Abstract: Systems and methods for composing a dynamic runtime API set schema employing a base API set schema and a set of API set schema extensions are disclosed. A base API set schema may be loaded into system memory at boot time with an associated set of host base binaries. A set of API set schema extensions binaries may also be loaded into system memory at boot time. At a second time, the API set schema extensions may be merged into the base API set schema on a dynamic as-needed basis.

Abstract: A portable media device intelligently caches media based on device state. The portable media device has a hard disk memory to store the media (e.g., music, videos, movies, games, etc.) and a cache memory. When the device is in a state of user interaction (e.g., the user is navigating a menu or playlist, the user interface is unlocked, and so forth), the portable media device caches many snippets of different media items in a playlist. This enables the device to respond quickly to user input and provide instant playback as the user navigates items in the playlist. Conversely, when the device is in a playback state (e.g., the user has ceased interacting with the device for a period of time, or has locked the user interface), the portable media device caches as much contiguous data from the selected media item in the playlist as possible.

Abstract: An original media object, such as an image, is edited without loss of the data comprising the media object. Changes applied to the media object are defined by metadata associated with the media object. For example, metadata define the cropping of an original JPEG image without loss of the original image. The metadata from a previous editing session can be used to further revising a change to the media object. Preferably, the metadata are stored as a stream in a substorage of an object linking and embedding (OLE) file. For display purposes, and for ease of modification, an edited version of the media object is stored as another stream of data in the substorage of the OLE file. The edited version of the media object is preferably compressed and serves as an intermediate object for faster display during editing and as a surrogate if the original media object is unavailable.

Abstract: The dynamic switching of a bi-endian processor between endian modes is described. A device having the bi-endian processor may also have an endian select circuit. The endian select circuit may receive a signal from the processor that determines what the endian-ness should be after the processor resets. Special instruction code may be executed by the processor in both little and big endian modes. The special instruction code may, for instance, cause a processor in a first endian mode to output a signal and reset, while the same instruction code may cause a processor in a second endian mode to neither output the signal nor reset. Instead, the processor in the second endian mode may jump to a new instruction address and proceed with normal processing.

Abstract: A quality level determining the extent to which each image file is compressed is automatically computed for each image file in a set to ensure that the total size of the compressed image files does not exceed a predefined limit. The compressed size of each image file is initially determined when compressed at a predefined minimum acceptable level and at a nominal level. The relative complexity of the image files is determined based upon their high frequency energy content. As a function of the image file complexity, and starting with the compressed sizes initially determined, the appropriate quality level is determined for compressing each of the image files in an iterative process that ensures the total size of the compressed image files does not exceed the predefined limit, while retaining acceptable quality. Thus, a set of image files can be compressed optimally to fit within a limited storage.

Abstract: A quality level determining the extent to which each image file is compressed is automatically computed for each image file in a set to ensure that the total size of the compressed image files does not exceed a predefined limit. The compressed size of each image file is initially determined when compressed at a predefined minimum acceptable level and at a nominal level. The relative complexity of the image files is determined based upon their high frequency energy content. As a function of the image file complexity, and starting with the compressed sizes initially determined, the appropriate quality level is determined for compressing each of the image files in an iterative process that ensures the total size of the compressed image files does not exceed the predefined limit, while retaining acceptable quality. Thus, a set of image files can be compressed optimally to fit within a limited storage.