Secure optical media storage

Abstract

An optical recording medium is provided for distributing content through a portable medium which can be transported by hand from one media player to another media player. The optical recording medium includes a read-only zone and a writable area. Copy control information is stored in the read-only zone. The copy control information specifies (a) an authorized content source and (b) content which is authorized to be downloaded from the authorized content source and recorded in the writable area of the optical recording medium.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A method for distributing content through a portable medium which can be transported by hand from one media player to another media player, the method comprising:
 (a) providing to an authorized user an optical recording medium comprising a read-only zone and a writable area, wherein electronic copy control information is stored in said read-only zone of said optical recording medium, said copy control information is read by an optical media player and specifies (I) an authorized content source and (II) content which is authorized to be downloaded from said authorized content source and recorded in said writable area of the optical recording medium;   (b) checking said copy control information stored in said read-only zone of the optical recording medium, before information is recorded in said writable area of the optical recording medium; and   (c) allowing (i) downloading from said authorized content source of a file and (ii) recording of the downloaded file in said writable area of the optical recording medium, at least if said file relates to said content which is authorized to be downloaded and recorded according to said copy control information.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said copy control information further specifies a number of content files authorized to be recorded in said writable area of the optical recording medium. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said copy control information further specifies a time window within which the file recorded in said writable area of the optical recording medium can be played back. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the file recorded in the writable area of the optical recording medium is downloaded from the authorized content source through the Internet. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the file recorded in the writable area of the optical recording medium is downloaded from the authorized content source through satellite transmission. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the file recorded in the writable area of the optical recording medium is downloaded from the authorized content source, saved to an intermediate digital content storage device, and then recorded in the writable area of the optical recording medium. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the intermediate digital content storage device is a hard disk of a personal computer. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the intermediate digital content storage device is in a digital video recorder. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the optical recording medium is provided to the authorized user in step (a) through a content distributor or content service provider in exchange for a fee. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the authorized user maintains an account with a content distributor or content service provider, the optical recording medium is provided to the authorized user in step (a) through the content distributor or content service provider, and a fee is charged to the account each time a file is downloaded from said authorized content source and recorded in said writable area of the optical recording medium. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein authorized user pays a subscription fee to a content distributor or content service provider, and the optical recording medium is provided to the authorized user in step (a) through the content distributor or content service provider. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said copy control information includes an identifier uniquely identifying a content distributor or content service provider through whom the optical recording medium is provided. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said copy control information includes an identifier uniquely identifying a content distributor or content service provider to whom a fee is paid. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the fee is commensurate with the content recorded in said writable area of the optical recording medium. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the downloaded content is selectively filtered and the filtered content is recorded in said writable area of the optical recording medium. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the downloaded content is selectively filtered based on an edit list. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the downloaded content is selectively filtered based on user selection. 
   
   
       29 . An electronic system, comprising:
 a recording device;   a processor; and   a program storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to perform steps (b) and (c) of the method claimed in  claim 12 , including controlling said recording device to record said downloaded file to said writable area of the optical recording medium.   
   
   
       30 . A computer data signal transmitted in one or more segments in a transmission medium which embodies instructions executable by a computer system to perform steps (b) and (c) of the method claimed in  claim 12 , said computer system including a recording device for recording said downloaded file to said writable area of the optical recording medium.