Storage management of a recording device in a multi-user system

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing the storage of recordings in a recording device in which the recordings were requested by several users are provided. Each user may be assigned a storage space limit defining the amount of storage space each user is entitled to use. In some embodiments, the storage space limit may be flexibly increased to take advantage of extra space available from other users. The system may intelligently borrow space from other users to limit the risk that a requested recording is canceled due to unavailable storage resources. In some embodiments, the system may jointly allocate a recording to several users who commonly requested a recording. The system may also set aside space in the recording device that is saved exclusively for a particular user. In some embodiments, the recording device may allocate the storage resources based on the usage of the recordings.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for storing a media asset with a storage device having a plurality of storage space allocations comprising:
 receiving a request to store a media asset;   displaying the plurality of storage space allocations, wherein each of the plurality of storage space allocations is associated with a different media attribute or user;   receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of displayed storage space allocations; and   storing the requested media asset on the storage device using the selected one of the plurality of storage space allocations.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the media attribute is a type of media recorded, a genre, an actor, a producer, a ranking, a rating, a channel, a time transmitted, or a media source. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 identifying the user requesting to store the media asset; 
 determining that a storage space allocation associated with the identified user is insufficient to store the requested media asset; and 
 in response to determining that the storage space allocation that is associated with the identified user is insufficient to store the requested media asset, displaying the plurality of allocated storage spaces to the identified user. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 receiving a user indication to create a new storage space allocation; and 
 in response to receiving the user indication, adding the new storage space allocation to the plurality of storage space allocations. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 selecting the plurality of storage space allocations for display based on a media attribute associated with the requested media asset. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  wherein one of the displayed plurality of storage space allocations is a joint allocation associated with more than one user. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 determining that the selected one of the plurality of storage space allocations is not associated with the user; and 
 in response to the determination, prompting the user for authorization information to store the requested media asset to the selected one of the plurality of storage space allocations. 
 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising:
 receiving authorization information from the user; and 
 displaying a prompt to the user to select another storage space allocation based on the received authorization information. 
 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 identifying storage space allocations in the displayed plurality that are unavailable to store the requested media asset; and 
 visually indicating the unavailable storage space allocations. 
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising:
 determining that a storage space allocation is unavailable for storing the requested media asset based on an attribute associated with the requested media asset. 
 
     
     
         37 . A system for storing a media asset with a storage device having a plurality of storage space allocations comprising:
 control circuitry configured to:
 receive a request to store a media asset; 
 cause the plurality of storage space allocations to be displayed, wherein each of the plurality of storage space allocations is associated with a different media attribute or user; 
 receive a user selection of one of the plurality of displayed storage space allocations; and 
 store the requested media asset on the storage device using the selected one of the plurality of storage space allocations. 
   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the media attribute is a type of media recorded, a genre, an actor, a producer, a ranking, a rating, a channel, a time transmitted, or a media source. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 identify the user requesting to store the media asset; 
 determine that a storage space allocation associated with the identified user is insufficient to store the requested media asset; and 
 in response to determining that the storage space allocation that is associated with the identified user is insufficient to store the requested media asset, display the plurality of allocated storage spaces to the identified user. 
 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive a user indication to create a new storage space allocation; and 
 in response to receiving the user indication, add the new storage space allocation to the plurality of storage space allocations. 
 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 select the plurality of storage space allocations for display based on a media attribute associated with the requested media asset. 
 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 37  wherein one of the displayed plurality of storage space allocations is a joint allocation associated with more than one user. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine that the selected one of the plurality of storage space allocations is not associated with the user; and 
 in response to the determination, prompt the user for authorization information to store the requested media asset to the selected one of the plurality of storage space allocations. 
 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive authorization information from the user; and 
 display a prompt to the user to select another storage space allocation based on the received authorization information. 
 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 identify storage space allocations in the displayed plurality that are unavailable to store the requested media asset; and 
 visually indicate the unavailable storage space allocations. 
 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine that a storage space allocation is unavailable for storing the requested media asset based on an attribute associated with the requested media asset.