JPH07244924A - Recording / playback device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a recording / reproducing device for sure management of provided information. A head different from the head used for recording / reproducing is provided, and this head is arranged at a position for scanning the track after the recording / reproducing head scans the track. [Effect] It is possible to obtain the effect that the number of times of reproduction of the provided information is surely restricted to one.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus such as a VTR and, more particularly, to a system for regulating the number of times of reproduction of signals in a tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various information providing systems have been established to reflect the advanced information society. A typical example thereof is a dial Q2 using a telephone line.

Here, when the information provided is content relating to copyright such as music and movies, it is necessary to ensure management such as prohibition of copying of the provided information to determine whether the information providing system can be established. Is one of the important factors that determine Particularly in the case of digital signalized information, signal deterioration due to copying is extremely small, and therefore its importance is further increased. As a known example of such a method of prohibiting copying of information, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-288582, reproduction image quality of a copy tape by mixing a pseudo signal for malfunctioning an automatic gain control system of a VTR. There is a method of deteriorating.

On the other hand, in the United States and the like where cable television lines have become widespread, this is used as a transfer means, and an information supply system for supplying desired information, such as video software, by using digital signals in response to a request from a user is developed. Can be considered. Among the video software, especially high-value ones include new movies immediately after the release, but when supplying this type of software, in addition to the above-mentioned copy prohibition,
It is essential to establish a method that limits the number of playbacks. On the other hand, the above-mentioned publicly known example does not deal with such a regulation of the number of times of reproduction.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of the prior art and regulate the number of times of reproduction of provided information, and in particular, regulate the number of reproduction of provided information to one. To provide a method.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention has at least one head for recording and / or reproducing, and at least one head other than this head. When one head scans a track and then another head scans at least a part of this track, the head outputs a signal different from the signal recorded on the track.

When one head scans a track and then another head scans at least a part of the track, a magnetic field is generated in the head to erase a signal recorded on the track. .

Further, in a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording and / or reproducing in at least two modes, at least one head for recording and / or reproducing in the first mode and recording and / or reproducing in the second mode. Alternatively, when the signal recorded on the tape in the first mode is reproduced, the head in the first mode reproduces the track in which the second mode head has the second mode head. Scan at least a portion of this track. At this time, the head in the second mode outputs a signal different from the signal recorded on the track.

When reproducing the signal recorded on the tape in the first mode, the head in the second mode reproduces at least a part of this track after reproducing the track in which the head in the first mode exists. To scan. At this time, a magnetic field that erases the signal recorded on the track is generated in the head in the second mode.

[0010]

Since information different from the reproduced information is recorded on the track or the reproduced information is erased, the signal reproduced once cannot be reproduced again.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a head arrangement on the rotary drum device 3. The figure shows a read-only system or a recording / reproducing system in which a first head 4 and a second head 5 record or reproduce signals in pairs. The head 4 and the head 5 are
It is mounted with a rotation phase of 180 °. 1 is a third head. The tape 8 is wound around the rotary drum device 3 by the guides 15 and 16 and runs in the direction of arrow A in the figure. The rotary drum device 3 rotates in the direction of arrow B in the figure.

FIG. 2 is a view of the rotary drum device 3 as seen from the side. The rotary drum device 3 includes a rotary drum 17 and a fixed drum 18. The head 4 is a head for recording and reproducing, and is attached to the head 5 (not shown in FIG. 2) at a rotation phase of 180 ° as shown in FIG. 1
Is the third head. The tape 8 has guides 15 and 1
6 is obliquely wound around the rotary drum device 3 as shown in the figure, and runs in the direction of arrow A in the figure. As the rotary drum 17 rotates, the head 4 and the head 1 are moved to the arrow B in the figure.
The tape 8 is scanned in the direction of.

FIG. 3 shows how the head gaps of the heads mounted on the rotary drum 17 have a height relationship in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotary drum 17. The head gaps of the head 4 and the head 5 have the same height in the rotation axis direction of the rotary drum 17.
The upper end of the head gap of the head 1 is located at or below the lower end of the head gap of the heads 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the signals recorded on the tape 8 are reproduced by the heads 4 and 5. Although the reproduction state is shown here, the heads 4 and 5 may be used for recording. The tape 8 runs in the direction of arrow A in the figure. First,
The head 4 scans the track 9 from the position indicated by H1 in the figure to the position indicated by H1 '. Simultaneously with, or just before or after the head 4 reaches the position H1 'and is detached from the tape 8, the head 5 starts scanning the track 10 adjacent to the track 9 from the position H2 in the figure. At the same time as, immediately before, or after the head 5 reaches the position H2 ′ and is detached from the tape 8, the head 4 moves to the position H3 in the figure.
The track 11 adjacent to the track 10 is started to be scanned from the position shown in (1), and thereafter, this is repeated to reproduce the signal.

As for the head 1, for example, the head 4 is the track 1
1 starts to scan from position H3 and when it reaches position H3 ″, it starts scanning track 10 from position H2. At this time, track 10 is scanned by head 5 before head 4 scans track 11. When the head 1 scans the track 10, the track 1 is reproduced.
When a magnetic field that erases the 0 signal is generated, track 1
The signal recorded at 0 is erased. Or head 1
When the track 10 scans the track 10, if a signal different from the signal of the track 10 is superposed and recorded on the track 10, the signal of the track 10 becomes a signal different from that before the head 1 scans. Thereafter, by repeating this, the signal recorded on the track after the scanning by the head 5 to reproduce the signal can be erased or rendered unreproducible. Further, if the gap width of the head 1 is expanded below the width shown in FIG. 3 to make it twice or more the gap width of the heads 4 and 5, the head 1 scans not only the head 5 but also the head 4. The signal recorded on the subsequent track can also be erased or rendered unplayable. In the above example, the head 1 erases or rewrites all the signals of the tracks, but this is a part (for example, 30% or more, or 50% or more, and for example, 80% or more, preferably 9% or more. Or more).

In this embodiment, a cassette tape and a video tape recorder are used as a recording medium and a recording device, respectively. These are, for example, a disk and a disk recorder, a semiconductor memory and its input / output device. It can be replaced with any recording medium and its recording / reproducing apparatus. For example, in a disk recorder, as in this embodiment, one head or a pickup is mounted, another head is provided at a position that follows this head in the head moving direction at the time of reproduction, and after the preceding head scans. When a follow-up head scans a track and a magnetic field that erases the signal on the track is generated, the signal recorded on the track is erased. Alternatively, when a signal different from the track signal is recorded on the track in an overlapping manner, the track signal becomes different from that before the head scans.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be explained.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a video software providing system, for example, VOD (Video On Demand) and a conventional V
An example applied to a TR system, for example, a system compatible with the VHS system will be shown.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall structure of an example to which the present invention is applied. This system comprises a transmitter 101 as a transmitter of a video software provider, a helical scan video tape recorder 102 of a general household as a receiver, and a cable television line 103 as a transmitter. Then, a cassette tape 104 as a recording medium of the first storage means is attached to a video tape recorder 102 of a general household as a receiving means. Further, an IC memory 105 as a recording medium of the second storage means is attached to the case of the cassette tape 104, and its terminal portion is connected to the main body of the video tape recorder 102.

The request for the video software from the user of the general household to the provider is made by using the telephone 106. That is, the user dials the provider and then inputs the code number of the selected video software by using the dial key. Then, the fee set according to the elapsed time from the start of the provision of the video software, the delivery time from the request to the completion of the provision (the more expensive it is urgent), etc. are returned, and the approval of this fee is entered. The request is then completed. At this time, the fee will be charged at regular intervals later by the collection of money by the patrol staff or withdrawal from the bank account designated by the user. In the request method of the present embodiment, since the telephone is used, the existing dial key can be effectively used for information input.

As another requesting method, the same cable TV line 103 as the transfer means may be used and the key of the video tape recorder main body or the attached remote controller may be used. In this method, one type of line is used. Since both request and provision lines are performed, it is possible to use the line efficiently.

On the other hand, the provider who has received the request records whether or not the cassette tape 104 is mounted on the user's video tape recorder 102 using the cable TV line, and the remaining tape records the requested video software. Determine if you can. Video tape recorder 10
Whether or not the cassette tape 104 is mounted on the second tape is detected by a push switch which is mounted on the video tape recorder 102 and is switched when the cassette tape 104 is mounted. If the remaining tape can record the required video software, the tape is run at a predetermined speed, and the remaining tape capacity is detected by detecting the number of rotations of the reel. It is judged by comparing with the capacity. All of the information during this period is carried out using the cable television line. Here, in the case of any nonconformity, the fact is notified by telephone or cable TV line, and the transmission start is suspended until the nonconformity is resolved. This ensures the provision of information.

Then, when both are suitable, the transmission of the video software designated by the own transmission device as a digital signal is started using the cable television line. The signal at this time is normally sent for a predetermined short time after the start of transmission, that is, for 5 minutes in this embodiment, but after that, scramble processing is performed, and for normal reproduction, this signal is -A key code as a control signal for scrambling is indispensable. However, since the scramble processing is not performed for the first 5 minutes, the user can freely reproduce the information later and easily confirm the recorded contents.

Then, the key code is sent together with the video signal of the video software. These video signals and key codes are used by the user's tape recorder 1
After being input to the recording circuit 107 in 02, the separated video signal is recorded on the tape and the key code is recorded on the IC memory 105 attached to the case of the cassette tape 104. At this time, address signals are recorded on the tape at the start and end of recording, facilitating later confirmation of the recording range. And tape recorder 1
It is also possible to set so that the tape can be rewound selectively to the tape recording start position by the changeover switch in 02, and the user can quickly start reproduction from the beginning.

When the user plays back the video software and watches it, the video signal is output from the tape, the key code is output from the IC memory, and both are input to the playback circuit 108, and the playback circuit 108 has the same contents. Then, the data is descrambled, converted from a digital signal to an analog signal, and then displayed on the display 109.

In FIG. 5, when a video signal is output from the reproducing circuit to the display, a pseudo signal for causing the automatic gain control system of the video tape recorder 102 to malfunction is mixed in as in the above-mentioned known example. Therefore, the copy prevention processing that deteriorates the reproduction image quality of the copy tape is performed, and there is no concern about copying at this connection portion.

Further, in this embodiment, a cassette tape and a video tape recorder are adopted as the recording medium and the recording device, respectively. These are, for example, a disk and a disk recorder, a semiconductor memory and its input / output device. Any recording medium and its recording device can be replaced.

FIG. 6 shows the head arrangement on the rotary drum device 3. 4, 5 and 6, 7 are the first system V
It is a head for recording or reproducing in the OD system. V
In the OD system, the heads 4 and 5 and the heads 6 and 7 are arranged adjacent to each other as shown in the figure, and two-channel simultaneous recording is performed. The heads 4 and 5 and the heads 6 and 7 are attached at a rotational phase of 180 °. Reference numerals 1 and 2 are heads for recording or reproducing data in the VHS system, which is the second system. The head 1 and the head 2 are paired to record or reproduce signals. The head 1 and the head 2 are attached at a rotation phase of 180 °. Tape 8 is guide 1
It is wound around the rotary drum device 3 by 5, 16 and runs in the direction of arrow A in the figure. The rotary drum device 3 rotates in the direction of arrow B in the figure.

FIG. 7 is a view of the rotary drum device 3 as seen from the side. The rotary drum device 3 includes a rotary drum 17 and a fixed drum 18. The heads 4 and 5 are heads for recording / reproducing VOD which is the first system, and are attached to the heads 6 and 7 (not shown in FIG. 2) at a rotation phase of 180 ° as shown in FIG. There is. Reference numeral 1 denotes a recording / reproducing head of the VHS system, which is the second system, and is also attached to a head 2 (not shown in FIG. 2) at a rotation phase of 180 ° as shown in FIG. Tape 8
The guides 15 and 16 are wound around the rotary drum device 3 obliquely as shown in the figure, and run in the direction of arrow A in the figure. With the rotation of the rotary drum 17, the heads 4, 5 and the head 1 scan the tape 8 in the direction of arrow B in the figure.

FIG. 8 shows how the head gaps of the heads mounted on the rotary drum 17 have a height relationship in the rotation axis direction of the rotary drum 17. The head gaps of the head 4 and the head 5, and the head 6 and the head 7 have the height relationship shown in the figure in the rotation axis direction of the rotary drum 17, and the head 4 and the head 6 and the head 5 and the head 7 have the same height. ing. Heads 1 and 2
The upper end of the head gap of is aligned with or below the lower ends of the head gaps of the heads 4 and 6.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the signals of the VOD system recorded on the tape 6 are reproduced by the heads 4, 5 and 6, 7. Although the reproduction state is shown here, the heads 4 and 5 and the heads 6 and 7 may be used for recording. The tape 8 runs in the direction of arrow A in the figure. First, the head 4 scans the track 9 from the position indicated by H1 in the figure to the position indicated by H1 '. At the same time, the head 5 scans the track 10 adjacent to the track 9 from the position shown by H2 to the position shown by H2 '. At the same time as, immediately before, or after the head 4 and the head 5 reach the positions of H1 'and H2' and are released from the tape 8, respectively, the head 6 is adjacent to the track 10 from the position indicated by H3 in the figure. The scanning of the track 11 is started. At the same time head 7
Scans the track 12 adjacent to the track 11 from the position indicated by H4 in the figure. Simultaneously with or after the head 6 and the head 7 reach the positions H3 'and H4' and leave the tape 8, respectively, the head 4 and the head 5 are moved to the positions shown in H5 and H6 of the figure, respectively. Track 13 adjacent to track 12 and track 1
4 is started to scan, and thereafter, this is repeated to reproduce the signal. The reproduction of the signal of the VHS system is performed by using the heads 1 and 2 in the same manner as the method shown in the first embodiment.

When recording and reproducing the VOD system, the VH
Recording and reproduction of signals of the S system are not performed naturally, but the heads 1 and 2 scan the tape 8. Heads 1 and 2
Are mounted at the positions shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, so that, for example, head 6 tracks 11 and head 7 tracks 1.
2 starts scanning from the positions of H3 and H4, respectively.
When the positions 3 ″ and H4 ″ are reached, the head 2 starts scanning the track 10 from the position H2. At this time, the track 5 is scanned by the head 5 before the heads 6 and 7 scan the tracks 11 and 12, and the reproduction of the signal is completed. When the head 2 scans the track 10, the track 1
When a magnetic field that erases the 0 signal is generated, track 1
The signal recorded at 0 is erased. Or head 2
When a signal different from the signal of the track 10 is superposed and recorded on the track 10 when scanning the track 10, the signal of the track 10 becomes a signal different from that before the head 2 scans. In addition, the heads 4 and 5 are the tracks 13 and 14
Scanning from positions H5 and H6,
When the positions 5 ″ and H6 ″ are reached, the head 1 starts scanning the track 12 from the position H4. Also at this time, the head 7 scans the track 12 before the heads 4 and 5 scan the tracks 13 and 14, and the reproduction of the signal is completed. Also in this case, the signal of the track 12 is erased or rewritten in the same manner as the case of the head 2 described above. Thereafter, by repeating this, the signal recorded on the track after the signals are reproduced by scanning with the head 5 and the head 7 can be erased or made unreproducible. Further, if the gap width of the heads 1 and 2 is widened below the width shown in FIG. 3 to be twice or more the gap width of the heads 4, 5, 6 and 7, the head 1 will be Not only head 5,
The signal recorded on the track after scanning by 7 can also be erased or rendered unreproducible. In the above example,
The heads 1 and 2 erase or rewrite all the signals of the tracks, but this may be a part thereof (for example, 30% or more, or 50% or more, and for example, 80% or more, preferably 90% or more). .

As in the present embodiment, in a system compatible with two systems, when the signal recorded by the VOD system is reproduced and at the same time the signal recorded on the tape is erased or made unreproducible, the signal erase or Since the rewriting is performed using the head of the VHS system, it is not necessary to mount a dedicated head, and the cost can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, a cassette tape and a video tape recorder are used as the recording medium and the recording device, respectively. These are, for example, a disk and a disk recorder, a semiconductor memory and its input / output device. It can be replaced with any recording medium and its recording / reproducing apparatus. For example, in a disk recorder, as in the case of a system capable of recording and reproducing in two modes, as in this embodiment, a head or a pickup in the first mode is mounted and the first mode in the head moving direction during reproduction is used. The head of the second mode is provided at a position where the head of (1) is followed afterwards. When the second mode head, which follows the track after the head of the preceding first mode scans, scans after the track, when a magnetic field that erases the signal of the track is generated, the signal recorded on the track is Erased. Alternatively, when a signal different from the track signal is recorded on the track in an overlapping manner, the track signal becomes different from that before the head scans.

[0036]

According to the present invention, the reproduction of the provided information can be restricted once, and the effect of ensuring the management of the provided information can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a head arrangement of a rotary drum device of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a rotary drum device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the height of the head of the rotary drum device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of recording tracks on the tape according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a head arrangement of a rotary drum device of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a rotary drum device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the height of the head of the rotary drum device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of recording tracks on the tape according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 ... Head, 3 ... Rotating drum device, 8 ... Tape, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 ... Track, 17 ... Rotating drum, 101 ... Transmitting device, 102 ... Video tape recorder, 103 ... Cable line, 105 ... IC cable, 107 ... Recording circuit, 108 ... Reproducing circuit.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical location H04N 5/91 (72) Inventor Hiroaki Ono 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Hitachi, Ltd. Video Media Research Center (72) Inventor Jinro Owase 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Hitachi Video Media Research Center

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording a signal on a recording medium (8) and / or reproducing the signal recorded on a recording medium (8), wherein the signal is reproduced at the same time as the signal is reproduced. A recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by recording a signal different from that on the recording medium. 2. A recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording a signal on a recording medium (8) and / or reproducing the signal recorded on the recording medium (8), at the same time as reproducing the signal. A recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by erasing. 3. A helical scan type recording / reproducing device having a rotary drum device (3) and at least one first head (4) mounted on the rotary drum device (3) for recording and / or reproducing. In the device, the rotary drum device (3) is equipped with at least one second head (1) different from the head (4), and the first head (4) and the second head ( The position of 1) is such that, when recording and / or reproducing, the tape (8) spirally wound around the rotary drum device (3) runs along the running direction of the tape (8). The first head is mounted at different positions in a direction corresponding to the direction in which the position of the tape (8) increases in the rotation axis direction of the rotary drum device (3) from the position of incidence to the position of emission of the first head during reproduction. Where (4) is Of the track (9)
When the second head (1) scans at least a part of the track (9) after scanning, the signal different from the signal recorded on the track (9) is recorded on the track (7). The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A helical scan recording / reproducing system comprising a rotary drum device (3) and at least one first head (4) mounted on the rotary drum device (3) for recording and / or reproducing. In the device, the rotating drum device (3) is the first head (4).
And at least one second head (1) other than the above is mounted, and the positions of the first head (4) and the second head (1) are set to the above when recording and / or reproducing. The tape (8) spirally wound around the rotary drum device (3) moves from the position where the tape (8) enters the rotary drum device (3) to the position where the tape (8) exits along the traveling direction. ) Is attached at different positions in the direction corresponding to the increasing direction of the tape (8) in the direction of the rotation axis, and the first head (4) has a predetermined track (9) during reproduction.
3. The signal recorded on the track (9) is erased when the second head (1) scans at least a part of the track (9) after scanning. The recording / reproducing apparatus described. 5. A recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording and / or reproducing in at least two modes by said rotating drum device (3), wherein said rotating drum device (3) records and / or reproducing in a first mode. Or at least a first set of heads (4) for reproduction,
(5) and at least a second set of heads (1), (2) for recording and / or reproducing in the second mode are mounted, and the first set of heads (4), (5) and the second set The positions of the heads (1) and (2) of the set are such that the tape (8) spirally wound around the rotating drum device (3) is along the traveling direction when recording and / or reproducing. Attached to different positions in a direction that coincides with a direction in which the position of the tape (8) increases in the rotation axis direction of the rotary drum device (3) from a position where it enters the rotary drum device (3) to a position where it exits. When reproducing the signal recorded on the tape (8) in the first mode, after reproducing the track (9) having one of the heads (4) and (5) of the first set, The second set of heads (1) and (2) has less track (9). 2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of both is scanned and a signal different from the signal recorded on the track (9) is recorded on the track (9). 6. A recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording and / or reproducing in at least two modes by said rotating drum device (3), wherein said rotating drum device (3) records and / or reproducing in a first mode. Or at least a first set of heads (4) for reproduction,
(5) and at least a second set of heads (1), (2) for recording and / or reproducing in the second mode are mounted, and the first set of heads (4), (5) and the second set The positions of the heads (1) and (2) of the set are such that the tape (8) spirally wound around the rotating drum device (3) is along the traveling direction when recording and / or reproducing. Attached to different positions in a direction that coincides with a direction in which the position of the tape (8) increases in the rotation axis direction of the rotary drum device (3) from a position where it enters the rotary drum device (3) to a position where it exits. When reproducing the signal recorded on the tape (8) in the first mode, after reproducing the track (9) having one of the heads (4) and (5) of the first set, The second set of heads (1) and (2) has less track (9). 3. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a part of them is scanned to erase the signal recorded on the track (9).