Patent ID: 8364023
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for automated personal video recording on a multi-user personal video recorder (“PVR”), the method comprising: recording in the PVR a show for a borrower in an allocated storage space for the borrower on the PVR, the allocated storage space optionally including free space, the show having a storage space requirement exceeding the borrower's free space by a deficit amount; selecting one or more lenders, wherein the selected lenders are users having allocated storage space on the PVR including free space is at least equal to the deficit amount, and wherein each user has a lending priority associated with the allocated storage space and free space, and the lenders are selected based on the lending priority of the lenders; borrowing from the allocated storage space of the selected lenders, at least one loan amount of storage space by making the loan amount of storage space available for recording a show for the borrower; recording a show for a lender in the allocated storage space of the lender, the show having a storage space requirement exceeding the lender's free space; determining whether free space of at least one other user is available for lending to the lender, and responsive to no other free space of at least one other user being available for lending to the lender, returning from the borrower to the lender at least part of the loan amount by making the at least part of the loan amount no longer available for recording a show for the borrower.