Multi-DVR Media Content Arbitration

• US 20080104202A1
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Yerga, Chris, Barrett, Peter T., Clancy, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,124,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Multi-DVR (digital video recorder) media content arbitration is described. In an embodiment, client devices are each a node of a multi-DVR system where the nodes are implemented for communication with each other. An arbitration algorithm can arbitrate media content rendered by the client devices so as not to exceed a media content usage capacity of the multi-DVR system. Each of the client devices of the multi-DVR system can communicate status messages to each of the other client devices to indicate rendered media content, and can receive the status messages from each of the other client devices. Each of the client devices can also implement the arbitration algorithm to independently determine which of the client devices has lowest priority media content that can be terminated to provide capacity for higher priority media content at one of the client devices of the multi-DVR system.

Claims

1. A multi-DVR (digital video recorder) system, comprising:

client devices that are each a node of the multi-DVR system and configured for communication with each other;

an arbitration algorithm configured to arbitrate media content rendered by the client devices so as not to exceed a media content usage capacity of the multi-DVR system;

each of the client devices configured to;

communicate status messages to each of the other client devices to indicate rendered media content, and receive the status messages from each of the other client devices; and

implement the arbitration algorithm to independently determine which of the client devices has lowest priority media content that can be terminated to provide capacity for higher priority media content at one of the client devices of the multi-DVR system.

2. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the client devices implement the arbitration algorithm to independently determine the same client device of the multi-DVR system that has the lowest priority media content.

3. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 1, wherein the arbitration algorithm is further configured to arbitrate the media content rendered by the client devices so as not to exceed a bandwidth capacity of the multi-DVR system.

4. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 1, wherein the arbitration algorithm is further configured to arbitrate the media content rendered by the client devices so as not to exceed a maximum number of media content streams in the multi-DVR system.

5. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 1, wherein the arbitration algorithm is further configured to prioritize a more recent media content tune at a first client device over a previous media content tune at a second client device.

6. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 1, wherein the arbitration algorithm is further configured to determine the lowest priority media content by a duration of rendered media content without an indication that a viewer is watching the media content.

7. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 6, wherein an indication that a viewer is watching the media content includes a remote control input.

8. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 1, wherein the arbitration algorithm is further configured to prioritize the media content rendered by the client devices from a high priority to a low priority for recorded media content, on-demand media content, live media content, and then picture-in-picture media content.

9. A method at a client device, comprising:

communicating a status message to client devices that are each a node of a multi-DVR (digital video recorder) system, the status message indicating rendered media content at the client device;

receiving additional status messages from each of the client devices, the additional status messages indicating rendered media content at the client devices;

determining from the status messages which of the client devices has lowest priority media content that can be terminated to provide capacity for higher priority media content at one of the client devices of the multi-DVR system.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising terminating the rendered media content at the client device in an event that the client device said determines it is the lowest priority media content.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising executing an arbitration algorithm to said determine which of the client devices has the lowest priority media content that can be terminated.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the client devices execute the arbitration algorithm to independently determine the same client device of the multi-DVR system that has the lowest priority media content that can be terminated.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising arbitrating the media content rendered by the client devices so as not to exceed a bandwidth capacity of the multi-DVR system.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising arbitrating the media content rendered by the client devices so as not to exceed a maximum number of media content streams in the multi-DVR system.

15. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising prioritizing a more recent media content tune at a first client device over a previous media content tune at a second client device to said determine which of the client devices has the lowest priority media content that can be terminated.

16. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the client device having the lowest priority media content is said determined by a duration of rendered media content without an indication that a viewer is watching the media content.

17. Computer readable media encoded with computer executable instructions of an arbitration algorithm that, when executed, direct a client device to arbitrate media content rendered by multiple client devices of a multi-DVR (digital video recorder) system so as not to exceed a media content usage capacity of the multi-DVR system, the client device independently determining which of the multiple client devices has lowest priority media content that can be terminated to provide capacity for higher priority media content at one of the client devices of the multi-DVR system.

18. Computer readable media as recited in claim 17, further encoded with computer executable instructions of the arbitration algorithm that, when executed, direct the client device of the multi-DVR system to arbitrate the media content rendered by the multiple client devices so as not to exceed a bandwidth capacity of the multi-DVR system.

19. Computer readable media as recited in claim 17, further encoded with computer executable instructions of the arbitration algorithm that, when executed, direct the client device of the multi-DVR system to arbitrate the media content rendered by the multiple client devices so as not to exceed a maximum number of media content streams in the multi-DVR system.

20. Computer readable media as recited in claim 17, further encoded with computer executable instructions of the arbitration algorithm that, when executed, direct the client device of the multi-DVR system to receive status messages from each of the multiple client devices, the status messages indicating rendered media content at the multiple client devices, and wherein the media content rendered by the multiple client devices is arbitrated independently by each of the client devices based on the received status messages.