Multi-DVR Content Management
Multi-DVR content management is described. In an embodiment, television-based client devices are each a node of a multi-DVR system where the nodes are implemented for communication with each other. A recording node of the multi-DVR system records media content with a recording media when initiated by a television-based client device at a node of the multi-DVR system. A media content reference is mapped in a content map to the recording media to associate the recorded media content with the television-based client device. The recorded media content can then be rendered from the recording media at a different television-based client device at a node of the multi-DVR system.
1 . A method, comprising:
recording media content in a pause buffer when a television-based client device is tuned to render the media content from a content stream;
mapping a media content reference in a content map to the pause buffer to associate the recorded media content with the television-based client device;
receiving a request from an additional television-based client device to record the media content; and
mapping a virtual content reference to the media content reference such that the recorded media content is also associated with the additional television-based client device.
2 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the request is received from the additional television-based client device to record a segment of the media content that is being recorded in the pause buffer, the method further comprising:
tuning the television-based client device to render different media content from an alternate content stream; and
maintaining the media content reference in the content map to the recorded segment of the media content such that the additional television-based client device is associated with the recorded segment of the media content via the virtual content reference.
3 . A method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising deallocating recorded segments of the pause buffer that do not contain the recorded segment of the media content that is associated with the additional television-based client device.
4 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the television-based client device and the additional television-based client device are each a node of a multi-DVR system that includes multiple nodes configured for communication with each other, the multi-DVR system further including a recording node that records the media content for one or more of the nodes of the multi-DVR system.
5 . A method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the recording node is a network-based service that records the media content for one or more of the nodes of the multi-DVR system.
6 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media content reference includes reference metadata that is associated with the recorded media content designated by the media content reference.
7 . A method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the reference metadata includes a time-based index to a segment of the recorded media content.
8 . A method, comprising:
recording media content with a recording media when initiated by a television-based client device;
mapping a media content reference in a content map to the recording media to associate the recorded media content with the television-based client device; and
rendering the recorded media content from the recording media at a different television-based client device.
9 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
the media content is recorded in a pause buffer when the television-based client device is tuned to render the media content;
the media content reference is mapped in a content map to the pause buffer to associate the recorded media content with the television-based client device;
the method further comprising:
pausing the media content being rendered at the television-based client device such that the pause buffer continues to record the media content; and wherein
the different television-based client device renders the media content from the pause buffer from a point at which the media content was paused at the television-based client device.
10 . A method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving a request from an additional television-based client device to record the media content; and
mapping a virtual content reference to the media content reference in the content map such that the recorded media content is also associated with the additional television-based client device, where the recorded media content can be rendered at the television-based client device and at the additional television-based client device.
11 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the television-based client device is a node of a multi-DVR system that includes multiple nodes configured for communication with each other, the multi-DVR system further including a recording node that records the media content for one or more of the nodes of the multi-DVR system.
12 . A method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the recording node is a network-based service that records the media content for one or more of the nodes of the multi-DVR system.
13 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the media content reference includes reference metadata that is associated with the recorded media content designated by the media content reference, the reference metadata including a time-based index to a segment of the recorded media content.
14 . A multi-DVR system, comprising:
television-based client devices that are each a node of the multi-DVR system and configured for communication with each other;
a recording node of the multi-DVR system configured to record media content with a recording media for one or more of the television-based client devices;
a content mapping system that includes a content map and the recording media of the recording node, the content map including:
media content references to the recording media, a media content reference designating recorded media content associated with a television-based client device; and
a virtual content reference to the media content reference such that the recorded media content is also associated with an additional television-based client device.
15 . A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 14 , wherein at least one of the television-based client devices is the recording node of the multi-DVR system to record the media content for one or more of the television-based client devices.
16 . A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the recording node is a network-based service configured to record the media content for one or more of the television-based client devices.
17 . A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the content mapping system includes a content manager configured to manage the content mapping system and to deallocate segments of the recording media that are not referenced from the content map.
18 . A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the content map includes reference metadata that corresponds to the media content reference and which is associated with the recorded media content designated by the media content reference.
19 . A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 18 , wherein the reference metadata includes a time-based index to a segment of the recorded media content.
20 . A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the content map is further configured to map the media content references to associate each of the television-based client devices with the recorded media content.