Patent Publication Number: US-2009232475-A1

Title: Digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus and digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-066385, filed Mar. 14, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     One embodiment of the invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus and a digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing method, and to recording/reproduction of a digital broadcast that is subject to a copy restriction. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, a storage capacity of an information recording device, e.g., a hard disk is increasing. Therefore, there are a method and an apparatus that connect the above-described information recording device to a digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus to automatically record a desired program in a recording medium. 
     Further, with the recent popularization of a television receiver that can receive a digital broadcast, an operation of Dubbing  10  (nine copies+one move) is planned depending on broadcast mediums, and an operation of both Copy One Generation and Dubbing  10  is examined. 
     Furthermore, in a conventional recording scheme, copy control information is recorded in an information recording device at the end of recording of a program in the information recording device. 
     JP-A 2004-120365 (KOKAI) discloses a recording/reproducing apparatus having a structure where a sub-microcomputer in a PRV module which records image data in an HDD determines whether a flag is kept in a set state upon supply of an electric power and the flag cannot be reset because of blackout during a previous recording operation. When blackout has occurred during recording, the sub-microcomputer retrieves a file that has undergone recording interruption from the HDD and closes the image file. A recording operation is continued if there is an extra recording reservation time period. 
     JP-A 2006-33332 (KOKAI) discloses a recording/reproducing apparatus having a structure where picture/sound information is continuously stored in a storage circuit when a stop key is operated during a recording operation, and recording of stored information is started when a recording key is again operated within a predetermined time, thereby continuously performing recording. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A general architecture that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a view for explaining an outline of a digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing system according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a view showing an appearance of a digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a structure explanatory drawing further specifically showing the inside of the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory drawing for explaining an outline of a remote controller used in the apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing recording a program in a recording device by a digital broadcast recording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart when the recording device is registered in the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart when the registered recording device is deleted from the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing recording a program in the recording device based on a recording setting in the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram showing copy control information encryption processing in the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, a digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus has a receiving module which receives a broadcast signal of a program that is set to be recorded, a processing module which converts the broadcast signal received by the receiving module into digital picture and sound program data, a recording module which records copy control information acquired from the broadcast signal received by the receiving module, a recording control module which encrypts the program data converted by the processing module to be recorded in a specified recording device and a memory control module which encrypts the copy control information recorded in the recording module to be recorded in the specified recording device and deletes the copy control information recorded in the recording module after termination of the recording. 
     An embodiment will now be explained hereinafter with reference to the drawings. An outline of a broadcast receiving apparatus will be first explained. 
       FIG. 1  schematically shows an appearance of a digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  explained in this embodiment and an example of a network system centered on this digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 .  FIG. 2  shows an appearance of the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 . 
     The digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  is formed of a thin cabinet  12  and a support pedestal  13  that supports this cabinet  12  in an upright posture. To the cabinet  12  are disposed a planar panel type picture display  14  formed of, e.g., a liquid crystal display panel, a speaker  15 , an operating module  16 , an optical receiving module  18  that receives operation information transmitted from a remote controller  17 , and others. 
     Further, for example, a first memory card  19  such as a Secure Digital (SD) memory card, a Multimedia Card (MMC), or a Memory Stick is attachable to/detachable from this digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 , and information of, e.g., a program or a photograph is recorded in or reproduced from this first memory card  19 . 
     Furthermore, a second memory card (an IC card)  20  having, e.g., contract information is attachable to or detachable from this digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 , and information is recorded in or reproduced from this second memory card  20 . 
     Moreover, this digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  includes a first local area network (LAN) terminal  21 , a second LAN terminal  22 , a Universal Serial Bus (USB) terminal  23 , and an i. Link (registered trademark) terminal  24 . 
     Of these terminals, the first LAN terminal  21  is used as a port dedicated to an HDD compatible with an LAN. This first LAN terminal  21  is used to record/reproduce information into/from a first HDD  70  and a second HDD  71  compatible with the LAN which are network-attached storage (NAS) connected with the first LAN terminal  21  through, e.g., a hub  25  based on Ethernet (registered trademark). 
     Providing the first LAN terminal  21  as the LAN compatible HDD dedicated port in this manner enables stably recording information of a program with a hi-vision image quality into the first HDD  70  or the second HDD  71  without being affected by, e.g., other network environments or a network use status. 
     Additionally, the second LAN terminal  22  is used as a general LAN compatible port using Ethernet. This second LAN terminal  22  is connected with devices such as an HDD  27  compatible with the LAN, a personal computer (PC)  28 , or a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) recorder  29  having a built-in HDD through, e.g., a hub  26 , and used to transmit information to these devices. 
     It is to be noted that a dedicated analog transmission path  30  must be provided to the DVD recorder  29  in order to transmit analog picture and sound information to the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  since digital information transmitted/received through the second LAN terminal  22  is information of a control system. 
     Further, this second LAN terminal  22  is connected with a network  32  such as Internet through a broadband router  31  connected with the hub  26 , and used to transmit information to, e.g., a PC  33  or a mobile phone  34  via the network  32 . 
     Furthermore, the USB terminal  23  is used as a general USB compatible port, and connected with, e.g., a mobile phone  36 , a digital camera  37 , a card reader/writer  38  for a memory card, an HDD  39 , or a keyboard  40  through, e.g., a nub  35  to transmit information to these devices. 
     The i. Link (registered trademark) terminal  24  is connected with, e.g., an AV-HDD  41  and a Digital Video Home System (D-VHS)  42  in series and used to transmit information to these devices. 
     Here, although the AV-HDD  41  connected with the i. Link (registered trademark) terminal  24  is illustrated outside the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  in the drawing, it may be included in the support pedestal  13 . That is, the AV-HDD  41  may be integrated with the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a primary signal processing system of the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 . That is, when a satellite digital television broadcast signal received through a BS/CS digital broadcast receiving antenna  43  is supplied to a satellite digital broadcast tuner  45  through an input terminal  44 , a broadcast signal of a desired channel is selected. 
     The broadcast signal selected by the tuner  45  is supplied to a phase-shift keying (PSK) demodulator  46  to be demodulated into a digital picture signal and a digital audio signal, and the demodulated signals are output to a signal processing module  47 . 
     Furthermore, an analog tuner  68  that receives a terrestrial analog signal is also provided. A signal received by the analog tuner  68  is demodulated by an analog demodulator  69  to be output to the signal processing module  47 . 
     Moreover, a terrestrial digital television broadcast signal received by a terrestrial digital broadcast receiving antenna  48  is supplied to a terrestrial digital broadcast tuner  50  through an input terminal  49 , thereby selecting a broadcast signal of a desired channel. 
     A broadcast signal selected by the tuner  50  is supplied to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) demodulator  51  to be demodulated into a digital picture signal and a digital audio signal, and the demodulated signals are output to the signal processing module  47 . 
     Here, the signal processing module  47  selectively performs predetermined digital signal processing with respect to the digital picture signal and the digital audio signal fed from the PSK demodulator  46 , the digital picture signal and the digital audio signal supplied from the OFDM demodulator  51 , the picture signal and the audio signal fed from the analog demodulator  69 , and a picture signal and an audio signal supplied from each line input terminal, and outputs the processed signals to a graphic processing module  52  and an audio processing module  53 . 
     Of these modules, the graphic processing module  52  has a function of superimposing an OSD signal generated by an on-screen display (OSD) signal generation module  54  on the digital picture signal supplied from the signal processing module  47  and outputting the obtained signal. Additionally, this graphic processing module  52  can selectively output the output picture signal from the signal processing module  47  and the output OSD signal from the OSD signal generation module  54 , and can combine and output both the outputs to configure respective halves of a screen. 
     The digital picture signal output from the graphic processing module  52  is supplied to a picture processing module  55 . This picture processing module  55  converts the input digital picture signal into a picture signal having a format that can be displayed in the picture display  14 , and outputs the converted signal to the picture display  14  to display a picture. 
     The audio processing module  53  converts the input digital audio signal into an analog audio signal having a format can be reproduced by the speaker  15 , and outputs the converted signal to the speaker  15  to reproduce sound. 
     Here, all operations of this television broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  including the above-explained various receiving operations are collectively controlled by a control module  56 . 
     The control module  56  has a built-in central processing module (CPU) and others. Upon receiving operation information from the operating module  16  or receiving operation information supplied from the remote controller  17  via the optical receiving module  18 , the control module  56  controls respective modules to reflect the operation contents in the apparatus. 
     In this case, the control module  56  mainly utilizes a read-only memory (ROM)  57  that stores a control program executed by the CPU, a random access memory (RAM)  58  that provides a working area to the CPU, and a nonvolatile memory  59  storing various kinds of setting information, control information, and others. 
     The control module  56  is connected with a card holder  61  to which the first memory card  19  can be attached through a card interface  60 . As a result, the control module  56  can transmit information to the first memory card  19  attached to the card holder  61  via the card interface  60 . 
     The control module  56  is connected with a card holder  63  to which the second memory card  20  can be attached through a card interface  62 . As a result, the control module  56  can transmit information to the second memory card  20  attached to the card holder  63  via the card interface  62 . 
     The control module  56  is connected with the first LAN terminal  21  through a communication interface  64 . As a result, the control module  56  can transmit information through the communication interface  64  to the LAN compatible first HDD  70  and the second HDD  71  connected with the first LAN terminal  21  via the hub  25 . In this case, the control module  56  has a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server function, and assigns Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the LAN compatible first HDD  70  and the second HDD  71  connected with the first LAN terminal  21  to perform control. 
     The control module  56  is connected with the second LAN terminal  22  via a communication interface  65 . As a result, the control module  56  can transmit information through the communication interface  65  to each device (see  FIG. 1 ) connected with the second LAN terminal  22 . 
     The control module  56  is connected with the USB terminal  23  via a USB interface  66 . As a result, the control module  56  can transmit information through the USB interface  66  to each device (see  FIG. 1 ) connected with the USB terminal  23 . 
     The control module  56  is connected with the i. Link (registered trademark) terminal  24  through an i. Link (registered trademark) interface  67 . As a result, the control module  56  can transmit information through the i. Link (registered trademark) interface  67  to each device (see  FIG. 1 ) connected with the i. Link (registered trademark) terminal  24 . 
     The control module  56  has a memory control module  56   a , a recording control module  56   b , and a copy control information encryption/decryption module  56   c . The memory control module  56   a  performs, e.g., writing with respect to the nonvolatile memory  59 . The recording control module  56   b  encrypts and records a program in, e.g., the first HDD  70 . The copy control information encryption/decryption module  56   c  further has a key generation module  56   d  that generates a key which is used to encrypt copy control information and an encryption/decryption processing module  56   e  that encrypts or decrypts the copy control information. These characteristics will be explained in more detail. 
       FIG. 4  shows an appearance of the remote controller  17 . To this remote controller  17  are mainly provided a power supply key  17   a , an input changeover key  17   b , satellite digital broadcast channel direct selection keys  17   c , terrestrial broadcast channel direct selection keys  17   d , a quick key  17   e , a cursor key  17   f , a decision key  17   g , a program table key  17   h , a page changeover key  17   i , a link key  17   j , a return key  17   k , an end key  17   l , blue, red, green, and yellow color keys  17   m , a channel up-down key  17   n , a sound volume adjustment key  17   o , and others. Further, a news now key  17   q , a bit time key  17   q , and a skip key  17   r  are also provided. 
       FIG. 5  is a view for explaining recording a program in the first HDD  70  by the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  according to an embodiment. 
     A first embodiment will be first explained. The memory control module  56   a  manages registration or deregistration in regard to a recording device (e.g., the first HDD  70  or the second HDD  71 ) connected with the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 . For example, it is assumed that six recording devices can be registered in the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  at maximum. Here, it is assumed that the first HDD  70  or the second HDD  71  is registered in the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 . 
     The memory control module  56   a  provides a region associated with the registered first HDD  70  or the second HDD  71  in the nonvolatile memory  59 . When a user inputs deregistration of the registered recording device, the memory control module  56   a  deletes the region associated with the recording device registered in the nonvolatile memory  59 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart when the recording device is registered in the digital broadcast receiving/receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 . An example of registering the first HDD  70  will be explained. 
     First, when a user inputs registration of the HDD  70 , the memory control module  56   a  records that the first HDD  70  is registered in the nonvolatile memory  59  (Block  100 ). Furthermore, the memory control module  56   a  initializes a copy control information area associated with the first HDD  70  to be set in the nonvolatile memory  59  (Block  101 ). 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart when deregistering the recording device from the digital broadcast receiving/receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 . An example of registering the first HDD  70  will be explained. 
     First, when a user inputs deregistration of the HDD  70 , the memory control module  56   a  records that the first HDD  70  is deregistered in the nonvolatile memory  59  (Block  200 ). Moreover, the memory control module  56   a  initializes the copy control information area associated with the first HDD  70  to be deleted from the nonvolatile memory  59  (Block  201 ). 
     A program cannot be, e.g., recorded in a non-registered recording device when the first HDD  70  or the second HDD  71  is registered in the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11 , thereby improving security. 
     A description will be given as to an example where the first HDD  70  or the second HDD  71  is registered in the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  and a region associated with the first HDD  70  or the second HDD  71  is provided in the nonvolatile memory  59 . 
     First, a user utilizes the remote controller  17  to record a program in the first HDD  70 . A recording setting may be configured based on specification of a program or division of a time. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing an example of recording a program in the first HDD  70  based on the recording setting. 
     Based on the recording setting configured by the user, the signal processing module  47  acquires a digital picture signal and a digital sound signal from a broadcast signal selected by the tuner  50  through the OFDM demodulator  51 . Additionally, the recording control module  56   b  encrypts the program and starts recording with respect to the first HDD  70  set as a recording device in which the program is to be recoded. 
     The memory control module  56   a  acquires copy control information from the broad cast signal selected by the tuner  50  (Block  300 ). Further, the memory control module  56   a  records copy control information  1  in an area (a storage region) in the nonvolatile memory  59  associated with the first HDD  70  set as the recording device in which the program is to be recorded. 
     Then, the memory control module  56   a  determines whether the copy control information acquired from the broadcast signal of the program that is in the recording process is changed during recording (Block  301 ). 
     When the copy control information is changed (YES in Block  301 ), the memory control module  56   a  determines whether conditions of the copy control information are stricter than those of the recorded copy control information  1  (Block  302 ). The strict conditions mean, e.g., Dubbing  10  from start to a middle point of recording in one recording unit, and it can be said that the conditions are changed to the strict conditions when Dubbing  10  is changed to Copy One Generation along the way. Conversely, it can not be said that the conditions are changed to the strict conditions when Copy One Generation is changed to Dubbing  10  along the way. 
     If the strict conditions are provided (YES in Block  302 ), the memory control module  56   a  updates the copy control information with the strict conditions as the copy control information  1  as a representative value (Block  303 ). That is, the copy control information  1  is one representative value in the one recording unit set to be recorded, and the strictest copy control information in the one recording unit becomes the representative value. Further, the memory control module  56   a  records the updated copy control information  1  in the area in the nonvolatile memory  59  associated with the first HDD  70  (Block  304 . Here, the memory control module  56   a  can use a value including a change position at which the copy control information is changed during recording of the program as the updated copy control information. For example, in one recording unit, when Dubbing  10  is adopted from start to a middle point of recording and it is changed to Copy One Generation along the way, information of a position at which the copy control information is changed is also included in the copy control information  1 . 
     Then, the memory control module  56   a  determines whether recording of the program that is set to be recorded is terminated (Block  305 ). When recording is not terminated (NO in Block  305 ), the processing returns to Block  300 . Even it recording of the program is abnormally aborted, the copy control information is the strictest copy control information in the one recording unit until abnormal termination occurs. 
     When recording is terminated (YES in Block  305 ), as shown in  FIG. 9 , the copy control information encryption/decryption module  56   c  generates a key that is used to encrypt the copy control information  1  by using the key generation module  56   d , encrypts the copy control information  1  recorded in the area in the nonvolatile memory  59  associated with the first HDD  70  by using the encryption/decryption processing module  56   e , and records the encrypted information in the first HDD  70  (Block  306 ). 
     Further, since recording in the first HDD  70  is normally terminated, the memory control module  56   a  deletes the copy control information  1  recorded in the area associated with the first HDD  70  (Block  307 ). 
     Based on the above-explained processing, as shown in  FIG. 5 , encrypted program data and encrypted copy control information  10  are recorded in the first HDD  70 . Furthermore, the same processing is carried out when the user configures a recording setting of recording a program in the second HDD  71 . That is, when the memory control module  56   a  acquires copy control information from a broadcast signal selected by the tuner  50 , this information is recorded as copy control information  2  in an area in the nonvolatile memory  59  associated with the second HDD  71  set as a recording device in which the program is to be recorded as shown in  FIG. 5 . Moreover, like the above explanation, encrypted program data and encrypted copy control information  20  are recorded in the second HDD  71  as shown in  FIG. 35 . 
     Here, in one recording unit, the copy control information encryption/decryption module  56   c  can encrypt, update, and record the copy control information  1  as copy control information  10  in the first HDD  70  recording a program every time the copy control information  1  that is in a program recording mode is changed. 
     The key that is used to encrypt program data that is recorded in the first HDD  70  and the key for the copy control information may be or may not be equal to each other. 
     A description will now be given as to a case where recording of a program is abnormally aborted due to blackout or any other accident. At a time point where the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  again recognizes the first HDD, the control module  56  determines whether the copy control information  1  of a program subjected to abnormal recording termination is present in the area in the nonvolatile memory  59  associated with the first HDD  70 . The time point where the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  again recognizes the first HDD  70  is e.g., a time point where the power supply of the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus  11  is turned on and the control module  56  recognizes connection of the first HDD  70 . 
     When the memory control module  56   a  determines that the copy control information  1  remains in the area in the nonvolatile memory  59  associated with the first HDD  70 , the memory control module  56   a  collates the copy control information  1  with the copy control information  10  of a corresponding recorded program recorded in the first HDD  70  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     When the memory control module  56   a  determines that the copy control information  10  is not set, the memory control module  56   a  rewrites the copy control information  10  with contents of the copy control information  1  in the nonvolatile memory  59 . Further, like the above example, the memory control module  56   a  deletes the copy control information  1  recorded in the area associated with the first HDD  70 . 
     A second embodiment will now be explained. As a difference from the first embodiment, a copy control information encryption/decrypt ion module  56   c  records in a first HDD  70  copy control information  1  that is acquired in one recording unit at start of recording and recorded in a nonvolatile memory  59  or an RAM  58  by a memory control module  56   a . Further, when the memory control module  56   a  acquires copy control information different from the copy control information  1  recorded in the nonvolatile memory  59  or the RAM  58  during recording of a program, the copy control information encryption/decryption module  56   c  newly adds and records this acquired copy control information as the copy control information in the first HDD  70 . 
     That is, every time the copy control information  1  is changed, the copy control information  1  is added and recorded in the first HDD  70  so that the plurality of pieces of the copy control information are maintained. The copy control information  1  may be a value including a position where the copy control information during recording is changed. Therefore, when copy control information  10  recorded in the first HDD  70  has different copy control information in program data as one recording unit, all pieces of copy control information that change with time, including each position where the copy control information is changed, are recorded. When abnormal termination occurs during recording of the program, the copy control information  10  from start to a time point where abnormal terminal occurs and program data are recorded. 
     When additionally recording the copy control information to in the first HDD  70 , a key for encryption is changed to again encrypt the entire copy control information  10 . 
     At this moment, the copy control information encryption/decryption module  56   c  can encrypt the copy control information  1  updated with an encryption key different from the encryption key that is used for the copy control information  10  already recorded in the first HDD  70 , thereby again encrypting the entire copy control information  10  recorded in the first HDD  70 . The encryption key for the program data recorded in the first HDD  70  and the key for the copy control information may be or may not be equal to each other. 
     In this case, even if recording of a program is abnormally aborted halfway, since the copy control information  10  and the program data corresponding to a period from start to a time point where abnormal terminal occurs are effective, the copy control information matching with contents of the program recorded in the first HDD  70  can be handled. 
     When recording of a program is abnormally aborted due to blackout or any other accident, the same operation as that in the first embodiment is carried out. 
     While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions. 
     For example, there can be considered a protocol that authentication is performed with respect to a device of the other party to exchange an encryption/decryption key when a recorded program is moved or copied to the other device, data in a transmission path is encrypted to be transferred, and validation of the program is carried out in a destination device while processing (subtraction of the remaining number of times of copy or invalidation of the program) of the program is performed in a source device after data transfer. However, a time from validation of contents at the destination to execution of the processing of the program at the source is determined, and aborting the processing during copy or movement when the processing cannot be finished within the determined time is specified in some cases. 
     In order to avoid a case where the processing of the program at the source cannot be finished within the determined time, it is also effective to satisfy the determined processing time in a normal case by performing the processing (subtraction of the remaining number of times of copy or invalidation of the program) of the program in the source device at start of transfer and to remedy copy control information or an encryption/decryption key by holding the copy control information or the encryption/decryption key in a nonvolatile memory like a recording process as a countermeasure for abnormal termination due to power-off during movement or copy of the program. 
     As a result, ever if recording is abnormally aborted at the time of recording the program in the information recording device, the copy control information of the program that is to be recorded in the information recording device can be remedied based on the copy control information recorded in a recording module of the digital broadcast receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus. 
     Further, writing the copy control information in the information recording device every time the copy control information of the program is changed at the time of recording the program in the information recording device enables holding the copy control information corresponding to a part subjected to program recording even if recording is abnormally aborted.