Method and apparatus for controling access to storage media

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preventing copying of data from optical disks. A locus on optical disk is initially read to produce a signal and is then re-read by a reader to produce a second signal. The signal detected upon re-reading is different from the signal that is detected upon initial sampling. A method and apparatus for controlling access to an optical disk, such as an optically readable disk. Light sensitive or other materials that are adapted to change state and affect reading of an optical disk are used to control access to data that may be stored on optical disk and/or to control use of the optical disk.

1 . A method for dissuading the illicit copying of data stored on an optical disk in an optical data structure representing a series of bits, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) reading the optical disk at a locus to obtain data true to the series of bits represented by the optical data structure at such locus;    (b) re-reading the optical disk at the locus to determine if the data obtained varies by one or more bits in the series of bits represented by the optical data structure at such locus; and    (c) dissuading copying of the optical disk if the data obtained in step (b) differs from the data in step (a).    
   
   
       2 . An article of manufacturing comprising a computer usable optical disk having computer readable program code embodied in an optical data structure, said article of manufacture including one or more sites of optical disuniformity therein that are not embodied in said optical data structure, said sites of optical disuniformity hampering the normal copying function of a computer, and wherein said computer readable program code comprises computer readable program code for causing said computer to read said optical data structure, or portion thereof, only when said sites of optical disunformity are present in said computer usable medium.  
   
   
       3 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  wherein said sites of optical disuniformity comprise a light-sensitive compound.  
   
   
       4 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2  wherein the light-sensitive compound is a light absorptive compound.  
   
   
       5 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2  wherein the light-sensitive compound is a light emissive compound.  
   
   
       6 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2  wherein the light-sensitive compound is a phosphorescent compound.  
   
   
       7 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2  wherein the light-sensitive compound has an emission wavelength at a wavelength detectable by a detector in an optical reader.  
   
   
       8 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2  wherein the light-sensitive compound absorbs light that, in the absence of the light-sensitive compound, would be detected by a detector in an optical reader.  
   
   
       9 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2  wherein the light-sensitive compound is cyanine compound.  
   
   
       10 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2  wherein the light-sensitive compound is selected from the group consisting of indodicarbocyanines, benzindodicarbocyanines, and hybrids thereof.  
   
   
       11 . An optical disk comprising: 
 a substrate;    a data track disposed on the substrate, the data track including a first set of usable data; and    a light-sensitive compound disposed on at least a portion of the disk and cooperating with at least a portion of the data track, the light-sensitive compound being excitable with a suitable stimulus to produce a second set of usable data that is different from the first set of usable data regardless of the first set of usable data in the data track.    
   
   
       12 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the light-sensitive compound is adapted to emit a wavelength of less than about 848 nm.  
   
   
       13 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the data track is injection molded.  
   
   
       14 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the data track is formed via a recording dye.  
   
   
       15 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the light-sensitive compound is active.  
   
   
       16 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the light-sensitive compound is phosphorescent.  
   
   
       17 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the light-sensitive compound is fluorescent.  
   
   
       18 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the light-sensitive compound is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 and about 830 nm.  
   
   
       19 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the light-sensitive compound is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 630 and about 650 nm.  
   
   
       20 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the light-sensitive compound is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 780 nm and by a light source emitting at about 530 nm.  
   
   
       21 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the light-sensitive compound is adapted to emit at 780 nm.  
   
   
       22 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the light-sensitive compound is adapted to emit at 530 nm.  
   
   
       23 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the light-sensitive compound is adapted to emit at both about 780 nm and about 530 nm.  
   
   
       24 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the light-sensitive compound comprises a cyanine compound.  
   
   
       25 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the light-sensitive compound comprises indodicarbocyanines.  
   
   
       26 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the light-sensitive compound is benzindodicarbocyanines.  
   
   
       27 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the light-sensitive compound is a hybrid of indodicarbocyanines and benzindodicarbocyanines.  
   
   
       28 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein a portion of the light-sensitive compound is adapted to be selectively activated.  
   
   
       29 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the light-sensitive compound is less than about 160 nm in thickness.  
   
   
       30 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the light-sensitive compound is activated by cross-linking.  
   
   
       31 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the light-sensitive compound is activated by laser activation.  
   
   
       32 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the light-sensitive compound is activated to provide at least a portion of a file allocation statement.  
   
   
       33 . The disk of  claim 11  wherein the data track includes instructions to re-read a locus on the disk.  
   
   
       34 . The disk of  11  wherein activated light-sensitive compound is disposed under at least a portion of the locus.  
   
   
       35 . The disk of  claim 34  wherein activated light-sensitive compound is disposed over at least a portion of the locus.  
   
   
       36 . The disc of  claim 34  wherein the activated light-sensitive compound is a delayed luminescent or phosphorescent compound.  
   
   
       37 . The disk of  claim 34  wherein the activated light-sensitive compound is interpretable by a reader to provide a response different from that provided by the data track.  
   
   
       38 . The disk of  claim 34  wherein the data track includes instructions to continue accessing data on the disk based on the first and second sets of usable data being different.  
   
   
       39 . The disk of  claim 34  wherein the light-sensitive compound is disposed on the disk by spin coating.  
   
   
       40 . The disk of  claim 34  wherein the light-sensitive compound is less than about 120 nm in thickness.  
   
   
       41 . The disk of  claim 34  wherein the light-sensitive compound is less than about 10 nm in thickness.  
   
   
       42 . The disc of  claim 34  wherein the light-sensitive compound is less than about 1 nm in thickness.  
   
   
       43 . The disk of  claim 34  wherein the disc is selected from the group consisting of CD, CD-Audio, CD-ROM, CD-G, CD-i, CD-MO, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-5, DVD-9, DVD-10, DVD-18, DVD-RO M and any optical disk.  
   
   
       44 . The optical disk of  claim 34  wherein the second set of data is temporary.  
   
   
       45 . The optical disk of  claim 34  wherein the disk comprises a CD.  
   
   
       46 . The optical disk of  claim 34  wherein the disk comprises a DVD.