Method and apparatus for controlling access to storage media

• US 20050083829A1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald Roland Goyette, Jeffrey M. Drew, Rakesh Vig, Richard H. Selinfreund
• Original Assignee: Donald Roland Goyette, Jeffrey M. Drew, Rakesh Vig, Richard H. Selinfreund
• Inventors: Vig, Rakesh, Drew, Jeffrey M., Selinfreund, Richard H., Goyette, Donald Roland
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/272.100
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/12 by sensing distinguishing features of or on records, e.g. diameter end mark
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/122 involving the detection of an identification or authentication mark record carriers indicating unauthorised or prior use G11B23/28
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00123 the record carrier being identified by recognising some of its unique characteristics, e.g. a unique defect pattern serving as a physical signature of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00586 said format change concerning the physical format of the recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00608 wherein the material that the record carrier is made of is altered, e.g. adding reactive dyes that alter the optical properties of a disc after prolonged exposure to light or air
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00768 wherein copy control information is used, e.g. for indicating whether a content may be copied freely, no more, once, or never, by setting CGMS, SCMS, or CCI flags
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00876 wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00927 wherein said defects or errors are generated on purpose, e.g. intended scratches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/24612 two or more dyes in one layer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/246 containing dyes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2472 cyanine
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/252 of layers other than recording layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2534 polycarbonates [PC]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling access to a storage medium, such as an optically readable medium. Light sensitive or other materials that are adapted to change state and affect reading of a storage medium are used to control access to data that may be stored on optical medium and/or to control use of the medium.

Claims

13-1. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the material is temporary such that the material is not detectable in one of the first and second state after a certain amount of time or a number of times that the material is exposed to the input signal.

14-2. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the material is disposed at different depths at different locations in the structure.

17. An optical recording medium comprising:

a substrate;

a recording portion on the substrate on which data can be recorded and from which data can be read by a reader; and

an authentication material on the substrate, distinct from the recording portion, wherein the authentication material is capable of providing a changing response that can be read by the reader.

18. The optical recording medium of claim 17, wherein the authentication material is a light sensitive material adapted to be altered between at least two states to affect a reading of the structure, the material requiring an input signal to change from a first state to a second state, and not requiring an input signal to change from the second state to the first state.

19. An optical recording medium comprising:

a substrate;

a data recording layer on the substrate; and

a temporary material disposed on at least a portion of the substrate wherein the temporary material provides information that allows a portion of data on the recording layer to be accessed for its intended purpose.

20. The optical recording medium of claim 19, wherein the temporary material can be decomposed by exposure to a light source.

21. The optical recording medium of claim 19, wherein the temporary material can be decomposed over time.

22. The optical recording medium of claim 19, wherein the temporary material can decompose to such an extent that the portion of the data on the recording layer may no longer be accessed for its intended purpose.

23. The optical recording medium of claim 19, wherein the temporary material is arranged to provides readable data

24. A method of verifying the authenticity of an optical storage medium, comprising:

reading at least one locus on the optical medium to obtain a first response;

reading the at least one locus again to obtain a second response different from the first response; and

using the second response.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

inputting an identification string that is used to determine the at least one locus.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

determining that the optical medium is authentic if the first and second responses are different.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of reading at least one locus comprises:

reading a plurality of loci on the medium in a specified order.

28. A method of making an optical recording medium, comprising:

forming a recording layer on a substrate; and

fixing an authentication material to at least one portion of the substrate, the authentication material adapted to provide a changing response when exposed to an input signal.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the authentication material is fixed in a pattern on the substrate.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the authentication material is fixed to the substrate after forming the recording layer.

31. A method of transferring data, comprising:

receiving a request for data to be transmitted to a requestor;

receiving a representation of a pattern of material on a storage medium onto which data is to be recorded, the material adapted to be altered between at least two states to affect a reading of the structure;

adjusting data to be transmitted based on the representation of the pattern of material; and

transmitting the adjusted data to the requestor.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of adjusting data comprises:

adjusting the data so that the adjusted data may not be used for its intended purpose unless the data is stored on the storage medium.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the data includes one of a DVD movie, an audio file and software.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of adjusting data comprises:

adjusting the data so that the adjusted data includes inborn errors that are corrected by using the material on the storage medium.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the pattern of material is unique to the storage medium compared to other storage media in a group.

36. A method of providing access protected data, comprising:

sending a first set of data from a source to a target; and

providing a second set of data on an optical storage medium wherein the second set of data is recorded, at least in part, by fixing a pattern of at least one light sensitive material on the optical medium, and wherein the second set of data is necessary to use the first set of data for its intended purpose.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one light sensitive material is fixed in a pattern that is unique to the storage medium.

38. An optical recording medium comprising:

an authentication mark comprising a pattern of light sensitive material, wherein the light sensitive material is adapted to be altered between at least two states to affect the reading of the substrate.

39. A method of data encryption, comprising:

receiving a request for transfer of data; and

transferring an encrypted data set from a source to a target wherein the encryption key is at least partially provided based on a pattern of authentication material on an optical storage medium on which the data is to be stored.