Patent ID: 8261056

Claim:
A digital data recording apparatus for recording digital data on a recording medium, comprising: a communication unit operable to receive encrypted digital data via a digital network; a decryption unit operable to decrypt the encrypted digital data that has been received by the communication unit; an encryption unit including a plurality of encryption units each having an encryption system of a different security level, one of the plurality of encryption units re-encrypting digital data that has been decrypted by the decryption unit; a recording unit operable to record digital data that has been re-encrypted by the encryption unit on the recording medium; a designation reception unit operable to receive, from a user, an instruction regarding designation of one of the plurality of encryption units, the designated encryption unit being for re-encrypting the digital data that has been decrypted by the decryption unit; an attribute obtaining unit operable to obtain an attribute of the recording medium; and a controller operable to control the decryption unit, the encryption unit and the designation reception unit, wherein when the designation reception unit receives the instruction, the controller has the designated encryption unit re-encrypt the digital data that has been decrypted by the decryption unit; and when the designation reception unit does not receive the instruction, the controller has the attribute obtaining unit obtain the attribute of the recording medium; select one of the plurality of encryption units according to the obtained attribute, and has the selected encryption unit re-encrypt the digital data that has been decrypted by the decryption unit.