Television receiver storage management

• US 9,269,397 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2015
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Casagrande, Steven Michael, Yang, Yunfeng, Templeman, Mark, Kilaru, Kranti Kumar, Schaefer, Germar
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Huy T
• Application Number:
  US14/676,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20150208119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/026 on discs G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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 21/83 Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 : Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 : Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 : Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/797 : for recording the signal in a plurality of channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the signal H04N9/804, H04N9/81, H04N9/82 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/87 : Regeneration of colour television signals H04N9/80 takes precedence

Abstract

Various arrangements are presented that may involve receiving from a television service provider, timers that are used to record a managed channel array. Each of these timers define a television channel, a time period, and a date. The received timers may be set at a television receiver. User input may be received that specifies an undesired television channel that is not to be recorded according to the received plurality of timers, the undesired television channel being part of the managed channel array. An amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel may be calculated. Storage space may be allocated based upon the calculated amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel.

Claims

1. A television receiver that manages television programming storage, the television receiver comprising:

one or more tuners configured to receive television programming via a television service provider distribution network;

a television interface configured to output the television programming to a display device;

one or more processors; and

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive, via the one or more tuners, from the television service provider distribution network, a plurality of timers that are used to record a managed channel array, each timer of the plurality of timers defining for recording;

a television channel;

a time period; and

a date, wherein the plurality of timers indicate multiple television channels;

set the received plurality of timers for recording;

receive user input that specifies an undesired television channel that is not to be recorded according to the received plurality of timers, wherein the undesired television channel is part of the multiple television channels of the managed channel array;

calculate an amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel; and

allocate storage space based upon the calculated amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel.

2. The television receiver that manages television programming storage of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to calculate the amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel use a defined period of retention for content recorded as part of the managed channel array to perform the calculation.

3. The television receiver that manages television programming storage of claim 2, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

receiving, by the television receiver, user input used to define the defined period of retention for content recorded as part of the managed channel array.

4. The television receiver that manages television programming storage of claim 1 wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to allocate the storage space of the television receiver based upon the calculated amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to increase an allocation of storage space for television programming recorded based on user-defined timers.

5. The television receiver that manages television programming storage of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

cause a user interface that indicates each television channel that is recorded as part of the managed channel array and permits the user to indicate one or more of such television channels are undesired for recording to be output to the display device.

6. The television receiver that manages television programming storage of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

disable a subset of the plurality of timers based on the received user input that specifies the undesired television channel, wherein each timer of the subset of the plurality of timers corresponds to the undesired television channel.

7. The television receiver that manages television programming storage of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive user input that indicates reruns of television programs are not to be recorded;

compare for each television program to be recorded based on the plurality of timers, an initial broadcast date and a current broadcast date; and

based on the user input that indicates reruns of television programs are not to be recorded, disable recording of television programs for which the initial broadcast date differs from the current broadcast date.

8. The television receiver that manages television programming storage of claim 1, wherein the storage space of the television receiver is allocated among:

television programming recorded based on user-defined timers, television programming recorded as part of the managed channel array, on-demand television programming, and non-programming information storage.

9. A method for managing storage at a television receiver, the method comprising:

receiving, via a tuner of the television receiver, from a television service provider, a plurality of timers that are used to record a managed channel array, each timer of the plurality of timers defining for recording;

a television channel;

a time period; and

a date, wherein the plurality of timers indicate multiple television channels;

setting, by the television receiver, the received plurality of timers for recording by the television receiver;

receiving, by the television receiver, user input that specifies an undesired television channel that is not to be recorded according to the received plurality of timers, wherein the undesired television channel is part of the multiple television channels of the managed channel array;

calculating, by the television receiver, an amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel; and

allocating, by the television receiver, storage space of the television receiver based upon the calculated amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel.

10. The method for managing storage at the television receiver of claim 9, wherein calculating the amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel involves using a defined period of retention for content recorded as part of the managed channel array.

11. The method for managing storage at the television receiver of claim 10, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the television receiver, user input used to define the defined period of retention for content recorded as part of the managed channel array.

12. The method for managing storage at the television receiver of claim 9, wherein allocating, by the television receiver, storage space of the television receiver based upon the calculated amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel comprises increasing an allocation of storage space for television programming recorded based on user-defined timers.

13. The method for managing storage at the television receiver of claim 9, further comprising:

outputting, by the television receiver, to a display device, a user interface that indicates each television channel that is recorded as part of the managed channel array and permits the user to indicate one or more of such television channels are undesired for recording.

14. The method for managing storage at the television receiver of claim 9, further comprising:

disabling, by the television receiver, a subset of the plurality of timers based on the received user input that specifies the undesired television channel, wherein each timer of the subset of the plurality of timers corresponds to the undesired television channel.

15. The method for managing storage at the television receiver of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, by the television receiver, user input that indicates reruns of television programs are not to be recorded;

comparing, by the television receiver, for each television program to be recorded based on the plurality of timers, an initial broadcast date and a current broadcast date; and

based on the user input that indicates reruns of television programs are not to be recorded, disabling, by the television receiver, recording of television programs for which the initial broadcast date differs from the current broadcast date.

16. The method for managing storage at the television receiver of claim 9, wherein storage space of the television receiver is allocated among:

television programming recorded based on user-defined timers, television programming recorded as part of the managed channel array, on-demand television programming, and non-programming information storage.

17. A non-transitory processor-readable medium for managing storage at a television receiver, comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:

receive, from a television service provider distribution network, a plurality of timers that are used to record a managed channel array, each timer of the plurality of timers defining for recording;

a television channel;

a time period; and

a date, wherein the plurality of timers indicate multiple television channels;

receive user input that specifies an undesired television channel that is not to be recorded according to the received plurality of timers, wherein the undesired television channel is part of the multiple television channels of the managed channel array;

calculate an amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel; and

allocate storage space based upon the calculated amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel.

18. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for managing storage of claim 17, wherein the processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to calculate the amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel performs the calculation using a defined period of retention for content recorded as part of the managed channel array to perform the calculation.

19. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for managing storage of claim 18, wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

receiving, by the television receiver, user input used to define the defined period of retention for content recorded as part of the managed channel array.

20. The television receiver that manages television programming storage of claim 17, wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

cause a user interface that indicates each television channel that is recorded as part of the managed channel array and permits the user to indicate one or more of such television channels are undesired for recording to be output to a display device.