SERVER-BASED PROGRAM RECORDING SCHEDULING

• US 20100061708A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• 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 21/4147 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A DVR sends, over the Internet, to a server, information that indicates a set of programs. The information also may indicate a ranking of the programs in the set relative to each other. In response to receiving the information from the DVR, the server determines a “to do” list of programs that the DVR should record as those programs are broadcasted in the future. The “to do” list indicates recording times and channels for each program. The server sends the “to do” list back to the DVR over the Internet. The DVR receives the “to do” list over the Internet and stores the “to do” list. As the programs on the “to do” list are broadcasted, the DVR automatically records those programs at the list-specified times and on the list-specified channels. The DVR stores those programs on the DVR'"'"'s hard disk drive for later viewing by the DVR user.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling a recording of a broadcasted program, the method comprising:

receiving, over a network, from a first digital video recorder, first information that identifies a first set of two or more programs that a user of the first digital video recorder has instructed the first digital video recorder to record;

based on the first information, determining a first schedule for recording at least two broadcasts of programs in the first set of two or more programs;

storing the first schedule on a computer-readable medium; and

sending the first schedule, as a single entity, to the first digital video recorder over the network;

wherein the first set of two or more programs includes at least one of;

(a) a program that is to be broadcasted via television signals and (b) a program that is to be downloaded or streamed over a packet network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first digital video recorder does not determine the first schedule.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the first schedule comprises:

determining, for each program identified in the first information, (a) a date at which a broadcast of that program will begin, (b) a time at which a broadcast of that program will begin, and (c) a channel on which a broadcast of that program will occur.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, for each program identified in the first information, the first schedule identifies (a) a date at which a broadcast of that program will begin, (b) a time at which a broadcast of that program will begin, and (c) a channel on which a broadcast of that program will occur.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, over the network, from a second digital video recorder that is separate from the first digital video recorder, second information that identifies a second set of two or more programs that a user of the second digital video recorder has instructed the second digital video recorder to record;

based on the second information, determining a second schedule for recording at least one broadcast of a program in the second set of two or more programs;

storing the second schedule on the computer-readable medium; and

sending the second schedule to the second digital video recorder over the network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the first information, storing the first information on the computer-readable medium;

receiving, over the network, from a device other than the first digital video recorder, change information that indicates a change that a user of the first digital video recorder wants to make to the first information;

in response to receiving the change information, changing the first information, thereby generating changed first information; and

storing the changed first information on the computer-readable medium.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending the changed information over the network to the first digital video recorder.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the first schedule further comprises:

determining that broadcasts of two or more programs in the first set will occur during time intervals that at least partially overlap;

in response to determining that broadcasts of two or more programs in the first set will occur during time intervals that at least partially overlap, (a) determining, for at least one of the two or more programs, a particular broadcast that occurs at a time interval that does not overlap with any other broadcasts of the two or more programs, and (b) adding the particular broadcast to the first schedule.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the first schedule further comprises:

determining that broadcasts of two or more programs in the first set will occur during time intervals that at least partially overlap;

determining that all of the two or more programs cannot be concurrently recorded in their entirety due to an insufficient quantity of physical signal inputs;

in response to determining that broadcasts of two or more programs in the first set will occur during time intervals that at least partially overlap, and that all of the two or more programs cannot be concurrently recorded in their entirety, (a) determining a particular program, of the two or more programs, that is associated with a highest priority among priorities associated with the two or more programs, and (b) adding a particular broadcast of the particular program to the first schedule without adding, to the first schedule, broadcasts that conflict with the particular broadcast.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the first schedule further comprises:

selecting, from among a plurality of broadcasts of a particular program in the first set, a particular broadcast whose recording will allow at least one program that is already stored on the first digital video recorder to remain stored on the first digital video recorder for a longer period of time than if an earlier broadcast of the particular program were to be recorded at the first digital video recorder; and

adding the particular broadcast to the first schedule.

11. A digital video recorder (DVR) that is configured to:

receive user input that indicates two or more programs that a user of the DVR wants the DVR to record;

send, over a network, to a server, a list that identifies the two or more programs;

receive, over the network, from the server, a schedule that the server generated based on the list; and

automatically record broadcasts of programs identified in the schedule;

wherein the DVR does not generate the schedule.

12. The DVR of claim 11, wherein the DVR is configured to automatically record broadcasts of programs identified in the schedule by recording broadcasts that occur at dates and times specified in the schedule on channels specified in the schedule, wherein the DVR is not configured to determine dates and times of broadcasts of the two or more programs except by referencing the schedule generated by the server, and wherein the DVR is not configured to determine channels on which broadcasts of the two or more programs will be broadcasted except by referencing the schedule generated by the server.

13. The DVR of claim 11, wherein the DVR is further configured to:

store an initial version of the list on a computer-readable medium within the DVR;

receive, from the server, over the network, a revised version of the list that the server generated based on the initial version of the list; and

store the revised version of the list on the computer-readable medium;

wherein the revised version differs from the initial version.

14. The DVR of claim 11, wherein the DVR is further configured to:

receive additional user input that indicates a change to the list; and

send, to the server, over the network, information that indicates the change to the list.

15. A server that is configured to:

receive, over a network, from a first digital video recorder, first information that identifies a first set of two or more programs that a user of the first digital video recorder has instructed the first digital video recorder to record;

determine, based on the first information, a first schedule for recording at least two broadcasts of programs in the first set of two or more programs;

store the first schedule on a computer-readable medium within the server; and

send the first schedule to the first digital video recorder over the network as a single entity.

16. The server of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured to:

determine, for each program identified in the first information, (a) a date at which a broadcast of that program will begin, (b) a time at which a broadcast of that program will begin, and (c) a channel on which a broadcast of that program will occur.

17. The server of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured to:

receive, over the network, from a second digital video recorder that is separate from the first digital video recorder, second information that identifies a second set of two or more programs that a user of the second digital video recorder has instructed the second digital video recorder to record;

determining, based on the second information, a second schedule for recording at least one broadcast of a program in the second set of two or more programs;

store the second schedule on the computer-readable medium; and

send the second schedule to the second digital video recorder over the network.

18. The server of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured to:

store the first information on the computer-readable medium in response to receiving the first information from the first digital video recorder;

receive, over the network, from a device other than the first digital video recorder, change information that indicates a change that a user of the first digital video recorder wants to make to the first information;

change the first information in response to receiving the first information, thereby generating changed first information;

store the changed first information on the computer-readable medium;

generate a revised schedule based on the changed first information; and

send the revised schedule to the first digital video recorder over the network.

19. The server of claim 15, wherein the server is configured to generate the first schedule on behalf of the first digital video recorder, thereby relieving the first digital video recorder of a burden of generating the first schedule.

20. The server of claim 15, wherein the server is configured to synchronize a first version of a program list on the server with a second version of the program list stored on the first digital video recorder, wherein the first version of the program list identifies the first set of two or more programs, and wherein the second version differs from the first version.

21. A method comprising:

receiving, over a network, at a server, from a first digital video recorder, first information that identifies a first set of two or more programs that a user of the first digital video recorder has instructed the first digital video recorder to record;

determining, based on the first information, a first schedule for recording at least two broadcasts of programs in the first set of two or more programs;

storing the first schedule on a computer-readable medium within the server; and

sending the first schedule to the first digital video recorder over the network as a single entity.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining, for each program identified in the first information, (a) a date at which a broadcast of that program will begin, (b) a time at which a broadcast of that program will begin, and (c) a channel on which a broadcast of that program will occur.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving, over the network, at the server, from a second digital video recorder that is separate from the first digital video recorder, second information that identifies a second set of two or more programs that a user of the second digital video recorder has instructed the second digital video recorder to record;

determining, based on the second information, a second schedule for recording at least one broadcast of a program in the second set of two or more programs;

storing the second schedule on the computer-readable medium; and

sending the second schedule to the second digital video recorder over the network.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

storing the first information on the computer-readable medium in response to receiving the first information from the first digital video recorder;

receiving, over the network, from a device other than the first digital video recorder, change information that indicates a change that a user of the first digital video recorder wants to make to the first information;

changing the first information in response to receiving the first information, thereby generating changed first information;

storing the changed first information on the computer-readable medium;

generating a revised schedule based on the changed first information; and

sending the revised schedule to the first digital video recorder over the network.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

generating the first schedule at the server on behalf of the first digital video recorder, thereby relieving the first digital video recorder of a burden of generating the first schedule.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

synchronizing, at the server, a first version of a program list on the server with a second version of the program list stored on the first digital video recorder, wherein the first version of the program list identifies the first set of two or more programs, and wherein the second version differs from the first version.

38. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining, for each program identified in the first information, (a) a date at which a broadcast of that program will begin, (b) a time at which a broadcast of that program will begin, and (c) a channel on which a broadcast of that program will occur.

27. A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for scheduling a recording of a broadcasted program, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

receiving, over a network, from a first digital video recorder, first information that identifies a first set of two or more programs that a user of the first digital video recorder has instructed the first digital video recorder to record;

based on the first information, determining a first schedule for recording at least two broadcasts of programs in the first set of two or more programs;

storing the first schedule on a computer-readable medium; and

sending the first schedule, as a single entity, to the first digital video recorder over the network;

wherein the first set of two or more programs includes at least one of;

(a) a program that is to be broadcasted via television signals and (b) a program that is to be downloaded or streamed over a packet network.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the first digital video recorder does not determine the first schedule.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the step of determining the first schedule comprises:

determining, for each program identified in the first information, (a) a date at which a broadcast of that program will begin, (b) a time at which a broadcast of that program will begin, and (c) a channel on which a broadcast of that program will occur.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein, for each program identified in the first information, the first schedule identifies (a) a date at which a broadcast of that program will begin, (b) a time at which a broadcast of that program will begin, and (c) a channel on which a broadcast of that program will occur.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the steps further comprise:

receiving, over the network, from a second digital video recorder that is separate from the first digital video recorder, second information that identifies a second set of two or more programs that a user of the second digital video recorder has instructed the second digital video recorder to record;

based on the second information, determining a second schedule for recording at least one broadcast of a program in the second set of two or more programs;

storing the second schedule on the computer-readable medium; and

sending the second schedule to the second digital video recorder over the network.

32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the steps further comprise:

in response to receiving the first information, storing the first information on the computer-readable medium;

receiving, over the network, from a device other than the first digital video recorder, change information that indicates a change that a user of the first digital video recorder wants to make to the first information;

in response to receiving the change information, changing the first information, thereby generating changed first information; and

storing the changed first information on the computer-readable medium.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the steps further comprise:

sending the changed information over the network to the first digital video recorder.

34. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the step of determining the first schedule further comprises:

determining that broadcasts of two or more programs in the first set will occur during time intervals that at least partially overlap;

in response to determining that broadcasts of two or more programs in the first set will occur during time intervals that at least partially overlap, (a) determining, for at least one of the two or more programs, a particular broadcast that occurs at a time interval that does not overlap with any other broadcasts of the two or more programs, and (b) adding the particular broadcast to the first schedule.

35. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the step of determining the first schedule further comprises:

determining that broadcasts of two or more programs in the first set will occur during time intervals that at least partially overlap;

determining that all of the two or more programs cannot be concurrently recorded in their entirety due to an insufficient quantity of physical signal inputs;

in response to determining that broadcasts of two or more programs in the first set will occur during time intervals that at least partially overlap, and that all of the two or more programs cannot be concurrently recorded in their entirety, (a) determining a particular program, of the two or more programs, that is associated with a highest priority among priorities associated with the two or more programs, and (b) adding a particular broadcast of the particular program to the first schedule without adding, to the first schedule, broadcasts that conflict with the particular broadcast.

36. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the step of determining the first schedule further comprises:

selecting, from among a plurality of broadcasts of a particular program in the first set, a particular broadcast whose recording will allow at least one program that is already stored on the first digital video recorder to remain stored on the first digital video recorder for a longer period of time than if an earlier broadcast of the particular program were to be recorded at the first digital video recorder; and

adding the particular broadcast to the first schedule.

37. A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

receiving, over a network, at a server, from a first digital video recorder, first information that identifies a first set of two or more programs that a user of the first digital video recorder has instructed the first digital video recorder to record;

determining, based on the first information, a first schedule for recording at least two broadcasts of programs in the first set of two or more programs;

storing the first schedule on a computer-readable medium within the server; and

sending the first schedule to the first digital video recorder over the network as a single entity.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the steps further comprise:

receiving, over the network, at the server, from a second digital video recorder that is separate from the first digital video recorder, second information that identifies a second set of two or more programs that a user of the second digital video recorder has instructed the second digital video recorder to record;

determining, based on the second information, a second schedule for recording at least one broadcast of a program in the second set of two or more programs;

storing the second schedule on the computer-readable medium; and

sending the second schedule to the second digital video recorder over the network.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the steps further comprise:

storing the first information on the computer-readable medium in response to receiving the first information from the first digital video recorder;

receiving, over the network, from a device other than the first digital video recorder, change information that indicates a change that a user of the first digital video recorder wants to make to the first information;

changing the first information in response to receiving the first information, thereby generating changed first information;

storing the changed first information on the computer-readable medium;

generating a revised schedule based on the changed first information; and

sending the revised schedule to the first digital video recorder over the network.

41. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the steps further comprise:

generating the first schedule at the server on behalf of the first digital video recorder, thereby relieving the first digital video recorder of a burden of generating the first schedule.

42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the steps further comprise:

synchronizing, at the server, a first version of a program list on the server with a second version of the program list stored on the first digital video recorder, wherein the first version of the program list identifies the first set of two or more programs, and wherein the second version differs from the first version.

43. A method for scheduling a recording, the method comprising:

a server receiving, over a network, from a digital video recorder, information that identifies a program that a user of the digital video recorder has instructed the digital video recorder to record;

the server determining, based on a recording schedule that is associated with the digital video recorder and that is stored only at the server, whether a recording of the program will conflict with recordings of other programs indicated in the recording schedule;

in response to determining that a recording of the program will conflict with recordings of other programs indicated in the recording schedule, the server (a) instructing the DVR to ask the user to choose between having the program recorded or having a previously scheduled other program recorded, (b) receiving a choice from the DVR, (c) updating the recording schedule based on the choice, and (d) sending the recording schedule to the DVR.

44. A volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for scheduling a recording, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

receiving, over a network, at a server, from a digital video recorder, information that identifies a program that a user of the digital video recorder has instructed the digital video recorder to record;

determining, at the server, based on a recording schedule that is associated with the digital video recorder and that is stored only at the server, whether a recording of the program will conflict with recordings of other programs indicated in the recording schedule;

in response to determining that a recording of the program will conflict with recordings of other programs indicated in the recording schedule, (a) instructing the DVR to ask the user to choose between having the program recorded or having a previously scheduled other program recorded, (b) receiving a choice from the DVR, (c) updating the recording schedule based on the choice, and (d) sending the recording schedule to the DVR.