Limited use memory device with associated information

• US 7,668,069 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran, Jung, Edward K. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Agustin, Peter Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Aneeta
• Application Number:
  US11/198,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20060253692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 369/273
• 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 20/00108 wherein original, non-rewritable record carriers are recognised by trying to erase recorded data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00253 wherein the key is stored on the record carrier
• 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 20/00673 wherein the erased or nullified data include a cryptographic key
• 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 20/00927 wherein said defects or errors are generated on purpose, e.g. intended scratches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0035 means incorporated in the disc, e.g. hub, to enable its guiding, loading or driving means for driving the head G11B21/06; guiding the disc for centering or locking G11B17/022; turntables or spindles for driving G11B19/2009
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/282 Limited play
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06

Abstract

Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, methods of retrieving information from a data storage device previously deactivated by modification or degradation of at least a portion of the data storage device are disclosed.

Claims

1. A memory device comprising:

a substrate;

a data storage medium on the substrate; and

machine-readable data stored in the data storage medium, the machine readable data including a first data portion that is non-degradable by exposure to at least one degradation-inducing influence during a limited number of readings, and a second data portion that is degradable by exposure to the at least one degradation-inducing influence during the limited number of readings, the second data portion comprising read-support information necessary for reading data of interest from the first data portion;

a device identification code stored on the memory device associating a copy or analog of the read-support information retained by a third party with the memory device.

2. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is partially degradable by a limited number of readings.

3. The memory device of claim 2, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable by reduction in signal-to-noise ratio following a limited number of readings.

4. The memory device of claim 2, wherein a portion of machine readable data in the second data portion is unreadable following a limited number of readings.

5. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable by exposure to a degradation inducing influence including one of light, heat, moisture, chemicals, an electrical field, or a magnetic field.

6. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable by exposure to a combination of degradation inducing influences, including at least two of light, heat, moisture, chemicals, mechanical damage, an electrical field, or a magnetic field.

7. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable in response to a single reading of the memory device.

8. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable in response to between about one and about 10 readings of the memory device.

9. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable through at least one of degradation of the data storage medium, degradation of the substrate, or erasure of the machine readable data, or writing over of the machine readable data.

10. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the read-support information comprises at least one of a decryption key or index information.

11. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable through degradation of the data storage medium.

12. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable through degradation of the substrate.

13. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is fully degradable by a limited number of readings.

14. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is degradable through erasure or writing over of the machine readable data.

15. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the read-support information comprises a decryption key.

16. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the read-support information comprises index information.

17. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is stored in a data storage medium that includes at least one of a magneto-optic material, a thermo-optic material, or an electro-optic material.

18. The memory device of claim 1, wherein machine readable data in the second data portion is stored in a data storage medium that includes at least one of a photochromic dye, a photopolymer, or a photorefractive ferroelectric material.

19. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a disk shaped substrate.

20. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a card shaped substrate.

21. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a microchip.

22. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a rigid material.

23. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a flexible material.

24. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the copy or analog of the read-support information includes a full copy of the read-support information.

25. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the copy or analog of the read-support information includes a partial copy of the read-support information.

26. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the copy or analog of the read-support information is functionally analogous to the read support information.