Data storage management and scheduling system

Abstract

A data storage management and scheduling system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of television and Web page program material on a client system storage medium. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's scheduled program recordings. The programs include television broadcast programs and Universal Resource Locators (URLs). A program is recorded if at all times between when the recording would be initiated and when it expires, sufficient space is available to hold it. All scheduling conflicts are resolved as early as possible.

1 . A method, comprising:
 storing program guide data describing program material and including at least a description of program material contents, the program material including at least broadcast programs and web programs;   storing an aggregation object that references multiple programs in the program guide data, the aggregation object associated with at least a particular broadcast program and at least a particular web program;   based on input requesting recording for the aggregation object, generating a schedule for recording specific programs associated with the aggregation object on at least one storage device, the specific programs including at least the particular broadcast program;   recording the specific programs in accordance with the schedule;   listing programs associated with the aggregation object together in a directory for the aggregation object, the presented programs including at least the specific programs and the particular web program;   playing a program associated with the aggregation object responsive to selection of the program.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregation object further comprises a textual description, a screen-based icon, and other informational attributes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple programs referenced by the aggregation object are a collection of programs associated with a same event, person, or brand. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple programs are a collection of programs identified based on viewing behavior across multiple client devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specific programs that are recorded in accordance with the schedule further include the particular web program. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the schedule comprises comparing preference data for the aggregation object to preference data for individual programs that are not associated with the aggregation object to resolve recording conflicts between the individual programs and the multiple programs associated with the aggregation object. 
     
     
         7 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing software instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of:
 storing program guide data describing program material and including at least a description of program material contents, the program material including at least broadcast programs and web programs;   storing an aggregation object that references multiple programs in the program guide data, the aggregation object associated with at least a particular broadcast program and at least a particular web program;   based on input requesting recording for the aggregation object, generating a schedule for recording specific programs associated with the aggregation object on at least one storage device, the specific programs including at least the particular broadcast program;   recording the specific programs in accordance with the schedule;   listing programs associated with the aggregation object together in a directory for the aggregation object, the presented programs including at least the specific programs and the particular web program;   playing a program associated with the aggregation object responsive to selection of the program.   
     
     
         8 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the aggregation object further comprises a textual description, a screen-based icon, and other informational attributes. 
     
     
         9 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the multiple programs referenced by the aggregation object are a collection of programs associated with a same event, person, or brand. 
     
     
         10 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the multiple programs are a collection of programs identified based on viewing behavior across multiple client devices. 
     
     
         11 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the specific programs that are recorded in accordance with the schedule further include the particular web program. 
     
     
         12 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 7 , wherein generating the schedule comprises comparing preference data for the aggregation object to preference data for individual programs that are not associated with the aggregation object to resolve recording conflicts between the individual programs and the multiple programs associated with the aggregation object. 
     
     
         13 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the program guide data comprises program guide objects describing particular programs of the television broadcast programs and web programs, a program guide object of the program guide objects including at least a title and description of a corresponding content item;   wherein a given program guide object further includes one or more of: a rating attribute, an actor attribute, or a director attribute;   wherein the given program object describes a particular television program, movie, advertisement, or trailer.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a subsystem configured to store program guide data describing program material and including at least a description of program material contents, the program material including at least broadcast programs and web programs;   a subsystem configured to store an aggregation object that references multiple programs in the program guide data, the aggregation object associated with at least a particular broadcast program and at least a particular web program;   a subsystem configured to, based on input requesting recording for the aggregation object, generate a schedule for recording specific programs associated with the aggregation object on at least one storage device, the specific programs including at least the particular broadcast program;   a subsystem configured to record the specific programs in accordance with the schedule;   a subsystem configured to list programs associated with the aggregation object together in a directory for the aggregation object, the presented programs including at least the specific programs and the particular web program;   a subsystem configured to play a program associated with the aggregation object responsive to selection of the program.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the aggregation object further comprises a textual description, a screen-based icon, and other informational attributes. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the multiple programs referenced by the aggregation object are a collection of programs associated with a same event, person, or brand. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the multiple programs are a collection of programs identified based on viewing behavior across multiple client devices. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the specific programs that are recorded in accordance with the schedule further include the particular web program. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein generating the schedule comprises comparing preference data for the aggregation object to preference data for individual programs that are not associated with the aggregation object to resolve recording conflicts between the individual programs and the multiple programs associated with the aggregation object. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the program guide data comprises program guide objects describing particular programs of the television broadcast programs and web programs, a program guide object of the program guide objects including at least a title and description of a corresponding content item;   wherein a given program guide object further includes one or more of: a rating attribute, an actor attribute, or a director attribute;   wherein the given program object describes a particular television program, movie, advertisement, or trailer.