Patent ID: 8861938

Claim:
A method for replacement of programs on a video recorder having a computer and a computer readable storage media, comprising: comparing, by a processor of the computer, recorded programs in the computer readable storage media to a plurality of global preferences, a schedule of programs to be recorded to the plurality of global preferences, the recorded programs in the computer readable store media to program specific preferences specifying preferred recording quality, and the schedule of programs to be recorded to the program specific preferences specifying preferred recording quality; for each recorded program whose quality does not match a global preference or program specific preference, examining, by the processor, a listing of future programs for alternate versions of the program which do match a global preference or program specific preference; if an alternate version of the program which does match a global preference or program specific preference exists, then scheduling, by the processor, an alternate version of the originally recorded program to be recorded; and when the alternate version of the program is recorded, deleting by the processor, the recorded program.