Abstract: Present invention refers to a system for protection of data storage discs such as CD, DVD, Video CD, Photo CD, etc., containing subjects of copyright, from illegal copying. Present invention comprises a disc with security code, modified reading device and software. The disc is equipped with a security code situated outside the disc centre, which completely fills and utilizes this area. The software checks and verifies the presence of the security code read by the modified reading device.

Abstract: A video object (26) contains a cell (31) which can be appropriately read and reproduced and a dummy cell (32) which cannot be appropriately read or reproduced. Video title set information (21) contains a plurality of program chains (40) containing a real program chain not specifying the dummy cell (32) and a virtual program chain specifying the dummy cell (32).

Abstract: In the case where data are recorded in a medium, after a specific type of a medium in which recording is performed is set, if it is detected that information is recorded on an address of specific position at which decoding information is to be located, then data at a section in which the decoding information is located are replaced with predetermined information and recording is performed. Alternatively, when data are to be reproduced from a medium, after it is discriminated that data are reproduced from a medium of a specific type, if it is determined that data are reproduced from an address of specific position at which the decoding information is to be located, then reproduction data of a section in which the decoding information is located is replaced with predetermined information and outputted.

Abstract: An optical disk drive recovers data in a write-once optical disk interrupted in the middle of recording operation. An optical disk drive includes a CD-R drive. When MP3 files are recorded in a CD-R, a CPU of the drive creates recovery data including file information, such as a filename, an extension, and a destination folder name of each MP3 file, prior to writing of the MP3 files; and writes the data. When power shutdown arose during recording of the MP3 files, the CPU reads the recovery data written in heads of respective MP3 files; creates FATs by use of the thus-read recovery data; and writes the FATs into the first tack of the CD-R.

Abstract: An optical disc used for storing content includes a theft control area selected to render the disc unreadable. The disc must be exposed to radiation of a specific wavelength before it can be read by a regular device. The theft control area may include an area that contains data that instructs the device not to read the disc. This area includes a coating that changes its optical characteristics when exposed to the radiation. The material could be radiochromic or thermochromic. Alternatively, the theft control area includes an RFID device that includes an element that is radiation sensitive. In this embodiment, when the disc is irradiated, the element changes its electrical characteristics.

Abstract: An optical disc medium includes a system area and a data area. The system area includes a recording operation test area to which a trial recording operation is carried out to determine an optimal record condition when data is recorded in the data area; a record control data area where data necessary to record user data on the data area is recorded; and a user data lead-in area necessary to reproduce the user data from the optical disc medium. Dummy data are recorded to a portion of the record control data area on a side of the user data lead-in area to prevent a track-out when the data area is accessed.

Abstract: A recording medium includes first information selected from a plurality of information patterns and second information selected from another plurality of information patterns for the true-false judgement. A true-false judging device performs a statistic analysis when any coincidence is found between the readout combination of the first and second information and registered combination patterns, to identify an inspected recording medium as a forged product based on the result of the statistic analysis.

Abstract: In the field of content distribution a typical problem is the protection of Digital Rights information (DRM), which is appended to the content and recorded on a record carrier in the form of a corresponding recorded pattern, from tampering by malicious users. According to some known schemes, the protection is implemented by linking the DRM to some physical distinctive feature of the corresponding recorded pattern. From this distinctive feature fingerprint data can be extracted with some conventional method, and used for the authentication of the DRM. The invention proposes a method of recording data wherein variations in the density of the recorded pattern are formed, as result of a perturbation in the recording process, which is a non-controllable substantially random process.

Abstract: In summary, ROM marks (such as wobbles, lateral deviations in the spiral with lands and pits in an optical disc) are used on optical media to ensure consumer-grade copying devices cannot duplicate original media. An additional level of security is that the detection of the side channel information requires knowledge of a certain secret, which must be hidden well in authorized players. If the secret leaks, a professional pirate will be able to detect the ROM mark and duplicate the original medium with the side channel information intact. The present invention proposes that instead of a single ROM mark, many ROM marks are applied to a disc. Further, devices are divided into groups, and each group has the capability to only detect one mark from the group. This way, if a secret is obtained from a device, the disc can be duplicated, but only a limited number of devices will be able to use this disc. Creating a disc that can be played in any device requires the hacking of one device from every group.

Abstract: There is provided an information management apparatus which can make it impossible to read out data recorded on a write-once type recordable optical disk as required and the usefulness thereof is enhanced. When recorded data is destroyed on the write-once type recordable optical disk, data modulated by a modulation system of the same run length restriction as run length restriction of a modulation system used for recording data is overwritten and recorded, data is overwritten and recorded by use of patterns in which the frequency of occurrence of spaces of the longest code is higher than the frequency of occurrence of the modulation system used for recording data, or data is overwritten and recorded by use of successive patterns of the shortest code in the run length restriction of the modulation system used for recording data.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to architectures and/or mechanisms that can facilitate issuing, embedding and verification of an optical DNA (o-DNA) signature. A first mechanism is provided for obtaining a set of manufacturing errors inherent in an optical media instance. These errors can be encoded into the o-DNA that can be cryptographically signed with a private key, then embedded into the source optical media instance. A second mechanism is provided that can decrypt the o-DNA with a public key and compare the authenticated errors to the observed errors to ascertain whether the optical media instance is authentic as opposed to a forgery or counterfeit.

Abstract: A method, medium, and apparatus for determining whether an optical disc is copy protected. The method includes measuring the level of radio frequency (RF) sum signals read from an optical disc, and establishing a gain of the RF sum signal; checking RF sum signals from an area of the optical disc in which no data is written; establishing a predetermined threshold level of the RF sum signals by using the RF sum signals read from a data recording area of the optical disc; comparing the level of the RF sum signals measured from the area in which no data is written with the sum of the level of the RF sum signals measured from the data recording area and the threshold level, and according to the comparison result, measuring the size of the area in which no data is written to determine whether the optical disc is a copy protected disc.

Abstract: A recording medium storing a write protection information, and a write protection method for protecting data recorded on a recordable and/or rewritable disc from unwanted overwriting or erasing. In order for write protection of a disc in a bare state that is usually used in a cartridge having a recognition switch for write-protection, such as a DVD-RAM, write protection information is recorded in a Lead-in area, a Lead-out area or a recording information area other than a user data area of the disc, and the data is protected from unwanted overwriting or erasing using the write protection information. Also, even though the write protection information stored on a disc does not match the state of a recognition switch of a case for write-protection, the data can be prevented from unwanted overwriting or erasing. Thus, the write protection can be ensured when a recordable and/or rewritable recording medium, such as DVD-RAM, DVD-R and DVD-RW, is used in a bare state.

Abstract: In a recordable data storage medium on which property data was recorded after having been modulated and on which data that is decodable by a cryptographic key to be generated from the property data was recorded, the property data was preferably modulated by a different method from that applied to a read-only data storage medium. Then, an optical disc drive, having no ability to distinguish the recordable data storage medium from the read-only data storage medium, cannot read the recordable data storage medium. Consequently, a greater number of drives should be equipped with the function of recognizing the type of a given data storage medium and the copyright protection function should be consolidated.

Abstract: An information storage medium having a lead-in area, a user data area, and a lead-out area, wherein information regarding whether additional information is recorded as wobbling pits is recorded in at least a portion of at least one of the lead-in and the lead-out areas.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to set an operating condition enabling the best recording characteristic to be obtained for any kind of recording media, even in the case where the recording medium is combined with any kind of drive devices. According to the present invention, even in the case where a unknown and new kind of recording medium is loaded into the drive device, a piece of first operating condition information for an optical system suitable for a combination of the drive device and the new kind of recording media is read from a specific read only area provided for the recording medium, and an operating condition enabling the best operating characteristic to be obtained is set by using the first operating condition information, as a result of which even in the case where any kind of recording medium and any kind of drive device are combined, the operating condition for enabling the best recording characteristic to be obtained for the recording medium, can be set in the drive device.

Abstract: The more effective is the copy protection provided on a DVD, the greater is the likelihood that the copy protection will adversely interfere with legitimate uses of the disc. In a disc where the content is arranged in physical sectors, it is now proposed to provide subversive regions on the disc having a similar structure to genuine regions. A subversive region and a genuine region will each extend over one or more physical sectors. The subversive region will be provided with physical sector addresses which coincide with addresses of the genuine region. Navigational data will ensure that it is the genuine, rather than the subversive, region which will be accessed during normal play, but the subversive region will effectively hide the genuine region during copying.

Abstract: The recorder/reproducer (101), when moving a first content data, writes a second content data, which is obtained by re-coding the first content data recorded in a first recording medium, into a second recording medium instead of the first content data, writes one or more first partial information extracted from the first content data into the second recording medium, and makes the first content data irreproducible, using one or more first invalidated partial information having one-to-one correspondence with the extracted one or more first partial information. When restoring the first content data, it makes the irreproducible first content data reproducible, using the one or more first partial information recorded in the second recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium on which a recording/reproducing unit block is recorded, an apparatus to record and/or reproduce data on/from the recording medium, and a method of recording/reproducing the data on/from the recording medium. The recording/reproducing unit block comprises invalid data used in disc certification, and an identifier to indicate that the invalid data is included in the recording/reproducing unit block, the invalid data being used during the disc certification on a portion of the recording medium or the entire recording medium.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are described for providing, for recordal onto a recording medium, recording data having content data and control data for enabling a player playing such a recording medium to navigate through the content data. The apparatus has a copy protector to copy-protect the recording data by controlling the production of parameters that are associated with items of data in the recording data but that are not checked by a physical testing device such that a parameter associated with an item of the recording data that is not on the navigation path is inconsistent with that item of data, or is otherwise not as expected, to cause a copying device reading that the item of data to report an error, thereby inhibiting copying by that copying device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a simple and low cost information protection system for protecting data stored in an individual storage medium by preventing a hacker from entering. Also disclosed are a storage medium and a storage media storage case to be used for the system. The storage medium such as an optical disc has a storage portion for storing information data and predetermined application program data for controlling at least an external device, an electronic circuit portion for reading out the data from the storage portion and controlling an external device based on the read-out application program, and permission information for controlling whether permit or refuse access to the storage portion. A plurality of storage media are stored in a storage case for enabling a person to take out the predetermined storage medium from the storage media storage case only if the person is identified as one of the previously registered particular persons. The taken out storage medium is loaded in an external device.

Abstract: The method and apparatus described utilise the fact that CDs manufactured from the same master will have distinctive physical characteristics attributable to the physical manufacturing process of the master to distinguish counterfeit CDs from genuine discs. For a genuine disc, the relative angular orientation of specified sections of the recorded data are determined and recorded. The relative angular orientation of the same sections of data on a test disc are also determined. Where the relative angular orientations are the same it is concluded that the test disc derives from the same source as the genuine disc and is therefore bona fide. Where there is no correlation, the test disc may be identified as counterfeit. The relative angular orientations, or other physical characteristics of the discs, may be physically measured, or may be calculated from information gained by reading the data on the disc. The disclosed technique can also be used to copy protect discs.

Abstract: A recording medium on which a recording/reproducing unit block is recorded, an apparatus to record and/or reproduce data on/from the recording medium, and a method of recording/reproducing the data on/from the recording medium. The recording/reproducing unit block comprises invalid data used in disc certification, and an identifier to indicate that the invalid data is included in the recording/reproducing unit block, the invalid data being used during the disc certification on a portion of the recording medium or the entire recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium on which a recording/reproducing unit block is recorded, an apparatus to record and/or reproduce data on/from the recording medium, and a method of recording/reproducing the data on/from the recording medium. The recording/reproducing unit block comprises invalid data used in disc certification, and an identifier to indicate that the invalid data is included in the recording/reproducing unit block, the invalid data being used during the disc certification on a portion of the recording medium or the entire recording medium.

Abstract: A recording disc has a lead-in area and a data area. A scrambled version of a SID code word is read out from the lead-in area of the disc. The SID code word represents a producer of the disc. The readout scrambled version is de-scrambled to recover the SID code word. The recovered SID code word is collated with reference SID code words to decide whether or not the disc is legitimate. Main information is read out from the data area of the disc when it is decided that the disc is legitimate. Readout of the main information from the data area of the disc is inhibited when it is decided that the disc is not legitimate.

Abstract: In a recordable data storage medium on which property data was recorded after having been modulated and on which data that is decodable by a cryptographic key to be generated from the property data was recorded, the property data was preferably modulated by a different method from that applied to a read-only data storage medium. Then, an optical disc drive, having no ability to distinguish the recordable data storage medium from the read-only data storage medium, cannot read the recordable data storage medium. Consequently, a greater number of drives should be equipped with the function of recognizing the type of a given data storage medium and the copyright protection function should be consolidated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording medium cartridge memory and recording/reproducing apparatus. A recording medium cartridge consists of a recording medium and a cartridge memory in which a unique ID of the apparatus used for recording/reproducing the cartridge memory is recorded in an unrewritable condition. The apparatus for recording/reproducing the recording cartridge memory consists of a sending/receiving unit which reads out an ID recorded in the cartridge memory, an ID inspection unit inspecting whether or not the ID recorded in the cartridge memory and an ID stored in the apparatus accord by comparing both, and a control unit which records data in a recording medium or control operations of a recording/reproducing unit which reproduces data from the recording medium based on an inspection result in the ID inspection unit.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprising an optical disc readable by an optical reader. The disc provides content replication deterrence by placing an optical satte chance security material in the tracking control region of the disc.

Abstract: A system controller is provided so as to record the second disk type information having the same content as that of the first disk type information, which is recorded in a DVD-R in advance, in a DVD-R in which the first disk type information is recorded as well as to record the record information in the DVD-R and reproduce the record information only if the first disk type information and the second disk type information have the same contents each other upon reproducing the record information.

Abstract: Identifying optical disc properties from information read from the label side of an optical disc is disclosed. The information from the label side of an optical disc is first read. From this information read from the label side of the optical disc, one or more properties of the optical disc are then identified.

Abstract: An optical storage system includes an optical pickup unit movable across an optical medium. The optical pickup unit has a light detector, a laser diode, and a laser driver signal processor circuit. The laser driver signal processor circuit includes a detected signal processing block for outputting read signals corresponding to light received at the light detector, and a read signal processing block for processing the read signals and generating control signals or synthesis signals according to the read signals. A control unit is coupled to the optical pickup unit for controlling the optical pickup unit and decoding data recovered from the optical medium.

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: In one embodiment, a disc has a substrate; a data layer on the substrate; an anomaly-feature in the data layer disc capable of generating a read anomaly having a predictable anomaly profile; and anomaly profile data recorded in the data layer for characterizing the anomaly-feature. A disc can be labeled by imposing an anomaly-feature in the data layer capable of generating a read anomaly having a predictable anomaly profile; and disposing anomaly profile data on the disc, wherein the anomaly profile data characterizes the anomaly-feature.

Abstract: A recorder provides to a recorder/player via a high-speed bus content-related information such as a digital audio signal as information, a content ID being identification information on the digital audio signal and a standard playing time of the digital audio signal. The recorder/player has a controller which stores the content ID into a copy-history information management memory when the same content ID is not existent in the memory. The content ID is held for a period measured by a timer. For this period, the recording function of the recorder/player is limited so that the same digital audio signal cannot be copied at a high speed.

Abstract: An information recording medium, a recording/reproducing method and apparatus, and a host apparatus are provided to ensure compatibility between information recording media having functions of a new standard and existing standard drive systems. The information recording medium includes a data area, a defect management area for managing a defect occurring in the data area, and an access control area in which access control data regarding a recognizable function by a recording/reproducing apparatus into which the medium is loaded and access control data regarding an unrecognizable function by the recording/reproducing apparatus are recorded, wherein a write protection flag recorded in the defect management area and the access control data recorded in the access control area provide reinitialize verification information for verifying whether the medium is reinitializable.

Abstract: An information recording medium, a recording/reproducing method and apparatus, and a host apparatus are provided to ensure compatibility between information recording media having functions of a new standard and existing standard drive systems. The information recording medium includes a data area, a defect management area for managing a defect occurring in the data area, and an access control area in which access control data regarding a recognizable function by a recording/reproducing apparatus into which the medium is loaded and access control data regarding an unrecognizable function by the recording/reproducing apparatus are recorded, wherein a write protection flag recorded in the defect management area and the access control data recorded in the access control area provide reinitialize verification information for verifying whether the medium is reinitializable.

Abstract: An information recording medium, a recording/reproducing method and apparatus, and a host apparatus are provided to ensure compatibility between information recording media having functions of a new standard and existing standard drive systems. The information recording medium includes a data area, a defect management area for managing a defect occurring in the data area, and an access control area in which access control data regarding a recognizable function by a recording/reproducing apparatus into which the medium is loaded and access control data regarding an unrecognizable function by the recording/reproducing apparatus are recorded, wherein a write protection flag recorded in the defect management area and the access control data recorded in the access control area provide reinitialize verification information for verifying whether the medium is reinitializable.

Abstract: A method for disposing of a data recording means that disposes of the means efficiently with securing confidentiality of recorded data, achieving recycling, is intended to be presented. The method includes the steps of putting at least one medium to be disposed of and selected from an optical recording medium and a magnetic recording medium, in which data is recorded, into a recovery box and sealing the box with a sealing means, delivering the sealed box to an operation site, and disposing of data by destroying and/or erasing the recorded data by means of at least one device selected from an optical-data destroying device and a magnetic-data erasing device, with the recovery box maintaining sealed status.

Abstract: In the reproducing apparatus of the present invention, only such audio data which is recorded on a first recording area among audio data recorded on a recording medium is reproduced, linked to recording data recorded on a second recording area.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing access to electronic works over a network. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention offers a user access to electronic copies of works, such as songs, albums, movies, or music videos, over a network. The user responds to the offer by requesting to access to a particular work. Before such a request is granted, the present invention may verify that the user is authorized to access to the work. In one embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they possess a physical copy of the work. In another embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they ordered or purchased a copy of the work. If a user's authorization is verified, the user may then be provided with access to an electronic copy of the work by such techniques as downloading or streaming.

Abstract: When data is recorded on an optical disc capable of recording information only once, such as a DVD-R and the like, encrypted data obtained by encrypting the recording data and a key for decrypting the encrypted data are generated, and they are recorded in different areas on the recording medium. When the data recorded by the recording method is erased, only a key portion in a file including the key for decrypting the encrypted data is physically made a defect, or is registered as the defect by a defect management system. Thereby, since the key portion becomes unreadable, it becomes impossible that the recording data is restored by decrypting the encrypted data. Therefore, the recording data can be substantially completely erased.

Abstract: Before each content file is recorded first to a recording medium, a flag indicating a recording state of a content file is generated corresponding to a physical area where an index file can be continuously recorded. An index file is generated which associates attribute information with the generated flag added thereto with real data of each content file, and the generated index file is recorded to the recording medium. Since fragmentation of the physical area where the index file is recorded is restrained to a minimum level, a high-speed reading operation is realized.

Abstract: A reproduction-only optical disc has a lead-in area, a user data area, and a lead-out area. Disc related information recorded on at least one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area is recorded by high frequency groove wobbles, and data of the user data area is recorded by pits. Since the high-density reproduction-only optical disc uses the same channels for reproduction signals as a high-density recordable optical disc, the two types of discs are consistent with each other and are compatible with the same disc drives.

Abstract: A disc recording and reproducing device and method record video data using a new file system other existing device cannot recognize. However, when a disc thus recorded is loaded in the existing device, the user is prevented from being instructed to format the disc (initialize the file system) or inadvertently erasing data thereon. The disc recording and reproducing device comprises the following elements. A first write-enable state setting unit checks a write inhibit flag when a disc is loaded, and sets the flag on the disc to a write-enable state when the flag is in a write-protect state. A first write-protect state setting unit checks information in a record history information storage when the disc is unloaded, and sets the flag on the disc to the write-protect state when data is recorded thereon or the flag in the memory is in the write-protect state and no data is recorded.

Abstract: A compact disc (10) for a computer incorporates a security device for preventing non-authorized reading of data carried by the disc. The security device includes an LCD laser blocker (16) which is activated or deactivated by means of a microchip (13) powered by a cell (14) and/or solar panel (15). Authorized reading of the data is possible by a fingerprint scanner (12) linked to the microchip and causing it to deactivate the blocker (16), when the scanner recognizes a user's fingerprint which the microchip matches to a programmed authorized fingerprint. Also disclosed is a data carrying compact disc (20) which incorporates security means to allow a first reading of the data of the disc, but to prevent such reading thereafter. An area (21) of the disc, such as a FAT file, can be arranged to be destroyed or blocked, to prevent subsequent reading thereof by the disc reading means.

Abstract: In an optical head for performing the reproduction or recording of information for two or more types of different optical disks, the damage caused to an optical disk or an objective lens by collision between the optical disk and the objective lens is avoided. An optical heads device for reproducing or recording two or more types of information recording mediums different from each other comprises a first optical system, a second optical system, and a control unit for avoiding the collision between an optical disk and a second objective lens when a first optical system is in operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data recording/reproducing apparatus (1), which includes a reader (3) for reading content data recorded in a minidisc (2), and a controller (4) for generating one file by gathering a plurality of content units not continued with each other to the read contents data and executing a process for generating relative position information of each content unit when the file is generated. The controller further divides the content unit into parts at a discontinuous point if each content unit for constituting the generated file includes a discontinuous area on a recording medium in case of reading the relative position information by the reader, and generates absolute position information on the recording media of each part. The relative position information of the content unit for constituting the read file and the absolute position information of the parts are stored in a table memory (6).

Abstract: The present invention provides a DSV normal controller and a DSV special controller. In only a predetermined region designated on an optical disc, the DSV special control is performed. The DSV special control causes the absolute value of the DSV to increase so that data will be prevented from being normally reproduced. The normal control causes the absolute value of the DSV to converge at 0. When data is reproduced from the optical disc, if the reproduction state of the predetermined region is abnormal, it is determined that the disc is an original disc. An encryption key can be recorded in the predetermined region.

Abstract: An information writing/reading apparatus that cooperates with an information record medium including a ROM area and a RAM area, either the RAM area or the ROM area having in advance control information recorded thereon used to limit reading and/or writing of information, the information writing/reading apparatus including an optical pick-up unit for reading information stored on the information record medium; and a control unit for, based on the control information read by the optical pick-up unit, limiting reading and/or writing of information from/to the other area on which the control information is not recorded and outputting a signal which notifies of presence of the other area only out of the ROM area and the RAM area on the information record medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing and/or reading write protection data using a recording medium storing write protection information, and a write protection method and apparatus for protecting data recorded on a recordable and/or rewritable disc from unwanted overwriting or erasing. In order for write protection of a disc in a bare state that is usually used in a cartridge having a recognition switch for write-protection, such as a DVD-RAM, write protection information is recorded in a Lead-in area, a Lead-out area or a recording information area other than a user data area of the disc, and the data is protected from unwanted overwriting or erasing using the write protection information. Also, even though the write protection information stored on a disc does not match the state of a recognition switch of a case for write-protection, the data can be prevented from unwanted overwriting or erasing.