Systems and methods for interactive program guides with personal video recording features

Abstract

Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented. Other PVR related features are also provided.

1 . A method of providing an interactive application implemented at least partially on user equipment to manage recorded programs, the method comprising:
 receiving a selection of an option to record a program;   in response to receiving the selection of the option to record the program:
 storing the program on a storage device; and 
 adding the program to a personalized list of programs stored for a user on the storage device; 
   receiving a selection of an option to delete a recorded program; and   in response to receiving the selection of the option to delete the recorded program, removing the recorded program from the personalized list of programs without removing the recorded program from the storage device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding the program to a global list of programs in response to receiving the selection of the option to record the program. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising removing the recorded program from the personalized list of programs without removing the recorded program from the global list of programs. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the global list of programs comprises programs stored on the storage device by a plurality of users. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising automatically storing programs based on user preferences, wherein the global list of programs comprises programs automatically stored on the storage device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of an option to record a program previously selected for deletion; and   in response to receiving the selection of the option to record the program previously selected for deletion:
 determining whether the program is currently stored on the storage device based on the global list of programs; and 
 in response to the determining, adding the program to the personalized list of programs. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of an option to record a program previously selected for deletion; and   in response to receiving the selection of the option to record the program previously selected for deletion:
 determining whether the program is currently stored on the storage device based on the global list of programs; and 
 in response to the determining:
 storing the program on the storage device; 
 adding the program to the personalized list of programs; and 
 adding the program to the global list of programs. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising allowing the user to remove a recorded program from the global list of programs. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing each one of a plurality of users with different personalized lists of programs stored on the storage device for each one of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the user with an option to play a recorded program. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the user with an option to select a recording quality for a program selected to be recorded, wherein the recording quality is selected from the group consisting of low quality, medium quality, high quality, or any other suitable recording quality. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the user with an option to select a recording buffer for a program selected to be recorded. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the user with an option to select a delete preference setting for a recorded program, wherein the delete preference setting is selected from the group consisting of a setting to never delete the recorded program, a setting to make the recorded program a preferred recording, a setting to delete the recorded program when space is needed, a setting to delete the recorded program after it has been viewed, or other suitable setting. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising deleting the recorded program based on the delete preference setting. 
     
     
         15 . A system for managing recorded programs, comprising:
 a user input device;   a storage device; and   an interactive application implemented at least partially on user equipment and configured to:
 receive a selection of an option to record a program; 
 in response to receiving the selection of the option to record the program:
 store the program on the storage device; and 
 add the program to a personalized list of programs stored for a user on the storage device; 
 
 receive a selection of an option to delete a recorded program; and 
 remove the recorded program from the personalized list of programs without removing the recorded program from the storage device in response to receiving the selection of the option to delete the recorded program. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to add the program to a global list of programs in response to receiving the selection of the option to record the program. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to remove the recorded program from the personalized list of programs without removing the recorded program from the global list of programs. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the global list of programs comprises programs stored on the storage device by a plurality of users. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to automatically store programs based on user preferences, and wherein the global list of programs comprises programs automatically stored on the storage device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to:
 receive a selection of an option to record a program previously selected for deletion; and   in response to receiving the selection of the option to record the program previously selected for deletion:
 determine whether the program is currently stored on the storage device based on the global list of programs; and 
 in response to the determining, add the program to the personalized list of programs. 
   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to:
 receive a selection of an option to record a program previously selected for deletion; and   in response to receiving the selection of the option to record the program previously selected for deletion:
 determine whether the program is currently stored on the storage device based on the global list of programs; and 
 in response to the determining:
 store the program on the storage device; 
 add the program to the personalized list of programs; and 
 add the program to the global list of programs. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to allow the user to remove a recorded program from the global list of programs. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide each one of a plurality of users with different personalized lists of programs stored on the storage device for each one of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide the user with an option to play a recorded program. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide the user with an option to select a recording quality for a program selected to be recorded, and wherein the recording quality is selected from the group consisting of low quality, medium quality, high quality, or any other suitable recording quality. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide the user with an option to select a recording buffer for a program selected to be recorded. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide the user with an option to select a delete preference setting for a recorded program, and wherein the delete preference setting is selected from the group consisting of a setting to never delete the recorded program, a setting to make the recorded program a preferred recording, a setting to delete the recorded program when space is needed, a setting to delete the recorded program after it has been viewed, or other suitable setting. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the interactive application is further configured to delete the recorded program based on the delete preference setting.