Machine-readable optical disc with reading-inhibit agent

Abstract

An optical disc having machine-readable, information-encoding features is provided with a barrier layer secured to the disc. This barrier layer is configured to prevent machine-reading of the features. A reading-inhibit agent, included in the disc and activated by removal of the barrier layer, is operative, once activated, to alter the disc to inhibit reading of the disc, after some period of time. Alternately, the barrier layer can be eliminated, and the reading-inhibit agent can be activated by initial reading of the disc, as for example by exposure to optical radiation associated with reading of the disc, or rotation of the disc.

1. A method for inhibiting reading of an optical disc, comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing an optical disc comprising machine-readable, information-encoding features, and a reading-inhibit agent, said inhibit agent activated by optical radiation and operative, once activated, to alter the disc to inhibit reading and to provide a short effective life for the disc;  
 (b) providing a reading device operative to read the disc, said reading device comprising a source of optical radiation; and  
 (c) reading the disc with the source while concurrently activating the inhibit agent with optical radiation from the source.  
 
     
     
       2. A method for inhibiting reading of an optical disc, said method comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing an optical disc comprising: 
 machine-readable, information-encoding features;  
 a barrier layer releasably coupled to the disc, said barrier layer configured to prevent machine reading of the features; and,  
 a reading-inhibit agent included in the disc and activated by removal of the barrier layer, said reading-inhibit agent operative, once activated, to initially allow reading of the disc, and then to alter the disc to inhibit reading of the disc; then  
 
 (b) removing the barrier layer to allow machine reading of the features and to activate the reading inhibit agent; then,  
 (c) reading the disc after removal of the barrier layer but before the disc is altered by the reading inhibit agent to inhibit reading of the disc; and then,  
 (d) said reading-inhibit agent then altering the disc to provide a short effective life for the disc.  
 
     
     
       3. The invention of  claim 2  wherein the disc comprises a first surface, wherein the features are adjacent the first surface, wherein the inhibit agent is adjacent the features: and wherein the barrier layer is adjacent the inhibit agent. 
     
     
       4. The invention of  claim 2  wherein the disc comprises a translucent layer operative to transmit a beam of light toward the features, wherein the inhibit agent is incorporated in or adjacent to the translucent layer, and wherein the barrier layer comprises a sheet adjacent the translucent layer. 
     
     
       5. The invention of  claim 2  wherein the disc comprises a reflective film, and wherein the inhibit agent comprises a corrosion-enhancing agent disposed in or adjacent to the reflective film. 
     
     
       6. The invention of  claim 2  wherein the inhibit agent is operative, once activated, to alter a physical dimension of the disc. 
     
     
       7. An optically- readable medium comprising:      an information encoded region, said information encoded region readable by an optical beam from a reading device;        at least one reading - inhibit agent in communication with at least one of a portion of said information encoded region and the optical beam, wherein said at least one reading - inhibit agent inhibits reading of at least a portion of said information encoded region by the optical beam after a predetermined period of time after removal of an enclosure; and        the enclosure enclosing said optically - readable medium wherein said at least one reading - inhibit agent provides a short effective life for said optically - readable medium.     
     
     
       8. The optically- readable medium according to    claim 7   , wherein said reading - inhibit agent is selected from one of an oxidizable material, a dye, a hygroscopic material, a photoreactive material, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
       9. The optically- readable medium according to    claim 7   , wherein said reading - inhibit agent inhibits reading of the at least a portion of said information encoded features by one of absorbing light from the optical beam, altering the reflectivity of the reflective layer, or physically altering a portion of the optically - readable medium.   
     
     
       10. An optically- readable medium, comprising:      at least one substrate having information encoded features with a reflective layer to reflect an incident optical read beam so that the optical read beam may read the information encoded features; and        a reading - inhibit agent included in the optically - readable medium that, once operative, prevents at least a portion of the information encoded features from being read by the incident optical read beam wherein said reading - inhibit agent provides a short effective life for said optically - readable medium.     
     
     
       11. The optically readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein said reading- inhibit agent is located in the path of the incident optical read beam.   
     
     
       12. The optically- readable medium according to    claim 10   , wherein said reading - inhibit agent is selected from one of an oxidizable material, a dye, a hygroscopic material, a photoreactive material, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
       13. The optically- readable medium according to    claim 10   , wherein said reading - inhibit agent inhibits reading of the at least a portion of said information encoded features by one of absorbing light from the optical beam, altering the reflectivity of the reflective layer, or physically distorting or altering a portion of the optically - readable medium.   
     
     
       14. The optically- readable medium according to    claim 10   , wherein said reading - inhibit agent is activated by optical radiation.   
     
     
       15. The optically- readable medium according to    claim 10   , wherein said short effective life for said optically - readable medium is determined by the number of times the at least a portion of the information encoded features is read by the optical beam.   
     
     
       16. The optically- readable medium according to    claim 10   , wherein said reading - inhibit agent corrodes the at least a portion of the information encoded features.   
     
     
       17. The optically- readable medium according to    claim 10   , wherein said reading - inhibit agent, once activated, increases optical scattering of the at least a portion of the information encoded features.   
     
     
       18. The optically- readable medium according to    claim 10   , wherein said reading - inhibit agent, once activated, inhibits reading by the optical beam by promoting deterioration of the at least a portion of the information encoded features.   
     
     
       19. The optically- readable medium according to    claim 10   , wherein said reading - inhibit agent, once activated, interferes with the optical beam.