Residual time-shift buffering in a digital media device

1. A method for managing time-shift buffering in a digital media recording device, comprising:

receiving media content through at least a first tuner of the digital media recording device, the media content comprising at least a first instance of media content received consecutive to a second instance of media content;

directing the first instance of media content into a first time-shift buffer, the first instance of the media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device;

after directing the first instance of the media content into the first time-shift buffer, directing the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and a second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for at least a predetermined duration of time wherein directing the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and the second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for the predetermined time comprises directing the second instance of media content into the second time-shift buffer through a second tuner;

attaching a service context to the first time-shift buffer;

detaching the service context from the first time-shift buffer; and

attaching the service context to the second time-shift buffer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first instance of media content and the second instance of media content are received consecutively through the first tuner, the first instance of media content and the second instance of media content being sequentially directed into the first time-shift buffer from the first tuner, the method further comprising:

converting at least a portion of the first instance of media content directed to the first time-shift buffer into a linear recording at a time when directing a portion of the second media instance received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: converting the second media instance directed to the first time-shift buffer into a linear recording at a time after converting the first media instance into a linear recording.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined duration that the media content continues to be directed into the first buffer is at least as long as the time period extending between the time that the second media instance begins being directed into the time-shift buffer and the time that the first media instance finishes conversion into the linear recording.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining whether a tuner resource is available at a designated time in order to direct the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and the second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for at least the predetermined duration of time, the designated time being substantially the same time that the first media instance has finished being directed into the first time-shift buffer.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: after the predetermined duration, discontinuing the direction of the media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

attaching a first service context to the first time-shift buffer;

detaching the first service context from the first time-shift buffer upon determining that the tuner resource is available; and

reattaching the first service context to the first time-shift buffer before the predetermined duration has elapsed.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the stop of directing the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and the second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for the predetermined time comprises directing the second instance of media content into the second time-shift buffer through a second tuner, and the method further comprises:

attaching a first service context to the first time-shift buffer;

attaching a second service context to the second time-shift buffer;

detaching the first service context from the first time-shift buffer and detaching the second service context from the second time-shift buffer; and

attaching the second service context to the first time-shift buffer before the predetermined duration has elapsed.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein discontinuing the direction of the media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer after the predetermined duration is performed if the first time-shift buffer is not used for directing media content to a linear recording or service context at the end of the predetermined duration.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detaching the service context from the second time-shift buffer; and

reattaching the service context to the first time-shift buffer before the predetermined duration has elapsed.

11. A digital media recording device comprising:

a memory for storing logic; and

processing circuitry configured to execute the logic, the logic configured for:

receiving media content through at least a first tuner of the digital media recording device, the media content comprising at least a first instance of media content received consecutive to a second instance of media content;

directing the first instance of media content into a first time-shift buffer, the first instance of the media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device;

after directing the first instance of the media content into the first time-shift buffer, directing the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and a second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for at least a predetermined duration of time;

determining whether a tuner resource is available at a designated time in order to direct the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and the second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for at least the predetermined duration of time, the designated time being substantially the same time that the first media instance has finished being directed into the first time-shift buffer;

after the predetermined duration, discontinuing the direction of the media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer;

attaching a first service context to the first time-shift buffer;

detaching the first service context from the first time-shift buffer upon determining that the tuner resource is available; and

reattaching the first service context to the first time-shift buffer before the predetermined duration has elapsed.

12. The digital media recording device of claim 11 , wherein the first instance of media content and the second instance of media content are received consecutively through the first tuner, the first instance of media content and the second instance of media content being sequentially directed into the first time-shift buffer from the first tuner, wherein the logic further comprises logic configured for: converting at least a portion of the first instance of media content directed to the first time-shift buffer into a linear recording at a time when directing a portion of the second media instance received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer.

13. The digital media recording device of claim 12 , wherein the logic further comprises logic configured for: converting the second media instance directed to the first time-shift buffer into a linear recording at a time after converting the first media instance into a linear recording.

14. The digital media recording device of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined duration that the media content continues to be directed into the first buffer is at least as long as the time period extending between the time that the second media instance begins being directed into the time-shift buffer and the time that the first media instance finishes conversion into the linear recording.

15. The digital media recording device of claim 11 , wherein the logic for directing the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and the second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for the predetermined time comprises logic for directing the second instance of media content into the second time-shift buffer through a second tuner, and wherein the logic further comprises logic configured for:

attaching a first service context to the first time-shift buffer;

attaching a second service context to the second time-shift buffer;

detaching the first service context from the first time-shift buffer and detaching the second service context from the second time-shift buffer; and

attaching the second service context to the first time-shift buffer before the predetermined duration has elapsed.

16. The digital media recording device of claim 11 , wherein the logic configured to discontinue the direction of the media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer after the predetermined duration is performed if the first time-shift buffer is not used for directing media content to a linear recording or service context at the end of the predetermined duration.

17. The digital media recording device of claim 11 , wherein the logic for directing the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and the second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for the predetermined time comprises logic for directing the second instance of media content into the second time-shift buffer through a second tuner, and the logic further comprises logic configured for:

attaching a service context to the first time-shift buffer;

detaching the service context from the first time-shift buffer; and

attaching the service context to the second time-shift buffer.

18. The digital media recording device of claim 17 , wherein the logic further comprises logic configured for:

detaching the service context from the second time-shift buffer; and

reattaching the service context to the first time-shift buffer before the predetermined duration has elapsed.

19. A system for managing time-shift buffering in a digital media recording device, the system comprising:

means for receiving media content through at least a first tuner of the digital media recording device, the media content comprising at least a first instance of media content received consecutive to a second instance of media content;

means for directing the first instance of media content into a first time-shift buffer, the first instance of the media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device;

means for, after directing the first instance of the media content into the first time-shift buffer, directing the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and a second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for at least a predetermined duration of time wherein directing the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and the second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for the predetermined time comprises directing the second instance of media content into the second time-shift buffer through a second tuner;

means for attaching a service context to the first time-shift buffer;

means for detaching the service context from the first time-shift buffer; and

means for attaching the service context to the second time-shift buffer.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first instance of media content and the second instance of media content are received consecutively through the first tuner, the first instance of media content and the second instance of media content being sequentially directed into the first time-shift buffer from the first tuner, the method further comprising:

means for converting at least a portion of the first instance of media content directed to the first time-shift buffer into a linear recording at a time when directing a portion of the second media instance received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer.

21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising: means for converting the second media instance directed to the first time-shift buffer into a linear recording at a time after converting the first media instance into a linear recording.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the predetermined duration that the media content continues to be directed into the first buffer is at least as long as the time period extending between the time that the second media instance begins being directed into the time-shift buffer and the time that the first media instance finishes conversion into the linear recording.

23. The system of claim 19 , further comprising: means for determining whether a tuner resource is available at a designated time in order to direct the second instance of media content into one of the first time-shift buffer and the second time-shift buffer while continuing to direct media content received through the first tuner of the digital media recording device into the first time-shift buffer for at least the predetermined duration of time, the designated time being substantially the same time that the first media instance has finished being directed into the first time-shift buffer.