Optimizing video recorder power usage for DVR network
First Claim
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 at a user selected recording time;
in response to said receiving, immediately searching a program listing to determine if said selected video program is scheduled to be played at a different time than said user selected recording time;
if it is determined that said selected video program is scheduled to be played at said different time, then searching a listing of programs scheduled to be recorded on digital video recorders (DVRs) in said network to find an available DVR, said available DVR including at least two tuners wherein only one of said tuners is scheduled to be recording a video program at said different time;
determining that recording said selected video program on said available recorder in said network instead of said user video recorder would result in a cost savings to said user, said cost savings being realized by enabling at least partially concurrent operation of said two or more tuners of said available recorder in recording said selected video program at said available recorder; and
automatically recording of said selected video program at said available recorder without further user input, in response to said determining of said cost savings to said user.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
18 Claims
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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:
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receiving a user request to record a selected video program at a user selected recording time; in response to said receiving, immediately searching a program listing to determine if said selected video program is scheduled to be played at a different time than said user selected recording time; if it is determined that said selected video program is scheduled to be played at said different time, then searching a listing of programs scheduled to be recorded on digital video recorders (DVRs) in said network to find an available DVR, said available DVR including at least two tuners wherein only one of said tuners is scheduled to be recording a video program at said different time; determining that recording said selected video program on said available recorder in said network instead of said user video recorder would result in a cost savings to said user, said cost savings being realized by enabling at least partially concurrent operation of said two or more tuners of said available recorder in recording said selected video program at said available recorder; and automatically recording of said selected video program at said available recorder without further user input, in response to said determining of said cost savings to said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices and computer-readable program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices for optimizing power requirements of a video recorder system in recording user selected 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:
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receiving a user request to record a selected video program at a user selected recording time; in response to said receiving, immediately searching a program listing to determine if said selected video program is scheduled to be played at a different time than said user selected recording time; if it is determined that said selected video program is scheduled to be played at said different time, then searching a listing of programs scheduled to be recorded on digital video recorders (DVRs) in said network to find an available DVR, said available DVR including at least two tuners wherein only one of said tuners is scheduled to be recording a video program at said different time; determining that recording said selected video program on said available recorder in said network instead of said user video recorder would result in a cost savings to said user, said cost savings being realised by enabling at least partially concurrent operation of said two or more tuners of said available recorder in recording said selected video program at said available recorder; and automatically recording of said selected video program at said available recorder without further user input, in response to said determining of said cost savings to said user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A video recorder system 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:
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receiving means for receiving a user input request to said user video recorder to record a selected video program at a user selected recording time; a computer system operable in response to said user input request for searching a program listing to determine if said selected video program is scheduled to be played at a different time than said user selected recording time; said computer system being further operable, if said selected video program is scheduled to be played at a different time than said user selected recording time, for immediately searching a listing of programs scheduled to be recorded on digital video recorders (DVRs) in said network to find an available DVR, said available DVR including at least two tuners wherein only one of said tuners is scheduled to be recording a program at said different time; said computer system being further operable for determining that recording said selected video program on available recorder in said network instead of said user video recorder would result in a cost savings to said user, said cost savings being realized by enabling at least partially concurrent operation of said two or more tuners of said available recorder in recording said selected video program at said available recorder, said computer system being operable in response to said determining for automatically enabling said available recorder to record said selected video program without further user input.
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Specification