Systems and methods for prioritizing the storage location of media data

• US 20070245024A1
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tech 5 SAS
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Russ, Samuel, Prus, Bohdan
• Granted Patent: US 8,208,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/689 Control of the cassette changing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/22 from random access magazine of disc records
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2821 Avoiding conflicts related to the use of home appliances cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A digital media recorder includes a first storage device associated with the digital media recorder and an interface for removably attaching a second storage device to the digital media recorder. Each of the first and second storage devices are configured to store media data representing programming from a media source. The digital media recorder is configured with logic for prioritizing the storage of the media data to one of the first and second storage devices before storing the media data to the other of the first and second storage devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication that a media program is to be recorded;

selecting one of a plurality of media data storage locations associated with a digital media recorder based on logical rules that prioritize the storage of media data to one of the plurality of storage locations over the other potential storage locations; and

storing media data representing the media program to the selected media data storage location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting one of a plurality of media data storage locations comprises:

selecting the media data storage location based on logical rules that prioritize the storage of the media data between a first storage device and a second storage device, the first storage device located internal to an enclosure of the digital media recorder and the second storage device being removably attachable to the enclosure of the digital media recorder.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of selecting the media data storage location includes prioritizing the storage of the media data to the second storage device over the first storage device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of storing media data representing the media program further comprises:

storing media data representing the media program to the second storage device unless an exception to storing the media data to the second storage device applies.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing the media data to the first storage device in the event that the exception to storing the media data to the second storage device applies

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether the second storage device has available storage for storing the media data; and

storing the media data to the first storage device in the event that the second storage device does not have available storage for storing the media data.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether the second storage device is available for storing the media data; and

storing the media data to the first storage device in the event that the second storage device is not available for storing the media data.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of selecting the media data storage location includes prioritizing the storage of the media data to the first storage device located internal to the enclosure over the second storage device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a potential priority logic change event; and

at a time after detecting the potential priority logic change event, selecting the logical rules that prioritize the storage of the media data to one of the plurality of potential media data storage locations.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying options for configuring the logical rules within a graphical user interface; and

receiving a user selection from the displayed options, the user selection indicating the logical rules to be applied to prioritize the storage of the media data to one of the plurality of potential storage locations.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical rules independently prioritize the storage location of media data in a time-shift buffer and the storage location of other media data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting one of the plurality of media data storage locations comprises:

selecting one of the plurality of media data storage locations based on an attribute of the media programming.

14. A digital media recorder comprising:

a first storage device associated with the digital media recorder; and

an interface for removably attaching a second storage device to the digital media recorder, each of the first and second storage devices configured to store media data representing programming from a media source, the digital media recorder configured with logic for prioritizing the storage of the media data to one of the first and second storage devices before storing the media data to the other of the first and second storage devices.

15. The digital media recorder of claim 14, wherein the logic for prioritizing the storage of the media data directs the digital media recorder to store media data on the second storage device unless an exception to storing the media data to the second storage device applies.

16. The digital media recorder of claim 15, wherein the first storage device is located internal to an enclosure of the digital media recorder and the second storage device is located external to the enclosure of the digital media recorder.

17. The digital media recorder of claim 14, wherein the logic for prioritizing the storage of the media data is configured with rules for determining which of the first and second storage devices to store media data associated with scheduled programming.

18. The digital media recorder of claim 17, wherein the logic for prioritizing the storage of the media data is further configured with rules for determining which of the first and second storage devices to store media data within a time-shift buffer, the rules being independent of the rules for determining which of the first and second storage devices to store media data associated with scheduled programming.

19. The digital media recorder of claim 17, wherein the rules for determining which of the first and second storage devices to store media data associated with scheduled programming are based upon an attribute of the media programming.

20. The digital media recorder of claim 14, further comprising:

logic configured to detect a potential priority logic change event; and

logic configured, at a time after detecting the potential priority logic change event, to select the logical rules that prioritize the storage of the media data to one of the plurality of potential storage devices.

21. The digital media recorder of claim 20, comprising:

logic configured to display options for configuring the logical rules within a graphical user interface; and

logic configured to receive a user selection from the displayed options, the user selection indicating the logical rules to be applied to prioritize the storage of the media data to one of the plurality of potential storage locations.

22. A digital media recorder comprising:

means for receiving an indication that a media program is to be recorded;

means for selecting one of a plurality of media data storage locations associated with a digital media recorder based on logical rules that prioritize the storage of media data to one of the plurality of storage locations over the other potential storage locations; and

means for storing media data representing the media program to the selected media data storage location.

23. The digital media recorder of claim 22, wherein the means for selecting one of a plurality of media data storage locations comprises:

means for selecting the media data storage location based on logical rules that prioritize the storage of the media data between a first storage device and a second storage device, the first storage device located internal to an enclosure of the digital media recorder and the second storage device being removably attachable to the enclosure of the digital media recorder.

24. The digital media recorder of claim 23, wherein the means for selecting the media data storage location includes:

means for prioritizing the storage of the media data to the second storage device over the first storage device.

25. The digital media recorder of claim 24, wherein the means for storing media data representing the media program further comprises:

means for storing media data representing the media program to the second storage device unless an exception to storing the media data to the second storage device applies.

26. The digital media recorder of claim 24, further comprising:

means for storing media data to the first storage device in the event that the exception to storing the media data to the second storage device applies.

27. The digital media recorder of claim 23, wherein the means for selecting the media data storage location includes prioritizing the storage of the media data to the first storage device located internal to the enclosure over the second storage device.

28. The digital media recorder of claim 22, further comprising:

means for detecting a potential priority logic change event; and

means, at a time after detecting the potential priority logic change event, for selecting the logical rules that prioritize the storage of the media data to one of the plurality of potential media data storage locations.

29. The digital media recorder of claim 22, further comprising:

means for independently prioritizing the storage location of media data in a time-shift buffer and the storage location of other media data.

30. The digital media recorder of claim 22, wherein the means for selecting one of the plurality of media data storage locations comprises:

means for selecting one of the plurality of media data storage locations based upon an attribute of the media programming.