Systems and methods for alerting users of the postponed recording of programs

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein in relation to notifications about alternative viewing opportunities for recording and playback of media programs. In particular, the systems and methods provide users with information related to alternative recorded programming viewing opportunities for programs scheduled for recording by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A method comprising:
 receiving, with control circuitry, a request from a user to record a media asset;   determining the media asset is not available for recording;   determining whether the media asset is available in a video-on-demand (VOD) database; and   in response to determining the media asset is available in the VOD database, adding the media asset from the VOD database to a program listing for user consumption.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 notifying the user of an alternative recorded program viewing opportunity, wherein the alternative recorded program viewing opportunity comprises the added media asset to the program listing;   generating for display an option to view the alternative recorded program viewing opportunity; and   in response to receiving a selection of the option to view the alternative recorded program viewing opportunity, generating for display a user interface representing the program listing on a display device.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the determining the media asset is not available for recording comprises:
 receiving, with the control circuitry, updated scheduling information associated with a plurality of media asset listings; and   in response to receiving the updated scheduling information, determining, using the control circuitry, based on the updated scheduling information, the media asset scheduled to be recorded at a first time is no longer scheduled to be transmitted at the first time and will no longer be recorded.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 detecting a recording conflict with the media asset at a first time; and   determining the request to record the media asset is to be canceled at the first time based on a conflict resolution, wherein the conflict resolution is based on any of priorities assigned to conflicting scheduled recordings, existence of re-transmissions of the conflicting scheduled recordings, and intended viewing time frames.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the determining whether the media asset is available in the video-on-demand (VOD) database comprises:
 accessing, with the control circuitry, a VOD server hosting the VOD database;   comparing the media asset to one or more media assets in the VOD database; and   in response to matching the media asset with the one or more media assets in the VOD database, transmitting the one or more media assets from the VOD server to user equipment.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the one or more media assets from the video-on-demand server air on a different channel than the media asset. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the added media asset to the program listing includes a rain check icon and a video-on-demand (VOD) icon. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising, in response to the determining the media asset is not available for recording:
 identifying one or more alternative media assets each with similar subject matter to the media asset; and   adding the one or more alternative media assets to a second program listing for user consumption.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein each of the one or more alternative media assets is available in the video-on-demand database. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein each of the added one or more alternative media assets to the second program listing includes a rain check icon and an alternative (ALT) icon. 
     
     
         68 . A system comprising:
 memory; and   control circuitry configured to:
 receive a request from a user to record a media asset; 
 determine the media asset is not available for recording; 
 determine whether the media asset is available in a video-on-demand (VOD) database; and 
 in response to determining the media asset is available in the VOD database, add the media asset from the VOD database to a program listing for user consumption. 
   
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 notify the user of an alternative recorded program viewing opportunity, wherein the alternative recorded program viewing opportunity comprises the added media asset to the program listing;   generate for display an option to view the alternative recorded program viewing opportunity; and   in response to receiving a selection of the option to view the alternative recorded program viewing opportunity, generate for display a user interface representing the program listing on a display device.   
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the control circuitry, when determining the media asset is not available for recording, is configured to:
 receive updated scheduling information associated with a plurality of media asset listings; and   in response to receiving the updated scheduling information, determine, based on the updated scheduling information, the media asset scheduled to be recorded at a first time is no longer scheduled to be transmitted at the first time and will no longer be recorded.   
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 detect a recording conflict with the media asset at a first time;   determine the request to record the media asset is to be canceled at the first time based on a conflict resolution, wherein the conflict resolution is based on any of priorities assigned to conflicting scheduled recordings, existence of re-transmissions of the conflicting scheduled recordings, and intended viewing time frames.   
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the control circuitry, when determining whether the media asset is available in the video-on-demand (VOD) database, is configured to:
 access a VOD server hosting the VOD database;   compare the media asset to one or more media assets in the VOD database; and   in response to matching the media asset with the one or more media assets in the VOD database, transmit the one or more media assets from the VOD server to user equipment.   
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 73 , wherein the one or more media assets from the video-on-demand server air on a different channel than the media asset. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the added media asset to the program listing includes a rain check icon and a video-on-demand (VOD) icon. 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the control circuitry, in response to determining the media asset is not available for recording, is further configured to:
 identify one or more alternative media assets each with similar subject matter to the media asset; and   add the one or more alternative media assets to a second program listing for user consumption.   
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein each of the one or more alternative media assets is available in the video-on-demand database. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein each of the added one or more alternative media assets to the second program listing includes a rain check icon and an alternative (ALT) icon.