Remote DVR manager

1. A method for programming a digital video recorder (DVR) over a scheduling network comprising:

sending, by a scheduling server, a program selection received from a scheduling client associated with a subscriber via the scheduling network to a state evaluator;

accessing, at the time of the program selection by the state evaluator, a datastore comprising state information indicative of a state of a program source, a network path between the program source and a user's DVR, and the DVR of a program provisioning system, wherein the datastore is remote from the DVR;

determining, at the time of the program selection by the state evaluator, from the state information indicative of the state of the program source, the network path between the program source and the user's DVR, and the DVR of the program provisioning system, whether the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system, wherein the determination is made remotely from the DVR by the state evaluator;

receiving, by the scheduling server, the determination made by the state evaluator;

denying, by the scheduling server, the program selection upon the determination that recording of the program selection is precluded by the state information of the program provisioning system, and

communicating, by the scheduling server, the program selection to the DVR upon the determination that the recording of the program selection is deliverable to the DVR by the state information of the program provisioning system.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the state information indicative of the state of the program provisioning system comprises program source state information; and

wherein determining from the program provisioning system state information whether the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system comprises determining from the program source state information that the program selection is available from the program source.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the state information indicative of the state of the program provisioning system comprises network path state information; and

wherein determining from the program provisioning system state information whether the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system comprises determining from the network path state information that the network path is available to deliver the program selection to the DVR.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the network path comprises a cable network.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the network path state information comprises information indicative of the performance of devices comprising the cable network.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the network path is determined in part using subscriber account data.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the subscriber account data is selected from the group consisting of a set top box (STB) IP address, an STB MAC address, a node associated with the STB, a modulator associated with the STB and the hub, a demodulator associated with the STB and the hub, a power supply associated with the node, an amplifier associated with the STB, a line extender associated with the STB, a customer account number, a customer account status, a customer address, and a customer phone number.

8. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the program provisioning system further comprises a CPE unit,

wherein the state information indicative of the state of the program provisioning system

comprises CPE state information, and

wherein determining from the program provisioning system state information whether the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system comprises determining from CPE state information that the CPE unit is able to receive the program selection.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the CPE unit comprises a set top box (STB) and the CPE state information comprises a two-way communication status of the STB, a transmit signal level of the STB, and a receive signal level of the STB.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the CPE unit comprises the DVR and the CPE state information comprises a measure of available memory on the DVR relative to a memory requirement of the program selection.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

notifying the subscriber that the program selection is available if the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein notifying the subscriber that the program selection is available comprises sending the subscriber an email.

13. The method of claim 11 ,

wherein the program provisioning system comprises a set top box, and

wherein notifying the subscriber that the program selection is available comprises sending a text message to the set top box.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying the subscriber that the program selection is unavailable if the program selection is undeliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein notifying the subscriber that the program selection is unavailable comprises sending the subscriber an email.

16. The method of claim 14 ,

wherein the program provisioning system comprises a set top box, and

wherein notifying the subscriber that the program selection is unavailable comprises sending a text message to the set top box.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scheduling network comprises the Internet.

18. A digital video recorder (DVR) remote scheduling system comprising:

a scheduling network;

a scheduling client, wherein the scheduling client is associated with a subscriber, wherein the scheduling client is configured to send a program selection to a scheduling server via the scheduling network;

a program provisioning system comprising a program source, a network path between the program source and a user's DVR and the DVR;

a datastore, wherein the datastore comprises state information indicative of a state of a program source, a network path between the program source and a user's DVR, and the DVR of the program provisioning system, and wherein the datastore is remote from the DVR;

a state evaluator remote from the DVR and configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving the state information indicative of the state of the program source, the network path between the program source and the user's DVR, and the DVR of the program provisioning system from the datastore at the time of the program selection; and

determining, at the time of the program selection, from the state information indicative of the state of the program source, the network path between the program source and the user's DVR, and the DVR of the program provisioning system whether the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system; and

the scheduling server configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving the determination from the state evaluator whether the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system; and

denying the program selection upon the determination that recording of the program selection is precluded by the state information of the program provisioning system, and

communicating the program selection for recording to the DVR upon the determination that the program selection is deliverable to the DVR by the state information of the program provisioning system.

19. The system of claim 18 ,

wherein state information indicative of the state of the program provisioning system comprises program source state information; and

wherein the operation for determining from the program provisioning system state information whether the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system comprises determining from the program source state information that the program selection is available from the program source.

20. The system of claim 18 ,

wherein state information indicative of the state of the program provisioning system comprises network path state information; and

wherein the operation for determining from the program provisioning system state information whether the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system comprises determining from the network path state information that the network path is available to deliver the program selection to the DVR.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the network path comprises a cable network.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the network path state information comprises information indicative of performance of devices comprising the cable network.

23. The system of claim 20 , wherein the state evaluator further comprises instructions for determining the network path and wherein the network path is determined in part using subscriber account data.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the subscriber account data is selected from the group consisting of a set top box (STB) IP address, an STB MAC address, a node associated with the STB, a modulator associated with the STB and the hub, a demodulator associated with the STB and the hub, a power supply associated with the node, an amplifier associated with the STB, a line extender associated with the STB, a customer account number, a customer account status, a customer address, and a customer phone number.

25. The system of claim 18 ,

wherein the program provisioning system further comprises a CPE unit,

wherein state information indicative of the state of the program provisioning system comprises CPE state information, and

wherein the operation for determining from the program provisioning system state information whether the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system comprises determining from the CPE state information that the CPE is able to receive the program selection.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the CPE unit comprises a set top box (STB) and CPE state information comprises a two-way communication status of the STB, a transmit signal level of the STB, and a receive signal level of the STB.

27. The system of claim 25 , wherein the CPE unit comprises the DVR and CPE state information comprises a measure of available memory on the DVR relative to a memory requirement of the program selection.

28. The system of claim 18 , wherein the scheduling server further comprises instructions for notifying the subscriber that the program selection is available if the program selection is deliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the notification to the subscriber comprises an email sent to the subscriber.

30. The system of claim 28 , wherein the program provisioning system comprises a set top box associated with the subscriber and wherein the notification to the subscriber comprises a text message sent to the set top box.

31. The system of claim 18 , wherein the scheduling server further comprises instructions for notifying the subscriber that the program selection is unavailable if the program selection is undeliverable to the DVR via the program provisioning system.

32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the notification to the subscriber comprises an email sent to the subscriber.

33. The system of claim 31 , wherein the program provisioning system comprises a set top box (STB) associated with the subscriber and wherein the notification to the subscriber comprises a text message sent to the STB.

34. The system of claim 18 , wherein the scheduling network comprises the Internet.