Apparatus and method for tracking the distribution of content electronically

Abstract

A system, method, and article of manufacture is provided for tracking the distribution of content electronically. First, an electronic storage medium tracking identifier is incorporated onto an electronic storage medium and stored on a database. Next, a package tracking identifier is situated onto a package in which the electronic storage medium is stored. The electronic storage medium is then tracked while being shipped between various entities using the tracking identifier on the package. Further, the electronic storage medium may be identified using the tracking identifier on the electronic storage medium in order to afford various advertising, security, support, or retail-related features.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically, comprising: 
 (a) an optical disc electronic storage medium having a burst cut area (BCA);    (b) a digital code stored in the BCA; and    (c) the digital code representative of an identifier of content on the electronic storage medium, an identification code, and a shipping code.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the identification code is unique to the optical disc electronic storage medium.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shipping code includes an identification code unique to a package in which the optical disc electronic storage medium is stored.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shipping code includes a location to which the optical disc electronic storage medium is to be shipped.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the digital code is further representative of an identifier of content on the optical disc electronic storage medium.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically, comprising: 
 (a) an optical disc electronic storage medium having a burst cut area (BCA);    (b) a digital code stored in the BCA; and    (c) the digital code representative of an identifier of content on the optical disc electronic storage medium and a shipping code.    
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the shipping code is unique to the optical disc electronic storage medium.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the shipping code includes an identification code unique to a package in which the optical disc electronic storage medium is stored.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the shipping code includes a location to which the optical disc electronic storage medium is to be shipped.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the digital code is further representative of an identification code.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for tracking the distribution of content electronically, comprising: 
 (a) an optical disc electronic storage medium having a burst cut area (BCA);    (b) a digital code stored in the BCA, the digital code representative of an identifier of content on the optical disc electronic storage medium;    (c) a package for which the optical disc electronic storage medium is stored; and    (d) a package identifier situated unto the package.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , wherein the package identifier comprises a bar code.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , wherein the package identifier includes a location to which the optical disc electronic storage medium is to be shipped.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , wherein the digital code and the package identifier are stored on a database.  
     
     
         15 . A method for tracking the distribution of content electronically comprising: 
 (a) incorporating a electronic storage medium tracking identifier onto an electronic storage medium;    (b) situating a package tracking identifier onto a package in which the electronic storage medium is stored; and    (c) storing both the electronic storage medium tracking identifier and the package tracking identifier in a database.    
     
     
         16 . The method recited in  claim 15  further comprising tracking the electronic storage medium from a replicator to a distributor using the package tracking identifier.  
     
     
         17 . The method recited in  claim 15  further comprising tracking the electronic storage medium from a distributor to a retailer using the package tracking identifier.  
     
     
         18 . The method recited in  claim 15  further comprising tracking the electronic storage medium from a retailer to a consumer using the package tracking identifier.  
     
     
         19 . The method recited in  claim 15  further comprising tracking a final user of the electronic storage medium using the electronic storage medium tracking identifier.  
     
     
         20 . A method for tracking the distribution of content electronically, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) incorporating an electronic storage medium tracking identifier onto an electronic storage medium;    (b) incorporating a package tracking identifier onto a package in which the electronic storage medium is stored;    (c) storing the tracking identifiers in a database;    (d) tracking the electronic storage medium while being shipped between various entities using the tracking identifier on the package; and    (e) identifying the electronic storage medium using the tracking identifier on the electronic storage medium.    
     
     
         21 . A method for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the entities include a replicator.  
     
     
         22 . A method for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the entities include a distributor.  
     
     
         23 . A method for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the entities include a retailer.  
     
     
         24 . A method for tracking the distribution of content electronically as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the electronic storage medium tracking identifier includes an identifier of content on the electronic storage medium, an identification code, and a shipping code.