METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO STORAGE MEDIA

• US 20080144459A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verification Technologies, Inc. (Sun Chemical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verification Technologies, Inc. (Sun Chemical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vig, Rakesh, Drew, Jeffrey M., Selinfreund, Richard H., Goyette, Donald Roland
• Application Number:
  US12/028,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20080144459A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/53.2
• 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

In embodiments, 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

1. A recordable optical data storage medium comprising:

a substrate incorporating a data recording and playback structure configured to provide for the recording and playback of optical data;

a light sensitive material, characterized in displaying at least two distinct optical states to an optical reader, placed on said substrate in a pattern associated with said data recording and playback structure;

said pattern of said light sensitive material configured to provide an unique code as read by optical reader.

2. The recordable optical data storage medium, in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said light sensitive material is configured to provide for the reading of the unique code when the said light sensitive material is in one of said at least two distinct optical states.

3. The recordable optical data storage medium, in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said light sensitive material is configured to provide for the reading of said unique code by detecting difference between subsequent readings of the same portion of said light sensitive material.

4. The recordable optical data storage medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein said substrate is a CD.

5. The recordable optical data storage medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein said substrate is a DVD.

6. A method for distributing data files comprising:

providing a recordable optical storage medium comprising a substrate incorporating a data recording and playback structure configured to provide for the recording and playback of optical data, said recordable optical storage medium comprising a light sensitive material placed on said substrate, in a pattern, and associated with said data recording and playback structure, said material characterized as displaying at least two distinct optical states to an optical reader, said pattern of said light sensitive material configured to provide unique code as read by optical reader;

remotely providing said data files to said recordable storage medium, wherein said data files are in encoded form that requires said unique code to be read with an optical reader, for said encoded data files to be decoded; and

providing instructions necessary to decode said data files using said unique code

7. The method for distributing data files, in accordance with claim 6, where the INTERNET is used to provide said data files in encoded form.

8. The method for distributing data files, in accordance with claim 6, where said data files are selected from the group consisting of movies, software and music.

9. The method for distributing data files, in accordance with claim 6, wherein the recordable optical data storage medium is a CD.

10. The method for distributing data files, in accordance with claim 6, wherein the recordable optical data storage medium is a DVD.