Data storage management and scheduling system

Abstract

A data storage management and scheduling system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of television and Web page program material on a client system storage medium. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects which indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred programs. The preferred programs include television broadcast programs and Universal Resource Locators (URLs). The viewer may request that certain programs be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those programs, or express preferences using appurtenances provided through the viewer interface. Preferences may additionally be inferred from viewing patterns. The invention correlates an input schedule that tracks the free and occupied time slots for each input source with a space schedule that tracks all currently recorded programs and the programs that have been scheduled to be recorded in the future, to schedule new programs to record and resolve recording conflicts. A program is recorded if at all times between when the recording would be initiated and when it expires, sufficient space is available to hold it. All scheduling conflicts are resolved as early as possible. A background scheduler schedules each preferred program in turn until the list of preferred programs is exhausted or no further opportunity to record is available.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for allowing recording of video signals for later playback comprising: 
 a) allowing a user to specify criteria for recording of shows from a video input source;    b) a processor selecting future shows from a channel guide database for recording based on said user specified criteria, wherein the selection of shows is based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of the user specified criteria and the channel guide database, and wherein the processor further selects for removal a previously recorded show having a lower priority than the selected future shows if insufficient capacity exists for recording the future shows; and    c) recording the selected shows.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited by  claim 1  wherein the user specified criteria may be selected from one or more of show names, director names, actor/actress names, show class, keywords, and rating information.  
     
     
         3 . The method as recited by  claim 1  wherein the user specified criteria includes user provided preference rating information of previously watched shows.  
     
     
         4 . The method as recited by  claim 1  further comprising allowing the user to review and edit shows selected for recording.  
     
     
         5 . The method as recited by  claim 1  wherein the criteria for recording of shows is presented to the user in a listing for selection.  
     
     
         6 . The method as recited by  claim 1  wherein the criteria for recording of shows is presented to the user in a pop-up alphabetical listing.  
     
     
         7 . The method as recited by  claim 1  further comprising allowing a user to preview shows selected for recording.  
     
     
         8 . The method as recited by  claim 7  further comprising allowing the user to edit the list of shows selected for recording.  
     
     
         9 . The method as recited by  claim 1  further comprising recording from a default channel when there is no show selected for recording.  
     
     
         10 . The method as recited by  claim 9  wherein the default channel is selected from channels having an indexable video format.  
     
     
         11 . The method as recited by  claim 9  wherein the indexable video format is based on time.  
     
     
         12 . The method as recited by  claim 1  further comprising allowing a second user to specify criteria.  
     
     
         13 . The method as recited by  claim 12  wherein the first user's criteria and the second user's criteria are used for show selection.  
     
     
         14 . The method as recited by  claim 1  wherein recording said selected shows comprises recording onto a randomly accessible recording media.  
     
     
         15 . The method as recited by  claim 14  wherein the randomly accessible recording media is a hard disk.  
     
     
         16 . The method as recited by  claim 1  further comprising the user selecting functions from one of play, rewind and fast forward while the selected shows are being recorded.  
     
     
         17 . A video data recorder comprising: 
 a recording medium for recording video signals;    a video signal input port;    a channel guide database;    a criteria database;    a processor coupled in communication with the channel guide database and the criteria database and coupled to control the recording of video signals received on the video signal input port onto the recording medium based on the channel guide database and the criteria database, wherein the recording of video signals is based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of the criteria database and the channel guide, and wherein the recording of video signals includes removing from the recording medium any lower priority shows when necessary to accommodate the recording of the video signals.    
     
     
         18 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 17  wherein the video signal input port is selected from cable, satellite and broadcast.  
     
     
         19 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 17  wherein the recording medium is a randomly accessible recording medium.  
     
     
         20 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 17  wherein the channel guide database stores data indicating channel programming.  
     
     
         21 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 20  wherein the channel guide data is updated from a channel guide source.  
     
     
         22 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 17  wherein the criteria database stores criteria information from a first user.  
     
     
         23 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 22  wherein the criteria database stores criteria information from the first user and a second user.  
     
     
         24 . A method of recording a defined format video program comprising: 
 selecting video programming for recording;    receiving a signal of a defined format video program; and    automatically recording the defined format video program when not recording the selected video programming.    
     
     
         25 . The method as recited by  claim 24  wherein the defined video format program is stored in a selected location based on the defined video format program content.  
     
     
         26 . A video data recorder comprising: 
 a recording medium for recording video signals;    a video signal input port for receiving video signals;    an input port for receiving a channel guide database;    data storage for storing the channel guide database;    a processor coupled in communication with the channel guide database to control the recording of video signals received on the video signal input port onto the recording medium based on the channel guide database; and    a selection system for allowing a user to specify criteria for recording of shows received from video input port based on information in the channel guide database, wherein the selection system selects future shows based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of the user specified criteria and the channel guide, and wherein the selection system selects for removal a previously recorded show having a lower priority than the future shows if insufficient capacity exists on the recording medium for recording the future shows.    
     
     
         27 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 26  wherein the video signal input port is selected from cable, satellite and broadcast.  
     
     
         28 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 26  wherein the recording medium is a randomly accessible recording medium.  
     
     
         29 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 26  further comprising a data store storing a criteria database.  
     
     
         30 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 29  wherein the criteria database stores criteria information from a first user.  
     
     
         31 . The video data recorder as recited by  claim 29  wherein the criteria database stores criteria information from the first user and a second user.  
     
     
         32 . A video recorder comprising: 
 receiving means for receiving a video signal;    video storage means for recording the video signal;    selection means for selecting the video signal based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of user defined criteria and a channel guide database, wherein the selection means further selects for removal a previously recorded video having a lower priority than the selected video signal if insufficient capacity exists for recording the video signal on the video storage means.    
     
     
         33 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 32  wherein the video storage means comprises a random access storage device.  
     
     
         34 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 32  wherein the video storage means is a disk.  
     
     
         35 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 32  further comprising an input for receiving updates to the channel guide database.  
     
     
         36 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 32  wherein the selection means is a processor.  
     
     
         37 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 32  wherein the video signal is stored in a personal channel.  
     
     
         38 . A video recorder comprising: 
 a video input coupled to receive a video signal received from a video source;    a personal channel coupled to allow storage of future video signals from the video input based on one of either pattern matching or fuzzy logic analysis of user desired characteristics stored in a user preference database with the content of the video signal, and    wherein the personal channel further allows for removal of previously stored video signals of a lower priority than the future video signals when the storage is insufficient to record the future video signals.    
     
     
         39 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 38  wherein the video input is coupled to receive video signals from a video source chosen from the group of broadcast television signals, cable television signal or satellite signals.  
     
     
         40 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 38  further comprising a channel guide database storing information on the content of video signals to be received on the video input.  
     
     
         41 . A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: 
 select video programming for recording;    receive a signal of a defined format video program;    record the defined format video program when not recording the selected video programming.    
     
     
         42 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 41  wherein the defined video format program is stored in a selected location based on content contained in the defined video format program.  
     
     
         43 . A video data recorder comprising: 
 a recording medium;    a video signal input port;    a criteria database indicating a defined format video program;    a processor coupled in communication with the criteria database and coupled to control the recording of video signals received on the video signal port onto the recording medium, wherein the processor selects video programming for recording, receives a signal of the defined format video program from the video signal input port, and records the defined format video program on the recording medium when not recording the selected video programming.    
     
     
         44 . A method comprising: 
 designating a priority to a future show for recording based on a set of criteria;    determining if there is sufficient memory to record the future show;    if insufficient memory exists for recording the future show, removing one or more previously recorded shows designated with lower priorities than the priority of the future show, wherein the priorities of the previously recorded shows are based on the set of criteria; and    recording the future show.    
     
     
         45 . A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: 
 designate a priority to a future show for recording based on a set of criteria;    determine if there is sufficient memory to record the future show;    if insufficient memory exists for recording the future show, remove one or more previously recorded shows designated with priorities based on the set of criteria that are lower than the priority of the future show; and    record the future show.