Systems and methods for resolving conflicts and managing system resources in multimedia delivery systems
First Claim
1. A method for managing resources in a multimedia delivery network, the method comprising:
- scheduling on a personal video recorder (PVR) a local recording of a multimedia asset that is available during a first window of time from a first source;
gathering information related to resources of the PVR and the multimedia delivery network;
determining whether an equivalent multimedia asset with a same title and the same program content as the multimedia asset is available outside the first window of time from at least one alternative source, wherein the equivalent multimedia asset is stored remotely and the at least one alternative source is other than a broadcast source; and
deciding, based upon the determining and applying other system and/or user-specified criteria, whether or not to record the multimedia asset locally, wherein when it is decided not to record the multimedia asset locally, the method further comprises;
deferring the local recording of the multimedia asset beyond the first window of time; and
storing a first multimedia asset pointer that allows access to the equivalent multimedia asset locally.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention manages resources and resolve conflicts when locally recording multimedia assets from a variety of sources in multimedia delivery systems. Local and system resources such as storage, tuners, and bandwidth are considered when alternative sources for assets are available (e.g., VOD). Rather than record assets locally, if equivalent assets are available via alternative sources, the recordings are deferred and a pointer to the equivalent asset is stored in lieu of the asset itself. When a user selects a multimedia asset for playback, an “on demand” or alternative source session is started for the asset associated with the pointer. Before the expiration date of the alternative source equivalent of the multimedia asset, it may be downloaded and recorded locally. The system may automatically determine based on various factors, such as transmission bandwidth, latency, and DRM, whether to store assets or pointers.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for managing resources in a multimedia delivery network, the method comprising:
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scheduling on a personal video recorder (PVR) a local recording of a multimedia asset that is available during a first window of time from a first source; gathering information related to resources of the PVR and the multimedia delivery network; determining whether an equivalent multimedia asset with a same title and the same program content as the multimedia asset is available outside the first window of time from at least one alternative source, wherein the equivalent multimedia asset is stored remotely and the at least one alternative source is other than a broadcast source; and deciding, based upon the determining and applying other system and/or user-specified criteria, whether or not to record the multimedia asset locally, wherein when it is decided not to record the multimedia asset locally, the method further comprises; deferring the local recording of the multimedia asset beyond the first window of time; and storing a first multimedia asset pointer that allows access to the equivalent multimedia asset locally. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 35, 36)
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22. A system to manage resources in a multimedia delivery network, the system comprising a personal video recorder (PVR) with control circuitry configured to:
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schedule on the PVR a local recording of a multimedia asset that is available during a first window of time from a first source; gather information related to resources of the PVR and the multimedia delivery network; determine whether an equivalent multimedia asset with a same title and the same program content as the multimedia asset is available from at least one alternative source outside the first window of time, wherein the equivalent multimedia asset is stored remotely and the at least one alternative source is other than a broadcast source; and decide, based upon the determining and applying other system and/or user-specified criteria, whether or not to record the multimedia asset locally, wherein when it is decided not to record the multimedia asset locally, the control circuitry is further configured to; defer the local recording of the multimedia asset beyond the first window of time; and store a first multimedia asset pointer h that allows access to the equivalent multimedia asset locally. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 37, 38)
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Specification