Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTE11, 1IETHOD AND ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE FOR THE PURCHASE
AND USE OF ELECTRONIC CONTENT UTILIZING A LASER-CENTRIC
MEDIU11I
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a distribution and tracking system that
utilizes a set of bits on
an electronic medium to track and control the purchase and use of content
electronically.
Background of the Invention
The now familiar compact disk preserves information as a series of microscopic
pits and
smooth areas, oriented in concentric circular or helical tracks, on the
otherwise smooth, planar
surface of an annular disk. Recorded information is read from a compact disk
by directing a
focused laser beam along the recorded tracks, and detecting variations in the
intensity of the
laser beam as it encounters the microscopic pits and smooth areas on the disk.
The coherence
and relatively short wavelength of laser radiation enables large volumes of
information to be
written onto very small spaces of a recording medium.
Compact disks were first introduced in the music recording industry in 1982,
and now account
for 43% of all recorded music sales. In the United States alone, over three
hundred million
compact disks are sold annually, with a retail value of over three billion
dollars, according to
the Recording Industry Association of America. The recording industry has for
the last ten
years packaged the five inch in diameter prerecorded compact disks in six inch
by twelve inch
cardboard boxes known in the industry as "long boxes." The long box is easily
propped up in
display bins alongside traditional vinyl LPs in music store display bins. More
importantly,
however, the bulk of the long box makes it difficult for a shoplifter to hide
a prerecorded
compact disk under a coat or in a purse and walk out of a music store without
paying. While
the long box packaging technique for prerecorded compact disks has been
somewhat effective
as an anti-theft device, the excess packaging it creates accounts for as much
as twenty five
million pounds of packaging waste annually.
The Recording Industry Association of America accordingly announced in 1991
its intention
to abandon the long box. In February of 1992, the Association announced that,
beginning in
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April 1993. all prerecorded compact disks would be marketed in five inch by
five and one half
inch packages.
When Compact Discs (CD)s or Digital Video or Versatile Disks (DVD)s are
manufactured,
they are frequently transported and stored on spindles. This is at least in
part due to the fragile
nature of the storage medium. Since each disk has a center hole, is relatively
thin and is
relatively liUht, storage of multiple discs on a spindle is convenient.
Spindles, as used in the
manufacture of disks, typically have a central post about two feet long and
weighted base
about two inches thick. Depending upon the level of automation of the disk
manufacturing
process, disks may be stored or carried on spindles several times before
printing or packaging.
In the most fully automated processes, disks are only kept on spindles between
the inspection
and printing steps and just prior to final packaging. In more manual systems,
disks may be
placed on spindles between every manufacturing step including between molding
and'
metalizing, between metalizing and spin coating, between spin coating and
inspection,
between inspection and printing, and between printing and final packaging.
However,
regardless of the number of times the disks are maintained on spindles, each
such time the
disk is removed for processing, a possibility of theft and confusion as to
title exists. In other
words, whenever a disk is on a spindle, particularly without any identifying
printing, the
identification of the title on that spindle may easily be called into question
or be confused. It
is essential that a capability be built into a disk to track the disk and
provide distribution
management, quality control and customer access information.
Similarly, whenever disks are maintained on a spindle for any length of time,
theft can occur.
Without any means of preventing unauthorized removal of disks from the spindle
or tracking
exactly how many disks were on the spindle, thefts regularly happen.
The merchandising of compact disc (hereinafter "CD") multimedia is a growing
industry. CD
multimedia are used in audio, video, audio-video, and computer based
applications. Since
many similar looking duplicate recordings for a particular CD program are
often available
from many
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different sources. it is difficult for merchants to track, identify, and
distinguish their inventory
from the inventory of others.
Security is an important concern associated with the rental. loan. or sale of
such merchandise.
Items such as commercially prerecorded compact disc programs are available
from rental
shops, stores, and libraries. It is important for a merchant to have a simple
means to secure
and identify its merchandise. For example, a merchant needs to determine
whether
merchandise which was rented from it is the same merchandise that is being
returned to it to
deter customers from attempting to switch good rented merchandise with bad
return
merchandise (such as a customer's scratched disc).
The switching of CDs in good condition with defective CDs obtained from other
sources is a
difficult problem that merchants face. Merchandise switching is a significant
problem given
the high volume of business involved in the compact disc industry and the
difficulty of
detecting such illegal switching. An easy and reliable way for a merchant to
determine
whether the digital data contained on a CD is damaged or defective is
required. Although
obvious imperfections such as scratches or cracks may be detected by a simple
visual
inspection, such inspection cannot detect defects in the digital data. Even
though defects may
be discovered during regular speed playback of an entire CD, such means is
commercially
impractical since it requires too much time for merchants dealing in high
volume to check
every CD returned to them. Although high-speed electronic scanning devices for
checking
digital recordings currently exist, such
devices are effectively unavailable to the individual merchant due to cost
prohibitions and the
limited availability of such technology.
Electronic article surveillance systems for monitoring the egress of sensitive
objects from
controlled spaces are well known, and have been used alone and along with the
long box
packaging technique for controlling the unauthorized taking of compact disks.
Markers
formed from a piece of high permeability magnetic material can be placed on
the packaging
for the disk. Spaced apart detection panels are then placed across the access
points to the store.
library or other repository for the monitored compact disks. The panels
include field coils and
detector coils for producin~~ a magnetic field across the access point that
can detect the
-,
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passage of a marker between the panels. If a person attempts to cam a compact
disk through
the magnetic field presented by the panels without first deactivating the
marker on the disk
packaging, the presence of the marker will be detected and an alarm initiated.
U.S. Pat. No. =1,710.754 discloses a multi-directional EAS marker especially
designed for its
compact dimensions. The marker disclosed in the'7~4 patent is comprised of a
high
permeability, low coercive force, generally planar magnetic responder material
that includes at
least two narrow regions defining switching sections. and adjacent. wider, tux
collector
sections. The juxtaposition of the narrow switching sections with the flux
collector sections
causes the flux to be highly concentrated in the switching sections. The high
concentration of
flux lines in the switching sections produces high frequency harmonics when
passed through
an alternating magnetic field, allowing the presence of the marker in the
field to be detected.
The marker is conveniently made dual status, i.e., reversibly deactivatable
and reactivatable,
by including a piece of magnetizable material adjacent each of the switching
sections. The
1 S magnetizable material, when magnetized, biases the adjacent switching
section to either keep
the magnetization therein from reversing when in an alternating interrogation
field, or at least
altering the response of the marker in the field. In either case, readily
distinguishably different
signals are produced by the marker in an interrogation field depending on
whether the
magnetizable material is magnetized or demagnetized.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,185 discloses a multi-directional, dual-status EAS marker
also designed
for its compact dimensions. The marker disclosed in the '185 patent discloses
a marker that
includes a continuous uninterrupted sheet of remanently magnetizable material
overlying a
sheet of responder material similar to that disclosed in the '754 patent. The
response of the
marker within an alternating magnetic field can be discernably altered by
selectively
magnetizing and demagnetizing the continuous sheet of remanently magnetizable
material
prior to introducing the marker into the field. The markers disclosed in the
above noted prior
art can be attached to the packaging for a compact disk. Problems arise,
however, when
attempting to attach prior art markers directly to the surface of a compact
disk. Rotation of
the compact disk is required to read information from the disk, and the disk
must accordingly
be inherently balanced. An EAS marker, applied directly to a compact disk.
therefor, would
preferably be somehow concentrically mounted on the disk without unbalancing
the disk.
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Prior art E.AS markers. however, are not inherently balanced. Moreover.
conventional
compact disks include a centered aperture that must be maintained clear of
obstructions, and
the preferred prior art dual status E.AS markers include a continuous sheet of
magnetic
material, such that the marker cannot be concentrically mounted to the surface
of a compact
disk without obstructing the disk aperture.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,813 proposed an anti-theft device for compact disks that
overcame the
inability to directly apply an EAS marker to the surface of a compact disk.
The '813 patent
discloses a detachable locking plate with an EAS marker carried on the
internal face of the
plate that can be selectively locked to the "jewelry box" for a compact disk.
The compact disk
is physically locked in the box leg by the plate. A clerk or other authorized
person can remove
the plate with the use of a keyed release tool at the time of payment. It will
be appreciated that
the use of a locking plate requires preparation time to attach a plate to each
compact disk
cartridge, adds an additional step in the check-out process, and leaves the
compact disk
without EAS protection once the EAS marker carrying plate is removed from the
compact
disk. The lack of EAS protection once the plate is removed makes it especially
risky for a
retailer to permit the trial playing of a compact disk by a customer in the
store before the
compact disk is purchased. The new packaging standard for prerecorded compact
disks, while
environmentally sound, will exacerbate the problem of compact disk shop
lifting, since the
smaller packages will be easier to hide and transport out of a store.
While the use of electronic article surveillance systems could partially
compensate for the
increased shoplifting threat, it will be appreciated that the unauthorized
removal of the
magnetic markers from a package will defeat the detection capability of the
surveillance
system, and known EAS markers cannot be directly mounted on a compact disk
without
affecting the operability of the disk. The use of an EAS marker in conjunction
with a locking
plate presents handling problems and does not solve the problem of physical
security of
compact disks at stores where the customer is allowed to listen to the compact
disk prior to
purchase. A new. compact optical information disk especially designed for
tamper-proof use
with an electronic article surveillance system through the use of an EAS
marker that could be
applied directly to the surface of the compact disk would accordingly provide
decided
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advantages. Thus, there is a need for merchants to conveniently and
inexpensively maintain
the security of their electronic content medium.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A system, method, and article of manufacture is provided for tracking the
distribution.
purchase and use of content electronically. First, an electronic storage
medium tracking
identifier is incorporated onto an electronic storage medium and stored on a
database. Next. a
package tracking identifier is situated onto a package in which the electronic
storage medium
is stored. The electronic storage medium is then tracked while being shipped
between various
entities using the tracking identifier on the package. Further, the electronic
storage medium
may be identified using the tracking identifier on the electronic storage
medium in order to
afford authorized purchase and use of the information contained on the
electronic storage
medium.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages are better understood
from the
following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with
reference to
the drawings, in which:
Figure I is a general block diagram of the method of tracking an electronic
medium in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a detailed block diagram of the method of tracking the electronic
medium in
accordance with a preferred embodiment;
Figure 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the hardware involved with one
embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a pictorial representation of a comparison of the prior lifecycle
of electronic
storage medium and the electronic storage medium of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a block diagram of a user experience in accordance with a
preferred embodiment:
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Figure 6 is a flowchart of a redirect operation for an electronic commerce
transaction in
accordance with a preferred embodiment;
Figure 7A and 7B are flowcharts setting forth the detailed logic associated
with user
connection and update for DVD processing in accordance with a preferred
embodiment;
Figure 8 presents logic demonstrating the display of specific advertising
information based on
a retailer/distributor utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in
accordance with a
preferred embodiment;
Figure 9 is a flowchart demonstrating the display of specific advertising
information based on
genre/type of DVD utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in
accordance with a
preferred embodiment;
Figure 10 is a flowchart of a download operation for downloading and updating
retailer-
specific information of the DVD utilizing BCA information for intelligent
processing in
accordance with a preferred embodiment;
Figure 11 is a flowchart of a download operation for downloading and updating
DVD title-
specific information utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in
accordance with a
preferred embodiment;
Figure 12 is a flowchart of a tailored video viewing operation utilizing BCA
information for
intelligent processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment;
Figure 13 is a flowchart of a tailored video viewing operation utilizing BCA
information for
intelligent processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment;
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Figure 14 is a flowchart of the loUic associated with a tailored multimedia
viewing operation
utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment;
Figure 15 is a flowchart of a security operation for restricting access to
specific web sites
utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment;
Figure 16 is a flowchart of a unlock operation for an electronic commerce
transaction utilizing
BCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a preferred
embodiment;
Figure 17 is a flowchart of an unlocking operation for an electronic commerce
transaction
utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment;
Figure 18 is a flowchart of a logging operation for tracking piracy and misuse
of a DVD
utilizingBCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment;
Figure 19 is a flowchart of a redirect operation for a support transaction for
intelligent
processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment;
Figure 20 is a flowchart of a display operation for a support transaction for
intelligent
processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment;
Figure 21 is a flowchart of support tracking utilizing BCA for intelligent
processing in
accordance with a preferred embodiment;
Figure 22 is a flowchart of a redirect operation for a support transaction for
intelligent
processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment; and
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Figure 23 is a flowchart of a broadcast operation for downloading update.
support and
application information utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing
in accordance
with a preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention includes a system, method and article of manufacture for
tracking the
distribution of content electronically and providing intelligent services
based on this
information. Figure 1 is a general block diagram of the method of tracking an
electronic
medium in accordance with the present invention. Initially, content in the
form of music,
video, data, or any other type of visual or audible entertainment or
information is generated in
operations 10 and 12. Thereafter, an electronic storage medium tracking
identifier, such as
the Burst Cut Area (BCA) is incorporated onto an electronic storage medium 22
at the time of
manufacture. It should be noted that the electronic storage medium 22 may take
the form of
any electronicioptic storage medium capable of storing content. In the present
description,
however, focus will remain on one embodiment of electronic storage medium, a
DVD.
As shown in Figure 1, after the generation of the content, the electronic
storage medium may
be replicated by a replicator in operation 14. Further, a package tracking
identifier is
incorporated onto a package in which the electronic storage medium is stored.
Such tracking
identifiers are then stored in a database.
In use, the electronic storage medium may be tracked from a distributor to a
retailer and the
consumer in steps 16, 18, and 20. This tracking is enabled by using the
tracking identifier on
the package 22 while the electronic storage medium is shipped between various
entities such
as the replicator, distributor, retailer, and consumer. Furthermore, when a
final user obtains
the electronic storage medium, the electronic storage medium may be identified
using the
tracking identifier on the electronic storav~e medium 22. As will become
apparent hereinafter,
various features may be afforded by identifyng the electronic stora;e medium.
As mentioned earlier. the electronic storage medium may be tracked by using
the tracking
identifier on the package while the electronic storage medium is shipped
between various
c)
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entities such as a replicator. distributor, retailer, and consumer.
Specifically, the replicator is
the company that manufactures. or "presses", the DVD. The replicator receives
a DLT
(digital linear tape) from the content developer (studio such as New Line) and
then creates a
"glass mastei ' of the DVD based on the data on the DLT. The glass master then
becomes the
master DVD from which all replicated DVDs are made. The replicator adds the
BCA number
to each DVD as part of the replication process and then "packagesiboxes" the
DVDs for
distribution to a distributor or retailer.
The distributor, on the other hand. is the company that packages together
multiple titles
together for distribution to a retailer. The value of a distributor is that
they maintain direct
relationships and channels with the retailers, can maintain larger inventories
of products -
leveraging economies of scale not possible by smaller retailers. A retailer
requests multiple
products from the distributor (for example 20 copies of Lost in Space. ~0
copies of Ronin, and
100 copies of You've Got Mail - all of which come from different studios),
then the
1 S distributor can "package" the variety of products together for
distribution to the retailer.
Finally, the retailer is the company that sells product directly to consumer.
Examples include
"brick-and-mortar" stores such as Blockbuster Video, Hollywood Video, Best
Buy, Good
Guys, etc. Retailers also include online retailers such as DVDExpress,
Amazon.com, and
other e-commerce-oriented companies. Other groups are also joining the
retailing
opportunity. such as Nimbus who already offers both replication and
distribution. It is the
next logical step to offer direct-to-consumer online sales of product. It
should be noted that
the aforementioned replicator may also be the distributor (NimbusiTechnicolor,
WAMO/Deluxe). Also, replicators rnay ship directly to retailers, especially in
the case of
large accounts like Blockbuster.
Example In Accordance With A Preferred Embodiment
An example setting forth details relating to the tracking of DVDs will now be
set forth. First.
a content owner (such as studio) requests use of the BCA on their DVDs. Based
on request.
the replicator (examples include WAMO, Panasonic, Nimbus, Technicolor,
Pioneer, Crest)
adds unique BCA number to every DVD. Adding BCA number to each DVD requires a
special (YAG) laser. This may be the very last step in the manufacturing
process. The BCA
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numbers for a specific DVD must then be entered into Interactual's BCA
database.
Information to track includes: DVD title, i.e. "Lost in Space"; BCA #/range,
i.e.
12345687890; and Shipping Packa~in~%Trackina Container, i.e. Box ~??'' 1 to
Hollyvood
Video.
After the BCA number is added to the DVDs, the DVDs are packagin~boxed for
distribution
to either the Distributor or the Retailer. It should be noted that many
companies take multiple
forms, so the replicator and distributor may be one in the same. Also, some
retailers are
largeiimportant enough to get shipments directly from replicator. The way in
which the
DVDs are packaging/shipped is very important because one must track the BCA
numbers to
actual shipping containers (box, etc.). Therefore tracking information must
also be added to
the BCA database.
If packaged DVDs are then sent to distributor, the distributor also has
mechanisms, i.e.
scanners, input device, and monitoring devices, in place for tracking based on
their
distribution. For example, Deluxe may receive a "package" of 100,000 copies of
"Lost in
Space". However, the distributor ships 10,000 to Retailer A and 5,000 to
Retailer B. The
distributor should be able to "input" retailer A and B's distribution
information into the
system. Ideally, this becomes a seamless/automated process.
Once the DVDs reach the retailer (either from the replicator or distributor),
then DVDs may
be further divided and distributed to local stores/outlets. In such a
situation, the retailer
should be able to automatically "track" distribution of these DVDs through to
their stores.
Over time, all three entitities (replicator, distributor, and retailer) are
able to add tracking
information to BCA database. Due to complexity and dependencies on existing
business
systems, the retail tracking concept will be rolled out in phases: replicator
first most likely
with key retail accounts. The distributors will be brought in. Retailers will
then begin to
embrace the ability to track based on local outlet/store.
Utilization of BCA Identification at the End Consumer
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As mentioned earlier, when a final user obtains the electronic storage medium,
the electronic
storage medium may be identified using the tracking identifier on the
electronic storage
medium. By this identification. various features may be executed upon
identification of the
electronic storage medium. It should be noted that, in one embodiment,
identification is
earned out by a computer and software governs the features that are executed
after
identification of the electronic storage medium.
For example, the present invention may be practiced in the context of a
personal computer
such as an IBM compatible personal computer, Apple Macintosh computer or I1NLX
based
workstation. A representative hardware environment is depicted in Figure 3,
which illustrates
a typical hardware configuration of a workstation in accordance with a
preferred embodiment
having a central processing unit 110, such as a microprocessor. and a number
of other units
interconnected via a system bus 112. The workstation shown in Figure 3
includes a Random
Access Memory (RAM) 114, Read Only Memory (ROM) 116, an I/O adapter 118 for
connecting peripheral devices such as disk storage units 120 to the bus 112, a
user interface
adapter 122 for connecting a keyboard 124, a mouse 126, a speaker 128, a
microphone 132,
and/or other user interface devices such as a touch screen (not shown) to the
bus 112,
communication adapter 134 for connecting the workstation to a communication
network (e.g.,
a data processing network) and a display adapter 136 for connecting the bus
112 to a display
device 138. The workstation typically has resident thereon an operating system
such as the
Microsoft Windows NT or Windows/95 Operating System (OS), the IBM OS/2
operating
system, the MAC OS, or UNIX operating system. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that
the present invention may also be implemented on platforms and operating
systems other than
those mentioned.
A preferred embodiment is written using JAVA, C, and the C++ language and
utilizes object
oriented programming methodology. Object oriented programming (OOP) has become
increasingly used to develop complex applications. As OOP moves toward the
mainstream of
software design and development, various software solutions require adaptation
to make use
of the benefits of OOP. A need exists for these principles of OOP to be
applied to a
messaging interface of an electronic messaging system such that a set of OOP
classes and
objects for the messaging interface can be provided.
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OOP is a process of developing computer software using objects. including the
steps of
analyzing the problem. designing the system. and constructing the program. An
object is a
software package that contains both data and a collection of related
structures and procedures.
Since it contains both data and a collection of structures and procedures, it
can be visualized
as a self sufficient component that does not require other additional
structures, procedures or
data to perform its specific task. OOP, therefore, views a computer program as
a collection of
largely autonomous components, called objects, each of which is responsible
for a specific
task. This concept of packaging data, structures, and procedures together in
one component or
module is called encapsulation.
In general, OOP components are reusable software modules which present an
interface that
conforms to an object model and which are accessed at run-time through a
component
integration architecture. A component integration architecture is a set of
architecture
I S mechanisms which allow software modules in different process spaces to
utilize each others
capabilities or functions. This is generally done by assuming a common
component object
model on which to build the architecture. It is worthwhile to differentiate
between an object
and a class of objects at this point. An object is a single instance of the
class of objects, which
is often just called a class. A class of objects can be viewed as a blueprint,
from which many
objects can be formed.
OOP allows the programmer to create an object that is a part of another
object. For example,
the object representing a piston engine is said to have a composition-
relationship with the
object representing a piston. In reality, a piston engine comprises a piston,
valves and many
other components; the fact that a piston is an element of a piston engine can
be logically and
semantically represented in OOP by two objects.
OOP also allom~s creation of an object that "depends from" another object. If
there are two
objects, one representing a piston engine and the other representing a piston
engine wherein
the piston is made of ceramic, then the relationship between the two objects
is not that of
composition. A ceramic piston engine does not make up a piston engine. Rather
it is merely
one kind of piston engine that has one more limitation than the piston engine;
its piston is
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made of ceramic. In this case, the object representing the ceramic piston
engine is called a
derived object, and it inherits all of the aspects of the object representing
the piston engine and
adds further limitation or detail to it. The object representing the ceramic
piston engine
"depends from" the object representing the piston engine. The relationship
between these
objects is called inheritance.
When the object or class representing the ceramic piston engine inherits all
of the aspects of
the objects representing the piston engine, it inherits the thermal
characteristics of a standard
piston defined in the piston engine class. However, the ceramic piston engine
object overrides
these ceramic specific thermal characteristics, which are typically different
from those
associated with a metal piston. It skips over the original and uses new
functions related to
ceramic pistons. Different kinds of piston engines have different
characteristics, but may have
the same underlying functions associated with it (e.g., how many pistons in
the engine,
ignition sequences, lubrication, etc.). To access each of these functions in
any piston engine
object, a programmer would call the same functions with the same names, but
each type of
piston engine may have different/overriding implementations of functions
behind the same
name. This ability to hide different implementations of a function behind the
same name is
called polymorphism and it greatly simplifies communication among objects.
With the concepts of composition-relationship, encapsulation, inheritance and
polymorphism,
an object can represent just about anything in the real world. In fact, our
logical perception of
the reality is the only limit on determining the kinds of things that can
become objects in
object-oriented software. Some typical categories are as follows:
~ Objects can represent physical objects, such as automobiles in a traffic-
flow
simulation, electrical components in a circuit-design program, countries in an
economics
model, or aircraft in an air-traffic-control system.
~ Objects can represent elements of the computer-user environment such as
windows,
menus or graphics objects.
~ An object can represent an inventory, such as a personnel file or a table of
the latitudes
and longitudes of cities.
~ An object can represent user-defined data types such as time, angles, and
complex
numbers, or points on the plane.
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With this enormous capability of an object to represent just about any
logically separable
matters, OOP allows the software developer to design and implement a computer
program
that is a model of some aspects of reality, whether that reality is a physical
entity, a process, a
system, or a composition of matter. Since the object can represent anything,
the software
developer can create an object which can be used as a component in a larder
software project
in the future.
If 90% of a new OOP software program consists of proven, existing components
made from
preexisting reusable objects, then only the remaining 10% of the new software
project has to
be written and tested from scratch. Since 90% already came from an inventory
of extensively
tested reusable objects, the potential domain from which an error could
originate is 10% of the
program. As a result, OOP enables software developers to build objects out of
other,
previously built objects.
This process closely resembles complex machinery being built out of assemblies
and sub
assemblies. OOP technology, therefore, makes software engineering more like
hardware
engineering in that software is built from existing components, which are
available to the
developer as objects. All this adds up to an improved quality of the software
as well as an
increased speed of its development.
Programming languages are beginning to fully support the OOP principles, such
as
encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and composition-relationship. With
the advent of
the C++ language, many commercial software developers have embraced OOP. C++
is an
OOP language that offers a fast, machine-executable code. Furthermore, C++ is
suitable for
both commercial-application and systems-programming projects. For now, C++
appears to be
the most popular choice among many OOP pro~ammers, but there is a host of
other OOP
languages, such as Smalltalk, Common Lisp Object System (CLOS), and Eiffel.
Additionally,
OOP capabilities are being added to more traditional popular computer
programming
languages such as Pascal.
The benefits of object classes can be summarized, as follows:
1~
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~ Objects and their corresponding classes break down complex programming
problems
into many smaller, simpler problems.
~ Encapsulation enforces data abstraction through the organization of data
into small.
independent objects that can communicate with each other. Encapsulation
protects the data in
an object from accidental damage. but allows other objects to interact with
that data by calling
the object's member functions and structures.
~ Subclassing and inheritance make it possible to extend and modify objects
through
deriving new kinds of objects from the standard classes available in the
system. Thus, new
capabilities are created without having to start from scratch.
~ Polymorphism and multiple inheritance make it possible for different
programmers to
mix and match characteristics of many different classes and create specialized
objects that can
still work with related objects in predictable ways.
~ Class hierarchies and containment hierarchies provide a flexible mechanism
for
modeling real-world objects and the relationships among them.
~ Libraries of reusable classes are useful in many situations, but they also
have some
limitations. For example:
~ Complexity. In a complex system, the class hierarchies for related classes
can become
extremely confusing, with many dozens or even hundreds of classes.
~ Flow of control. A program written with the aid of class libraries is still
responsible
for the flow of control (i.e., it must control the interactions among all the
objects created from
a particular library). The programmer has to decide which functions to call at
what times for
which kinds of objects.
~ Duplication of effort. Although class libraries allow programmers to use and
reuse
many small pieces of code, each programmer puts those pieces together in a
different way.
Two different programmers can use the same set of class libraries to write two
programs that
do exactly the same thing but whose internal structure (i.e.. design) may be
quite different,
depending on hundreds of small decisions each programmer makes along the way.
Inevitably,
similar pieces of code end up doing similar things in slightly different ways
and do not work
as well together as they should.
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Class libraries are vecv~ flexible. As programs grow more complex, more
programmers are
forced to reinvent basic solutions to basic problems over and over again. A
relatively new
extension of the class library concept is to have a framework of class
libraries. This
framework is more complex and consists of significant collections of
collaborating classes
that capture both the small scale patterns and major mechanisms that implement
the common
requirements and design in a specific application domain. They were first
developed to free
application programmers from the chores involved in displaying menus, windows,
dialog
boxes, and other standard user interface elements for personal computers.
Frameworks also represent a change in the way programmers think about the
interaction
betv~~een the code they write and code written by others. In the early days of
procedural
programming, the programmer called libraries provided by the operating system
to perform
certain tasks, but basically the program executed down the page from start to
finish, and the
programmer was solely responsible for the flow of control. This was
appropriate for printing
out paychecks, calculating a mathematical table, or solving other problems
with a program
that executed in just one way.
The development of graphical user interfaces began to turn this procedural
programming
arrangement inside out. These interfaces allow the user, rather than program
logic, to drive
the program and decide when certain actions should be performed. Today, most
personal
computer software accomplishes this by means of an event loop which monitors
the mouse,
keyboard, and other sources of external events and calls the appropriate parts
of the
programmer's code according to actions that the user performs. The programmer
no longer
determines the order in which events occur. Instead, a program is divided into
separate pieces
that are called at unpredictable times and in an unpredictable order. By
relinquishing control
in this way to users, the developer creates a program that is much easier to
use. Nevertheless,
individual pieces of the program written by the developer still call libraries
provided by the
operating system to accomplish certain tasks, and the programmer must still
determine the
flow of control within each piece after it's called by the event loop.
application code still
"sits on top of the system.
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Even event loop programs require programmers to write a lot of code that
should not need to
be written separately for every application. The concept of an application
framework carries
the event loop concept further. Instead of dealing with all the nuts and bolts
of constructing
basic menus. windows. and dialog boxes and then making these thins all work
together,
programmers using application frameworks start with working application code
and basic user
interface elements in place. Subsequently, they build from there by replacing
some of the
generic capabilities of the framework with the specific capabilities of the
intended application.
Application frameworks reduce the total amount of code that a programmer has
to write from
scratch. However, because the framework is really a generic application that
displays
windows, supports copy and paste, and so on, the programmer can also
relinquish control to a
greater degree than event loop programs permit. The framework code takes care
of almost all
event handling and flow of control, and the programmer's code is called only
when the
framework needs it (e.g., to create or manipulate a proprietary data
structure).
A programmer writing a framework program not only relinquishes control to the
user (as is
also true for event loop programs), but also relinquishes the detailed flow of
control within the
program to the framework. This approach allows the creation of more complex
systems that
work together in interesting ways, as opposed to isolated programs, having
custom code,
being created over and over again for similar problems.
Thus, as is explained above, a framework basically is a collection of
cooperating classes that
make up a reusable design solution for a given problem domain. It typically
includes objects
that provide default behavior (e.g., for menus and windows), and programmers
use it by
inheriting some of that default behavior and overriding other behavior so that
the framework
calls application code at the appropriate times.
There are three main differences between frameworks and class libraries:
~ Behavior versus protocol. Class libraries are essentially collections of
behaviors that
you can call when you want those individual behaviors in your pro;ram. A
framework. on the
other hand, provides not only behavior but also the protocol or set of roles
that govern the
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ways in which behaviors can be combined, including rules for what a programmer
is supposed
to provide versus what the framework provides.
~ Call versus overnde. With a class library, the code the programmer
instantiates
objects and calls their member functions. It's possible to instantiate and
call objects in the
same way with a framework (i.e., to treat the framework as a class library),
but to take full
advantage of a framework's reusable design, a programmer typically writes code
that
overrides and is called by the framework. The framework manages the flow of
control among
its objects. Writing a program involves dividing responsibilities among the
various pieces of
software that are called by the framework rather than specifying how the
different pieces
should work together.
~ Implementation versus design. With class libraries, programmers reuse only
implementations, whereas with frameworks, they reuse design. A framework
embodies the
way a family of related programs or pieces of software work. It represents a
generic design
solution that can be adapted to a variety of specific problems in a given
domain. For example,
a single framework can embody the way a user interface works, even though two
different
user interfaces created with the same framework might solve quite different
interface
problems.
Thus, through the development of frameworks for solutions to various problems
and
programming tasks, significant reductions in the design and development effort
for software
can be achieved. A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes HyperText
Markup
Language (HTML) to implement documents on the Internet together with a general-
purpose
secure communication protocol for a transport medium between the client and
the Newco.
HTTP or other protocols could be readily substituted for HTML without undue
experimentation. Information on these products is available in T. Berners-Lee,
D. Connoly,
"RFC 1866: Hypertext Markup Language - 2.0" (Nov. 1995); and R. Fielding, H,
Frystyk, T.
Berners-Lee, J. Gettys and J.C. Mogul, "Hypertext Transfer Protocol --
HTTP/1.1: HTTP
Working Group Internet Draft" (May 2. 1996). HTML is a simple data format used
to create
hypertext documents that are portable from one platform to another. HTML
documents are
SGML documents with generic semantics that are appropriate for representing
information
from a wide range of domains. HTML has been in use by the Worldwide Web global
information initiative since 1990. HTML is an application of ISO Standard
8879; 1986
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Information Processing Text and Office Systems - Standard Generalized Markup
Language
(SGML).
To date, Web development tools have been limited in their ability to create
dynamic Web
applications that span from client to sender and interoperate with existing
computing
resources. Until recently, HTML has been the dominant technology used in
development of
Web-based solutions. However, HTML has proven to be inadequate in the
following areas:
~ Poor performance;
~ Restricted user interface capabilities;
~ Can only produce static Web pages;
~ Lack of interoperability with existing applications and data; and
~ Inability to scale.
Sun Microsystems Java language solves many of the client-side problems by:
~ Improving performance on the client side;
~ Enabling the creation of dynamic, real-time Web applications; and
~ Providing the ability to create a wide variety of user interface components.
With Java, developers can create robust User Interface (UI) components. Custom
"widgets"
?0 (e.g., real-time stock tickers. animated icons, etc.) can be created, and
client-side performance
is improved. Unlike HTML, Java supports the notion of client-side validation.
offloading
appropriate processing onto the client for improved performance. Dynamic. real-
time Web
pages can be created. Using the above-mentioned custom UI components, dynamic
Web pages
can also be created.
Sun's Java language has emerged as an industry-recognized language for
"programming the
Internet." Sun defines Java as: "a simple, object-oriented, distributed.
interpreted, robust,
secure, architecture-neutral, portable, high-performance. multithreaded,
dvrtamic. buzzword-
compliant. General-purpose programming language. Java supports programming for
the
Internet in the form of platform-independent Java applets." Java applets are
small, specialized
applications that comply with Sun's Java Application Programming Interface
(.4PI) allowing
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developers to add "interactive content" to Web documents (e.g., simple
animations, page
adornments, basic games, etc.). Applets execute within a Java-compatible
browser (e.g.,
Netscape Navigator) by copying code from the sewer to client. From a language
standpoint,
Java's core feature set is based on C++. Sun's Java literature states that
Java is basically, "C++
with extensions from Objective C for more dynamic method resolution."
Another technology that provides similar function to JAVA is provided by
Microsoft and
ActiveX Technologies, to give developers and Web designers wherewithal to
build dynamic
content for the Internet and personal computers. ActiveX includes tools for
developing
animation, 3-D virtual reality, video and other multimedia content. The tools
use Internet
standards, work on multiple platforms, and are being supported by over 100
companies. The
group's building blocks are called ActiveX Controls, small, fast components
that enable
developers to embed parts of software in hypertext markup language (HTML)
pages. ActiveX
Controls work with a variety of programming languages including Microsoft
Visual C++,
Borland Delphi, Microsoft Visual Basic programming system and, in the future,
Microsoft's
development tool for Java, code named "Jakarta." ActiveX Technologies also
includes
ActiveX Server Framework, allowing developers to create server applications.
One of
ordinary skill in the art readily recognizes that ActiveX could be substituted
for JAVA without
undue experimentation to practice the invention.
System Software in Accordance With A Preferred Embodiment
When a consumer purchases DVD at local store, or purchases online through
online retailer a
new DVD is available for consumer use. The consumer places the DVD in a
computer and
the DVD initiates an online session between the user and an Internet server
application in tight
communication with the DVD in the DVD-ROM drive. Three BCA usage cases
include:
( 1 ) a consumer launches a browser and goes to a web site that utilizes the
BCA information to
look up information in a database. The database is also updated with
information gleaned
from the current user and their demographics.
(2) a local application (like PCFriendly) automatically connects to Internet
and to a web sem~er
that looks up andior acts on BCA inforn~ation, or
(3) a local application like PCFriendly utilizes information already contained
in the BCA
number and tailors experience locally based on this information.
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The details associated with the various cases will be discussed. Case 1: go to
web site that
looks up BCA. With a DVD in their drive, consumer connects to a special web
site that has
an agent/component embedded on the web pane that can read the BCA information.
This
embedded component reads the BCA, along with other potential information (user
id, etc.).
passes this information to the web server. The web sender then tailors a
response to the
consumer based on pre-defined conditionsimarketingiprofile.
Case 2: local application (like PCFriendly client software) automatically
connects to a web
server (without manual intervention of consumer) and passes BCA information to
the web
server. Based on the BCA number and other potential information, the web
server passes
information to the consumer's client software or presents remote Internet-
based information
based on this informationiprofile/retailer/etc.
Case 3: location application (like PCFriendly) reads BCA information and acts
upon
predefined information in the BCA number itself. This case does not
necessarily require an
Internet connection. The BCA is obtained utilizing ASPI code to read the 188
bytes of
information.
Examples of cases:
Case I : ActiveX control is designed using C++ and embedded in HTML page
(using standard
OBJECT definition in HTML). When the web page is loaded, so is the ActiveX
control.
Upon a grant of permission by a consumer, the ActiveX control accesses the DVD-
ROM
drive, obtains BCA data, and any other pertinent information. The ActiveX
control then
"posts" this information to the web server using HTTP or FTP POST methods. The
web
server automatically reads and parses the POST information, and acts upon this
information
(for example, by sending the consumer to a unique URL that is only accessible
if the correct
DVD with the correct BCA is in the DVD-ROM drive).
Case 2: Local C++ application (PCFriendly) utilizes a remote agent technology
developed by
InterActual. The remote agent technology automatically connects to the remote
web sender
(without consumer interaction) and passes the web server the BCA number with
any other
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
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pertinent information. The remote went also supports HTTP or FTP POST methods.
The
web server automatically reads and parses the POST information, and acts upon
this
information.
Examples include:
Consumer request to purchase a specific product is automatically routed to the
retailer from
which the original DVD was purchased. In support of this example, a virtual
POP/MDF
display and information is downloaded (or unlocked) locally and presented to
consumer.
Case 3: Local C++ application or activeX controls in a local web page access
the BCA
information on the DVD. Based on this information, the local application acts
upon this
information. (In this mode, the information contains in the BCA field must
have sufficient
information for local application to act upon).
The current system involves an online database that provides a real-time
lookup based on the
BCA. The resulting lookup in the database can retrieve information specific to
the application
such as a consumer profile, retailer and support location and piracy
information.
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USAGES OF BCA INFORMATION
Retail distribution
When a remote went connects to a server with BCA information, the server
performs a real
time lookup on the BCA number and determines the replicator, distributor,
and/or retailer for
the passed BCA number. This information can then be used for various projects,
such as
Updating or changing channel,~banner/programming in PCFriendly software.
Figure 2 depicts
this operation as a RemoteSync 238. Unlock specific assets such as HTML,
video, graphics
and others which are depicted in function block Unlock Server 230. Play
different assets or
portion of video based on BCA information as shown in function block Unlock
Server 230.
The application also downloads new content based on the BCA information
RemoteSync 238.
The BCA information can also be utilized to direct e-commerce transactions or
"buy-me"
buttons to an appropriate retailer utilizing the RemoteTrak/BCATrak function
234.
An application in accordance with a preferred embodiment can also broadcast
new
informationiupdates as shown in the Broadcast Server function block 236. Logic
is also
provided to unlock and/or control access to specific web sites based on BCA
information as
shown in the RemoteTrak Server function block 230. This logic provides
consumer redirect
to specific "storefront" of a retailer.
Track individual retail store performance
Specific retail store performance and consumer online usage associated with
specific retailers
can be tracked utilizing information based on the BCA number. This provides a
local retailer
with information to determine the most successful opportunities to get users
online.
Information such as a virtual Point of Purchase (POP) and Marketing
Development Fund
(MDF) utilize the BCA information and the RemoteTrak Server function 230 to
track and
attract consumers.
COUPONS
Discount coupons and the like (e.g., "cents off' coupons, rebate coupons,
special offer
coupons, or the like. collectively referred to herein as "coupons") have
become an integral part
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of marketing strategies for many products. particularly retail consumer goods.
sundries,
foodstuffs.
hardware. clothing, and the like. tyically sold at local grocery, drug. and
discount stores.
Product manufacturers have come to rely upon coupons, rebate and gift
certificates or the like
to promote new and existing products, boost sales, and obtain demographic
information
concerning
consumer buying patterns. Consumers have come to rely upon coupons or
certificates as a
technique for reducing costs.
Prior art couponing techniques have had several disadvantages, not the least
of which are low
response rate and fraud. In the prior art, coupons may be distributed using
direct mailing
techniques. printed in newspapers, magazines, or the like, distributed with
other commercial
goods (e.g., laundry soap coupon packaged with washing machine), or
distributed (e.g.,
by original equipment manufacturers or OEMs) with the same or like goods,
computers or the
like (e.g., "cents off' toward next purchase). Such techniques require massive
amounts of
printing and distribution, and historically have a low response rate (e.g.,
typically less than 2%
of coupons distributed are redeemed). Thus, such mass-distribution techniques
may not be
cost effective, and are not environmentally friendly, due to the large amount
of paper wasted.
Such low response rates may be due in part to the difficulty a consumer may
have in
maintaining, cataloging, and finding appropriate coupons before shopping. A
particular
consumer may have at his or her disposal only those coupons that have been
sent to him or her
and have been retained by the consumer. Moreover, since many coupons have
expiration
dates, a consumer may have to carefully catalog each coupon to insure that it
is redeemed
before such an expiration date occurs. Such techniques are time-consuming and
cumbersome.
Generally, only those consumers on a budget or those who use couponing as a
hobby have
sufficient time to maximize their use of
available coupons. Busier and more affluent consumers may not believe that
such coupon
management techniques are cost effective. This latter group of consumers may
represent a
more desirable demographic for a product manufacturer to attract or track.
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With the advent of double or even triple redemption couponing promotions
provided by some
retail stores (e.g., grocery store chain or the like) as well as generous cash
rebate coupon
promotions (i.e.. gift certificates or the like), fraud had become an every
increasing problem in
coupon marketing. Color photocopiers may create coupons that are
indistinguishable from
originals. Unscrupulous consumers may use such copied coupons to purchase
large numbers
of items at reduced prices or fraudulently obtain rebates for products which
were never
purchased.
Moreover, some unscrupulous retailer may conspire with coupon brokers to
redeem large
numbers of illicitly obtained or generated to defraud manufacturers.
As coupon discounts or rebates may be used for promotional purposes, the
resulting net price
to the consumer with such a discount may be less than the product
manufacturer's wholesale
price. A product manufacturer may offer such steep discounts in the hope of
obtaining future
sales at full retail prices. If a consumer uses a photocopied coupon for
multiple purchases of a
retail item, the product manufacturer may not obtain the desired repeat sales
at full retail price,
and the entire scheme of couponing may be defeated.
In addition, prior art couponing techniques have yielded little, if any,
useful data to product
manufacturers regarding who is redeeming such coupons. Consumer demographic
data is
invaluable to a product manufacturer in determining which products to target
to particular
consumer groups (e.g., through particular advertising venues). Moreover, such
demo~-aphic
data may be used to more efficiently distribute future coupons. In addition,
information as to
the buying habits (i.e., recency, frequency, and monetary value or RFM) and
demographics of
particular consumers or groups of consumers have a market value and such
information may
be sold or traded for a profit.
Various techniques have been tried to eliminate or reduce fraud, provide more
convenient
techniques for distributing coupons, and to better track consumer demographic
data. De Lapa
et al., U.S. Pat. No. x.353,218 discloses a focused coupon system. Figure 6 of
De Lapa et al. is
most illustrative. De Lapa et al. discloses a system for distributing coupons
with a machine
readable code (barcode) containing both customer and coupon identifications.
The consumer
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code may be replaced with a generic code used in a look-up table for coupon
verification and
information. The entire machine-readable code may be captured and uploaded to
a central
database for determining coupon and consumer identification. The uploaded
information may
be used for marketing purposes (to determine which coupons to next send to the
consumer)
and/or
for rebate purposes.
Although the system of De Lapa et al. attempts to provide a more focused
distribution
technique, the system still relies upon paper coupons being distributed to
consumers.
Consumers may throw out such mass mailings (i.e., "junk mail") without opening
them.
Moreover, the system relies upon the consumer supplying demographic
information in a
questionnaire or the like in order to be provided with the coupons. Moreover,
since the
coupons of De Lapa et al. are preprinted, coupon trading or copying may be
more prevalent.
1 S Furthermore, in De Lapa et al., no mechanism is present for capturing
subsequent
demographic information. In addition, as consumer data is captured at the
store level, an
additional mechanism may be required to upload such consumer information to a
centralized
database to capture consumer demographic information. Additional data
processing
hardware/software may be required at a retail store in order to process such
data. Thus,
retailers may be initially reluctant to invest in such a scheme.
In retailing, it may be essential to check out consumers in as little time as
possible. Thus, if
additional processing time is required during customer checkout to process the
coupons of De
Lapa et al. retailers may be less likely to accept adopt such technologies.
Moreover, under the scheme of De Lapa et al., there is no mechanism provided
to insure that
the individual who receives the coupons is the targeted individual. If a
consumer moves to a
new address, new occupants at the old address may receive and redeem coupons
addressed to
the consumer. Thus. target tracking data may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Murphy. U.S. Pat. No. 5,30~,19~. issued Apr. 19, 1994, discloses an
interactive advertising
system for on-line terminals. A series of remote terminals receive compressed
and encoded
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video advertising signals that may be stored on an internal hard drive. The
advertising videos
are played. and a consumer may select products using the terminal. In Figure
4. (Col. 7, lines
45-50) Murphy discloses that a printer may be provided for printing selected
coupons.
The apparatus of Murphy may solve some of the problems associated with
distributing
coupons in paper form. However, The Murphy system appears to be more concerned
with
directing advertising information than collecting demographic information or
distributing
coupons. Thus. it does not appear that the apparatus of Murphy is equipped to
process
demographic information
or reduce coupon fraud. Moreover, Murphy discloses his apparatus for use in
college
campuses, a limited and narrow consumer demographic.
Von Kohorn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,752, issued Jul. 7, 1992 discloses a system
and method for
generating and redeeming tokens selected from television data. Product
information and
authentication data may be transmitted and displayed on a television and a
home printer. A
viewer may select a coupon for printing and redeem the coupon at a retail
store.
Von Kohorn does disclose a technique for reducing fraud (Col. 7, lines 16-38).
However, it
appears that these techniques require action at the retail level to verify
that a coupon is indeed
legitimate, including, in one embodiment, requesting identification
credentials from the
consumer. Such techniques may be intrusive and cumbersome to use in a retail
establishment
where a number of coupons may be redeemed at any given time.
Moreover, it does not appear in the system of Von Kohorn, which relies on
broadcasting, does
not target specific consumers with particular coupons. Rather, it appears that
the coupons are
distributed to all viewers equipped with the appropriate apparatus. Note that
in FIG. 6 (Col. 9,
lines =t0-48) Von Kohotn discloses a technique for recording marketing data
from consumer
information encoded into the coupon.
Axler et al., U.S. Pat. No. x,305,197, issued Apr. 19, I 994, discloses a
coupon-dispensing
machine with feedback. A consumer kiosk is placed in a retail establishment or
the like to
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display advertising (LED scroll) and allow customers to print out selected
coupons. A
proximity sensor detects the presence of customers near the apparatus.
The Axler device may solve some of the problems associated with paper
distribution of
coupons. However, it does not appear that the Axler device may retrieve any
significant
amount of consumer demographic data other than the number and type of coupons
printed.
Moreover, within the in-store environment, it may be difficult to enter such
consumer data,
particularly
with the keypad disclosed by Axler. Thus, it does not appear that the Axler
device may be
suitably adapted to retrieve consumer demographic data.
A fundamental fault with the Axler device is that it does not appear to target
or prior
motivates customers with to visit a retailer with specific coupons. Rather,
the in-store location
of the Axler device may facilitate a consumer "targeting" a coupon. In other
words, a
consumer may make a
number of product selections in a store and then visit the coupon kiosk of
Axler to determine
whether any purchases are subject to coupon discount or rebate. Thus, the
fundamental goal of
couponing--to motivate a consumer to purchase a product--may be compromised.
In addition, the kiosk of Axler may occupy valuable commercial retail space.
In a retail store
(e.g., supermarket or the like) even a few feet of shelving may be extremely
valuable for
displaying and containing retail merchandise. Product manufacturers may even
pay "rent" to a
retail establishment in the form of rebates or promotional fees in order to
obtain prominent
shelf space. Thus, a retail establishment may be loath to give up such
valuable space to a
couponing kiosk. Moreover, it may be time consuming and frustrating for
customers waiting
in line to access the kiosk. Providing additional kiosks may be cost-
prohibitive.
Support Services In Accordance with A Preferred Embodiment
To provide enhanced support for DVD in a commercial environment, the BCA is
utilized to
redirect to a specific support site based on table lookup utilizing the BC A
number as shown in
Figure 2 at function block 234 RemoteTrak/BCATrak Sen~er function block. Logic
is also
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provided to track disc anomalies and defects from manufacturing process as
shown in function
block 234 RemoteTrak/BCATrak Server. Other logic is also provided to track
retailer-
specific support issues as shown in function block 234 RemoteTrak/BCATrak
Server, to
track geographical support issues as shown in function block 234
RemoteTrak/BCATrak
Server,
to restrict access to support sites based on BCA information as shown in
function block
RemoteTrak/BCATrak Server 234. Finally, enhanced support is provided for
broadcast
updates utilizing support and drivers based on BCA information as shown at
function block
236 Broadcast Server.
Securiri~ In Accordance With A Preferred Embodiment
The BCA information can also be combined with game unlocking logic to provide
an
authorized user with unlocked video based on BCA information as shown at
function block
238 DVDUnlock Server. BCA information has a unique identifier which, when
combined
1 S with other data, can track when a movie and/or a game was given to a
friend which will
trigger another transaction for payment or other information as shown in
function block 234
RemoteTrak/BCATrak Server. This information can also be used to track pirated
DVDs, and
report the information back to the retailer as shown in function block 230
RemoteTrak/BCATrak Server, back to a manufacturer as shown in function block
230
RemoteTrak/BCATrak Server and back to a distributor as shown in function block
230
RemoteTrak/BCATrak Server.
This capability provides the ability to localize pirated discs to a specific
region/retailer as
shown in function block 230 RemoteTrak/BCATrak Server and track illegal region
code use
and potentially trace back to retailer/distributor as shown in function block
230
RemoteTrak/BCATrak Server.
GeneraUAdvertising Logic in Accordance with A Preferred Embodiment
Logic is also provided to tailor video based information as part of the BCA
(play video 1 for
one demographic, play video 2 for another as shown in function block 238
DVDUnlock
Server, RemoteSyc, and to tailor internev'browser experience based on BCA
information as
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
shown in function block 238 RemoteTrak,%BCATrak Server. Targeted advertising
is also
provided based on BCA information and content can be tailored for channel /
banner i
programmin~~ within PCFriendly software) based on consumer profile which is
associated
with BCA as shown in function block 238 RemoteSvnc.
Figure ~ is a block diagram of a user experience in accordance with a
preferred embodiment.
The BCA number 503 is burned/added onto DVD 505. When the DVD is placed into a
consumer's computer 510, InterActual's software automatically reads the BCA
number and
passes this information to the web server. The BCA information is passed to
the web server,
running an ISAPI extension 520, using either HTTP or FTP protocol 515. The
information
can be passed from a local "client" application, or an applet or ActiveX-type
control can be
downloaded from a web site that passed this information to the web server. The
information
is currently passed using an HTTP POST command using the syntax shown below.
http:/hvww.pcfriendly.com/scripts/RemoteAgentUpgrade.DLL&bca=123468790?userid=1
23
4568790?. . .
The current implementation of the web server is an ISAPI extension written in
Visual C++
and is currently named RemoteAgentUpgrade.DLL for use with Microsoft Windows
NT.
Upon receiving the POST command, the ISAPI extension parses the information in
the POST
command to determine the BCA number and other associated information (such as
user ID,
etc.). This information is then logged in the web server log table 530, and is
used to query
specific information in the web server database 550 based on the POST. This
flexible
database structure enables a variety of uses of the BCA number.
A retailer example in accordance with a preferred embodiment is presented to
assist one of
ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention without undue
experimentation. A
consumer inserts a DVD into their DVD-ROM drive. The consumer is presented
with an
HTML page with a "Buy-Me" button. Upon clicking the Buy-nle button, the
consumer is
connected to the Internet to a specific web page that includes an ActiyeX
control. The
ActiyeX control automatically connects to the IS.API extension with BCA
information for the
currently inserted DVD. The ActiveX control also informs the ISAPI extension
that the
31
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
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consumer is attempting an e-commerce transaction. The ISAPI extension parses
the
information from the POST command. and connects to the web server database.
Since the
ActiveX control informed the ISAPI extension that an e-commerce transaction is
being
attempted, the ISAPI extension connects to the web sender database to
determine the retailer
from which the DVD was originally purchased. This can be determined because a
web server
database contains a BCA lookup table 560 with three fields:
BCA Number #123458790
DVD Title Name Lost In Space
Retailer/Store Hollywood Video, Store #23
Using the Retailer/Store information, the appropriate e-commerce URL can be
determined
from Retailer table 570 that contains information specific for that Retailer:
Retailer/Store Hollywood Video, Store #23
E-Commerce URL http://www.retailer23.com/...
Figure 6 is a flowchart of a redirect operation for an electronic commerce
transaction utilizing
BCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a preferred
embodiment.
Processing commences at 600 when a user inserts a DVD into a player and the
electronic
commerce operation is initiated by a user action as shown in function block
610. When the
user selects the purchase option at 610, logic is initiated to read the BCA
information and this
information is combined with other user information from the server database
as shown in
function block 620. Then the sen-er performs a table lookup to ascertain the
retailer that sold
the original DVD as shown in function block 630. The original retailer becomes
the target for
the purchase that the user initiated in function block 610, and the e-commerce
transaction is
re-routed to the retailer that sold the disk as shown in function block 640.
Finally, a
transaction is posted to the server database that memorializes the events
associated with the
re-direct operation.
Figure 7A and 7B are flowcharts setting forth the detailed logic associated
with user
connection and update for DVD processing in accordance with a preferred
embodiment.
Processing commences when a user connects to the Internet with a DVD
application active as
illustrated in function block 700. The remote went detects the live Internet
connection and
32
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
connects the application to a server for further processing as shown in
function block 710.
Then, the sender connects the application with the appropriate version
identification and
upgrades the remote application if an upgraded version is available without
further input from
the user as shown in function block 720. If the user is a first time user.
then the server obtains
user information from the user utilizing, for example data from the DVD, or a
query operation
as shown in function block 730. Then, the application collects current DVD
usage
information and logs the information to a database as shown in function block
740. Finally,
the current DVD information is transmitted to the user as shown in function
block 750.
Processing is then transferred to function block 752 of Figure 7B where the
application
determines if any broadcast events are available. Then, in function block 754,
if a user
requests broadcast events. then the server passes the information to the user
in HTTP format
as shown in function block 756. The remote agent receives the information from
the server
and covens the information for the particular DVD player as shown in function
block 758, and
ultimately logs user information in a database at the server as shown in
function block 760.
General Advertising Flows
Figure 8 is a flowchart setting forth the detailed logic for general
advertising services in
accordance with a preferred embodiment. The flowchart illustrates the detailed
logic
associated with presenting advertising (such as a banner) customized for a
particular
distributoriretailer/etc.
Figure 8 presents logic demonstrating the display of specific advertising
information based on
a retailer/distributor utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in
accordance with a
preferred embodiment. Processing commences at 800 when a user inserts a DVD
with BCA
information into a player, and the advertising operation is initiated by a
user action as shown
in function block 810. 'Vhen a user connects to a web page on the Internet at
810, logic is
initiated to read the BCA information and this information is combined with
other user
information from the ser'~er database as shown in function block 820. Then the
server
performs a table lookup to ascertain the retailer that sold the original DVD
as shown in
function block 830. Once the original retailer is ascertained, the sewer
performs another table
lookup to determine the advertising banner as shown in function block 840. The
advertising
banner associated with original retailer is then displayed in the web site 810
as shown in
1 '1
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function block 850. Finally a transaction is posted to the server database
that memorializes
the events associated with the advertising operation 860.
Distributors, retailers, computer or other hardware manufacturers, direct
sales people. content
developers or anyone who distributes. sells, or gives away DVDs will all
receive benefits as
detailed below in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Some of these
include for
example:
Blockbuster, DVDExpress, Amazon.com, Best Buy, Deluxe, Technicolor~Ninbusl,
IBM,
Gateway, Dell, Creative Labs, New Line, Warner, Activision, Electronic Arts,
General Motors
and Ford Motor Company.
Figure 9 is a flowchart demonstrating the display of specific advertising
information based on
genreltype of DVD utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in
accordance with a
preferred embodiment. Processing commences at 900 when a user inserts a DVD
with BCA
information into a player, and the advertising operation is initiated by a
user action as shown
in function block 910. When the user connects to web page on the Internet at
910, logic is
initiated to read the BCA information and this information is combined with
other user
information from the server database as shown in function block 920. Then the
server
performs a table lookup to ascertain the title and genre of the DVD as shown
in function block
930. Once the title and genre is ascertained, the server performs another
table lookup to
determine the advertising banner as shown in function block 940. The
advertising banner
associated with the title and genre of the DVD is then displayed in the web
site 910 as shown
in function block 950. Finally a transaction is posted to the server database
that memorializes
the events associated with the advertising operation 960.
Figure 10 is a flowchart of a download operation for downloading and updating
retailer-
specific information of the DVD utilizing BCA information for intelligent
processing in
accordance with a preferred embodiment. Processing commences at 1000 when a
user
connects to the Internet with a DVD application active. Logic detects a live
Internet
connection, reads the BCA information, and initiates a connection to the
server as shown in
function block 1010. After logic initiates the connection to the sen-er in
1010, the DVD
application requests all available downloads from the ser<-er for the retailer
of the currently
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CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
inserted DVD, as shown in function block 1020. The server performs a table
lookup to
ascertain the retailer that sold the original DVD as shown in function block
1030. Then the
server perforn~s another table lookup to determine the download informatio as
shown in
function block 1040. Once the download information is determined for the
request initiated by
the application in function block 1020. the server passes the download
information to the
application using HTTP protocal as shown in function block 1050. Finally a
transaction is
posted to the server database that memorializes the events associated with the
download
operation 1060.
Figure 11 is a flowchart of a download operation for downloading and updating
DVD title-
specific information utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in
accordance with a
preferred embodiment. Processing commences at 1100 when a user connects to the
Internet
with a DVD application active. Logic detects a live Internet connection, reads
the BCA
information, determines DVD application version information, and initiates a
connection to
the sender as shown in function block 1110. After logic initiates the
connection to the server in
1110, the DVD application requests all available downloads from the server for
the currently
inserted DVD title, as shown in function block 1120. The server performs a
table lookup to
ascertain the DVD title as shown in function block 1130. Then the server
performs another
table lookup to determine the download informatio as shown in function block
1140. Once the
download information is determined for the request initiated by the
application in function
block 1120. the sender passes the download information to the application
using HTTP
protocal as shown in function block 1150. Finally a transaction is posted to
the server
database that memorializes the events associated with the download operation
1160.
Figure 12 is a flowchart of a tailored video viewing operation utilizing BCA
information for
intelligent processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Processing
commences at
1200 when a user inserts a DVD into a player and video playback is initiated
by a user action
as shown in function block 1210. When the user selects the plav video option
at 1210, logic is
initiated to read the BCA information and this information is combined with
other user
information from the server database as shown in function block 1220. Tire
server performs a
table lookup to ascertain the retailer that sold the original DVD as shown in
function block
1230. Then the server performs another table lookup to determine the correct
retailer video to
3~
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
play as shown in function block 1240. Once the retailer video information is
determined for
the request initiated by the application in function block 1210, the sender
initiates playback of
the correct video for the retailer that sold the disk as shown in function
block 1250. Finally a
transaction is posted to the sender database that memorializes the events
associated with the
video viewing operation operation 1260.
Figure 13 is a flowchart of a tailored video viewing operation utilizing BCA
information for
intelligent processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Processing
commences at
1300 when a user inserts a DVD into a player and video playback is initiated
by a user action
as shown in function block 1310. When the user selects the play video option
at 1310, logic is
initiated to read the BCA information and this information is combined with
other user
information from the server database as shown in function block 1320 and
transmitted to the
server. The server performs a table lookup to ascertain the genre and/or title
as shown in
function block 1330. Then the server performs another table lookup to
determine the correct
1 S genre and/or title video to play as shown in function block 1340. Once the
genre and/or title
video information is determined for the request initiated by the application
in function block
1310, the server initiates playback of the correct video for the genre and/or
title as shown in
function block 1350. Finally a transaction is posted to the server database
that memorializes
the events associated with the video viewing operation operation 1360.
Figure 14 is a flowchart of the logic associated with a tailored multimedia
viewing operation
utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment. Processing commences at 1400 when a user inserts a DVD into a
player and
view is initiated by a user action as shown in function block 1410. When the
user selects the
view option at 1410, logic is initiated to read the BCA information as shown
in function block
1420. The DVD application performs a local table lookup to ascertain the
genre;title/retailer
as shown in function block 1430. Then the DVD application performs another
local table
lookup to determine the correct multimedia element to display as shown in
function block
1440. Once the multimedia element is determined for the request initiated by
the application
in function block 1410, the DVD application initiates playback of the correct
mutlimedia
element for the ~enreititle/retailer as shown in function block 1450. Finally
a transaction is
3~
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
posted to the server database that memorializes the events associated with the
multimedia
viewing operation 1460.
Flowcharts For Security Processing in :accordance With A Preferred Embodiment
Figure 15 is a flowchart of a security operation for restricting access to
specific web sites
utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment. Processing commences at 1500 when a user inserts a DVD into a
player and the
security operation is initiated by a user action as shown in function block
1510. When the
user initiates connection to a secure web site at 1510, logic is initiated to
read the BCA
information and this information is combined with other user information from
the server
database as shown in function block 1520. Then the server performs a table
lookup to
ascertain if the user, based on the BCA number, is allowed access to the
secure web site as
shown in function block 1530. The server either allows or restricts entry to
the web site
based on the BCA number as shown in function block 1540. Finally a transaction
is posted to
1 S the server database that memorializes the events associated with the
security operation 1550.
Figure 16 is a flowchart of a unlock operation for an electronic commerce
transaction utilizing
BCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a preferred
embodiment.
Processing commences at 1600 when a user inserts a DVD into a player and the
unlock
operation is initiated by a user action as shown in function block 1610. When
the user selects
the play%install DVD option at 1610, logic is initiated to read the BCA
information and this
information is combined with other user information from the server database
as shown in
function block 1620. Then the server performs a table lookup to ascertain if
the DVD can be
unlocked for playing or installation as shown in function block 1630. If the
server determines
that the user must first perform a purchase transaction, the server prompts
the user for any
necessary transaction information as shown in function block 1640. After the
user completes
the transaction in function block 1640, or the sender determines that a
transaction occurred at
an earlier time, or if the server determines that a transaction does not need
to occur, the server
performs the unlock operation as shown in function block 1650. Finally a
transaction is
posted to the server database that memorializes the events associated with the
unlock
operation 1660.
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CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
Figure 17 is a flowchart of an unlocking operation for an electronic commerce
transaction
utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment. Processing commences at 1700 when a user inserts a DVD into a
player and the
unlock operation is initiated by a user action as shown in function block
1710. When the user
selects the playiinstall DVD option at 1710, logic is initiated to read the
BCA information and
this information is combined with other user information from the server
database as shown in
function block 1720. The server performs a table lookup to ascertain the user
information for
the DVD using the BCA information as shown in function block 1730. Then the
server
performs a table lookup to ascertain if the DVD can be unlocked for playing or
installation as
shown in function block 1740. If the sender determines that the user must
first perform a
purchase transaction, the server prompts the user for any necessary
transaction information as
shown in function block 1750. After the user completes the transaction in
functional block
1750, or if the server determined that a transaction occurred at an earlier
time, or if the server
determines that a transaction does not need to occur, the server performs the
unlock operation
as shown in function block 1760. Finally a transaction is posted to the server
database that
memorializes the events associated with the unlocking operation 1770.
Figure 18 is a flowchart of a logging operation for tracking piracy and misuse
of a DVD
utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing in accordance with a
preferred
embodiment. Processing commences at 1800 when a user inserts a DVD into a
player and the
logging operation is initiated by a user action as shown in function block
1810. When the user
user selects the play/install DVD option at 1810, logic is initiated to read
the BCA
information and this information is combined with other user information from
the server
database as shown in function block 1820. The server performs a table lookup
to ascertain if
the user, based on the BCA number, is allowed to apply or install the DVD as
shown in
function block 1830. Then the server either enables or disables the DVD for
playbaclu'installation as shown in function block 1840. Finally a transaction
is posted to the
server database that memorializes the events associated with the logging
operation 1850. The
logging information can be used to localize pirated discs to a specific
region. track illegal
region code use. and trace misuseipirated DVDs back to retailer, distributor,
manufacturer, or
content developer.
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CA 02388549 2002-04-18
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Support Services
Figure 19 is a flowchart of a redirect operation for a support transaction for
intelligent
processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Processing commences at
1900 when
a user inserts a DVD with BCA information into a player, and the redirect
operation is
initiated by a user action as shown in function block 1910. When the user
selects the support
option at 1910, logic is initiated to read the BCA information and this
information is
combined with other user information from the server database as shown in
function block
1920. Then the server performs a table lookup to ascertain the support
organization for the
original DVD as shown in function block 1930. The support organization becomes
the target
for the support request that the user initiated in function block 1910, and
the support
transaction is re-routed to the support organization associated with the DVD
in function block
1940. Finally a transaction is posted to the server database that memorializes
the events
associated with the redirect operation 1950.
Figure 20 is a flowchart of a display operation for a support transaction for
intelligent
processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Processing commences at
2000 when
a user inserts a DVD with BCA information into a player, and the display
operation is
initiated by a user action as shown in function block 2010. When the user
selects the support
option at 2010. logic is initiated to read the BCA information and this
information is
combined with other user information from the server database as shown in
function block
2020. Then the server performs a table lookup to ascertain the DVD-specific
support
information for the DVD in the user's player as shown in function block 2030.
Once the
server has determined the DVD-specific information for the support request
initiated by the
user in function block ZO10, the DVD-specific information is displayed to the
user in function
block 2040. Finally a transaction is posted to the server database that
memorializes the events
associated with the display operation 2050.
~ Figure 21 is a flowchart of support tracking utilizing BCA for intelligent
processing in
accordance with a preferred embodiment. Processing commences at 2100 when a
user inserts
a DVD with BCA information into a player, and the display operation is
initiated by a user
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CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
action as shown in function block 2110. V~ hen the user selects the support
option at 2110,
logic is initiated to read the BCA information and this information is
combined with other
user information from the server database as shown in function block 2120.
Then the server
performs a table lookup to ascertain the DVD-specific support information for
the DVD in the
user's player as shown in function block 2130. Once the server has determined
the DVD-
specific information for the support request initiated by the user in function
block 2110, the
DVD-specific information is used, for example, to track retailer-specific
support issues or
geographical support issues as shown in function block 2140. Finally a
transaction is posted
to the server database that memorializes the events associated with the
display operation 2150
and the memorialized information is utilized to generate reports tracking
retailer-specific
support issues or geographical support issues
Figure 22 is a flowchart of a redirect operation for a support transaction for
intelligent
processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Processing commences at
2200 when
a user inserts a DVD with BCA information into a player, and the redirect
operation is
initiated by a user action as shown in function block 2210. When the user
selects the support
option at 2210, logic is initiated to read the BCA information and this
information is
combined with other user information from the server database as shown in
function block
2220. Then the server performs a table lookup to ascertain the support
organization for the
original DVD as shown in function block 2230. The support organization becomes
the target
for the support request that the user initiated in function block 2210, and,
if allowed, the
support transaction is re-routed to the support organization associated with
the DVD in
function block 2240. Otherwise, the user is redirected to a location informing
the user that
support location is not available. Finally a transaction is posted to the
server database that
memorializes the events associated with the redirect operation 2250.
Figure 23 is a flowchart of a broadcast operation for downloading update,
support and
application information utilizing BCA information for intelligent processing
in accordance
with a preferred embodiment. Processing commences at 2300 when a user connects
to the
Internet with a DVD application active. Logic detects a live Internet
connection, reads the
BCA information. determines DVD application version information. and initiates
a
connection to the sen-er as shown in function block 2310. After logic
initiates the connection
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CA 02388549 2002-04-18
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to the server in 2310, the D~'D application requests all broadcast information
from the server
for the the DVD. as shown in function block 2320. The server performs a table
lookup to
ascertain the broadcast information for the DVD as shown in function block
2330. Once the
broadcast information is determined for the request initiated by the
application in function
block 2320, the server passes the broadcast information to the application
using HTTP
protocal as shown in function block 2340. Then the DVD application acts upon
the broadcast
information by either presenting inforniation to the user or automatically
acting upon the
information as shown in function block 2350. Finally a transaction is posted
to the server
database that memorializes the events associated with the download operation
2360. The e-
commerce URL is then returned to the ActiveX control so that the consumer's
purchase
request can be redirected to the appropriate URL.
Visual C++ code in accordance with a preferred embodiment is provided below to
further
embellish the description of the invention.
* These functions are used to obtain BCA information
* DATE NAME REASON
* 3/22/99 ITI Created
* NOTES:
* ~ COPYRIGHT 1999 InterActual Technologies, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
*********************************************************************/
#include "stdafx.h"
#include "scsidefs.h"
#include "wnaspi32.h"
DWORD xReportBCA(LPBYTE pbData. WORD cbData);
DWORD AtapiSendCommand(LPB~'TE pPacket, LPBYTE pBuffer, DWORD cbBuffer);
.I 1
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
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DWORD Atapilnitlint index);
void AtapiUninit( );
DWORD xReportBCA(LPBYTE pbData. WORD cbData)
{
DWORD nReturn;
UCHAR Cdb[ 16];
DWORD bWindowsNT = FALSE;
OSVERSIONINFO vi;
vi.dwOSVersionInfoSize = sizeof(vi);
if (GetVersionEx(&vi))
bWindowsNT = (vi.dwPlatformId = VER PLATFORM-WIN32 NT );
1 S if (bWindowsNT)
return FALSE; // for now not implemented
ZeroMemory(&Cdb,sizeof(Cdb));
Cdb[0] = OxAD; // CMD READ-DVD STRUC;
Cdb[7] = 0x03; // Format
Cdb[8] = HIBYTE(cbData); ;:% sizeof AllocationLength
Cdb[9] = LOBYTE(cbData); /,' sizeof AllocationLength
Cdb[ 10] = 0; // Agid
nReturn = AtapiSendCommand(Cdb, pbData, cbData);
return nReturn;
typedef DWORD (-cdecl *LPFNSENDASPI32COMMAND)(LPSRB);
typedef DWORD (_cdecl *LPFNGETASPI32SUPPORTINFO)(VOID);
BOOL AspiInquirv~Cmd(BYTE *pblnq, WORD cbData);
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// statics vuk
static BYTE .AdapterCount =0;
static BYTE :4dapterlD = 0;
static BYTE TargetlD = 0;
LPFNSEI~'DASPI32COMMAND g-fnSendASPI32Command = NULL;
LPFNGET.4SPI32SUPPORTINFO g-fnGetASPI32SupportInfo = NULL;
HiNSTANCE y hWNASPI = NULL;
DWORD AtapiInit(int index)
{
if (g_fnSendASPI32Command && g_fnGetASPI32SupportInfo)
return TRUE;
if (!(~ hWNASPI = LoadLibrary("WNASPI32.DLL")))
return FALSE;
if (NULL = (g_fnSendASPI32Command = (LPFNSENDASPI32COMMAND)
GetProcAddress(~ hWNASPI, "SendASPI32Command")))
return FALSE;
if (NULL = (g-fnGetASPI32Supportlnfo = (LPFNGETASPI32SUPPORTINFO)
GetProcAddress(~ hWNASPI, "GetASPI32Supportlnfo")))
return FALSE;
DWORD ASPI32Status = (*g_fnGetASPI32SupportInfo)();
AdapterCount = (LOBYTE(LOWORD(ASPI32Status)));
if ((AdapterCount == 0) ~~ (HIBYTE(LOWORD(ASPI32Status)) != SS COMP))
return FALSE;
BYTE pblnq[LEN_INQUIRY-DATA+1];
for (BYTE aid = U; aid < AdapterCount; aid++)
43
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
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for (B~'TE tid = 0; tid < MAX-TARGET; tid++)
AdapterID = aid;
TargetID = tid;
if (AspiInquiryCmd(pblnq, LEN_INQUIRY_DATA)) {
if (DTYPE CROM = pblnq[O]) {
if(index-- = 0) {
return TRUE;
f
return FALSE;
void AtapiUninit()
{
if (~ hWNASPI) {
FreeLibrary(~ hWNASPI);
~ fnSendASPI32Command = NULL;
g_fnGetASPI32SupportInfo = NULL;
~ hWNASPI = NULL;
DWORD AtapiSendCommand(BYTE *pCdb, BYTE *pbData, DWORD cbData )
PSRB_ExecSCSICmd pSrb =
(PSRB_ExecSCSICmd)malloc(sizeof(SRB_ExecSCSICmd));
if (pSrb = NULL)
return FALSE;
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CA 02388549 2002-04-18
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memset(pSrb. 0, sizeof(SRB_ExecSCSICmd));
!/ SendCommand
pSrb->SRB Cmd = SC_EXEC-SCSI-CMD;
pSrb->SRB_Status = Oxff;
pSrb->SRB_HaId = AdapterID;
if ((pCdb[0] = OxA3) &~. (cbData != 0))
pSrb->SRB-Flags = SRB DIR OUT;
else if(pCdb[0] = 0x43)
pSrb->SRB_Flags = SRB DIR IN;
else
pSrb->SRB Flags = SRB-DIR_SCSI;
pSrb->SRB Target = TargetlD;
pSrb->SRB BufLen = (DWORD)cbData;
pSrb->SRB BufPointer = pbData;
pSrb->SRB_SenseLen = SENSE LEN;
pSrb->SRB CDBLen = LEN ATAPI PACKET;
pSrb->SRB HaStat = Oxff;
pSrb->SRB_TargStat = Oxff;
memcpy(pSrb->CDBByte. pCdb, LEN ATAPI PACKET);
DWORD ASPI32Status = (*g_fnSendASPI32Command)(pSrb);
DWORD timeout = 600;
while ((pSrb->SRB_Status = SS PENDING) && (timeout > 0)){
Sleep( 10);
rimeout--;
if (pSrb->SRB_Status SS_COMP);
free(pSrb);
return TRUE:
=I~
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
if ((pSrb->SRB_Status---SS_ERR) ~.& (pSrb->SRB-TargStat =STATL'S_CHKCOND)) ~
free(pSrb);
return FALSE;
BOOL AspilnquiryCmd(BYTE *pblnq, WORD cbData)
BYTE Cdb[LEN ATAPI_PACKET];
memset(Cdb, 0, LEN ATAPI-PACKET);
Cdb[0] = SCSI INQUIRY;
Cdb[4] = LEN INQUIRY DATA;
PSRB-ExecSCSICmd pSrb =
(PSRB_ExecSCSICmd)malloc(sizeof(SRB_ExecSCSICmd));
if (pSrb = NULL)
return FALSE;
memset(pSrb,
0, sizeof(SRB
ExecSCSICmd));
pSrb->SRB Cmd = SC EXEC_SCSI CMD;
pSrb->SRB_ Status Oxff;
=
pSrb->SRB_ HaId AdapterID;
=
pSrb->SRB Flags SRB_DIR SCSI;
=
pSrb->SRB_ Target TargetID;
=
pSrb->SRB BufLen = (DWORD)cbData;
pSrb->SRB_ BufPointer= pbInq;
pSrb->SRB_ SenseLen= SENSE LEN;
pSrb->SRB CDBLen = 6;
pSrb->SRB-HaStat = Oxff;
pSrb->SRB TargStat = Oxff;
memcpy(pSrb->CDBBvte, Cdb, LEN ATAPI-PACKET);
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CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
;'i Send Command
DWORD ASPI32Status = (*~-fnSendASPI32Command)(pSrb);
DWORD timeout = G00;
/* Wait for pending status *'
while ((pSrb->SRB-Status = SS PENDING) && (timeout > 0));
Sleep( I 0);
timeout--;
/* Check Error Code *!
if (pSrb->SRB-Status = SS COMP)
free(pSrb);
return TRUE;
}
/* Set last device error */
if ((pSrb->SRB_Status---SS ERR) && (pSrb->SRB TargStat=STATUS CHKCOND))
}
free(pSrb);
return FALSE;
f
Alternate Embodiments
It should be noted that varoius permutations of serialization may be employed
including, but
not limited to a watermark, hologram, and any other type in substitution or
combination with
the BCA information without diverging from the spirit of the claimed
invention.
YVatermarking
47
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
Digital video data can be copied repeatedly without loss of quality.
Therefore. copyright
protection of video data is a more important issue in digital video delivery
networks than it
was with analog TV broadcast. One method of copyright protection is the
addition of a
"watermark" to the video signal which carries information about sender and
receiver of the
delivered video. Therefore, watermarking enables identification and tracing of
different copies
of video data. Applications are video distribution over the World-Wide Web
(WWW), pay-
per-view video broadcast, or labeling of video discs and video tapes. In the
mentioned
applications, the video data is usually stored in compressed format. Thus, the
watermark must
be embedded in the compressed domain. An approach for robust watermarking of
MPEG-2
encoded video is presented in accordance with an alternate embodiment. The
method is of
much lower complexity than a complete decoding process followed by
watermarking in the
pixel domain and re-encoding. Although an existing MPEG-2 bitstream is partly
altered, the
method avoids drift by adding a drift compensation signal. The method has been
implemented and the results confirm that a robust watermark can be embedded
into MPEG
encoded video which can be used to securely transmit arbitrary binary
information at a data
rate of several bytes/second.
The method is easily applicable to other video coding schemes like MPEG-l,
H.261, and
H.263. Digital watermarks exist at a convergence point where creators and
publishers of
digitized multimedia content demand localized, secured identification and
authentication of
that content. Because existence of piracy is clearly a disincentive to the
digital distribution of
copyrighted works, establishment of responsibility for copies and derivative
copies of such
works is invaluable. In considering the various forms of multimedia content,
whether
"master," stereo, NTSC video, audio tape or compact disc, tolerance of quality
degradation
will vary with individuals and affect the underlying commercial and aesthetic
value of the
content.
It is desirable to tie copyrights, ownership rights, purchaser information or
some combination
of these and related data to the content in such a manner that the content
must undergo
damage, and therefore a reduction in value. with subsequent, unauthorized
distribution of the
content, whether it be commercial or otherwise. Legal recognition and attitude
shifts, which
recognize.the importance of digital watermarks as a necessary component of
commercially
~.8
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/LTS00/10395
distributed content (audio, video. game, etc. ), will further the development
of acceptable
parameters for the exchange of such content by the various parties engaged in
the commercial
distribution of digital content.
These parties may include artists. engineers, studios. Internet access
providers, publishers,
agents, on-line service providers, aggregators of content for various forms of
delivery, on-line
retailers, individuals and parties that participate in the transfer of funds
to arbitrate the actual
delivery of content to intended parties. Since the characteristics of digital
recordings vary
widely, it is a worth while goal to provide tools to describe an optimized
envelope of
parameters for inserting, protecting and detecting digital watermarks in a
given digitized
sample (audio, video, virtual reality, etc.) stream. The optimization
techniques described
hereinafter make unauthorized removal of digital watermarks containing these
parameters a
significantly costly operation in terms of the absolute given projected
economic gain from
undetected commercial distribution. The optimization techniques, at the least,
require
significant damage to the content signal, as to make the unauthorized copy
commercially
worthless, if the digital watermark is removed, absent the use of extremely
expensive tools.
Presumably, the commercial value of some works will dictate some level of
piracy not
detectable in practice and deemed "reasonable" by rights holders given the
overall economic
return. For example, there will always be fake $100 bills, LEVI jeans, and
GUCCI bags given
the sizes of the overall markets and potential economic returns for pirates in
these markets-
as there also will be unauthorized copies of works of music, operating systems
(Windows 98,
etc.), video and future multimedia goods. However, what differentiates the
"digital
marketplace" from the physical marketplace is the absence of any scheme that
establishes
responsibility and trust in the authenticity of goods. For physical products.
corporations and
governments that mark the goods and monitor manufacturing capacity and sales
to estimate
loss from piracy. There are also no reinforcing mechanisms, including legal,
electronic, and
informational campaigns to better educate consumers.
With the advent of digital video and digital video broadcasting, issues of
copyright protection
have become more important, since the duplication of digital video does not
result in the
inherent decrease in quality suffered by analog video. One method of copyright
protection is
the addition of a "watermark" to the video signal. The watermark is a digital
code embedded
49
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
w0 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
in the bitstream of the digital video that typically identifies the copyright
owner. The
watermark, if applied to individual copies of the video, may also be used to
identity of the
receiver of each copy. This processing identifies illegally reproduced copies
and facilitates
tracing back to the receiver from which they originated. For watermarking of
digital video, a
number of different characteristics of the watermark are desirable. First, the
watermark
should be embedded in such a way that it is imperceptible or barely
perceptible to a viewer of
the video. Secondly, the watermark should be such that it cannot be removed by
intentional or
unintentional operations on the digital video bitstream or on the decoded
video without, at the
same time, degrading the perceived quality of the video to the point of
significantly reducing
its commercial value (a characteristic referred to as "robustness"). Thirdly,
since the video
may be stored for broadcast in a compressed form (such as in a "video-on-
demand" server), it
is desirable to be able to incorporate the watermark into the bitstream
without having to
decode the signal first and to re-encode it after adding the watermark. This
can be
accomplished with the watermarking of digital still images, but the method
used does not lend
itself to digital video. due to the additional constraints which video signals
present. Many
digital video applications are "constant bit rate" applications, which do not
tolerate increases
in the bit rate of the transmitted bitstream. Even in those applications which
are not restricted
to a constant bit rate, unnecessary increases in the bit rate should be
avoided, so as to preserve
the real-time decodability of the video signal when transmitted over a channel
having a given
bandwidth. Thus, it is desirable that the addition of the watermark does not
increase the bit
rate of the video signal. Past watermarking techniques for digital video are
limited to the
watermarking of uncompressed video data. However, since video sequences are
often stored
in a compressed format (thereby saving on memory space), watermarking the
signal in a way
which uniquely identifies each receiver of the signal would require decoding
of the signal,
addition of the watermark, and recoding before the signal is transmitted. This
clearly places a
significant time and processing burden on the task of delivering the video
sequence.
Hologram
Information exchange and transfer over a shared transmission channel present a
challenge to
the security of sensitive information. Internet and Intranet are two examples
of such a shared
information transmission channeling which many computers are connected with
one another
by local or wide area communication networks. It is therefore possible for any
user or an
~0
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
intruder to intercept a package of sensitive data that is transmitted over the
shared channel. In
particular, the Internet is a rapidly growing business forum and securing
information
transferred through its channels is becoming a major concern for transmitting
proprietary
information. Data encryption techniques can be used to increase the security
in data exchange
and transfer over a shared transmission channel. In its simplest form, data
encryption uses a
"key" based on a particular algorithm to change the sequence of a package of
data that
contains a piece of confidential information ("plain text") so that the data
is enciphered or
"scrambled" into an form that appears to have no correlation with the embedded
confidential
information ("cipher text"). An unauthorized user, who does not have the
knowledge of either
the encryption method (e.g., the encryption algorithm) or the key formed based
on the
encryption method, cannot easily decode the information. An authorized user
recovers the
embedded information in the scrambled data by using a "key" that is
constructed based on the
encryption method. Therefore, even if the unauthorized user obtains the
scrambled data, the
knowledge of both of the encryption method and the particular key is needed to
decrypt the
confidential information embedded therein.
One well-known encryption system is the Data Encryption Standard (DES) adapted
in 1977 by
the National Bureau of Standards. This is a secret-key crypto system to
exploit confusion and
diffusion techniques, allowing acceptable security using key lengths as short
as 64. The
number of keys in crypto systems based on the DES can be as many as ~ 12 keys
with the
current computational power. However, increased key lengths "cost" significant
delays in
transmitting and receiving the encoded information. Two main kinds of crypto
systems are a
symmetrical system, I.e., the private key system, and an asymmetrical system,
I.e., the public-
private key system. The DES symmetric crypto systems typically encrypt 64 bit
blocks of
plain text using a key length of ~6 bits. The fundamental building blocking
DES (referred to
as a round) is a single combination of a substitution followed by a
permutation of the text,
based on the key.
The plain text is encoded through 16 rounds of a function, which usually
implement
substitution, permutation, XOR and shift operations on subsets of the text and
the key in such
a way that every bit of the cipher text depends on every bit of the plain text
and every bit of
the key. This means that if a single bit of the cipher text is corrupted
during transmission, the
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CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
entire message may be lost. This is another weakness of DES-type block
ciphers. In each
round. a different subset of the elements from the key, Ki. are used to
perform the encryption
(hence K1 is applied during the first round, and Ki is applied during the
ithround, etc.). An
analogous algorithm is used to decrypt the cipher text, but the keys are now
applied in reverse
order. and the shift operations change from left to right. Given the
complexity of the DES
algorithm, the speed at which DES is encrypted is a function of the processor
characteristics
for both hardware and software implementations. For example, Digital Equipment
Corporation makes a hardware DES chip which can encrypt and decrypt at a rate
of 1 GBit/sec,
or 15.6 million DES blocks per second. Soft<vare implementations are slower;
for example, an
IBM 3090 mainframe can encrypt 32,000 DES blocks per second.
Typical software implementation performances for microcomputers are listed in
the Table 1
herein. TABLE 1 Encryption Rates using some microprocessors Bus width DES
Blocks
Processor Speed (MHz) (bits) (per/sec) 8088 4.7 8 37068000 7.6 16 90080286 6.0
16
1,10068020 16.0 32 3,50068030 16.0 32 3,90080280 25.0 16 5,00068030 50.0 32
9,60068040
25.0 32 16,00068040 40.0 32 23,20080486 33.0 32 40,600. Another prior art
cryptography
system is the RSA Public Key Crypto system available from the RSA Data
Security in
California. RSA is an asymmetric crypto system in which two different keys are
used: a
public key to encrypt the plain text and a private key to decrypt the cipher
text. The hardware
implementations of RSA are usually about 1000 to 10.000 times slower than a
hardware
implementation of DES. In software implementations, RSA is generally about 100
times
slower than DES. These numbers will improve as technology advances. but the
processing
speed of RSA will be difficult to approach the speed of a symmetric crypto
system.
Consequently, RSA is generally not viewed as a replacement for DES or any
other fast bulk
encryption algorithm. Instead, RSA is often used for secure key exchange
without prior
exchange of secrets. Hence a long message is encrypted with DES.
The message is sent with its DES key encrypted via RSA public key encryption.
Many other
prior-art encryption systems are variations of the DES-type encryption.
Generally, it is
suspected that given the advanced state of computational processors, DES may
no longer be
safe against a brute-force attack. so alternatives have actively been sought
since the late
1980's. In response to this need. several alternatives have been developed and
are thought to
5~
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
be competitive with DES in terms of the level of security provided. Examples
of these
systems include the following encryption methods.
( 1 ) Triple DES. This is a variation of DES where the plain text is encrypted
with the DES
algorithm by three different keys in succession. This is commonly accepted to
be equivalent
to increasing the size of the DES key to 112 bits. Triple encryption of the
plain text is the
current method of dealing with misgivings about DES's security, but this is
clearly done at the
expense of the throughput rate for encrypting and decrypting messages.
(2) REDOC. a block algorithm which has a 20 byte ( 160-bit key) and that
operates on an 80
bit block. All of the manipulations, (i.e. substitutions, permutations, and
key XOR's) are
performed on bytes, which makes it more efficient in sofnvare than DES whose
initial and
final permutations are difficult to efficiently implement in software. In
addition, the 160 bit
key usually makes this algorithm very secure.
(3) Khufu is a recently proposed 64 bit block cipher, which calls for a 512-
bit key, and leaves
the number of rounds open (either 16, 24, or 32). Because of the large key,
and the potentially
expanded number of rounds, the security of this algorithm is expected to be
very high.
However, increasing the number of rounds has the disadvantage of slowing the
rate at which
data can be encrypted.
(4) IDEA is a 64-bit block cipher that utilizes a 128 bit key. It usually
utilizes three basic
operations, XOR, addition modulo 2 sup 16, and multiplication modulo 2 sup 16.
The
algorithm typically operates on 16-bitsub-blocks, which makes it efficient,
even on 16 bit
processors. Its current software implementations are about as fast as DES. In
view of the
limitations and disadvantages of the various prior-art encryption systems, the
inventors of the
present invention developed a new cn~pto system based on optical phase
modulation and a
corresponding implementation interface between a user computer and the
network. An
embodiment in accordance with the present invention can exchange any of these
methods for
enciphering information embedded in a digital bit stream prior to digitization
and transmission
over a shared net'vork such as the Internet.
~3
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
A holographic de-scrambler can be used at the receiving end in accordance with
a preferred
embodiment by an authorized user to decipher the information. One of many
advantages of
the present invention is the potential to achieve high rate of
encn~ptionidecrvption (e.g.. larger
than 1 Gbitis) as optical fiber networks of high data rates (e.g.. larger than
2.4 Gbit/s) become
S more common. In one of several preferred embodiments of the present
invention, a package of
digital data is first imprinted on a earner light beam. This is done by using
a two-dimensional
spatial light modulator. The phase of the data-bearing optical waveform is
subsequently
distorted by a phase-scrambling medium. Next, the data-bearing optical
waveform with
distorted phase is used to form an optical hologram with a reference beam. The
hologram is
then converted into electronic signals which are sent to its destination in
digital form over a
shared transmission channel. At the destination where the scrambled data is
received. the
hologram is displayed in a spatial light modulator and a conjugate
reconstruction thereof is
performed to generate a conjugate of the data-bearing signal waveform with
distorted phase.
A holographic medium having information indicative of the phase-scrambling
medium is used
to unscramble the phase and the embedded data is retrieved from the conjugate
reconstruction
optical waveform by using a light detector array such as a CCD array. One
aspect of the
present invention is to achieve optical encryption keys up to and greater than
10 sup 6 keys to
enhance the security.
This is a difficult implementation for many prior art systems. Such a large
number of
encryption keys is possible because of the unique optical analog technique in
accordance with
the present invention. It is another aspect of the present invention to insure
fast enciphering
and deciphering of a large encryption key that are rarely obtainable with the
prior-art systems.
The preferred embodiments implement this by using the high-speed optical
reconstruction of a
data-bearing hologram and the capability of parallel processing of optical
data processing
devices. It is yet another aspect of the present invention to increase the
confidentiality of the
encryption schemes by using unconventional analog-based enciphering and
deciphering of
digital data. This aspect is particularly advantageous in view of the current
lack of a
theoretical foundation for decrypting analog-based encryption. A brute force
attacked
encryption based on algorithm techniques is nearly impossible for invading the
cryptography
systems in accordance with the present invention. It is yet another aspect of
the present
invention to use optical phase information in a nonobvious way to encipher and
decipher
54
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
digital data. It is yet another aspect of the present invention that optical
holographic
techniques are used in both enciphering and deciphering processes to further
enhance the
confidentiality of the encrytion systems in accordance with the present
invention. It is yet
another aspect of the present invention that the phase conjugate
reconstruction of data-bearing
holograms are implemented in preferred embodiments to ensure the hi~~h
fidelity of the analog
deciphering process. It is vet another aspect of the present invention to
integrate optical
processing technology, hardware encryption, opto-electronic interfacing, and
high-fidelity and
fast-speed digital signal transmission to form a highly secure, fast and
versatile encryption
system that works independent of the transmission media utilized. It is still
another aspect of
the present invention to complete the encryption or decryption process in a
single step, instead
of the 16 rounds of complex computations typically found in most symmetric
encryption
schemes. In the optical encryption systems in accordance with the present
invention, the
encrypting speed is usually not limited by the size of the encryption key, but
rather by the
system speed in converting between the electronic-to-optical and the optical-
to-electronic
information modes.
Other Serialisation
In the past, merchants have unsuccessfully employed various methods in an
attempt to track
and identify their inventory. Engraving, stamping, painting, and marking are
several methods
that merchants have employed. Due to practical problems, those methods are not
effectively
applicable to the CD multimedia rental industry.
As is known in the art and industry of compact disc multimedia, Graphical
information
identifying the program title and author of a recording is ordinarily placed
on the top surface
of a CD. Digital data is stored on or just below that top surface. In
particular, digital data is
stored immediately below such graphical information between the top surface
and the bottom
surface of the CD. The bottom surface of the CD is comprised of a section of
clear material
through which, in accessinG the data. a laser beam from a compact disc player
radiates
upward.
The digital data is delicate and can easily be damaged during processes
typically used to
identify merchandise, which include enGraving. stamping. or markinG. As stated
above, the
>j
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
digital data is closer to the top surface of the CD than it is to the bottom
surface. although the
top surface of a
CD usually contains graphical information applied by silk screening that
partially protects the
digital data from damage, the silk screened layer is thinner and more fragile
than the bottom
surface of a CD which comprises clear material. Thus, there is a greater need
to protect the top
surface of the CD and the digital data close to it from physical damage such
as scratching.
Engraving may be used to identify merchandise. Engraving CDs with
identification markings
is problematic since engraving is often attempted on the top surface of the CD
and such
engraving could interfere with the digital data next to it. Moreover, even if
engraving is
attempted on the
bottom surface of a CD where it is less likely that digital data will be
damaged, the data may
still be damaged during engraving due to the pressure required to be placed on
the top of the
CD to hold it in place and the heat that may result from such engraving. In
addition,
1 S engraving may be undesirable since it is a relatively labor intensive and
costly process,
especially in high volume situations.
Thus, merchants have considered other less invasive methods of identification
such as, for
example, painting. Painting also fails to provide an effective means of
identification or
security due to the labor required, the cost required, and the inherent
unreliability of the
process given the ease with which a person can duplicate such painting.
Moreover, painting
may pose other problems since harm to the digital data must be avoided.
Still another option of identifying and securing inventory is the use of
ordinary adhesive
stickers. Such stickers do not provide an effective means of identification
due to the ease with
which such stickers can be removed and reaffixed to similar looking items
without a means of
clearly indicating any tampering with the sticker. In addition, such stickers
may be difficult to
manually apply to CDs (since any sticker should be precisely centered on the
CD) in the
absence of an applicator workstation such as the one disclosed herein. In
addition, such
stickers may be easy to duplicate.
~6
CA 02388549 2002-04-18
WO 00/63810 PCT/US00/10395
Magnetic-type EAS systems are widely used to inhibit the theft of merchandise
such as
clothing, books, cassettes and compact disks. Electronic article surveillance
(EAS) systems
are often used to prevent unauthorized removal of articles from a protected
area, such as a
library or retail store. An EAS system usually includes an interrogation zone
or corndor
located near the exit of the protected area and markers or tags attached to
the articles to be
protected. EAS systems have been based on magnetic, RF, microwave and magneto-
restrictive
technologies. Regardless
of the particular technology involved, the EAS systems are designed such that
the tag will
produce some characteristic response when exposed to an interrogating signal
in the corridor.
Detection of this characteristic response indicates the presence of a
sensitized tag in the
corridor. The EAS system then initiates some appropriate security action, such
as sounding an
audible alarm, locking an exit gate, etc. To allow authorized removal of
articles from the
protected area, tags that are either permanently or reversibly deactivatable
~i.e., dual status
tags) are often used.
IS
Although EAS markers have been in common use for the theft protection of
optically recorded
media such as compact disks and CD-ROM's, the markers have generally been
adapted for
attachment to the packages containing new compact disks and have been poorly
suited for
direct attachment to the compact disk itself for libraries and other
institutions that repeatedly
check compact disks in and out to accommodate the needs of customers and
clients, effective
inventory control would prefer that EAS markers are attached to the compact
disk.
Some markers for direct attachment to compact disks have been developed. One,
available as
"DCD-I" from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., is a
single
?5 marker strip and security overlay which are attached to a compact disk.
However, this marker
adversely effects the mechanical balance of the disk, which can adversely
affect the operation
of modern high rotation speed CD-ROM drives, CD players, and other optically
recorded
media playback equipment which require that the media be mechanically balanced
for proper
operation. Another product, "CD-Guard", available from Knogo North America,
Inc.,
Hauppauge, Long
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CA 02388549 2002-04-18
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Island, N.~'., suffers the same mechanical balance drawback. An optical
information storage
disk comprising an embedded, generally annular, dual-status EAS marker is
described in
coassigned U.S. Pat. No. ~,3~7,508.
Other Media
It should be noted that the principles of the present invention may be applied
to other types of
media beyond the electronic storage medium discussed hereinabove. As a disk-
like recording
medium (referred to hereinafter as an optical disk) on and from which an
information signal is
recorded and reproduced by laser beam, there are now commercially available a
so-called
compact disc with audio data recorded therein, a CD-ROM in which computer data
is
recorded, a write once optical disk on which an information signal can be
recorded once and a
recordable optical disk in which an information signal can be reproduced,
recorded and
erased.
The read-only optical disk such as a compact disc or CD-ROM has tracks on
which irregular
patterns, i.e., phase pits are concentrically or spirally formed on the basis
of a recorded
information signal formed on one surface thereof. Specifically, the read-only
optical disk is
composed of a disk base plate made of a transparent synthetic resin such as
polycarbonate
or PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), a reflection film made of a metal such as
Al or Au
formed so as to cover phase pits formed on one surface of the disk base plate
and a protection
layer formed so as to cover the reflection film in order to protect the
reflection film.
When an information signal is reproduced from the read-only optical disk,
laser beam from a
laser light source is converged by an objective lens and irradiated on the
read-only optical disk
from the disk base plate side. Reflected light flux modulated by the phase
pits on the optical
disk is detected by a photodetector, for example, and converted into a
detected signal having a
signal level corresponding to an intensity of reflected light flux, thereby
allowing a reproduced
signal of the information signal recorded on the read-only optical disk to be
obtained.
While the read-only optical disk can provide mass-produced products (optical
disks)
inexpensively on the market, it is not suitable for products of~ small demand.
For this end,
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write once optical disks are prepared for optical disk products of small
demand and a variety
of data
can be provided to the user easily. As write once optical disks, there are
available a write
once optical disk of recording system using physical chemical change of
pigment, a write once
optical disk of a single layer hole forming recording system. a write once
optical disk of multi-
layer hole forming recording system, a write once optical disk of phase-change
recording
system and a write once optical disk of bubble-foaming system. Upon
reproduction, in a
manner similar to the read-only optical disk, a laser beam (having a weak
reproduction laser
power) from a laser light source is irradiated on the disk from the disk base
plate side under
the condition that the laser beam is converged by an objective lens. Then,
reflected light flux
that is modulated by previously-recorded pits is detected by a photodetector
and the detected
signal is converted into a detected signal having a signal level corresponding
to an intensity of
a reflected light bundle, thereby obtaining a reproduced signal of an
information signal
recorded on the write once optical disk.
When an information signal is recorded on the above write once optical disk, a
laser beam
(having a strong recording laser power) from a laser light source is
irradiated on the optical
disk from the disk base plate side under the condition that the laser beam is
converged by an
objective
lens. Then, the power of the laser beam is turned on and off by modulating the
laser beam in
response to an information signal and pits (pits substantially similar to
those recorded on the
read-only optical disk) corresponding to the information signal are formed
along recording
tracks
of the optical disk. Specifically, in the case of the single layer hole
forming recording system,
a hole is formed on the recording track at an area irradiated with a strong
laser beam and this
hole is recorded as a pit. In the case of a multi-layer hole forming recording
system, a hole is
formed on the recording track at an area irradiated with a strong laser beam,
e.g., the film of
the first layer and the hole on the first layer are recorded as a pit.
In the case of the phase change recording system, a portion of the recording
track irradiated
with a strong laser beam is changed from the amorphous state to the crystal
state and the
portion that was changed to the crystal state is recorded as a pit. In the
case of the bubble
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foaming recording system. of the recording tracks. a recording layer of the
portion irradiated
with a strong laser beam is upheaved and the upheaved portion is recorded as a
pit.
In the write once optical disk, in particular, a guide groove is formed (pre-
groove portion) to
allow tracking control of laser beam. An end face opposing the pre-groove is
formed as a sine
wave shape (generally referred to as a wobble shape) having a predetermined
amplitude and a
predetermined period along the track. When this wobble shape is optically
detected by laser
beam, it is possible to obtain a wobble signal serving as absolute time
information. The
wobble signal is used to control the system of the recording and reproducing
apparatus and, in
particular, the timing information for recording pits on the optical disk.
Further, the wobble
signal is used to servo-control an optical disk rotating and driving means.
e.g., a spindle
motor. According to the servo control operation, the rotational speed of the
spindle motor is
controlled such that the period of the wobble signal becomes constant.
The above write once optical disk is generally of a groove recording 10 system
where pits are
recorded on the pre-groove portion. When information data that is to be
recorded on the write
once optical disk is recorded, a target position is synchronously searched
based on the period
of the wobble signal obtained by optically detecting the wobble shape formed
on the pre-
groove portion. When the target position is detected, the above information
data that is to be
recorded on the write once optical disk is recorded on the target position
according to a
predetermined format.
On the other hand, upon reproduction, a target position is searched as
described above. When
the target position is detected, based on a frame synchronizing signal
inserted into the data to
be recorded on the write once optical disk, 2 kilobytes of data, for example,
are sequentially
read
out, thereby reproducing recorded data.
Since the read-only optical disk and the write once optical disk are the same
in reproduction
principle as described above, even when the write once optical disk is loaded
onto a
reproducing apparatus which reproduces an information signal from the read-
only optical
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disk, data recorded on the write once optical disk can be reproduced without
distinction of the
read-only optical disk.
In addition, the write once optical disk has a feature that allows a number of
optical disks to
be easily produced by relatively simple equipment. For this reason, there is
the risk that the
write once optical disk will be illegally copied (illegal copy). Specifically,
initially, there is a
computer system wherein a reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information
signal from
a read-only optical disk is connected to one external input and output
terniinal of a personal
computer used by the end user. For example, and an external storage device for
recording and
reproducing an information signal on and from the write once optical disk is
connected to
another external input and output terminal. Then, recorded data that had been
read out from
the read-only optical disk by the reproducing apparatus are all written in the
write once optical
disk by the external storage device. thereby producing a pirate edition of the
read-only optical
disk.
In this case, if the read-only optical-disk is a CD-ROM where computer data
(including
computer program) are recorded, then a pirate edition of game software can be
easily
produced. If the read-only optical disk is a compact disc (CD) where music
information are
recorded, then it becomes
possible to easily produce a pirate edition of the compact disc.
Since computer programs are copyrighted material protected by copyright,
copies--except
those made by the regular user, i.e., registered users who accepted the
software license
agreement (software license agreement}-for backup or copies for the hard disk
are illegal.
Further, copy for thoroughly copying recorded data on the CD-ROM which is a
copyright
material to the write once optical disk for the purpose of action of
concession in distribution is
also illegal and such illegal action for obtaining unfair profit should be
prevented.
Furthermore, an act wherein a regular user makes a free distribution for those
who are not
regular users in an enterprise or CAI (Computer Assisted Instruction) is
regarded as serious.
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At present. there are a variety of proposed methods for copy protection many
of which have
been reduced to practice. On the other hand. a software (program or the like)
called "copy
tool" used in removing copy protection is now commercially available. Short of
the user's own
conscience, there is currently no other way to prevent the illegal copying of
recorded data.
In view of the aforesaid, it is an object of the present invention to provide
a data recording
method wherein an illegal copy between disk-like recording mediums can be
effectively
protected even against a copy tool and in which copyrighted material (recorded
data) recorded
on the disk-like recording medium can be protected.
Interactive productions allow a user of a computer system to interact with
movies, video or
other displayed images while the images are being updated at a rapid rate. The
purpose of
these productions is to present useful information, educate or entertain the
user. The ultimate
goal of
interactive technology is to make the user feel as though they are interacting
with images on
the screen so that, for example, characters or objects in a drama react to the
users actions. The
user's actions can affect characters, objects or other images on the display
screen and change
the course of the storyline.
One method for providing a high degree of interaction is to make the
production completely
computer generated. This means that the computer models a three dimensional
world and
calculates and displays the orientation of figures and objects on the screen.
However, this
approach is limited by today's technology because the computing power to fully
calculate and
render lifelike images, especially human figures, at resolutions approaching
television quality
in real time at video or film refresh rates is beyond the current technology
for mass-marketed
systems.
A different approach is to prerecord video, film or computer generated image
sequences and
play the prerecorded images, or frames, back at high speed. This achieves the
resolution of
television, or better, and is sufficiently lifelike to create a level of
believability comparable to
television. However, in this approach the user has a very limited amount of
interactivity with
the production since the user's ability to affect the story is limited to the
small number of
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different "paths" of prerecorded image sequences that are branched to at
predetermined
decision points in
the video or animation sequence. The use of any prerecorded sequences of
images that are
played back so as to achieve animation while allowing a user to interact with
the images is
referred to broadly here as "interactive video."
Interactive video productions typically use a compact disc read-only memory
(CD-ROM) disc
to store the images and a CD-ROM drive to retrieve images during playback. The
CD-ROM
disc stores information in a concentric spiral on optical media and is "read"
or played back
with a CD-ROM drive that uses a "read head" with a laser beam. The big problem
with CD-
ROM
based interactive production is the break in continuity due to delays of about
a half second or
more required to locate a desired branch path that is different from the
current path that the
drive's read head is tracking. Another problem is that CD-ROM based
interactive video
productions are severely limited in the number and types of ways that a user
may interact
with the video.
The length of time to access a different video path ("access time" or "seek
time") depends
upon the location of the different video path with respect to the current
placement of the CD-
ROM drive's read head. In order to access a given video sequence. a computer
controller looks
up the
location of the sequence in an index and instructs the CD-ROM drive to access
the new
sequence by moving the read head to the beginning of the new sequence on the
disc. Since the
read head is moved by a mechanical mechanism it takes a comparatively long
time to
reposition the read head to a new point on the track to access the different
video path.
The prior art uses caches to try to improve the performance of accessing data
in a CD-ROM.
The cache can be in the CD-ROM drive, in an interface card between the
processor and the
drive, in the memory of the computer system controlled by software or even on
a hard disk or
other storage medium. However, these caches only provide marginal improvement
in access
times where video is concerned because of the relatively small sizes of the
caches compared to
the data rate of the information coming off of the CD-ROM. Also, when a
different path is
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branched to the information in the caches is usually useless since they don't
contain the new
data. The caches
must be "purged" and loaded with new information.
While current CD-ROM drives are not adequate to provide sufficient
interactivity in
interactive video productions, they represent a huge installed base since
hundreds of
thousands have already been sold to consumers. Therefore, a system which
eliminates the
access time in CD-ROM
based interactive videos without requiring modification of existing CD-ROM
drives is
desired.
Conventionally, a so-called LD (Laser Disk) and a so-called CD (Compact Disk)
are
Qeneralized as optical disks, on which information such as video information,
audio
information and the like is recorded. On the LD or the like, the video
information and the
audio information are recorded together with time information indicating a
time at which each
information is to be reproduced with respect to a reproduction start position,
which each LD
or the like has, as a standard position. Thus, other than a general normal
reproduction to
reproduce the recorded
information in the order of recording, various special reproductions are
possible, such as a
reproduction to extract and listen to an only desirable music out of a
plurality of recorded
musics, a reproduction to listen to the recorded musics in a random order and
so on, in case of
the CD, for example.
However, there is a problem that, according to the above mentioned LD or the
like, a so-called
interactive and variegated reproduction is not possible in which the audience
can have a
plurality of selection branches as for the video or audio information to be
displayed or sound-
outputted
and in which the audience can select them to watch or listen to it.
Namely, for example, in case of giving audience to a foreign movie on the LD,
it is not
possible to select one of languages to be used for a subtitle (caption)
displayed on the picture
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plane (e.g.. select one of the subtitle in Japanese and the subtitle in the
original language) so as
to display the
subtitle in the selected language, or, in case of giving audience to a music
recorded on the CD,
it is not possible to select one of sound voices of the music (e.g.. select
one of the English
lyric and the Japanese lyric).
On the other hand, various proposals and developments are being made as for
the DVD, as an
optical disk in which the memory capacity is improved by about ten times
without changing
the size of the optical disk itself as compared with the aforementioned
conventional CD. With
respect to this DVD, if a plurality of subtitles in various languages or a
plurality of voice
sounds in various languages are recorded, the above mentioned interactive and
variegated
reproduction is possible as the audience selects one of them.
However, the information amount of the audio information or music information
becomes
enormous if the audio or voice sounds in various languages or the music in
various types are
recorded on the above mentioned DVD. At this time, if the information is not
recorded in an
appropriate recording form, the process for searching the audio information
etc. to be
reproduced becomes complicated, and a case where the audio sound or music
sound etc. is
interrupted in the middle of the reproduction due to the time required to
search the audio
information etc. may happen at the time of reproduction, which is a problem.
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood
that they
have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the
breadth and scope
of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described
exemplary
embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following
claims and their
equivalents.
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