Method and apparatus for controlling access to storage media

• US 7,660,415 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald Roland Goyette, Jeffrey M. Drew, Rakesh Vig, Richard H. Selinfreund
• Original Assignee: Donald Roland Goyette, Jeffrey M. Drew, Rakesh Vig, Richard H. Selinfreund
• Inventors: Drew, Jeffrey M., Selinfreund, Richard H., Vig, Rakesh, Goyette, Donald Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Dada; Beemnet W
• Application Number:
  US11/005,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 726/26, 726/32, 726/33, 713/193, 369/288, 369/291, 369/272.1, 369/291.1, 369/286, 430/270, 380/200, 380/201, 380/203
• US Class Current: 380/201
• 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

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 method of verifying the authenticity of an optical storage medium having optically-readable data embodied therein, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an authentication structure on the optical storage medium wherein the authentication structure provides a response readable by a data reader, and wherein the authentication structure responds to an electric field;

causing an electric field to be imposed at the authentication structure;

wherein the authentication structure comprises a material that changes from a first optical state, which provides a first data output, to a transient second optical state, which provides a second data output, in response to said electric field;

wherein the verifying of authenticity comprises distinguishing between data outputs of said material at said locus arising from the first optical state thereof and the second optical state thereof.

2. The method described in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

inputting an identification string that is used to determine the at least one locus.

3. The method described in claim 1, wherein the persistence time of said material in its transient second optical state is less than 99 ms.

4. The method described in clam 1, wherein the step of distinguishing at least one lock s comprises reading a plurality of loci on the medium in a specified order.

5. A method for limiting access to data recorded on an optically-readable medium comprising a substrate, comprising the steps of:

disposing an electrically responsive authentication composition on or within at least a portion of said substrate, wherein the composition is in a first optical state, which provides a first data output, in the absence of an electric field and changes to a second optical state, which provides a second data output, when subjected to an electric field;

applying an electric field to at least the portion of said substrate;

thereby causing the electrically responsive authentication composition detectably to alter its optical state; and

limiting of the availability comprises distinguishing between data outputs of said material at said locus arising from the first optical state thereof and the second optical state thereof.

6. The method described in claim 5, further comprising the step of:

inputting an identification string that is used to determine the at least one locus.

9. The method described in claim 5, wherein the step of reading at least one locus comprises reading a plurality of loci on the medium in a specified order.

7. A method for limiting access to (data recorded on an optically-readable medium comprising a substrate, comprising the steps of:

disposing an electrically responsive authentication composition on or within at least a portion of said substrate, wherein the composition is in a first optical state, which provides a first data output, in the absence of an electric field and changes to a second optical state, which provides a second data output, when subjected to an electric field, wherein the authentication structure provides differing responses in the absence and presence of an electric field, wherein the electrically responsive alteration of an optical state is spontaneously reversible;

applying an electric field to at least the portion of said substrate;

thereby causing the electrically responsive authentication composition detectably to alter its optical state;

whereby altering the optical state alters access to the data.

8. The method described in claim 7 wherein a persistence time of said structure in its second optical state, upon removal of an electrical field is less than 99 ms.