Writeable medium access control using a medium writeable area

• US 6,631,359 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enhanced Data Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: DPHI Acquisitions, Inc.
• Inventors: Braitberg, Michael F., Volk, Steven B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/393,150
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/50, 705/51, 705/52, 705/56, 705/57, 705/400
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• 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 20/00195 using a device identifier associated with the player or recorder, e.g. serial numbers of playback apparatuses or MAC addresses
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00246 wherein the key is obtained from a local device, e.g. device key initially stored by the player or by the recorder
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00253 wherein the key is stored on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00739 wherein the usage restriction is associated with a specific geographical region
• 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 2220/211 Discs having both read-only and rewritable or recordable areas containing application data; Partial ROM media

Abstract

An optical medium uses a single structure or format (such as identical materials, layers and the like) for both a region for holding information content-mastered data and a writeable area. In one aspect, a writeable region of a medium with information content-mastered data is used in connection with paying, collecting or accounting for usage or royalties for proprietary intellectual property embodied in or associated with the content. In one embodiment, a key permitting access to some or all content, preferably when combined with a disk serial number, is stored in the writeable area, which is preferably user-inaccessible.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access to optical disc content, comprising:

providing at least first content on each of a plurality of optical disks, said optical disks readable by at least a first optical disk reader, said disk reader being configured such that at least a first region of said optical disks are non-user accessible, said content requiring at least a first key for use;

providing identifier numbers on said non-user accessible regions of said plurality of optical disks, said identifier numbers being readable by said optical disk reader, wherein no two of said plurality of disks have the same identifier number;

calculating said key, in a calculation device coupled to said reader, using both said identifier number on a first optical disk and a second number different from said identifier number, wherein use of said content is enabled if said key indicates that access to said content should be permitted.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second number is obtained in exchange for payment.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second number is calculated at a remote site.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second number is calculated using a microprocessor in said reader.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said use of said content is selected from the group consisting of:

display of text, image or video data based on said content

reproduction of audio data based on said content, and

copying of at least some of said content from an optical disk to another medium.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of calculating is performed at least partially under control of software stored on said first optical disk.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of calculating is performed at least partially under control of software downloaded using Internet communications.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said calculating comprises using a hash number.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said calculating comprises prime number multiplication.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said calculating comprises compound number factoring.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein use of said content is enabled by enabling a decryption process.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second number is obtained using an Internet communication.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said optical disk includes software for establishing said Internet communication.

14. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising storing, on said first optical disk, information authorizing at least some use of said content.

15. A method, as claimed in claim 14 wherein said step of storing comprises storing on said non-user accessible region.

16. A method, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said step of storing comprises storing information selected from the group consisting of:

said key;

a maximum number of permissible copies;

a time limit for use of said content;

or

identification of at least one reader, to which access of said content is restricted.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said key does not indicate that access to said content should be permitted, said method further including a registration process that comprises:

requesting user information;

using an application program interface to present key and content information to a host computer;

downloading an applet from said host computer;

causing said applet to read said identifier number on said first optical disk;

transmitting said identifier number to said host computer;

causing said host computer to calculate a payment amount and an access key;

transmitting said access key to said application program interface; and

writing information relating to said access key to said first optical disk.

18. A method, as claimed in claim 17, wherein writing information relating to said access key comprises writing a value of said access key.

19. A method, as claimed in claim 17, wherein writing information relating to said access key comprises writing a hash function.

20. A method, as claimed in claim 17, wherein writing information relating to said access key comprises writing in a non-copyable zone of said first optical disk.

21. A method, as claimed in claim 17, comprising removing said applet.

22. A method for storing data comprising:

forming an optical data storage disk with at least a first data storage layer having at least first content stored in parallel on a first portion of said data storage layer;

storing second content, different from said first content, on a second portion of said data storage layer, after said step of forming;

wherein said data storage layer comprises a write-once phase change material having sufficient reflectivity to allow reading of said first content.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said step of storing second content comprises writing data to said disk.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said writing data comprises serially writing.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said step of forming an optical data storage disk having at least first content comprises forming an embossed disk.

26. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said step of forming an optical data storage disk includes injection molding.

27. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said step of forming an optical data storage disk comprises forming said disk as a first-surface medium.

28. A method, as claimed in claim 22 wherein said step of forming an optical data storage disk comprises forming a disk having a diameter less than about 35 mm.

29. A method, as claimed in claim 22, wherein said write-once phase change material comprises InSnSb alloy.

30. A data storage medium comprising:

at least a first data storage layer having a first portion storing parallel-stored first content and a second portion storing second content, different from said parallel-stored content, said first content comprising a plurality of bits having a first bit reflectivity range, said second content comprising a plurality of bits having a second bit reflectivity range, different from said first said bit reflectivity, said first and second bit reflectivities being different from adjacent land reflectivities in a land reflectivity range.

31. A data storage medium, as claimed in claim 30, wherein said parallel-stored first content is embossed.

32. A data storage medium, as claimed in claim 30, wherein said second content is written after said first content is formed.

33. A data storage medium, as claimed in claim 30, wherein said first reflectivity range is sufficiently distinct from said land reflectivity range to permit automatic differentiation between land areas and bits of said first content.

34. A data storage medium, as claimed in claim 30, wherein said second reflectivity range is sufficiently distinct from said land reflectivity range to permit automatic differentiation between land areas and bits of said second content.

35. A data storage medium, as claimed in claim 30, wherein said first and second reflectivity ranges are sufficiently distinct from one another to permit automatic differentiation between said first portion and said second portion.

36. A data storage medium, as claimed in claim 30 wherein said first reflectivity is between about 25% and about 45%.

37. A data storage medium, as claimed in claim 30 wherein said second bit reflectivity is between about 60% and about 80%.

38. A data storage medium, as claimed in claim 30, wherein said land reflectivity is between about 40% and about 55%.

39. A data storage medium, as claimed in claim 30, further comprising at least a first absorption coating.

40. A data storage medium, as claimed in claim 39, wherein said coating comprises ZnS.

41. A data storage method, comprising:

reading data from at least a first optical data storage layer having a first portion storing parallel-stored first content and a second portion storing second content, different from said parallel-stored content, said first content comprising a plurality of bits having a first bit reflectivity range, said second content comprising a plurality of bits having a second bit reflectivity range, different from said first said bit reflectivity, said first and second bit reflectivities being different from adjacent land reflectivities in a land reflectivity range;

using said reflectivities to distinguish said parallel-stored content from said second content.

42. A data storage method, as claimed in claim 41, further comprising:

preventing at least some access to content which is not parallel-written content.

43. A method of enabling content requested by a user on an optical disk comprising:

causing a host computer to send a request for a first disk key;

causing a disk drive to read said first disk key, said first disk key being stored on said optical disk;

performing a first function on said first disk key to generate a second disk key;

transmitting said second disk key to said host computer;

causing said host computer to formulate an unlock packet;

using said unlock packet to generate second information; and

storing said second information to said optical disk, the combination of said first disk key and said second information stored on said optical disk indicating that said content may be accessed.

44. A method, as claimed in claim 43, comprising causing a host computer to send said request for a first disk key to a client computer and causing said client computer to send said request for a first disk key to said disk drive.

45. A method, as claimed in claim 43, wherein said first disk key is a serial number or other media identifier.

46. A method, as claimed in claim 43, wherein said first function is a hash function.

47. A method, as claimed in claim 43, wherein said first function is a one-way function.

48. A method, as claimed in claim 43, wherein performing a first function on said first disk key to generate a second disk key is done using code that is substantially entirely resident in said disk drive.

49. A method, as claimed in claim 43, wherein transmitting said second disk key to said host computer is done over the Internet.

50. A method, as claimed in claim 43, comprising destroying or overwriting previously recorded second information.

51. A method, as claimed in claim 43, wherein the host computer determines the first disk key by applying an inverse of the first function to the second disk key.

52. A method, as claimed in claim 51, comprising providing the host computer with information regarding the make, model number and/or serial number of the disk drive along with the second disk key, thereby permitting the host computer to identify the inverse of the first function.

53. A method, as claimed in claim 51, wherein said unlock packet is formulated based on the identity of said content requested by said user.

54. A method of reading content enabled by the method claimed in claim 43 comprising:

reading said first disk key and said second information;

applying a second function to said first disk key to yield a third disk key; and

applying a third function to said second information to yield a fourth disk key.

55. A method, as claimed in claim 54, comprising reading and processing said third and fourth disk keys.

56. A method, as claimed in claim 54, comprising applying a fourth function to said third disk key and said fourth disk key to yield a fifth disk key.

57. A method, as claimed in claim 56, wherein said fourth function comprises a hash function.

58. A method, as claimed in claim 56, wherein said fourth function comprises an exclusive OR combination.

59. A method, as claimed in claim 56, comprising reading and processing said third and fifth disk keys.

60. A method, as claimed in claim 43, wherein causing said host computer to formulate an unlock packet comprises applying a second function to said second disk key.

61. A method, as claimed in claim 60, comprising presenting at least a portion of the unlock packet to the disk drive.

62. A method, as claimed in claim 61, comprising applying a third function to the at least a portion of the unlock packet to yield a third disk key, said second information comprising said third key.

63. A method, as claimed in claim 62, wherein applying a third function to the at least a portion of the unlock packet comprises including time and/or date information as a part of the third disk key.

64. A method, as claimed in claim 62, wherein said first function is the same as said third function.

65. A method, as claimed in claim 62, wherein said first function is the inverse of said third function.

66. A method, as claimed in claim 62, wherein said third function is a one-way function.