Patent ID: 7146508

Claim:
An image processing apparatus for processing a video signal, comprising: an encoder for encoding said video signal on the basis of first control data; a copy protect circuit for performing copy protect processing on the encoded video signal on the basis of second control data before outputting the encoded video signal; and an interface circuit for outputting said first control data and said second control data obtained from control data input from a control apparatus outside of said image processing apparatus to said encoder and said copy protect circuit respectively; wherein said interface circuit comprises a first storage circuit for storing a first verification data that is received from the control apparatus, said first verification data being made different by the control apparatus every time a predetermined number of transmissions of the first verification data is made by the control apparatus, a data processing circuit for performing predetermined processing on said first verification data to produce second verification data, said predetermined processing including an encryption of said first verification data using a predetermined encryption key to produce said second verification data, and a second storage circuit for storing second verification data, for transmission of said second verification data to said control apparatus to accommodate continued receipt of the control data from the control apparatus.