Patent Application
20100097921
The present invention relates in general to the field of optical discs and their storage boxes, particularly but not exclusively DVD.
As is commonly known, an optical storage disc comprises at least one track, either in the form of a continuous spiral or in the form of multiple concentric circles, of storage space where information may be stored in the form of a data pattern. Reading information from the disc is typically done by rotating the optical disc and scanning the tracks with an optical beam, typically a laser beam. Since the technology of optical discs in general, the way in which information can be stored in an optical disc, and the way in which optical data can be read from an optical disc, is commonly known to persons skilled in the art, it is not necessary here to describe this technology in more detail. This applies to the physical build-up of the disc as well as to the format used for storing the information.
The invention will be particularly useful in the field of DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and the invention will hereinafter be explained for the example of DVD, but it is noted that the gist of the invention can also be applied to different types of discs, for instance CD.
Optical discs may be writeable, so that a user can store information. However, optical discs may also be read-only, where a user can only read information but can not amend the information written on the disc. This type of disc is typically used for selling games or computer programs (ROM-type), video movies (DVD; BD), or music (CD). As compared to other types of information carriers, such as for instance magnetic tape, the optical disc has an advantage of substantially increased storage capacity and increased readout versatility, making it possible to provide longer playtime (longer movies) with increased resolution (HD quality) and extended user options (multi-angle, choice of subtitles). An optical disc also has improved lifetime.
In the movie industry, movies are commercially exploited in, basically, four ways. A first way is distribution in theatres. An individual wishing to see the movie buys a ticket and visits the show; in such case, the user “buys” the right to watch the movie once, one person only, at a predetermined time and place.
A second way is distribution via television. An individual wishing to see the movie tunes his television set to the required channel. The television broadcast is at a predetermined time; if the user wishes to watch at a different time, he can record the broadcast and playback later (or he can watch but record anyway for possible later playback) as many times as he likes. For “normal” television broadcast, there is no specific payment required.
A third way is distribution on DVD. An individual wishing to see the movie buys a DVD and plays it in his disc drive. The quality is usually higher than the quality of normal television broadcast, and the DVD contains usually additional functions and/or information. However, the price may typically be in the same order as the price for a theatre ticket, which is relatively expensive. Yet, for the user, he obtains an advantage with respect to going to the theatre, i.e. he can watch the movie when he likes, as many times as he likes, with as many guests as he likes. It goes without saying that this advantage to the user is associated with a disadvantage to the movie manufacturer: he receives payment only once.
A fourth way is again distribution on DVD, but now a DVD with “limited play”. The advantages are the same as with “normal” DVD, with the exception that the user can watch the movie only during a limited time frame of, for instance, 48 hours. After that, the DVD can no longer be used. DVDs of such type are distributed at relatively low price (substantially lower than “normal” DVD), through “cheap” retail channels such as, for instance, supermarkets, gas stations, etc.
Optical discs of this type will be indicated as “limited viewing discs”. Limited viewing discs are known per se, so a detailed explanation of their physical design is omitted here. Suffice it to say that such discs may comprise a reactive dye that, under the influence of for example oxygen or ultra violet light, changes from a transparent state to a state absorbing the wavelength of the laser light used in a disc player; by way of example, reference is made to WO99/41738. Such disc may also comprise an electro-chromic layer activated by an RFID tag integrated in the disc material; by way of example, reference is made to WO2004/025645.
Apart from the payload content (i.e. the actual movie), a DVD may contain content relating to promotion actions and activities. This type of content will briefly be indicated as “advertisement”. Two examples will be mentioned here.
A first example relates to a trailer, i.e. a preview of future releases. Such future release may involve a DVD, in order to promote the sale of such DVD. Such future release may also involve movies soon to be expected in theatres, in order to promote the sale of theatre tickets.
A second example relates to a contest. The owner of the DVD may be offered the possibility of entering a contest where he may win, for instance, a trip to Hollywood. The contest is only open until a certain date.
In both cases, the advertisement is useful up to a certain date only. Not only would it be annoying to the user that he can not profit from the event (such as a contest) mentioned in the advertisement because the event is already over, but such outdated advertisement further gives the impression of an outdated or “old” DVD. It may even happen that retailers have to return unsold discs to the manufacturer.
Further, a disc has a label at the surface opposite the optical surface, and the disc is sold in a box provided with a cover. The label and/or the cover also may contain promotional information. If a promotion on the label and/or the cover is outdated (whether corresponding to an advertisement on the disc or not), similar disadvantages exist.
It is a general objective of the present invention to eliminate or at least reduce the above problems.
While “limited viewing discs” are completely useless after some time, the present invention proposes that the same technique be used to change the content with time. Discs of this type will be indicated as “changing content discs”.
Particularly, the present invention proposes that the “outdated” advertisement is no longer visible to the user. It is possible that the advertisement content is simply made invisible, but it is also possible that another advertisement content now becomes visible instead. By way of example, this effect can be achieved if a DVD is given an alternative Table Of Contents (TOC) at a different location than the location of the original TOC, and if the disc is provided with a layer of reactive dye overlying the original TOC location. In a first phase of use, the dye will be transparent and a disc player will find the original TOC and hence the content of the original advertisement to which the original TOC points. Thus, the original advertisement is “visible”, or “available for being viewed on playback”. When, in a later phase, the dye will be non-transparent so that the disc player can not read the original TOC on the originally expected location, the disc player will start searching for an alternative TOC and, once found, will play the content to which this alternative TOC points, which now will be a second advertisement differing from the original advertisement. Thus, the second advertisement is “visible” or “available for being viewed on playback” while the original advertisement is not.
The present invention further proposes that a disc label has changing content.
The present invention relates particularly to the field of changing content discs, but this aspect of the invention can also be practiced in combination with “normal” discs. In the case of a disc label on a changing content disc, it is preferred that the visible content of the label changes at substantially the same time as the playable content on the disc changes.
The present invention further proposes that a disc box cover has changing visible content.
The present invention relates particularly to the field of changing content discs, but this aspect of the invention can also be practiced in combination with “normal” discs. In the case of a disc box containing a changing content disc, it is preferred that the visible content of the box cover changes at substantially the same time as the playable content on the disc changes.
Further advantageous elaborations are mentioned in the dependent claims.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained by the following description of one or more preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which same reference numerals indicate same or similar parts, and in which:
In the following, the invention will be explained for the case of a DVD. It should be clear to a person skilled in the art that some details may have to be adapted in the case of a disc of different format.
The information written in the storage layer 13 is organized in a predefined way, as should be clear to a person skilled in the art. At a predefined location, the disc has a lead-in zone 21, which is shown close to the centre of the disc. At a predefined location in the lead-in zone 21, the disc has a table of contents (TOC). The TOC starts at a predefined address, thus the physical location of the TOC corresponds to a certain disc area 22 that will be indicated as TOC area. The TOC contains information on the content (such as for instance subtitles, trailer, main movie, extra features) stored on the disc in a zone outside the lead-in zone 21, which will be indicated as the content zone 23. Particularly, the TOC contains the addresses where the different portions of the content are stored (also indicated as pointers towards the content).
In operation, a disc drive reads the TOC and presents to the user a list of viewable content options. After the user has entered his choice, the disc drive consults the TOC to retrieve the corresponding starting address, and the optical pickup 3 makes a jump to that location.
Normally, a disc needs to have only one TOC. However, it is possible that a disc contains one or more secondary TOCs, to be used as replacement for the main TOC if the main TOC can not be read because of any reason, for instance physical damage to the optical surface. Depending on the disc format, it is possible that the locations of such secondary TOCs are predefined, it is possible that the lead-in-zone 21 contains a pointer to a secondary TOC, but it is also possible that a disc drive, when it can not read a TOC at the expected standard location, starts (all by itself) looking for an alternative TOC elsewhere. In the disc 10 according to the present invention, the disc contains a secondary TOC in an area that will be indicated as secondary TOC area 24. Further, the disc contains a first advertisement in an area that will be indicated as first advertisement area 25, and a second advertisement in an area that will be indicated as second advertisement area 26. The original TOC contains a pointer to the starting address of the first advertisement in first advertisement area 25; the secondary TOC contains a pointer to the starting address of the second advertisement in second advertisement area 26.
It is noted that the disc may contain more secondary TOCs, and more advertisements.
According to the present invention, the disc 10 comprises a reactive layer 31 overlying the storage layer 13 in the TOC area 22. The reactive layer 31 may extend over the entire lead-in zone 21. Alternatively, or additionally, it is also possible that a reactive layer overlies the storage layer 13 in the first advertisement area 25. In all of these cases, the reactive layer is capable of inhibiting playback of the first advertisement, as will be explained. Therefore, the reactive layer 31 will more generally be indicated as advertisement inhibit layer. If the advertisement inhibit layer simply coincides with the first advertisement area 25, it may be that playback of the first advertisement will simply be inhibited without any replacement advertisement being playable; therefore, the embodiment where the advertisement inhibit layer overlies the TOC is preferred.
The reactive layer 31 initially is transparent, at least to the laser light 4 used by the optical pickup 3 for playing the disc 10. However, the reactive layer 31 contains a material that is capable of changing the optical properties of the layer 31 so that it turns opaque. This material may be a suitable dye, changing from a transparent state to an opaque state under the influence of, for instance, oxygen (or another component of ambient air) or ultra violet light (or another component of ambient light). This material may also be an electrochromic material, changing from a transparent state to an opaque state under the control of an RFID chip (not shown) integrated in or attached to the disc. Suitable materials are known in the field of limited viewing discs and can be used for implementing the present invention. It is noted that the documents indicated above mention several suitable materials.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the reactive layer 31 is provided with a timing control arrangement for timing the layer's transition. This can be implemented in several ways.
In an embodiment where the reactive layer 31 comprises a dye that is sensitive to oxygen, it is possible that the reactive layer 31 is covered by a barrier layer 32, as illustrated, capable of allowing oxygen to pass by diffusion. Examples for suitable barrier layers are silicon nitride (Si3N4) or polymers. The oxygen reaches the reactive layer 31 only after having diffused through the barrier layer 32, which takes time, depending on inter alia the thickness of the barrier layer 32. Thus, by properly selecting the thickness of the barrier layer 32, it is possible to set the transition time, i.e. the time it takes for the reactive layer 31 to make the transition to the opaque state after the disc has been taken out of a sealing envelope (not shown).
Also, in an embodiment where the reactive layer 31 comprises a dye that is sensitive to oxygen, it is possible that the reactive layer 31 further comprises a capture substance having a lower oxidation potential. This means that any oxygen will initially be captured by the capture substance, until all substance has captures oxygen, and only then the oxidation of the dye sets in.
By way of example, the dye may be methylene blue, which in its reduced state is transparent (leuco methylene blue). Oxidation turns leuco methylene blue into the coloured state of methylene blue. This reaction is reversible (redox reaction), so the coloured methylene blue may be discoloured by reducing the oxygen pressure. A suitable capture substance is for instance Sn(II) 2-ethyl hexanoate, which oxidates into Sn(IV) 2-ethyl hexanoate; this reaction is not an equilibrium reaction. Only after all Sn(II) 2-ethyl hexanoate has been oxidised to form Sn(IV) 2-ethyl hexanoate, the oxidation of leuco methylene blue starts. Thus, by properly selecting the amount of Sn(II) 2-ethyl hexanoate, i.e. the Sn(II) 2-ethyl hexanoate concentration, it is possible to set the transition time of the leuco methylene blue.
It should be clear that similar delayed oxidation reactions are possible for different dyes and using different capture substances.
In an embodiment where the reactive layer 31 comprises an electrochromic layer controlled by an RFID chip integrated in the disc (at a suitable location where it does not hinder the reading process, for instance at a radius in the range from 19.5 mm to 22.5 mm), the RFID chip may be actuated at a point of sale. This mechanism may be used to selectively hide part of the content of the disc, or to selectively disclose (enable) part of the content of the disc, which may depend on the date, but which may also depend on the options paid for by the buyer.
It is noted that in an alternative embodiment a reactive layer may turn from opaque to transparent after some time, to thus disclose content that was hidden until that moment. This may even be implemented in the reactive layer 31 overlying the TOC: as long as the reactive layer 31 is transparent, the second advertisement will be shown, and after the transition of the reactive layer 31 the first advertisement will be shown.
It is further possible that a content that becomes visible after a first delay becomes invisible again after a second delay. This may for instance be implemented by arranging two (or even more) reactive layers over each other.
It is noted that, in all cases mentioned above, the disc contains a main content (i.e. the actual movie) which is visible at all times. Thus, both during the first phase of use and during the later phase of use, any TOC will contain a pointer to this main content. Further, an area 27 of the content zone 23 containing the main content, therefore indicated as main content area 27, is free from any inhibit layer.
The label 16 contains information visible to the human eye (text, images) relating to the disc and its content. The label 16 may also contain visible information relating to an advertisement. For reasons similar to the ones explained above in respect of the disc content, the label 16 according to the present invention has the characterizing feature that the visible information of the label 16 changes after some time.
In
The
Thus, an image 43 may disappear after some delay due to an overlying reactive layer 41 turning from transparent to opaque, and an image 53 may appear after some delay due to an overlying reactive layer 51 turning from opaque to transparent. In those cases, the reactive layer operates as a controllable cover hiding the underlying image from view. It is however also possible that the image itself is implemented as a reactive layer: the dye is then arranged in a pattern making up the image (or text). A layer turning from opaque to transparent, then, implements a disappearing image, and a layer turning from transparent to opaque implements an appearing image.
The above already applies to labels in the case a disc does not contain any advertisement. In case the disc does contain an advertisement that is disclosed or hidden with a delay, while the information of the label 16 relates to the same advertisement, it is preferred that the timing of the reactive layer(s) 41, 51 of the label 16 is substantially synchronised with the timing of the reactive layer(s) 31 of the disc content. In the case of electrochromic layers 31, 41 and 51, it is possible that all layers are controlled by a common RFID chip.
The box 100 contains information visible to the human eye (text, images) relating to the disc and its content. The box 100 may also contain visible information relating to an advertisement. For reasons similar to the ones explained above in respect of the disc content, the box 100 according to the present invention has the characterizing feature that the visible information of the box 100 changes after some time.
In
The
Thus, an image 143 may disappear after some delay due to an overlying reactive layer 141 turning from transparent to opaque, and an image 153 may appear after some delay due to an overlying reactive layer 151 turning from opaque to transparent. In those cases, the reactive layer operates as a controllable cover hiding the underlying image from view. It is however also possible that the image itself is implemented as a reactive layer: the dye is then arranged in a pattern making up the image (or text). A layer turning from opaque to transparent, then, implements a disappearing image, and a layer turning from transparent to opaque implements an appearing image.
In the above, the images 143, 153 and the layers 141, 142, 151, 152 are arranged in or on the box material. It is also possible that the box itself is transparent but contains an insert with the images 143, 153 and the layers 141, 142, 151, 152; such insert may for instance be made from paper. The above already applies to boxes in the case a disc does not contain any advertisement. In case the disc does contain an advertisement that is disclosed or hidden with a delay, while the information of the box 100 relates to the same advertisement, it is preferred that the timing of the reactive layer(s) 141, 151 of the box 100 is substantially synchronised with the timing of the reactive layer(s) 31 of the disc content. In the case of electrochromic layers 141 and 151, it is possible that all layers are controlled by a common RFID chip. Likewise, in case the disc comprises a label having an advertisement that is disclosed or hidden with a delay, while the information of the box 100 relates to the same advertisement, it is preferred that the timing of the reactive layer(s) 141, 151 of the box 100 is substantially synchronised with the timing of the reactive layer(s) 41, 51 of the label.
It is noted that in this case the disc does not need to be an optical disc, and the boxes according to the invention can also be used for accommodating other types of information carriers.
Summarizing, the present invention provides an optical disc 10 comprising at least one storage layer 13 with at least one portion of content being a movie and at least one other portion of content being an advertisement. Initially, the advertisement is visible, but after some time the advertisement is no longer visible. The optical disc may be provided with a label 16 containing an advertisement image 43 which initially is visible but after some time is no longer visible. The optical disc may be accommodated in a storage box 100 provided with an advertisement image 143 which initially is visible but after some time is no longer visible.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, it should be clear to a person skilled in the art that such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments; rather, several variations and modifications are possible within the protective scope of the invention as defined in the appending claims.
Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
In the above, the present invention has been explained with reference to block diagrams, which illustrate functional blocks of the device according to the present invention. It is to be understood that one or more of these functional blocks may be implemented in hardware, where the function of such functional block is performed by individual hardware components, but it is also possible that one or more of these functional blocks are implemented in software, so that the function of such functional block is performed by one or more program lines of a computer program or a programmable device such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, etc.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07104673.4 | Mar 2007 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2008/050984 | 3/17/2008 | WO | 00 | 9/21/2009 |
