Multimedia Device Automatic Recording Scheduling via Calendar Conflict Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often forget to schedule recordings of programs they are interested in, especially when they are busy or away from their recording devices, leading to a need for automatic scheduling methods and systems for digital video recorders.
Innovation Solution
A multimedia device that tracks viewing history and maintains a view count for programs, receives calendar information, and automatically schedules recordings when time slots overlap or encompass program viewing times, using a database to select programs for recording based on available tuners and view count values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual scheduling is used, then user control over recording is maintained, but users may forget or be unable to schedule recordings when busy or away
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting calendar conflicts and scheduling recordings without user intervention. The multimedia device monitors calendar data, identifies overlapping time slots, and autonomously schedules program recordings, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous manual user input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by proactively checking calendar data before recording conflicts occur. It identifies potential scheduling conflicts in advance and pre-schedules recordings automatically, preventing missed recordings before they happen rather than reacting after the fact.
2Reliability
If automatic scheduling is implemented, then recordings are captured even when users are unavailable, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multimedia device performs multiple functions: it acts as a calendar application, a program guide, a conflict detection system, and a recording scheduler all in one device. By consolidating these functions into a single universal platform, the system avoids the complexity of multiple separate systems while achieving reliable automatic scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary approach by introducing a scheduling module that mediates between calendar data and recording operations. This intermediary layer processes calendar information, identifies conflicts, and translates them into recording schedules, simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling automatic functionality.
3Extent of automation
If calendar data is integrated, then automatic conflict detection is enabled, but data management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges calendar data management with existing program guide and recording scheduling functions into a unified data structure. By combining these data elements and their management logic into a single integrated system, the patent reduces the complexity that would arise from managing separate calendar and recording systems independently.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media may be operable to facilitate recording scheduling based on calendar information. A multimedia device may track viewing history by one or more devices and/or one or more users, and the multimedia device may maintain a view count for one or more programs being viewed at certain times. The multimedia device may receive calendar information associated with one or more users, wherein the calendar information includes one or more calendar entries. The multimedia device may determine whether any time slots associated with the calendar entries overlap or encompass any time slots associated with one or more programs that are typically viewed according to the viewing history, and if a time slot associated with a calendar entry does overlap or encompass a time slot of one or more programs, the multimedia device may automatically schedule the one or more programs for recording.