Limited use memory device with associated information

• US 20060253692A1
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K.Y., Ferren, Bran
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• 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 20/00108 wherein original, non-rewritable record carriers are recognised by trying to erase recorded data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00253 wherein the key is stored on the record carrier
• 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 20/00673 wherein the erased or nullified data include a cryptographic key
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00746 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific number
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0084 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific time or date
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00927 wherein said defects or errors are generated on purpose, e.g. intended scratches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0035 means incorporated in the disc, e.g. hub, to enable its guiding, loading or driving means for driving the head G11B21/06; guiding the disc for centering or locking G11B17/022; turntables or spindles for driving G11B19/2009
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/282 Limited play
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06

Abstract

Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, methods of retrieving information from a data storage device previously deactivated by modification or degradation of at least a portion of the data storage device are disclosed.

Claims

1. A memory device comprising:

a substrate;

a data storage medium on the substrate; and

machine-readable data stored in the data storage medium, the machine readable data including a first data portion that is non-degradable by a limited number of readings, and a second data portion that is degradable by the limited number of readings, the second data portion comprising read-support information necessary for reading data of interest from the first data portion, the memory device having associated therewith a copy or analog of the read-support information retained by a third party.

11. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable by exposure to one of light, heat, moisture, chemicals, an electrical field, or a magnetic field.

12. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable by exposure to a combination of at least two of light, heat, moisture, chemicals, mechanical damage, an electrical field, or a magnetic field.

13. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable in response to a single reading of the memory device.

14. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable in response to between about one and about 10 readings of the memory device.

22. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the copy or analog of the read-support information is associated with the memory device through the use of a device identification code.

46. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable through at least one of degradation of the data storage medium, degradation of the substrate, or erasure of the machine readable data, or writing over of the machine readable data.

47. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is fully degradable by a limited number of readings or partially degradable by a limited number of readings.

48. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the read-support information comprises at least one of a decryption key or index information.

49. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is stored in a data storage medium that includes at least one of a magneto-optic material, a thermo-optic material, an electro-optic material, a photochromic dye, a photopolymer, or a photorefractive ferroelectric material.

50. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises at least one of disk shaped substrate, a card shaped substrate, a microchip, a rigid material, or a flexible material.

51. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the copy or analog of the read-support information includes a full copy of the read-support information or a partial copy of the read-support information, or is functionally analogous to the read support information.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. The memory device of claim 5, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable by reduction in signal-to-noise ratio following a limited number of readings.

7. The memory device of claim 5, wherein a portion of machine readable data in the second data portion is unreadable following a limited number of readings.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. A method of manufacturing a limited use memory device, comprising:

providing a substrate;

providing a data storage medium on the substrate;

forming a first data storage region on the substrate, the first data storage region including a substantially non-degradable material;

forming a second data storage region on the substrate, the second data storage region including a degradable material; and

storing a data storage device identification code associated with the data storage device in a data storage location distinct from the data storage device.

27. The method of claim 26, including storing an override code associated with the data storage device in the data storage location distinct from the data storage device in association with the data storage device identification code.

30. The method of claim 26, including storing a unique data storage device identification code for one or more individual data storage devices.

31. The method of claim 26, including storing a unique data storage device identification code for one or more individual batches of data storage devices.

32. The method of claim 26, including storing read-support information in the second data storage region.

33. The method of claim 32, including storing a copy of the read support information in the data storage location distinct from the data storage device.

52. The method of claim 26, wherein the degradable material includes at least one of a degradable data storage medium or a degradable portion of the substrate.

53. The method of claim 26, wherein providing a data storage medium includes providing at least one of a magneto-optic material, a thermo-optic material, an electro-optic material, a photochromic dye, a photopolymer, or a photorefractive ferroelectric material.

54. The method of claim 26, wherein providing a substrate includes providing a disk shaped substrate or a card shaped substrate.

55. The method of claim 26, wherein providing a substrate includes providing a silicon-based substrate, a polymer-based substrate, or a ceramic-based substrate.

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. A method of configuring a limited use memory device, comprising:

storing a first data portion including data of interest in a first data storage region of a limited use memory device, the first data storage region including a relatively non-degradable material;

storing a second data portion including read-support information necessary for reading the data of interest from the first data storage region in a second data storage region of the limited use memory device, the second data storage region including a relatively degradable material; and

saving an identification code associated with the limited use memory device in a data storage location distinct from the limited use memory device.

42. The method of claim 41, including saving an override code associated with the limited use memory device in association with the identification code in a data storage location distinct from the limited use memory device, the override code containing information necessary to read data of interest from the first data portion following degradation of read-support information stored in the second data storage region.

56. The method of claim 42, wherein saving the override code includes at least one of storing a copy of the read-support information stored in the second data storage region, storing a copy of a portion of the read-support information stored in the second data storage region, or saving information different from the read-support information stored in the second data storage region.

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)