Patent ID: 7421451

Claim:
At least one computer-readable storage medium having stored computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform a method for adding padding to a content file upon re-encoding the content file such that the re-encoded content file contains sufficient padding to subsequently add metadata without requiring a subsequent re-encoding, the method, comprising: obtaining metadata to add to a content file; evaluating the content file to determine whether a sufficient dead space region exists in the content file to hold the metadata, wherein when it is determined that a sufficient dead space region exists, the metadata is written to dead space region, and wherein when it is determined that a sufficient dead space region does not exist in the content file, the method includes evaluting the content file to determine whether a sufficient padding region exists in the content file to hold the metadata, wherein when it is determined that a sufficient padding region exists, the metadata is written to the padding region, and wherein when it is determined that a sufficient padding region does not exists in the content file, the method includes adding padding to the content file and writing the metadata to the added padding region and upon adding the padding to the content file, re-encoding the content file, wherein the re-encoded content file contains sufficient padding for subsequent additions of metadata.