Patent ID: 8245267

Claim:
A method for recording media, comprising: transmitting a recording schedule from a user electronic device over a network to a media provider, the recording schedule including media yet to be recorded, wherein transmitting the recording schedule sends the recording schedule to a network address associated with the media provider, such that the media provider mirrors the user recording schedule on a media provider server; receiving a network command message from the media provider to the user electronic device that identifies media to be recorded by the user electronic device, the network command message for scheduling recording of the media by the user electronic device, the network command message including an instruction to alter a recording time for the media yet to be recorded to a time of lower bandwidth demand on the network, wherein the network command message that identifies media to be recorded at the user device includes a date and time to begin recording the media at the user device, a path, and a link; creating an entry in the user recording schedule of media yet to be recorded on the user device in response to the network command message; receiving the media yet to be recorded; recording the media yet to be recorded; in response to the media provider determining additional media by analyzing the user recording schedule to determine the additional media, preloading the additional media unilaterally on the user device over a multicast stream during the time of low bandwidth demand on the network, the determining additional media including detecting genres and categories of items in the user recording schedule and determining the additional media in response to the genres and categories of items in the user recording schedule to unilaterally create a library of media on the user electronic device; receiving a promotion message from the media provider, the promotion message promoting viewing of the media unilaterally preloaded on the user device to reduce bandwidth consumption, the promotion message being sent during a time of high bandwidth demand on the network and when bandwidth demand by the user electronic device exceeds available capacity on a last mile link to the user device, the promotion message indicating a fee for viewing of the media unilaterally preloaded on the user device, the fee being a lower price as compared to viewing video-on-demand not unilaterally preloaded on the user device; and receiving a targeted advertisement separate from the promotional message, the targeted advertisement derived in response to the genres and categories of items in the user recording schedule and user demographic information provided during a user registration process, the targeted advertisement received from an advertiser server and the targeted advertisement promoting products, wherein a plurality of targeted advertisements are stacked back-to-back and placed on a channel delivered to the user device, the targeted advertisement being retrieved and inserted into media upon viewing.