ENHANCED SECURITY OF OPTICAL ARTICLE

• US 20090285074A1
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NBC Universal Media LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Krishnan, Kasiraman, Misner, Matthew Jeremiah, White, James Mitchell, Wisnudel, Marc Brian, Patel, Ben Purushotam, Peters, Andrea Jeannine, Johnson, Mark Rogers
• Granted Patent: US 8,488,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/045 the record carrier being of the non-contact type, e.g. RFID, and being specially adapted for attachment to a disc, e.g. a CD or DVD
• 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 20/00876 wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/284 on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0033 with cards or other card-like flat carriers, e.g. flat sheets of optical film
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/005 Reproducing G11B7/0065 takes precedence

Abstract

An optical article comprising a first file encoded on the optical article comprising data structure information; a second file encoded on the optical article comprising a backup of the first file; wherein at least one of the first file or the second file must be fully readable for the player to read the data on the optical article; and a mark disposed on at least a portion of the optical article where the first file is encoded and at least a portion of the optical article where the second file is encoded; wherein the mark comprises an optical state change material; wherein the optical state change material undergoes a change in its optical state when exposed to an activation signal selected from one or more of a laser, thermal energy, infrared rays, X-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, visible light, ultraviolet light, ultrasound waves, radio frequency waves, electrical energy, chemical energy, magnetic energy, and mechanical energy; wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when an authorized activation method is used; and wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when an unauthorized activation method is used.

Claims

1. An optical article for playback in a player comprising:

a first file encoded on the optical article comprising data structure information;

a second file encoded on the optical article comprising a backup of the first file;

wherein at least one of the first file or the second file must be fully readable for the player to read the data on the optical article; and

a mark disposed on at least a portion of the optical article where the first file is encoded and at least a portion of the optical article where the second file is encoded;

wherein the mark comprises an optical state change material;

wherein the optical state change material undergoes a change in its optical state when exposed to an activation signal selected from one or more of a laser, thermal energy, infrared rays, X-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, visible light, ultraviolet light, ultrasound waves, radio frequency waves, electrical energy, chemical energy, magnetic energy, and mechanical energy;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when an authorized activation method is used; and

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when an unauthorized activation method is used.

2. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when the mark is exposed to an authorized activation signal and wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when the mark is activated using an unauthorized activation signal.

3. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the first file is the IFO and the second file is the BUP.

4. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the first file and the second file comprise the data structure information for the entire optical article.

5. The optical article of claim 4, wherein the first file and the second file represent the data structure information for a video title set encoded on the optical article.

6. The optical article of claim 5, wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when the mark is activated using a pre-determined activation method when exposed to the activation signal and the content within the video title set is accessible to the player.

7. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the mark comprises a plurality of optically-detectable spots;

wherein the plurality of optically-detectable spots comprise a first set of spots and a second set of spots;

wherein the first set of spots and the second set of spots comprise an optical-state change material;

wherein the optical state change material can undergo a change in its optical state when exposed to the activation signal;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when the first set of spots is exposed to the activation signal; and

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when the second set of spots is exposed to the activation signal.

8. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the mark comprises a plurality of optically-detectable spots;

wherein the plurality of optically-detectable spots comprise a first set of spots and a second set of spots;

wherein the first set of spots comprise a first optical state change material and the second set of spots comprise a second optical state change material;

wherein the first and the second optical state change materials can undergo a change in their optical state when exposed to the activation signal;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when the first set of spots is exposed to the activation signal; and

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when the second set of spots is exposed to the activation signal.

9. The optical article of claim 8, wherein the first set of spots comprise a first electrochromic material and the second set of spots comprise a second electrochromic material;

wherein the electrochromic materials undergo state changes at a threshold voltage;

wherein the first and the second electrochromic material undergo a state change at different threshold voltages.

10. The optical article of claim 9, wherein the mark absorbs light at a wavelength in a range of from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers in the second optical state.

11. The optical article of claim 9, wherein the mark absorbs light at a wavelength of about 650 nanometers in the second optical state and does not absorb light at a wavelength of about 650 nanometers in the first optical state.

12. The optical article of claim 9, wherein the mark absorbs light at a wavelength of about 405 nanometers in the second optical state and does not absorb light at a wavelength of about 405 nanometers in the first optical state.

13. The optical article of claim 8, wherein the first set of spots comprise a first thermochromic material and the second set of spots comprise a second thermochromic material;

wherein the thermochromic materials undergo state changes at a threshold temperature; and

wherein the first and the second thermochromic material undergo a state change at different threshold temperatures.

14. The optical article of claim 13, wherein the mark absorbs light at a wavelength in a range of from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers in the second optical state.

15. The optical article of claim 13, wherein the mark absorbs light at a wavelength of about 650 nanometers in the second optical state and does not absorb light at a wavelength of about 650 nanometers in the first optical state.

16. The optical article of claim 13, wherein the mark absorbs light at a wavelength of about 405 nanometers in the second optical state and does not absorb light at a wavelength of about 405 nanometers in the first optical state.

17. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the mark comprises a combination of at least two optical state change materials;

wherein the optical state change materials can undergo a change in their optical state when exposed to the activation signal;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when a first optical-state change material is exposed to the activation signal; and

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when a second optical-state change material is exposed to the activation signal.

18. The optical article of claim 17, wherein the first set of spots comprise a first electrochromic material and the second set of spots comprise a second electrochromic material;

wherein the electrochromic materials undergo state changes at a threshold voltage;

wherein the first and the second electrochromic material undergo a state change at different threshold voltages.

19. The optical article of claim 17, wherein the first set of spots comprise a first thermochromic material and the second set of spots comprise a second thermochromic material;

wherein the thermochromic materials undergo state changes at a threshold temperature; and

wherein the first and the second thermochromic materials undergo a state change at different threshold temperatures.

20. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the mark comprises an optical state change material;

wherein the optical state change material undergoes a change in its optical state when exposed to the activation signal;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when pre-determined sections of the mark are exposed to the activation signal; and

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when pre-determined sections of the mark are exposed to the activation signal.

21. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the mark is disposed in a discrete area of the optical article having the geometry of an arc with a length and a width, wherein the length is longer than the width.

22. The optical article of claim 1, wherein a portion of the optical article covered by the mark undergoes at least one change selected from the group consisting of layer reflectivity, single layer reflectivity, dual layer reflectivity, refractive index, birefringence, polarization, opacity, absorbance, thickness, optical pathlength, and position, when activated using the pre-determined activation method.

23. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the pre-activated state is characterized by an optical reflectivity of at least one portion of the optical article having a reflectivity of less than about 20 percent based on the reflectivity of the at least one portion of the optical article in the activated state.

24. The optical article of claim 1, wherein said optical article is selected from one or more of a CD, a DVD, a HD-DVD, a Blu-ray disc, a near field optical storage disc, a holographic storage medium, or another like volumetric optical storage medium, an identification card, a passport, a payment card, a driving license, and a personal information card.

25. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the optical state change material is selected from one or more of a color-shift dye, a halochromic material, a photovoltaic material, a magnetic material, an electrochromic material, a thermochromic material, a magnetooptical material, a photorefractive material, photobleachable material, a light scattering material, and a phase change material.

26. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the optical article further comprises one or more of a non-reactive static mark disposed on the optical article.

27. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the mark absorbs light at a wavelength in a range of from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers in the first optical state.

28. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the mark absorbs light at a wavelength in a range of from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers in the second optical state.

29. The optical article of claim 1, wherein the optical article is activated using a time-dependent activation signal.

30. An optical article for playback in a player comprising:

a mark disposed on the optical article;

at least one first control logic comprising at least one sector;

wherein the mark comprises an optical state change material;

wherein the optical state change material undergoes a change in its optical state when exposed to an activation signal selected from one or more of a laser, thermal energy, infrared rays, X-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, visible light, ultraviolet light, ultrasound waves, radio frequency waves, electrical energy, chemical energy, magnetic energy, and mechanical energy;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when an authorized activation method is used;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when an unauthorized activation method is used;

wherein the mark is in a pre-determined relationship with a sector upon which an associated first control logic is programmed;

wherein each first control logic is executed only when the associated mark is in a pre-determined state.

31. The optical article of claim 30, wherein a first optically-detectable spot is in a pre-determined relationship with an associated first control logic and one or more additional optically detectable spots are in pre-determined relationships with additional associated control logics, wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when the the correct set of optically-detectable spots are activated thereby allowing the associated control logics to be executed.

32. The optical article of claim 30, wherein for each bit of the first control logic a player is directed to set the non-default value of the register using a forced activation method, wherein the register has a default value before it is set and a non-default value after it is set.

33. The optical article of claim 30, wherein the mark absorbs light at a wavelength in a range of from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers in the first optical state.

34. The optical article of claim 30, wherein the mark absorbs light at a wavelength in a range of from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers in the second optical state.

35. The optical article of claim 30, wherein for each first control logic encoded in a sector, a second control logic is encoded in sectors which are in proximity to the first control logic;

wherein the mark is in a pre-determined relationship with a sector upon which the associated first control logic is programmed;

wherein the second control logic is not obscured by the optically detectable mark associated with the first control logic.

36. The optical article of claim 35, wherein the second control logic is physically placed on a second sector at a nearby angle and data track to a first sector comprising the first control logic, such that the two sectors exist at the closest possible physical location such that the second control logic is not obscured by the printed mark.

37. The optical article of claim 35, wherein the second control logic is physically placed on a second sector at a nearby angle and data track to a first sector comprising the first control logic, such that the two sectors exist at azimuthally adjacent physical locations such that the second control logic is not obscured by the printed mark.

38. The optical article of claim 35, wherein for each non-executable first control logic determining a portion of a player readable code, the second control logic must remain readable for the disc to be properly activated.

39. An optical article for playback in a player comprising:

a mark disposed on the optical article;

a first control logic comprising at least one sector;

a logical branch point associated with the first control logic on the disc;

wherein the mark comprises an optical state change material;

wherein the optical state change material undergoes a change in its optical state when exposed to an activation signal selected from one or more of a laser, thermal energy, infrared rays, X-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, visible light, ultraviolet light, ultrasound waves, radio frequency waves, electrical energy, chemical energy, magnetic energy, and mechanical energy;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when an authorized activation method is used;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when an unauthorized activation method is used;

wherein the mark is in a pre-determined relationship with a sector upon which the first control logic is programmed;

wherein the first control logic is executed only when the associated mark is in a pre-determined state; and

wherein the logical branching point has a pre-determined association with a the mark on the disc are such that if the mark is incorrectly activated the player is directed to a terminal point in the navigation of the optical article.

40. An optical article for playback in a player comprising:

a plurality of optically-detectable marks disposed on the optical article;

at least one first control logic comprising at least one sector;

wherein each optically detectable mark is associated with a particular first control logic;

logical branch points associated with the at least one first control logic on the disc;

wherein the mark comprises an optical state change material;

wherein the optical state change material undergoes a change in its optical state when exposed to an activation signal selected from one or more of a laser, thermal energy, infrared rays, X-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, visible light, ultraviolet light, ultrasound waves, radio frequency waves, electrical energy, chemical energy, magnetic energy, and mechanical energy;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when an authorized activation method is used;

wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when an unauthorized activation method is used;

wherein each mark is in a pre-determined relationship with a sector upon which the associated first control logic is programmed;

wherein each first control logic is executed only when the associated mark is in a pre-determined state; and

wherein the logical branching points having a pre-determined association with a the marks on the disc are such that if the wrong subset of marks are activated the player is directed to a terminal point in the navigation of the optical article.