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| United States Patent Application |
20060206910
|
| Kind Code
|
A1
|
|
Kozenitzky; Ron
; et al.
|
September 14, 2006
|
Extended CD
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a CD comprising: electrical data
storage; and electrical I/O means, for enabling accessing the electrical
data storage by an external device. The electrical data storage may
include a smart card memory, a magnetic stripe, a proximity card, and so
forth. The electrical data storage may comprise a USB connector, a
FireWire connector, and so forth. The connector may be adapted to be
folded or detached, thereby enabling the CD to fit a wallet. The
electrical storage means may store a key for decrypting at least some
content of the optical storage means of the CD. The CD may further
comprise circuitry, for rendering at least one function with a content of
the electrical data storage, such as providing content to an external
device, authentication, encryption or decryption, digital rights
management, and security.
| Inventors: |
Kozenitzky; Ron; (Petach Tikva, IL)
; Margalit; Yanki; (Ramat-Gan, IL)
; Margalit; Dany; (Ramat-Gan, IL)
|
| Correspondence Name and Address:
|
DR. MARK FRIEDMAN LTD.;c/o Bill Polkinghorn
9003 Florin Way
Upper Marlboro
MD
20772
US
|
| Assignee Name and Adress: |
ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS LTD.
|
| Serial No.:
|
075998 |
| Series Code:
|
11
|
| Filed:
|
March 10, 2005 |
| U.S. Current Class: |
720/718; G9B/23.003; G9B/23.087; G9B/23.088; G9B/7.162 |
| U.S. Class at Publication: |
720/718 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G11B 7/24 20060101 G11B007/24; G11B 23/03 20060101 G11B023/03 |
Claims
1. A CD comprising: electrical data storage; and electrical I/O means, for
enabling accessing said electrical data storage by an external device.
2. A CD according to claim 1, wherein said electrical data storage
includes a smart card memory.
3. A CD according to claim 1, wherein said electrical data storage
includes a magnetic stripe.
4. A CD according to claim 1, wherein said electrical data storage
includes a proximity card.
5. A CD according to claim 1, wherein said electrical I/O means includes a
connector selected from a group consisting of: USB connector, FireWire
connector.
6. A CD according to claim 5, wherein said connector is adapted to be
folded or detached, thereby enabling said CD to fit a wallet.
7. A CD according to claim 1, wherein at least some content of the optical
storage means of said CD corresponds to at least some content of said
electrical data means.
8. A CD according to claim 1, wherein said electrical storage means stores
a key for decrypting at least some content of the optical storage means
of said CD.
9. A CD according to claim 1, further comprising circuitry, for applying
at least one function to a content of said electrical data storage.
10. A CD according to claim 10, wherein said at least one function
includes providing said content to an external device.
11. A CD according to claim 10, wherein said at least one function
includes authentication.
12. A CD according to claim 10, wherein said at least one function
includes encryption or decryption.
13. A CD according to claim 10, wherein said at least one function
includes digital rights management.
14. A CD according to claim 10, wherein said at least one function
includes security.
15. A data storage device, comprising: a body having a form factor of a
CD; optical storage means, integral with said body; electrical data
storage, operationally connected to said body; and electrical I/O means,
for enabling accessing said electrical data storage by an external device
16. A security device, comprising: a body having a form factor of a CD;
optical storage means, integral with said body; electrical data storage,
operationally connected to said body; and electrical I/O means, for
enabling accessing said electrical data storage by an external device
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present relates to a CD in which one or more I/O interface
units are embedded, e.g. USB, proximity card, magnetic stripe, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A Compact Disc (CD) is defined by www.whatis.com as a small,
portable, round medium made of molded polymer (close in size to the
floppy disk) for electronically recording, storing, and playing back
audio, video, text, and other information in digital form.
[0003] Initially, CDs were read-only, but newer technologies allow
recording as well. A newer technology, the Digital Versatile Disc (DVD),
stores much more data in the same space, which allows storing large scale
data such as movies.
[0004] CD-ROM (Compact Disc, read-only-memory) is known in the art as an
adaptation of the CD oriented to store computer data in the form of text
and graphics, as well as hi-fi stereo sound. The original data format
standard was defmed by Philips and Sony in the 1983 Yellow Book. Other
standards are used in conjunction with it to define directory and file
structures, including ISO 9660, HFS (Hierarchal File System, for
Macintosh computers), and Hybrid HFS-ISO. Format of the CD-ROM is the
same as for audio CDs: a standard CD is 120 mm (4.75 inches) in diameter
and 1.2 mm (0.05 inches) thick and is composed of a polycarbonate plastic
substrate (underlayer--this is the main body of the disc), one or more
thin reflective metal (usually aluminum) layers, and a lacquer coating.
[0005] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a CD, according to the prior art.
The CD 10 comprises a region 11, in which the data is impressed. The
contour of the CD 10 doesn't necessarily have to be circular, as
illustrated on FIG. 1. The data stored within the CD 10 can be accessed
by optical means. Thus, its data is stored in an optical manner.
[0006] One of the variations of CD is of about 8 cm diameter. FIG. 2
schematically illustrates a CD of the 8 cm diameter in comparable to a
credit card contour 19. By modifying the contour of the CD 10 in the
manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e. "cutting" the edges which
exceed the dimensions of a credit card contour 19, the modified CD fits a
typical wallet size, and therefore can be carried by a user in his
wallet. This fact allows using a CD as identification means: on the one
hand it can be stored in a wallet and therefore is mobile, on the other
hand it can comprise data, e.g. a user ID, which can be accessed by a
typical computer.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and
system for extending the applicability of a CD.
[0008] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
as the description proceeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is directed to a CD comprising: electrical
data storage; and electrical I/O means, for enabling accessing the
electrical data storage by an external device. The electrical data
storage may include a smart card memory, a magnetic stripe, a proximity
card, and so forth. The electrical data storage may comprise a USB
connector, a FireWire connector, and so forth. The connector may be
adapted to be folded or detached, thereby enabling the CD to fit a
wallet. The content of the optical storage means of the CD may correspond
to the content of the electrical data means. According to one embodiment
of the invention, the electrical storage means store a key for decrypting
at least some content of the optical storage means of the CD. The CD may
further comprise circuitry, for rendering at least one function with a
content of the electrical data storage, such as providing content to an
external device, authentication, encryption or decryption, digital rights
management, and security.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention may be better understood in conjunction with
the following figures:
[0011] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a CD, according to the prior art.
[0012] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a CD of the 8 cm diameter in
comparable to a credit card contour.
[0013] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an XCD according to one embodiment
of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates an XCD according to another embodiment of the
invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the components of an XCD,
according to one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
[0016] In the context of the present invention, the term CD refers to any
variation of CD or DVD, such as CD-ROM, CD-I, CD-RW, CD-ROM XA, CD-W,
Photo CD, Video CD, DVD-Ram, DVD-Audio, and so forth.
[0017] In order to facilitate the description herein, the sides of a CD
are referred as follows: the "Data Side" (DS) in which the data is
impressed, and the "Label Side" (LS) in which a label or another image is
printed. The data region 11 of FIG. 1 resides on the DS.
[0018] The term Extended CD (XCD) refers herein to a CD which includes
also communication means for communicating with another device (also
referred to as external device).
[0019] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an XCD according to one embodiment
of the invention. The XCD 20 comprises circuitry 13 and a connector 14
(e.g. USB connector, FireWire, etc.), through which the circuitry 13
communicates with the outside world. Wires 11 connect the connector 14
with the circuitry 13. The wires may be "printed" on the LS, as in a
printed circuit.
[0020] It should be noted that although the XCD 20 comprises circuitry,
its thickness still corresponds to the CD standards. This can be obtained
since nowadays technology enables producing electronic components which
their thickness is about the same or even less than the thickness of a CD
according to CD standards.
[0021] As long as the connector 14 does not exceed the circular contour
15, and the thickness of the XCD corresponds to a standard thereof, the
XCD can still perform its original purpose, i.e. data storage.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates an XCD according to another embodiment of the
invention. The XCD 20 comprises a magnetic stripe 16 "printed" on its LS,
as in a credit card. Also it comprises a proximity coil 17 and smart card
contacts 18. Of course not all the I/O components must be present. For
example, the XCD may comprise only smart card and contacts thereof, or
only a magnetic stripe.
[0023] A smart card (a plastic credit card sized card that contains
semiconductor chips), magnetic stripe (strip of magnetic recording
material on an ID card), and proximity card (a contactless circuitry
whose presence and data can be sensed by an interface device not in
physical contact with the circuitry) are storage means, like a CD.
However, the difference between these storage means and a CD is that
while the data stored within a CD can be accessed by optical I/O means,
the data stored within a smart card, magnetic stripe and proximity card
cannot be accessed by optical means, but rather by electrical I/O means.
[0024] Embedding electrical storage means with corresponding I/O means in
a CD provides a unique device which may be implemented especially in data
security field, i.e. a security device. For example, the XCD can be used
as an ATM card, credit card, authentication card, and so forth. The owner
of the XCD can open his office door by the proximity coil, use the
embedded smart card or magnetic stripe and his picture printed on the CD
as a credit card, use the XCD as an ID card on the Internet, as a
security token (e.g. the eToken manufactured by Aladdin Knowledge
Systems--Tel-Aviv, and so forth.
[0025] According to another use of the invention, the impressed data (i.e.
the data stored on the CD in the "traditional way") may be used also for
storing a driver or software for operating the XCD. Thus: (a) the driver
or software for the XCD can be carried by a user thereof along with the
XCD; and (b) the content of the electrical storage means and the optical
storage means correspond.
[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the XCD can be used
for DRM (Digital Rights Management). For example, the electrical data
storage stores a key which corresponds to the data stored by the optical
storage means, e.g. music. In order to play the music, the user has to
insert the USB connector into the player, in order to enable the player
(e.g. computer) to get the key for decrypting the data stored within the
optical data storage of the XCD. Then, the player allows playing the
music for a certain period (e.g. 3 hours, one session etc.). According to
one embodiment of the invention, the circuitry can be detached from the
XCD, thereby enabling using the same circuitry for a plurality of
corresponding data chunks (e.g. music, video, etc.), each data chunk on a
different XCD.
[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the USB connector 14
can be folded, or even detached from the XCD. This way the XCD contour
does not exceed the contour of a credit card, and accordingly it suits a
typical wallet size.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a high level block diagram that illustrates the
components of an XCD, according to one embodiment of the invention. The
XCD 20 may comprise elements of memory, where each one capable of
communicating with an external device (not shown) by a corresponding
communication means:
[0029] circuitry 13, which may comprise memory, communicates with an
external device by I/O means 14, e.g. USB connector;
[0030] proximity card 27, which may comprises also memory, communicates
with an external device by coil 17;
[0031] smart card 28, which also may comprise memory, communicates with an
external device by contacts 18;
[0032] and the magnetic stripe 19 is actually a memory and communication
means as well.
[0033] The circuitry 13, proximity card 27, and smart card 28 may be
interconnected, e.g. by bus 29.
[0034] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be
embodied by other forms and ways, without losing the scope of the
invention. The embodiments described herein should be considered as
illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *
