Tracking of partially viewed video content so that they can be marked for deletion when a personal video recorder runs out of space

0001The present invention relates generally to storage devices for video content, such as, personal video recorders.

0002Personal video recorders (PVRs) have become very popular in recent years for recording video content, such as television broadcasts, for later viewing by a viewer. Examples of PVRs are those manufactured by TiVo and Panasonic ("Replay TV"). Although such PVRs have large storage devices, typically a hard drive, the number of television broadcasts or other video content that can be stored is not limitless. Therefore, either the viewer must manually delete stored video data on the storage device or the PVR must have an automatic scheme to do so. Typically, the PVR automatically deletes video data when a need arises according to the FIFO (First In First Out) deletion scheme. That is, the video content that has been stored for the longest time is the first to be deleted if there is not enough storage space to store new video content.

0003Although a viewer can indicate that a particular video content not be deleted (e.g., locked), the FIFO deletion scheme is arbitrary and does not necessarily reflect a viewers preference for deleting video content from the plurality of video data stored on the storage device that he/she no longer has interest in viewing or never had interest in viewing.

0004<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US20020012517A1"><text>US 2002/0012517 A1</text></patcit> discloses a method for storing video and audio contents. When a new content has to be stored, it is first checked if there is enough capacity available on the hard disk drive. If there is not enough capacity, the judgment is made that there is a need to select something from the contents in the "viewing/listening state" for deletion.

0005<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP1091358A2"><text>EP 1 091 358 A2</text></patcit> discloses an information recording medium, and a method and system for reading and writing information thereon. When one piece of or a plurality of pieces of program data having already been recorded in a real-time data recording area is reproduced, history management information indicating that the program data has been reproduced is recorded in a predetermined management information recording area of the rewritable DVD, corresponding to the aforementioned one piece of or the aforementioned plurality of pieces of the program information. Moreover, when other program data is recorded, the other program data is adapted to overwrite automatically the program data VRO, having been already reproduced, corresponding to the history management information recorded in the management information recording area.

0006<patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US20020049710A"><text>US 2002/0049710</text></patcit> discloses a file management system. In order to efficiently manage a picture recording file that stores moving picture data such as television program, there is provided a property file for storing status information indicating a use state (such as reproduction count or reproduction portion, for example) of the picture recording file. According to the use state of each picture recording file, the status information indicating the use state is stored in the property file. In this manner, for example, when all the image recording files are displayed in a list, the use state of each picture recording file is acquired from the property file, making it possible to clearly present a user with a use state such as "Not reproduced" or "Reproduced".

0007It is an object of the present invention to provide a way of managing the deletion of video content on a storage device that overcomes the disadvantages associated with the prior art. The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments.

0008These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus and methods of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> illustrates a schematic view of a preferred implementation of a personal video recorder of the present invention that supplies a video signal to a monitor.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> illustrates a flowchart of a preferred implementation of a method for tagging partially viewed video content.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figures 3A</figref> and <figref idref="f0004">3B</figref> illustrates flowcharts of preferred implementation of a method for managing the storage and deletion of video content on a storage device, such as a hard drive of a personal video recorder.</li></ul>

0009Although this invention is applicable to numerous and various types of devices for storing video data, it has been found particularly useful in the environment of a personal video recorder which stores video content such as television broadcasts. Therefore, without limiting the applicability of the invention to a personal video recorder which stores video content such as television broadcasts, the invention will be described in such environment.

0010Referring now to <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, a video storage device, such as a personal video recorder is shown therein, the personal video recorder being generally referred to by reference numeral 100. The PVR 100 accepts a video input signal 102 and outputs the same 104 to a viewing means, such as a monitor 106. The PVR 100 can be configured as a "set-top" box as illustrated, disposed remotely from the monitor 106, or integrated with the monitor 106. The PVR 100 has a central processor 108 for controlling components thereof and carrying out instructions contained on hardware or software in the PVR 100 or remote therefrom. The PVR 100 has a storage device 110, such as a hard drive, for storing video data thereon. The video data comprises a plurality of video content such as television, cable, Internet, cellular, and/or satellite broadcasts and/or video on demand transmissions. The storage device 110 is under the control of a store/delete agent 112 which instructs the storage device to delete of store certain video content. The store/delete agent 112 is under the control of the processor 108, and may be formed integrally therewith. In addition to the typical function of the processor 108 for a typical PVR, the added functionality of the processor 108 will be described below in detail with regard to the methods of the present invention.

0011The PVR also preferably contains a recommender 114 for recommending certain video content to a viewer. Recommenders are well known in the art and can provide a yes/no recommendation or a recommendation score based on the viewing habits of the viewer. The PVR also preferably has means for accepting data or instructions, such as a receiver 116 for receiving a wireless transmission from a remote control 118 having a transmitter 120. The processor 108 includes components, such as a demodulator (not shown) for receiving the wireless transmission, which may be RF or infrared signals, and converting such signals into instructions readable by the processor 108. The means for accepting data or instructions preferably works with an on-screen menu displayed on the monitor 106, as is known in the art.

0012The methods of the present invention will now be described with reference to <figref idref="f0002">Figures 2</figref>, <figref idref="f0003">3A</figref>, and <figref idref="f0004">3B</figref>. Referring first to <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>, there is illustrated a flowchart showing a preferred implementation of a method for tagging partially viewed video content. At step 202, either a viewer instructs the PVR 100 to store a desired video content, such as a video movie from a cable broadcast signal 102, or the recommender 114 decides, based on the previous viewing habits of the viewer, to store the desired video content on the storage device 110. In the case of the viewer instructing the PVR 100 to store the desired video content, the viewer operates the remote control 118 to input the instruction or operates a button (not shown) on the PVR itself. The signal from the remote control 118 or button (not shown) is input into the processor 108, which in turn instructs the store/delete agent 112 to store the desired video content. Typically, the store/delete agent 112 assigns a portion of the storage device 110 where the desired video content is stored and where it can later be retrieved and stores the desired video content at the assigned portion at step 204.

0013At step 206, when the viewer later decides that he/she wants to view the desired stored video content and instructs the PVR 100, preferably, through the remote control 118, the desired video content is retrieved from the storage device 110 and is output as an output signal 104 to the monitor 106 for viewing by the viewer. The processor 108 monitors the viewing of the desired video content to determine if the same is only partially viewed at step 208. That is, the processor 108 determines if viewing of the desired video content has terminated before completion of the same. Video content, such as movies and music videos are stamped with a running time, therefore the determination in step 208 is preferably accomplished by counting down a clock (preferably integral with the processor 108). If the clock has any time left when the operation of the PVR 100 is stopped or if the monitor 106 is powered off or its display is changed to view another video content, the processor 108 decides that the desired video content has been partially viewed (shown schematically as step 208-YES). Alternatively, the clock does not have to count down to zero for the processor to determine that the desired video content has been totally viewed, if a predetermined amount of the desired video content has been viewed, for example 98%, the processor 108 can also determine that the desired video content has been totally viewed. Thus, if less than the predetermined amount has been viewed, the processor 108 will determine that the desired video content has been partially viewed.

0014If it is determined that the desired video content has been totally viewed (or a significant portion thereof has been viewed), the method proceeds along path 208-NO to step 210 where the method ends. However, if it is determined that the desired video content has been partially viewed, the method proceeds along path 208-YES to step 212. At step 212, the viewer is prompted upon the stoppage in viewing of the desired video content if the same should be tagged as not to be deleted (alternatively referred to herein as "locked"). The prompt is preferably displayed on the monitor 106 and the viewer responds by inputting an instruction, preferably with the remote control 118. At step 214, it is determined whether the user inputs an instruction for the desired video content that has been partially viewed to be locked. If the viewer indicates that the desired video content is not to be locked (shown schematically as step 214-NO), the desired video content is tagged at step 216 with an identifier indicating the desired video content has been partially viewed. If the viewer indicates that the desired video content is to be locked (not to be deleted), the desired video content is tagged "not to be deleted" at step 218 before being tagged partially viewed at step 216. After the desired video content is appropriately tagged, the method ends at step 210.

0015The methods of the present invention are particularly suited to be carried out by a computer software program, such computer software program preferably containing modules corresponding to the individual steps of the methods. Such software can of course be embodied in a computer-readable medium, such as an integrated chip or a peripheral device.

0016Referring now to <figref idref="f0003">Figures 3A</figref> and <figref idref="f0004">3B</figref>, there is illustrated a flowchart showing a preferred implementation of a method for managing the storing and deleting of video data on the storage device 110, the method being generally referred to by reference numeral 300. As in step 202, at step 302, either a viewer instructs the PVR 100 to store a desired video content, such as a video movie from a cable broadcast signal 102, or the recommender 114 decides, based on the previous viewing habits of the viewer, to store the desired video content on the storage device 110. At step 304, it is determined if there is sufficient storage space on the storage device 110 to store the desired video content. If there is sufficient storage space remaining on the storage device 110 to store the desired video content, the method proceeds along path 304-YES to step 306, where the processor and store/delete agent provide the necessary instructions to store the desired video content on the storage device 110.

0017If it is determined that there is not enough storage space on the storage device 110 to store the desired video content, the method proceeds along path 304-NO to step 308. At step 308, it is determined whether any video content on the storage device 110 has been tagged as partially viewed. After searching the storage device 110 for the partially viewed tag, if none of the video content on the storage device 110 has been tagged as partially viewed, the method proceeds along path 308-NO to step 310 where a deletion scheme is carried out to delete video content in order to free up storage space for storing the desired video content. Although many such deletion schemes now known or later developed can be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention, the FIFO deletion scheme is preferred. After video content has been deleted from the storage device 110 to free up storage space for the desired video content, the desired video content is stored on the storage device 110 at step 311.

0018If video content on the storage device 110 has been tagged as being partially viewed, the method proceeds along path 308-NO to step 312. Although many schemes are possible for choosing which of the partially viewed video content is to be deleted first, it is preferred to delete the oldest partially viewed video, as will now be described with reference to steps 312-318. At step 312, all of the video content on the storage device 110 which have been tagged as being partially viewed are sequentially ordered from newest to oldest according to the date tag described above, and the oldest is assigned a numerical value of 1. At step 314, it is determined if the oldest partially viewed video content has been further tagged not to be deleted (or locked). If the oldest partially viewed video content has been tagged not to be deleted, the method proceeds along path 314-YES to step 316, where the oldest partially viewed video content is incremented by 1 to equal the next oldest partially viewed video content in the sequence.

0019At step 318, it is determined whether any oldest remain in the sequence, i.e., it is determined whether there are any other partially viewed video content remaining on the storage device 110. If there are no more partially viewed video content remaining, the method proceeds along path 318-NO to steps 310 and 311 where a deletion scheme, such as FIFO is used to delete video content on the storage device 110 and to store the desired video content, respectively. If it is determined that there are more partially viewed video content remaining in the sequence, the method proceeds along path 318-YES and the loop pf steps 314, 316, and 318 repeats until the sequence of partially viewed video content is completed (318-NO) or if any of the partially viewed video content in the sequence has not been tagged for locking, in which case the method proceeds along path 314-NO to routine 320.

0020Although, it is preferred to prompt the viewer to determine if a partially viewed video content should be tagged not to be deleted, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the method 300 can delete the partially viewed video content without such a determination. However, partially viewing a video content may not always indicate a dislike for the video content. For instance, viewing of a video content can be terminated before completion thereof for reasons unrelated to whether or not the same is liked or disliked by the viewer, such as due to an emergency or simply because the viewer is tired or has a greater desire to view or do something else.

0021Referring now to <figref idref="f0004">Figure 3B</figref>, routine 320 is shown therein. At step 322, it is determined if the oldest partially viewed video content in the sequence which has not been tagged as locked has a positive recommender score based on the recommender tag described above. The positive recommender score, as discussed above, can be a thumbs-up/thumbs-down indication or a score, above which is indicative of a positive recommendation. If it is determined that the oldest partially viewed video content in the sequence has a positive recommender score, the method proceeds along path 322-YES to step 316 where oldest is incremented by one (it is determined whether the next oldest partially viewed video content in the sequence, if any, has been tagged as locked). The assumption is that the viewer, even if he/she did not indicate the partially viewed video content as locked, is likely to again view the same if it has a positive recommendation. Although, it is preferred to use this scheme in combination with prompting the viewer to determine if the partially viewed video content should be locked, it can also be used in place of. In such a situation, the recommender score would be used as a means for deciding whether the viewer would want to lock the partially viewed video content without actually prompting him/her to do so.

0022If it is determined that the oldest partially viewed video content does not have a positive recommendation, the method proceeds along path 322-NO to step 324, where the oldest partially viewed video content is deleted from the storage device 110. The method then proceeds to step 304 where it is determined if there is sufficient free storage space on the storage device 110 to store the desired video content. If there is, the desired video content is stored at step 306, if there is not, the method proceeds from step 308 until there is sufficient storage space to store the desired video content.

0023While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.