US5448550A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Selecting sectors in a storage medium
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-06-16
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Granted: 1995-09-05
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Expires: 2013-06-16
Abstract
Abstract Selecting different sectors in a storage medium using switches on the storage medium, instead of programming the instrument reading the storage medium. Each switch has a switching material. The switching material can be located at more than one interchangeable position. The position determines the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors. The location of the switching material is determined electronically. Switching materials suitable for the present invention include a reflective material, an opaque material, a reflective concave material, a convex lens, a prism, a set of lines, a magnetic material and a flexible reflective membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 Fai Mok
- 👤 Jeff Yu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:03
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/24; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/102; G11B27/105; G11B27/19; G11B27/24; G11B7/002; G11B7/0037; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2537; G11B2220/2545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium for storing a plurality of groups of data, each group being stored in a sector of the storage medium, and the groups being prioritized; and a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch identifying a sector in the storage medium and each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions to indicate the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors; wherein, an operator can change the positions of the switch; and the groups of data are recorded in the storage medium by a method different from a method to implement switching materials to the switches.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium for storing a plurality of groups of data, each group being stored in a sector of the storage medium, and the groups being prioritized; and a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch identifying a sector in the storage medium and each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions to indicate the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors; wherein, an operator can change the positions of the switch; and the groups of data are recorded in the storage medium by a method different from a method to implement switching materials to the switches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each switch comprises a magnetic material with its positive and negative polarity being the interchangeable positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of labels, each label being adjacent to each switch to name its corresponding sector in the storage medium; and a plurality of symbols adjacent to each positions of each switch for indicating the priority of its corresponding sector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each switch comprises: a reflective concave material; and means for positioning the reflective concave material at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, and the location of the reflective concave material being automatically determined by the interaction of the reflective concave material with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each switch comprises: a concave lens; and means for positioning the lens at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, and the location of the lens being automatically determined by the interaction of the concave lens with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each switch comprises: a prism; and means for positioning the prism at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, and the location of the prism being automatically determined by the interaction of the prism with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each switch comprises: a plurality of lines with substantially equal line spacing; and means for positioning the plurality of lines at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of their corresponding sector, and the location of the plurality of lines being automatically determined by the interaction of the lines with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each switch comprises: a plurality of lines with substantially equal line spacing; and means for rotating the plurality of lines to a plurality of locations to determine the priority of their corresponding sector, and the rotational location of the plurality of lines being automatically determined by the interaction of the lines with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each switch comprises: a magnetic material; and means for positioning the magnetic material at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, and the location of the magnetic material being automatically determined by a magnetic head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein: the storage medium is a Compact Disc; and each group of data is a song.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each group of data represents a picture.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium for storing a plurality of groups of data, each group being stored in a sector of the storage medium, and the groups being prioritized; a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch identifying a sector in the storage medium and each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions to indicate the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors; and wherein each switch comprises: a reflective material; and means for positioning the reflective material at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, and the location of the reflective material being automatically determined by the interaction of the reflective material with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium for storing a plurality of groups of data, each group being stored in a sector of the storage medium, and the groups being prioritized; a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch identifying a sector in the storage medium and each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions to indicate the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors; and wherein each switch comprises: a reflective material; and means for positioning the reflective material at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, and the location of the reflective material being automatically determined by the interaction of the reflective material with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein: the storage medium is a Compact Disc; and each group of data is a song.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein each group of data is a picture.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium for storing a plurality of groups of data, each group being stored in a sector of the storage medium, and the groups being prioritized; a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch identifying a sector in the storage medium and each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions to indicate the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors; and wherein each switch comprises: an opaque material; and means for positioning the opaque material at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, the location of the opaque material being automatically determined by the interaction of the reflective material with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium for storing a plurality of groups of data, each group being stored in a sector of the storage medium, and the groups being prioritized; a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch identifying a sector in the storage medium and each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions to indicate the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors; and wherein each switch comprises: an opaque material; and means for positioning the opaque material at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, the location of the opaque material being automatically determined by the interaction of the reflective material with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein: the storage medium is a Compact Disc; and each group of data is a song.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein each group of data is a picture.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium for storing a plurality of groups of data, each group being stored in a sector of the storage medium, and the groups being prioritized; a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch identifying a sector in the storage medium and each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions to indicate the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors: and wherein each switch comprises two interchangeable positions, one position indicating the corresponding sector being selected, the other position indicating the corresponding sector not being selected.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium for storing a plurality of groups of data, each group being stored in a sector of the storage medium, and the groups being prioritized; a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch identifying a sector in the storage medium and each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions to indicate the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors: and wherein each switch comprises two interchangeable positions, one position indicating the corresponding sector being selected, the other position indicating the corresponding sector not being selected.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein each switch comprises a flexible reflective membrane with the two positions being a convex position and a concave position, and the position is automatically determined by the interaction of the flexible reflective membrane with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein: the storage medium is a Compact Disc; and each group of data is song.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein each group of data is a picture.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium for storing a plurality of groups of data, each group being stored in a sector of the storage medium, and the groups being prioritized: a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch identifying a sector in the storage medium and each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions to indicate the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors; and wherein each switch comprises a plurality of sub-switches, with only one sub-switch being selected, the plurality of sub-switches being used to indicate the priority of the corresponding sector of the switch as compared to other sectors in the storage medium.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium for storing a plurality of groups of data, each group being stored in a sector of the storage medium, and the groups being prioritized: a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch identifying a sector in the storage medium and each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions to indicate the priority of its corresponding sector as compared to other sectors; and wherein each switch comprises a plurality of sub-switches, with only one sub-switch being selected, the plurality of sub-switches being used to indicate the priority of the corresponding sector of the switch as compared to other sectors in the storage medium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 22 wherein: the storage medium is a Compact Disc; and each group of data is song.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 22 wherein each group of data is a picture.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein each sub-switch comprises: a reflective material; and means for positioning the reflective material at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, and the location of the reflective material being automatically determined by the interaction of the reflective material with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein each sub-switch comprises: a reflective material; means for positioning the reflective material at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, and the location of the reflective material being automatically determined by the interaction of the reflective material with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein each sub-switch comprises: an opaque material; and means for positioning the opaque material at a plurality of locations to determine the priority of its corresponding sector, the location of the opaque material being automatically determined by the interaction of the reflective material with an incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of indicating the priorities of a plurality of groups of data, with each group being stored in a sector in a storage medium using a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions, the methods comprising the steps of: using a switch to identify a sector in the storage medium; and using the plurality of interchangeable positions of each switch to indicate the priority of the group of data in the sector corresponding to that switch; wherein, the positions of the switch being able to be changed by an operator, and the groups of data are recorded in the storage medium by a method different from a method to implement switching materials to the switches.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of indicating the priorities of a plurality of groups of data, with each group being stored in a sector in a storage medium using a plurality of switches located on the storage medium, each switch having a plurality of interchangeable positions, the methods comprising the steps of: using a switch to identify a sector in the storage medium; and using the plurality of interchangeable positions of each switch to indicate the priority of the group of data in the sector corresponding to that switch; wherein, the positions of the switch being able to be changed by an operator, and the groups of data are recorded in the storage medium by a method different from a method to implement switching materials to the switches.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 28 further comprising the step of detecting automatically the position of the switch by electronic means to determine the priority of the group of data in the corresponding sector.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 29 further comprising the step of using a label adjacent to each switch to name the group of data in the corresponding sector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-04 | 1999-03-06 | 1999-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-04 | 2003-03-06 | 2003-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-04 | 2007-03-06 | 2007-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |