Method and apparatus for progressively deleting media objects from storage

Abstract

A system for managing storage space on an electronic storage medium is provided in which a file format for stored data allows for progressive deletion of low-significance data, for example in a video or audio file, while allowing the remaining portions of the file to be subsequently retrieved. The file format allows for the ready deletion of low-significance data without having to open, edit and subsequently rewrite the data. Furthermore, rules-based algorithms for the deletion of low-significance data allow a user to store and progressively delete such low-significance data in accordance with time parameters, available storage space and the like, without having to delete the full file.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method for managing data storage capacity, comprising:
 storing a plurality of objects in machine readable format having at least a first layer of high-significance data and a second layer of separately-deletable low-significance data;   determining a condition for deleting the second layer from each of the plurality of objects while retaining the first layer; and   deleting the second layer automatically upon satisfaction of the condition, whereby the objects are still accessible by a user.   
     
     
         34 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 receiving the object from at least one of: a communications transmission, a storage device, a capture/creation device, and a second storage device on a computer network.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said deleting substantially preserves the perception of the object without apparent truncation. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said deleting is accomplished without re-storing the first layer. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said deleting is accomplished by changing directory entries in a file management system. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said layers may correspond to at least one of: spatial data, temporal data, and quality data. 
     
     
         62 - 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . A method for transmitting data, comprising:
 generating an object; and   transmitting the object to a user in a format having plurality of separately-deletable layers of data, with each layer being of progressively decreasing significance.   
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein at least two said layers are separately addressable for deletion from a lower significance to higher significance. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein a lowest significance layer is deleted before a higher significance layer. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the plurality of layers correspond to quality levels of data such that deletion of the lower layer of data results in a minimal impact on a perception quality of the object. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein said plurality of layers are stored as separately-addressable file structures associated with the object. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the object is transmitted to at least one of: a computer memory device, a personal video recorder memory, a music storage system, a video storage system, a television reception device and a home entertainment system. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the object is at least one of: a video file having at least one frame, an audio file, a multimedia file and a streaming multimedia file. 
     
     
         80 - 85 . (canceled) 
     
     
         86 . A method of storing an object in a storage facility that may lack available space sufficient to store the object comprising:
 prior to an object storage request, determining a set of storage units used for currently stored objects that could be reallocated without degrading any of said objects beyond specified thresholds;   receiving an object storage request;   storing the object in the pre-determined storage units, in response to said request.   
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein said storing uses no more than the number of physical input/output operations that would have been required to store the object if the storage units had been unallocated. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein said set of storage units remains potentially accessible for retrieval of said currently stored objects and wherein said determination may be changed until said storage request is received. 
     
     
         89 - 92 . (canceled)