Abstract:
Systems, methods and computer products for recording of repeated programs. Exemplary embodiments include a recording of a repeated program method, including receiving a recording request for a first program from a communications device, the recording request having a specified recording time, determining that the specified recording time is during a peak time, determining an alternate recording time for the recording request, sending a message to the communications device that there is the alternate recording time to record the first program, delivering the first program to the communications device for the specified recording time in response to receiving a rejection of the alternate recording time and delivering the first program to the communications device for the alternate recording time in response to receiving an acceptance of the alternate recording time.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to IPTV multimedia systems, and more particularly, to systems, methods and computer products for recording of repeated programs. 
     Internet protocol television (IPTV) is a digital television delivery service wherein the digital television signal is delivered to residential users via a computer network infrastructure using the Internet Protocol (IP). Typically, IPTV services are bundled with additional Internet services such as Internet web access and voice over Internet protocol (VOIP). In exemplary embodiments, a subscriber accesses playback IPTV operations through a set top box (STB) connected to their television for the reception of a digital signal. Used in conjunction with an IP-based platform, a STB allows for a user to access an LPTV service and any additional services that are integrated within the IPTV service. IPTV service platforms allow for an increase in the interactive services that can be provided to residential user. As such, a user can have access to a wide variety of content that is available via the IPTV service or the Internet. 
     As subscribers demand more and more content, higher definition services, interactive services, and data services, the amount of bandwidth required to meet demand continues to increase. While most portions of networks may have ample bandwidth, the “last mile,” however, is often a bandwidth bottleneck. Service providers, then, are always striving to meet customer needs while efficiently utilizing available bandwidth. 
     Recording of content streams for later viewing during periods of high bandwidth demand is one example of inefficient bandwidth usage. Because programmers often present their very best programming at the same time, there is a high probability that a subscriber chooses to watch one program while simultaneously recording another program for later viewing. The bandwidth demand created by this consumer behavior is particularly significant when the programs being viewed and recorded are offered in High Definition (HD) formats. The HD format may require four times as much bandwidth as Standard Definition (SD) programming. Because the amount of programming in HD format is increasing, and because the number of devices capable of viewing and recording HD programming is also increasing, there is a need in the art for reducing the bandwidth that is consumed by recording devices during peak viewing periods. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments include a recording of a repeated program method, including receiving a recording request for a first program from a communications device, the recording request having a specified recording time, determining that the specified recording time is during a peak time, determining an alternate recording time for the recording request, sending a message to the communications device that there is the alternate recording time to record the first program, delivering the first program to the communications device for the specified recording time in response to receiving a rejection of the alternate recording time and delivering the first program to the communications device for the alternate recording time in response to receiving an acceptance of the alternate recording time. 
     Additional exemplary embodiments include a recording of a repeated program system, the system receiving a recording request for a first program from a communications device, the recording request having a specified recording time, determining that the specified recording time is during a peak time, determining an alternate recording time for the recording request, sending a message to the communications device that there is the alternate recording time to record the first program, delivering the first program to the communications device for the specified recording time in response to receiving a rejection of the alternate recording time and delivering the first program to the communications device for the alternate recording time in response to receiving an acceptance of the alternate recording time. 
     Further exemplary embodiments include a computer program product storing processor-executable instructions for receiving a recording request for a first program from a communications device, the recording request having a specified recording time, determining that the specified recording time is during a peak time, determining all alternate recording time for the recording request, sending a message to the communications device that there is the alternate recording time to record the first program, delivering the first program to the communications device for the specified recording time in response to receiving a rejection of the alternate recording time and delivering the first program to the communications device for the alternate recording time in response to receiving an acceptance of the alternate recording time. 
     Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the exemplary embodiments, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary repeated program recording system; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of a repeated program recording method in accordance with exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of a repeated program recording method in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
    
     The detailed description explains the exemplary embodiments, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments include systems, methods and computer products for recording of repeated programs. In exemplary embodiments, if a subscriber wants to record a program on a digital video recorder (DVR) (or other storage device), the systems and methods described herein conserve bandwidth by searching for other potential recording times for a program that is broadcast repeatedly. To conserve bandwidth, for a program that is repeated more than once (for example, a program that is shown three nights a week, at 9 PM, 11 PM, and 1 AM), the system locates the optimal time, from a bandwidth efficiency standpoint, to record that program to the DVR. The search may indicate to the user that the program showing at 1 AM is the best time to record (for example, by designating with an asterisk on an interface), or it may alternatively, automatically do the recording at the optimal time without user input. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of an exemplary repeated program recording system  100  is now described. For ease of illustration, the system  100  of  FIG. 1  depicts a simplified network infrastructure. In addition, for ease of illustration, the system  100  is described as implementing an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system for reception of programming and scheduling. It is understood that the systems and methods described herein can implement television and program-viewing systems other than IPTV. For example, the system  100  can implement cable, satellite, and antenna. 
     Furthermore, it is understood that a variety of network components/nodes may be utilized in implementing the embodiment described herein. For example, in exemplary embodiments, the system  100  includes a means for accessing network services for multiple disparate devices using a single sign on procedure. Therefore, the system  100  manages accounts, each of which is established for a community of devices and/or device subscribers, such as those devices and subscribers in a subscriber location  105 , which may include a communications device  110  (e.g., an IPTV-enabled television) coupled to a set top box  115 . Where the communications device  110  is IPTV-enabled, the set top box  115  includes a processor that provides bi-directional communications between an IPTV infrastructure  140  and the communications device  110  and decodes the video streaming media received as content programming and onscreen programming information, from a content services provider server  160 , discussed further below. Other services can be provided to the subscriber location  105 , such as, but not limited to phone services, network services and other exemplary services such as the repeated program recording services that can be implemented via the communications device  110 . The accounts may thus include phone, network access and IPTV services and may be used to provide access to the repeated program recording services as described further herein. Furthermore, in exemplary embodiments, one of the devices (e.g., the communications device  110 ) can be provisioned for the network services described herein by associating a device identifier of the communications device with a respective account. The account, in turn, identities each of the communications devices belonging to the community and provides other information as described herein. Furthermore, it is appreciated that other devices such as a subscriber computer  125  can be further included in the community of devices established for the subscriber location  105 . It is appreciated that the subscriber computer  125  can be local to the subscriber location  105  or can represent any other remote computer that can be used to access the services described herein. It is further appreciated that other remote devices can be implemented to access the services described herein such as but not limited to a cellular telephone (e.g., a 3 G cell phone), a personal computer, a laptop computer, a portable computing device (e.g., personal digital assistant), a digital music player (e.g., MP3 player), etc. As discussed further herein, a repeated program recording services interface can be rendered on any of the above-referenced devices to implement the repeated program recording services in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
     In exemplary embodiments, one of the devices, such as communications device  110  (and the set top box  115  combination) can be used to establish account services, such as the repeated program recording services described herein. An account record may be generated for the subscriber at the subscriber location  105 , which identifies the subscriber and the account for which the services (e.g., basic account services as described above and the repeated program recording services described herein) are associated. Account information and records may be stored in a storage device accessible by an IPTV gateway  145 , discussed below. In exemplary embodiments, the IPTV gateway  145  implements one or more applications for establishing and utilizing the repeated program recording services account. Access to the repeated program recording services account may thus be created for a community of communications devices (e.g., the communications device  110 ) to enable the communications devices to implement the repeated program recording services as described herein. A preferences server  150 , which is coupled to the IPTV gateway  145 , includes preferences information for the subscriber location  105  as described further herein. 
     As discussed above, the system  100  of  FIG. 1  includes the subscriber location  105 , such as the subscriber&#39;s household. The subscriber location  105  can include the communications device  110  (e.g., an IPTV-enabled television) in communication with the set top box  115 . The subscriber location  105  can further include a personal digital recorder such as a DVR  120 , which is in communication with the communication device  110  and the set top box  115 . It is understood that the set top box  115  and the DVR  120  may be two separate devices or be a single integrated device. In exemplary embodiments, the DVR  120  is hard-disk based, but may have other suitable storage media such as a cache,  121 . It is appreciated that the DVR  120  can have other suitable memory devices for receiving and storing programming and scheduling data. Therefore, a “memory” or “recording medium” can be any means that contains, stores, communicates, propagates, or transports the program and/or data for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus or device. Memory and recording medium can be, but are not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared or semiconductor system, apparatus or device. Memory and recording medium also includes, but is not limited to, for example the following: a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), and a portable compact disk read-only memory or another suitable medium upon which a program and/or data may be stored. 
     The subscriber location  105  can further include a remote control  111  for control and navigation of the communications device  110 . As further described herein the remote control  111  can be implemented to navigate a repeated program recording services interface. As discussed above, the subscriber location  105  can further include one or more remote devices in its community of devices. For example, the remote devices can include the remote subscriber computer  125 . In exemplary embodiments, the remote subscriber computer  125  can be part of the subscriber location  105  or a computer that is accessed remotely in order to access the repeated program recording services for control, management and scheduling of video content (e.g., content for recording on the DVR  120 ) from the content services provider server  160  to the subscriber location  105  for rendering on the communications device  110 . It is therefore appreciated that access to repeated program recording services can be managed from locations remote to the subscriber location  105 . It is understood by those skilled in the art that the remote subscriber computer  125  can include input and output devices, such as but not limited to a display, mouse, a keyboard, etc. As discussed further below, the aforementioned devices can all interact with the IPTV infrastructure  140  and the IPTV gateway  145 . It is appreciated that any of the aforementioned devices can implement the repeated program recording services. In exemplary embodiments, the communications devices, such as the communication device  110 , herein can have a network address associated with the communications devices such as an addressable uniform resource locator (URL), an Internet address, etc. 
     The system  100  can implement the repeated program recording services such that desired recording control, management and scheduling can be managed and viewed through the subscriber&#39;s IPTV-enabled device, such as the communications device  110 , via the set top box  115 , the remote devices (e.g., the remote subscriber computer  125 ) or other suitable device. As such, to coordinate IPTV communication, the system  100  may further include the IPTV gateway  145  that is in communication with the IPTV infrastructure  140 . The IPTV infrastructure  140  and the IPTV gateway  145  are used in conjunction to communicate via a network  135 . For example, a suitable device (e.g., the communications device  110  or the remote subscriber computer  125 ) at the subscriber location  105  can use the IPTV infrastructure  140  and the IPTV gateway  145  to communicate with the content services provider server  160  to access data from databases such as a database  165 . 
     The network  135  can be an IP-based network for communication between the content services provider server  160  and the subscriber location  105  using communication devices such as but not limited to the communications device  110  (via the set top box  115 , for example). The network  135  can be implemented to transmit content from the content services provider server  160  to the subscriber location  105  via a broadband connection, for example. In exemplary embodiments, the network  135  can be a managed IP network administered by a service provider. The network  135  can also be implemented in a wireless fashion, e.g., using wireless protocols and technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, etc. The network  135  can also be a cellular communications network, a fixed wireless network, a wireless local area network (LAN), a wireless wide area network (WAN), a personal area network (PAN), intranet, metropolitan area network, Internet network, or other similar type of network environment or other suitable network system and includes equipment for receiving and transmitting signals. In other exemplary embodiments, the network  135  can be a circuit-switched network such as a standard public switched telephone network (PSTN). 
     In exemplary embodiments, the IPTV infrastructure  140  can be an IP-based network that receives network data (e.g., programming content for recording on the DVR  120 ) from the content services provider server  160  and the preferences server  150 , and delivers the network data to the set top box  115  for display or other rendering on the communications device  110 . Alternatively, the network data can be for display or rendering, on the remote subscriber computer  125  or other suitable device. 
     In exemplary embodiments, as discussed above, the IPTV infrastructure  140  provides an interface between the subscriber location  105  and the IPTV gateway  145 . In exemplary implementations, a notification server  141  and a terminal server  142  operate to interface communication between the subscriber location  105  via the set top box  115 , and the IPTV gateway  145 . For example, in exemplary implementations, the set top box  115  can provide a unique identification number so that the IPTV gateway  145  can route the network data to the set top box  115 . The IPTV gateway  145  provides an interface between the content services provider server  160 , and the IPTV infrastructure  140  and subscriber location  105 . Furthermore, in exemplary embodiments, the IPTV gateway  145  handles notifications to the IPTV subscriber location  105  and can further provide a history of the notifications. A repeated program recording services application  155  can reside partially or wholly on the IPTV gateway  145  to handle the notifications as further described herein. In exemplary embodiments, the repeated program recording services application  155  can further reside partially or wholly on the set top box  115 . When the subscriber sets up the repeated program recording services on the communications device  110  (or other device in the subscriber location  105  or the remote device  125 ), one of the network components of the system  100  (e.g., the set top box  115 , or the IPTV gateway  145  can store specific scheduling information that the subscriber has created. For example, as discussed further herein, each subscriber can access and manipulate viewing and recording information for the DVR  120  via an interface. As such, if the interface is stored on the IPTV gateway  145 , messages and notifications can be passed between the subscriber location  105  and the IPTV gateway  145  that include present scheduling and historic scheduling that the subscriber has created in the past. Furthermore, if any changes in the subscriber&#39;s scheduled recordings have occurred, messages can be passed to the subscriber location  105  (or the remote device  125 ) to notify the subscriber that a program scheduled to be recorded on the DVR  120  has changed. The subscriber can make changes accordingly. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the IPTV gateway  145  can further interface with the various system  100  elements as described herein. For example, the IPTV gateway  145  is in communication with the preferences server  150  to pass notifications and messages (e.g., Email messages) regarding permissions to create and edit repeated program recording information. For example, different members of the subscriber location  105  who share account services may have different recording schedules. For example, one member may have a unique recording schedule and another member may have a second unique recording schedule with little to no overlap with the first recording schedule. As such, each member can retrieve and edit those different schedules and be properly authenticated to retrieve and edit those schedules. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the IPTV gateway  145  can include a back end  146  and a front end  147 . The front end  147  can be used to implement various provisioning activities such as but not limited to initial provisioning of IPTV addresses for the devices, such as the STB  115 , at subscriber location  105 . The back end  146  can be implemented for many of the repeated program recording services, such as but not limited to communicating with the content services provider server  160  and retrieving scheduling data from the database  165  and passing messages and notification to the IPTV gateway  145 . As such, the back end  146  can include various elements including but not limited to a caller ID handler, an email handler, a message handler and a provisioning handler. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the IPTV gateway  145  may implement authentication using a high-speed processing device (e.g., a computer system) that is capable of handling high volume activities conducted via communications devices, and other network entities (e.g., parts of the IPTV infrastructure  140  or the network  135 ) via one or more networks (e.g., the IPTV infrastructure  140 ). The IPTV gateway  145  receives requests from one or more devices, such as the STB  115 , from the subscriber location  105  to access network services, such as the repeated program recording services. The IPTV gateway  145  may implement authentication software for restricting or controlling access to network. The IPTV gateway  145  may be in communication with a customer identity system (CIS) database, which stores subscriber credentials (e.g., subscriber names and passwords) established via the repeated program recording services account. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the system  100  can further include the repeated program recording services application  155  that can reside on the IPTV gateway  145 , as mentioned above. In exemplary embodiments, the repeated program recording services application  155  can be implemented by the subscriber to access and set up an interface  156  to implement the repeated program recording services application  155 . The interface  156  can be implemented to search for and schedule programs on the DVR  120 . The interface  156  can further be implemented to access account information from the IPTV gateway  145  and the preferences server  150 . In exemplary embodiments, the repeated program recording services application  155  can include pointers to the content services provider server  160  for accessing scheduling information and for directing content to be recorded on the DVR  120 . The pointers, in turn, may provide access to the schedules stored in the database  165  for streaming to the subscriber&#39;s set top box  115  for rendering on the interface  156 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, the interface  156  also provides access to the IPTV gateway  145 , such that messages and notifications can be passed between the subscriber location  105  and the IPTV gateway  145  that include present scheduling and historic scheduling that the subscriber has created in the past. Furthermore, if any changes in the subscriber&#39;s scheduled videos have occurred, messages can be passed to the subscriber location  105  (or remote device) to notify the subscriber that a program scheduled to be viewed has changed. The subscriber can make changes accordingly. 
     In exemplary embodiments, as discussed above, the system  100  further includes the content services provider server  160 , which is in communication with the IPTV gateway  145  via the network  135 . In exemplary embodiments, the content services provider server  160  is implemented by a host system (e.g., a high-speed processing device) that provides content to its subscribers (e.g., a subscriber of the communications device  110 ), such as television programs, premium programming services, video on demand content, and Internet/Web content (e.g., podcasts, streaming media, etc.). In exemplary embodiments, the content is transmitted to the subscribers (e.g., at the subscriber location  105 ) via a broadband connection over an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network (e.g., the network  135 ). The content services provider server  160  can also provide an onscreen electronic programming guide to customers (e.g., user of program receiving device  150 ) that provides information about current and future programming available via the content providers&#39; services. Programming information provided by the onscreen electronic programming guide may include current and future program listings including program titles, primary actors/actresses, begin time, duration of program, a year in which the program was produced, and a brief text description of the program. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the content services provider server  160  is coupled to the database  165 . In a one implementation, the database  165  may be representative of a given play list. A play list is associated with a particular program screen. For example, a play list can be generated for a given screen that is displayed for a view on the communications device  110 . As a subscriber is browsing through different channels, and therefore different program content, as each new channel and program content are displayed on the communications device  110 , a different play list may be accessed by the communications device  110  from the content services provider server  160 , which can be via the set top box  115 . In exemplary embodiments, play lists can include programming content, as well as programming schedules for the content (e.g., onscreen programming guide information). In exemplary embodiments, the database  165  stores records of programming events scheduled for transmission to customers, such as the communications device  110 . These records, in turn, can be used in conjunction with the DVR  120  in order to schedule recordings. 
     In exemplary embodiments, upon a request from the subscriber location  105 , the IPTV gateway  145  can coordinate obtaining the video from the database  165  and provide the acquired data (e.g., playlists and selected programs) for display and rendering at the subscriber location  105 . As described, the coordination of acquiring the data and ultimately displaying the data on the communications device  110  (or other device) is implemented via the repeated program recording services application  155 . Furthermore, the repeated program recording services application  155  coordinates the transfer of the program data from the database  165  for rendering on the communications device and for recording on the DVR  120 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of a repeated program recording method  200  in accordance with exemplary embodiments. As discussed above, in exemplary embodiments, if a subscriber wants to record a program on the DVR  120 , the repeated program recording services application  155  conserves bandwidth by searching for other potential recording times for the program, if the program is broadcast repeatedly. For a program that is repeated more than once, the system  100  locates the optimal time from a bandwidth efficiency standpoint to record that program to the DVR  120 . For example, the system can search for non-peak times during which the program is available for viewing. During such non-peak times, the bandwidth is not under the same intensive demand as during peak times. The search may indicate to the user that the program showing at 1 AM is the best time to record (for example, by designating with an asterisk on the interface  156 ), or the system  100  may alternatively, automatically do the recording at the optimal time without user input, as discussed further with respect to  FIG. 3  below. 
     At step  205 , the subscriber makes a recording request, typically to the IPTV gateway  145  and to the content services provider server  160 . At step  210 , the repeated program recording services application  155  checks for all available times that the request program is available for recording. At step  215 , the repeated program recording services application  155  determines whether or not the subscriber is requesting a recording at a peak time. In exemplary embodiments, as discussed above, the repeated program recording services application  155  determines that the time during which the subscriber is requesting a recording is within a peak time, and thus during a time in which the bandwidth includes multiple requests. The repeated program recording services application  155  further determines if there are other (non-peak) times during which the program can be recorded. If not, the program is sent to the subscriber location at step  260  by the repeated program recording services application  155 . It is appreciated that this request may be present or at some future time. As such, it is appreciated that step  260  may occur at some future date (e.g., days or weeks) after the recording request is received at step  205 . 
     At step  215 , if it is determined that the program is being recorded at a peak time, then at step  220  the repeated program recording services application  155  determines whether or not the program can be recorded at another time with the data gathered at step  210 . If at step  220 , there are additional times in which the program can be recorded, the repeated program recording services application  155  prompts the subscriber about the other recording times at step  225 . The subscriber can then choose to accept another time or keep the original recording time. At step  230 , the repeated program recording services application  155  receives the user&#39;s response. The repeated program recording services application  155  then determines whether the subscriber has changed the recording time at step  235 . If the subscriber has changed the recording time at step  235 , the repeated program recording services application  155  repeats the method  200  at step  215  to check for bandwidth efficiency once again. If the subscriber has not changed the time, then the repeated program recording services application  155  sends the subscriber a warning message that due to limited bandwidth, the subscriber may be prevented from viewing other programs while recording at step  240 . 
     Returning to step  220 , if the program associated with the recording request at step  205  does not have any other recording times available, then if the request is a present request, the repeated program recording services application  155  determines whether or not the subscriber is presently viewing a program other than the program being recorded at step  245 . If the subscriber is not also viewing another program at step  245 , then the repeated program recording services application  155  sends the subscriber a warning message that due to limited bandwidth, the subscriber may be prevented from viewing other programs while recording at step  240 . The program is sent to the subscriber location at step  260  by the repeated program recording services application  155 . If at step  245 , the subscriber is viewing another program other than the program being recorded, the repeated program recording services application  155  determines if all bandwidth requirements for delivering both programs to the subscriber location  105  are met at step  250 . If the bandwidth requirements are met, the repeated program recording services application  155  sends the subscriber a message that due to limited bandwidth, the subscriber may be prevented from viewing other programs while recording at step  240 . It is appreciated that the subscriber can often be sent the warning message simply to alert the subscriber that there could be viewing issues if bandwidth requirements are exceeded. The program is sent to the subscriber location at step  260 . If at step  250 , the bandwidth requirements are not met then the repeated program recording services application  155  sends the subscriber a message that due to limited bandwidth, viewing the additional program is not possible while recording, at step  255 . 
     The method  200  as described above includes interaction from the subscriber. In exemplary embodiments, the system  100  and the repeated program recording services application  155  can optimize bandwidth performance by changing recording times without notifying or requiring input from the subscriber.  FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of a repeated program recording method  300  in accordance with exemplary embodiments. The method  300  in  FIG. 3  can provide subscriber with opportunity to accept a post-peak recording time when automatic recording at a pre-peak time is not an option. Furthermore, the method  300  in  FIG. 3  can end in an opportunity for a subscriber to make a choice rather than receive a non actionable warning. It is thus appreciated that the method  300  of  FIG. 3  can be associated with the method  200  of  FIG. 2 . 
     At step  305 , the subscriber makes a recording request, typically to the IPTV gateway  145  and to the content services provider server  160 . At step  310 , the repeated program recording services application  155  checks for all available times that the request program is available for recording. At step  315 , the repeated program recording services application  155  determines whether or not the subscriber is requesting a recording at a peak time. If not, the program is sent to the subscriber location at step  350 . It is appreciated that this request may be present or at some future time. As such, it is appreciated that step  350  may occur at some future date (e.g., days or weeks) after the recording request is received at step  305 . 
     At step  315 , if it is determined that the program is being recorded at a peak time, then at step  320  the repeated program recording services application  155  determines whether or not the program can be recorded at an off-peak time with the data gathered at step  310 . If at step  320 , there are additional off peak times in which the program can be recorded, then at step  325 , the repeated program recording services application  155  determines whether there are off-peak times during which the program can be recorded prior to the requested recording time, and if so, then the recording time is set to the off-peak recording time at step  330 . If there are no other off-peak times prior to the requested recording time at step  325 , then at step  345  subscriber is sent a warning message that due to limited bandwidth, the subscriber may be prevented from viewing other programs while recording. 
     At step  335 , the repeated program recording services application  155  sends the subscriber a message about the other recording time change. In exemplary embodiments, the system  100  does not send a notification message. However, it is appreciated that the subscriber may be recording the program at a particular time for a reason and that a notification message is appropriate so that the subscriber is aware of the change. The subscriber can then choose to accept the time change or keep the original recording time. As such, the repeated program recording services application  155  determines at step  340  whether the subscriber has rejected the new recording time. If at step  340 , the subscriber has rejected the time change, then at step  345  the repeated program recording services application  155  sends the subscriber a warning message that due to limited bandwidth, the subscriber may be prevented from viewing other programs while recording. The system  100  then sends the program at step  350 . 
     Returning to step  320 , if there are no other off-peak times available, then at step  345  the repeated program recording services application  155  sends the subscriber a warning message that due to limited bandwidth, the subscriber may be prevented from viewing other programs while recording. The system  100  then sends the program at step  350 . 
     Returning to step  325 , if there are no other off-peak times prior to recording the program, then at step  345  the repeated program recording services application  155  sends the subscriber is a warning message that due to limited bandwidth, the subscriber may be prevented from viewing other programs while recording. The system  100  then sends the program at step  350 . In exemplary embodiments, the system  100  attempts to find a program prior to the scheduled recording because the subscriber should ideally have the program recorded prior to the scheduled recording time. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the recording medium on the DVR  120  can include multiple folders. A subset of the folders can be accessible by the subscriber for storage of recorded programs as described herein. Another subset of the folders can be accessible only by the content services provider server  160 . Periodically, the content services provider server  160  can access the subset of folder to add content such as new movies that are anticipated to be popular. When executing the methods described above, when the subscriber makes a recording request, the repeated program recording services application  155  can also check the folders to determine if the content services provider server  160  has already populated the DVR  120  with the anticipated popular program at steps  210 ,  310 . If the content services provider server  160  has already populated the DVR  120  with the program, then the repeated program recording services application  155  can transfer the program to the subscriber-accessible portion of the DVR  120 , thereby making the program available to the subscriber. 
     As described above, the exemplary embodiments can be in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The exemplary embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the exemplary embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.