Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for allowing network enabled devices to interconnect via auto-discovery and manual discovery. The interconnections are made via a communication cloud, which is a resource on a server that acts as a transmission channel between authorized devices. The protocol includes a Communication Cloud Assignment that defines a process for designating a device to a cloud. Once a device is connected to a cloud, it uses a Service Discovery/Delivery Protocol to request and/or advertise its services to other devices on the cloud. Devices with appropriate criteria such as the same IP address, subnet, service protocol etc. will be placed on the same cloud; thus, those devices will automatically discover each other and their services. A device may be manually directed from its originating cloud to another cloud when a special code is entered.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc with a first area to store data for playback and that is reflective or opaque to visible light, and a second area that is transparent to visible light and includes first and second concentric rings. In one embodiment, a method of printing information on the optical disc includes: printing an inverse first text pattern in the first ring during a first printing on a first side, where the first text pattern is formed in reverse as viewed from the first side; printing a second text pattern in the second ring during a second printing on the first side, where the second text pattern is correctly visible from the first side; and printing, during the second printing, a first solid pattern to overlay at least a portion of the first text pattern, where the first text pattern is correctly visible as viewed from a second side.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of controlling distribution of content can include: sending authentication instructions from a server to a disc player having a disc inserted therein, where the disc includes media content without a plurality of files that are required by the disc player for playback of the media content; determining if the disc in the disc player is valid by comparing information received from the disc player against information stored in a database; receiving viewer verification information from the disc player to determine if the viewer is authorized to view the playback of the media content on the disc; sending an error indication if the disc is not valid and/or the viewer is not authorized; and sending the plurality of files that are required for the playback of the media content from the server to the disc player if the viewer is authorized and the disc is valid.

Abstract: A requesting device can browse global file repositories and select a file in a source to be copied to a target directly without having to pass the file through the requesting device. A servlet-established controller can manage and monitor the process.

Abstract: Online interactions using optical disc players are facilitated by extracting information from a user request that was initiated from an optical disc player, and then using the extracted information to identify pre-existing user-specific data. A short code, which is specific to the desired online interaction and associated with the extracted information and pre-existing information, is generated and transmitted back to the optical disc player. This short code is then provided back to the back-end server by the user from a secondary consumer electronic device, and used to retrieve associated information, such as the target website for consummating the desired interaction and the previously-identified pre-existing information. Retrieved information is used to populate data fields on the target website prior the user being re-directed to the target website.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc with a first area to store data for playback and that is reflective or opaque to visible light, and a second area that is transparent to visible light and includes first and second concentric rings. In one embodiment, a method of printing information on the optical disc includes: printing an inverse first text pattern in the first ring during a first printing on a first side, where the first text pattern is formed in reverse as viewed from the first side; printing a second text pattern in the second ring during a second printing on the first side, where the second text pattern is correctly visible from the first side; and printing, during the second printing, a first solid pattern to overlay at least a portion of the first text pattern, where the first text pattern is correctly visible as viewed from a second side.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc with a first area to store data for playback and that is reflective or opaque to visible light, and a second area that is transparent to visible light and includes first and second concentric rings. In one embodiment, a method of printing information on the optical disc includes: printing an inverse first text pattern in the first ring during a first printing on a first side, where the first text pattern is formed in reverse as viewed from the first side; printing a second text pattern in the second ring during a second printing on the first side, where the second text pattern is correctly visible from the first side; and printing, during the second printing, a first solid pattern to overlay at least a portion of the first text pattern, where the first text pattern is correctly visible as viewed from a second side.

Abstract: Various aspects of a system and method for managing media content may include a media management server communicatively coupled to a media vending device. A portable media storage device may be authenticated in response to a first request to transfer the media content from the media vending device to the portable media storage device. The transferred media content and the portable media storage device are authenticated in response to a second request to render the transferred media content at a media rendering device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of controlling playback of media content can include: receiving a delivery indication that a disc having media content stored thereon has been physically received by a user at a delivery location; receiving an authorization code and a disc identifier via a web interface, where the authorization code is determined by a disc player in response to the disc being inserted into the disc player; determining whether the user is authorized to playback the media content on the disc player based on the disc identifier, the delivery indication, and the authorization code; and providing an unlock code via the web interface if the user is determined to be authorized to playback the media content on the disc player, where the unlock code is to be entered via the disc player to allow the playback of the media content.

Abstract: A requesting device can browse global file repositories and select a file in a source to be copied to a target directly without having to pass the file through the requesting device. A servlet-established controller can manage and monitor the process.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, customized content is determined and provided to a user based on a unique identifier stored on a memory device. In one embodiment, a method of delivering content can include: accessing a unique identifier from a memory device that is removably coupled to a computing device, where the memory device includes the unique identifier and preloaded content; using the unique identifier to determine personalized information about a user of the memory device; authenticating the memory device by using the unique identifier from the memory device; determining customized content for the user if the memory device is authenticated, where the customized content is based on the unique identifier; and providing the customized content for presentation to the user along with the preloaded content and the personalized information.

Abstract: Comparing images, including: selecting a target image; selecting one or more search images; comparing the target image to a negative image corresponding to each search image to generate an image comparison score for each search image; and identifying the search image with the best image comparison score. Keywords include logging events and frame matching.

Abstract: A method of making optical devices includes applying an energy sensitive protective material and an energy sensitive advanced optical material to a surface. The surface can be on the optical device or on a carrier, such as a thin sheet, to be applied to the optical device. Light energy is applied through a special production filter to cure the energy sensitive protective material on the surface while blocking light energy outside a selected wavelength spectrum from reaching the material. A portion of the optical device can then be masked, and light energy outside the spectrum filtered by the special production filter can be applied to activate the unmasked portion of the advanced optical material. The special production filter allows curing of the protective material using light energy in a limited (e.g., visible) spectrum so that the advanced optical material can be activated using light energy in the ultraviolet spectrum.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of controlling distribution of content can include: sending authentication instructions from a server to a disc player having a disc inserted therein, where the disc includes media content without a plurality of files that are required by the disc player for playback of the media content; determining if the disc in the disc player is valid by comparing information received from the disc player against information stored in a database; receiving viewer verification information from the disc player to determine if the viewer is authorized to view the playback of the media content on the disc; sending an error indication if the disc is not valid and/or the viewer is not authorized; and sending the plurality of files that are required for the playback of the media content from the server to the disc player if the viewer is authorized and the disc is valid.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of controlling playback of media content can include: receiving a delivery indication that a disc having media content stored thereon has been physically received by a user at a delivery location; receiving an authorization code and a disc identifier via a web interface, where the authorization code is determined by a disc player in response to the disc being inserted into the disc player; determining whether the user is authorized to playback the media content on the disc player based on the disc identifier, the delivery indication, and the authorization code; and providing an unlock code via the web interface if the user is determined to be authorized to playback the media content on the disc player, where the unlock code is to be entered via the disc player to allow the playback of the media content.

Abstract: Logging events in a media file, including: providing a logger tool to allow a user to view media in multiple ways and to capture and validate key events within the media file; and tracking and logging events in the media file by adding information to the media file including locations of bars and tone, slates, content, logos, commercial blacks, quality control issues, subtitles, and captions.

Abstract: A system for selectively enabling or disabling an optical device. In an illustrative embodiment, the system implements an optical-device theft-prevention system. The theft-prevention system includes a material that is selectively positioned on, in, or relative to the optical device so that the transparency of the material affects a desired operation of the optical device. An energy beam is selectively employed to enable or disable the optical device by affecting the transparency of the material. In a specific embodiment, the fist material includes a dye, such as an energy-sensitive dye. The optical device includes an optical disc, such as Compact Disc (CD) or Digital Video Disc (DVD). The energy-sensitive dye is disposed over an entire readable surface of the optical device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc with a first area to store data for playback and that is reflective or opaque to visible light, and a second area that is transparent to visible light and includes first and second concentric rings. In one embodiment, a method of printing information on the optical disc includes: printing an inverse first text pattern in the first ring during a first printing on a first side, where the first text pattern is formed in reverse as viewed from the first side; printing a second text pattern in the second ring during a second printing on the first side, where the second text pattern is correctly visible from the first side; and printing, during the second printing, a first solid pattern to overlay at least a portion of the first text pattern, where the first text pattern is correctly visible as viewed from a second side.

Abstract: Logging events in a media file, including: providing a logger tool to allow a user to view media in multiple ways and to capture and validate key events within the media file; and tracking and logging events in the media file by adding information to the media file including locations of bars and tone, slates, content, logos, commercial blacks, quality control issues, subtitles, and captions.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a loss prevention system includes: providing a disc having a top planar surface; and applying an identification mark on the top planar surface, the identification mark containing covert security information.