Personal video recording with storage space requirement checking

1. A method for administration of storage space requirements on a personal video recorder (“PVR”), the method comprising:

recording a show having a storage space requirement wherein the show includes a duration; and

incrementing the show's storage space requirement while recording including tracking a recording period for the show and actual storage space used during the recording period, comparing, when the tracked recording period is at least equal to a space check threshold multiplied by the duration, the storage space used with an amount of storage space projected to be used during the tracked recording period, and incrementing the show's storage space requirement if the storage space used is greater than the storage space projected to be used.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein incrementing the show's storage space requirement comprises adding to the show's storage space requirement a predetermined proportion of the storage space requirement.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the show further comprises a genre and the method further comprises selecting the predetermined proportion of the storage space requirement in dependence upon the genre.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein incrementing the show's storage space requirement further comprises incrementing the show's storage space requirement in accordance with a predetermined overallocation rate.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the show further comprises a genre and the method further comprises selecting the overallocation rate in dependence upon the genre.

6. A system for administration of storage space requirements on a personal video recorder (“PVR”), the system comprising:

means for recording a show having a storage space requirement wherein the show includes a duration; and

means for incrementing the show's storage space requirement while recording including means for tracking a recording period for the show and actual storage space used during the recording period, means for comparing, when the tracked recording period is at least equal to a space check threshold multiplied by the duration, the storage space used with an amount of storage space projected to be used during the tracked recording period, and means for incrementing the show's storage space requirement if the storage space used is greater than the storage space projected to be used.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein means for incrementing the show's storage space requirement comprises means for adding to the show's storage space requirement a predetermined proportion of the storage space requirement.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the show further comprises a genre and the system further comprises means for selecting the predetermined proportion of the storage space requirement in dependence upon the genre.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein means for incrementing the show's storage space requirement further comprises means for incrementing the show's storage space requirement in accordance with a predetermined overallocation rate.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the show further comprises a genre and the system further comprises means for selecting the overallocation rate in dependence upon the genre.

11. A computer program product for administration of storage space requirements on a personal video recorder (“PVR”), the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for recording a show having a storage space requirement wherein the show includes a duration; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for incrementing the show's storage space requirement while recording including means, recorded on the recording medium, for tracking a recording period for the show and actual storage space used during the recording period, means, recorded on the recording medium, for comparing. when the tracked recording period is at least equal to a space check threshold multiplied by the duration, the storage space used with an amount of storage space projected to be used during the tracked recording period, and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for incrementing the show's storage space requirement if the storage space used is greater than the storage space projected to be used.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for incrementing the show's storage space requirement comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for adding to the show's storage space requirement a predetermined proportion of the storage space requirement.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the show further comprises a genre and the computer program product further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting the predetermined proportion of the storage space requirement in dependence upon the genre.

14. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for incrementing the show's storage space requirement further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for incrementing the show's storage space requirement in accordance with a predetermined overallocation rate.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the show further comprises a genre and the computer program product further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting the overallocation rate in dependence upon the genre.