Multimedia transcoding based on remaining storage capacity

1 . A method comprising:

determining a first data storage requirement of a first multimedia data representative of a multimedia program to be stored at a storage device;

determining an available remaining storage capacity of the storage device; and

transcoding the first multimedia data to generate a second multimedia data having a second data storage requirement that is less than the first data storage requirement if the first storage requirement exceeds the available remaining storage capacity of the storage device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a size indicator for one or more characteristics of the first multimedia data; and

wherein the first data storage requirement is determined based on the size indicator.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more characteristics includes at least one of a bit rate of the first multimedia data, a frame rate of the first multimedia data, a resolution of the first multimedia data, a color depth of the first multimedia data, a content category associated with the first multimedia data, or a statistical representation of the first multimedia data.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transcoding the first multimedia data comprises at least one of reducing a bit rate of the first multimedia data, reducing a resolution of one or more video frames of the first multimedia data, reducing a video frame rate of the first multimedia data, reducing a color depth of the first multimedia data, or reducing an audio bit rate of the first multimedia data.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the second multimedia data for storage at the storage device.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first multimedia data is received, transcoded and stored in segments.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage device comprises at least one of a mass storage device of a set top box, a mass storage device of a portable multimedia device, a mass storage device of a personal video recorder, or a shared central storage device providing storage to a plurality of users.

8 . A system comprising:

a first interface to a storage device;

a second interface to receive a first multimedia data representative of a multimedia program;

a storage analysis module coupled to the first and second interfaces, the storage analysis module to:

determine a first data storage requirement of the first multimedia data;

determine an available remaining storage capacity of the storage device; and

determine whether the first data storage requirement exceeds the available remaining storage capacity; and

a transcoder coupled to the first and second interfaces and the storage analysis module, the transcoder to transcode the first multimedia data to generate a second multimedia data having a second data storage requirement that is less than the first data storage requirement in response to the determining that the first data storage requirement exceeds the available remaining storage capacity;

wherein the second multimedia data is provided to the first interface for storage at the storage device.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the storage analysis determines the first data storage requirement based on a size indicator for one or more characteristics of the first multimedia data.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more characteristics includes at least one of a bit rate of the first multimedia data, a frame rate of the first multimedia data, a resolution of the first multimedia data, a color depth of the first multimedia data, a content category associated with the first multimedia data, or a statistical representation of the first multimedia data.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein a transcoding operation performed on the first multimedia data by the transcoder comprises at least one of a bit rate reduction operation, a video frame resolution reduction operation, a video frame rate reduction operation, a color depth reduction operation, or an audio bit rate reduction operation.

12 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a buffer coupled to the second interface, the buffer to buffer at least a segment of the first multimedia data; and

wherein the first multimedia data is received, buffered, transcoded and stored on a segment-by-segment basis.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the system comprises at least one of a set top box, a portable multimedia device, a personal video recorder, or a central storage device that provides storage to a plurality of users.

14 . A method comprising:

determining that a first multimedia data representative of a first multimedia program is to be stored at a storage device having an available remaining storage capacity that is insufficient for a first data storage requirement of the first multimedia data;

selecting a second multimedia data stored at the storage device based on user preference information, wherein the second multimedia data is representative of a second multimedia program and has a second data storage requirement;

transcoding the second multimedia data to generate a third multimedia data having a third data storage requirement that is less than the second data storage requirement;

storing the third multimedia data at the storage device in place of the second multimedia data to increase the available remaining storage capacity of the storage device; and

storing the first multimedia data at the storage device based on the increased available remaining storage capacity of the storage device.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

selecting a fourth multimedia data stored at the storage device based on the user preference information, wherein the fourth multimedia data is representative of a third multimedia program and has a fourth data storage requirement;

transcoding the fourth multimedia data to generate a fifth multimedia data having a fifth data storage requirement that is less than the fourth data storage requirement; and

storing the fifth multimedia data at the storage device in place of the forth multimedia data to increase the available remaining storage capacity of the storage device.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving a size indicator for one or more characteristics of the first multimedia data; and

wherein the first data storage requirement is based on the size indicator.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein transcoding the second multimedia data comprises at least one of reducing a bit rate of the second multimedia data, reducing a resolution of one or more video frames of the second multimedia data, reducing a video frame rate of the second multimedia data, reducing a color depth of the first multimedia data or reducing an audio bit rate of the second multimedia data.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the user preference information indicates that the second multimedia program represented by the second multimedia data is less preferred by a user than multimedia programs represented by other multimedia data stored at the storage device.

19 . A system comprising:

a first interface to a storage device having multimedia data representative of one or more multimedia programs;

a second interface to receive a first multimedia data representative of a first multimedia program, the first multimedia data having a first data storage requirement;

a user preference module to determine user preference information;

a storage analysis module coupled to the first and second interfaces and the user preference module, the storage analysis module to:

determine an available remaining storage capacity of the storage device is insufficient for the first data storage requirement of the first multimedia data;

select a second multimedia data stored at the storage device based on user preference information, wherein the second multimedia data is representative of a second multimedia program and has a second data storage requirement; and

a transcoder coupled to the first and second interfaces and the storage analysis module, the transcoder to transcode the second multimedia data to generate a third multimedia data having a third data storage requirement that is less than the second data storage requirement, wherein the third multimedia data replaces the second multimedia data at the storage device.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the storage analysis module determines that the available remaining storage capacity of the storage device is insufficient based on a size indicator for one or more characteristics of the first multimedia data, and wherein the first data storage requirement is based on the size indicator.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the one or more characteristics includes at least one of a bit rate of the first multimedia data, a frame rate of the first multimedia data, a resolution of the first multimedia data, a color depth of the first multimedia data, a content category associated with the first multimedia data, or a statistical representation of the first multimedia data.

22 . The system of claim 19 , wherein a transcoding operation performed on the first multimedia data by the transcoder comprises at least one of a bit rate reduction operation, a video frame resolution reduction operation, a video frame rate reduction operation, a color depth reduction operation, or an audio bit rate reduction operation.

23 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the user preference information indicates that the second multimedia program represented by the second multimedia data is less preferred by a user than other multimedia programs stored at the storage device.

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the user preference module determines the user preference information based on an analysis of previous user multimedia selections.

25 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the user preference module determines the user preference information based on multimedia program preferences provided by a user.