Systems and methods for recording programs using a network recording device as supplemental storage

Abstract

Systems and methods for recording programs using a user's equipment and a network recording device are provided. An interactive television application may determine whether the user's equipment has sufficient resources (e.g., tuners or space) to record a program selected for recording. If the interactive television application determines that the user's equipment does not have sufficient resources, the interactive television application may select, automatically or in response to a user instruction, the program for recording with a network recording device. In some embodiments, the user may have to pay for the use of the network recording device, or may be required to purchase a given tier level of service. The interactive television application may play back programs from the network recording device as VOD offerings, or may direct the network recording device to transfer recorded programs to the user's equipment when it has sufficient resources.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for storing media content on a network storage device, the method comprising:
 determining whether storing a plurality of media assets will exceed resources associated with a user equipment device;   in response to determining that storing the plurality of media assets will exceed the resources associated with the user equipment device, selecting, based on a first criterion, a first group of at least one of the plurality of media assets for storage on the user equipment device and selecting, based on a second criterion, a second group of at least one of the plurality of media assets for storage on the network recording device;   determining a media asset already stored on the network recording device;   comparing the media asset to the first group to determine whether the media asset corresponds to the first group; and   in response to determining that the media asset corresponds to the first group, determining not to store the media asset at the user equipment device.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the resources include space for performing recordings. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 in response to determining that storing the plurality of media assets will not exceed the resources associated with the user equipment device, canceling performing the recording with the network recording device and performing the recording with the user's equipment. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first criterion comprises a user selection. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first criterion includes at least one of a recording priority and a program attribute. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the media asset already stored on the network recording device is a video-on-demand offering. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising in response to determining that the media asset corresponds to the second group, determining not to store the media asset at the network recording device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 transferring the media asset already stored on the network recording device; and 
 deleting the transferred media asset already stored on the network recording device from the network recording device. 
 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising receiving a user instruction to purchase space in the network recording device. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising generating for display a list of media assets already stored on the network recording device. 
     
     
         37 . A system for storing media content on a network storage device, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:
 determine whether storing a plurality of media assets will exceed resources associated with a user equipment device;   in response to determining that storing the plurality of media assets will exceed the resources associated with the user equipment device, select, based on a first criterion, a first group of at least one of the plurality of media assets for storage on the user equipment device and select, based on a second criterion, a second group of at least one of the plurality of media assets for storage on the network recording device;   determine a media asset already stored on the network recording device;   compare the media asset to the first group to determine whether the media asset corresponds to the first group; and   in response to determining that the media asset corresponds to the first group, determine not to store the media asset at the user equipment device.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the resources include space for performing recordings. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 in response to determining that storing the plurality of media assets will not exceed the resources associated with the user equipment device, cancel performing the recording with the network recording device and perform the recording with the user's equipment.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the first criterion comprises a user selection. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the first criterion includes at least one of a recording priority and a program attribute. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the media asset already stored on the network recording device is a video-on-demand offering. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to in response to determining that the media asset corresponds to the second group, determine not to store the media asset at the network recording device. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 transfer the media asset already stored on the network recording device; and   delete the transferred media asset already stored on the network recording device from the network recording device.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive a user instruction to purchase space in the network recording device. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display a list of media assets already stored on the network recording device.