Applications of Optical Tapein the
Entertainment Industry
--from D-Cinema to Home Theaters
Gene Slafer
28 May, 2003
MicroContinuum, Inc
Image Storage Systems
57 Smith Place
Cambridge, MA 02138
617.354.1092
LA: 626.333.9926
Agenda
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Intro to Optical Tape-What & Why
Applications of Optical Tape
Background
MicroContinuum's New Technology
ROM Tape and Content Protection
Conclusion
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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What is Optical Tape?
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The Best of Both Worlds
--it combines the storage density of optical discs,
…..with the surface area of magnetic tape
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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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
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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Volumetric Efficiency
In the same volume as a single DVD,
optical tape can store 50 times more data
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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High Data Rate
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OT can exploit the advantages of multiple
optical heads
...for improved read/write performance
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Additional Characteristics
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fast access times
...less than 3 sec average time required
for a 100 m tape
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True-WORM using phase change technology
…and erasable version similar to R/W discs
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archival stability
… comparable to CD and DVD phase change
media, with >50 year lifetime
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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General Applications
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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
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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Entertainment Applications
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archival storage of films and videos
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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
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ultra high definition recording medium for D-cinema
(supporting >12 megapixel cameras)
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ROM version as "release prints" for digital cinema
projectors and secure home HD distribution
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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Background
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First commercial OT system introduced by CREO
Products in early 1990s
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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:
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TRAAMS/DOTS (Polaroid/Kodak, Motorola, Xerox, ECD,
Honeywell, SAIC…)
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DVOTR (Polaroid, LOTS, Avid, EMC, Lucent)
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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Background
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Several other efforts over the last 15 years were
attempted but none became commercialized
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numerous innovative technologies were developed,
but…
all relied on complex, custom-designed optical heads
hardware too expensive for mass market
R&D cycle too long and costly for relatively small
volume high-end applications
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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Breakthrough
Enabling Technology
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MicroContinuum Inc. has developed a highspeed, low cost method for preformatting optical
tape
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enables use of low cost off-the-shelf optical disc
components (head assemblies, circuitry…)
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major reduction in development cost and time
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utilizes advanced magnetic tape transport technology
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Makes possible much lower cost drives
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Media cost/TB substantially below magnetic tape and/or
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
optical disc
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Who We Are...
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MicroContinuum, Inc. is Cambridge, MA
company spun off from Polaroid in 1998
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Founders developed basic OT media
technology for NIST ATP (Advanced Technology
Program) and roll-manufactured optical disc
programs while at Polaroid
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Licensed Polaroid background technology plus
own newly-developed OT technology.
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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New Technology
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Advanced Surface Nanoforming (ASN)
--for preformatting WORM and R/W OT
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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
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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What is
ROM Tape?
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"a pre-recorded optical disc in a linear data format"
-- a new optical medium based on roll processing
technology
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Variable capacity cassettes
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Unique methods used for tape manufacture
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low cost, high volume production
simple thin-film technology
eliminates wet coating/drying processes
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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Characteristics of ROM Tape
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Very high capacity media, allowing very large
files on small cassettes (>>100 GB)
--high quality using less compression creates a better
product
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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
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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
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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
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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
MicroContinuum, Inc.
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Conclusion
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Optical Tape offers a platform for cost-effective,
high-performance data storage
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archival medium in a small volume
ROM Optical Tape offers enhanced content
protection
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gives studios end-to-end control over their
content
cost effective manufacturing
©MicroContinuum, Inc.
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