7 187 633

7,187,633 Title:

Marking of a data medium material for information intended for reproduction

A method of identifying a mechanically readable medium is described. The medium, for instance a gramophone record, a magnetic tape or a celluloid film, contains information which is contained in a continuous sequence on the medium and is intended for optical or acoustic reproduction. A sequence of markings which individualizes the medium, and which can be read out together with the acoustic or optical information, is formed in the area of this acoustic or optical information.

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of marking a machine-readable medium containing information which is included in a continuous sequence on the medium and is intended for reproduction,comprising the step of forming a sequence of markings which individualizes the medium, and which can be read out together with the information intended for reproduction, in an area of the information intended for reproduction, wherein on the medium,analog information intended for reproduction is contained in a first section, and digital information intended for reproduction is contained in at least one second section, the markings being formed at least in the first section.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analog and digital information items are redundant to each other.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the digital information corresponding to the analog information in the area of which the markings are formed is absent or made unreadable.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the optical properties of the medium, where the unreadable digital information is or was formed, are subsequently changed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first section is an optical sound track.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one second section is a digital sound track.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the digital sound track, at a location adjacent to the markings on the optical sound track, is absent or made unreadable.

8. A film medium, in which information is contained in a continuous sequence for reproduction, comprising: a sequence of markings formed on the film medium in an area of the information intended for reproduction, which markings individualizethe medium, and wherein said markings are readable together with the information intended for reproduction, wherein said sequence of markings is a sequence of parallel bars, and wherein each marking of said sequence of markings extends perpendicular tosaid travel direction, each having a length in a range from about 50 to 250 .mu.m.

9. A film medium, in which information is contained in a continuous sequence for reproduction, comprising: a sequence of markings formed on the film medium in an area of the information intended for reproduction, which markings individualizethe medium, and wherein said markings are readable together with the information intended for reproduction, and wherein on the medium, analog information intended for reproduction is contained in a first section, and digital information intended forreproduction is contained in at least one second section, the markings being formed in the first section.

10. The film medium of claim 9, wherein said analog and digital information correspond with one another.

11. The film medium of claim 10, wherein said digital information, corresponding to said analog information in the area of said sequence of markings, is absent or made unreadable.

12. The film medium of claim 11, wherein the film medium, where the unreadable digital information is or was formed, has subsequently changed optical properties.

13. The film medium of claim 10, wherein the first section is an optical sound track.

14. The film medium of claim 10, wherein said at least one second section is a digital sound track.

15. The film medium of claim 10, wherein the digital sound track, at a location adjacent to the makings on the optical sound track, is absent or made unreadable.

16. A film medium, in which information is contained in a continuous sequence for reproduction, comprising: a first section of information being an optical soundtrack, said first section containing analog information for reproduction; a secondsection of information being a digital soundtrack, adjacent said first section, said second section containing digital information, wherein said digital information corresponds with said analog information of said first section; and a sequence ofmarkings formed in said first section which individualize the medium, said markings being sequence of parallel bars, each bar extending perpendicular to a travel direction of the film medium, said markings being readable together with the information ofsaid first section of information, wherein upon reproduction of information of said first section, said sequence of markings has little or no effect on the perception of the reproduced information by an audience.

17. The film medium of claim 16, wherein said digital information in said second section, corresponding to said first section where said sequence of markings is formed, is absent or made unreadable.

18. The film medium of claim 16, wherein said sequence of markings is an identification code.

19. A method of marking a film medium, in which information is contained in a continuous sequence for reproduction, wherein said film medium includes a first section containing analog information and a second section containing digitalinformation, said analog information corresponding with said digital information, said method comprising the steps of: forming a sequence of markings on said first section, said markings individualizing said medium and being readable together with saidanalog information; and eliminating or making unreadable digital information in at least a part of said second section corresponding to said sequence of markings on said first section.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said sequence of markings is an identification code.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein reproduction of said sequence of markings has little or no effect on the perception of the reproduced information by an audience.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said sequence of markings is a sequence of parallel bars.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said parallel bars extend perpendicular to the travel direction of the film medium.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said first section is an optical sound track.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said second section is a digital sound track.