Patent ID: 8018617
Filing Date: 2011-09-13
Classification: G06F,G11B

Abstract:
1. A method of erasing, in a document data processing device, a stored information pattern on a non-transitory rewritable data carrier that is accessible by a data processing facility of said device, the document data processing device having: a primary process related to said data processing facility, for processing document data, that accesses said data carrier for storing or reading document data on said data carrier, and a secondary process for erasing data stored by the primary process, through overwriting a selected storage area of said carrier by shredding patterns in a sequence of shredding runs, wherein at least part of said secondary process is run asynchronously, that is as a background process, such that primary processes are adapted to be started irrespective of the completion of any pending secondary processes, said method being characterized in that one or more initial shredding runs of the secondary process with respect to a storage area used in a first primary process is effected synchronously, that is by preventing starting of a next primary process following said first primary process until completion of said one or more initial shredding runs, and any remaining shredding runs are effected asynchronously.