Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for use in maintaining data quality upon conversion to a different data format. Some embodiments provide methods that receive media data in a first format, initiate a first conversion of the media data at the first format to a second converted format, identify parameters dictating the conversion to the second converted format, record the parameters, and distribute the recorded parameters to remote systems such that the parameters at least in part control the remote systems during a conversion of the media data to the second converted format.

Abstract: A given software process is composed on one or more threads of execution. Each thread possesses its own stack, a region of memory set aside by the operating system for that thread to store data. Popular programming languages rely heavily on stack-based data (frequently referred to as “local” or “automatic” data). It is a characteristic of deterministic machines like computers that, given the same problem to process with the same data, the same results, both intermediate and final, will result. This even extends to the sequence the software running on the computer will take to process the problem or data. This in turn means that for each thread making up the program, the data layout in the thread's stack will be relatively consistent each time the program gets to a similar point in the processing of the problem and/or data. This represents a potential “point of repeatability” that a hacker can take advantage of.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for creating a synchronizer object in order to playback an event simultaneously on a plurality of a client apparatuses. First, a request is received utilizing a network for viewing an event. Next, the request is queued in memory. In response to the request, an object is created which is adapted to playback the event on a client apparatus simultaneous with the playback of the event on the remaining client apparatuses upon the receipt of an activation signal. The object is sent to one of the client apparatuses utilizing the network for being stored therein.

Abstract: A media services interface for use in a readable medium playback device enables synchronization of disparate media playback, network directed playback of media, media playback control via displayed html/javascript file, logging of consumer identifier, media identifier, and playback device identifier in a cookie or log file. The media services comprises a command handler, a properties handler, an event generator, a cookie manager, a navigator state module, an identifier engine, an initialization module, and a bookmark manager. The command handler executes commands received from a connected network, a displayed html/javascript file, etc.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods and media for efficiently processing data to be recorded to optical media are provided. In one example, a method for processing data to be recorded to optical media is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request to record data to optical media, and mapping a source path for the data if the file path has not been previously mapped or associating the data to be written with a source path, which has been previously mapped, wherein the source path includes a complete path from a root directory to a file location of the data. The method further includes saving the source path for the data to a file system database for efficiently processing data selected to be recorded to the optical media, and retrieving the source path from the file system database in a single step without successive tracing to the root directory to record the data to optical media.

Abstract: Methods and media for pre-mastering in preparation for efficient recording data files to optical media are provided. In one example, a method for recording data files to optical media is provided. The method includes receiving a request to write a selection of data files to an optical media. The method also includes generating a file node for each file in the selection of data files, wherein the file node is used to retrieve the each file in a single step from root to file avoiding tracing the each file back through any intermediate sub-directories. The method further includes constructing a database for the selection of data files, the database being configured to list each file in the selection of data files to be written to the optical media, and writing the selection of data files listed in the database to the optical media.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for verifying sectors on an optical disc is provided. The method includes writing user data to unverified sectors of the optical disc and verifying the sectors of the optical disc with the user data. The sectors of the optical disc are verified by reading the user data on the unverified sectors of the optical disc and comparing the user data read from the unverified sectors of the optical disc with user data stored on a system buffer. The sectors of the optical disc are verified to determine whether any one of the unverified sectors having user data is defective. Also, the verifying of the unverified sectors establishes verified sectors having user data. The sectors of the optical disc that have been verified are tracked with a bitmap that is continually updated as the sectors are verified.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods for processing data to be recorded to optical media are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving a request to record data to optical media. The method then maps a source path for the data from a root directory through any intervening parent directories to the file location of the data, and saves the source path in a database. When saving the source path to the database, node identifiers are used to represent individual nodes of the source path with corresponding keys to the node identifiers saved in a path table. The method further provides for the complete source path for each file of the data to be recorded to be retrieved in one step when processing and recording the data.

Abstract: Methods and media for pre-mastering in preparation for recording data files to optical media are provided. In one example, a method for pre-mastering includes receiving a selection of data files to be recorded to an optical media and generating a database in which to list the selection. The database is populated with the selection of data files which are identified by file node and listed in alphabetical order by directory. The method provides for accessing a file in the database, verifying a source location of the accessed file, verifying an integrity of the accessed file, and determining a destination location for the accessed file. The determining of the destination location includes determining a logical block to which at least a portion of the accessed file is to be recorded on the optical media.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a graphical user interface for application programs implemented with component architectures such as COM (Component Object Model), DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model), CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) and the like. The invention allows a graphical user interface to be implemented with a renderer such as a DHTML browser and allows new components to be added to an application program without requiring rewriting of the graphical user interface.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods for use in storing digital content on a storage media. These methods store a first portion of digital content on a first portion of a storage media; store a second portion of digital content on a second portion of the storage media separate from the first portion of digital content, wherein the second portion of digital content is read separately from the first portion of digital content on the storage media and does not affect the reading of the first portion of digital content; and store control information on the storage media, wherein the control information defines a combination of the first portion of digital content and the second portion of digital content for reproduction of a unified digital content.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods and systems for use in generating, organizing, and/or playing back multimedia content. Some embodiments provide methods for use in organizing source content by accessing a plurality of media content having parameter data associated with each of the media content, identifying a first organizational style, identifying a first parameter data according to the first organizational style, analyzing the parameter data of each of the plurality of media content relative to the first parameter data, organizing the plurality of media content as the parameter data for each of the plurality of media content relates to the identified first parameter data according to the first organizational style, and generating an output content incorporating the plurality of media content as organized according to the first organizational style.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses for use in managing content on at least a local network. Some embodiments provide a method for use in managing content that detects there is a change to content on a local network, determines whether the change is additional content on a first client device, determines whether the additional content can be identified, determines whether there is a predictive distribution scheme when the additional content is identified, distributes the additional content over the local network according the predictive distribution scheme when a predictive distribution scheme applies to the additional content, determines whether a new predictive distribution scheme can be defined when a predictive distribution scheme does not apply to the additional content, and saving the new predictive distribution scheme when a new predictive scheme can be defined.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses for use in managing content on at least a local network. Some embodiments provide a method for use in distributing content that receives a request to deliver premium content over a distributed network; identifies a location relative to where the request is made; determines whether there is a first additional content associated with the location; adds the first additional content to the requested premium content when there is the first additional content associated with the location; and distributes the requested premium content and the first additional content according to the request.