- Number
- 9899054
- Published
- 2018-02-20
- Filed
- 2013-07-11
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Wilk; Lawrence et al.
- CPC
- G11B20/00086; G11B20/00876; G11B23/287; E05B73/0023
- Verdict
- Set aside physical-disc security/integrity, media security plumbing
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
Abstract
Apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein include apparatus, systems, and methods for securing the information contained on information discs, such as CD's, DVD's, Blu-Ray discs, or any optical media used for carrying information. The apparatus includes a security device that prevents unauthorized users from accessing the protected disc, discs, or spindle. The apparatus is such that any unauthorized attempts to unlock the locking device will result in damage to the disc, making it unreadable and/or unrenderable. The security device may be part of a system that also includes a network and a remote authentication server. Authentication data is transmitted over the network between the security device and the remote authentication server. The authentication data is then used to determine whether or not to unlock the security device.
Background
TECHNICAL FIELD(1) The present disclosure relates generally to protecting the contents of a physical disc, and, more particularly, to apparatus and systems for physically securing a disc.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART(2) Physical security of discs (e.g., DVD or Blu-Ray) containing sensitive or confidential information has generally been carried out using physical box cases around the disc to prevent access to the disc. However, with enough time and force, one is able to break open the physical box and obtain access to the disc without damaging the disc, the damage typically done only to the box. Due to the lack of security offered by these box cases, delivery of sensitive discs often require verified courier services, in which each party receiving the disc must verify that the disc has not been tampered with, opened, or accessed. These services are very expensive, sometimes costing thousands of dollars to ship a single item internationally. These courier shipping services, while costing significantly more, also take longer to ship an item than less secure, traditional shipping methods such as overnight shipping via Federal Express, United Parcel Service, the United States Postal Service, or the like.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE(3) According to various embodiments, the apparatus, systems, and methods described herein secure a physical disc so that the contents of the disc can only be accessed by authorized individuals.(4) In a first embodiment, the present disclosure is emb
Claims
1. A disc security device, comprising: a top portion secured on a top surface of a disc, the top portion comprising a first plurality of interlocking teeth; a bottom portion secured on a bottom surface of the disc, the bottom portion comprising a second plurality of corresponding interlocking teeth, wherein at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion contacts an information-bearing surface of the disc; a U-bar connecting the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the U-bar is shaped such that when the top portion and the bottom portion are secured together the U-bar contacts only a portion of an information-bearing surface of the disc; and a lock for securing the disc security device to the disc, and for securing the top portion to the bottom portion, wherein, the lock is a part of the top or bottom portion, and the lock includes a plug that is inserted through a center opening of the disc and couples the top portion to the bottom portion, the disc security device is removable from the disc when a pre-determined set of conditions are met, the disc security device is secured to the disc such that removal of the disc security device from the disc without meeting the pre-determined set of conditions results in damage to the disc, and the first and second pluralities of interlocking teeth secure the top portion and the bottom portion to the disc when placed in an interlocking position, wherein the first plurality of interlocking teeth and the second plurality of interlocking teeth are interlocked or separated by rotating the top and bottom portions.
15. A disc security system comprising: one or more discs containing information; a server on a wide area network; and a disc security device comprising a top portion secured on a top surface of a disc of the one or more discs, the top portion comprising a first plurality of interlocking teeth; a bottom portion secured on a bottom surface of a disc of the one or more discs, the bottom portion comprising a second plurality of corresponding interlocking teeth, wherein at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion contacts an information-bearing surface of a disc of the one or more discs; a U-bar connecting the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the U-bar is shaped such that when the top portion and the bottom portion are secured together the U-bar contacts only a portion of an information-bearing surface of a disc of the one or more discs; a lock for securing the disc security device to the one or more discs, and for securing the top portion to the bottom portion; and a network communications module for communicating over the wide area network, wherein, the lock is a part of the top or bottom portion, and the lock includes a plug that is inserted through a center opening of the one or more discs and couples the top portion to the bottom portion, the disc security device is removable from the one or more discs when a pre-determined set of conditions are met, and the disc security device is secured to the one or more discs such that removal of the disc security device from the one or more discs without meeting the pre-determined set of conditions results in damage to the one or more discs, and the first and second pluralities of interlocking teeth secure the top portion and the bottom portion to the one or more discs when placed in an interlocking position, wherein the first plurality of interlocking teeth and the second plurality of interlocking teeth are interlocked or separated by rotating the top and bottom portions.
29. A disc security device, comprising: a top portion secured on a top surface of a first disc of a plurality of discs, the top portion comprising a first plurality of interlocking teeth; a bottom portion secured on a bottom surface of a second disc of the plurality of discs, the bottom portion comprising a second plurality of corresponding interlocking teeth, wherein at least one of the top and the bottom portion is in contact with an information-bearing surface of the first disc or the second disc; a U-bar connecting the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the U-bar is shaped such that when the top portion and the bottom portion are secured together the U-bar contacts only a portion of an information-bearing surface of the first disc or the second disc; a lock for securing the disc security device to the plurality of discs, and for securing the top portion to the bottom portion; and a length-adjustable spindle inserted through a center opening of the plurality of discs and coupling the top portion to the bottom portion, wherein the disc security device is removable from the plurality of discs when a pre-determined set of conditions are met, the disc security device is secured to the plurality of discs such that removal of the disc security device from the plurality of discs without meeting the pre-determined set of conditions results in damage to the plurality of discs, and the first and second pluralities of interlocking teeth secure the top portion and the bottom portion to the plurality of discs when placed in an interlocking position, wherein the first plurality of interlocking teeth and the second plurality of interlocking teeth are interlocked or separated by rotating the top and bottom portions.