Limited use memory device with associated information

• US 8,159,925 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran, Jung, Edward K. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Aneeta
• Application Number:
  US12/287,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20090122666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 369/273, 369/285, 726/31
• 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 20/0021 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 method of configuring a limited use memory device, comprising:

storing a first data portion including data of interest in a first data storage region of a limited use memory device, the first data storage region including a relatively non-degradable material;

storing a second data portion including read-support information necessary for reading the data of interest from the first data storage region in a second data storage region of the limited use memory device, the second data storage region including a relatively degradable material;

saving an identification code associated with the limited use memory device in a data storage location distinct from the limited use memory device; and

saving an override code associated with the limited use memory device in association with the identification code in a data storage location distinct from the limited use memory device, the override code containing information necessary to read data of interest from the first data portion following degradation of read-support information stored in the second data storage region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein saving the override code includes storing a copy of the read-support information stored in the second data storage region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein saving the override code includes storing a copy of a portion of the read-support information stored in the second data storage region.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein saving the override code includes saving information different from the read-support information stored in the second data storage region.

5. The method of claim 1, including storing an override code associated with the limited use memory device in the data storage location distinct from the data storage device in association with the identification code.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the override code includes a full copy of the read-support information.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the override code includes a partial copy of the read-support information.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the override code includes a functional analog of the read-support information.