Cryptographic methods, apparatus and systems for storage media electronic rights management in closed and connected appliances

Abstract

A rights management arrangement for storage media such as optical digital video disks (DVDs, also called digital versatile disks) provides adequate copy protection in a limited, inexpensive mass-produceable, low-capability platform such as a dedicated home consumer disk player and also provides enhanced, more flexible security techniques and methods when the same media are used with platforms having higher security capabilities. A control object (or set) defines plural rights management rules for instance, price for performance or rules governing redistribution. Low capability platforms may enable only a subset of the control rules such as controls on copying or marking of played material. Higher capability platforms may enable all (or different subsets) of the rules. Cryptographically strong security is provided by encrypting at least some of the information carried by the media and enabling decryption based on the control set and/or other limitations. A secure “software container” can be used to protectively encapsulate (e.g., by cryptographic techniques) various digital property content (e.g., audio, video, game, etc.) and control object (i.e., set of rules) information. A standardized container format is provided for general use on/with various mediums and platforms. In addition, a special purpose container may be provided for DVD medium and appliances (e.g., recorders, players, etc.) that contains DVD program content (digital property) and DVD medium specific rules. The techniques, systems and methods disclosed herein are capable of achieving compatibility with other protection standards, such as for example, CGMA and Matsushita data protection standards adopted for DVDs. Cooperative rights management may also be provided, where plural networked rights management arrangements collectively control a rights management event on one or more of such arrangements.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An electronic appliance including: 
 a disk use arrangement for at least one of (a) reading information from, and (b) writing information to, a digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    a secure node coupled to the disk use arrangement, the secure node providing at least one rights management process.    
     
     
         2 . An electronic appliance including: 
 a disk use arrangement for at least one of (a) reading information from, and (b) writing information to, a digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    at least one processing arrangement coupled to the disk use arrangement, the processing arrangement selecting at least some control information associated with information recorded on the storage medium based at least in part on the class of the appliance and/or the user of the appliance.    
     
     
         3 . A system as in    claim 2    wherein the processing arrangement selects a subset of control information used on another appliance and/or class of appliance.  
     
     
         4 . A system as in    claim 2    wherein the processing arrangement selects different control information from the information selected by another appliance and/or class of appliance.  
     
     
         5 . A system as in    claim 2    wherein at least some of the control information comprises an analog signal.  
     
     
         6 . A system as in    claim 2    wherein at least some of the control information comprises digitally encoded information.  
     
     
         7 . In an appliance capable of using digital versatile disks, a method including the following steps: 
 at least one of (a) reading information from, and (b) writing information to, a digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    selecting at least some control information associated with information recorded on the storage medium based at least in part on the class of the appliance and/or the user of the appliance.    
     
     
         8 . A method as in    claim 7    wherein the selecting step includes the step of selecting a subset of control information used on another appliance and/or class of appliance.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in    claim 7    wherein the selecting step includes the step of selecting, from control information stored on the storage medium, a different set of control information than the control information selected by another appliance and/or class of appliance.  
     
     
         10 . An electronic appliance including: 
 a disk use arrangement for reading information from a digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    at least one processing arrangement coupled to the disk use arrangement, the processing arrangement protecting information read from the storage medium.    
     
     
         11 . An appliance as in    claim 10    wherein the processing arrangement includes a rights management arrangement that applies at least one rights management technique to the read information.  
     
     
         12 . An appliance as in    claim 10    wherein the appliance further includes at least one port compliant at least in part with the IEEE 1394-1995 high speed serial bus standard, and the processing arrangement couples the protected information to the port.  
     
     
         13 . In an electronic appliance, a method including the following steps: 
 reading information from a digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    protecting the information read from the optical storage medium.    
     
     
         14 . A method as in    claim 13    wherein the protecting step includes the step of applying at least one rights management technique to the read information.  
     
     
         15 . A method as in    claim 13    further including the step of sending the protected information to an IEEE 1394 port.  
     
     
         16 . An electronic appliance including: 
 a disk use arrangement for using information stored, or to be stored, on a digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    at least one protecting arrangement coupled to the disk use arrangement and also coupled to receive at least one analog signal, the protecting arrangement creating protected digital information based at least in part on the analog signal.    
     
     
         17 . In an electronic appliance, a method including the following steps: 
 receiving at least one analog signal; and    creating protected digital content based at least in part on the analog signal for storage on a digital versatile disk.    
     
     
         18 . In an electronic appliance, a method including the following steps: 
 reading at least one analog signal from a digital versatile disk;    creating protected digital content based at least in part on the analog signal; and    outputting the protected digital content.    
     
     
         19 . An electronic appliance including: 
 a disk use arrangement for using information stored, or to be stored, on a digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    at least one rights management arrangement coupled to the disk use arrangement, the rights management arrangement treating the storage medium and/or information obtained from the storage medium differently depending on the geographical and/or jurisdictional context of the appliance.    
     
     
         20 . In an electronic appliance, a method including the steps of: 
 reading information from at least one digital versatile disk; and    performing at least one rights management operation based at least in part on the geographical and/or jurisdictional context of the appliance.    
     
     
         21 . An electronic appliance including: 
 a disk use arrangement for using at least one secure container stored on a digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    at least one rights management arrangement coupled to the disk use arrangement, the rights management arrangement processing the secure container.    
     
     
         22 . In an electronic appliance, a method including the following steps: 
 reading at least one secure container from at least one digital versatile disk; and    performing at least one rights management operation on the secure container.    
     
     
         23 . An electronic appliance including: 
 at least one rights management arrangement for generating and/or modifying at least one secure container for storage onto a digital versatile disk optical storage medium.    
     
     
         24 . In an electronic appliance, a method including the step of performing at least one rights management operation on at least one secure container for storage onto a digital versatile disk optical storage medium.  
     
     
         25 . A digital versatile disk use system and/or method characterized in that the system and/or method uses at least one secure container.  
     
     
         26 . A digital versatile disk use system and/or method characterized in that the system and/or method uses at least one secure container of the type disclosed in PCT Publication No. WO 96/27155.  
     
     
         27 . An electronic appliance including: 
 a disk use arrangement for writing information onto and/or reading information from a digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    a secure arrangement that securely manages information on the storage medium such that at least a first portion of the information may be used on at least a first class of appliance while at least a second portion of the information may be used on at least a second class of appliance    
     
     
         28 . In an electronic appliance, a method including the following steps: 
 reading information from and/or writing information to at least one digital versatile disk optical storage medium;    using at least a first portion of the information on at least a first class of appliance; and    using at least a second portion of the information on at least a second class of appliance.    
     
     
         29 . A system including first and second classes of electronic appliances each including a secure processing arrangement, the first appliance class secure arrangement securely managing and/or using at least a first portion of the information, the second appliance class secure arrangement securely managing and/or using at least a second portion of the information.  
     
     
         30 . A system as in    claim 29    wherein the first and second information portions are different, and the second appliance class secure arrangement does not use the first information portion.  
     
     
         31 . A system as in    claim 29    wherein the first appliance class does not use the second information portion.  
     
     
         32 . In a system including first and second classes of electronic appliances each including a secure arrangement, a method comprising: 
 (a) securely managing and/or using at least a first portion of the information with the first appliance class secure arrangement, and    (b) securely managing and/or using at least a second portion of the information with the second appliance class secure arrangement.    
     
     
         33 . A method as in    claim 32    wherein the first and second information portions are different, and step (b) does not use the first information portion.  
     
     
         34 . A method as in    claim 32    wherein step (a) does not use the second information portion.  
     
     
         35 . An electronic appliance including: 
 a disk use arrangement for writing information onto and/or reading information from a digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    a secure arrangement that securely stores and/or transmits information associated with at least one of payment, auditing, controlling and/or otherwise managing content recorded on the storage medium.    
     
     
         36 . In an electronic appliance, a method including the following steps: 
 reading information from and/or writing information to at least one digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    securely storing and/or transmitting information associated with at least one of payment, auditing, controlling and/or otherwise managing content recorded on the storage medium.    
     
     
         37 . An electronic appliance including: 
 a disk use arrangement for writing information onto and/or reading information from a digital versatile disk optical storage medium;    a cryptographic engine coupled to the disk use arrangement, the engine using at least one cryptographic key; and    a secure arrangement that securely updates and/or replaces at least one cryptographic key used by the cryptographic engine to at least in part modify the scope of information usable by the appliance.    
     
     
         38 . A method of operating an electronic appliance including: 
 writing information onto and/or reading information from a digital versatile disk optical storage medium;    using at least one cryptographic key in conjunction with said information; and    securely updating and/or replacing at least one cryptographic key used by the cryptographic engine to at least in part modify the scope of information useable by the appliance.    
     
     
         39 . A digital versatile disk appliance characterized in that at least one cryptographic key used by the appliance is securely updated and/or replaced to at least in part modify the scope of information that can be used by the appliance.  
     
     
         40 . An appliance as in    claim 39    further characterized in that the key updating and/or replacing is based on class of appliance.  
     
     
         41 . An electronic appliance having a class associated therewith, characterized in that at least one cryptographic key set used by the appliance class is selected to help ensure security of information released from at least one digital versatile disk.  
     
     
         42 . A digital camera for generating at least one image to be written onto a digital versatile disk optical storage medium, characterized in that the camera includes at least one information protecting arrangement that at least in part protects the image so that the information is persistently protected through subsequent processes such as editing, production, writing onto a digital versatile disk, and/or reading from a digital versatile disk.  
     
     
         43 . A digital camera for generating image information that can be written onto a digital versatile disk optical storage medium, a method comprising: 
 capturing at least one image with a digital camera; and    protecting information provided by the digital camera so that the information is selectively persistently protected through subsequent processes such as distribution, editing and/or production, writing onto the digital versatile disk optical storage medium, and/or reading from the digital versatile disk optical storage medium.    
     
     
         44 . In an electronic appliance including a disk use arrangement, a method comprising: 
 reading information from at least one digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    persistently protecting at least some of the read information through at least one subsequent editing and/or production process.    
     
     
         45 . In an electronic appliance, a method including the following steps: 
 reading information from and/or writing information to at least one digital versatile disk optical storage medium; and    securely managing information on the storage medium, including the step of using at least a first portion of the information on at least a first class of appliance, and using at least a second portion of the information on at least a second class of appliance.    
     
     
         46 . A method of providing copy protection and/or use rights management of at least one digital property content and/or secure container to be stored and/or distributed on a digital versatile disk medium, comprising the step(s) of: 
 providing a set of use control(s) within a cryptographically encapsulated data structure having a predetermined format, the data structure format defining at least one secure software container for providing use rights information for digital property content to be stored on the digital versatile disk medium.    
     
     
         47 . A method as in    claim 46    further including the step of using at least one digital property content stored on an optical disk in accordance with the use controls, including the step of using a prescribed secure cryptographic key or set of cryptographic keys for using rights information.  
     
     
         48 . A method as in    claim 46    further including the step of decrypting control rules and/or other selected encrypted information content encapsulated in the software container using at least one set of cryptographic keys.  
     
     
         49 . A method as in    claim 46    further including the step of applying decrypted control rules to regulate use in accordance with control information contained within said control rules, so as to facilitate management of a diverse set of use and distribution rights which may be specific to different users and/or optical disk appliances.  
     
     
         50 . A method of providing rights management of digital property stored on digital versatile disk according to    claim 46    wherein said secure container data structure comprises: 
 one or more content objects comprising digital property content; and  
 one or more control objects comprising a set of control rules defining copy protection, use and distribution rights to digital property content stored on the optical disk.  
 
     
     
         51 . A method of providing rights management of digital property stored on a digital versatile disk according to    claim 46   , wherein a content object further comprises one or more reference pointers to digital property content stored elsewhere on the digital versatile disk.  
     
     
         52 . A method of providing rights management of digital property stored on a digital versatile disk according to    claim 46   , wherein a control object further comprises one or more reference pointers to control information stored elsewhere on the digital versatile disk.  
     
     
         53 . A method of providing rights management of digital property stored on digital versatile disk according to    claim 46   , wherein digital information stored on said optical disk includes one or more metadata blocks comprising further information used in conjunction wi th th e control rules to use digital property content stored elsewhere on the optical disk.  
     
     
         54 . A method of providing rights management of digital property stored on digital versatile disk according to    claim 46   , wherein a metablock may be either of a protected type or of an unprotected type.  
     
     
         55 . An arrangement for implementing a rights management system for controlling copy protection, use and/or distribution rights to multi-media digital property content stored or otherwise contained on a digital versatile disk, comprising: 
 an encrypted data structure defining a secure information container stored on an optical disk medium, the encrypted data structure including and/or referencing at least one content object and at least one control object associated with the content object, said content object comprising digital property content and said control object comprising rules defining use rights to the digital property content.    
     
     
         56 . An arrangement for implementing a rights management system for digital versatile disks according to    claim 55   , wherein a content object further comprises one or more reference pointers to digital property content stored elsewhere on the digital versatile disk.  
     
     
         57 . An arrangement for implementing a rights management system for digital versatile disks according to    claim 55   , wherein a control object further comprises one or more reference pointers to control information stored elsewhere on the digital versatile disk.  
     
     
         58 . An arrangement for implementing a rights management system for digital versatile disks according to    claim 55   , wherein an control object further comprises information for controlling various operations of an optical disk appliance or computer.  
     
     
         59 . An arrangement for implementing a rights management system for digital versatile disks according to    claim 55   , wherein a control object further comprises information for controlling various operations of an optical disk appliance or computer.  
     
     
         60 . An arrangement for implementing a rights management system for digital-versatile disks according to    claim 55   , wherein a control object further comprises a rule specifying decoding and/or enforcement of CGMA encoded copy protection rules associated with the digital content property.  
     
     
         61 . An arrangement for implementing a rights management system for digital versatile disks according to    claim 55   , wherein a control object further comprises a rule specifying at least one content scrambling system compatible encoding/decoding of digital property content.  
     
     
         62 . An arrangement for implementing a rights management system for digital versatile disks according to    claim 55   , wherein said optical disk contains a block of stored information comprising encrypted keys used for decryption of said encrypted data structure.  
     
     
         63 . An arrangement for implementing a rights management system for digital versatile disks according to    claim 55   , wherein said optical disk contains a block of stored information comprising hidden keys used for decryption of said encrypted keys.  
     
     
         64 . An arrangement for implementing a rights management system for digital versatile disks according to    claim 55   , wherein a content object further comprises one or more reference pointers to digital property content stored on a separate storage medium.  
     
     
         65 . A rights management system for providing copy protection, use and/or distribution rights management for multimedia digital property content stored or otherwise contained on a digital versatile disk for access by an optical disk player device that uses digital property content stored on said optical disk medium, wherein said appliance includes a microprocessor controller for decrypting and using control rules and other selected encrypted information content encapsulated in the secure container by using a prescribed cryptographic key and applying said decrypted control rules to regulate use in accordance with control information contained within said control rules, so as to facilitate management of a diverse set of use and/or distribution rights which may be specific to different users and/or optical disk appliances, the system including: 
 an optical disk medium having stored thereon an encrypted data structure defining a secure information container, the encrypted data structure comprising and/or referencing at least one content object and at least one control object, said content object comprising digital property content, said control object comprising rules defining use rights associated with the digital property.    
     
     
         66 . A method for providing copy protection, use and distribution rights management of multi-media digital property stored on and/or distributed via digital versatile disk, said optical disk medium having stored thereon an encrypted data structure defining a secure container for housing rights and/or copy protection information pertaining to digital property content stored on the optical disk, wherein an optical disk player appliance for using digital property content stored on an optical disk must utilize a prescribed secure cryptographic key or set of keys to use the secure container, said data structure comprising one or more content objects comprising digital property content and one or more control objects comprising a set of rules defining use rights to digital property, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) decrypting control rules and other selected encrypted information content encapsulated in the secure container using one or more cryptographic keys; and    (b) applying decrypted control rules to regulate use and/or distribution of digital property content stored on the optical disk in accordance with control information contained within the control rules, so as to provide customized use and/or distribution rights that are specific to different optical disk user platforms and/or optical disk appliances.    
     
     
         67 . A rights management system for providing copy protection, use and/or distribution rights management of digital property stored or otherwise contained on a digital versatile disk, comprising: 
 a secure container means provided on an optical disk medium for cryptographically encapsulating digital property content stored on the optical disk, said container means comprising a content object means for containing digital property content and a control object means for containing control rules for regulating use and/or distribution of said digital property content stored on the optical disk.    
     
     
         68 . The rights management system of    claim 67    wherein an optical disk player appliance for using information stored on an optical disk comprises a secure node means for using said secure container means provided on an optical disk and implementing said control rules to control operation of said player appliance to regulate use of said digital property content.  
     
     
         69 . In a system including plural electronic appliances at least temporarily connected to one another, a rights authority broker that determines what appliances are connected and specifies at least one rights management context depending on said determination.  
     
     
         70 . An electronic appliance at least temporarily connected to a rights authority broker, the electronic appliance receiving at least one rights context from the rights authority broker when the device is connected to the rights authority broker.  
     
     
         71 . A first electronic appliance at least temporarily connected to a second electronic appliance, the first electronic appliance selecting between at least first and second rights management contexts depending at least in part on whether the first appliance is connected to the second electronic appliance.  
     
     
         72 . In a system including first and second electronic appliances that may be selectively coupled to communicate with one another, an arrangement for defining at least one different rights management control based at least in part on whether the first and second electronic appliances are connected.  
     
     
         73 . A method of defining at least one rights management context comprising: 
 (a) determining whether a first electronic appliance is present; and    (b) defining at least one rights management control set based at least in part on the determining step (a).    
     
     
         74 . A method of defining at least one rights management context including: 
 (a) coupling an optical disk storing information to an electronic appliance that can be selectively connected to a rights management broker;    (b) determining whether the electronic appliance is currently coupled to a rights management broker; and    (c) conditioning at least one aspect of use of at least some of the information stored on the optical disk based on whether the electronic appliance is coupled to the rights management broker.    
     
     
         75 . A method as in    claim 74    wherein step (c) includes the step of obtaining at least one rights management context from the rights management broker.  
     
     
         76 . A method as in    claim 74    wherein step (c) includes the step of obtaining at least one combined control set from the rights management broker.  
     
     
         77 . A method of defining at least one rights management context including: 
 (a) coupling an optical disk storing information to an electronic appliance;    (b) using at least some of the information stored on the optical disk based on a first rights management context;    (c) coupling the electronic appliance to a rights management broker; and    (d) concurrently with step (c), using at least some of the information stored on the optical disk based on a second rights management context different from the first rights management context    
     
     
         78 . An electronic appliance include a secure node and an optical disk reader, the electronic appliance applying different rights management contexts to protected information stored on an optical disk coupled to the optical disk reader depending at least in part on whether the electronic appliance is coupled to at least one additional secure node.  
     
     
         79 . An electronic appliance including: 
 an optical disk reading and/or writing arrangement;    a secure node coupled to the optical disk reading and/or writing arrangement, the secure node performing at least one rights management related function with respect to at least some information read by the optical disk reading and/or writing arrangement; and    at least one serial bus port coupled to the secure node, the serial bus port for providing any or all of the functions, structures, protocols and/or methods of IEEE 1394-1995.    
     
     
         80 . A digital versatile disk appliance including: 
 means for watermarking content; and    serial bus means for communicating the watermarked content,    wherein the serial bus means complies with IEEE 1394-1995.    
     
     
         81 . An optical disk reading and/or writing device including: 
 at least one secure node capable of watermarking content and/or processing watermarked content; and    an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus port.    
     
     
         82 . An optical disk using device comprising: 
 a secure processing unit; and    an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus port.    
     
     
         83 . A device as in    claim 82    wherein the secure processing unit includes a channel manager.  
     
     
         84 . A device as in    claim 82    wherein the secure processing unit executes a rights operating system in whole or in part.  
     
     
         85 . A device as in    claim 82    wherein the secure processing unit includes a tamper-resistant barrier.  
     
     
         86 . A device as in    claim 82    wherein the secure processing unit includes an encryption/decryption engine.  
     
     
         87 . A rights cooperation method comprising: 
 (a) connecting an appliance to at least one further appliance;    (b) determining whether the first and/or further appliance and/or user(s) of said first and/or further appliance have appropriate rights and/or resources for performing an action; and    (c) selectively performing the action based at least in part on the determination.    
     
     
         88 . A rights cooperation method comprising: 
 (a) connecting an appliance to at least one further appliance;    (b) determining whether the first and/or further appliance and/or user(s) of said first and/or further appliance have appropriate security for performing an action; and    (c) cooperating between the first and further appliance to selectively perform the action.    
     
     
         89 . A cooperative rights management arrangement comprising: 
 a communications arrangement that allows at least first and second appliances to communicate; and    an arrangement that processes at least one event based at least in part on assessing and/or pooling rights and/or resources between the first and second appliances.    
     
     
         90 . An optical disk using system and/or method including at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 1A.  
     
     
         91 . An optical disk using system and/or method including at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 1B.  
     
     
         92 . An optical disk using system and/or method including at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 1C.  
     
     
         93 . An optical disk using system and/or method including at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 2A.  
     
     
         94 . An optical disk using system and/or method including at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 2B.  
     
     
         95 . An optical disk using system and/or method including at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 3.  
     
     
         96 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 3A.  
     
     
         97 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the control set elements shown in FIG. 3B.  
     
     
         98 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 4A.  
     
     
         99 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 4B.  
     
     
         100 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 5.  
     
     
         101 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 6.  
     
     
         102 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 7.  
     
     
         103 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 8.  
     
     
         104 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 9.  
     
     
         105 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 10.  
     
     
         106 . An optical disk using system and/or method using at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 11.  
     
     
         107 . An optical disk using system and/or method including at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 12.  
     
     
         108 . An optical disk using system and/or method including at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 13.  
     
     
         109 . An optical disk using system and/or method including at least some of the elements shown in FIG. 14.  
     
     
         110 . A system and/or method including some or all of the elements shown in FIGS.  15 A- 15 C.  
     
     
         111 . A system and/or method as in any one of the preceding claims, further including, in combination, any element described in any one of the following prior patent specifications: 
 PCT Publication No. WO 96/27155;    European Patent No. EP 329681;    PCT Application No. PCT/US96/14262;    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/689,606; and/or    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/689,754.    
     
     
         112 . A system or process as in any of the preceding claims wherein the phrase “high capacity optical disk” is substituted for “digital versatile disk.” 
     
     
         113 . A method of clearing or otherwise processing information resulting at least in part from one or more digital versatile disk appliances and/or methods as defined in any of the preceding claims.  
     
     
         114 . A system and/or method for defining rules for use in one or more digital versatile disk appliances and/or methods as defined in any of the preceding claims.  
     
     
         115 . A system and/or method for defining rules and associated content for use in one or more digital versatile disk appliances and/or methods as defined in any of the preceding claims.  
     
     
         116 . A system and/or method for producing an optical disk for use with one or more digital versatile disk appliances and/or methods as defined in any of the preceding claims.  
     
     
         117 . A system and/or method for clearing audit information from one or more appliances and/or methods as defined in any of the preceding claims.  
     
     
         118 . In an network including at least one electronic appliance that reads information from and/or writes information to at least one digital versatile disk optical storage medium, and securely communicates information associated with at least one of payment, auditing, usage, access, controlling and/or otherwise managing content recorded on the storage medium, a method of processing said communicated information including the step of generating at least one payment request and/or order based at least in part on the information.  
     
     
         119 . A method of defining at least one control set for storage on a high capacity optical disk that can storage images, audio, text and/or other information, the high capacity optical disk for use by any of plural different electronic appliance types, the method including the step of specifying at least one control that provides different conditions and/or consequences depending upon at least one of the following: 
 electronic appliance class;    electronic appliance security;    electronic appliance user class;    electronic appliance connectivity;    electronic appliance resources;    electronic appliance access to resources; and    rights management cooperation between plural electronic appliances.