Systems and methods for content storage

Abstract

A method and apparatus for A set top box (STB) displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) on a display, recording a program to a storage device and in response to a single selection from a user, transferring a program and auxiliary data related to the program from a first storage device of the STB to a removable storage device. In one or more arrangements, a system may record a program to one storage device upon determining the unavailability of a second storage device.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a content rendering system, a request to record a program;   automatically recording the program to a first storage device when a second storage device is unavailable;   receiving, by the content rendering system, a selection of the recorded program from a listing of one or more programs; and   automatically transferring the recorded program from the first storage device to the second storage device in response to receiving the selection of the recorded program from the listing of one or more programs.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including, in response to user input corresponding to a transfer command, transferring the recorded program from the second storage device to the first storage device, wherein the user input includes a pressing of a portion of at least one of: a control panel of the content rendering system, a remote control device associated with the content rendering system, and a web phone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further including maintaining an index of programs and related auxiliary data transferred from the first storage device to the second storage device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, in response to the selection of the recorded program, the content rendering system prompting for the insertion of a removable storage medium into the content rendering system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the removable storage medium comprises a DVD-RAM. 
     
     
         6 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:
 receive a request to record a program;   automatically record the program to a first storage device when a second storage device is unavailable;   receive a selection of the recorded program from a listing of one or more programs; and   automatically transfer the recorded program from the first storage device to the second storage device in response to receiving the selection of the recorded program from the listing of one or more programs.   
     
     
         7 . The one or more computer readable media of  claim 6 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to, in response to user input corresponding to a transfer command, transferring the recorded program from the second storage device to the first storage device, wherein the user input includes a pressing of a portion of at least one of: a control panel of the apparatus, a remote control device associated with the apparatus, and a web phone. 
     
     
         8 . The one or more computer readable media of  claim 7 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to maintain an index of programs and related auxiliary data transferred from the first storage device to the second storage device. 
     
     
         9 . The one or more computer readable media of  claim 8 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to, in response to the selection of the recorded program, prompt for the insertion of a removable storage medium into the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The one or more computer readable media of  claim 9 , wherein the removable storage medium comprises a DVD-RAM. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to:
 receive a request to record a program; 
 automatically record the program to a first storage device when a second storage device is unavailable; 
 receive a selection of the recorded program from a listing of one or more programs; and 
 automatically transfer the recorded program from the first storage device to the second storage device in response to receiving the selection of the recorded program from the listing of one or more programs. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to, in response to user input corresponding to a transfer command, transfer the recorded program from the second storage device to the first storage device, wherein the user input includes a pressing of a first portion of at least one of: a control panel of the apparatus, a remote control device associated with the apparatus, and a web phone. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein receiving the request to record the program includes receiving user input comprising pressing of the first portion of the at least one of: a control panel of the apparatus, a remote control device associated with the apparatus, and a web phone. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to maintain an index of programs and related auxiliary data transferred from the first storage device to the second storage device. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to, in response to the selection of the recorded program, prompt for the insertion of a removable storage medium into the content rendering system. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the removable storage medium comprises a DVD-RAM.