Abstract: A system and method provides a detailed edit schedule for a user's recording device, such as a digital video recorder. The detailed edit schedule can be provided over a network by the user's DVR service provider, or can be provided from a third party. The detailed edit schedule describes various segments that occur within the program. This information is used by a digital video recorder to identify program segments of interest to the user. When program segments are identified, the individual segments are recorded rather than recording the entire program. The program segments can also include commercials matching the user's interests. The DVR keeps track of scenes that the user records and sends the information, along with the user's demographic information, back to the DVR service provider for creating reports for sponsors showing which commercials and program segments were watched or recorded by different groups of people.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to record programs on a user's digital video recorder based upon sponsorship data. Sponsors, such as advertisers and other promoters, sponsor programs with a DVR service provider. The DVR service provider gathers the sponsors' requests and sends the sponsorship requests to the users' DVRs. The clients' DVRs receive the sponsorship data and edit schedules from the DVR service provider. The digital video recorder selects programs to record using user profile elements provided by the user. The sponsored programs are provided with increased rankings that are used to determine which program to record. The user's DVR keeps track of programs that have been recorded and sends the information back to the DVR service provider. The DVR service provider creates reports for sponsors showing which programs were recorded by different groups of people.

Abstract: An on-screen program menu that displays available programs sorted, or grouped, by a display order (i.e., a ranking) is provided. Program listings are ranked by the user of a digital video recorder. These rankings are combined with sponsorship rankings to determine the resulting display order. The program listings can correspond to programs available for viewing or recording as well as programs that have already been recorded by the user's digital video recorder. The resulting display orders the programs by their overall rank. Programs are displayed in groups. When an event occurs, the next group of programs is displayed. The digital video recorder keeps track of programs that the user selects from the on-screen menu and sends the information, along with the user's demographic information, back to the DVR service provider. The DVR service provider creates reports for sponsors showing programs that were performed by different groups of people.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that matches user interests to commercials. The commercials are stored on the user's digital video recorder and retrieved during program commercial breaks. The DVR service provider sends an edit schedule, commercials and metadata describing the commercials to the user's digital video recorder. The commercials are provided to the DVR service provider by sponsors, such as product advertisers and the like. In one embodiment, commercials are selected by the user's digital video recorder and the selected commercials are played during a commercial break. In another embodiment, the DVR service provider inserts commercial identifiers in the edit schedule's commercial breaks. Demographic and usage data is gathered by the digital video recorder indicating which commercials have been played or recorded. The DVR service provider creates reports for sponsors showing which commercials were watched or recorded by different groups of people.

Abstract: Automated personal video recording on a personal video recorder, including recording shows, each show having an original compression level; further compressing a recorded show to a new compression level, the new compression level being higher than the recorded show's original compression level, thereby making available free space; and recording at least part of a new show in free space made available by further compressing the recorded show. Embodiments include recording a show having a compression level and increasing the show's compression level while recording.

Abstract: Automated personal video recording for multi-user personal video recorders having a multiplicity of registered users, each user having allocated storage space on the PVR which allocated storage space for each user includes storage space upon which shows are recorded and storage space upon which shows have not been recorded (free space), including recording for a borrower a show owned by the borrower, the show having a storage space requirement exceeding the borrower's free space by a deficit amount; selecting, in dependence upon the deficit amount, one or more lenders, wherein the lenders are users, registered on the PVR, having free space; and borrowing, in dependence upon the deficit amount, from the lenders for the borrower, at least one loan amount of storage space. Embodiments include returning from the borrower to the lender the deficit amount after displaying the show to the borrower or upon repossession by a lender.

Abstract: Automated personal video recording, including selecting a lender from among one or more lenders, in which the selecting is carried out in dependence upon a deficit amount, the lenders include at least one user having free storage space and at least one pool having free storage space. The method also includes borrowing, in dependence upon the deficit amount, from the selected lender for a borrower, at least one loan amount of storage space, the borrower having allocated storage space on the PVR optionally including free space, and recording a show for the borrower, the show having a storage space requirement exceeding the borrower's free space by the deficit amount. The borrower can be an individual user or a group comprised of more than one user.

Abstract: Administration of storage space requirements on personal video recorders (“PVRs”), including recording a show having a storage space requirement, and incrementing the show's storage space requirement. Embodiments include tracking a recording period for the show and actual storage space used during the recording period; comparing the storage space used with an amount of storage space projected to be used during the tracked recording period; and incrementing the show's storage space requirement if the storage space used is greater than the storage space projected to be used. Embodiments include incrementing the show's storage space requirement in accordance with a predetermined overallocation rate. Embodiments include incrementing a show's storage space requirement in dependence upon genre.

Abstract: Automated personal video recording, including recording, for a group comprising a number of members, a show having a storage space requirement, in which each of the members has allocated storage space on a personal video recorder (“PVR”) optionally including free space, and apportioning the show's storage space requirement, including apportioning to each member an apportioned amount of the show's storage space requirement. When a member's apportioned amount of the show's storage space requirement exceeds the member's free space by a deficit amount: selecting, in dependence upon the deficit amount, one or more lenders; borrowing, in dependence upon the deficit amount, from the lenders for the group, at least one loan amount of storage space; and apportioning the loan amount among the members.

Abstract: Machine learning for control of a personal video recorder (“PVR”), including providing records of transmissions of messages; identifying a message point in operation of a PVR; selecting, in dependence upon the message point, a message to be transmitted; and determining in dependence upon the records of transmissions of messages whether to transmit the selected message. Embodiments include determining whether to transmit the selected message in dependence upon a frequency with which the message is transmitted to a user. Embodiments include transmitting to users messages prompting for responses identifying commands; storing records of transmissions of messages, including storing records of responses; and selecting a message to be transmitted in dependence upon the records of responses to messages. Embodiments include structuring the selected message in dependence upon the records of responses to messages, including inserting in the selected message choices for a set of sequenced commands.

Abstract: Personal video recording including identifying a message point in operation of a PVR and transmitting a message. Embodiments include associating a message type with the message point and selecting, in dependence upon the message type, a message to be transmitted. Embodiments include receiving a response to the message; selecting, in dependence upon the response, a command to be executed; and executing the selected command.

Abstract: Automated personal video recording on a multi-user personal video recorder, including recording a first show, displaying at least a portion of the first show, creating displayed space, freeing displayed space, making available free space, and recording at least part of a second show in free space made available by freeing displayed space.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for controlling throughput of message requests in a messaging system is provided. A message request is received from a sending user. A priority requirement is determined for the message request according to priority settings designated by a receiving user for whom the message request is intended. Output of the message request to the receiving user is adjusted according to whether the message request meets the priority requirement, such that throughput of the message request to the receiving user is controlled. In addition, output of a message indicating that the receiving user is available is adjusted according to said priority requirement.