Time Shift Buffer Management for PVR Disk Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current personal video recording (PVR) systems are confusing and inefficient for users, as they struggle to manage multiple media content choices and view desirable content due to complex buffering mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for maintaining a time shift buffer that allows users to easily convert temporary media content recordings to permanent recordings, optimizing hard disk space by automatically deleting earliest temporary files when capacity is exceeded and allocating non-buffer space for permanent recordings, while providing user-friendly interface overlays to manage recordings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a time shift buffer is implemented to store multiple media content instances, then viewing opportunities are preserved and viewing conflicts are reduced, but the system becomes confusing to users and inefficient in managing disk space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the buffer management into distinct functional areas: a time-shift buffer for temporary storage and a permanent recording area for user-selected content. This segmentation allows users to interact with simple, well-defined operations (convert, delete, pause) rather than navigating complex buffer states, thereby reducing user confusion while preserving viewing opportunities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary conversion mechanism where temporary buffer content can be selectively converted to permanent recordings. This intermediary step simplifies user interaction by providing a clear, single-action interface (convert) rather than requiring users to understand and manage multiple buffer states and deletion policies simultaneously
2Quantity of substance
If the time shift buffer capacity is increased to store more media content instances, then more viewing choices are available, but hard disk space is consumed inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic buffer capacity management where the buffer automatically adjusts its effective capacity based on user actions. When users convert temporary content to permanent recordings, the buffer releases disk space dynamically. This allows the system to maintain adequate buffer capacity for viewing flexibility while efficiently releasing space for permanent content, eliminating the need to over-provision buffer space
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables automatic discarding of temporary buffer content when permanent recordings are created, and the released disk space is recovered for permanent storage. This discarding and recovering mechanism ensures that disk space is not permanently consumed by temporary buffer content, improving overall storage efficiency while maintaining viewing flexibility
3Device complexity
If automatic deletion of earliest temporary files is implemented when buffer capacity is exceeded, then buffer management is simplified, but user-desired content may be accidentally deleted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary user confirmation before any deletion occurs. Users must explicitly select content for permanent recording or explicitly authorize buffer management actions. This preliminary action ensures that user-desired content is preserved by requiring conscious user intent before any automatic deletion takes place, while still maintaining simplified buffer management through automated operations
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buffering mechanisms are provided to handle different viewing scenarios, then viewing flexibility is improved, but the system becomes inefficient and confusing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal buffer management system that handles multiple viewing scenarios through a single, unified interface. The time-shift buffer serves multiple functions (temporary storage, conversion source, space manager) and the user interface provides universal controls (convert, delete, pause) that work across different content types and viewing scenarios, eliminating the need for separate buffering mechanisms while maintaining viewing flexibility and improving system efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A system manages the allocation and storage of media content instance files in a hard disk of a storage device of a media client device in a subscriber television system. In one embodiment among others, the system includes a memory for storing logic, a buffer space in the hard disk for buffering media content instances as buffered media content instance files, and a processor configured with the logic to track the size of permanent media content instance files and the buffered media content instance files to provide an indication of available free space, such that the indication is independent of the buffer space.