Optimally Selecting Partial Tv Programs

摘要

A system ( 600 ), apparatus ( 500 ), and method are provided to select a best set of TV programs for reception and recording by at least one tuner said TV programs being broadcast during a given time period [b, e] having a beginning time b and an ending time e. Partial and entire TV programs are considered and for each partial or entire TV program a user preference value is provided for its reception and recording. A minimum-cost network algorithm is used that solves the selection and viewing problem to optimality (guaranteed).