MicroContinuum, Inc Image Storage Systems Applications of Optical Tape in the Entertainment Industry -- from D-Cinema to Home Theaters 57 Smith Place Cambridge,

MicroContinuum, Inc Image Storage Systems

Applications of Optical Tape in the Entertainment Industry

--from D-Cinema to Home Theaters

57 Smith PlaceCambridge, MA 02138

617.354.1092LA: 626.333.9926

Gene Slafer28 May, 2003

©MicroContinuum, Inc. 2

Agenda

Intro to Optical Tape-What & Why Applications of Optical Tape Background MicroContinuum's New Technology ROM Tape and Content Protection Conclusion

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What is Optical Tape?

The Best of Both Worlds

--it combines the storage density of optical discs,

…..with the surface area of magnetic tape

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Massive Storage Capacity

1 meter of 1/2” tape has the same surface area as

a single DVD

example 1: an LTO or DLT-style tape cartridge would hold the equivalent of 600 DVDs using optical tape…

example 2: a microcassette would hold over 650GB using optical tape and Gen II technology

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Volumetric Efficiency

In the same volume as a single DVD,optical tape can store 50 times more data

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High Data Rate

OT can exploit the advantages of multiple optical heads

...for improved read/write performance

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Additional Characteristics

fast access times

...less than 3 sec average time required

for a 100 m tape

True-WORM using phase change technology

…and erasable version similar to R/W discs

archival stability … comparable to CD and DVD phase change

media, with >50 year lifetime

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General Applications

satellite weather image archiving data mining and analysis motion picture & TV archiving surveillance & security data retention law enforcement records medical image archiving financial records e-mail archiving geophysical and seismic data supercomputer storage

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Entertainment Applications

archival storage of films and videos 4TB of data in standard 1/2-inch cartridge (Gen I), to

100 TB (Gen III) Roadmap based on proven optical technologies

compatible with automated tape libraries

ultra high definition recording medium for D-cinema (supporting >12 megapixel cameras)

ROM version as "release prints" for digital cinema projectors and secure home HD distribution

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Background

First commercial OT system introduced by CREO Products in early 1990s physically massive drive (costing over $250K) 12-inch open reel 35mm tape (from ICI) @ $10K/spool proved viability of OT, but ahead of its time (1TB in 1990)

NIST Sponsored 2 Major Industrial Consortia in late 1990s: TRAAMS/DOTS (Polaroid/Kodak, Motorola, Xerox, ECD,

Honeywell, SAIC…) DVOTR (Polaroid, LOTS, Avid, EMC, Lucent)

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Background

Several other efforts over the last 15 years were

attempted but none became commercialized numerous innovative technologies were developed,

but…

all relied on complex, custom-designed optical headshardware too expensive for mass marketR&D cycle too long and costly for relatively small

volume high-end applications

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BreakthroughEnabling Technology

MicroContinuum Inc. has developed a high-speed,

low cost method for preformatting optical tape enables use of low cost off-the-shelf optical disc

components (head assemblies, circuitry…)

major reduction in development cost and time

utilizes advanced magnetic tape transport technology

Makes possible much lower cost drives

Media cost/TB substantially below magnetic tape and/or

optical disc

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Who We Are...

MicroContinuum, Inc. is Cambridge, MA company spun off from Polaroid in 1998

Founders developed basic OT media technology for NIST ATP (Advanced Technology Program) and roll-manufactured optical disc programs while at Polaroid

Licensed Polaroid background technology plus own newly-developed OT technology.

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New Technology

MicroContinuum, Inc.

Advanced Surface Nanoforming (ASN) --for preformatting WORM and R/W OT

Linear Variable Data Nanoforming (LVDN): --efficient replication of continuously varying data

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Roll-to-Roll Media Manufacturing

thin-film flexible optical media

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What is ROM Tape?

"a pre-recorded optical disc in a linear data format"-- a new optical medium based on roll processing

technology

Variable capacity cassettes

Unique methods used for tape manufacture low cost, high volume production simple thin-film technology eliminates wet coating/drying processes

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Characteristics of ROM Tape Very high capacity media, allowing very large

files on small cassettes (>>100 GB)--high quality using less compression creates a better

product

expandable capacity via longer tapes for supplementary material (directors cuts, promos/trailers…)

can allocate additional overhead (capacity) for enhanced encryption, color depth, ECC, etc.

enables display capabilities beyond HDTV, i.e., 1080P, higher bit depths, future formats

less (or no) compression possible

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Counterfeiting and ROM Tape

ROM tapes cannot be recorded, modified or altered, either electronically or physically

None of the existing optical disc replication plants or equipment can be utilized for ROM OT manufacture

requires unique roll-to-roll process

No economic incentive in copying large files to multiple discs and tapes, or non-removable hard drive

--Provides a new opportunity for content owners to control illicit replication and distribution of proprietary content…

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Implementing ROM Tape

Technology and licenses for creating the read-only tapes will rest solely with a consortium of content owners, or perhaps the MPAA

A trusted manufacturer, e.g., Technicolor or others, will operate tightly controlled reproduction plants

Finished digital cinema masters will be delivered on any medium (RAID arrays, etc) to the replication plant for mass replication and distribution

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Conclusion

Optical Tape offers a platform for cost-effective, high-performance data storage

archival medium in a small volume

ROM Optical Tape offers enhanced content protection

gives studios end-to-end control over their content

cost effective manufacturing