Information Carrier Dummy Data for Copy Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information carriers lack effective protection against illegal retrieval of user information, as malicious individuals can detect the access information by observing noise level differences between regions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating dummy information in additional regions of the information carrier, stored in the same format as access information, to obscure the noise level difference and prevent detection, while ensuring the access information is stored in a specific region accessible by playback devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If access information is hidden in a specific region to prevent illegal retrieval, then copy protection is improved, but the noise level difference between regions becomes detectable by malicious individuals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecopy protectionVSAvoidnoise level detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different regions on the information carrier with distinct characteristics. The first region contains access information with specific noise characteristics, while the second region contains dummy information with different noise characteristics. This local differentiation allows the system to hide access information while using noise level differences as a detection mechanism that is hard to exploit, as the differences are controlled and distributed across specific regions rather than being uniform throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating dummy information that replicates the structural characteristics of access information regions. The dummy information in the second region is designed to have similar formatting and structural properties to the access information, but with different actual content. This copying of structural characteristics confuses detection systems that rely on identifying unique noise patterns, as the dummy regions mimic the appearance of access information regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If dummy information is added to obscure noise level differences, then detection difficulty is improved, but the information carrier structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess information position detectionVSAvoidinformation carrier structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the information carrier into distinct regions: a first region containing access information and a second region containing dummy information. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by organizing information in modular sections rather than a single uniform structure. Each region has a specific function, and the segmentation itself becomes part of the security mechanism, as it creates predictable patterns that can be used to locate and protect access information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inversion by making the security mechanism itself visible and structured. Instead of trying to hide the presence of access information completely, the system intentionally creates visible structural differences through region segmentation and noise level variations. The security relies on the fact that these differences follow predictable patterns that legitimate systems can exploit while malicious systems find it difficult to exploit without knowing the specific region boundaries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If access information is stored in a pre-determined region accessible by playback devices, then ease of operation is improved, but the position information may be disclosed to semiconductor companies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess information retrievalVSAvoidposition information security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining the location of access information in a specific region that playback devices will access during normal operation. The system prepares the information carrier with access information placed in a region that will be read automatically during the initial playback process, before any security checks or additional processing is required. This ensures that legitimate users can access the information without additional steps, while the pre-determined location remains secure from disclosure to external parties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7889612B2Information carrier comprising access information and dummy information

Publication Date: 2011.02.15 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

An information carrier for holding user information includes access information for accessing the user information, the access information being stored in a pre-determined first region on the information carrier. The information carrier further includes at least one further region different from the first region, the further region comprising dummy information.