Wireless activation system and method

Abstract

A system and method for wireless activation of a target. A communication device transmits an ID associated with the target to a network operations center. The network operations center provides an activation signal to the communication device. The communication device wirelessly transmits an acoustic activation signal to a nearby activation device. The activation device is positioned proximate the target and causes a change in at least one physical property of the target. The target may be an optical media containing an electrochromic material with optical properties that change on application of an electric signal.

1 . An optical media that is alterable by application of an electrical signal to affect a change in the perceptibility of the optical media.  
   
   
       2 . The optical media of  claim 1 , wherein the optical media comprises an electro-optic material having at least one physical, optical, or electrical property that changes in response to the electrical signal.  
   
   
       3 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein the change in the physical, optical, or electrical property is reversible.  
   
   
       4 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein the change in the physical, optical, or electrical property is irreversible.  
   
   
       5 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein the change in the physical, optical, or electrical property is repeatable.  
   
   
       6 . The optical media of  claim 2 , further comprising an input interface for applying the electrical signal to the electro-optic material.  
   
   
       7 . The optical media of  claim 6  wherein the input interface applies the electrical signal to the electro-optic material upon receipt of an authorization code from the authorizing entity.  
   
   
       8 . The optical media of  claim 2  wherein any change in the perceptibility of the optical media is limited to a certain number of times.  
   
   
       9 . The optical media of  claim 2  wherein any change in the change in the perceptibility is limited to a period of time.  
   
   
       10 . The optical media of  claim 2  further comprising means for receiving power from an external source.  
   
   
       11 . The optical media of  claim 2 , further comprising an input interface, the input interface comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving an activation signal;    a converter for converting the received activation signal to the electrical signal; and    means for applying the electrical signal to the electro-optic material to change the perceptibility of the optical media.    
   
   
       12 . The optical media of  claim 11 , wherein the input interface further comprises a timer, and means for conditionally applying the electrical signal in response to the timer.  
   
   
       13 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the perceptibility is of content in the electro-optic material.  
   
   
       14 . The optical media of  claim 2 , further comprising a content storage medium underlying the electro-optic material, wherein the perceptibility comprises accessibility of content stored in the content storage medium through the electro-optic material.  
   
   
       15 . The optical media of  claim 2 , further comprising a substrate underlying the electro-optic material, wherein at least a portion of the perceptibility is of information stored on the substrate through the electro-optic material.  
   
   
       16 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein the electro-optical material includes separate inclusions.  
   
   
       17 . The optical media of  claim 16 , wherein the inclusions are separately addressable.  
   
   
       18 . The optical media of  claim 2 , further comprising a removable activation device proximate the material for applying the electrical signal for applying the electrical signal to the material.  
   
   
       19 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein the electro-optic material is limited to specific locations on the optical media.  
   
   
       20 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein the electro-optic material is arranged in tracks or rings on the optical media.  
   
   
       21 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein the electro-optic material is arranged as one or more layers of the optical media.  
   
   
       22 . The optical media of  claim 2  wherein the electro-optic material is arranged in patterns on the optical media.  
   
   
       23 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein the electro-optic material is located on a first surface of the optical media.  
   
   
       24 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein the electro-optic material is located on top of a reflective surface of the optical media.  
   
   
       25 . The optical media of  claim 2 , wherein the electro-optic material is located below a protective coating of the optical media.  
   
   
       26 . The optical media of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a second electro-optic material having at least one physical, optical, or electrical property that changes in response to the electrical signal.    
   
   
       27 . The optical media of  claim 1 , wherein the optical media further comprises an embedded ID for provision to an authorizing entity.  
   
   
       28 . The optical media of  claim 27 , wherein the embedded ID changes in response to application of the electrical signal.  
   
   
       29 . The optical media of  claim 27 , further comprising receiving means for receiving an authorization code.  
   
   
       30 . The optical media of  claim 27 , wherein the authorizing entity provides an authorization code associated with the embedded ID.  
   
   
       31 . The optical media of  claim 1 , wherein the change in the perceptibility of the optical media either enables or restricts access to information contained in the optical media.  
   
   
       32 . The optical media of  claim 1 , wherein the optical media changes color when the electrical signal is applied.  
   
   
       33 . The optical media of  claim 1 , wherein the optical media conceals or reveals content when the electrical signal is applied.  
   
   
       34 . The optical media of  claim 1 , wherein the optical media includes an electrochromic film or a liquid crystal material.  
   
   
       35 . The optical media of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical energy source to deliver the electrical signal.  
   
   
       36 . The optical media of  claim 35  further comprising an electro-optic material, wherein the input interface controls the delivery of energy from the electrical energy source to the electro-optic material.  
   
   
       37 . The optical media of  claim 36 , wherein the electrical energy source comprises an electromagnetic power receiver.  
   
   
       38 . The optical media of  claim 36 , wherein the electrical energy source comprises an electrical power storage device.  
   
   
       39 . The optical media of  claim 35  further comprising an input interface coupled to the electrical energy source.  
   
   
       40 . The optical media of  claim 1  further comprising a device selected from the group consisting of a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a laser disk, a hologram, a credit card, a driver's license, an identification card, a security pass, a ticket, a coupon, and a product having a content-readable or content-writeable element.  
   
   
       41 . The optical media of  claim 1 , further comprising an element selected from the group consisting of an electrochromic film, an electrochromic material, and a liquid crystal.  
   
   
       42 . The optical media of  claim 1  wherein the electrical signal affects the readability or writeability of the optical media.  
   
   
       43 . The optical media of  claim 42  wherein a removable activation device proximate the optical material applies the electrical signal to the optical material.  
   
   
       44 . The optical media of  claim 1 , comprising an embedded ID and secured code.  
   
   
       45 . The optical media of  claim 44 , wherein the secured code is associated with the embedded ID.  
   
   
       46 . The optical media of  claim 1 , comprising an input interface for conditionally applying the electrical signal to effect the change in perceptibility.  
   
   
       47 . The optical media of  claim 46 , wherein the conditional application of the electrical signal is dependent on data received from an activation device.  
   
   
       48 . The optical media of  claim 47 , further comprising an embedded ID, wherein the input interface is configured to require the data received from the activation device to correspond to the embedded ID.  
   
   
       49 . The optical media of  claim 48 , further comprising a secured code, wherein the input interface is configured to require the data received from the activation device to correspond to the secured code.  
   
   
       50 . An optical media comprising: 
 a material having at least one physical, optical, or electrical property that changes in response to an electrical signal, the change in the physical, optical, or electrical property of the material affecting the accessibility of content stored within the optical media.    
   
   
       51 . The optical media of  claim 50 , and further comprising an input interface element in contact with the material to apply the electrical signal to the material.  
   
   
       52 . The optical media of  claim 51 , wherein the input interface element applies a power component of the signal to the material and uses a data component of the signal to regulate application of power.  
   
   
       53 . The optical media of  claim 51 , wherein the optical media is an optical disk or a hologram embedded in a credit card.  
   
   
       54 . The optical media of  claim 50  further comprising: 
 an input interface that regulates accessibility to the content stored within the optical media by controlling at least one physical, optical, or electrical property of the material affecting accessibility.    
   
   
       55 . The optical media of  claim 54  wherein the input interface permits access to the content stored in the optical media if an external signal provides a correct activation code.  
   
   
       56 . The optical media of  claim 55  further comprising an embedded ID, wherein the correct activation code is associated with the embedded ID.  
   
   
       57 . The optical media of  claim 50 , wherein the change in the physical, optical, or electrical property is reversible.  
   
   
       58 . The optical media of  claim 50 , wherein the change in the physical, optical, or electrical property is irreversible.  
   
   
       59 . The optical media of  claim 50 , wherein the change in the physical, optical, or electrical property is repeatable.  
   
   
       60 . The optical media of  claim 50  further comprising means for receiving power from an external source.  
   
   
       61 . An optical media comprising: 
 an electrical energy source switcheable by an external signal.    
   
   
       62 . The optical media of  claim 61  wherein the energy source alters at least one physical, optical, or electrical property of the optical media when it is activated by the external signal.  
   
   
       63 . The optical media of  claim 61  further comprising: 
 an input interface communicatively coupled to the electrical energy source, the input interface and electrical energy source configured to change at least one physical, optical, or electrical property of the optical media in response to receiving the external signal.    
   
   
       64 . The optical media of  claim 63  wherein the input interface activates the energy source and provides access to content stored in the optical media.  
   
   
       65 . The optical media of  claim 64  wherein the input interface permits access to content stored in the optical media if the external signal provides a correct activation code.  
   
   
       66 . The optical media of  claim 64  wherein the input interface uses one or more codes stored in the optical media to enable conditional access to content in the optical media.  
   
   
       67 . The optical media of  claim 66  wherein the input interface can alter the one or more codes stored in the optical media.  
   
   
       68 . The optical media of  claim 61  wherein the energy source includes thin films or gels organized to store energy.  
   
   
       69 . The optical media of  claim 61  wherein the energy source is external to the optical media.  
   
   
       70 . The optical media of  claim 61  wherein the energy source is integral to the optical media.  
   
   
       71 . The optical media of  claim 61  wherein the energy source maintains the optical media in a first operating state.  
   
   
       72 . The optical media of  claim 71  wherein the external signal causes the optical media to change from the first operating state to a second operating state.  
   
   
       73 . The optical media of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 an electro-optical material having an optical property that changes in response to an electrical signal.    
   
   
       74 . The optical media of  claim 73  wherein the electrical energy source provides an electrical signal to the electro-optical material for changing the optical property when the switched energy source is activated or deactivated.  
   
   
       75 . The optical media of  claim 61 , wherein the electrical energy source device comprises a battery or a capacitor.  
   
   
       76 . The optical media of  claim 61 , wherein the electrical energy source device comprises thin films or gels.  
   
   
       77 . An optical storage media comprising: 
 a content storage layer;    a control layer adjacent the content storage layer; and    an input interface communicatively coupled to the control layer, the input interface configured to receive an external activation signal and regulate access to the content stored in the content storage layer by activating or deactivating the control layer.    
   
   
       78 . The optical storage media of  claim 77  further comprising: 
 an electrical energy source coupled to the control layer,    wherein the input interface permits access to the content stored in the content storage layer if it receives a correct activation code.    
   
   
       79 . An optical media comprising: 
 an input interface configured to receive an external activation signal and conditionally activate access to content in the optical media based on the external activation signal by altering the perceptibility of the optical media.    
   
   
       80 . The optical media of  claim 79  wherein the input interface first determines if the external activation signal includes an acceptable activation code prior to activating access to the content in the optical media.  
   
   
       81 . The optical media of  claim 79  wherein the optical media has codes stored therein.  
   
   
       82 . The optical media of  claim 79  wherein the input interface alters the perceptibility of the optical media by controlling an optical, electrical or physical property of the optical media.  
   
   
       83 . The optical media of  claim 82  wherein the input interface conditionally affects the physical property of the optical media upon receipt of one or more codes associated with an identification value of the optical media.  
   
   
       84 . The optical media of  claim 83  wherein the input interface uses the codes stored in the optical media to enable conditional access to content in the optical media.  
   
   
       85 . The optical media of  claim 84  wherein the input interface can alter the codes stored in the optical media.  
   
   
       86 . The optical media of  claim 79  wherein the input interface includes an electrode through which the external activation signal can be received by the input interface.  
   
   
       87 . The optical media of  claim 86  wherein the electrode is accessible on the surface of the optical media.  
   
   
       88 . The optical media of  claim 86  wherein the electrode is removable.  
   
   
       89 . The optical media of  claim 86  wherein the electrode is coupled to an electrical energy source.  
   
   
       90 . The optical media of  claim 89  wherein the electrical energy source is physically coupled to the optical media.  
   
   
       91 . The optical media of  claim 89  wherein the input interface releases power from the electrical energy source that alters an optical, electrical or physical property of the optical media.  
   
   
       92 . The optical media of  claim 79  wherein the input interface regulates the number of times the content on the optical media can be accessed.  
   
   
       93 . An optical media comprising: 
 an encryption-decryption device for encrypting or decrypting data.    
   
   
       94 . The optical media of  claim 93  wherein the encryption-decryption device decrypts data stored in the optical media.  
   
   
       95 . The optical media of  claim 94  wherein the data decrypted by the encryption-decryption device is transmitted from the optical media.  
   
   
       96 . The optical media of  claim 93  wherein data decrypted by the encryption-decryption device is used in conjunction with other data to produce dependent data.  
   
   
       97 . The optical media of  claim 93  wherein data decrypted by the encryption-decryption device is used to initiate a conditional access to content stored in the optical media.  
   
   
       98 . The optical media of  claim 97  where the conditional access includes changing the perceptibility of the optical media.  
   
   
       99 . The optical media of  claim 93  wherein the encryption-decryption device is embedded in the optical media.  
   
   
       100 . An optical media comprising: 
 a content area for storing content; and    an input interface including an optical media ID and an encrypted security code, the input interface configured to 
 transmit the optical media ID and encrypted security code from the optical media upon receipt of an interrogation signal, and  
 receive an activation signal that allows access to the content stored in the content area.  
   
   
   
       101 . The optical media of  claim 100  wherein the activation signal allows access to the content if the activation signal includes a correct activation code.  
   
   
       102 . An optical media comprising: 
 a content area for storing content; and    an input interface including an encrypted code.    
   
   
       103 . The optical media of  claim 102  wherein the input interface further includes an optical media ID.  
   
   
       104 . The optical media of  claim 102  wherein the encrypted code is associated with the optical media ID.  
   
   
       105 . The optical media of  claim 102  wherein access to the content in the content area is conditional upon the optical media receiving an activation signal which associated with the encrypted code.