Copy-protected optical media and method of manufacture thereof

• US 7,303,803 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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 R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Bruce H.
• Application Number:
  US11/000,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20050153109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 428/64.4
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/04 Arrangements for preventing, inhibiting, or warning against double recording on the same blank or against other recording or reproducing malfunctions
• 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 20/00586 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 2007/24312 group 14 elements (e.g. Si, Ge, Sn)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/24314 group 15 elements (e.g. Sb, Bi)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/24316 group 16 elements (i.e. chalcogenides, Se, Te)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/2571 containing group 14 elements except carbon (Si, Ge, Sn, Pb)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/28 Indicating or preventing prior or unauthorised use, e.g. cassettes with sealing or locking means, write-protect devices for discs write-protect devices for tapes G11B23/042, G11B23/08714; dummy cassettes for locking in the drive G11B33/005
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/281 by changing the physical properties of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/00736 Auxiliary data, e.g. lead-in, lead-out, Power Calibration Area [PCA], Burst Cutting Area [BCA], control information sector headers or adresses in prepits G11B7/00745; address data in track wobble G11B7/24082
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0079 Zoned data area, e.g. having different data structures or formats for the user data within data layer, Zone Constant Linear Velocity [ZCLV], Zone Constant Angular Velocity [ZCAV], carriers with RAM and ROM areas
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/013 for discrete information, i.e. where each information unit is stored in a distinct discrete location , e.g. digital information formats within a data block or sector
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24 Record carriers characterised by shape, structure or physical properties, or by the selection of the material characterised by the arrangement of information on the carrier G11B7/007
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/243 comprising inorganic materials only, e.g. ablative layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2433 : Metals or elements of Groups 13, 14, 15 or 16 of the Periodic Table, e.g. B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Bi, Se or Te
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/244 : comprising organic materials only
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/257 : of layers having properties involved in recording or reproduction, e.g. optical interference layers or sensitising layers or dielectric layers, which are protecting the recording layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2572 : consisting essentially of organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2578 : consisting essentially of inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/26 : Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/261 : Preparing a master, e.g. exposing photoresist, electroforming
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/266 : Sputtering or spin-coating layers sputtering in general C23C14/24; spin-coating in general B05D1/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/21 : Circular sheet or circular blank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 : Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 : Of polycarbonate

Abstract

A computer-readable medium having material at a select position therein and containing instructions for controlling an optical reader to cause the optical reader to re-read the position having the material one or more times to elicit a measurable parameter at such position.

Claims

1. An optical recording medium readable by an optical reader, said optical recording medium having optical data structures thereon, said optical recording medium comprising an light-changeable material selectively positioned with respect to at least a portion of the optical data structures, and containing instructions for controlling the optical reader to cause the optical reader to detect the position(s) of the light-changeable material on the optical data structure and for permitting access to the read of the optical data structures only if the position(s) of the light-changeable material with respect to the optical data structures is in accord with reference position(s).

2. An optical recording medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein the light-changeable material is a reversible light-changeable material.

3. An optical recording medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein said instructions further direct the optical reader to alter its focal length to detect the light-changeable material.

4. An optical recording medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein the light-changeable material is in a plane different from the optical data structure.

5. An optical recording medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein the instructions further comprising directions for the optical reader to re-read the position(s) at which said light-changeable material is detected.