OSTA Accepts Industry-Wide Charter To Develop Universal Disc Format For High-Density CD

New UDF Subset Promises a Single File System for both Entertainment- and Computer-Based Content

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 1995--The Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA) today announced it has accepted a storage industry charter to develop a new specification based on the association's current Universal Disc Format (UDF).

The new specification will provide a standard file system for Digital Video Disk (DVD) that ensures playback compatibility between DVD players and computer-based systems supporting the OSTA-compliant domain of the ISO 13346 file system.

The push toward developing a standard file system for DVD originated from a panel of technical experts representing seven high-profile computer companies: Apple, Compaq, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems. This Technical Working Group (TWG) determined the features that computer-based applications would need in the next generation of high-capacity compact discs, and endorsed OSTA's UDF as the best-suited file system.

"The OSTA Technical Committee's acceptance of this charter marks an important step in the rewritable optical industry toward interoperability, hardware independence and advanced data interchange," said Isaac van Kempen, senior product line manager at Fujitsu and chairman of the OSTA Technical Committee. "The OSTA Technical Committee considers it a privilege to direct this effort, and we are pleased that the industry has recognized OSTA's role as a key player in the optical storage industry."

OSTA's Technical Committee convened August 14 and 15 to begin developing this new specification. The companies represented were Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Matsushita (and Panasonic), Micro Design International, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Chemical, Olympus, Optisys, Pegasus, Philips, Samsung, Software Architects, Sony and Toshiba.

A second meeting of the committee was held on September 6, 7 and 8, in which several additional companies participated, including Apple, Compaq, Hitachi, Kodak and NEC. As directed by the recommendations of the TWG, the new specification will extend data interchange to include the consumer environment, decouple hardware from content, and create compatible file systems for both entertainment- and computer-based content. The UDF format will then support read-only, write-once and rewritable applications, and combinations thereof.

"The TWG assembled for the purpose of determining and disseminating the features that computer-based applications would require of next generation high-capacity compact discs," said Dr. Alan Bell, research staff member at IBM's Almaden Research Center and TWG chairman. "We determined that the OSTA UDF was well-suited to facilitate full information interchange between read-only, write-once and rewritable optical drives, as well as to enable cross-compatibility between TV and computer-based applications. We have passed the baton to OSTA with full confidence in the association's commitment to developing a high-quality, cost-effective format in a timely manner."

The Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA) was incorporated as an international trade association in 1992 to promote the use of writable optical technologies and products for storage of computer data.

The organization's membership, comprising optical product manufacturers from three continents and representing more than 70 percent of worldwide writable optical product shipments, works to shape the future of the industry through regular meetings of CD-R, market development, planning and technical committees. Interested companies worldwide are invited to join the organization and participate in its programs by contacting an OSTA representative at 805/963-3853.