Sonic Solutions

Mark A Green

David A Coleman

Gregory P Fry

Dennis M Summers

Carl Fry

Chris M Bellman

Jessica L Kahn

Donald J Mapes

An invention is disclosed for automatically formatting removable media. A default media image is generated in computer memory in response to detecting unformatted media in a computer drive. The media image includes default file system structures for the media. In response to receiving a request to read the media, data is returned based on the default file system structures. However, the removable media is automatically prepared for content in response to receiving a request to write information to the media, wherein the default media image in memory is committed to the media.

Pseudo-mounting unformatted removable media

An invention is disclosed for automatically preparing removable media for content, such as by automatically formatting media such as CDs and DVDs. A drive type is determined for a drive present on a computer system. The drive type defines characteristics of the drive. In addition, a media type is detected for removable media, such as a compact disc or floppy disk, present in the drive. Similar to the drive type, the media type defines characteristics of the removable media. Based on the drive type and media type, the removable media is automatically prepared for content in response to receiving a request to write to the removable media.

Automatic format of removable media

An invention is provided for automatically formatting removable media at the application level. The method includes intercepting a write request to write to removable media, and determining if the removable media is unformatted. When the removable media is unformatted, the removable media is automatically prepared for content. The write request is then provided to an operating system, which performs a write operation on the removable media. In one aspect, the method can determine whether the write request is directed to a supported drive, which is a drive within a predetermined set of supported drives. In this aspect, if the write request is not directed to a supported drive, the write request can be provided to the operating system without formatting the removable media.

Application level automatic format of removable media

A software-driven method for the initialization of re-writable optical media is provided. Embodiments include a software-driven method for the formatting of re-writable optical media to include defining a file system and writing a UDF reader to the optical media to enable implementation on a plurality of optical media devices in a plurality of operating system environments. The re-writable optical media is initialized using either user data or initialization patterns in a background operation to allow user interaction with the optical media during initialization. Methods are provided for multi-track capabilities of the optical media. Prior to initialization of the entire media space of an optical media, a session can be closed to enable compatibility of a partially initialized media in a ROM device. Further methods are provided to re-open a closed session to complete initialization of the media space.

Method and apparatus for formatting and initialization of re-writable optical media using multiple tracks

Method of automatically formatting and pseudo-mounting a removable media

A software-driven method for the initialization and defect management of re-writable optical media is provided. Embodiments include a software-driven method for the formatting of re-writable optical media to include defining a file system and writing a UDF reader to the optical media to enable implementation on a plurality of optical media devices in a plurality of operating system environments. The re-writable optical media is initialized using either user data or initialization patterns in a background operation to allow user interaction with the optical media during initialization. Data integrity is managed over the life of the re-writable optical media through use of a write count table with entries corresponding to each packet written to the re-writable optical media and tallied to prompt packet verification upon a pre-determined number of user writes to the packet.

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Berthoud, CO, United States of America

Mark A Green