OPTIMIZING VIDEO RECORDER POWER USAGE FOR DVR NETWORK

• US 20130133009A1
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhogal, Kulvir Singh, Boss, Gregory Jensen, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Jones, Andrew R., O'Connell, Brian Marshall
• Granted Patent: US 9,100,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/58
• 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 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A method, program product and system are provided for optimizing recording requests to minimize electricity usage for a network of DVRs. The disclosed methodology analyzes upcoming recording requests against a schedule guide including both local and networked DVRs. Overlaps in requested recordings and broadcasts during same or close proximity time slots are identified. Requested recordings are then rescheduled to optimally overlap recording times based upon the number of tuners in each DVR system. Changes in recording schedules are then communicated to other interconnected DVRs in a network.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for optimizing power requirements of a video recorder system in recording video programs selected for recording by a user input to a user video recorder, said user video recorder being configured for being interconnected with other video recorders in a network, said method comprising:

receiving a user request to record a selected video program;

determining that recording said selected video program on an interconnected recorder in said network instead of said user video recorder would result in a cost savings; and

recording of said selected video program at said interconnected recorder.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cost savings results from said interconnected recorder being enabled to record said selected video program at less cost than said user video recorder.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cost savings results from said interconnected recorder having lower power requirements than said user video recorder.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said user request is for recording said selected video program at a designated recording time, said cost savings results from enabling a recording of said selected video program at a different recording time than said designated recording time, said different recording time being during a period when electrical energy usage rates are lower than during said designated recording time.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said user request is for recording said selected video program at a designated recording time, said method further including:

providing a recording delay period, said recording delay period being representative of an acceptable maximum delay for delaying a recording of said selected video program from said designated recording time to a time subsequent to said designated recording time;

determining by said video recorder system of a subsequent recording time at which said selected video program is being re-broadcast;

determining that said subsequent recording time is within said recording delay period;

determining that a recording of said selected video program at said subsequent recording time at said interconnected recorder would result in said operational cost savings; and

recording of said selected video program at said interconnected recorder at said subsequent recording time instead of said designated recording time.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said recording delay period is determined by said user.

7. The method as set forth in claim 5 and further including:

presenting a user selection screen to said user on said display device in response to said receiving, said user selection screen being operable for enabling said user to input said recording delay period.

8. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said recording delay period is a pre-set value applied by said video recorder system.

9. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said video recorder system includes one or more tuners for tuning into broadcasts from a video service provider, said cost savings being realized by enabling optimized operation of two or more tuners whereby said selected video program is recorded at said subsequent recording time in order to avoid an operation of only one of said tuners during any period during which a recording is being made.

10. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said selected video program is recorded at said designated recording time if said subsequent recording time is not within said recording delay period.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable, tangible storage device(s) and computer-readable program instructions stored on the computer-readable, tangible storage device(s) for optimizing power requirements of a video recorder system in recording video programs selected for recording by a user input to a user video recorder, said user video recorder being configured for being interconnected with other video recorders in a network, the computer-readable program instructions, when executed by a processing system, being operable for implementing a method comprising:

receiving a user request to record a selected video program;

determining that recording said selected video program on an interconnected recorder in said network instead of said user video recorder would result in a cost savings; and

recording of said selected video program at said interconnected recorder.

12. The computer program product as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cost savings results from said interconnected recorder being enabled to record said selected video program at less cost than said user video recorder.

13. The computer program product as set forth in claim 12 wherein said cost savings results from said interconnected recorder having lower power requirements than said user video recorder.

14. The computer program product as set forth in claim 12 wherein said user request is for recording said selected video program at a designated recording time, wherein said cost savings results from enabling a recording of said selected video program at a different recording time than said designated recording time, said different recording time being during a period When electrical energy usage rates are lower than during said designated recording time.

15. The computer program product as set forth in claim 11 wherein said user request is for recording said selected video program at a designated recording time, said method further including:

providing a recording delay period, said recording delay period being representative of an acceptable maximum delay for delaying a recording of said selected video program from said designated recording time to a time subsequent to said designated recording time;

determining by said video recorder system of a subsequent recording time at which said selected video program is being re-broadcast;

determining that said subsequent recording time is within said recording delay period;

determining that a recording of said selected video program at said subsequent recording time at said interconnected recorder would result in said operational cost savings; and

recording of said selected video program at said interconnected recorder at said subsequent recording time instead of said designated recording time.

16. The computer program product as set forth in claim 15 wherein said recording delay period is determined by said user.

17. The computer program product as set forth in claim 15 wherein said method further includes:

presenting a user selection screen to said user on said display device in response to said receiving, said user to selection screen being operable for enabling said user to input said recording delay period.

18. The computer program product as set forth in claim 15 wherein said recording delay period is a pre-set value applied by said video recorder system.

19. The computer program product as set forth in claim 15 wherein said video recorder system includes one or more tuners for tuning into broadcasts from a video service provider, said cost savings being realized by enabling optimized operation of two or more tuners whereby said selected video program is recorded at said subsequent recording time in order to avoid an operation of only one of said tuners during any period during which a recording is being made.

20. A video recorder system to record a selected video program broadcast for optimizing power requirements in recording video programs selected for recording by a user input to a user video recorder, said user video recorder being configured for being interconnected with other video recorders in a network, said system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a user input request to said user video recorder to record a selected video program;

an interconnected recorder configured to be connected to said user video recorder through an interconnection network; and

a computer system for determining that recording said selected video program on an interconnected recorder in said network instead of said user video recorder would result in a cost savings, said computer system being operable in response to said determining for enabling said interconnected recorder to record said selected video program.