Patent ID: 7856560

Claim:
A digital information recording and reproducing apparatus provided with a recording medium drive mounting a recording medium therein, and a device for recording and reproducing copy controlled digital information comprising: an encryption key generator circuit for generating an encryption key that is unique either to said device or to a user of said device; an encryption circuit for encrypting the copy controlled digital information inputted to said device by using said encryption key; a recording/reproducing circuit for recording/reproducing the copy controlled digital information encrypted by said encryption circuit onto/from said recording medium, including information relating to recording history; a decryption circuit for decrypting said reproduced copy controlled digital information by using said encryption key; an information management circuit for storing said information relating to recording history; and a control circuit for controlling said recording/reproducing circuit and outputting operation thereof, wherein said control circuit outputs said copy controlled digital information as usable information if information relating to recording history obtained from said recording medium matches information relating to recording history stored in said information management circuit, wherein said control circuit does not output said copy controlled digital information as usable information if said information relating to recording history obtained from said recording medium does not match said information relating to recording history stored in said information management circuit.