The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 10, 1998
Barry A Fite, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Michael L Mitchell, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Russ A Kunz, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Clifford R Brannon, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Digital Audio Disc Corporation, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Abstract
A machine-readable serial number is formed on a CD-ROM by using a laser to selectively remove a reflective layer from the CD-ROM. Removal of the reflective layer creates defects in addressable information storage locations on the CD-ROM. The serial number is read by detecting the defects. The serial number is used in a software distribution system in which many different software programs are distributed on a single CD-ROM and an access code based on the desired software program and the serial number of a particular CD-ROM is used to 'unlock' the desired program on the particular CD-ROM.