Recording Request Prioritization and Conflict Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in efficiently processing recording requests with time and resource conflicts for media content, such as those encountered in digital video recorders, where overlapping requests and limited resources complicate scheduling.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that analyze a prioritized reduced set of recording requests, identifying conflicts and scheduling requests based on available resources, using a controller in a set-top box or similar device to manage recording requests and optimize resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all pending recording requests are processed, then recording completeness is improved, but processing complexity increases due to time overlaps and resource constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the set of pending recording requests into two distinct groups: overlapping requests (that conflict in time or resources) and non-overlapping requests (that can be directly scheduled). This segmentation allows the system to apply different processing logic to each group, reducing overall processing complexity while ensuring all requests are handled appropriately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and isolates only the overlapping recording requests from the complete set of pending requests for detailed conflict analysis. By separating these problematic requests from the straightforward non-overlapping ones, the system focuses computational resources only where needed, maintaining recording completeness without unnecessary processing overhead.
2Manufacturing precision
If recording conflicts are resolved by analyzing all pending requests, then scheduling accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides pending requests into overlapping and non-overlapping segments, applying full conflict resolution analysis only to the overlapping segment. This selective approach maintains scheduling accuracy for conflicted requests while avoiding unnecessary analysis of non-conflicted requests, thereby reducing overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing comprehensive conflict resolution only where necessary (for overlapping requests) rather than uniformly across all requests. This targeted approach achieves sufficient scheduling accuracy for problematic cases without the time cost of analyzing every request in detail.
3Productivity
If resource constraints are strictly enforced, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but number of recorded requests decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts resource allocation based on request priorities and conflict severity. Rather than applying static, rigid resource constraints, the system evaluates overlapping requests and makes flexible scheduling decisions that optimize resource utilization while maximizing the number of requests that can be accommodated within available resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes scheduling parameters (such as priority weights, time windows, and resource allocation factors) to balance resource utilization efficiency with the number of recorded requests. By adjusting these parameters based on system state and request characteristics, the system achieves both efficient resource use and high request fulfillment rates.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are disclosed for processing content recording requests. The method includes producing a prioritized set of recording requests from all pending recording requests, analyzing the prioritized set of requests with respect to available resources, and producing a list of content requests to be excluded from a recording schedule due to resource constraints. Content recording is performed based on results of the analysis.