PVR Cluster Coordinator for Fail-Safe Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) often experience interruptions in recording due to external and internal events such as power loss, signal strength issues, or storage failures, leading to incomplete or failed recordings, which frustrate users and make it difficult to access missed programs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a PVR cluster coordinator to detect interruptions and facilitate backup recordings across a network of PVRs, ensuring uninterrupted program recording by identifying a suitable PVR within a cluster to take over the recording.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single PVR is used for recording, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of recording completion is poor due to power loss, signal issues, or storage failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the recording function across multiple PVR devices organized in clusters. Each PVR can independently perform recording, and the recording task can be segmented between primary and backup PVRs. This segmentation allows the system to maintain recording reliability even if one PVR fails, as other PVRs in the cluster can take over the recording task.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational state of PVRs dynamically based on recording needs. PVRs transition between active recording, standby, and backup states. The coordinator PVR manages these state changes and can reassign recording tasks by changing the operational parameters of cluster members, ensuring continuous recording capability without permanent system reconfiguration.
2Reliability
If backup recording is implemented across a PVR cluster, then the reliability of recording completion improves, but the device complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Each PVR in the cluster is designed with multi-functionality, capable of performing primary recording, backup recording, and coordinator functions. This universality means any PVR can assume any role within the cluster as needed, simplifying the coordination mechanism because all members have equivalent capabilities and can interchangeably fulfill different functional requirements without specialized hardware or software modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The PVR cluster implements self-service through automatic detection and recovery mechanisms. When a recording interruption is detected, the system automatically identifies the failure, selects an appropriate backup PVR, and initiates backup recording without user intervention. The coordinator PVR monitors cluster status and autonomously manages failover decisions, reducing the complexity of external coordination while maintaining high reliability.
3Loss of time
If manual intervention is required for failed recordings, then the system complexity is low, but the loss of time increases due to user actions needed to re-record programs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring backup PVRs and establishing backup recording capabilities before failures occur. The coordinator PVR maintains awareness of cluster status and pre-identifies potential backup options. When a failure occurs, the backup recording can immediately commence without requiring user actions to set up or configure anything, thus minimizing time loss while maintaining simple user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback monitoring of recording status across the PVR cluster. The coordinator PVR receives real-time status information from all cluster members and automatically triggers backup recording when interruptions are detected. This feedback mechanism enables the system to respond automatically to failures, eliminating the need for user intervention in the recovery process and reducing time loss without complicating user operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for implementing backup recording of events are disclosed. The method may include detecting, by a personal video recorder (PVR) cluster coordinator, an interruption in a current or scheduled recording of an event at a first PVR. The method may further include determining, by the PVR cluster coordinator, a PVR cluster corresponding to the first PVR in response to the detection, the PVR cluster comprising a plurality of PVRs and including the first PVR. The method may further include facilitating, by the PVR cluster coordinator, a backup recording of the interrupted recording at a serving PVR in the PVR cluster after determining the PVR cluster corresponding to the first PVR. Further, the PVR cluster coordinator may be implemented by at least one computer processor.