Patent ID: 8474002

Claim:
A method of predictive management of a recording device comprising: setting a collection period comprised of a plurality of days; dividing each day of the collection period into a number of time segments; creating, on the recording device, a memory bin for each of the time segments, each memory bin being allocated to its corresponding time segment; saving user data during the collection period, wherein the user data is comprised of user activity or lack of activity during the plurality of days for the time segment in which it occurs and the user data is saved in the memory bin for the time segment in which it occurs; determining patterns of user behavior by analyzing memory bins for the time segments that comprise the collection period and corresponding user data associated with each time segment, wherein at least one time segment has an anticipated user activity; and operating the recording device in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior, wherein the recording device is activated for a first predetermined time period prior to the anticipated user activity, the first predetermined time period prior to the anticipated user activity being at least equal to a time segment immediately preceding the at least one time segment having the anticipated user activity, and wherein the recording device is spun down after a second predetermined time past a last expected user activity when there was no anticipated user activity between a current time and the second predetermined time, wherein the second time predetermined time is automatically extended to equal a current program's running time, the current program's running time being estimated using program guide information and historical data for a television channel being received by the recording device, and wherein a greater number of days within a memory bin having user activity indicates a greater probability the patterns of user behavior predicts user activity.