Systems and methods for alerting users of the postponed recording of programs

• US 9,723,363 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Radloff, Jon P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jhaveri, Jayesh
• Application Number:
  US14/665,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20150264436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 725 55, 725 58, 725 61, 725 86, 386 46, 386291, 386292, 386293, 386296, 386297, 386298
• 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• 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 21/482 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 21/4823 using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein in relation to notifications about alternative viewing opportunities for recording and playback of media programs. In particular, the systems and methods provide users with information related to alternative recorded programming viewing opportunities for programs scheduled for recording by a user.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling a recording using a media guidance application, the method comprising:

receiving, with control circuitry, scheduling information associated with a plurality of media listings;

receiving, with the control circuitry, a user request from a user to schedule a media asset for recording at a first time that is based on the scheduling information;

after receiving the user request to schedule the media asset for recording, receiving, with the control circuitry, updated scheduling information associated with the plurality of media asset listings;

in response to receiving the updated scheduling information, determining, using the control circuitry, based on the updated scheduling information, that the media asset scheduled to be recorded at the first time is no longer scheduled to be transmitted at the first time and will no longer be recorded, and automatically computing, with the control circuitry, a time frame based on a viewing history of the user, wherein the viewing history indicates a time period within which the user is likely to view the media asset;

searching the updated scheduling information associated with the media asset listings with the control circuitry to determine whether the media asset will be available for recording at a time other than the first time but within the time frame; and

based on determining that the media asset is available for recording at a second time within the time frame, automatically scheduling, with the control circuitry, a recording of the media asset at the second time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a second media asset scheduled to be recorded at a third time will no longer be recorded because a third media asset has been scheduled to be recorded at the third time;

automatically computing, with the control circuitry, a second time frame based on the viewing history of the user, wherein the viewing history further indicates a time period within which the user is likely to view the second media asset;

searching, with the control circuitry, the updated scheduling information associated with the media asset listings to determine whether the second media asset will be available for recording at a time other than the third time but within the second time frame; and

based on determining that the second media asset is available for recording at a fourth time within the second time frame, scheduling, with the control circuitry, a recording of the second media asset at the fourth time.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

assigning a first priority to the second media asset and a second priority to the third media asset, wherein the determination that the second media asset scheduled to be recorded at the third time will no longer be recorded is based on determining that the first priority is lower than the second priority.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first priority and the second priority are assigned based on user input.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating for display a scheduled recording screen that includes an indication that an alternative media asset recording opportunity for the media asset has been found at the second time.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the scheduled recording screen includes an indication of a recording status of the media asset.

7. A system for scheduling a recording using a media guidance application, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

receive scheduling information associated with a plurality of media listings;

receive a user request from a user to schedule a media asset for recording at a first time that is based on the scheduling information;

receive updated scheduling information associated with the plurality of media asset listings;

in response to receiving the updated scheduling information, determine that the media asset scheduled to be recorded at the first time is no longer scheduled to be transmitted at the first time and will no longer be recorded, and automatically compute a time frame based on a viewing history of the user, wherein the viewing history indicates a time period within which the user is likely to view the media asset;

search the updated scheduling information associated with the media asset listings to determine whether the media asset is available for recording at a time other than the first time but within the time frame; and

based on determining that the media asset is available for recording at a second time within the time frame, automatically schedule a recording of the media asset at the second time.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine that a second media asset scheduled to be recorded at a third time will no longer be recorded because a third media asset has been scheduled to be recorded at the third time;

automatically compute a second time frame based on the viewing history of the user, wherein the viewing history further indicates a time period within which the user is likely to view the second media asset;

search the updated scheduling information associated with the media asset listings to determine whether the second media asset will be available for recording at a time other than the third time but within the second time frame; and

based on determining that the second media asset is available for recording at a fourth time within the second time frame, schedule a recording of the second media asset at the fourth time.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

assign a first priority to the second media asset and a second priority to the third media asset, wherein the determination that the second media asset scheduled to be recorded at the third time will no longer be recorded is based on determining that the first priority is lower than the second priority.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first priority and the second priority are assigned based on user input.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display a scheduled recording screen that includes an indication that an alternative media asset recording opportunity for the media asset has been found at the second time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the scheduled recording screen includes an indication of a recording status of the media asset.