System and method for playing DVD bitstream from non-DVD optical storage medium

A method of permitting data recorded onto an optical storage medium under a digital video disc (DVD) format to be played in a DVD apparatus comprising the steps of:

• determining the physical type of the optical storage medium;
• reading a file structure contained on the optical storage medium;
• and
• launching a DVD video playback driver if the optical storage medium is a compact disc (CD) and the file structure on the optical storage medium is a DVD file structure.

A digital video disc (DVD) apparatus capable of playing data recorded on a non-DVD optical storage medium in a DVD format, comprising:

• a pickup assembly for determining the physical type of the non-DVD optical storage medium;
• a processor coupled to the DVD playback unit, programmed to:
• read a file structure contained on the non-DVD optical storage medium;
• and
• launch a DVD video playback driver if the non-DVD optical storage medium is a recognizable non-DVD optical storage medium and the file structure on the optical storage medium is a DVD file structure.

A digital video disc (DVD) apparatus capable of playing data recorded in any of a plurality of digital formats from an optical storage medium, comprising:

• a pickup assembly for determining the physical type of the optical storage medium;
• a processor coupled to the DVD player, programmed to:
• read a file structure contained on the optical storage medium;
• and
• selectively launch a playback driver among a plurality of playback drivers selected from the group of drivers comprising a DVD video playback driver, a DVD audio playback driver, or a compact disc (CD) playback driver, wherein the DVD video playback driver is launched if the optical storage medium is a CD and the file structure on the optical storage medium is a DVD file structure.