Patent ID: 7191282

Claim:
Data processing apparatus, comprising: (a) data storage means comprising a RAID having a plurality of partitions, and each partition comprising a plurality of defined storage elements, with each partition configured to accept image data relating to image frames of a predetermined frame definition/size; (b) memory means containing: (i) usage data indicating which of said defined storage elements contains image data of the predetermined frame definition/size; and (ii) multiple datastores containing information relating to the usage data; (c) processing means configured to: (i) update said usage data in response to image data being stored within said data storage means; (ii) in response to an update of said usage data, flush the multiple datastores and analyse said usage data to determine the number of said storage elements not containing image data; (iii) store information within each of said datastores, said information identifying the predetermined frame definition/size for each partition and indicating said number of storage elements in each partition not containing image data; and (iv) read the information from said datastore to determine whether further image data may be stored.