Patent ID: 6901206

Claim:
A method for storing video data upon an array of multiple storage devices, comprising the steps of: (a) separating said video data into its individual sequential frames; (b) grouping said frames into sequential sets, wherein the number of frames within each set equals the number of storage devices within said array; (c) sorting said frames within the first set according to their file sizes, in descending order from the frame having the largest file size to the frame having the smallest file size; (d) sorting said storage devices according to their free storage capacity, in descending order from the storage device having the most free storage capacity to the storage device having the least storage capacity; (e) recording said first set of frames upon said array of multiple storage devices, such that the first sorted frame is recorded upon the first sorted storage device, the second sorted frame is recorded upon the second sorted storage device, and so on, until the last sorted frame of the set is recorded upon the last storage device; (f) sorting the frames within the next sequential set according to their file sizes, in descending order from the frame having the largest file size to the frame having the smallest file size; (g) sorting the storage devices according to their free storage capacity, in descending order from the storage device having the most free storage capacity to the storage device having the least storage capacity; (h) recording said next set of frames upon said array of multiple storage devices, such that the first sorted frame is recorded upon the first sorted storage device, the second sorted frame is recorded upon the second sorted storage device, and so on, until the last sorted frame of the set is recorded upon the last storage device; (i) repeating steps (f) through (h) for each of the sequential sets of frames.