Abstract:
A serialization management system consists of a job control host for assigning serial numbers to storage media, and for generating a job; a replication facility host communicatively coupled to the job control host, wherein the job control host communicates the job to the replication facility host; and a serialization writer communicatively coupled to the replication facility host, wherein the replication facility host controls the serialization writer in response to the job, and communicates status information to the job control host. In another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as method for operating the serialization management system.

Description:
[0001]    This patent document claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/244,558, filed Oct. 30, 2000, for ARCHITECTURE FOR A BCA WRITER SYSTEM, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention advantageously provides a serialization management system and method.  
           [0003]    In one embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a serialization management system employing a job control host for assigning serial numbers to storage media, and for generating a job; a replication facility host communicatively coupled to the job control host, wherein the job control host communicates the job to the replication facility host; and a serialization writer communicatively coupled to the replication facility host, wherein the replication facility host controls the serialization writer in response to the job, and communicates status information to the job control host.  
           [0004]    In a variation of this embodiment, a serialization writer console is coupled to the serialization writer, the serialization writer console prompting the replication facility host for a batch by communicating a batch request to the replication facility host; wherein the replication facility host communicates to the serialization writer, in response to the batch request, batch data, the batch data being generated by the replication facility host as a function of the job.  
           [0005]    In another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a serialization management method having steps of assigning serial numbers to storage media in a job control host; generating a job in the job control host; communicating the job to a replication facility host; controlling a serialization writer in response to the job; and communicating status information to the job control host.  
           [0006]    In a variation of this method, such method has the further step of prompting the replication facility host for a batch by communicating a batch request to the replication facility host; generating batch data at the replication facility host as a function of the job; and communicating to the serialization writer, in response to the batch request, the batch data.  
           [0007]    In another variation of this method, such method has the additional steps of writing serialization onto media with the serialization writer in response to the batch data.  
           [0008]    In yet a further variation of this method, such method has the further additional steps of receiving a job complete indicia at a replication facility console; communicating the job complete indicia to the replication facility host; generating a job complete status in the replication facility host in response to the job complete indicia; and communicating the job complete status to the job control host. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is hardware block diagram of a BCA writer serialization management system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a BCA writer serialization management system, such as in FIG. 1, in accordance with the one embodiment;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is high-level block diagram illustrating workflow in a BCA writer serialization management system, such as in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a work flow diagram illustrating steps traversed by a BCA writer serialization management system such as in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is block diagram illustrating display screens for a console of a job control host of the BCA writer serialization management system of FIG. 1, and navigational relationships between such display screens;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an illustration of a job status display screen for the console of the job control host of the BCA writer serialization management system of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is an illustration of an edit jobs display screen for the console of the job control host of the BCA writer serialization management system of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is an illustration of a serialization data display screen for the console of the job control host of the BCA writer serialization management system of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is an illustration of a replication facilities maintenance and status display screen for the console of the job control host of the BCA writer serialization management system of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is block diagram illustrating display screen for a console of a job control host of the BCA writer serialization management system of FIG. 1, and navigational relationships between such display screens;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is an illustration of a replication facility job status display screen for the console of the replication facility host of the BCA writer serialization management system of FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 12 is an illustration of a serialization data display screen for the console of the replication facility host of the BCA writer serialization management system of FIG. 1; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 13 is an illustration of a BCA writers maintenance and status display screen for the console of the replication facility host of the BCA writer serialization management system of FIG. 1. 
     
    
       [0023]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    The following description of the presently contemplated best mode of practicing the invention is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 1, a hardware block diagram is shown of a serialization writer, e.g., a BCA writer, serialization management system  100  in accordance with one embodiment, and, simultaneously referring to FIG. 2, a functional block diagram is shown of a BCA writer serialization management system  100 , such as in FIG. 1, in accordance with the one embodiment.  
         [0026]    The present embodiment is directed to a turnkey serialization and control system for use within multiple replication facilities  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″, such as DVD or other media replication facilities that can control multiple serialization writers, such as BCA writers. The serialization and control system employs a master control host  102  for receipt and transmission of serialization information.  
         [0027]    Serialization writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′, e.g., BCA writers of various manufacturers are preferably supported, and the serialization and control system is preferably scalable to multiple replication facilities  202 ,  202 ′,  204 ′, and multiple serialization writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′, e.g., BCA writers, per replication facility.  
         [0028]    The serialization and control system can be controlled from the master control host  102 . The master control host  102  automatically updates a central database  212  during BCA writing, and the central database  212  can be used, for example, for authentication and tracking of serialized media.  
         [0029]    Work orders can be spread across multiple replication facilities  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″ and serialization writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′, e.g., BCA writers, within a replication facility.  
         [0030]    In accordance with the present embodiment, the serialization writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′ also perform verification of serialization information, e.g., the BCA numbers, having been written. The central database  212  is updated to reflect whether a BCA number is read during verification, or whether a read attempt during verification fails. The BCA number written to media for which verification fails is not used on any other media, which helps to prevent/detect piracy since no number can be used twice.  
         [0031]    The serialization and control system also supports double sided media, and allows for a BCA number to be applied to each side of the double sided media, such as double sided a DVD disc, so that the side of the media that is accessed, e.g., played, can be tracked. The writing of the BCA numbers to double sided media is effected by offsetting the laser on each side media so as to burn down through the media and not interfere with the BCA number on the other side of the media. Two different BCA numbers are applied to each side of the media.  
         [0032]    The serialization and control system of the present embodiment includes: a master control host  102  comprising a control server, such as an Intel-based personal computer, at a central location, connected and interfaced with (such as through a network  106 , such as a TCP/IP based Ethernet network) individual replication control hosts  104 ,  104 ′ at multiple replication facilities  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″, and employing an operating system, such as Windows NT/2000 from Microsoft of Washington, U.S.A.; and a replication control host  104 ,  104 ′ comprising a multi-processor control host, such as a multi-processor Intel-based personal computer, at a replication facility  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″, connected and interfaced with (such as through a network  108 , such as a TCP/IP based Ethernet network) individual BCA writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′ at the replication facility, and employing an operating system, such as Linux, an open-source operating system.  
         [0033]    Note that in an alternative embodiment, where, for example, only a single replication facility is used, the job control host and the replication facility host may be implemented on a single personal computer.  
         [0034]    Thus, the serialization and control system of the present embodiment includes two major subsystems. The first subsystem (the replication control hosts  104 ,  104 ′) resides at a replication facility  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″ and manages the application of specific data sets (“serial numbers”) to media, such as DVD discs. The second subsystem (the master control host  102 ) resides at a centralized facility  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ and manages the creation of serial number sets and their assignment to specification replication facilities. A replication control host  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″ (or replication facility host  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″) can take job sets from multiple master control hosts  102  (or job control hosts  102 ), and similarly a job control host  102  can provide data sets to multiple replication facility hosts  104 ,  104 ′.  
         [0035]    The serialization and control system further includes (or is coupled to) one or more serialization writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′, such as BCA writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′, at the replication facility  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a block diagram is shown illustrating a high-level system architecture for a serialization and control system.  
         [0037]    The serialization and control system includes three main components:  
         [0038]    1. The Job Control Host  102   
         [0039]    A centralized system that creates and manages batches of serial numbers (jobs). The jobs are assigned to specific replication facilities  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″. The job control host  102  manages the assignment, transmission, and tracking of jobs to any number of replication facilities  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″. The job control host is typically owned and managed by or for a content owner producing media, such as discs.  
         [0040]    2. The Replication Facility Host  104 ,  104 ′ 
         [0041]    A system that resides within a specific replication facility  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″ and manages the application of the serial number batches (jobs) to actual DVD discs. The jobs may be assigned by any number of job control hosts. The replication facility host  104 ,  104 ′ communicates and inter-operates with one or more BCA writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′ within the replication facility  202 ,  202 ′,  202 ″ to accomplish this task. The replication facility host  104 ,  104 ′ should preferably be a high availability system as its failure will cause all attached serialization writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′ to be unusable. The replication control host  104 ,  104 ′ manages workload amongst the serialization writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′ at the replication facility, including splitting work orders amongst multiple sterilization writers.  
         [0042]    3. The Serialization Writers  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  206 ′,  208 ′,  210 ′ 
         [0043]    A sophisticated piece of machinery that performs the actual application of a serial number (i.e., serialization) to, e.g., the BCA field of a DVD on a production line. There are two known types of BCA writers from Panasonic and Robi Systems. These writers, typically, can apply the BCA mark at line speeds (3-4 seconds per disc). The BCA writers communicate with the replication facility host  104 ,  104 ′ using TCP/IP over an Ethernet connection. The present document does not discuss the BCA writers other than how they interface to the replication facility host  104 ,  104 ′, as such BCA writers are well known in the art.  
         [0044]    Referring next to FIG. 3, a high-level block diagram is shown illustrating workflow in the serialization writer serialization management system, and simultaneously referring to FIG. 4, a work flow diagram is shown illustrating steps traversed by the BCA writer serialization management system. These diagrams illustrate a typical flow of a job through the serialization and control system. Time is indicated vertically in FIG. 4 and flows from the top to the bottom (i.e., later-occurring events are depicted below earlier-occurring events).  
         [0045]    1. At the outset a new production job  302  is created at a job control console  402 —job status entered  
         [0046]    2. The job  404  is transferred to a replication facility host  304 —job status pending  
         [0047]    3. Operator assigns  406  a disk master ID for the job on the replication facility host console  408 —job status assigned  
         [0048]    4. The following steps repeat until the job is marked complete by an operator:  
         [0049]    4.1. A BCA machine operator initializes  410 ,  410 ′ a serialization production run on a BCA writer  414 ,  414 ′,  
         [0050]    4.1.1. If this is the first serialization run for a job, job status becomes in process,  
         [0051]    4.2. The BCA machine operator inserts disks  416 ,  416 ′ in BCA writer  414 ,  414 ′ and issues a command to start producing disks for a given job,  
         [0052]    4.3. The following steps repeat until the BCA machine operator terminates the serialization production run:  
         [0053]    4.3.1. The BCA writer requests a batch  418 ,  418 ′ of serialization data for the job from the replication facility host  304  and receives batch data  420 ,  420 ′ from the replication facility host  304 ,  
         [0054]    4.3.2. The BCA writer  414 ,  414 ′ writes serialization data onto disks, and  
         [0055]    4.3.3. As batches complete, the BCA writer  414 ,  414 ′ notifies the replication facility host  304  and sends the status  422 ,  422 ′. Two batches of 16 serial numbers are always in process per BCA writer,  
         [0056]    5. The BCA writer operator marks a disk master ID as complete for each complete job on the replication facility host console  408 ,  
         [0057]    6. The replication facility host  408  notifies  424  the job control host that the job is completed  426 —job status complete  
         [0058]    7. When confirmation is received from the job control host  428  the job is deleted from the replication facility host  304   
         [0059]    8. The job is exported from the job control console  430 —job status final.  
         [0060]    The job control host  428  of the present embodiment includes a collection of Windows NT tasks that collectively implement the job control host function. The user interface for the job control host  428  is a windows based interface.  
         [0061]    The Windows NT task that implements the user interface for the job control host  428  is used to manage and display the status of production jobs.  
         [0062]    Referring to FIG. 5, a block diagram is shown illustrating display screens for a console of a job control host of the serialization writer serialization management system, and navigational relationships between such display screens. The console has three main screens: Job Status  502 , Serialization Data  504 , and Replication Facilities  506 . The three main screens are accessed by tabs at the top of each of the three main screens.  
         [0063]    The Job Status screen  502  has an additional sub-screen, Edit Job  508 , which is accessed by clicking a New Job or Edit Job button on the Job Status screen.  
         [0064]    Referring to FIG. 6, an illustration is shown of a job status screen  502  for the console of a job control host of the serialization writer serialization management system. This is the main screen for all Job management. From here the operator is able to create, assign, track, and finalize jobs. This screen provides an overview of the current Job status, and provides convenient mechanisms for all Job management functions.  
                                                       Job Status 504,   Clicking on one of these tabs brings the Job           Serialization   Status, Serialization Data, or Replication           Data 506,   Facilities screen forward.           Replication           Facilities 508           tabs           Job/Disk ID/   Contains a list of production jobs in the           Status List 510   system, and each jobs Disk ID and Status.               The jobs may be sorted by clicking on the               Job 512, Disk ID 514, or Status 516 column               headings. Buttons such as Print Job Report               518 operate on the jobs selected in this               list. Double-clicking on a job brings up               the Edit Job screen.           New Job 522   Creates a new job and brings up the Edit Job               window.           Edit Job 524   Brings up the Edit Job window.           Select All 526   Selects all the jobs in the list.           Clear All 528   Clears all the jobs in the list.           Delete Job 530   Clicking deletes the selected job. A confirm               dialog box will appear. A job can only be               deleted if its status is Pending or Hold.               Deleted jobs are not really deleted, but               rather are finalized and will no longer               appear as active jobs in the jobs screen.               Thus if any serial numbers have been used               (i.e. applied to a disc) the job will remain               in the job database to allow for duplicate               serial number checking.           Show Finalized   Displays a list of finalized jobs in the job           Jobs 532   list area. A finalized job has completed               production and has had its serialized data               exported.           Hold/Release   Clicking puts all selected job(s) on Hold.           Job(s) 534   A confirmation with a dialog box will               appear. Any job may be placed on hold,               although until the hold has been confirmed               by the replication facility, status will               only show hold pending. The hold will not               become effective at the replication facility               until any active BCA marking session is               complete. Once on hold, a job can be               released at which time its status will               become Assigned.           Export/Finalize   Exports the serialization data for the           Job(s) 536   selected job(s) and mark the job as               finalized. The exported file is in a comma               separated value (CSV) format.           Print Job   Prints a report of the selected job(s).           Report 518                      
 
         [0065]    Referring to FIG. 7, an illustration is shown of an edit job screen  508  for the console of a job control host of the serialization writer serialization management system. This is the screen used to add or edit jobs. Jobs can only be entered when all information is available. Jobs may only be edited before the replication facility assigns a disk master ID and their status becomes Assigned.  
                                                       Job Name 702   The name assigned to the job               being created/edited. This               is the name/ID that will be               used by the replication               facilities to identify the               appropriate disc master ID.               An error will occur if the               name is not unique. Once a               jobs status has become               Assigned this field will no               longer be editable.           Job Description 704   A Description of the current               job.           Production Quantity 706   Indicates the quantity to be               produced. The quantity to be               produced should be enough to               allow for normal production               overage and waste. Once a               job&#39;s status has become               Assigned this field will no               longer be editable.           Starting Serial Number 708   The starting serial number of               the job. A block of               sequential serial numbers               will be reserved for this job               starting at this number and               continuing through the               quantity being produced. An               error will occur if another               job has already been assigned               a conflicting serial number               range. (Note that a default               serial number, such as the               next unused number, is not               displayed because the Job               Management task has no               knowledge of how patterns of               serial number ranges are               assigned.) Once a jobs               status has become Assigned               this field will no longer be               editable.           Replication Facility 710   The replication facility that               will be assigned to produce               this job. Once a jobs status               has become Assigned this               field will no longer be               editable.           Disk ID 712   A unique numeric disc               identifier assigned by               InterActual. Once a job&#39;s               status has become Assigned               this field will no longer be               editable.           Disk Name 714   A unique textual disc               identifier assigned by               InterActual associated with               the Disk ID. This field will               automatically be filled out               and a warning issued if the               entered Disk ID has already               been used in another job.               Once a job&#39;s status has               become Assigned this field               will no longer be editable.           Customer ID 716   The ID of the customer this               job is being produced for.           Operator ID 718   The Operator ID of the               operator who is entering the               new job. The user&#39;s login               name is used as the operator               ID and is not editable.           Log 720   A log of events pertaining to               this job. The date and time               when jobs are entered or               edited, status changes,               errors, etc. appear in the               log. Information pertinent               to the event, such as               operator ID, is also logged.           Percentage Completed 722   Graphical representation of               the percentage completion of               the job.           Disk Master ID 724   Master ID for the job. New               jobs are Pending until a Disk               Master ID is entered by the               operator at the Replication               Facility. Once it is entered               the Job Control Host is               notified and the job status               becomes Assigned.           Quantity Completed 726   The number of disks in the               current job that have been               produced by the replication               facility.           Status 728   The current status of this               job.           Failure Count 730   The number of failed serial               numbers in this job.           Cancel 732   Cancels adding the new job.           Submit Job 734   Submits the new job for               production.                      
 
         [0066]    Referring to FIG. 8, an illustration is shown of a serialization data display screen for the console of a job control host of the BCA writer serialization management system. This screen allows the operator to review the serial number set under management. The operator can view serial number utilization in sequential order or by status. In addition, the serial number data can be written to a file or printed. Note that only the export file will contain the full BCA mark data, including the appropriate authentication signatures.  
                                                       Job Status 504,   Clicking on one of these tabs brings,           Serialization   respectively, the Job Status,           Data 606,   Serialization Data, or Replication           Replication   Facilities screen forward.           Facilities 608           tabs           Serialization   Lists the serial number ranges of all jobs,           Ranges 802   the job the range is contained in, and the               status of each range. The status of each               range can be In Process, Good, or Bad.               Multiple ranges may be selected for the               export command. The ranges may be sorted               by clicking on the Range 804, Job 806 or               Status 808 column headings. Double-               clicking on a range switches to the job               screen positioned to the job the range is               contained in.           Print   Prints a report of the selected           Serialization   serialization ranges.           Report 810           Delete Range   Deletes the selected range.           812           Range Quantity   The number of serial numbers in the           814   selected range.           Job Quantity   The number of disks in the job of which           820   this serial number is part of.                      
 
         [0067]    Referring to FIG. 9, an illustration is shown of a replication facilities maintenance and status display screen  506  for the console of a job control host of the serialization writer serialization management system. This is the main screen for replication facility maintenance and status overviews. From here the operator is able to create, delete, and track replication facility host connections.  
                                                       Job Status 604,   Clicking on one of these tabs brings           Serialization   the Job Status. Serialization Data, or           Data 606,   Replication Facilities screen forward.           Replication           Facilities 608           tabs           Replication   Lists all replication facilities.           Facilities 900   Multiple replication facilities may be               selected for the print 904 command.           New Replication   Adds a new replication facility to the           Facility 906   list.           Delete   Deletes the selected replication           Replication   facility. A confirm dialog will           Facility 908   appear. The replication facility               cannot be deleted if it has any               currently assigned jobs. They must               first be placed on Hold and/or               Finalized.           Print 904   Prints a report of the selected               replication facilities.           Facility Name   Name of the selected replication           Name 910   facility.           Facility Internet   Internet address of the selected           Address 912   replication facility.           Communication   The count of the communication           Failures 914   failures to the selected replication               facility. Details of each failure               appear in the communications log.           Clear Log 916   Clears the communication log for the               selected replication facility.           Clear Counts 918   Clears the communication failure count               field for the selected replication               facility.           Test   Tests communications to the selected           Communications   replication facility. The results of           920   the test appear in the communication               log.           Communication   Log of all communication between the           Log 922   job control host and the selected               replication facility host.           Assigned   List of jobs currently assigned to the           Jobs 924   selected replication facility. Only               jobs assigned by this Job Control Host               are shown Double clicking on a job in               the assigned jobs window automatically               brings up the Job status screen.                      
 
         [0068]    Referring to FIG. 10, a block diagram is shown illustrating display screens for a console of a job control host of the serialization writer serialization management system, and navigational relationships between such display screens. Thus, the console of the replication facility host has three main screens: replication facility job status  1002 , serialization data  1004 , and BCA writer maintenance and status  1006 . The three main screens are accessed by tabs at the top of each of the three main screens.  
         [0069]    Referring to FIG. 11, an illustration is shown of a replication facility job status display screen  1002  for the console of a replication facility host of the BCA writer serialization management system. The replication facility job status display screen is used for keeping track of jobs sent to all replication facilities. A job is entered after a serial number range, job ID, and replication facility are known. Once the job is entered it is automatically downloaded to a replication facility host at a replication facility. Control of the job is then passed to the replication facility host. The replication facility host periodically sends a status update the job control host including job statuses (see below) for each job that has been sent to, and is being handled at, the replication facility of the replication facility host. The job control host may request status changes, but the replication facility host actively manages and controls the job.  
         [0070]    Once the job is marked complete by the replication facility host, control of that job is passed back up the job control host, where the operator is responsible for performing a finalize operation which results in an export of the final serial number data and status.  
         [0071]    In accordance with the present embodiment, once entered, jobs may not be edited. This is due to the fact that in normal operations the jobs will quickly be downloaded to the replication facility host, and once downloaded, control of that job is passed to the replication facility host. Thus, if a job has errors and needs to be corrected, it should be placed on hold status when it is initially entered, then deleted/finalized, and then taken off of hold status. Any used serial numbers from hold/deleted jobs are not reused.  
         [0072]    As also noted above, job statuses are:  
         [0073]    Entered  
         [0074]    The job has been defined, but not downloaded to its replication facility host.  
         [0075]    Pending  
         [0076]    The job has been downloaded to the replication facility host but no data has been received in a status update or in response to a status change request indicating that that the serialization of the job has begun.  
         [0077]    Assigned  
         [0078]    The job has been assigned a disc master ID by the replication facility host, but serialization has not yet begun.  
         [0079]    Inprocess  
         [0080]    Serialization of the job has begun, but an indication that the job is complete has not yet been received.  
         [0081]    Complete  
         [0082]    The replication facility host has marked the job as completed.  
         [0083]    Finalized  
         [0084]    Recordation/storing of completed serial number data has been performed, such as by saving the completed serial number data in a file.  
         [0085]    Holdpending  
         [0086]    A Hold of the job has been requested, but not yet acknowledged by the replication facility host. This status is used when a particular job needs to be cancelled or work held for some reason, and a request to hold such job had been made at the job control host, but not yet acknowledged by the replication facility host.  
         [0087]    Hold  
         [0088]    The job has been placed on hold in the replication facility host.  
         [0089]    Jobs are preferably exported in a comma separated value (CSV) format suitable for importing into programs such as Microsoft Excel, or into a serialization database, such as a Microsoft Access database, or an Oracle Database. Each job is exported into a separate file, i.e., a separate comma separated value file.  
         [0090]    A first line of the comma separated value file contains information pertaining to the overall job including the Job Name, Job Status, Replication Facility, disk identifier (e.g., an InterActual disk identifier), Disk Master ID, Production Quantity, Quantity Completed, and Job Control Host Operator ID. Subsequent lines each contain information for one serialization range including the fields Starting Serial Number, Status, Quantity, BCA writer operator ID, BCA writer ID, starting date/time, and ending date/time.  
         [0091]    A job control database, such as a Microsoft Access or Oracle database, contains data relating to all production jobs in the system such as serialization information, assigned replication facilities, job quantities, job status, etc.  
         [0092]    A format for the job control database is as follows:  
                                             Job Database Format            Field Name   Field Type   Example               Job Name   String   Herndon,       Production Quantity   32-bit   50000,           integer       Replication Facility   String   WAMO, Olyphant PA       Starting Serial Number   32-bit   100           integer       Number of Units assigned   32-bit   Number of units which           integer   have been assigned to               this Job at job creation       Job Status   String   In Process       Description   String   Matrix, special feature—               Warner Brothers.       Date/time created   Time   Dec 10, 2000 4:15 PM           (32-bit           integer-           sec. since           1980?)       Date/time downloaded to   Time   Dec 10, 2000 10:37 PM       replication facility       First Serialization applied   Time   Dec 11, 2000 8:03 AM       Job Completed   Time   Dec 15, 2000 1:31 PM       Serial Number Range Count   32-bit   3           integer       Serial Number Start   Integer []   100, 724, 730       Serial Number Quantity   Integer []   624, 6, 50100       Serial Number Range Status   Integer []   GOOD, BAD, Unknown                  
 
         [0093]    The following is an explanation of the possible values for serial number range Status:  
         [0094]    Good—Disks in this range were successfully produced  
         [0095]    Bad—Disks in this range were bad  
         [0096]    Unknown—Disks in this range have an unknown status, serial number assigned to replication machine, but results undefined. These serial numbers may appear in the field.  
         [0097]    All other serial numbers in the assigned range, but without detailed records are assumed to be unknown until the job status is Closed, at which time they are given the status Assigned.  
         [0098]    A database of all known replication facilities, i.e., a replication facilities database, is also maintained at the job control host. In accordance with the present embodiment, the replication facilities database is a simple text file having one replication facility per line. Each line contains the following fields separated by commas:  
                                                 Replication Facility Database Format                Field Name   Field Type   Example                       ID   String   Herndon           Internet   String   herndon.xyzzy.com           address           Date/time   TIME   Oct 5, 2000 11:05 am           Created                      
 
         [0099]    As mentioned above, a replication facility host is a Linux based personal computer that is optimized for high availability (HA) operation, such as by having redundant systems, such as hard drives, power supplies, interface cards, processors, etc. The replication facility host is responsible for providing real-time management for a group of BCA writers that do the actual writing of BCA&#39;s to discs.  
         [0100]    The principle task of the replication facility host is to keep track of jobs currently under production and assigning new production batches to each BCA writer as batch requests are received from the job control host.  
         [0101]    The following summarizes the various job control commands that the replication facility host may receive from the job control host via the network:  
                                                                                                                                                     Job Control Commands (received from Job Control Hosts)                                Add Job   Add a new production job                        Replication   String   ID of Replication Facility           Facility ID       assigned to this Job           Job ID   String   ID of this job           Production   Integer           Quantity           Serial number   String   ??? SN%d           format           Starting   Integer           Serial Number                        Delete Job   Delete an existing production job                        Replication   String   ID of Replication Facility           Facility ID       assigned to this job.           Job ID   String   ID of this job.                        Hold Job   Hold an existing production job                        Replication   String   ID of Replication Facility           Facility ID       assigned to this job.           Job ID   String   ID of this job.                        Continue Job   Continue an existing stopped production job                        Replication   String   ID of Replication Facility           Facility ID       assigned to this Job           Job ID   String                        Batch Commands (received from BCA Writer Interfaces)—       see BCA Writer Interface                  
 
         [0102]    A Job/Batch Console/Replication Job Management Task provides a user interface for the replication facility host. The console allows the operator of the replication facility host to assign and monitor jobs and BCA writers. The operator of the console is typically a back-office employee who has operational oversight of the overall job processes flow.  
         [0103]    The Job/Batch Console/Replication Job Management Task has three main screens that are displayed on the replication facility host console: Job Status, Serialization Data  1104 , and BCA Machines  1106 . In accordance with the present embodiment, these three main screens are accessed by tabs at a top of each of the three main screens.  
         [0104]    The Job Status display screen has the following:  
                                                       Job Status 1102,   Clicking on one of these tabs brings           Serialization   the Job Status, Serialization Data, or           Data 1104, BCA   BCA Machines screen forward.           Machines 1106           tabs           Job Listing 1108   Contains a list of production jobs at               this replication facility, their               status, and their source (the Job               Control Host that assigned the job).               Selecting 1110 a job will cause its               status to be displayed in the Job               Status portion of the window.               Multiple jobs may be selected for the               print command. The jobs may be sorted               by clicking on the Job 1112, Status               1114 or Source 1116 column headings.               Double-clicking on a job to switches               to the serialization screen positioned               to that jobs serialization data.           Job Complete 1118   Clicking after all disks are produced               indicates a job is complete. The Job               Control Host is notified and when an               acknowledgement is received the job is               deleted from the Replication Facility               Host.           Print Job Report   Prints a report of the selected           1120   job(s).           Disk Master ID   ID for disk being serialized. New           1122   jobs are Pending until a Disk Master               ID is entered by the operator at the               Replication Facility. Once it is               entered the Job Control Host is               notified and the job status becomes               Assigned. Once the serialization has               begun the Disk Master ID can no longer               be changed. The Disk Master ID does               not have to be unique. It is used by               the replication facility to identify               the disk being serialized and may               apply to multiple jobs. For example,               if the production quantity of a disk               increases, a new job may be added for               the additional quantity. A warning               will be issued when this occurs. When               multiple jobs with the same Disk               Master ID exist they are treated as a               single job from the point of view of               the BOA writer operator—when the               serial numbers from one job are               exhausted the serial numbers from the               next job will be used. The jobs are               processed in the order entered (the               oldest first).           InterActual Disk   A unique disc identifier assigned by a           ID 1124   management entity, for example,               InterActual.           Percentage   The completion percentage of the           Completed 1126   selected job.           Quantity   The number of disks in the selected           Completed 1128   job that have been produced by the               replication facility.           Production   The total number of disks to be           Quantity 1130   produced in this job.           Starting Serial   The starting serial number for this           Number 1132   job. The serial numbers for this job               are sequential starting at this               number.           Job Source 1134   The name of the Job Control Host from               which this Job originated.           Failure Count   The number of failed serial numbers in           1136   this job.                      
 
         [0105]    Referring to FIG. 12, an illustration is shown of a serialization data display screen  1004  for the console of a replication facility host of the BCA writer serialization management system.  
         [0106]    A serialization management screen includes the following features:  
                                                       Job Status 1102,   Clicking on one of these tabs brings           Serialization   the Job Status, Serialization Data, or           Data 1104, BCA   BCA Machines screen forward.           Machines 1106           tabs           Serialization   Lists the serial number ranges of all           Range list 1202   jobs at this replication facility, and               the status of each range. The status               of each range can be In Process, Good,               or Bad. Multiple ranges may be               selected for the print command. The               ranges may be sorted by clicking on               the Range 1204, Status 1206, or Job               1208 column headings. Double-clicking               on a range switches to the BCA writer               screen positioned to the BCA writer               producing the range.           Print   Prints a report of the selected           Serialization   serialization range(s).           Report 1210           Operator ID 1212   The ID of the operator who was running               the BCA machine when the selected               range of disks was produced.           BCA Writer ID   The ID of the BCA machine that           1214   produced the selected range of disks.           Write_time 1216   Date/Time that this range was begun.           Job ID   The ID of the job for which the               selected range is a part.                      
 
         [0107]    Referring to FIG. 13, A BCA Machine Screen is the primary monitoring screen for the BCA machines associated with a replication Host. The BCA Machine Screen allows individual BCA writer statuses to be viewed as well as associated jobs. The BCA writer screen includes the following features:  
                                                       Job Status 1102,   Clicking on one of these tabs brings           Serialization   the Job Status 1002, Serialization           Data 1104, BCA   Data 1004, or BCA Machines 1006           Machines 1106   screen forward.           tabs           BCA Writer List   A list of all the BCA writers at this           1302   replication facility. Selecting a BCA               writer in the list will display               detailed information about it in the               Replication Facility Details portion               of the window.           Writer ID 1304   The ID or name of the selected BCA               writer.           Writer Type 1306   The type of the BCA writer (currently               Robi or Panasonic).           Writer Internet   The internet address of the BCA           Address 1308   writer. The format should be in               either a TCP/IP address format               (192.168.100.1) or another format               (panasonic4.herndon.interactual.com)           Communication   Count of the communication failures to           Failures 1310   the selected BCA writer. Details of               each failure appear in the               communications log.           Clear Log 1312   Clear the communication log for the               selected replication facility.           Clear Counts   Clear communication failure count           1314   field for the selected BCA writer.           Test   Tests communications to the selected           Communications   BCA writer. The results of the test           1316   appear in the communication log.           Communication   Log of all communication between the           Log 1318   job control host and the selected BCA               writer.                      
 
         [0108]    A job control host database is maintained by each replication facility host. The job control host database is a database of all known Job Control Hosts either remote or local.  
                                                 Job Control Host Database Format                    Field               Field Name   Type   Example                       Job Control Host ID   String   Herndon           Internet address   String   herndon.xyzzy.com           Date/time Created   TIME   Oct 5, 2000 11:05 am                      
 
         [0109]    A job/batch database is maintained by each replication facility host, and is a database of production jobs assigned to the replication facility host. The job/batch database contains the current state of each job, the number of batches each job contains, the number of batches already produced, etc.  
                                                               Job/Batch Database Format                    Field               Field Name   Type   Example                            Same fields as Job               Database in Job           Control Host           Job/Batch           specific fields not           sent to Job Control           Host such as           Operator ID                      
 
         [0110]    A BCA writer database is maintained by each replication facility host and is a database of BCA Writers under control of the replication facility host. The BCA writer database includes the following:  
                                                 BCA Writer Database Format                    Field               Field Name   Type   Example                       BCA Writer ID   String   Panasonic7           Type   String   Panasonic           Internet Address   String   Panasonic7.herndon.xyzzy.com                      
 
         [0111]    The following is a description of a preferred serial number structure. This structure supports multiple individual records. Each record immediately follows the previous one on single byte boundaries. The header for the overall BCA number contains a version number and length field for an entire BCA data set, the date and time of serialization, and the BCA writer used. Each individual record then contains an owner &amp; length field, which are standard, followed by owner specific data.  
                                                                   Field   Offset   Description   Size                   HEADER                   Version   0   Version number of the overall   1               structure       Length of   1   Length of this entire BCA   1       BCA data       data set in bytes       Date/Time   2   Date &amp; Timestamp of actual   4               serialization       Facility   6   Facility in which   2               serialization was performed       BCA Writer   2   BCA machine on which BCA   2               written            INDIVIDUAL RECORDS            Owner ID   N + 0   Source of record   2       Length   N + 2   Length of this record, in   1               bytes       Data   N + 3   Variable depending on owner   r                  
 
         [0112]    The company specific record is an example of one of the above individual records that contains overall information for company specific content, such as InterActual content, on the media, including sub data sets for each individual “title” on the media. Version  1  of the record contains no title specific sub-fields as no known data would exist and space is at a premium. Individual titles are sequential from the serial number of the first “title” on the disc (the serial number in the record). There is reserved space for title specific data in the field.  
                                                                         INTERACTUAL SPECIFIC RECORD   SIZE                                        Owner ID   +0   Set to 0x0001.   2           Length   N + 2   Length of all   1                   InterActual sub-                   records.           Version   N + 3   Version of the   1                   InterActual record-                   Initial 0x01.           Disc_ID   N + 4   InterActual Disc   3                   identifier, unique by                   disc (collection of                   titles).           Number of   N + 5   Number of InterActual   1           titles       titles on the disc.           Ser_Num   N + 8   InterActual unique   6                   serial number across                   ALL InterActual                   titles. If multiple                   InterActual titles                   are on the disc this                   is the first one, and                   subsequent                   InterActual titles                   are incremented by                   one from this ID.           Signature   N + 14   Signature field-   20                   signature is across                   ALL fields in the                   InterActual record.                      
 
         [0113]    [0113]                                                                             Disk 1   Disk 2   Disk 3                                        Example with One                       Title           Owner ID   1   1   1           Length   34   34   34           Version   1   1   1           Disc_ID   1001   1001   1001           Number of titles   1   1   1           Ser_Num   780092   780092   780092               3   4   5           Signature   xxx   xxx   xxx           Example with           Three Titles           Owner ID   1   1   1           Length   34   34   34           Version   1   1   1           Disc_ID   1001   1001   1001           Number of titles   3   3   3           Ser_Num   120001   120004   120007           Signature   xxx   xxx   xxx                        
         [0114]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.