Intelligent recording of favorite video content using a video services receiver

Abstract

A video services receiver and related operating methods are presented here. The video services receiver is configured to maintain a database that indicates a viewing pattern for a user of the video services receiver. The video services receiver is configured to detect a condition that is inconsistent with the maintained viewing pattern for the user. In response to the detection of an inconsistent condition, the video services receiver records a designated program event included in the viewing pattern for the user, wherein the recording addresses the detected condition. In some scenarios, the receiver buffers the designated program event to allow the user to view the entirety of the buffered program event. In other scenarios, the receiver records the designated program event and sends a notification to the user when the receiver determines that the user is absent or is not viewing any programming from the receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a video services receiver, the method comprising:
 maintaining, at the video services receiver, a database that indicates a viewing pattern for a user of the video services receiver;   detecting a condition that is inconsistent with the maintained viewing pattern for the user; and   in response to the detecting, recording a designated program event included in the viewing pattern for the user, wherein the recording addresses the detected condition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the viewing pattern identifies favorite channels of the user; and   the designated program event corresponds to one of the favorite channels.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the viewing pattern identifies time slots for the favorite channels. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the viewing pattern identifies days and time slots for the favorite channels. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the viewing pattern identifies favorite program events of the user; and   the designated program event is one of the identified favorite program events.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring, at the video services receiver, ongoing viewing habits of the user; and   automatically updating the viewing pattern in response to the monitored ongoing viewing habits of the user.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the viewing pattern includes entries created by the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises:
 determining that the video services receiver is currently tuned to an ongoing program event that conflicts with a scheduled start time of the designated program event.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises:
 determining that the video services receiver is not in use by the user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 in response to the determining, sending a notification to the user, wherein the notification indicates that the designated program event has been or will be recorded.   
     
     
         11 . A video services receiver for providing recorded and non-recorded content to a user, the video services receiver comprising:
 a receiver interface to receive data associated with video services;   a recording module coupled to the receiver interface to record program events provided by the video services;   at least one data storage element coupled to the recording module to store recorded content for the recording module;   a display interface for a display operatively coupled to the video services receiver, the display interface facilitating presentation of recorded and non-recorded program events on the display; and   a processor coupled to the receiver interface, the recording module, the at least one data storage element, and the display interface, wherein the processor detects a condition that is inconsistent with a maintained viewing pattern for a user of the video services receiver, and, in response to the detected condition, activates the recording module to record a designated program event included in the maintained viewing pattern.   
     
     
         12 . The video services receiver of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the viewing pattern identifies favorite channels of the user; and   the designated program event corresponds to one of the favorite channels.   
     
     
         13 . The video services receiver of  claim 12 , wherein the viewing pattern identifies days and time slots for the favorite channels. 
     
     
         14 . The video services receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to monitor ongoing viewing habits of the user and, in response to the monitored ongoing viewing habits, automatically update the viewing pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The video services receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the detected condition corresponds to a condition where the video services receiver is currently tuned to an ongoing program event that conflicts with a scheduled start time of the designated program event. 
     
     
         16 . The video services receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the detected condition corresponds to a standby state of the video services receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The video services receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the detected condition corresponds to a standby state of a display element associated with the video services receiver. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a video services receiver, the method comprising:
 maintaining, at the video services receiver, a database that indicates a favorite program event having a scheduled start time;   detecting that the video services receiver is currently tuned to an ongoing program event that conflicts with the scheduled start time of the favorite program event; and   in response to the detecting, automatically recording the favorite program event at a time that is no later than the scheduled start time of the favorite program event.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 monitoring, at the video services receiver, ongoing viewing habits of the user;   designating favorite program events for the user, based on the monitored ongoing viewing habits; and   automatically updating the database with the designated favorite program events.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 in response to the detecting, sending a notification to the user, wherein the notification indicates that the favorite program event has been or will be recorded.   
     
     
         21 . A method of operating a video services receiver having an associated display element configured to display content provided by the video services receiver, the method comprising:
 maintaining, at the video services receiver, a database that indicates a favorite program event having a scheduled start time;   detecting that the video services receiver is currently in a receiver standby mode, that the display element is currently in a display standby mode, or that the video services receiver is currently in the receiver standby mode and the display element is currently in the display standby mode; and   in response to the detecting, automatically recording the favorite program event at a time that is no later than the scheduled start time of the favorite program event.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 monitoring, at the video services receiver, ongoing viewing habits of the user;   designating favorite program events for the user, based on the monitored ongoing viewing habits; and   automatically updating the database with the designated favorite program events.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 in response to the detecting, sending a notification to the user, wherein the notification indicates that the favorite program event has been or will be recorded.