Personal Video Recorder Storage Management via User Viewing Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Households with personal video recorders face challenges in managing storage space as there is no suitable means to inform members about viewed content or indicate which recordings should be saved, leading to storage capacity issues and inefficient use of space.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for tracking video content viewing by recording events, displaying user-specific options on a screen for erasing or saving recorded events, allowing users to indicate their viewing status and preferences, and automatically managing storage based on user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If video content is recorded continuously on a personal video recorder, then the storage capacity is fully utilized, but unviewed content occupies valuable storage space that could be used for new content
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by notifying users when all household members have viewed a recorded program, providing information about viewing status to enable informed storage management decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing automatic deletion of viewed content based on user-defined preferences, where the PVR automatically manages storage by deleting content that meets deletion criteria without requiring manual user intervention
2Ease of operation
If manual management of recorded content is implemented, then users have control over what to erase and save, but the complexity of tracking viewing status across multiple users increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system assigns automatic user profiles to household members based on remote control usage patterns, enabling self-service registration without manual configuration and automatically tracking which users have viewed which content
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback about viewing status to users through notifications, enabling informed decisions about content management while automatically tracking and recording viewing information
3Loss of energy
If users are notified about viewed content, then storage space can be optimized by erasing unneeded content, but the system complexity increases due to user interaction requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to define their content preferences and deletion criteria once, after which the PVR automatically manages content deletion based on viewing status and user preferences, minimizing ongoing user interaction
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a notification mechanism that informs users when all household members have viewed a program, providing the information needed for storage optimization while maintaining simple automated management
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for tracking the viewing of stored video content. A video event is recorded, such as with a personal video recorder, and is subsequently displayed on a display screen having identified thereon at least one user who is to view the recorded video event. The user enters an option (e.g., “OK to Erase”) associated with the displayed recorded event. The entered option is displayed on the display screen so subsequent users will know the desired option of the prior user. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for recording and displaying a video event, as well as instructions for receiving and displaying an option associated with the displayed recorded event.