Systems and methods for recording programs of lesser interest when convenient

Abstract

Systems and methods for recording a program are provided. Alternate transmissions of a program with a “when convenient” recording priority may be recorded in whole or in portions whenever recording does not interfere with other uses of the user's equipment. When the recording device is out of space to record programs, recorded programs having a “when convenient” deletion priority may be deleted and scheduled for re-recording at a later time.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 identifying a first media asset for recording on a storage device;   replacing a second media asset stored on the storage device with a recording of the first media asset on the storage device based on a deletion priority associated with the second media asset; and   selecting a future transmission of the second media asset for recording on the storage device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein replacing the second media asset on the storage device comprises deleting the second media asset. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising recording the future transmission of the second media asset. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising determining an amount of space needed to record the first media asset. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the amount of space needed to record the first media asset is substantially less than or equal to an amount of space consumed by the second media asset. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising setting a user defined deletion priority for the future transmission of the second media asset. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising deleting the second media asset from the device in response to determining that the second media asset has been viewed by a user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising in response to determining that the second media asset is associated with a deletion priority that permits deleting, alerting the user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising prompting the user to delete the second media asset. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising in response to determining that there is no future transmission of the second media asset, alerting the user. 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 control circuitry configured to:
 identify a first media asset for recording on a storage device; 
 replace a second media asset stored on the storage device with a recording of the first media asset on the storage device based on a deletion priority associated with the second media asset; and 
 select a future transmission of the second media asset for recording on the storage device. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein replacing the second media asset on the storage device comprises deleting the second media asset. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to record the future transmission of the second media asset. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine an amount of space needed to record the first media asset. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the amount of space needed to record the first media asset is substantially less than or equal to an amount of space consumed by the second media asset. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to set a user defined deletion priority for the future transmission of the second media asset. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to delete the second media asset from the device in response to determining that the second media asset has been viewed by a user. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to alert the user in response to determining that the second media asset is associated with a deletion priority that permits deleting. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to prompt the user to delete the second media asset. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to alert the user in response to determining that there is no future transmission of the second media asset second.