A digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value is provided. A broadcast receiving apparatus configured to receive contents includes: a receiving unit configured to receive the contents; an interface through which the contents received by the receiving unit are outputted; and a control unit configured to control an output state of the contents from the interface. The control unit is configured to determine an output state of the contents from the interface in accordance with a combination of control information indicating a copy control state of the contents, control information for specifying whether protection is required or not when the contents are to be outputted, information indicating resolution of video of the contents, and information indicating transmission characteristics of the video of the contents, which are received by the receiving unit together with the contents.

A digital information recording apparatus includes a recording circuit for recording information of a retention period included in the digital information and indicating a period for permitting the digital information to be held in the recording medium, starting with a time at which the digital information is recorded on the recording medium; and information of a playback permission period included in the digital information and indicating a period for permitting the digital information to be played back starting with a time at which the information is reproduced initially following recording of the digital information on the recording medium, permitting temporary recording or copying for the information permitted for “copy never” or “copy one generation.”

On-demand systems and methods are provided to manage locally-stored on-demand content. A user's equipment controls the deletion of and/or access to on-demand content from a local storage device based on constraining criteria that may include rental conditions, dynamic factors, and keys.

On-demand systems and methods are provided to manage locally-stored on-demand content. A user's equipment controls the deletion of and/or access to on-demand content from a local storage device based on constraining criteria that may include rental conditions, dynamic factors, and keys.

A digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value is provided. A broadcast receiving apparatus configured to receive contents includes: a receiving unit configured to receive the contents; an interface through which the contents received by the receiving unit are outputted; and a control unit configured to control an output state of the contents from the interface. The control unit is configured to determine an output state of the contents from the interface in accordance with a combination of control information indicating a copy control state of the contents, control information for specifying whether protection is required or not when the contents are to be outputted, information indicating resolution of video of the contents, and information indicating transmission characteristics of the video of the contents, which are received by the receiving unit together with the contents.

A digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value is provided. A broadcast receiving apparatus configured to receive contents includes: a receiving unit configured to receive the contents; an interface through which the contents received by the receiving unit are outputted; and a control unit configured to control an output state of the contents from the interface. The control unit is configured to determine an output state of the contents from the interface in accordance with a combination of control information indicating a copy control state of the contents, control information for specifying whether protection is required or not when the contents are to be outputted, information indicating resolution of video of the contents, and information indicating transmission characteristics of the video of the contents, which are received by the receiving unit together with the contents.

On-demand systems and methods are provided to manage locally-stored on-demand content. A user's equipment controls the deletion of and/or access to on-demand content from a local storage device based on constraining criteria that may include rental conditions, dynamic factors, and keys.

A digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value is provided. A broadcast receiving apparatus configured to receive contents includes: a receiving unit configured to receive the contents; an interface through which the contents received by the receiving unit are outputted; and a control unit configured to control an output state of the contents from the interface. The control unit is configured to determine an output state of the contents from the interface in accordance with a combination of control information indicating a copy control state of the contents, control information for specifying whether protection is required or not when the contents are to be outputted, information indicating resolution of video of the contents, and information indicating transmission characteristics of the video of the contents, which are received by the receiving unit together with the contents.

A digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of executing a function with a higher added value is provided. A broadcast receiving apparatus configured to receive contents includes: a receiving unit configured to receive the contents; an interface through which the contents received by the receiving unit are outputted; and a control unit configured to control an output state of the contents from the interface. The control unit is configured to determine an output state of the contents from the interface in accordance with a combination of control information indicating a copy control state of the contents, control information for specifying whether protection is required or not when the contents are to be outputted, information indicating resolution of video of the contents, and information indicating transmission characteristics of the video of the contents, which are received by the receiving unit together with the contents.

A digital information recording apparatus includes a recording circuit for recording information of a retention period included in the digital information and indicating a period for permitting the digital information to be held in the recording medium, starting with a time at which the digital information is recorded on the recording medium; and information of a playback permission period included in the digital information and indicating a period for permitting the digital information to be played back starting with a time at which the information is reproduced initially following recording of the digital information on the recording medium, permitting temporary recording or copying for the information permitted for “copy never” or “copy one generation.”