The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 28, 2007
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2003
Hiroo Okamoto, Yokohama, JP;
Hitoaki Owashi, Yokohama, JP;
Atsushi Yoshioka, Ebina, JP;
Yoshimichi Kudo, Fujisawa, JP;
Makoto Aikawa, Sagamihara, JP;
Hiroo Okamoto, Yokohama, JP;
Hitoaki Owashi, Yokohama, JP;
Atsushi Yoshioka, Ebina, JP;
Yoshimichi Kudo, Fujisawa, JP;
Makoto Aikawa, Sagamihara, JP;
Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus that, when a copying is limited as 'Copy One Generation', prevent the copying from being made into infinite number of storage media without limitation, and thereby protect the profit of a copyright holder concerned. In the present invention, when outputting digital information whose copying is limited to external appliances connected to plural outputting circuits (A,B, orA toD), the total number of external appliances to which the digital information is to be outputted is limited within a predetermined constant. In particular, a control circuit (, or) limits the number in which to perform authentications of the external appliances connected to the plural outputting circuits. This makes it possible to limit, within the predetermined constant, the total number of the external appliances to which the digital information is to be outputted.