Abstract: Efficient audio/video data storing is proposed. An audio/video stream is recorded in a shared storage zone on behalf of a plurality of client processes or client devices. Recording in the storage zone is managed through a reservation based method. Client processes and client devices may read access a recording stored on their behalf until the client process or client device releases its reservation. When a client process or client device releases its reservation, at least some of reserved storage space in the storage zone may be freed for reuse by other client processes or client devices, if the reserved storage space is not part of a reservation by another client process or client device.

Abstract: Performance evaluation of a storage device, for example a storage device connected to a Set Top Box, for evaluating its suitability for supporting DVR/PVR functions such as recording a broadcast audio/video stream or time shifting a broadcast audio/video stream.