Patent ID: 8745686

Claim:
A digital video recording server, comprising: a memory to store instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising: receiving a recording request from a set-top box to record a media program prior to a scheduled broadcast time for the media program, wherein the digital video recorder server and the set-top box are communicatively coupled via a communications network; recording the media program according to the recording request to store a recorded version of the media program; receiving a viewing request from the set-top box to rebroadcast the recorded version of the media program; transmitting the recorded version of the media program to the set-top box according to an archival policy, comprising: storing the recorded version of the media program for a first period of time, wherein the first period of time is based at least in part on a plurality of requests from a plurality of set-top boxes to save the media program; and deleting the recorded version of the media program after a second period of time, wherein the second period of time is adjustable by a delay period (T) based on a total number (N) of the plurality of requests from the plurality of set-top boxes, wherein T=C*log(N), wherein C is a constant that is determined based on feedback of subscribers to the digital video recording server and based on an amount of storage available to the digital video recording server, and wherein N is greater than zero.