Patent Publication Number: US-2004044741-A1

Title: Disc specific cookies for web DVD

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Technical Field  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a method, system, and computer code for running a DVD disc having a link to web content of a web site, wherein the web content is directly related the content on the DVD disc, and wherein the system adds a DVD extension string to a cookie to form an extended cookie and subsequently uses the DVD extension string to determine whether to transmit the cookie back to the web site.  
       [0003] 2. Related Art  
       [0004] WebDVD is a technology in which a Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc (DVD) disc is linked to web content of a web site, wherein the web content is directly related the content on the DVD disc. The content on the DVD disc may include video and audio content. WebDVD combines Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc (DVD) with internet technology, thus providing fast access to high-quality video and audio data offered by DVD along with advantages offered by internet technology (e.g., interactivity, dynamic updates, etc.). For example, WebDVD enables local DVD to be enhanced with HTML web pages.  
       [0005] With internet technology, a cookie is a text string within a text file, typically called a “cookie file” and is stored on the web user&#39;s machine (e.g., computer; DVD device, etc.). Information on cookies may be obtained from RFC2965 (see http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2965.txt).  
       [0006] A cookie is used by a web server of a web site to identify the web user. In response to a request from a user&#39;s web browser to a web site for web content from the web site, the web server sends a “Set-Cookie” command (with included parameters) to the browser. In response, the browser generates a cookie based on the parameters in the “Set-Cookie” command and adds the generated cookie to the cookie file. The cookie file may comprise one or more cookies and each such cookie results from a “Set-Cookie” command from a web site. Thus different cookies in the cookie file correlate with different web sites. When the web browser subsequently requests a file or web page from the same web server that previously sent the “Set-Cookie” command to the user&#39;s machine (which resulted in generation of a specific cookie), the browser sends a copy of the specific cookie back to the same web server along with the request for said file or web page. Thus, the server sends the user a cookie and the user&#39;s browser sends back the cookie whenever the user requests another file or web page from the same server. In this manner, the same server is able to determine that the user has visited its web site before and can customize the web site for the specific user. For example, an internet shopping web site may use a cookie to keep track of user-supplied data (e.g., name, address, etc.) and of ordering characteristics of the specific user.  
       [0007] A particular cookie is returned only to the server that sent the particular cookie to the browser, which seems to imply that a particular cookie cannot be used to track the user&#39;s behavior over a number of different web sites. In practice, however, many web sites include banner advertisements from a web advertising agency and said many web sites embed links to the web advertising agency in their web pages. Thus, when the user goes to one of said many web sites, the browser also links the user to a web site of the web advertising agency. The embedded link enables the web advertising agency to store a cookie in the user&#39;s machine. Since the web advertising agency is similarly linked to the other web sites of said many web sites, the web advertising agency can track the user&#39;s visitations across said many web sites. This enables advertisements to be targeted to the user based on the web sites visited, which may be viewed as an invasion of privacy. Similarly, when a WebDVD user plays multiple discs that are linked to one or more web sites, cookies enable a web server to track the discs that the user has played, which may likewise be viewed as an invasion of privacy.  
       [0008] Thus with respect to WebDVD, there is a need to prevent or inhibit web sites from tracking the navigation of a WebDVD user on the Internet. There is also a need to prevent or inhibit a web site from tracking the discs that a given user has played.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] In first embodiments, the present invention provides a method for extending a cookie, comprising:  
       [0010] running, by the WebDVD system, a DVD disc on a DVD device that is comprised by the WebDVD system, wherein the DVD device is linked by a communication link to a web site that is targeted by the DVD disc;  
       [0011] receiving during said running, by the WebDVD system from the web site, a cookie-generation command to generate a cookie;  
       [0012] generating, by the WebDVD system, the cookie as specified by the cookie-generation command;  
       [0013] adding, by the WebDVD system, a DVD extension string to the cookie to form an extended cookie, wherein the DVD extension string includes specific content associated with the DVD disc; and  
       [0014] storing the extended cookie in a readable memory device comprised by the WebDVD system.  
       [0015] In second embodiments, the present invention provides a method for screening a cookie, comprising:  
       [0016] retrieving a cookie from a readable memory device of a WebDVD system that includes a DVD device, wherein the cookie includes a DVD extension string; and  
       [0017] precluding transmission of the cookie to a web site targeted by a DVD disc that is running on the DVD device if the DVD extension string does not includes specific content associated with the DVD disc, wherein the DVD device is linked by a communication link to the web site.  
       [0018] In third embodiments, the present invention provides a network, comprising a WebDVD system for extending a cookie, wherein the WebDVD system is adapted to:  
       [0019] run a DVD disc on a DVD device that is comprised by the WebDVD system, wherein the DVD device is linked by a communication link to a web site that is targeted by the DVD disc;  
       [0020] receive from the web site, while the DVD disc is running on the DVD device, a cookie-generation command to generate a cookie;  
       [0021] generate the cookie as specified by the cookie-generation command;  
       [0022] add a DVD extension string to the cookie to form an extended cookie, wherein the DVD extension string includes specific content associated with the DVD disc; and  
       [0023] store the extended cookie in a readable memory device comprised by the WebDVD system.  
       [0024] In fourth embodiments, the present invention provides a network, comprising a WebDVD system for screening a cookie, wherein the WebDVD system is adapted to:  
       [0025] retrieve a cookie from a readable memory device of a WebDVD system that includes a DVD device, wherein the cookie includes a DVD extension string; and  
       [0026] preclude transmission of the cookie to a web site targeted by a DVD disc that is running on the DVD device if the DVD extension string does not includes specific content associated with the DVD disc, wherein the DVD device is linked by a communication link to the web site.  
       [0027] In fifth embodiments, the present invention provides a computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein for extending a cookie, said computer code embedded within a readable storage device of a WebDVD system, said computer code comprising an algorithm adapted to:  
       [0028] run a DVD disc on a DVD device that is comprised by the WebDVD system, wherein the DVD device is linked by a communication link to a web site that is targeted by the DVD disc; receive from the web site, while the DVD disc is running on the DVD device, a cookie-generation command to generate a cookie;  
       [0029] generate the cookie as specified by the cookie-generation command;  
       [0030] add a DVD extension string to the cookie to form an extended cookie, wherein the DVD extension string includes specific content associated with the DVD disc; and  
       [0031] store the extended cookie in a readable memory device comprised by the WebDVD system.  
       [0032] In sixth embodiments, the present invention provides a computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein for screening a cookie, said computer code embedded within a readable storage device of a WebDVD system, said computer code comprising an algorithm adapted to:  
       [0033] retrieve a cookie from a readable memory device of a WebDVD system that includes a DVD device, wherein the cookie includes a DVD extension string; and  
       [0034] preclude transmission of the cookie to a web site targeted by a DVD disc that is running on the DVD device if the DVD extension string does not includes specific content associated with the DVD disc, wherein the DVD device is linked by a communication link to the web site.  
       [0035] In seventh embodiments, the present invention provides a cookie embedded within a readable memory device of a WebDVD system that includes a DVD device on which a DVD disc is running, said cookie comprising a DVD extension string, wherein the cookie is not to be transmitted to a web site if the DVD extension string does not include specific content associated with the DVD disc, and wherein the web site is targeted by the DVD disc and is linked by a communication link to the DVD disc.  
       [0036] The present invention provides a method and associated software that prevents or inhibits web sites from tracking the navigation of a WebDVD user on the Internet. The present invention also provides a method and associated software that prevents or inhibits a web site from tracking the discs that a given user has played. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0037]FIG. 1 depicts a WebDVD system linked to a web site by a communication link such that the WebDVD system includes a DVD device, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0038]FIG. 2 depicts the DVD device of FIG. 1 on which a DVD disc is placed, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0039]FIG. 3 depicts the DVD disc of FIG. 2, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0040]FIG. 4 depicts a cookie file, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0041]FIG. 5 depicts a normal cookie, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0042]FIG. 6A depicts the normal cookie of FIG. 5 extended with a prefix extension string, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0043]FIG. 6B depicts the normal cookie of FIG. 5 extended with a suffix extension string, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0044]FIG. 6C depicts the normal cookie of FIG. 5 extended with an inner extension string, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0045]FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting adding a DVD extension string to a normal cookie during processing of the normal cookie, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0046]FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting exclusion of access of a targeted web site to an extended cookie based on the DVD extension string added to the cookie, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0047]FIG. 9 is a table of specific content associated with the DVD, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0048]FIG. 1 depicts a network  200 , comprising a WebDVD system  90  and a web site  82 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The WebDVD system  90  is linked to the web site  82  by a communication link  80 . “DVD” stands for Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc. The communication link  80  may comprise the Internet, an Intranet, etc., to which the web site  82  is linked. The web site  82  generates web content (e.g., web pages) which is understood herein to include any type of internet-based content, including any content available on a server connected to the Internet. The web site  82  may comprise, inter alia, any information stored on a internet connected server.  
     [0049] The WebDVD system  90  comprises a processor  91 , a DVD device  99 , an electronics device  100 , an input device  92 , a memory device  94 , a display device  95 , and an output device  93 . The processor  91  is coupled to the communication link  80 , the DVD device  99 , the electronics device  100 , the input device  92 , the memory device  94 , the display device  95 , and the output device  93 . In various embodiments, one or more of the preceding devices may be absent.  
     [0050] The DVD device  99  is a device or apparatus that reads and/or writes on a DVD disc. The DVD device  99  is shown in FIG. 2 as holding a DVD disc  11  and is described infra. The DVD disc  11  is shown in FIG. 3 and is described infra.  
     [0051] In FIG. 1, the electronics device  100  is one or more electronic devices that may be used in conjunction with the DVD device  99  and may be a component of an integrated electronics device (e.g., a consumer electronics device). Examples of pertinent consumer electronics devices include, inter alia, a video game player (e.g., Sony Playstation 2®), a DVD-VHS device that includes the DVD device  99  coupled to the electronics device  100  representing a VHS video cassette recorder, a stereo system that includes the DVD device  99  coupled the electronics device  100  representing stereo components. In a given embodiment, the electronics device  100  may be present or absent in the WebDVD system  90 .  
     [0052] The memory device  94  may be, inter alia, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, an optical storage (e.g., DVD or compact disc(CD): with Read/Write and/or Read Only capabilities), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), etc. The memory device  94  includes software, namely a computer code  97 . The computer code  97  includes an algorithm for adding a DVD extension string to a cookie to form an extended cookie and subsequently uses the DVD extension string to determine whether to transmit the cookie to a web site as will be discussed infra in conjunction with FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 A- 6 C. The processor  91  executes the computer code  97 . The memory device  94  may also include input data  96  which includes input used by the computer code  97 . The memory device  94  may additionally include DVD data  98  which may comprise, inter alia, DVD data derived from a web page of a web site, DVD data derived from a DVD disc (e.g., the DVD disc  11  shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 described infra), etc.  
     [0053] The memory device  94  (or one or more additional memory devices not shown in FIG. 1) may be embodied as a readable medium for storing program code and data, and for reading program code and data. The memory device  94  may be, inter alia, a computer usable medium, a computer readable medium, a program storage device, a readable memory device, a data storage device, etc. The memory device  94  may have a readable program code (e.g., a computer readable program code) embodied therein and/or having other data stored therein, wherein the computer readable program code comprises the computer code  97 . Generally, a computer program product (or, alternatively, an article of manufacture) of the computer system  90  may comprise said memory device  94 .  
     [0054] The display device  95  is any device having a display screen (e.g., a television, a monitor, etc.).  
     [0055] The input device  92  may be, inter alia, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick combinations thereof, etc.  
     [0056] The output device  93  represents one or more output devices such as, inter alia, a printer, a plotter, a computer screen, a magnetic tape, a removable hard disk, a floppy disk, etc. The output device  93  may display output from the computer code  97 . The output device  93  may also express output from a DVD disc that is running in the DVD device  99 . Accordingly, the output device may be an audible device such as a speaker. Of course, the DVD device  99  itself may include a speaker for audibly expressing subject content being played on a DVD disc. In a given embodiment, the output device  93  may be present or absent in the WebDVD system  90 .  
     [0057] While FIG. 1 shows the WebDVD system  90  as a particular configuration of hardware and software, any configuration of hardware and software, as would be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, may be utilized for the purposes stated in this patent application in conjunction with the particular computer system  90  of FIG. 9. For example, one or more additional multiple memory devices may be used instead of the single memory device  94 . As another example, various components WebDVD system  90  may be directly coupled to each other (e.g., the DVD device  99  and the electronics device  100  may be directly coupled to each other such as in a single device).  
     [0058] The WebDVD system  90  may be configured in accordance with various embodiments including, inter alia, a DVD player embodiment, a computer system embodiment, and an integrated device embodiment.  
     [0059] In the DVD player embodiment, the WebDVD system  90  comprises a DVD player which includes: the DVD device  99 , the processor  91 , the input device  92 , and the memory device  94 . The DVD player may also internally include the display device  95 , or be coupled to the display device  95  wherein the display device  95  is external to the DVD player yet is within the WebDVD system  90 . As an external display device, the display device  95  may be a television or a monitor.  
     [0060] In the computer system embodiment, the WebDVD system  90  comprises a computer system which includes: the processor  91 , the input device  92 , the memory device  94 , the output device  93 , and the display device  95  (e.g., a computer monitor). The computer system may also internally include the DVD device  99 , or be coupled to the DVD device  99  wherein the DVD device  99  is external to the computer system yet is within the WebDVD system  90 .  
     [0061] In the integrated device embodiment, the WebDVD system  90  comprises an integrated device that includes: the DVD device  99 , the electronics device  100  in the form of a consumer electronics device, the processor  91 , the input device  92 , and the memory device  94 . The integrated device may also internally include the display device  95 , or be coupled to the display device  95  wherein the display device  95  is external to the integrated device yet is within the WebDVD system  90 . As an external display device, the display device  95  may be a television or a monitor. As stated supra, the integrated device may comprise a video game player, a DVD-VHS device, a stereo system, etc.  
     [0062]FIG. 2 depicts the DVD device  99  of FIG. 1 on which a DVD disc  11  is placed, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The web site  82  of FIG. 1 is targeted by the DVD disc  11 , which means that the WebDVD system  90  may have access to web content relating to the DVD disc  11  only when the DVD disc  11  in running on the DVD device  99 . The DVD device  99  may be used for reading the DVD disc  11 , writing to the DVD disc  11  (if the DVD disc  11  is a rewritable disc), or both. Accordingly, a read/write head  22  reads or writes data at the spot  23  on the DVD disc  11 . The driver  21  rotates the DVD disc  11  on a spindle  27 , and a positioner  25  moves the head  22  radially between the center and outer boundary of the DVD disc  11 . When the DVD device  99  is used for reading the DVD disc  11 , the head  22  serves as a read head and the data apparatus  28  retrieves the data read by the head  22 . When the DVD device  99  is used for writing to the DVD disc  11 , the head  22  serves as a write head and the data apparatus  28  distributes data from a data source (not shown) to the head  22  for subsequent writing. The DVD device  99  depicted in FIG. 2 is merely exemplary, and may be varied in any manner known to one of ordinary skill in the art for reading a DVD disc or writing to a DVD disc.  
     [0063]FIG. 3 depicts the DVD disc  11  of FIG. 2, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The DVD disc  11  has a central hole  10  that fits on the spindle  27  of FIG. 2. The DVD disc  11  is arranged in accordance with a spiral pattern of turns constituting substantially parallel tracks as illustrated by track  19 . Information may be represented on the DVD disc  11  by optically detectable marks recorded along the track, e.g. pits and lands. The DVD disc  11  may have special regions or areas for recording particular types of information. For example, an auxiliary data area  12  may be used to store data other than the DVD subject content (e.g., movies) intended to be played by the WebDVD user. An example of such auxiliary data includes tables, pointers, format identification for the DVD subject content intended to be played by the WebDVD user, etc. The DVD subject content intended to be played by the WebDVD user may include video information, audio information, or both.  
     [0064] As will be illustrated infra in conjunction with FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 A- 6 C, the present invention provides a method, system, and associated software that prevents or inhibits web sites from tracking the navigation of a WebDVD user on the Internet or on an Intranet. Said method, system, and associated software relates to adding a DVD extension string to a normal cookie as will be discussed infra. The reader is referred to the “Related Art” section, discussed supra, for a background discussion of cookies. The “Set-Cookie” command referred to in the “Related Art” section is viewed in the context of the present invention as an embodiment of a cookie-generation command. In response to a request from the computer code  97  to a web site for web content from the web site  82 , the web site  82  sends a cookie-generation command (e.g., a “Set-Cookie” command) with included parameters to the computer code  97 . In response, the computer code  97  generates a cookie based on the parameters in the cookie-generation command and adds the generated cookie to the cookie file stored in the memory device  94 .  
     [0065]FIG. 4 depicts a cookie file  30 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The cookie file  30  includes N cookies (Cookie 1, Cookie 2, . . . , Cookie N), wherein N is at least 1. Each such cookie comprises text strings called “attributes.” The attributes are derived from the parameters in the cookie-generation command. A normal cookie may comprise some or all of the following attributes:  
     [0066] the name of the cookie;  
     [0067] the value of the cookie, which may contain data such as state information related to the current session and/or previous sessions;  
     [0068] the expiration date of the cookie, which defaults to the end of the current session in which the user is connected to the web browser;  
     [0069] the domain name, which contains the address of the web site that sent the cookie to the web browser and which can be set to permit multiple servers in the same subdomain that includes the server to receive the cookie from the browser;  
     [0070] the path, which identifies the Universal Resource Locator (URL) or Universal Resource Identifier (URI) or Universal Resource Name (URN) path identifier within which the cookie is valid and which defaults to the URL, URI, or URN path of the web site that created the cookie; and  
     [0071] secure, which can be used to specify that the cookie should be sent to the web site only under a secure connection to the server (e.g., SSL).  
     [0072]FIG. 5 depicts a normal cookie  32 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The computer code  97  (see FIG. 1) adds a DVD extension string  34  (see FIGS.  6 A- 6 C) to the normal cookie  32  to form an “extended cookie” wherein the DVD extension string  34  includes specific content associated with the DVD disc  11  that is running on the DVD device  99  of the WebDVD system  90  (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The DVD extension string  34  may take the form of a prefix extension string, a suffix extension string, and an inner extension string depending on where the DVD extension string is added to the normal cookie  32  to form the extended cookie, as shown in the extended cookie of FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 6C, respectively.  
     [0073]FIG. 6A depicts an extended cookie  41  as the normal cookie  32  of FIG. 5 extended with the DVD extension string  34  positioned as a prefix extension string, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 6A, the DVD extension string  34  is positioned as a prefix that heads the normal cookie  32 .  
     [0074]FIG. 6B depicts an extended cookie  42  as the normal cookie  32  of FIG. 5 extended with the DVD extension string  34  positioned as a suffix extension string, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 6B, the DVD extension string  34  is positioned as a suffix that trails the normal cookie  32 .  
     [0075]FIG. 6C depicts an extended cookie  43  as the normal cookie  32  of FIG. 5 extended with the DVD extension string  34  positioned as an inner extension string, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 6C, the DVD extension string  34  is sandwiched between a left portion  36  of the normal cookie  32  and a right portion  36  of the normal cookie  32 .  
     [0076] As seen in FIGS.  6 A- 6 C, the DVD extension string  34  may be positioned in any spatial relationship with the normal cookie  32 . The text specific content of the DVD extension string  34  may be viewed as a cookie attribute that is set by the computer code  97  and includes specific content associated with the DVD disc  11  that is running on the DVD device  99  of the WebDVD system  90 . Examples of specific content associated with the DVD disc  11  will be provided infra. The computer code  97  uses the DVD extension string  34  as a filter to conditionally exclude access of web sites to the normal cookie  32  in accordance with the processing steps depicted in the flow charts of FIGS. 7 and 8.  
     [0077]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing steps  51 - 55 , which depicts adding a DVD extension string to a normal cookie during processing of the normal cookie, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In the following description of steps  51 - 55  of FIG. 7, the reader is referred to FIGS. 1 and 2 for drawing reference numerals referred to. In step  51 , the WebDVD user runs the DVD disc  11  on the DVD device  99 . The DVD disc  11  identifies the web site  82  as being targeted to communicate (e.g., send web pages) with the WebDVD system  90  in relation to the DVD Disc  11 . Thus, the web site  82  is said to be targeted by the DVD disc  11 . The DVD disc  11  is said to “run” (or be “running”) on the DVD device  99  if the DVD disc  11  is coupled to the DVD device  99  and sufficiently activated, such that DVD data or DVD subject content on the DVD disc  11  is instantaneously accessible to the computer code  97 . In step  52 , the computer code  97  sends a request to the web site  82 , such as a request for transmission of one or more web pages of the web site  82 . The web site  82  responds to the request by sending the requested web pages, and a cookie, to the WebDVD system  90 . In step  53 , the WebDVD system  90  receives the cookie sent by the web site  82 . In step  54 , the computer code  97  adds a DVD extension string to the cookie so received to form an extended cookie such as the extended cookie  41 ,  42 , or  43  depicted in FIG. 6A, 6B, or  6 C, respectively. In step  55 , the computer code  97  stores the extended cookie in a storage area such as in the memory device  94 . If prior to storing the extended cookie, a second cookie with the same DVD extension string already exists in the memory device  94 , then the computer code  97  replaces the second cookie with the newly formed extended cookie. The DVD extension string of the extended cookie will be subsequently used to conditionally exclude access of web sites to the cookie as is illustrated in FIG. 8.  
     [0078]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing steps  61 - 65 , which depicts exclusion of access of a targeted web site to an extended cookie based on screening the DVD extension string of the cookie, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In the following description of steps  61 - 65  of FIG. 7, the reader is referred to FIGS. 1 and 2 for drawing reference numerals referred to. In step  61 , the WebDVD user runs the DVD disc  11  on the DVD device  99 . The DVD disc  11  identifies the web site  82  as being targeted to communicate (e.g., send web pages) with the WebDVD system  90  in relation to the DVD disc  11 . However, the web site  82  may also be targeted by other DVD discs and the present invention will preclude (i.e. prevent) transmission of the cookie to the web site  82  if the associated extended cookie does not include the specific content associated with the DVD disc  11  as identified in the DVD extension string of the extended cookie. Accordingly, in step  62  the computer code  97  determines whether specific content associated with the DVD disc  11  matches the text in the extended cookie. If the specific content associated with the DVD disc  11  does not match the text in the extended cookie, then the computer code  97  sends a request, without the cookie, to the web site  82  as shown in step  65 . If the specific content associated with the DVD disc  11  matches the text in the extended cookie, then the computer code  97  executes step  63 . Step  63  determines whether to exclude access of the cookie from the web site  82  based on the Domain and Path attributes in the cookie, inasmuch as the Domain and Path attributes are known to a person of ordinary skill in the art to control access of cookies to web sites. If based on the Domain and Path attributes in the cookie the computer code  97  determines to exclude access of the cookie to the web site  82 , then the computer code  97  sends a request, without the cookie, to the web site  82  as shown in step  65 . If based on the Domain and Path attributes in the cookie the computer code  97  determines to not exclude access of the cookie to the web site  82 , then the computer code  97  sends a request, with the cookie, to the web site  82  as shown in step  64 .  
     [0079] If the computer code  97  sends the cookie to the web site  82 , it is within the scope of the present invention to either:  1 ) send the extended cookie extended with the DVD extension string  34  cookie to the web site  82 ; or  2 ) send the cookie without the DVD extension string  34  (i.e., with the DVD extension string removed from the extended cookie) to the web site  82 .  
     [0080] While particular process steps in a particular order are shown in FIG. 8, the process steps of FIG. 8 may be varied in substance and order as would be known or obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to determine whether to exclude access of the cookie to the web site  82 . For example, steps  62  and  63  may be interchanged in order. Additionally, step  63  may be omitted. If step  63  is omitted, the decision of whether or not to send the cookie to the web site  82  will be determined solely the test in step  62 , namely by consideration of whether the extended cookie includes the specific content associated with the DVD disc  11  as identified in the DVD extension string of the extended cookie.  
     [0081] The creation and adding of the DVD extension string  34  to the normal cookie  32  is implemented by software, namely the computer code  97  shown within the memory device  94  of FIG. 1. In the DVD player embodiment of the WebDVD system  90 , described supra, the computer code  97  represents software that is specific to the WebDVD system  90  and the DVD device  92 . In the integrated device embodiment of the WebDVD system  90 , described supra, the computer code  97  represents software that is specific to the WebDVD system  90 , the DVD device  92 , and the electronics device  100 . In the computer system embodiment, described supra, the computer code  97  may represent a web browser used by the computer system wherein the web browser has a capability of adding DVD extension strings to cookies and analyzing said DVD extension strings in accordance with the present invention, or the computer code  97  may alternatively represent special software inputted or downloaded into the computer system.  
     [0082] Depending on the embodiment, the WebDVD system  90  may store only extended cookies, or may store both normal cookies and extended cookies. If the WebDVD system  90  stores only extended cookies, then the WebDVD system  90  will comprise a single cookie file that includes said extended cookies and will not include any normal cookies. If the WebDVD system  90  stores both normal cookies and extended cookies, then the WebDVD system  90  will comprise either: a single cookie file that includes both the normal cookies and the extended cookies; or a first cookie file that includes only the normal cookies and a second cookie file that includes only the extended cookies. The WebDVD system  90  may combine or segregate normal cookies and extended cookies in other ways as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.  
     [0083]FIG. 9 is a table of specific content associated with the DVD disc  11 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Based on FIG. 9, the specific content associated with the DVD disc  11  and used in the DVD extension string may include, inter alia, any of the following specific content or any combination of the following specific content relating to the DVD disc  11  and appearing on, or associated with, the DVD disc  11 : TitleID, PublisherID, PublisherGroupId, PublisherUniverseId, DiscID, DiscFamilyID, WebUniverseId, and a hashing function of data contained within the DVD disc  11 .  
     [0084] The TitleID identifies the subject content of the DVD disc  11  and does not distinguish other DVD discs having the same subject content.  
     [0085] The PublisherID identifies the publisher of the DVD disc  11 .  
     [0086] The PublisherGroupId identifies group of DVD publishers that have a direct or indirect relationship to the DVD disc  11 . For example, the group may include the publisher of the DVD disc  11 , and other members of the group may have a relationship to the publisher of the DVD disc  11 .  
     [0087] The PublisherUniverseId identifies the totality of all publishers of DVD discs in existence. If the PublisherUniverseId is used, the cookie content should be standardized so as to be compatible with said totality of all publishers of DVD discs. The PublisherUniverseId may be viewed as a first version of a universal cookie for WebDVD.  
     [0088] The DiscID identifies the DVD disc  11  itself and distinguishes other DVD discs having the same TitleID. If a DiscID is not created on the DVD disc  11  during manufacture of the DVD disc  11 , then a DiscID could be subsequently created on the DVD disc  11  if the DVD disc  11  is a rewritable disc.  
     [0089] The DiscFamilyID identifies a family of related DVD discs (i.e., a “Disc Family”) which are related in any manner such as by subject, author, publisher, year of publication, country of publication, etc.  
     [0090] The WebUniverseId identifies the totality of all web sites which are targeted by DVD discs. If the WebUniverseId is used, the cookie content should be standardized so as to be compatible with said totality of all web sites which are targeted by DVD discs. The WebUniverseId may be viewed as a second version of a universal cookie for WebDVD.  
     [0091] A hashing function of data contained within the DVD disc  11  may be generated from any “statistically unique” data appearing on the DVD disc  11 . The result of the hashing function becomes the specific content of the DVD extension string. Two data items are “statistically unique” relative to a hashing function if the probability is small (e.g., less than 10 −4 ) that the hashing function will produce identical results for the two data items. Possible candidates for such statistically unique data include: data pointers located within tables such as the unique number in the Volume Set Identifier field in the Primary Volume Descriptor table; fields in files which define content and menus such as in ifo files; cell elapse time; start or end addresses of cells; start address of a video object unit (VOBU); etc.  
     [0092] Various groups of the preceding parameters which may be included in the DVD extension string may be characterized as a hierarchy of parameters. Each such hierarchy comprises a sequence of parameters starting with the most general parameter of the sequence and ending with the least general parameter of the sequence. A first example of such a hierarchy is: WebUniverseId, PublisherUniverseId, PublisherGroupId, and PublisherID. A second example of such a hierarchy is: WebUniverseID, DiscFamilyID, TitleId, and DiscID. Each parameter in a given hierarchy exits at a different level of the hierarchy. For the second example of a hierarchy, stated supra, the parameters WebUniverseID, DiscFamilyID, TitleId, and DiscID respectively exist at a first level, second level, third level, and fourth level of the second hierarchy. In the arrangement from highest to lowest level, the first level of the hierarchy is defined to be at a higher level than the second level of the hierarchy, the second level of the hierarchy is defined to be at a higher level than the third level of the hierarchy, etc. The DVD extension string may comprise one level in the given hierarchy. The DVD extension string may alternatively comprise a combination of a level in a first hierarchy and a level in a second hierarchy, as for example in a combination of PublisherId and TitleId. Although it is within the scope of the present invention to include in the DVD extension string a combination of different levels of the same hierarchy, use of such a combination of different levels of the same hierarchy is logically equivalent to use of only the highest level of said different levels of the same hierarchy, so that inclusion of lower levels of the same hierarchy is unnecessary.  
     [0093] The DVD extension string may include, inter alia, any of the following specific content or any combination of the following specific content relating to the DVD disc  11  and appearing on, or associated with, the DVD disc  11 : TitleID, PublisherID, PublisherGroupId, PublisherUniverseId, DiscID, DiscFamilyID, WebUniverseId, and a hashing function of data contained within the DVD disc  11 .  
     [0094] The following list provides examples of parameters or parameter combinations within a DVD extension string:  
     [0095] the TitleID and PublisherID of the DVD disc  11 ;  
     [0096] the TitleID of the DVD disc  11 ;  
     [0097] the PublisherID of the DVD disc  11 ;  
     [0098] the PublisherGroupID of the DVD disc  11 ;  
     [0099] the PublisherUniverseId on the DVD disc  11 ;  
     [0100] the DiscID of the DVD disc  11 ;  
     [0101] the DiscFamilyID of the DVD disc  11 ;  
     [0102] the WebUniverseId on the DVD disc  11 ; and  
     [0103] a hashing function of data contained within the DVD disc  11 .  
     [0104] The user of the WebDVD system  90  may be permitted to specify or select any individual, or combination of, the preceding parameters for insertion in the DVD extension string. There may be a default individual or combination of the preceding parameters for insertion in the DVD extension string. The user may select a portion of the specific content to be included within the DVD extension string, wherein the portion may consist of the entire specific content to be included within the DVD extension string. An algorithm, or any other method, may be used to specify any individual or combination of the preceding parameters for insertion in the DVD extension string.  
     [0105] While a cookie of the present invention may be embedded within a cookie file that is stored in a readable memory device of the WebDVD system  90 , the cookie of the present invention may be stored in any manner in any readable memory device of the WebDVD system  90 . For example, the cookie of the present invention may be stored in, inter alia, a file, table, array, cached data, etc. in any readable memory device of the WebDVD system  90 .  
     [0106] While the embodiments described herein are expressed in terms of a DVD disc (e.g., the DVD disc  11  of FIGS. 2 and 3), the present invention, as illustrated herein by the DVD disc  11 , is not limited to DVD discs. The scope of the present invention generally includes any medium having any physical disc format (e.g. CD, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.), including ROM, Write once, and Rewritable discs. The present invention generally applies to discs that include different application formats (e.g. video, audio, games, etc.).  
     [0107] While embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.