Abstract: A method and system for providing enhanced editing capability of media data. Media data arriving in a continuous stream is saved in a buffer. When a user enters record mode, some data received before record mode was entered is designated for permanent storage. Similarly, all data received while in record mode is designated for permanent storage. Once the user leaves record mode, additional data received after leaving record mode is also designated for permanent storage. In due course all data designated for permanent storage is stored to a mass storage device. Any data in the buffer not designated for permanent storage will be overwritten without being stored to the mass storage device. In this manner, a media file having record handles is created. The record handles permit a user to slide the nominal entry and exit from record mode to accommodate timing and synchronization errors.

Abstract: Late audio buffer processing for intelligently muting audio output when audio buffers are not read fast enough from disk into digital signal processing (DSP) memory. Given a playback audio recorder, each channel of audio is associated with a forward and a reverse late threshold signals which are enabled when the processing of an audio buffer for that channel is delayed. When an audio buffer for that channel is delayed, the late threshold signal sets in motion the muting of that specific audio channel for a predetermined amount of time. If and when the system catches up, normal playback resumes. Otherwise, the channel stays muted.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for organizing audio events recorded on a storage medium to facilitate efficient storage and fast access. The method comprises the steps of: (1) maintaining attributes of the audio events in a list; (2) determining if a subset of the audio events causes a medium fragmentation based on the attributes, the subset including originally sequential audio segments; (3) if the medium fragmentation occurs, copying the subset of said audio events from the storage medium into a buffer memory of a predetermined size; and (4) copying the buffer memory onto the storage medium.

Abstract: A system for sub-allocating space within a logical block in a disk-based file system is described. Each disk block is subdivided into an integer number of smaller sub-blocks. One or more of the sub-blocks may contain data samples. Associated with each block is a variable which indicates which sub-block within the block contains data which have been read from disk to memory. When an application performs a read operation, the variable is first checked to determine whether the data sample to be read is already in memory. If the data sample is in memory, no disk read operation for that data is required.

Abstract: A system for allocating block sizes in a computer file system is described. Input/output bandwidth requirements for disk access from an application is determined. Also determined is a data transfer characteristic for the drive being accessed. The minimum block size which reduces file fragmentation below a minimum threshold is then calculated as a function of the determined maximum input/output bandwidth and the data characteristic of the drive.