Mass storage element and drive unit therefor

• US 5,822,291 A
• Filed: 11/21/1995
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zoom Television Incorporated
• Inventors: Brindze, Paul L., Tully, Geoffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUFER, PINCHUS M
• Application Number:
  US08/590,268
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 369/14, 369/94, 369/275.1
• US Class Current: 369/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/12 Protecting executable software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• 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 20/00094 involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00137 involving measures which result in a restriction to contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier to authorised users
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00152 involving a password
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00166 involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier, e.g. music or software
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00224 wherein the key is obtained from a remote server
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00231 wherein the key is obtained from a local external medium, e.g. a card
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00557 wherein further management data is encrypted, e.g. sector headers, TOC or the lead-in or lead-out areas
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 involving a purchase action
• 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 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 : Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

A mass storage drive removably supports a mass storage element and includes a data head having an output for reading tracks of main data elements. The data head, which can be an optical head, is movable in a predetermined auxiliary path relative to the substrate for scanning a unique machine-readable serial identifier in auxiliary data containing at least 200 bits of information in one or more tracks being exclusive of main data tracks. The mass storage drive includes a head circuit connected to the data head output and having a main amplifier with an output for signaling main data elements in response to the data head, the circuit having a separate auxiliary put for signaling the auxiliary data elements in response to the data head output. The head circuit can include an auxiliary amplifier for driving the auxiliary output. The main amplifier can include a first frequency response effective for passing the main data elements, and the auxiliary amplifier can have a second frequency response for passing the auxiliary data elements while effectively blocking the main data elements. The main amplifier can have a first reference connection for balancing the main output relative to a data threshold, the auxiliary amplifier having a second reference connection effective for balancing the auxiliary output relative to a serial code threshold of the data head when the data head is reading auxiliary data elements.

Claims

1. A mass storage drive incorporating a mass storage element, the mass storage element comprising:

(a) a substrate;

(b) a main storage media on the substrate;

(c) a multiplicity of main data elements stored in the main storage media, the main data elements being readable from main data tracks by data head means when the data head means moves in predetermined main path relative to the substrate; and

(d) an auxiliary storage media on the substrate having a unique machine-readable serial identifier in a plurality of auxiliary data elements in at least one auxiliary data track wherein the auxiliary data contains at least 200 bits of information, the auxiliary data elements being readable by the data head means when the data head means moves in a predetermined auxiliary path relative to the substrate, the auxiliary path being exclusive of the main data tracks;

(e) means for removably supporting the mass storage element;

(f) a data head having an output for signaling the main data elements of the auxiliary data elements;

(g) drive means for moving the substrate in a predetermined path relative to the data head for operation thereof; and

(h) a head circuit including a main amplifier connected to the data head output and having a main output for signaling the main data elements in response to the data head, the circuit also having a separate auxiliary output for signaling the auxiliary data elements in response to the data head output.

2. The mass storage element of claim 1, wherein the main data elements are substantially read-only in character.

3. The mass storage element of claim 2, wherein the main data elements are formed by press-molding.

4. The mass storage element of claim 1, wherein the main data elements are formed by selective radiation.

5. The mass storage element of claim 1, wherein the main data elements are optically readable.

6. The mass storage element of claim 1, wherein the substrate and the main storage media are configured as a rotatable compact disk.

7. The mass storage element of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary data elements are formed by selective radiation.

8. The mass storage drive of claim 1, wherein the data head is an optical head.

9. The mass storage drive of claim 1, wherein the mass storage element is a compact disk, and the drive means comprises means for rotating the disk.

10. The mass storage element of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary data elements are contained in a single auxiliary data track having a plurality of auxiliary data bits of the serial identifier.

11. The mass storage element of claim 10, wherein the serial identifier contains approximately 2000 data bits.

12. The mass storage element of claim 1, wherein the main data tracks have a spacing and wherein the auxiliary data track has a width being more than double the spacing of the main data tracks.

13. The mass storage element of claim 12, wherein the width of the auxiliary data track is approximately 25 times the spacing of the main data tracks.

14. The mass storage element of claim 12, wherein the spacing of the main data tracks is approximately 1 micron and the width of the auxiliary data track is approximately 25 microns.

15. The mass storage element of claim 12, wherein the width of the auxiliary data track is at least 25 times the spacing of the main data tracks.

16. The mass storage element of claim 12, wherein the width of the auxiliary data track is between 25 microns and 125 microns.

17. The mass storage element of claim 12, wherein the width of the auxiliary data track is between 25 times and 125 times the spacing of the main data tracks.

18. The mass storage element of claim 12, wherein the spacing of the main data tracks is not more than 1 micron and the width of the auxiliary data track is not less than 25 microns.

19. The mass storage element of claim 1, including a control region extending from the main data tracks, and wherein the auxiliary data track is located within the control region.

20. The mass storage element of claim 19, and wherein the auxiliary data track is sufficiently spaced from the main data tracks for preserving functionality of the control region adjacent the main data tracks.

21. The mass storage element of claim 19, wherein the auxiliary data track is formed in sub-regions of the control region, the sub-regions being sufficiently spaced apart for preserving functionality of the control region.

22. The mass storage element of claim 19, wherein the mass storage element is a compact disk, and the control region is a leadout region having characteristic data recorded therein.

23. The mass storage drive of claim 1, the head circuit further comprising an auxiliary amplifier for driving the auxiliary output in response to the data head.

24. The mass storage drive of claim 23, the main amplifier having a first frequency response effective for passing the main data elements, the auxiliary amplifier having a second frequency response for passing the auxiliary data elements, the second frequency response substantially blocking the main data elements.

25. The mass storage drive of claim 23, the main amplifier having a first reference connection effective for balancing the main output relative to a data threshold output of the data head when the data head is reading the main data elements, the auxiliary amplifier having a second reference connection effective for balancing the auxiliary output relative to a serial code threshold output of the data head when the data head is reading the auxiliary data elements.