authentication section  31  under the control of the system control section  16  to effect authentication processing of authenticating whether or not the recording machine  30  is a recording machine which is legally ready for the copyright protection system of the present embodiment. If the authentication is established, then the encryption authentication section  13  encrypts the digital audio signal Au and transmits the encrypted digital audio signal Au to the recording machine  30 . The encryption authentication section  13  transmits also information of a cryptographic key to be used for decryption of the encrypted digital audio signal Au. However, if the authentication is not established, then the encryption authentication section  13  does not transmit the information of the cryptographic key to the recording machine  30  or does not transmit the encrypted digital audio signal Au to the recording machine  30 . When the cryptographic key is not available, the recording machine  30  cannot decrypt the encrypted digital audio signal Au and consequently fails to perform normal copying recording. 
   Further, in the present copying control system, even if the reproduction machine  10  succeeds in authentication of the recording machine  30 , it does not necessarily deliver information of a cryptographic key or transmit a digital audio signal to the recording machine  30  in all cases. 
   In particular, if the copying instruction from the user indicates normal rate copying, then only if authentication of the recording machine  30  is established, the system control section  16  controls so that a cryptographic key may be delivered to the recording machine  30 . However, if the copying instruction indicates high rate copying of the digital audio signal Au, the system control section  16  controls so that, only when the billing system section  14  acquires approval of charging from the user, the cryptographic key may be delivered or the digital audio signal Au may be transmitted to the recording machine  30 . 
   Here, the approval of charging from the user may be performed, for example, by payment of a charge for high rate copying with a prepaid card. In this instance, the billing system section  14  includes a card reader and so forth. 
   Alternatively, where the billing system section  14  is connected to a billing center over a communication line such as a telephone line, it may be controlled so that the card number of a credit card is sent to the billing center to obtain approval of charging from the user. 
   As an another alternative, where the user is registered as a member in a predetermined management center in advance, upon high rate copying by the recording machine  30  of the user, inquiries about the membership of the user may be made to the management center with the identification number of the recording machine  30  of the user or an ID of the user, and when affirmative, confirmation is obtained, it is determined that approval of charging of the user has been acquired. In this instance, the charge is paid later. 
   It is to be noted that, in the system shown in  FIG. 2 , the system control section  16  of the reproduction machine  10  controls the reproduction machine  10  and the recording machine  20  or the recording machine  30  so that, when copying is to be performed, they may be put into a reproduction condition and a recording condition, respectively, in synchronism with each other. To this end, as seen from  FIG. 2 , the system control section  16  supplies a reproduction command PB to the reproduction drive section  11  and supplies a recording command REC to the recording machine  20  or the recording machine  30  in synchronism with each other. Also synchronous recording, for example, from a CD to an MD or the like is included in the recording operation described above. 
   By such a protection measure as described above, copyright protection in accordance with a copying rate, that is, comparatively severe copyright protection when the copying rate is comparatively high, can be achieved. In particular, in the copying control system described above, if it is tried to perform normal rate copying, then copying by a copying control system similar to the conventional system can be performed. However, high rate copying is permitted only when a predetermined charge is paid. 
   Copying operation of the copying control system of  FIG. 2  is described in more detail with reference to a flow chart of FIG.  3 . The flow chart of  FIG. 3  corresponds to processing operation of the system control section  16  of the reproduction machine  10 . 
   First in step S 101 , it is discriminated whether or not a key input from the key inputting section  15  is a copying instruction. If the key input is not a copying instruction, then the control advances to step S 110 , in which processing corresponding to the key input is performed. 
   On the other hand, if the result of discrimination in step S 101  is that the key input is a copying instruction, then the control advances to step S 102 , in which it is discriminated which one of the recording machine  20  and the recording machine  30  is to be used for copying. When the user performs the key inputting of a copying instruction, the user inputs from the key inputting section  15  which one of the recording machines is to be used for copying recording. Therefore, in step S 102 , it is discriminated from the key input which one of the recording machines is to be used for copying. 
   The reproduction machine  10  has a function of recognizing whether or not the recording machine  20  or the recording machine  30  is connected thereto, and when the recording machine  20  or the recording machine  30  is not connected to the reproduction machine  10 , a copying instruction using the recording machine which is not connected to the reproduction machine  10  is ignored. 
   If the result of discrimination by the system control section  16  in step S 102  indicates that the recording machine  20  is connected to the reproduction machine  10 , then the control advances to step S 103 , in which the system control section  16  discriminates whether the copying of the instruction is normal rate copying (normal speed reproduction) or high rate copying (multiple speed reproduction). If it is discriminated that the copying of the instruction is high rate copying, then the control advances to step S 108 , in which the system control section  16  switches off the switch circuit  12 , and then to step S 109 , in which the system control section  16  generates an alarm or makes a display representing that copying is impossible. 
   Similarly, when it is discriminated in step S 103  by the system control section  16  that the copying of the instruction is normal rate copying, the control advances to step S 104 , in which the system control section  16  controls the switch circuit  12  to an on-state, and then to step S 105 , in which the system control section  16  sends a reproduction command PB to the reproduction drive section  11  and sends a recording command REC to the recording machine  20 . Thereafter, the control advances to step S 106 , in which the system control section  16  transmits the digital audio signal Au to the recording machine  20 . 
   Then, the control advances to step S 107 , in which the system control section  16  discriminates whether or not an interval of time for discrimination of an input determined in advance has elapsed, and if the interval of time has elapsed, then the control returns to step S 101 . Then, the system control section  16  discriminates in step S 101  whether or not the state of the key input command remains the copying instruction. If the key input command remains the copying instruction, then the processing in the steps beginning with step S 102  described above is repeated. On the other hand, if it is discriminated that another key is operated, for example, if a stop key is operated, then the control advances to step S 110 , in which stopping processing, the processing corresponding to the key is performed. 
   When the normal rate copying by the recording machine  20  described above is performed, since the drive speed of the reproduction drive section  11  is the normal reproduction speed, the transmission rate of the digital audio signal supplied to the recording machine  20  is equal to the normal reproduction speed. The SCMS-ready recording machine  20  receives the digital audio signal Au from the reproduction machine  10 , detects the additional information for the SCMS included in the signal, and executes copying if the additional information is “copying is permitted once”. However, if the additional information indicates “copying is inhibited”, then the recording machine  20  stops copying recording. 
   Then, if it is discriminated in step S 102  that the recording machine  30  ready for high rate copying is designated, then the control advances to step S 111 , in which data for authentication of whether or not the recording machine  30  is one which complies with the copying control system of the present embodiment is sent from the reproduction machine  10  to the recording machine  30  through the encryption authentication section  13 . 
   In this instance, if the recording machine  30  is a compliant recording machine, then a predetermined signal is sent back to the reproduction machine  10  from the recording machine  30 . Thus, in step S 112 , the system control section  16  discriminates whether or not the predetermined signal is sent back thereto from the recording machine  30 . If the predetermined signal is not sent back from the recording machine  30 , then the control advances to step S 113 , in which an alarm representing that copying recording is inhibited is generated and the system is put into a stop condition. 
   If it is discriminated in step S 112  that the predetermined signal is sent back from the recording machine  30 , then the control advances to step S 114 , in which the system control section  16  discriminates whether the copying of the instruction is normal rate copying or high rate copying. If it is discriminated in step S 114  that the copying of the instruction is high rate copying, then the control advances to step S 115 , in which the system control section  16  discriminates whether or not approval of charging by the user has been obtained. 
   If it is discriminated in step S 115  that such approval of charging has not been obtained, then the control advances to step S 113 , in which an alarm representing that copying recording is inhibited is generated and the system is put into a stop condition. On the other hand, if it is discriminated in step S 115  that such approval of charging as described above has been obtained, then the control advances to step S 116 . In the meantime, when it is discriminated in step S 114  that the copying instruction indicates normal rate copying, the control advances to step S 116  bypassing the step S 115 . 
   Then in step S 116 , the system control section  16  sends a reproduction command PB to the reproduction drive section  11  and sends a recording command REC to the recording machine  30 . Then, the system control section  16  encrypts the digital audio signal Au and transmits the encrypted digital audio signal Au to the recording machine  30 . The system control section  16  further sends a cryptographic key for decryption to the recording machine  30 . 
   Next to step S 116 , the control advances to step S 107 , in which the system control section  16  discriminates whether or not the interval of time for discrimination of a key input determined in advance has elapsed. If the interval of time has elapsed, then the control returns to step S 101 . Then in step S 101 , the system control section  16  discriminates whether or not the key input command remains the copying instruction. If the key input command remains the copying instruction, then the system control section  16  repeats the processing in the steps beginning with step S 102  described above. On the other hand, if it is discriminated that another key is operated newly, for example, if the stop key is operated, then the control advances to step S 110 , in which stopping processing which is processing corresponding to the key is executed by the reproduction machine  10 . 
   If authentication of the recording machine  30  is established and the copying instruction indicates high rate copying and then approval of charging has been obtained, since a cryptographic key is sent to the recording machine  30  as described above, the encrypted digital audio signal Au received from the reproduction machine  10  is decrypted by the decryption authentication section  31  of the recording machine  30 . Then in the recording machine  30 , the decrypted digital audio signal is supplied to the recording drive section  32 , by which copying recording is performed. In this instance, the recording drive section  32  performs recording of the information signal at a rate corresponding to the transmission rate. Accordingly, when the transmission rate is high, high rate copying recording is performed. 
   Further, the recording drive section  32  records additional information representing that further copying is inhibited onto the recording medium onto which the information signal has been recorded. Consequently, also copying from the recording medium produced by high rate copying is inhibited. 
   In this manner, high rate copying is enabled if the user pays the charge for copying. Although the copyright protection is severer than that of the conventional copying control system of the SCMS system, where the advantage that high rate copying is possible is taken into consideration, the present copying control system has a utility value to the user. On the other hand, to the owner of the copyright, since a charge can be collected when a copy is produced at a high rate, even if a large number of copies of the first generation are produced, corresponding copyright protection can be achieved. 
   Second Embodiment 
   In the copying control system of the first embodiment described above, high rate copying is performed such that the drive speed of the recording medium by the reproduction drive section  11  is set to a high speed to make the data transfer rate of the digital audio signal Au high so that the digital audio signal Au is supplied to the recording machine  30  at the high transfer rate. However, where a signal of compressed data is used as a digital audio signal, even if the data transfer rate is equal to that for normal rate copying, transmission of audio data can be performed in a shorter time, and consequently, high rate copying by a recording machine is allowed. 
   The copying control system of the present second embodiment performs copying of data which remains in the form of compressed data to assure a high copying rate. 
   Also the copying control system of the present embodiment has a basic block construction similar to that of the copying control system of the first embodiment described hereinabove with reference to FIG.  2 . However, although the copying control system of the present embodiment is similar to the copying control system of the first embodiment in that a digital audio signal of a base band is transmitted from the reproduction machine  10  to the SCMS-ready recording machine  20 , it is different from the copying control system of the first embodiment in that data transmitted from the reproduction machine  10  to the recording machine  30  is compressed data. 
   The copying control system of the present embodiment is described in connection with operation of recording audio data reproduced, for example, from a copying object disc onto a non-recorded disc to effect copying. In this instance, audio data is recorded in the form of data compressed in accordance with the ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) method or the MPEG (Moving Picture Coding Experts Group) audio compression method which are well known in the art. 
   Reproduction Machine in the Second Embodiment 
   An example of a construction of the reproduction machine in the copying control system of the present embodiment is described below with reference to FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an entire construction of the reproduction machine. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the reproduction machine is generally denoted at  100 . Compressed audio data recorded on a copying object disc  101  loaded in the reproduction machine  100  is read out by a reading-out section  102  and supplied to a data decompression decoding section  103 , by which it is decompressed and decoded into a digital audio signal Au. 
   The digital audio signal Au from the data decompression decoding section  103  is led out to an output terminal  106  past a switch circuit  104  through an IEC 958 (International Electrotechnical Commission  958 ) interface  105  which is a conventionally used interface for a digital signal. 
   The SCMS-ready recording machine  20  described hereinabove is connected to the output terminal  106 . Accordingly, the digital audio signal Au is supplied to the SCMS-ready recording machine  20  similarly as in the copying control system of the first embodiment, and normal rate copying control by an SCMS system similar to the conventional SCMS system is performed by the SCMS-ready recording machine  20  similarly as in the copying control system of the first embodiment. 
   In the reproduction machine  100  in the copying control system of the present second embodiment, digital audio data in a compressed condition from the reading-out section  102  is led out to an output terminal  109  through an encryption section  107  and an IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.)  1394  interface  108 . A high rate copying-ready recording machine  300  is connected to the output terminal  109 . In this instance, prevention of illegal copying of the compressed digital output is achieved by the IEEE 1394 secure bus. 
   In particular, data from the reading-out section  102  is supplied to an SCMS decoding section  111 , by which additional data for copying control of the SCMS system included in the compressed data is decoded. Then, an output of the decoded data is supplied to a control section  110 . The decoded output of the additional data indicates whether copying of data of the copying object disc  101  is permitted once or inhibited, and the control section  110  discriminates what condition the decoded output indicates. 
   The data from the reading-out section  102  is first supplied to the encryption section  107 , by which encryption based on a cryptographic key, which is different for each communication, is performed for the compressed audio data under the control of the control section  110 . The encrypted data from the encryption section  107  is supplied to the high rate copying-ready recording machine  300 , which is an electronic apparatus of the outputting destination, through the IEEE 1394 interface  108  past the output terminal  109 . The IEEE 1394 interface  108  converts the data supplied thereto from the encryption section  107  so that it may conform with the IEEE 1394 interface standards and outputs resulting compressed audio data. 
   Thereupon, the control section  110  communicates with the apparatus of the outputting destination through the IEEE 1394 interface  108  to discriminate whether or not the apparatus of the outputting destination is an apparatus which complies with the IEEE 1394 secure bus standards (such apparatus is hereinafter referred to as compliant apparatus) and, if the apparatus of the outputting destination is a compliant apparatus, whether or not the apparatus is a recording apparatus. 
   Then, in the reproduction machine  100  of the copying control system of the present embodiment, the control section  110  determines, from a discrimination output of the copying control information from the SCMS decoding section  111  and discrimination information of the apparatus of the outputting destination received through the IEEE 1394 interface  108 , whether or not cryptographic key information for decryption processing which is performed by the encryption section  107  should be sent out to the outputting destination. 
   For example, if the apparatus of the outputting destination is not a compliant apparatus, then the cryptographic key information is not delivered to the apparatus of the outputting destination. On the other hand, even if the apparatus of the outputting destination is a compliant apparatus, if it is a recording apparatus, then cryptographic key information is not delivered to the apparatus of the outputting destination if the copying control information from the SCMS decoding section  111  indicates “copying is inhibited”. 
   Further, in the copying control system of the present embodiment, also when information of approval of charging from the user is not acquired from a billing authentication section  116  by the control section  110 , cryptographic key information is not delivered to the apparatus of the outputting destination. 
   In the copying control system of the present embodiment, the billing authentication section  116  is connected to a card reader  115 , and if the user loads a prepaid card  114  into the card reader  115 , then the billing authentication section  116  controls so that a charge for high rate copying is paid from the balance of the prepaid card. When the payment of the charge for high speed copying is performed, the billing authentication section  116  determines that approval of charging of the user has been acquired, and controls so that information of approval of charging representing this is sent to the control section  110 . 
   A key inputting section  113  is means for allowing the user to input an instruction for normal rate copying or high rate copying. The high rate copying in the copying control system of the present embodiment signifies copying of compressed data through the IEEE 1394 as it is. Meanwhile, the normal rate copying signifies copying of audio data of a base band through the IEC 958. 
   It is to be noted that, in the present copying control system, the designation of one of normal rate copying and high rate copying by the user from the key inputting section  113  may be only designation of an output terminal or designation of a recording machine of the outputting destination. Or, the designation may be designation of base band transmission or compressed data transmission. 
   In the present copying control system, incidental information can be transmitted upon transmission of compressed data by the IEEE 1394 interface. Therefore, in the present copying control system, for example, information of the names (titles) of music data recorded on the UTOC (User Table of Contents) of an MD is read out by the reading-out section  102 , and the control section  110  delivers the information to an incidental information production section  112 . Then, the control section  110  controls so that the information of the names (titles) of the music data are sent to the IEEE 1394 interface  108  through the encryption section  107  so that the information may be included in packets of the corresponding compressed audio data. 
   Consequently, when copying is performed, also the names (titles) of the music data can be recorded onto the copied MD disc together with the compressed audio data. 
   It is to be noted that the copying control system of the present embodiment can also output analog output data. However, since the analog audio signal output in this instance does not include copying control information of the SCMS system, copying of the audio signal in the form of an analog signal can be performed freely. Taking this into consideration, the control section  110  in the copying control system of the present embodiment controls so that a copying control signal having the same significance contents as those of the copying control information detected by the SCMS decoding section  111  is superposed as electronic watermark information WM on the audio signal of the base band. 
   In particular, the audio signal of the base band from the data decompression decoding section  103  is supplied to an electronic watermark information WM addition section  121 . Further, a copying control signal having the same significance contents as those of the copying control information detected by the SCMS decoding section  111  is supplied from the control section  110  to the electronic watermark information WM addition section  121 . The electronic watermark information WM addition section  121  superposes the copying control signal on the audio data in such a manner that no influence may be hand on the audio data. For the processing of adding the electronic watermark information WM, for example, a method of spreading the copying control signal by spectrum spreading to embed the copying control signal into the base band can be used. 
   The digital audio data of the base band from the electronic watermark information WM addition section  121  is supplied to a D/A converter  122 , by which it is converted into an analog audio signal, and the analog audio signal is outputted to an external electronic apparatus through an output terminal  123 . 
   Operation of the reproduction machine  100  described above upon copying is described now. 
   First, if the user selects normal rate copying, then the switch circuit  104  is switched on by the control section  110 , and an audio signal Au of the base band is supplied through the IEC 958 interface  105  past the output terminal  106  to the SCMS-ready recording machine  20 , by which copying control similar to the conventional copying control by the SCMS system is performed. 
   On the other hand, if the user selects high rate copying, then the switch circuit  104  is switched on by the control section  110 . Then, the control section  110  sends a signal for predetermined authentication to the recording machine  300 , which is the outputting destination, through the IEEE 1394 interface  108 . If the outputting destination machine is a compliant recording machine, then a predetermined response signal for authentication is sent back from the outputting destination machine through the IEEE 1394 interface  108 , and consequently, the control section  110  confirms the response signal. 
   Then, the control section  110  controls the encryption section  107  to encrypt the compressed audio data and supplies the encrypted compressed audio data to the outputting destination machine through the IEEE 1394 interface  108 . However, if the outputting destination machine is not a compliant apparatus, then the control section  110  does not deliver a cryptographic key for decryption to the outputting destination machine. On the other hand, if the outputting destination machine is a compliant apparatus, then the control section  110  discriminates whether or not the outputting destination machine is a recording machine. Then, if the outputting destination machine is a recording machine, then the control section  110  refers to the copying control information from the SCMS decoding section  111 , and if the copying control information indicates “copying is inhibited”, then the control section  110  controls so that the cryptographic key may not be delivered to the outputting destination machine. 
   Then, if the outputting destination machine is a compliant recording machine and the copying control information indicates “copying is permitted” or “copying is permitted once”, then the control section  110  refers to charging approval information from the billing authentication section  116 , and if approval of charging by the user has been obtained, then the control section  110  controls so that the cryptographic key may be delivered to the outputting destination machine. 
   As a result, the high rate copying-ready recording machine  300  which is a compliant recording machine is permitted to perform copying of the compressed audio data, that is, high rate copying. It is to be noted that, since the compressed audio data includes a copying control signal of the SCMS system, also copying control by the SCMS system is performed by the high rate copying-ready recording machine  300 . 
   Compliant Recording Apparatus 
   Subsequently, a recording machine which is a compliant apparatus is described.  FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an example of a construction of the compliant recording machine. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the compliant recording machine is generally denoted at  300  and has a digital input terminal  301  for the IEEE 1394 interface and an analog input terminal  306 . The digital input terminal  301  is connected to an IEEE 1394 interface  302 . The IEEE 1394 interface  302  performs processing for converting data, which has been converted so as to comply with the IEEE 1394 bus interface standards, back into data of an original form. 
   Data from the IEEE 1394 interface  302  is supplied to a decryption section  303 . As described hereinabove, when the apparatus connected to the digital input terminal  301  discriminates that copying of an information signal is permitted, cryptographic key information for decryption of the information signal is sent from the machine. When such cryptographic key information is acquired, the decryption section  303  can decrypt the encrypted data from the IEEE 1394 interface  302  to restore the compressed audio data. The restored compressed audio data is supplied to a selector  304 . 
   Meanwhile, video information inputted through the analog input terminal  306  is supplied through an analog interface  307  to a compression encoding section  308 , by which it is compressed, and the compressed video information is supplied to the selector  304 . 
   The selector  304  selectively outputs one of the data from the decryption section  303  and the data from the compression encoding section  308  in accordance with a selector control signal corresponding to an input selection by the user. The output data of the selector  304  is supplied to a recording control section  312  through an SCMS rewriting section  311 . 
   When compressed digital data is inputted from the digital input terminal  301  and the copying control information of the SCMS system indicates “copying is inhibited”, a cryptographic key is not sent to the high rate copying-ready recording machine  300  from the reproduction machine connected to the digital input terminal  301 , the encrypted compressed digital data cannot be decrypted and copying is inhibited by the recording control section  312 . 
   If the encrypted digital data is successfully decrypted by the decryption section  303 , then since the copying control information indicates “copying is permitted” or “copying is permitted once”, the recording control section  312  controls a writing section  313  to execute recording. Consequently, copying recording of the compressed audio data onto a non-recorded disc  314  is executed by the writing section  313 . 
   Upon such copying recording, the copying control information of the SCMS system is rewritten by the SCMS rewriting section  311  if necessary. In particular, the data from the decryption section  303  is supplied to an SCMS decoding section  305 , by which the copying control information is extracted from the received data. The extracted copying control information is supplied to a control section  310 . If the copying control information of the SCMS system indicates “copying is permitted (copy free)”, then the control section  310  determines that rewriting of the copying control information is unnecessary, but if the copying control information indicates “copying is permitted once”, then the control section  310  controls the SCMS rewriting section  311  to rewrite the copying control information to “copying is inhibited”. 
   Subsequently, copying of an analog audio signal inputted through the analog input terminal  306  is described. 
   The analog audio signal has copying control information superposed thereon as electronic watermark information WM by the reproduction machine  100  as described hereinabove. The electronic watermark informationl WM is detected by an electronic watermark information decoding section  309  and supplied to the control section  310 . 
   The control section  310  discriminates based on the discrimination output of the electronic watermark information WM whether or not recording (copying) of the input information is permitted. Further, if it is discriminated that recording (copying) is permitted, then the control section  310  discriminates whether or not rewriting of the copying control information is necessary. 
   In particular, if the control section  310  discriminates based on the electronic watermark information WM that recording is inhibited, then it controls the recording control section  312  and the writing section  313  so that recording onto the disc  314  may not be executed. 
   On the other hand., if the control section  310  discriminates based on the electronic watermark information WM that copying is permitted (Copy Free), then it controls the recording control section  312  and the writing section  313  so that recording may be executed. In this instance, while the compressed digital data outputted from the recording control section  312  passes through the SCMS rewriting section  311 , rewriting of the SCMS information therein is not performed by the SCMS rewriting section  311 . 
   However, if the control section  310  discriminates based on the electronic watermark information WM that copying is permitted once (Copy Once), then it controls the recording control section  312  and the writing section  313  so that recording may be executed and further controls the SCMS rewriting section  311  so that the SCMS information may be rewritten to “copying is inhibited”. 
   Other Forms 
   As a severe copying control system for copyright protection to be adopted for high rate copying, naturally it is possible to use a system which does not involve charging. For example, a uni-copy system may be employed. The uni-copy system controls so that the same contents can be copied only once by one recording machine. In particular, in the uni-copy system, when copying is performed by a recording machine, the contents ID is stored into a memory of the recording machine and, when an instruction to copy the same contents is inputted to the recording machine later, copying of the same contents is inhibited. 
   Also it is possible to adopt another system wherein, if a charge is paid, then copying by high rate copying is permitted any number of times, but if no charge is paid, then copying of the same contents is permitted only once in accordance with the uni-copy system described above. 
   Meanwhile, as the billing system, not only a system which employs a prepaid card but also a billing authentication system which employs a telephone line or the like as described above may be used. In the latter case, it is also possible to perform billing for each content if information of contents which make an object of charging is additionally sent to a billing center. 
   Further, while the copying control systems of the embodiments described above are described in connection with an audio signal, the information signal of an object of copying may alternatively be a video signal, a control signal or a text signal. Further alternatively, the information signal of an object of copying may be such an information signal which is not such a time series signal as an audio signal or a video signal as, for example, computer data. 
   In addition, the information outputting apparatus is not limited to such a reproduction machine as described above and may include any apparatus which, for example, temporarily stores information of an object of copying into a memory and then reads out the information from the memory and outputs it to a recording machine. 
   Further, in the copying control systems of the embodiments described above, copying of data read out from a medium by a reproduction drive of a reproduction machine onto another medium is described. However, the present invention can be applied also to recording control where digital data as is distributed, for example, over an FM network is received and transferred to a recording machine. 
   Furthermore, in the copying control systems of the embodiments described above, billing processing is performed by a reproduction machine side. However, billing processing may be performed alternatively by a recording machine side so that, also with regard to data whose copying is inhibited, recording of it onto a medium or production of a key for decryption may be permitted in accordance with the billing processing. Further, a controller of the recording machine may control the reproduction machine side so that transfer of data whose transfer is inhibited may be permitted. 
   While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.