Method and apparatus for activating optical media

• US 20040257195A1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Kestrel Wireless, Inc.
• Inventors: Atkinson, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration

Abstract

A method and apparatus for activating an optical media device with a conditional access mechanism is presented. The optical media device is configured with a conditional access system such as an optical shutter assembly and the apparatus is configured to receive such an optical media device and establish communication with the optical media device. The apparatus may include one or more electrodes that are positioned such that they come into physical or near physical contact with a corresponding electrode on the optical media device and thereby establish electrical communication. The apparatus may also be configured to send and receive acoustical signals to establish an acoustical communication path with the optical media device. A data communication path may also be established between the optical media device and the apparatus. Upon establishing communication with the optical media device, the apparatus may send an activation signal to the optical media device to activate the conditional access system. The activation signal may originate from a remote activation center that itself is configured to authenticate access requests. The apparatus may communication with the activation center via a data communication network or a public switched telephone network.

Claims

1. An apparatus for activating an optical media device having a conditional access mechanism, comprising:

a positioning mechanism configured to engage an optical media device;

an electrode configured to establish electrical communication with the optical media device when the optical media device is engaged with the positioning mechanism; and

a power source communicatively coupled with the electrode via an electrical communication path, wherein the power source is configured to provide an electrical signal to the optical media device when the optical media device is engaged with the positioning mechanism to activate the conditional access mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to send an electrical signal to the optical media device to activate a conditional access mechanism resident on the optical media device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electrical signal comprises power and a data communication.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the actuator is configured to receive a data communication from the optical media device.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the actuator is further configured to communicate with an external authorization authority, wherein the actuator receives an authorization instruction from the external authorization authority to send the electrical signal to the optical media device to activate the conditional access mechanism.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the actuator is configured to communicate with the external authorization authority via a telecommunications network.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the actuator is configured to communicate with the external authorization authority via a data communications network.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to control the electrical signal provided by the power source to the optical media device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the actuator is configured to receive a data communication from the optical media device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the actuator is further configured to communicate with an external authorization authority, wherein the actuator receives an authorization instruction from the external authorization authority related to the control of the electrical signal provided by the power source to the optical media device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured to communicate with the external authorization authority via a telecommunications network.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured to communicate with the external authorization authority via a data communications network.

13. An apparatus for activating an optical media device having a conditional access mechanism, comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver configured to establish communication with the optical media device when the optical media device is in proximity to the apparatus; and

a power source communicatively coupled with the transceiver via an electrical communication path, wherein the power source is configured to provide an electrical signal to the optical media device via the radio frequency transceiver.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the establishing step further comprises bringing a first electrode coupled with a power source in electrical communication with a second electrode that is integral with the optical media device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the establishing step further comprises bringing a first radio frequency transceiver coupled with a power source in communication with a second radio frequency transceiver that is integral with the optical media device.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reading an identifier from the optical media device;

sending the identifier to a remote authorization authority,

receiving an authorization from the remote authorization authority; and

wherein the sending an electrical signal to the optical media step activates the conditional access mechanism on the optical media device.

14. A method for activating an optical media device having a conditional access mechanism, comprising:

engaging an optical media disc with a positioning mechanism;

establishing an electrical communication path with the optical media device; and

sending an electrical signal to the optical media through the electrical communication path.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the electrical communication is established by physical contact between the first electrode and the second electrode.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the electrical communication is established with no physical contact between the first electrode and the second electrode.