Abstract: Substituting video on demand (VOD) content items for video content recorded onto a digital video recorder (DVR) or selected to be recorded onto a DVR is provided. Oftentimes, there is overlap between content that a user has recorded on his DVR or is selecting to record onto his DVR and video content that is available in a VOD library. When a user selects to record video content, selects to play recorded content, when a storage space reaches a predetermined capacity, or according to a predetermined time interval, a query may be performed to search for VOD content items that match recorded content or content selected to be recorded. If a match is found, the VOD content item may be substituted for the DVR recording. When a user selects to playback the content, the content may be streamed from the VOD library. Advertising may also be inserted.

Abstract: Differential or selective elective data transformation, which can include compression and/or encryption, is applied to selected data subsets, such as selected table spaces, of a database during a single database operation. In response to a received backup command, a backup utility of a database management system obtains data from a number of data subsets of a source database that are specified for inclusion in a backup image. At least one of the data subsets is specified for data transformation while subsets are not. The data from the specified data subsets is identified in the obtained data, and transformed prior to writing a single backup image to archive media. The backup image therefore contains both transformed and untransformed data. The selection of data subsets for transformation can be made automatically without requiring user specification according to predefined data characteristics including subset size, data type, compressibility, or encryption.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for classifying, based on most recent information associated with recorded content, the recorded content to an appropriate deletion classifier. A media guidance application may receive information about an event that is associated with a recorded media asset. The media guidance application may determine, based on the event and a current deletion classifier associated with the recorded media asset, whether the current deletion classifier associated with the recorded media asset needs to be updated to a new deletion classifier. The media guidance application may make this determination by accessing a deletion classification database containing rules for classifying recorded media assets into a variety of deletion classifiers.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for adapting playback bit rate to available delivery bandwidth in a content delivery system comprising a content server and a content player. A content player periodically estimates whether a given playback bit rate can feasibly provide complete playback for a given title assuming currently available bandwidth. If playback becomes unfeasible at a current bit rate assuming currently available bandwidth, then the content player adapts the bit rate downward until a feasible bit rate is achieved. If playback is feasible using a higher bit rate, then the content player may adapt the bit rate upward.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for adapting playback bit rate to available delivery bandwidth in a content delivery system comprising a content server and a content player. A content player periodically estimates whether a given playback bit rate can feasibly provide complete playback for a given title assuming currently available bandwidth. If playback becomes unfeasible at a current bit rate assuming currently available bandwidth, then the content player adapts the bit rate downward until a feasible bit rate is achieved. If playback is feasible using a higher bit rate, then the content player may adapt the bit rate upward.

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.

Abstract: A CPU of an imaging device of the present invention causes an interval moving image to be captured for each interval photographing, selects frames to be stored as still images from among a plurality of frames constituting the interval moving image based on a face image, blurring, and the presence or absence of a change, and causes these selected still images to be stored in association with the interval moving image. When an amount of data exceeding that for a preset storage time length is recorded, the CPU first deletes low-grade interval moving images. Then, if this is not enough, the CPU deletes low-grade still images, and thereby retains an image file (a mixture of moving images and still images) within the desired time length.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a digital video recorder (DVR) having a controller to record video content supplied by a media communication system, establish a threshold for utilization of a memory resource of the DVR, detect a utilization of the memory resource that exceeds the threshold, generate a notice describing the utilization of the memory resource at or after the time the threshold was exceeded, identify a communication identifier associated with a portable communication device, transmit the notice to the portable communication device according to the identified communication identifier, and receive a response message from the portable communication device that includes one or more instructions to manage the memory resource of the DVR. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record a moving image signal in a recording medium, a setting unit configured to set a threshold based on a remaining recording capacity of the recording medium, and a control unit configured to control the recording unit to start recording the moving image signal, into a first moving image file in the recording medium, according to a recording instruction, wherein the control unit is configured to control the recording unit to divide the moving image signal into at least a second moving image file in the recording medium in the case that a size of the first moving image file has reached the threshold during recording of the moving image signal according to the recording instruction, and is configured to control the recording unit to delete the moving image file recorded first, from among the plurality of moving image files recorded after the recording instruction, if the remaining recording capacity of the recording medium is determined to have ru

Abstract: Various arrangements for managing television programming storage at a television receiver are presented. User input specifying a number of days for retention of each managed array of a plurality of managed arrays of television channels to be recorded by the television receiver may be received. A television service provider may select a plurality of television channels for recording as the plurality of managed arrays of television channels. Also, the television service provider may define times for recording of the plurality of television channels of the plurality of managed arrays of television channels. A first amount of storage space for storage of the plurality of managed arrays of television channels may be calculated based on the number of days for retention. The first amount of storage space of a storage medium to the plurality of managed arrays of television channels may be allocated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a receiving apparatus for sending received contents to a recording apparatus and for getting the recording apparatus to record the contents in accordance with preset recording reservations, the receiving apparatus including: a recording ready time information acquisition section configured to acquire from the recording apparatus information about a recording ready time; a continuous recording determination section configured to determine whether two chronologically successive broadcast contents are reserved for recording based on the preset recording reservations; and an end time setting section configured such that if the two chronologically successive broadcast contents are found reserved for recording, then the end time setting section sets the time at which to end processing for recording the earlier of the two contents based on a broadcast start time of the latter of the two contents and on the acquired information about the recording ready time.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for adapting playback bit rate to available delivery bandwidth in a content delivery system comprising a content server and a content player. A content player periodically estimates whether a given playback bit rate can feasibly provide complete playback for a given title assuming currently available bandwidth. If playback becomes unfeasible at a current bit rate assuming currently available bandwidth, then the content player adapts the bit rate downward until a feasible bit rate is achieved. If playback is feasible using a higher bit rate, then the content player may adapt the bit rate upward.

Abstract: A broadcast program recording overrun and underrun scheduling system provides a system for adjusting the start and end times of a broadcast program's recording schedule that has a start and end broadcast time. The viewer selects a particular broadcast program to record from the program guide using a remote input device. The system schedules the broadcast program to be recorded by inserting the program's information such as program identifier, start and end times, and storage duration into a recording schedule database. The system allows the viewer to adjust the scheduled start and/or end recording times for a broadcast program by specifying the time increment to add or subtract from the start and/or end recording times of a specific program or series of programs.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention refer to an apparatus and method for managing video storages. The method may include periodically receiving parameters indicative of a level of performance of video storage units and detecting up-down states of the video storage units upon receipt of an instruction to record video data. The method may further include detecting writing rates and reading rates of video data associated with the storage units and selecting one of the video storage units to record the video data, based on the parameters received, the detected up-down states, the detected writing rates and the detected reading rates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of digital media recording such as video or audio, where compression is used to reduce the amount of data to save onto a data storage. In particular the invention relates to recording media, wherein the memory area required to store the media is unknown. The invention discloses a method for recording digital streamed media with a number of media frames in a memory by encoding each media frame into an encoded frame comprising a first number of quality layers, such as the quality layers in JPEG2000. The invention further relates to detecting if the data storage is full and if the data storage is full, storing new frames in the data storage previously occupied by the quality layer representing the highest resolution of the previously stored encoded frames. The invention also relates to a corresponding media recorder and computer program.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for displaying conflicts between two or more recording timers. Recording conflicts are displayed graphically for the user to resolve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a PVR server for storing and playing back TV programs, in particular to an improved method for operating a network PVR and to an improved PVR server (102). The inventive method consists in determining the number of users storing in the personal archives thereof a determined TV program, which is stored in the memory (108) of the PVR server (102). When the user number is less than a predefined limit value, an erasing signal occurs to them and the program is cleared during a configurable period of time if no user selects said program as to be preserved.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing method includes: reading a first uncompressed data from a first recording medium; reading the first uncompressed data from a buffer memory at a speed higher than a normal reproduction speed and compressing the read first uncompressed data to generate a compressed data; and recording the generated compressed data in a second recording medium; determining whether a predefined unit volume of compressed data is recorded in the second recording medium; and when it is determined that the predefined unit volume of compressed data is not yet recorded in the second recording medium, generating a second uncompressed data by reading the compressed data from the second recording medium at a speed higher than the normal reproduction speed and decompressing the read compressed data when it is determined that the predefined unit volume of compressed data is already recorded in the second recording medium.

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: A method and a system for replacement of programs on a video recorder based on preferences and size constraints of a video recorder. The video recorder compares recorded programs in the computer readable storage media and a schedule of programs to be recorded to a plurality of global preferences and program specific preferences specifying preferred recording quality. For each recorded program whose quality does not match a global preference or program specific preference, a listing of future programs is examined for alternate versions of the program which do match a global preference or program specific preference.

Abstract: In an image storing apparatus (photostorage), files are enabled to be certainly copied (or moved) without overlapping by the fairly simple operation. When image data is read out of a recording medium connected through a slot and stored into a high capacity storage unit, a management table in which a unique ID of the recording medium and the maximum value of file IDs of image files stored in the recording medium have been associated is used and the image files having the file IDs larger than the maximum value of the file IDs corresponding to the unique ID of the recording medium in the management table are read out and stored into the high capacity storage unit. The file ID is formed by combining a directory number and a file number in the DCF standard.

Abstract: Storage management technology, in which a system determines a first amount of storage space on a downloader device of a user that is available for download of new content made available on channels subscribed to by the user. The system also determines a second amount of storage space needed to download new content that has been made available on channels subscribed to by the user. The system further compares the second amount of storage space to the first amount of storage space and determines whether the second amount of storage space exceeds the first amount of storage space. Based on a determination that the second amount of storage space exceeds the first amount of storage space, the system controls downloading of the new content to the downloader device and deletion of previously-stored content on the downloader device based on a content allocation policy.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a storage unit configured to record program content data transmitted in a broadcast signal and store the transmitted program content data in a storage unit, a selection unit configured to select multi-view content data broadcast by a plurality of channels and including content data associated with each other from among the program content data stored in the storage unit, and a deletion unit configured to delete, from the storage unit, content data of at least one but not all of the plurality of channels included in the multi-view content data selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a digital video recorder (DVR) having a controller to record video content supplied by a media communication system, establish a threshold for utilization of a memory resource of the DVR, detect a utilization of the memory resource that exceeds the threshold, generate a notice describing the utilization of the memory resource at or after the time the threshold was exceeded, identify a communication identifier associated with a portable communication device, transmit the notice to the portable communication device according to the identified communication identifier, and receive a response message from the portable communication device that includes one or more instructions to manage the memory resource of the DVR. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to eliminate a scheduled recording of a targeted media program, where the scheduled recording is a redundant recording of the targeted media program that is determined based upon monitoring of recordings of media programs by a group of set top boxes in communication with each other over a network, where another set top box of the group of set top boxes is designated as a host set top box to record the targeted media program, and where the controller is provided access to the targeted media program by the host set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: New content is recorded onto a recording medium. Whether the current free recording capacity of the recording medium is sufficient to record the new content is determined. When the current free recording capacity of the recording medium is sufficient, the new content onto the recording medium is recorded. When the current free recording capacity of the recording medium is insufficient, a notification regarding the current free recording capacity of the recording medium is sent over a network to an information processing terminal, an instruction transmitted over the network by the information processing terminal is received, and at least a portion of prior content recorded on the recording medium is processed based on the instruction.

Abstract: An electronic circuit (300) includes a signal processing circuit (310) including first and second signal processing blocks (310.1, 310.3) coupled in cascade, a memory circuit (320) coupled to and adjustable between the first and second signal processing blocks (310.1, 310.3), the memory circuit (320) having memory spaces, the memory circuit (320) configurable to establish a trade-off of the memory spaces between the first and second signal processing blocks (310.1, 310.3), and a configuring circuit (330) operable to configure the trade-off of the memory spaces of the memory circuit (320).

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus which records data in a recording medium including: a recording section which records data in the recording medium; a detecting section which detects continuous or fragmented free areas in minimum allocation unit of the recording medium; and a recording control section which controls the recording section so that the recording section sequentially records data in the continuous free areas of the recording medium detected by the detecting section, and at the time point when the recording is completed, the recording section moves an end portion of the recorded data to the fragmented free areas of the recording medium detected by the detecting section so as to be recorded.

Abstract: A first video-recording reservation management apparatus which communicates with a second apparatus and can receive the same channels.

Abstract: A method of displaying a timeline of recorded video comprising the steps of dividing the recorded video into timespans, providing a thumbnail and a timestamp for each timespan that has recorded video, providing a gap and a timestamp between thumbnails for each timespan in which there is no recorded video, displaying a first timeline containing the provided thumbnails and timestamps and the provided gaps and timestamps having an uncompressed format, receiving user input requesting that the first timeline be compressed, removing the gaps and their respective timestamps from the first timeline and moving the thumbnails and their timestamps located on either side of the gaps so that the thumbnails on either side of the gaps are adjacent to provide a compressed timeline, and displaying the compressed timeline.

Abstract: A recorded content management system determines when recorded content maintained in a television-based entertainment and information system has been watched by a viewer. When a segment or percentage of the recorded content for a particular program is displayed for viewing, it is determined whether the program has been watched so that the recorded content, or a portion of the recorded content, can be queued for deletion, or maintained for additional viewing.

Abstract: An information storage medium includes application information for performing reproduction with reference to metadata stored in a reproduction apparatus; and additional information for providing the metadata as a user interface provided by a content producer.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus (camcorders, optical disc recorders, etc.), the operator presses down priority designating buttons for designating priorities when recording input image data. An additional information generating section records and holds, in a storage section, additional information indicating priorities of data to be recorded (e.g., “low”, “intermediate”, “high”, or “highest”) which are set, depending on what priority designating button has been pressed down. If recordable remaining space in the storage section detected by the remaining amount detecting section falls below a predetermined value before the start of or during recording of data, a control section overwrites regions in order of priority of data which is stored therein, the lowest first, with data which is about to be recorded or is being recorded, based on the additional information generated by the additional information generating section.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided according to one embodiment. The method includes receiving a request to record a television program; determining an amount of available storage space on each of at least two recording devices; and selecting one of the recording devices to store a representation of the television program on a computer readable medium associated with the respective recording device based on the determined amounts of available storage space on each of the at least two recording devices, wherein the selected recording device stores the representation of the television program. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.

Abstract: Recording television programs for future playback by enabling the user to record a plurality of programs that have sequential units of commercial content. There is sequential sensing for commercial content units. When a commercial content unit is reached, it is removed for separate storage. A determination is made as to whether the removed commercial content unit is the same as a previous commercial content unit that has been removed. Any previous commercial unit that has been removed has been stored in a file and a pointer to the file inserted in place of the commercial in the sequential stream of the television program being recorded. Thus, if the removed commercial unit has the same content, i.e. is a repeat of a previous commercial, the inserted pointer will point to the file of the previous commercial.

Abstract: An image data management device has a data reading unit and a control section. The data reading unit includes a plurality of recording medium insert sections. To the recording medium insert section, a recording medium having recorded photographic image data is connected detachably and data can be read from and written to the recording medium. The control section acquires imaging date/time information included in each photographic image data, classifies the groups of photographic image data recorded in each recording medium of the data reading unit according to the imaging date/time, and moves the photographic image data among the recording media based on the result of classification.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a data stream at a media device and extracting data from the data stream. The data corresponds to received media content. The method further includes storing the extracted data at a memory as stored media content and determining whether the stored media content corresponds to expected media content. The method also includes, in response to determining that the stored media content does not correspond to the expected media content, sending a content request to a server. The content request identifies a segment of the expected media content that does not correspond to the stored media content.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided according to one embodiment.

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: In case that a plurality of video reproduction devices obtains video data from one same camera, a distribution rate thereof may be decreased to be lower than that expected by a user. There is provided a video reproduction device or system capable of obtaining a video from a camera at a distribution rate that is expected by the user. In case that a video reproduction device newly requests the camera to distribute a video thereto, if the camera has been distributing the video to a different video reproduction device and a video distribution capacity of the camera is less than a sum of a distribution rate of the different video reproduction device and a distribution rate requested by the video reproduction device, the video reproduction device requests the different video reproduction device to distribute the video thereto and receives it from the different video reproduction device.

Abstract: Various arrangements for managing television programming storage at a television receiver are presented. User input specifying a number of days for retention of each managed array of a plurality of managed arrays of television channels to be recorded by the television receiver may be received. A television service provider may select a plurality of television channels for recording as the plurality of managed arrays of television channels. Also, the television service provider may define times for recording of the plurality of television channels of the plurality of managed arrays of television channels. A first amount of storage space for storage of the plurality of managed arrays of television channels may be calculated based on the number of days for retention. The first amount of storage space of a storage medium to the plurality of managed arrays of television channels may be allocated.

Abstract: A method for providing a progressive download service for a playback apparatus supporting a BD-J specification is disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a standby time and a communication overhead necessary for receiving and playing a A/V data by a playback apparatus supporting a BD-J specification are minimized by dividing and playing a first clip and a second clip according to a size of clips.

Abstract: A method and on-demand computing system for hierarchical caching of content in an on-demand computing device. The method receives, at the on-demand computing device, a request to send media content to a playback device, where the media content is stored in a media library of a content server. The method retrieves the media content from a hierarchical cache for the on-demand computing device, and sends the media content to the playback device. The hierarchical cache includes a first cache, a second cache, and the content library, where the first cache has a length based on an age of the second cache.

Abstract: A display apparatus and a method for scheduling a broadcast using the same. The broadcast scheduling method includes generating a program information table, in which broadcast information is arranged, if a broadcast program selected by a user in the program information table is moved into an area adjacent to an icon, displaying the broadcast program being added to an item folder, and scheduling the broadcast program.

Abstract: A digital cinema management device includes a control unit that supplies data of contents stored in a storage device to a playback device, in which the control unit refers to the contents stored in the storage device, contents stored in a content storage unit of the playback device, and an exhibition schedule, selects contents which are scheduled to be exhibited by the playback device, and which are not stored in the content storage unit, from the storage device, and supplies data of the selected contents to the playback device.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus which records and reproduces data with respect to a plurality of recording media includes a display unit for simultaneously displaying, on a display screen having a display area for each recording medium, data recorded onto recording media in corresponding display areas, a selection unit for selecting specific data from the data displayed on the display screen, and a designation unit for designating a moving destination of the selected data. If a display area other than a recording medium as a recording source of the selected data exists in the moving destination designated by the designation unit, the selected data is duplicated or moved to a recording medium corresponding to the display area.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying identifiers for one or more series of recordable events is described. A system, such as the system of a digital video recorder, may receive a set of recordable events data, such as a listing of all television shows to be broadcast over a two-week period. The system analyzes the set of recordable events data for determining one or more sets of recordable events, where each set includes recordable events having the same title. The system analyzes each set of recordable events to determine sub-sets of recordable events based on relationships between the recordable events of each sub-set. The system displays an identifier for each sub-set of a given set of recordable events when the given set of recordable events is selected for display. A user may select to record a sub-set of recordable events by selecting the identifier that represents the sub-set.

Abstract: A broadcasting recording apparatus including a broadcasting communication unit configured to request and receive a broadcast from a broadcasting system, and a recording unit configured to record the broadcast received by the broadcasting communication unit at an image quality set at the broadcasting communication unit.

Abstract: A recording apparatus of this invention detects the state of management information, which pertains to a recording address of an image signal, and which is reproduced from a disk-like recording medium having a first area for the image signal and a second area for the management information. On the basis of the detection result, management data is reproduced from the first area of the disk-like recording medium. On the basis of the management data reproduced from the first area, the management information reproduced from the second area is modified. A modify unit records the modified management information in the second area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for easily creating playlists of media programs to be played sequentially, where each program on a playlist either is played in real time, i.e., when broadcast, or is played time-shifted when the program temporally conflicts with one or more other programs on the playlist. When a playlist is played, a user can pause viewing at any time, in which case the methods and apparatus recompute the program sequence of the playlist and schedules program recordings as required.