Abstract:
The present invention discloses a solution for protection of optically encoded content using one or more Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags embedded within one or more optical medias. The solution can include an RFID tag embedded within an optical media that can manage the use of the optically encoded content on the optical media. Protection can include access control of optically encoded media by an optical media drive, progressive content based protection, selective content access and the like. In one embodiment the embedded RFID tag can act independently or in concert with hardware/software security mechanisms associated with an optical media drive to provide security.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to media content protection, and more particularly, to protection of optically encoded content using one or more RFID tags embedded within one or more optical medias. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Unauthorized duplication of information on optical media is a problem for many companies. Currently, copy protection largely relies upon software security measures to reduce and prohibit unauthorized duplication. Software mechanisms often depend on encrypting or scrambling content which is unscrambled using a special key. Often, these keys are discoverable, guessable, or circumvent-able, which renders the copy protection useless resulting in extensive copying of the once-protected content. For example, the Content Scramble System (CSS) designed to protect digital video disk (DVD) content was circumvented using the DeCSS software algorithm. In another example, the advanced access content system (AACS) that protect HD DVD and BLU-RAY disks already has been reportedly circumvented. 
         [0005]    Other anti-copying attempts have resulting in devastating side effects, which harmed content providers and users alike. For instance, in 2005 SONY briefly distributed rootkit software (e.g., Extended Copy Protection and MediaMax CD-3) on audio compact disks. This rootkit software was automatically installed on desktop computers when customers attempted to play CDs on their computers. The rootkit software was designed to interfere with a normal way in which an operating system plays CDs. It also had a side effect of opening security holes that allowed viruses to invade the desktop computers that had attempted to play the music CDs. The end result was a massive recall of rootkit containing CDs, many lawsuits, and negative public sentiment focused on the unannounced rootkit additions. 
         [0006]    Despite the challenges with protecting optically encoded content, unabated duplication is a major source of financial cost to companies that deploy content on optical media. What is needed is a more secure technique to protect optically encoded software that does not harm legitimate content consumers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention discloses a solution for protection of optically encoded content using one or more Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags embedded within one or more optical medias. The solution can include one or more RFID tags embedded within one or more optical medias that can manage the use of the optically encoded content on the optical media. Protection can include access control of optically encoded media by an optical media drive, progressive content based protection, selective content access and the like. In one embodiment the embedded RFID tag can act independently or in concert with hardware/software security mechanisms associated with an optical media drive to provide security. 
         [0008]    The present invention can be implemented in accordance with numerous aspects consistent with the material presented herein. For example, one aspect of the present invention can a secure optical media that includes optically encoded content contained within the secure optical media. The secure optical media can also include at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag can include tag encoded content. At least a portion of the optically encoded content can be secured by the tag encoded content. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention can include an optical media drive that includes an optical reader and an RFID reader. The optical reader can read optically encoded content stored in optical media. The RFID reader can read tag encoded content stored in at least one RFID tag embedded in optical media. At least a portion of the optically encoded content can be secured by the tag encoded content. 
         [0010]    Still another aspect of the present invention can include a method for securing optical media. The method can include a step of identifying an optical media that includes at least one embedded RFID tag. Tag encoded content can be read from the embedded RFID tag. The tag encoded content can be processed to selectively unlock otherwise secured optically encoded content of the optical media. 
         [0011]    It should be noted that various aspects of the invention can be implemented as a program for controlling computing equipment to implement the functions described herein, or as a program for enabling computing equipment to perform processes corresponding to the steps disclosed herein. This program may be provided by storing the program in a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or any other recording medium. The program can also be provided as a digitally encoded signal conveyed via a carrier wave. The described program can be a single program or can be implemented as multiple subprograms, each of which interact within a single computing device or interact in a distributed fashion across a network space. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    There are shown in the drawings, embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for protection of optically encoded content using an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag in accordance with the embodiment of inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method for protection of optically encoded content using RFID tag embedded within optical media in accordance with the embodiment of inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a system  100  for protection of optically encoded content using an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag in accordance with the embodiment of inventive arrangements disclosed herein. In system  100 , an optical media  110  can contain optically encoded content  112  and one or more embedded RFID tag  120 , which can contain RFID encoded content  122 . Security information in the RFID encoded content  122  can be required to fully access the optically encoded content  112 . Use of an embedded RFID tag  120  to protect the optically encoded content  112  can result in inherent additional security benefits. For example, removal/replacement of an embedded RFID tag  120  would likely damage the optically encoded content  112 , rendering it unusable. 
         [0016]    System  100  is not limited to protecting optically encoded content  112  of media  110  specifically containing embedded RFID tags  120 . Instead, a set of optical media  110  can be protected using tag encoded content  122  contained in tags  120  embedded within one or more of the disks of the set. For example, a computer game can include a set of five disks, which are all protected using one or more RFID tags  120  embedded in a first disk. Further, different tag  120  storage areas can be used to protect different disks, such as a first area protecting disk one, a second area—disk two, a third area—disk three, and so on. Different storage areas can be contained in the same tag  120  or in different tags  120 . In another configuration, a common storage area in tag  120  can be used to protect all the disks in a set of disks. 
         [0017]    The RFID embedded media  110  can be accessed by an optical media drive  130 . The drive  130  can include an optical media reader  132  for reading the optically encoded content  122  and a RFID reader  134  for reading the tag encoded content  122 . Either the optical reader  132  or the RFID reader  134  can optionally include content writing components, which enable content to be written to optical media and/or RFID media. The optical media drive  130  can optionally include a security engine  130 , which is configured to selectively grant access to optically encoded content  112  based upon correct access information being included in the tag encoded content  122 . 
         [0018]    An ability to write content to the embedded RFID tags  120  can result in numerous advantageous side benefits. For example, data specific to optically encoded content  112  can be saved directly to the media  110  and automatically used regardless of which drive  130  or computer the media  110  is inserted into. For example, high scores, game state data (e.g., character level, items carried, game location, etc.), and the like can be stored in the media  110  versus storing user specific information in a stationary player. A writeable portion of the tag encoded content  122  can store bookmarks, documents, user files, preferences, state information, and other data. 
         [0019]    The security information in the tag encoded content  122  can protect any type of optically encoded content  112  at a variety of access levels. Additionally, the security information in the tag encoded content  122  can protect other RFID tag encoded content located on the same optical media or different optical media. RFID protected content can include, but is limited to, video, music, software, data, games, and the like. The security can prevent or limit a manner in which protected content can be read, copied, or written. The same level of protection can be imposed on all operations of the protected optically encoded content  112 , or different levels can be imposed against selective portions of the content  112 . In one embodiment, a portion of the optically encoded content  112  can be unprotected so that the content  112  is usable in a limited fashion, where full use of the content  112  requires a protected portion of the content be unlocked using security information from tag encoded content  122 . For instance, the one or more chapters of a movie or one or more levels of a video game can be locked, so that viewing the locked chapter or level requires the security information. 
         [0020]    Numerous security technologies can be implemented to protect the optically encoded content  112 , which include software and/or hardware security technologies. In one implementation, the optically encoded content  112  can be encrypted, where a decryption key is contained in the tag encoded content  122 . In one embodiment, a multi-part security key can be used, where one part of the key is contained in the tag encoded content  122 . Another part of the multi-part key can be stored in the optically encoded content  112 , in a separate documents (e.g., an activation key), in a network accessible storage space (e.g., in an embodiment that requires network based activation), in an optical media drive  130 , in a different RFID tag  120 , in a different portion of the same tag  120 , and/or any other location. A multi-part key can include two or more parts, each of which are needed for unlocking the protective restrictions imposed on the content  112 . 
         [0021]    To illustrate, a read-only portion of the tag encoded content  122  can include a first security key, a product key can be required during installation of optically encoded content  112  (e.g., software), and a network based activation key can be required during an activation step. Activating via the activation key can write a special activation-specific code to a writable portion of the embedded RFID tag  120 . Use of installed software can require the media  110  be placed in a drive  130  and that the activation-specific code written in the content  122  be present. This example illustrates one contemplated multi-stage, multi-code activation utilization process and the invention is not to be limited in this regard. In another example, activation of the media  110  can require a user designated password, which can be written to either the content  112  or content  122 . Future uses of the media  110  or specific restricted actions (e.g., software installation actions, information copying, etc.) involving the media  110  can require that a user provide the password. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the RFID security information in content  122  can be paired/synchronized/mated to content  112  or a type of content  112 . For example, an RFID tag  120  can be matched to video content  112 , which permits the content to be played, but not moved, copied, or other operations. In another embodiment, a particular video title can be mated with a particular RFID tag  120 , so that different video titles have different characteristic security information for accessing the title embedded in the tag encoded content  122 . In another embodiment, the media  110  can be locked to a specific type of drive  130  via a drive  130  specific code that is paired to a code in the media  110  stored in the content  112  and/or  122 . For example, special media  110  can be designed for a gaming platform having platform specific drives  130 , which prevents standard drives  130  from accessing and/or manipulating content  112 . 
         [0023]    In still another embodiment, the drive  130  can automatically detect tag  120  positioning and quantity within the optical media  110 , which can serve as an additional protection mechanism. For example, DVD media  110  can position tags  120  in one location, which is different than a position for software media  110 . Restrictions for copying content can be imposed based upon the tag  120  position. Tag positioning and quantity information can be standardized for different types of content, or can vary. Variances can be specified within the content  112  and/or  122 , so that the drive  130  can access whether a proper configuration for the media  110  is present. In one embodiment, when the drive  130 , specifically the security engine  136  of the drive, detects an incorrect number or positioning of RFID tags  120 , security actions can be taken that prevent content  112  from being utilized. 
         [0024]    To illustrate, two RFID tags  120  can be embedded in media  110 ; one on an inner edge and the other on the outer edge. A security scheme can be enacted so that only one of the tags is to be unlocked/readable at a time. Different portions of optically encoded content  112  can be associated with each tag  120 . The security scheme can programmatically and periodically change which tag is unlocked/readable over time, which protects/unprotects a corresponding portion of the optically encoded content  112 . If a tag that is supposed to be locked/unreadable is instead readable, the security scheme can secure all content of the media. The security scheme that requires one or more RFID tags  120  to be selectively locked can prevent a creation/use of fraudulent “unlocked media  110 .” “Unlocked media  110 ” as used in this context can refer to RFID tag containing optical media analogous to unlocked cards for satellite receivers, where the unlocked satellite cards fraudulently circumvented satellite security measures that enabled free access to for-pay channels. 
         [0025]    In still another embodiment, when a predetermined number of errors, which can be any number  1  . . . N, is detected, some or all of the optically encoded content  112  can be more permanently or semi-permanently locked or disabled. For example, code stored in the RFID tag  120  can prevent the optically encoded content  112  from being read. In one configuration, disabled content  112  can be accessed by calling a service agent and/or contacting a media unlocking Web service, which can provide a code to re-enable disabled media  110 . Re-enabling disabled media  110  can require product/user identification/verification actions. Disabling optical media can make brute force determinations of security settings difficult. 
         [0026]    Multiple security schemes can be concurrently implemented in system  100  for increased content protection. For example, a hardware (device  130 ) security scheme can be established that reads/writes security information to/from the tag encoded content  122 . A title based scheme (software) can mate a title of the media  110  encoded in the content  112  against corresponding security information contained in content  122 . The title-based scheme and the hardware security scheme can be independent of each other. In another embodiment, a collaboration/cooperation can occur among different hardware/software imposed security schemes. For example, an ability to write content to the RFID tag  120 , which is part of a hardware scheme, can be dependent upon whether the title of media or an optical security code in content  112  matches a corresponding code contained in tag encoded content  122 . 
         [0027]    The optical media  110  can include any media capable of storing optically encoded information. The optical media  110  can be pressed media that includes optically encoded content  112  when manufactured, or burned media that is manufactured in a blank state and optically encoded content  112  is thereafter added to the media  110  or “burned” into the media. Writable media  110  can be write-once media or re-writable media. The optical media  110  can have any number of content containing layers. The optical media can include, but is not limited to, compact disks (CDs), digital video disks (DVDs), BLU-RAY disks, HD disks, and the like. Multiple tags  120  and/or weights can be positioned to balance the optical media, so that&#39;s spin is not negatively effected by a presence of the tag  120 . In one embodiment, tags  120  can be positioned near a center of media  110 . The tag  120  itself can be of any shape, which includes a circular shape, which can be used to prevent spin biasing. The RFID tag  120  can be completed embedded within a substance of the media  110  and/or can have one or more surface protrusions. 
         [0028]    The drive  130  can be any consumer electronic device or device peripheral able to selectively read content  112  and  122 . In one embodiment, the device assembly/housing can be arranged to prevent RFID tags  120  from being artificially attached to an optical media. The RFID tags  120  can be clipped or formed so that external readers/writers (other than drive  130 ) are unable to read/write tag encoded content  122 . The drive  130  can be a special purpose drive specifically designed for media  110  having an embedded tag  120  or can be a multi-purpose drive able to read/write information from optical media not including an embedded RFID tag  120 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method  200  for protection of optically encoded content using RFID tag embedded within optical media in accordance with the embodiment of inventive arrangements disclosed herein. The method  200  can be performed in the context of system  100 . 
         [0030]    Method  200  can begin in step  205 , where an optical drive detects an optical media with an embedded RFID tag. RFID encoded content can be read from the RFID tag as shown by step  210 . In step  215 , an attempt can be made to authenticate the optical media based on at least in part upon reading the RFID content. In the determining step  215 , if the authentication fails, the method can proceed to step  235 . In step  235 , the optical media can lock hardware/software present to prevent optically encoded content from being used. If step  215  succeeds and authentication is successful, the method can proceed to step  225 . In step  225 , the optically encoded content is read from the optical media. Step  230  can grant permission of protected optically encoded content to be utilized. 
         [0031]    The present invention may be realized in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for a carrying out methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software may be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. 
         [0032]    The present invention also may be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. 
         [0033]    This invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than foregoing the specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.