Networked personal video recording system

Abstract

A networked personal video recording (“PVR”) system couples a plurality of clients to one or more PVR media servers over a network. One or more PVR media servers include television tuners to tune television signals. A storage medium buffers the television signals to implement PVR functionality. For example, the PVR media server records television programs for clients. Clients are assigned to television tuners, and the clients display television programs received at the assigned tuner. The network transfers the buffered television signals to the clients.

1 . A method for networking a plurality of television recording devices, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a plurality of television signals;   tuning each of said television signals in one of a plurality of tuners;   buffering said television signals on a storage medium in at least one PVR media server;   coupling a plurality of clients, over a network, to said PVR media server;   assigning at least two of said clients to one or more of said tuners; and   transferring, over said network, buffered television signals to said clients.   
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of tuning each of said television signals in one of a plurality of tuners comprises the step of tuning said television signals in a plurality of tuners located in a single PVR media server. 
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of tuning each of said television signals in one of a plurality of tuners comprises the step of tuning said television signals in a plurality of tuners located in a plurality of PVR media server. 
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of buffering said television signals on a storage medium comprises the step of storing at least one television signal on a storage medium in at least one PVR media server for a client so as to record at least one television program for said client. 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the step of storing at least one television signal comprises the steps of
 assigning a tuner to said client;   allocating space on said storage medium to record said television program; and   storing said television signal on said storage medium during a time scheduled for said television program.   
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the step of storing at least one television signal comprises the step of resolving any conflicts to assign an available tuner for said television signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the step of resolving any conflicts to assign an available tuner for said television program comprises the steps of:
 determining whether one of said tuners is available to receive said television signal;   if so,
 assigning said tuner to receive said television signal; 
   if not,
 determining which tuners are potentially available; 
 querying clients assigned to said tuners potentially available to determine whether said clients desire to cancel recordation of said television program; and 
 assigning a tuner potentially available to receive said television signal if no clients cancel recordation of said television program. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 generating a first position to identify a location within a selected one of said buffered television signals for a first client; and   generating a second position to identify a location within said selected buffered television signal for a second client, said second position being independent from said first position.   
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of clients for displaying television signals;
 at least one PVR media server coupled to receive a plurality of television signals, said PVR media server comprising: 
 a plurality of television tuners for tuning each of said television signals, so as to assign at least two of said clients to one or more of said tuners; 
 storage medium, coupled to said television tuners, for buffering said television signals; and 
   a network for coupling said clients to said PVR media server and for transferring said buffered television signals to said clients.   
     
     
         10 . The system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said at least one PVR media server comprises a single PVR media server comprising a plurality of tuners. 
     
     
         11 . The system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said at least one PVR media server comprises a plurality of tuners located in a plurality of PVR media servers. 
     
     
         12 . The system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said PVR media server further comprising storage medium for storing at least one television signal so as to record said television program. 
     
     
         13 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said system further comprises software for assigning a tuner to said client, for allocating space on said storage medium to record said television program, and for storing said television signal on said storage medium during a time scheduled for said television program. 
     
     
         14 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said system further comprises software for resolving any conflicts to assign an available tuner for said television signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising software for determining whether one of said tuners is available to receive said television signal;
 if so,
 for assigning said tuner to receive said television signal; 
   if not,
 for determining which tuners are potentially available, for querying clients assigned to said tuners potentially available to determine whether said clients desire to cancel recordation of said television program, and for assigning a tuner potentially available to receive said television signal if no clients cancel recordation of said television program. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising software for generating a first position to identify a location within a selected one of said buffered television signals for a first client, and for generating a second position to identify a location within said selected buffered television signal for a second client, said second position being independent from said first position.