Personal video recording with apportioned loans of storage space

摘要

Automated personal video recording, including recording, for a group comprising a number of members, a show having a storage space requirement, in which each of the members has allocated storage space on a personal video recorder (“PVR”) optionally including free space, and apportioning the show's storage space requirement, including apportioning to each member an apportioned amount of the show's storage space requirement. When a member's apportioned amount of the show's storage space requirement exceeds the member's free space by a deficit amount: selecting, in dependence upon the deficit amount, one or more lenders; borrowing, in dependence upon the deficit amount, from the lenders for the group, at least one loan amount of storage space; and apportioning the loan amount among the members.

主权项

1. A method for automated personal video recording, the method comprising:
determining a storage space requirement for storing a show in a personal video recorder (“PVR”) for a group comprising a number of members, the show having a storage space requirement, wherein each of the members has allocated storage space on the PVR optionally including free space, and wherein the members of the group share a joint ownership of the show; apportioning the show's storage space requirement, including apportioning to each member an apportioned amount of the show's storage space requirement; responsive to a member opting out of the apportionment of the show's storage space requirement by opting out of the group's joint ownership of the show, reapportioning the show's storage space requirement by reapportioning to each remaining member a reapportioned amount of the show's storage space requirement; and recording the show in the allocated storage space on the PVR.