Multimedia content search and recording scheduling system

1. A method, performed by a server, comprising:

receiving, by the server, a request to record a particular multimedia content from a client device;

creating, by the server, a first query based on the request and performing the steps of:

searching, based on the first query, for the particular multimedia content in a broadcast database; and

upon receiving search results from the broadcast database, the search results comprising information that the particular multimedia content was discovered in the broadcast database, sending, to the client device, a program identifier that identifies the particular multimedia content and instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content;

creating, by the server, a second query based on the request and performing the steps of:

searching, based on the second query, for the particular multimedia content in a broadband database; and

upon receiving search results from the broadband database, the search results comprising information that the particular multimedia content was discovered in the broadband database, sending a URL that corresponds to the particular multimedia content or an IP address that corresponds to the particular multimedia content to the client device for downloading the particular multimedia content; and

automatically adding, by the server, a wishlist entry including an identifier of the particular multimedia content to a wishlist that corresponds to the client device and sending the wishlist to the client device when the particular multimedia content was not discovered in the broadcast database and not discovered in the broadband database, the client device uses the wishlist entry for automatically recording the particular multimedia content.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

automatically creating a wishlist that corresponds to the client device prior to adding the wishlist entry.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content further comprise instructions for a channel and date from which to record the particular multimedia content.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the client device has opted-in to a service for synchronization and accessing the client device by the service.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

sending to the client device instructions for retrieving the particular multimedia content from at least one other client device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

following rules that specify a particular order for performing the steps of: creating a first query and creating a second query.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein adding a wishlist entry further comprises:

obtaining a program identifier that corresponds to the particular multimedia content from historical electronic program guide data, the wishlist entry comprises the program identifier , and wherein the client device uses the program identifier for automatically recording the particular multimedia content upon a subsequent showing of the particular multimedia content.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a recording request receiver that receives a request to record a particular multimedia content from a client device;

a query subsystem that creates a first query based on the request and further comprises:

a broadcast database search subsystem that searches, based on the first query, for the particular multimedia content in a broadcast database; and

the broadcast database search subsystem, upon receiving search results from the broadcast database, the search results comprising information that the particular multimedia content was discovered in the broadcast database, sends, to the client device, a program identifier that identifies the particular multimedia content and instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content;

the query subsystem creates a second query based on the request and further comprises:

a broadband database search subsystem that searches, based on the second query, for the particular multimedia content in a broadband database; and

the broadband database search subsystem, upon receiving search results from the broadband database, the search results comprising information that the particular multimedia content was discovered in the broadband database, sends a URL that corresponds to the particular multimedia content or an IP address that corresponds to the particular multimedia content to the client device for downloading the particular multimedia content; and

a wishlist management subsystem that automatically adds a wishlist entry including an identifier of the particular multimedia content to a wishlist that corresponds to the client device and sends the wishlist to the client device when the particular multimedia content was not discovered in the broadcast database and not discovered in the broadband database, the client device uses the wishlist entry for automatically recording the particular multimedia content.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the wishlist management subsystem automatically creates a wishlist that corresponds to the client device prior to adding the wishlist entry.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content further comprise instructions for a channel and date from which to record the particular multimedia content.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

a synchronization subsystem that determines that the client device has opted-in to a service for synchronization and accesses the client device by the service.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

a download manager that sends to the client device instructions for retrieving the particular multimedia content from at least one other client device.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

a rule manager that following rules that specify a particular order for the query subsystem to operate the broadcast database search subsystem and the broadband database search subsystem.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the wishlist management subsystem further comprises:

a program identifier lookup subsystem that obtains a program identifier that corresponds to the particular multimedia content from historical electronic program guide data and wherein the wishlist entry comprises the program identifier , and wherein the client device uses the program identifier for automatically recording the particular multimedia content upon a subsequent showing of the particular multimedia content.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving a request to record a particular multimedia content from a client device;

creating a first query based on the request and performing the steps of:

searching, based on the first query, for the particular multimedia content in a broadcast database; and

upon receiving search results from the broadcast database, the search results comprising information that the particular multimedia content was discovered in the broadcast database, sending, to the client device, a program identifier that identifies the particular multimedia content and instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content;

creating a second query based on the request and performing the steps of:

searching, based on the second query, for the particular multimedia content in a broadband database; and

upon receiving search results from the broadband database, the search results comprising information that the particular multimedia content was discovered in the broadband database, sending a URL that corresponds to the particular multimedia content or an IP address that corresponds to the multimedia particular content to the client device for downloading the particular multimedia content; and

automatically adding a wishlist entry including an identifier of the particular multimedia content to a wishlist that corresponds to the client device and sending the wishlist to the client device when the particular multimedia content was not discovered in the broadcast database and not discovered in the broadband database, the client device uses the wishlist entry for automatically recording the particular multimedia content.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:

automatically creating a wishlist that corresponds to the client device prior to adding the wishlist entry.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 , wherein the instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content further comprise instructions for a channel and date from which to record the particular multimedia content.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:

determining that the client device has opted-in to a service for synchronization and accessing the client device by the service.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:

sending to the client device instructions for retrieving the particular multimedia content from at least one other client device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:

following rules that specify a particular order for performing the steps of: creating a first query and creating a second query.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 , wherein adding a wishlist entry further comprises:

obtaining a program identifier that corresponds to the particular multimedia content from historical electronic program guide data, the wishlist entry comprises the program identifier, and wherein the client device uses the program identifier for automatically recording the particular multimedia content upon a subsequent showing of the particular multimedia content.

22. A method, comprising:

receiving user input to record a particular multimedia content on a device;

sending a search request based on the user input to a service;

receiving search results based on the search request from the service;

scheduling to record the particular multimedia content when the search results comprise a program identifier that identifies the particular multimedia content and instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content;

downloading the particular multimedia content when the search results comprise a URL that corresponds to the particular multimedia content or an IP address that corresponds to the particular multimedia content, the particular multimedia content is downloaded from the URL or the IP address; and

automatically adding a wishlist entry including an identifier of the particular multimedia content to a wishlist, when the search results do not comprise the instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content, the URL, and the IP address, and wherein the device uses the wishlist entry for automatically recording the particular multimedia content on the device.

23. The method as recited in claim 22 , further comprising:

automatically creating a wishlist, prior to adding the wishlist entry.

24. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein the instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content further comprise instructions for a channel and date from which to record the particular multimedia content.

25. The method as recited in claim 22 , further comprising:

opting-in to the service for granting the service access for synchronization with the device.

26. The method as recited in claim 22 , further comprising:

receiving from the service instructions for retrieving the particular multimedia content from at least one other device.

27. The method as recited in claim 22 , further comprising:

receiving from the service one or more rules wherein the rules specify a particular order for performing the steps of: scheduling to record and downloading the particular multimedia content; or

receiving user input specifying one or more rules for performing, in a particular order, the steps of: scheduling to record and downloading the particular multimedia content.

28. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein adding a wishlist entry further comprises:

receiving from the service a program identifier that corresponds to the particular multimedia content from the service's historical electronic program guide data, the wishlist entry comprises the program identifier, and wherein the device uses the program identifier for automatically recording the particular multimedia content upon a subsequent showing of the particular multimedia content.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

a user input receiver that receives user input to record a particular multimedia content on a device;

a search request subsystem that sends a search request based on the user input to a service;

a search result receiver that receives search results based on the search request from the service;

a recording scheduler that schedules to record the particular multimedia content when the search results comprise a program identifier that identifies the particular multimedia content and instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content;

a content downloader that downloads the particular multimedia content when the search results comprise a URL that corresponds to the particular multimedia content or an IP address that corresponds to the particular multimedia content, the particular multimedia content is downloaded from the URL or the IP address; and

a wishlist manager that automatically adds a wishlist entry including an identifier of the particular multimedia content to a wishlist, when the search results do not comprise the instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content, the URL, and the IP address, and the device uses the wishlist entry for automatically recording the particular multimedia content on the device.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 29 , wherein the wishlist manager automatically creates a wishlist, prior to adding the wishlist entry.

31. The apparatus as recited in claim 29 , wherein the instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content further comprise instructions for a channel and date from which to record the particular multimedia content.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 29 , wherein the device opts-in to the service for granting the service access for synchronization with the device.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 29 , wherein the device receives from the service instructions for retrieving the particular multimedia content from at least one other device.

34. The apparatus as recited in claim 29 , further comprising:

a rules manager that receives from the service one or more rules wherein the rules specify a particular order for performing the steps of: scheduling to record and downloading the particular multimedia content; or

a rules manager that receives user input specifying one or more rules for performing, in a particular order, the steps of: scheduling to record and downloading the particular multimedia content.

35. The apparatus as recited in claim 29 , wherein the wishlist manager further comprises:

a program identifier lookup subsystem that obtains from the service a program identifier that corresponds to the particular multimedia content from the service's historical electronic program guide data, the wishlist entry comprises the program identifier, and wherein the device uses the program identifier for automatically recording the particular multimedia content upon a subsequent showing of the particular multimedia content.

36. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving user input to record a particular multimedia content on a device;

sending a search request based on the user input to a service;

receiving search results based on the search request from the service;

scheduling to record the particular multimedia content when the search results comprise a program identifier that identifies the particular multimedia content and instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content;

downloading the particular multimedia content when the search results comprise a URL that corresponds to the particular multimedia content or an IP address that corresponds to the particular multimedia content, the particular multimedia content is downloaded from the URL or the IP address; and

automatically adding a wishlist entry including an identifier of the particular multimedia content to a wishlist, when the search results do not comprise the instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content, the URL, and the IP address, and the device uses the wishlist entry for automatically recording the particular multimedia content on the device.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36 , further comprising:

automatically creating a wishlist, prior to adding the wishlist entry.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36 , wherein the instructions for scheduling to record the particular multimedia content further comprise instructions for a channel and date from which to record the particular multimedia content.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36 , further comprising:

opting-in to the service for granting the service access for synchronization with the device.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36 , further comprising:

receiving from the service instructions for retrieving the particular multimedia content from at least one other device.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36 , further comprising:

receiving from the service one or more rules wherein the rules specify a particular order for performing the steps of: scheduling to record and downloading the particular multimedia content; or

receiving user input specifying one or more rules for performing, in a particular order, the steps of: scheduling to record and downloading the particular multimedia content.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36 , wherein adding a wishlist entry further comprises:

receiving from the service a program identifier that corresponds to the particular multimedia content from the service's historical electronic program guide data, the wishlist entry comprises the program identifier, and wherein the device uses the program identifier for automatically recording the particular multimedia content upon a subsequent showing of the particular multimedia content.

43. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier of the particular multimedia content is a program identifier.

44. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier of the particular multimedia content is an actor identifier that identifies an actor associated with the particular multimedia content.