System and method for resolving scheduling conflicts in multi-tuner devices and systems
View Patent ↗A system and method for resolving scheduling conflicts in multi-tuner devices. A multi-tuner device generates an interactive graphical display representing a current schedule for tuner usage. A user may identify a program for viewing or recording and conditionally reserve a tuner to provide the requested service. The multi-tuner device identifies any scheduling conflicts arising from the requested service and provides an updated graphical display showing a new schedule for tuner usage, which schedule is subject to selection by the requesting user. Upon selection of the new schedule, the new schedule becomes the current schedule.
1. A method of resolving scheduling conflicts in a multi-tuner device, the method comprising:
scheduling by the multi-tuner device a first program for recording during a first time period by a first tuner, wherein the multi-tuner device manages access to a plurality of tuners including the first tuner by a plurality of tunerless devices;
scheduling by the multi-tuner device a second program for recording during a second time period by a second tuner in the plurality of tuners;
receiving by the multi-tuner device a request to record a third program during a third time period;
detecting by the multi-tuner device a conflict when recording of the third program during the third time period would permit recording either the first program or the second program, wherein the conflict arises when the plurality of tunerless devices are accessing all of the plurality of tuners except for the first tuner and the second tuner during the third time period;
displaying by the multi-tuner device in response to the detected conflict a graphical display on a display device, wherein the graphical display comprises a first display location, a second display location and a third display location;
generating by the multi-tuner device a first object representing the first program and assigning the first object to the first display location;
generating by the multi-tuner device a second object representing the second program and assigning the second object to the second display location;
generating by the multi-tuner device a third object representing the third program and assigning the third object to the third display location;
displaying by the multi-tuner device a first option to drag and drop the third object from the third display location to the second display location in order to schedule recording of the third program and cancel recording of the second program;
displaying by the multi-tuner device a second option to provide a program through an available tuner in the plurality of tuners at a future time;
detecting by the multi-tuner device a selection of the second option; and
canceling by the multi-tuner device the request to record the third program and providing the program through the available tuner at the future time in response to detecting the selection of the second option.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-tuner device is one of a video termination device, a video gateway device, a digital video recording device and a tunerless video termination device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting by the multi-tuner device the selection of the second option comprises receiving by the multi-tuner device an input from an input device in communication with the multi-tuner device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting by the multi-tuner device the selection of the second option comprises receiving by the multi-tuner device an input from a computing device in communication with the multi-tuner device via a network.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the network is the Internet.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the computing device is one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet and a smartphone.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying by the multi-tuner device the graphical display on a display device comprises displaying the updated graphical display on one of a television display and a display of a computing device.
8. A system for resolving scheduling conflicts in multi-tuner devices, the system comprising:
a display device;
an input device;
a plurality of tunerless devices;
a plurality of tuners including a first tuner and a second tuner; and
a multi-tuner device configured to manage access to the plurality of tuners by the plurality of tunerless devices, comprising a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
scheduling a first program for recording during a first time period by the first tuner;
scheduling a second program for recording during a second time period by the second tuner;
receiving a request to record a third program during a third time period;
detecting a conflict when recording of the third program during the third time period would permit recording either the first program or the second program, wherein the conflict arises when the plurality of tunerless devices are accessing all of the plurality of tuners except for the first tuner and the second tuner during the third time period;
displaying in response to the detected conflict a graphical display on the display device, wherein the graphical display comprises a first display location, a second display location and a third display location;
generating a first object representing the first program and assigning the first object to the first display location;
generating a second object representing the second program and assigning the second object to the second display location;
generating a third object representing the third program and assigning the third object to the third display location;
displaying a first option to drag and drop the third object from the third display location to the second display location in order to schedule recording of the third program and cancel recording of the second program;
displaying a second option to provide a program through an available tuner in the plurality of tuners at a future time;
detecting a selection of the second option; and
canceling the request to record the third program and providing the program through the available tuner at the future time in response to detecting the selection of the second option.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the multi-tuner device is one of a video termination device, a video gateway device, a digital video recording device and a tunerless video termination device.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the input device is in communication with the multi-tuner device, and wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that detecting the selection of the second option comprises receiving input from the input device.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the input device is in communication with a computing device that is in communication with the multi-tuner device via a network, and wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that detecting the selection of the second option comprises receiving input from the computing device via the network.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the network is the Internet.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet and a smartphone.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the display device is one of a television display and a display of a computing device.