Media Guidance Application Storage Management via Viewing Progress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in managing storage capacity on digital video recorders (DVRs) due to series recordings, leading to storage overflow, as existing solutions are either too aggressive or assume a one-size-fits-all approach to determining user interest based on viewing habits.
Innovation Solution
A media guidance application that monitors viewing progress and available storage to dynamically adjust series recording instructions, allowing users to customize thresholds and manage storage efficiently by modifying or canceling series recording instructions based on aggregated viewing progress and storage availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If series recording instructions are automatically deleted after a threshold amount of time or after user watches the media asset, then storage capacity is managed, but users may have to manually go through a large number of media assets to determine which to delete, and the one-size-fits-all approach may delete series recording instructions prematurely before user finishes watching
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically manages series recording instructions by monitoring user viewing progress and storage capacity, eliminating the need for manual user intervention. The media guidance application self-adjusts recording instructions based on aggregated viewing progress metrics and available storage, performing the management task autonomously without requiring users to manually review or delete recordings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops by continuously monitoring user viewing progress and storage capacity, then adjusting series recording instructions accordingly. The media guidance application receives feedback about how many episodes users have watched and uses this information to dynamically modify future recording behavior, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to user needs.
2Quantity of substance
If series recording instructions are deleted based on user not viewing a threshold number of episodes, then storage capacity is preserved, but the approach assumes that a user not watching a threshold number of episodes means they are not interested in the series, which may not be true for all users
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, fixed threshold deletion rules to dynamic, adaptive recording management. The media guidance application continuously adjusts series recording instructions based on real-time monitoring of user viewing progress and storage capacity, allowing the system to adapt its behavior to individual user patterns and changing conditions rather than applying rigid predetermined rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of deletion thresholds from fixed values to dynamically calculated values based on aggregated viewing progress. Instead of using a static threshold that applies to all users, the system calculates customized thresholds based on individual user viewing habits and storage availability, allowing flexible accommodation of different user preferences and behaviors.
3Device complexity
If a fixed threshold approach is used to delete series recording instructions, then storage management is simplified, but users who prefer to wait to view a series until every episode is recorded or who are not worried about watching immediately may have their series recording instructions deleted inappropriately
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the deletion decision process into multiple components: monitoring user viewing progress, assessing storage capacity, calculating aggregated viewing progress, and then determining whether to modify recording instructions. This segmented approach allows for more nuanced and accurate decision-making compared to a single fixed threshold, improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are presented for modifying scheduled storage of a series as a function of available storage. For example, a media guidance application (e.g., executed on a set- top box) monitors both the viewing progress of previously stored episodes of the series as well as the amount of available storage remaining on a storage device. The media guidance application then calculates, by inputting the current amount of available storage (e.g., 20% available) into a function of available storage, a threshold viewing progress (e.g., 50%). The media guidance application then determines from the viewing progress of the user through the episodes of the series whether the user has met the calculated threshold viewing progress (e.g., the user has watched 50% of the stored episodes). If the threshold viewing progress is not met, then the media guidance application modifies the series recording instruction (e.g., cancels the series recording).