Patent ID: 7474832

Claim:
A method for automated personal video recording comprising: scheduling a show for a particular user having allocated storage space on a personal video recorder (“PVR”) optionally including free space, wherein the show has a storage space requirement that exceeds the particular user's free space, and the PVR is coupled for data communications to a storage space provider; comparing the show's storage space requirement and the particular user's free space; determining whether one or more lenders registered on the PVR have free space that satisfies the show's storage space requirement if the show's storage space requirement exceeds the particular user's free space, wherein each lender is an additional user having allocated storage space on the PVR; determining whether the lenders can repossess enough loaned storage space to satisfy the show's storage space requirement if the one or more lenders registered on the PVR do not have free space that satisfies the show's storage space requirement; transmitting to the storage space provider an order to record the show through the storage space provider in storage space on a remote PVR that is coupled for data communications to the storage space provider if the lenders cannot repossess enough loaned storage space to satisfy the show's storage space requirement, wherein the order comprises an identification of the show and a schedule for recording the show; downloading the show from the remote PVR to the PVR and displaying the show from the PVR; and displaying the show on the PVR as video streamed from the storage space provider.