Systems and methods for interactive program guides with personal video recording features

Abstract

Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A storage manager for a video recorder comprising:
 a user input device for receiving a user selection of one or more shows for recording;   a storage device for storing said selected one or more shows when they are broadcast;   control circuitry configured to:
 determine, based on priorities respectively related to a plurality of shows that are stored in said storage device, an estimated time until said control circuitry will delete each of said plurality of shows; and 
   a display for providing an interface screen, said interface screen presenting:
 a plurality of listings, each of which corresponding to one of said plurality of shows; and 
 a visual indication of the determined estimated time until said control circuitry will delete at least said one of said plurality of shows, said visual indication being simultaneously displayed with said plurality of listings. 
   
     
     
         30 . The storage manager of  claim 29  wherein said interface screen further presents said priorities and allows a user to change said priorities. 
     
     
         31 . The storage manager of  claim 29 , wherein said control circuitry provides a option associated with a specific show to keep the show longer and wherein said control circuitry changes a priority of said specific show in response to receiving a user selection of said option. 
     
     
         32 . The storage manager of  claim 29 , wherein said plurality of listings are presented in a list, said interface screen configured to provide:
 a dragging mechanism configured to allow said user to access one of said plurality of listings in said list; and   a dropping mechanism configured to allow said user to reorder said list by dropping said one of said listings in a new location in said list.   
     
     
         33 . The storage manager of  claim 29  wherein said interface screen displays an icon corresponding to said estimated time until said control circuitry will delete at least said one of said plurality of shows. 
     
     
         34 . The storage manager of  claim 29  wherein said control circuitry examines said plurality of shows to determine whether one or more of said plurality of shows is a part of a series, wherein said control circuitry limits a number of shows of said series that are to be saved by said control circuitry, and wherein said control circuitry deletes a show of said series from said storage device when said number exceeds said limit. 
     
     
         35 . The storage manager of  claim 29  further comprising an interactive program guide (IPG) for:
 receiving said user selection from said input device; and 
 directing said display to provide said interface screen. 
 
     
     
         36 . The storage manager of  claim 35  wherein said plurality of shows are represented by one or more cells in said interactive program guide. 
     
     
         37 . A method for managing a storage device, the method comprising:
 receiving a user selection of one or more shows for recording;   storing said one or more selected shows in said storage device when they are broadcast;   assigning priorities respectively to a plurality of shows that are stored in said storage device;   processing storage data associated with said plurality of shows to determine, based on said assigned priorities, an estimated time until each of said plurality of shows will be deleted from said storage device;   displaying a plurality of listings, each of which corresponding to one of said plurality of shows; and   providing a visual indication of the determined estimated time until at least said one of said plurality of shows will be deleted from said storage device, said visual indication being simultaneously displayed with said plurality of listings.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 presenting said priorities to a user; and 
 changing said priorities in response to receiving a request from said user. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 providing an option associated with a specific show to a user to keep the show longer; and 
 changing a priority of said specific show in response to receiving a user selection of said option. 
 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said plurality of listings are presented in a list, the method further comprising:
 allowing a user to drag one of said listings in said list;   allowing a user to drop said one of said listings in a new location in said list; and   re-ordering said list.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein providing a visual indication comprises:
 displaying an icon corresponding to said estimated time until each of said plurality of shows will be deleted from said storage device.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 examining said shows; 
 determining whether one or more of said plurality of shows is part of a series; 
 obtaining a limit to a number of shows of said series that are to be saved; and 
 deleting a show of said series from said storage device when said number exceeds said limit. 
 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said user selection is received by an interactive program guide, and wherein said plurality of listings are provided by said interactive program guide. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said plurality of shows are represented by one or more cells in said interactive program guide.