Abstract: An optical disk system comprises a computer-readable medium containing code for controlling writing by the disk system to a removable optical disk. The optical disk system further comprises an optical pickup unit for reading data from the optical disk and writing data to the optical disk, a spindle motor for rotating the optical disk during the reading and writing, an optical disk controller that processes the data read from and written to the disk; and a processor that executes the code, thereby causing the optical disk system to write user data to the removable optical disk and to write an identifying value indicative of the optical disk system to at least one predetermined area of the removable optical disk.

Abstract: An optical medium containing virtual write protect information can be recorded in drives and systems without first changing the write protection from on to off by receiving valid user input. The virtual write protection may also be enabled or disabled by additional information on the disc.

Abstract: A system (and associated method) comprises a storage drive and a central processing unit (“CPU”). The storage drive is adapted to accommodate a removable storage medium. The CPU is configured to execute code to cause the CPU to write data to an addressable unit of the storage medium and also to write an identifying value to the addressable unit. The identifying value is indicative of an identity of the system or the storage drive.

Abstract: An optical disc is encoded with first, second, and third sets of video data. The first set of video data is for generating a first video stream for a first eye of a viewer. The second and third sets of video data are for second and third video streams for a second eye of a viewer. The first and second sets of video data provide a first level of three-dimensional (3D) viewing depth, and the first and third sets of video data provide a second level of 3D viewing depth.

Abstract: An optical medium containing virtual write protect information can be recorded in drives and systems without first changing the write protection from on to off by receiving valid user input The virtual write protection may also be enabled or disabled by additional information on the disc.

Abstract: An optical medium containing virtual write protect information can be recorded in drives and systems without first changing the write protection from on to off by receiving valid user input. The virtual write protection may also be enabled or disabled by additional information on the disc.

Abstract: Optically detectable marks readable by a wide range of optical systems are included on an optical storage medium. Among other uses, the marks may be used to determine the type of the optical storage medium in an optical device capable of reading multiple types of optical storage media.

Abstract: Compatibility information embedded in an optical medium modifies actions allowed by predetermined non-compatible optical disc drives on the optical medium, such as optical disc drives that may suffer damage if certain actions are performed on the optical medium. For instance, a compatibility engine of the optical disc drive applies compatibility information read from an optical medium to determine restrictions to impose on the use of the optical medium, such as restricting the optical disc drive from writing to the optical medium, reading from the optical medium or performing any operations until an update to the optical disc drive firmware is performed either automatically or by display of a compatibility user interface at an information handling system associated with the optical disc drive. In one embodiment, the compatibility information identifies incompatible optical disc drives and firmware versions by unique identifiers.

Abstract: A system (and associated method) comprises a storage drive and a central processing unit (“CPU”). The storage drive is adapted to accommodate a removable storage medium. The CPU is configured to cause the CPU to write data and a time value to each of a plurality of addressable units of the storage medium in which data is written. The time value is indicative of the time at which each addressable unit was written with data.

Abstract: Compatibility information embedded in an optical medium modifies actions allowed by predetermined non-compatible optical disc drives on the optical medium, such as optical disc drives that may suffer damage if certain actions are performed on the optical medium. For instance, a compatibility engine of the optical disc drive applies compatibility information read from an optical medium to determine restrictions to impose on the use of the optical medium, such as restricting the optical disc drive from writing to the optical medium, reading from the optical medium or performing any operations until an update to the optical disc drive firmware is performed either automatically or by display of a compatibility user interface at an information handling system associated with the optical disc drive. In one embodiment, the compatibility information identifies incompatible optical disc drives and firmware versions by unique identifiers.

Abstract: A system (and associated method) comprises a storage drive and a central processing unit (“CPU”). The storage drive is adapted to accommodate a removable storage medium. The CPU is configured to cause the CPU to write data and a time value to each of a plurality of addressable units of the storage medium in which data is written. The time value is indicative of the time at which each addressable unit was written with data.

Abstract: A data storage medium includes a data structure, called a disk control block, used for administration and control information for the data storage medium. One medium may contain multiple different disk control blocks, each addressing a different function. Each disk control block includes a control block identifier that specifies the function of the disk control block. Each control block also includes a set of standard access control parameters. If a drive encounters an unrecognized disk control block, the drive can still decode the standard control parameters, so that the drive behavior is not inconsistent with the requirements of the unrecognized disk control block.

Abstract: Compatibility information embedded in an optical medium modifies actions allowed by predetermined non-compatible optical disc drives on the optical medium, such as optical disc drives that may suffer damage if certain actions are performed on the optical medium. For instance, a compatibility engine of the optical disc drive applies compatibility information read from an optical medium to determine restrictions to impose on the use of the optical medium, such as restricting the optical disc drive from writing to the optical medium, reading from the optical medium or performing any operations until an update to the optical disc drive firmware is performed either automatically or by display of a compatibility user interface at an information handling system associated with the optical disc drive. In one embodiment, the compatibility information identifies incompatible optical disc drives and firmware versions by unique identifiers.

Abstract: A system (and associated method) comprises a storage drive and a central processing unit (“CPU”). The storage drive is adapted to accommodate a removable storage medium. The CPU is configured to cause the CPU to write data and a time value to each of a plurality of addressable units of the storage medium in which data is written. The time value is indicative of the time at which each addressable unit was written with data.

Abstract: Expiration information stored on an optical medium is applied to determine an expiration date of the optical medium that provides a predetermined reliability of information archived on the optical medium, such as a predetermined acceptable defect level of the information at the expiration date. An expiration engine associated with an information handling system or optical disc drive determines the expiration date from one or more factors, such as the manufacture date of read-only optical media, the initialization date of recordable optical media, a quality rating associated with a defect growth rate over time of the optical media, and a desired reliability. In one embodiment, the expiration engine writes expiration information to the optical media, such as a date stamp at initialization of a recordable optical medium. Alternatively, an expiration date is stored on an information handling system to provide expiration warnings a predetermined time before the expiration date.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a recording device and media for storing computer readable data on a removable storage medium that includes using a first wavelength to write data to the removable storage medium and creating marks while writing the data that have predetermined wide spot sizes so that the marks can be read with a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, of another computer readable storage device.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a method for storing computer readable data on a removable storage medium, including using a first wavelength to write data to the removable storage medium, using a second wavelength to maintain radial tracking on the removable storage medium, wherein the second wavelength is shorter than the first wavelength, and maintaining axial tracking on the removable storage medium with at least one of the first wavelength or the second wavelength.

Abstract: An optical medium has auxiliary information and control data encoded in wobble. The control data specifies action that a drive is permitted or required to take with the auxiliary information. For example, the control data may be used to specify whether a drive reading the medium is permitted to output a region of the auxiliary information. Alternatively, the control data may be used to specify whether a writing drive is permitted to copy a portion of the auxiliary information to a writeable area on the medium.

Abstract: A data storage medium includes a data structure, called a disk control block, used for administration and control information for the data storage medium. One medium may contain multiple different disk control blocks, each addressing a different function. Each disk control block includes a control block identifier that specifies the function of the disk control block. Each control block also includes a set of standard access control parameters. If a drive encounters an unrecognized disk control block, the drive can still decode the standard control parameters, so that the drive behavior is not inconsistent with the requirements of the unrecognized disk control block.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a data storage mechanism within which is stored a computing program. The data storage device also includes a surface used for labeling. The labeling includes machine readable security information. The data program requires machine reading of the security information before at least a portion of the program is run.