Systems, methods, and computer products for recording of repeated programs

• US 8,037,499 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weaver, Timothy H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirl; Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): RABOVIANSKI, JIVKA A
• Application Number:
  US11/964,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20090172742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 725/58, 725/86, 725/60, 725/34, 725/142, 725/146, 725/134
• US Class Current: 725/58
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer products for recording of repeated programs. Exemplary embodiments include a recording of a repeated program method, including receiving a recording request for a first program from a communications device, the recording request having a specified recording time, determining that the specified recording time is during a peak time, determining an alternate recording time for the recording request, sending a message to the communications device that there is the alternate recording time to record the first program, delivering the first program to the communications device for the specified recording time in response to receiving a rejection of the alternate recording time and delivering the first program to the communications device for the alternate recording time in response to receiving an acceptance of the alternate recording time.

Claims

1. A recording of a repeated program method, comprising:

receiving a recording request for a first program from a communications device, the recording request having a specified recording time;

determining that the specified recording time is during a peak time for bandwidth usage;

determining an alternate recording time for the recording request;

sending a message to the communications device that there is the alternate recording time to record the first program;

delivering the first program to the communications device for the specified recording time in response to receiving a rejection of the alternate recording time;

delivering the first program to the communications device for the alternate recording time in response to receiving an acceptance of the alternate recording time;

determining by a recording application when a prior recording time for the first program precedes the specified recording time for the first program;

delivering by the recording application the first program to the communications device at the prior recording time that precedes the specified recording time, without notifying a subscriber and without requiring input from the subscriber; and

providing a notification to the communications device that viewing a second program while recording the first program may interfere with at least one of recording the first program and viewing the second program.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether the recording request is at the peak time.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the alternate recording time is a non-peak time.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing the first program on a recording medium coupled to the communications device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising prompting the communications device to reschedule recording of the first program to a non-peak time.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether the subscriber is viewing the second program while recording the first program.

7. A recording of a repeated program system, comprising:

means for receiving a recording request for a first program from a communications device, the recording request having a specified recording time;

means for determining that the specified recording time is during a peak time;

means for determining an alternate recording time for the recording request;

means for sending a message to the communications device that there is the alternate recording time to record the first program;

means for delivering the first program to the communications device for the specified recording time in response to receiving a rejection of the alternate recording time; and

means for delivering the first program to the communications device for the alternate recording time in response to receiving an acceptance of the alternate recording time;

a recording application configured to determine when a prior recording time for the first program precedes the specified recording time for the first program;

wherein the recording application delivers the first program to the communications device at the prior recording time that precedes the specified recording time, without notifying a subscriber and without requiring input from the subscriber; and

means for providing a notification to the communications device that viewing a second program while recording the first program may interfere with at least one of recording the first program and viewing the second program.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising means for determining whether the recording request is at the peak time.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the alternate recording time is a non-peak time.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising means for storing the first program on a recording medium coupled to the communications device.

11. The system according to claim 7, further comprising means for prompting the communications device to reschedule recording of the first program to a non-peak time.

12. The system according to claim 7, further comprising means for determining whether the subscriber is viewing the second program while recording the first program.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions for:

receiving a recording request for a first program from a communications device, the recording request having a specified recording time;

determining that the specified recording time is during a peak time;

determining an alternate recording time for the recording request;

sending a message to the communications device that there is the alternate recording time to record the first program;

delivering the first program to the communications device for the specified recording time in response to receiving a rejection of the alternate recording time;

delivering the first program to the communications device for the alternate recording time in response to receiving an acceptance of the alternate recording time;

determining by a recording application when a prior recording time for the first program precedes the specified recording time for the first program;

delivering by the recording application the first program to the communications device at the prior recording time that precedes the specified recording time, without notifying a subscriber and without requiring input from the subscriber; and

providing a notification to the communications device that viewing a second program while recording the first program may interfere with at least one of recording the first program and viewing the second program.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 13, further comprising instructions for determining whether the recording request is at the peak time.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the alternate recording time is a non-peak time.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 13, further comprising instructions for prompting the communications device to reschedule recording of the first program to a non-peak time.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 13, further comprising instructions for determining whether the subscriber is viewing the second program while recording the first program.