Systems and methods for managing and identifying the origin of files on a digital video recorder

1. A method for recording television content, the method comprising:

receiving a first request, at a digital video recorder, to record a television program transmitted over a television distribution system;

determining whether an originator of the first request is identifiable and, if such determination is made in the affirmative, identifying the originator, and, if such determination is made in the negative, identifying an originating device of the first request;

receiving and recording the television program into a file at the digital video recorder;

upon a condition in which an originator of the first request is identified, associating information identifying the originator with the file at the digital video recorder;

upon a condition in which an originating device of the first request is identified, determining whether the originating device is associated with an originator;

upon a condition in which the originating device is associated with an originator, associating information identifying the originator with the file at the digital video recorder;

upon a condition in which the originating device is not associated with an originator, associating information identifying the originating device with the file at the digital video recorder;

receiving a second request, through the digital video recorder, to view the identifying information associated with the file;

outputting the identifying information, from the digital video recorder, for presentation by a presentation device, responsive to the second request;

receiving a third request, through the digital video recorder, to register an interest in the television program by a second user other than the originator, thereby additionally identifying the second user with the file at the digital video recorder;

receiving a fourth request, through the digital video recorder, to delete the file, wherein:

if the fourth request is received from the originator, the method comprises deleting the file;

if the fourth request is received from a user other than the originator, the method comprises: determining whether both the original and the second user have viewed the television program, and, if the determination is made in the affirmative, deleting the file, but if the determination is made in the negative, prohibiting the file from being deleted.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying information comprises a user of the digital video recorder that requested to record the television program.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying the originator of the first request further comprises:

receiving user input, in association with the first request, at the digital video recorder, the user input identifying the user.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying the originator of the first request further comprises:

identifying the user logged into the digital video recorder.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining whether the user has viewed the file; and

outputting a message, in association with the identifying information, the message specifying whether the user has viewed the file.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the originator of the first request comprises an external device, communicatively coupled to the digital video recorder through a communication network, that provided the first request to the digital video recorder.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the originator of the first request further comprises:

identifying one of a plurality of remote controls associated with the digital video recorder that transmitted the first request.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a plurality of originators associated with the first request and associating information identifying the plurality or originators with the file at the digital video recorder.

9. An apparatus comprising:

an input interface operable to receive a first request to record a television program;

a storage medium;

a communication interface that receives the television program; and

a processor comprising control logic that performs the following operations:

identify an originator and an originating device of the first request;

coordinate storage of the television program in a file on the storage medium;

associate information identifying the originator with the file;

associate information identifying the originating device with the file at the digital video recorder;

receive a second request to view the identifying information of the originator and the originating device associated with the file;

output the identifying information of the originator and the originating device for presentation by a presentation device

receive a third request, through the digital video recorder, to register an interest in the television program by a second user other than the originator, thereby additionally identifying the second user with the file at the digital video recorder;

receive a fourth request, through the digital video recorder, to delete the file, wherein:

if the fourth request is received from the originator, the control logic deletes the file;

if the fourth request is received from a user other than the originator, the control logic: determines whether both the original and the second user have viewed the television program, and, if the determination is made in the affirmative, deletes the file, but if the determination is made in the negative, prohibits the file from being deleted.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control logic is identifies a user that requested to record the television program.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the control logic provides a user interface to solicit user input, in association with the first request, the user input identifying the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the control logic identifies a user logged into the apparatus and associate the user with the file during recording of the television program.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the input interface receives the first request from an external device, communicatively coupled to the apparatus through a communication network and the control logic identifies the originator based on the external device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the information identifying the originator specifies the external device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the information identifying the originator specifies a user of the external device.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the input interface communicates with a plurality of remote controls and wherein the control logic identifies the originator based on one of the plurality of remote controls that transmits the request to the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control logic determines whether the originator has viewed the file and output a message, in association with the identifying information, the message specifying whether the originator has viewed the file.

18. A method for recording television content, the method comprising:

receiving a first request, at a digital video recorder, to record a television program transmitted over a television distribution system;

identifying an originating device of the first request;

receiving and recording the television program into a file at the digital video recorder;

determining whether the originating device is associated with an originator;

upon a condition in which the originating device is associated with an originator, associating information identifying the originator with the file at the digital video recorder;

upon a condition in which the originating device is not associated with an originator, associating information identifying the originating device with the file at the digital video recorder;

receiving a second request, through the digital video recorder, to view the identifying information associated with the file;

outputting the identifying information, from the digital video recorder, for presentation by a presentation device, responsive to the second request

receiving a third request, through the digital video recorder, to register an interest in the television program by a second user other than the originator, thereby additionally identifying the second user with the file at the digital video recorder;

receiving a fourth request, through the digital video recorder, to delete the file, wherein:

if the fourth request is received from the originator, the method comprises deleting the file;

if the fourth request is received from a user other than the originator, the method comprises: determining whether both the original and the second user have viewed the television program, and, if the determination is made in the affirmative, deleting the file, but if the determination is made in the negative, prohibiting the file from being deleted.