Data storage management and scheduling system
First Claim
1. A method for allowing recording of video signals for later playback comprising:
- a) allowing a user to specify criteria for recording of shows from a video input source;
b) a processor selecting future shows from a channel guide database for recording based on said user specified criteria, wherein the selection of shows is based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of the user specified criteria and the channel guide database, and wherein the processor further selects for removal a previously recorded show having a lower priority than the selected future shows if insufficient capacity exists for recording the future shows; and
c) recording the selected shows.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data storage management and scheduling system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of television and Web page program material on a client system storage medium. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects which indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer'"'"'s explicit or derived preferred programs. The preferred programs include television broadcast programs and Universal Resource Locators (URLs). The viewer may request that certain programs be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those programs, or express preferences using appurtenances provided through the viewer interface. Preferences may additionally be inferred from viewing patterns. The invention correlates an input schedule that tracks the free and occupied time slots for each input source with a space schedule that tracks all currently recorded programs and the programs that have been scheduled to be recorded in the future, to schedule new programs to record and resolve recording conflicts. A program is recorded if at all times between when the recording would be initiated and when it expires, sufficient space is available to hold it. All scheduling conflicts are resolved as early as possible. A background scheduler schedules each preferred program in turn until the list of preferred programs is exhausted or no further opportunity to record is available.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for allowing recording of video signals for later playback comprising:
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a) allowing a user to specify criteria for recording of shows from a video input source;
b) a processor selecting future shows from a channel guide database for recording based on said user specified criteria, wherein the selection of shows is based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of the user specified criteria and the channel guide database, and wherein the processor further selects for removal a previously recorded show having a lower priority than the selected future shows if insufficient capacity exists for recording the future shows; and
c) recording the selected shows. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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17. A video data recorder comprising:
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a recording medium for recording video signals;
a video signal input port;
a channel guide database;
a criteria database;
a processor coupled in communication with the channel guide database and the criteria database and coupled to control the recording of video signals received on the video signal input port onto the recording medium based on the channel guide database and the criteria database, wherein the recording of video signals is based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of the criteria database and the channel guide, and wherein the recording of video signals includes removing from the recording medium any lower priority shows when necessary to accommodate the recording of the video signals.
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24. A method of recording a defined format video program comprising:
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selecting video programming for recording;
receiving a signal of a defined format video program; and
automatically recording the defined format video program when not recording the selected video programming.
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26. A video data recorder comprising:
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a recording medium for recording video signals;
a video signal input port for receiving video signals;
an input port for receiving a channel guide database;
data storage for storing the channel guide database;
a processor coupled in communication with the channel guide database to control the recording of video signals received on the video signal input port onto the recording medium based on the channel guide database; and
a selection system for allowing a user to specify criteria for recording of shows received from video input port based on information in the channel guide database, wherein the selection system selects future shows based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of the user specified criteria and the channel guide, and wherein the selection system selects for removal a previously recorded show having a lower priority than the future shows if insufficient capacity exists on the recording medium for recording the future shows.
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32. A video recorder comprising:
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receiving means for receiving a video signal;
video storage means for recording the video signal;
selection means for selecting the video signal based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of user defined criteria and a channel guide database, wherein the selection means further selects for removal a previously recorded video having a lower priority than the selected video signal if insufficient capacity exists for recording the video signal on the video storage means. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40)
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38. A video recorder comprising:
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a video input coupled to receive a video signal received from a video source;
a personal channel coupled to allow storage of future video signals from the video input based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of user desired characteristics stored in a user preference database with the content of the video signal, and wherein the personal channel further allows for removal of previously stored video signals of a lower priority than the future video signals when the storage is insufficient to record the future video signals.
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41. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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select video programming for recording;
receive a signal of a defined format video program;
record the defined format video program when not recording the selected video programming. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A video data recorder comprising:
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a recording medium;
a video signal input port;
a criteria database indicating a defined format video program;
a processor coupled in communication with the criteria database and coupled to control the recording of video signals received on the video signal port onto the recording medium, wherein the processor selects video programming for recording, receives a signal of the defined format video program from the video signal input port, and records the defined format video program on the recording medium when not recording the selected video programming.
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44. A method comprising:
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designating a priority to a future show for recording based on a set of criteria;
determining if there is sufficient memory to record the future show;
if insufficient memory exists for recording the future show, removing one or more previously recorded shows designated with lower priorities than the priority of the future show, wherein the priorities of the previously recorded shows are based on the set of criteria; and
recording the future show.
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45. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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designate a priority to a future show for recording based on a set of criteria;
determine if there is sufficient memory to record the future show;
if insufficient memory exists for recording the future show, remove one or more previously recorded shows designated with priorities based on the set of criteria that are lower than the priority of the future show; and
record the future show.
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Specification