Patent ID: 11902604
Assignee: SLING TV L.L.C.
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 0:
1. An automated process executed by a network server system that delivers recorded media programs to a plurality of viewers, the automated process comprising:
recording an initial number of copies of a media program for storage by the network server system, wherein the initial number of copies is based upon a number of recording timers set for the media program by the plurality of viewers;
after the initial number of copies of the media program have been recorded, receiving requests from at least some of the viewers to view a copy of the media program;
assigning, in response to each of the requests, one of the copies to the viewer making the request to thereby permit access to the assigned copy of the media program by the viewer; and
subsequently deleting at least some of the copies of the media program that are not yet assigned to any of the plurality of viewers.