Conflict manager for a video recorder

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a conflict manager for a personal video recorder. An embodiment of the present invention includes a set-top box having an internal hard drive or other storage device where broadcasts are transferred to the storage device. The set-top box is connected to an output device such as a television, which displays a graphical user interface (GUI) and an interactive program guide (IPG). The IPG displays a list of broadcasts that are available by tuning to different channels. The GUI allows the user to navigate the IPG, for instance, by viewing different times and dates for broadcasts. The GUI also allows the user to activate a video recorder within the set-top box, by navigating the IPG and selecting broadcasts to later transfer to the storage device. The user may select multiple broadcasts to transfer, may repeatedly transfer the same program, or may repeatedly transfer the same program in a series. When a conflict arises the present invention is configured to automatically or manually resolve the conflict.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A video recorder configured to solve tuner conflicts, the video recorder comprising:
 at least one television tuner configured to receive a plurality of shows;   a storage device configured to store at least one show received by the at least one television tuner; and   a conflict manager configured to:   maintain a list of shows that are scheduled for storage on the storage device, wherein the list includes a first show and a second show;   determine that there is a tuner conflict when part of the first show and part of the second show are scheduled for storage using the at least one tuner at the same time;   identify at least one segment of the second show that is not scheduled for storage using the at least one tuner at the same time as the first show;   initiate the storage of the first show on the storage device using the at least one tuner; and   initiate the storage of the at least one identified segment of the second show on the storage device using the at least one tuner.   
     
     
         42 . The video recorder of  claim 41 , wherein the conflict manager is further configured to:
 compare priorities assigned to the first show and the second show to determine which of the shows has a higher priority and which of the shows has a lower priority; and   determine that the first show has the higher priority and the second show has the lower priority based on the comparison;   wherein the identification of the at least one segment of the second show is performed in response to the determination that the second show has the lower priority.   
     
     
         43 . The video recorder of  claim 42 , wherein the priority of the first show and the priority of the second show are automatically assigned, and wherein the automatic assignment of priority to a given show is based on at least one of a length of the given show, a type of the given show, whether the given show was scheduled for storage automatically or manually, and whether the storage of the given show has already commenced. 
     
     
         44 . The video recorder of  claim 41 , wherein the conflict manager is further configured to:
 search through an interactive program guide to determine whether the first show and the second show are scheduled to be broadcast again at a later time;   wherein the identification of the at least one segment of the second show is performed in response to determining that the second show is scheduled to be broadcast again at a later time and the first show is not scheduled to be broadcast again at a later time.   
     
     
         45 . The video recorder of  claim 41 , wherein the conflict manager is further configured to:
 determine that the part of the second show scheduled for storage using the at least one tuner at the same time as the part of the first show is an extended part of the second show that occurs outside a time interval defined by a start time and an end time pre-associated with the second show;   wherein the identification of the at least one segment of the second show is performed in response to the determination that the part of the second show is an extended part of the second show; and   wherein the at least one segment of the second show is the entire second show less the extended part.   
     
     
         46 . The video recorder of  claim 45 , wherein the video recorder is configured to automatically extend the second show to include the extended part. 
     
     
         47 . The video recorder of  claim 45 , wherein the video recorder is configured to extend the second show to include the extended part in response to a user indication. 
     
     
         48 . The video recorder of  claim 41 , wherein the conflict manager is further configured to search through an interactive program guide to locate a later broadcast of the second show. 
     
     
         49 . The video recorder of  claim 48 , wherein the conflict manager is further configured to schedule the later broadcast for storage. 
     
     
         50 . The video recorder of  claim 41 , wherein the conflict manager is further configured to provide a user with an opportunity to cancel the first show or the second show in order to solve the tuner conflict. 
     
     
         51 . A method for solving tuner conflicts, the method comprising:
 maintaining a list of shows that are scheduled for storage on a storage device, wherein the list includes a first show and a second show;   determining that there is a tuner conflict when part of the first show and part of the second show are scheduled for storage using a tuner at the same time;   identifying at least one segment of the second show that is not scheduled for storage using the tuner at the same time as the first show;   initiating the storage of the first show on the storage device using the tuner; and   initiating the storage of the at least one identified segment of the second show on the storage device using the tuner.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  further comprising:
 comparing priorities assigned to the first show and the second show to determine which of the shows has a higher priority and which of the shows has a lower priority; and   determining that the first show has the higher priority and the second show has the lower priority based on the comparison;   wherein the identification of the at least one segment of the second show is performed in response to the determination that the second show has the lower priority.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising automatically assigning the priority of the first show and the priority of the second show, wherein the automatic assignment of priority to a given show is based on at least one of a length of the given show, a type of the given show, whether the given show was scheduled for storage automatically or manually, and whether the storage of the given show has already commenced. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51  further comprising:
 searching through an interactive program guide to determine whether the first show and the second show are scheduled to be broadcast again at a later time;   wherein the identification of the at least one segment of the second show is performed in response to determining that the second show is scheduled to be broadcast again at a later time and the first show is not scheduled to be broadcast again at a later time.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51  further comprising:
 determining that the part of the second show scheduled for storage using the tuner at the same time as the part of the first show is an extended part of the second show that occurs outside a time interval defined by a start time and an end time pre-associated with the second show;   wherein the identification of the at least one segment of the second show is performed in response to the determination that the part of the second show is an extended part of the second show; and   wherein the at least one segment of the second show is the entire second show less the extended part.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising automatically extending the second show to include the extended part. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising extending the second show to include the extended part in response to a user indication. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 51  further comprising searching through an interactive program guide to locate a later broadcast of the second show. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  further comprising scheduling the later broadcast for storage. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 51  further comprising providing a user with an opportunity to cancel the first show or the second show in order to solve the tuner conflict.