Pseudo-reflective read inhibitor for optical storage media

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for inhibiting the readability of an optical media due to changes in a pseudo-reflective material that composes the optical media after the optical media has been exposed to air for a predetermined time. An optical media includes a data encoded component. At least a fraction of the data encoded component transforms from a substantially optically reflective state to a substantially optically non-reflective state as at-least-in-part a function of time from an initializing event. The systems and methods provide advantages because of low cost, limited content lifetime, avoidance of rental returns and minimum changes to existing manufacturing precesses.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of both copending U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 125,927, filed Mar. 23, 1999, now pending; and copending U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 128,197, filed Apr. 7, 1999, now pending, the entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates generally to the field of optical media. More particularly, the invention relates to time sensitive disposable optical media. [0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art [0005] Optical disks such as CDs and DVDs are sold and rented to consumers for use at home. The content of the optical disks may be music, movies, software or data. Unfortunately, the purchase of CDs and DVDs can be expensive. The cost is associated not primarily with the manufacturing cost of the optical disks, but with the value of the information, such as movies...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] A goal of the invention is to simultaneously satisfy the above-discussed requirements of low cost, limited content lifetime, avoidance of rental returns and minimum changes to existing manufacturing precesses which, in the case of the prior art, are not simultaneously satisfied.

[0009] Another embodiment of the invention is based on an optical disk, comprising: a substrate; a metal layer coupled to said substrate; and a lacquer coupled to said metal layer, wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of said substrate and said lacquer permit controlled exposure of said metal layer to air, thereby degrading readability of data recorded on said optical disk. Another embodiment of the invention is based on a package containing an optical disk, said optical disk comprising: a substrate, a metal layer coupled to said substrate; and a lacquer coupled to said metal layer, wherein opening said package triggers a process that changes reflective properties of said metal layer, thereby degrading an ability to read data recorded on said optical disk.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, the purchase of CDs and DVDs can be expensive.

The cost is associated not primarily with the manufacturing cost of the optical disks, but with the value of the information, such as movies or software, encoded on the disks.

Content providers, such as movie studios or software companies, do not want to sell at a low cost copies of their material that will have a long lifetime in the marketplace.

Rentals of CDs and DVDs enable consumers to access the information at a lower cost, but the need to return the rentals on time is inconvenient.

Heretofore, the requirements of low cost, limited content lifetime, avoidance of rental returns and minimum changes to existing manufacturing precesses referred to above have not been fully met.

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