System and method of recording television content

A media device, comprising:

• a processing system including a processor;
• and
• a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
• accessing user input information;
• obtaining a plurality of search criteria associated with media content from a set-top box, wherein the plurality of search criteria comprises a first search criteria and a second search criteria;
• sending the plurality of search criteria to an electronic program guide server via a network;
• receiving a first command from the electronic program guide server to perform a first search of first electronic program guide (EPG) data during a first search time period from the electronic programming guide server accessible to the media device based on the plurality of search criteria;
• detecting a lapse of the first search time period during which no match has been found among the first EPG data according to the plurality of search criteria;
• determining that the first EPG data has not been updated during the first search time period;
• receiving a second command from the electronic program guide server to perform a second search of the first EPG data based on the second search criteria during a second search time period, wherein the second search is performed in response to the lapse of the first search time period during which no match being found according to the plurality of search criteria, and is not performed in response to an update to the first EPG data;
• identifying a recommendation according to the second search criteria;
• detecting a lapse of the second search time period during which no match has been found among the first EPG data according to the second search criteria;
• determining that the first EPG data has been updated to a second EPG data at a recurrent searching system, the electronic program guide server or a combination thereof during the second search time period;
• responsive to the second search time period elapsing with no match being found and the first EPG data updated to the second EPG data, receiving a third command from the electronic program guide server to perform a third search of the second EPG data accessible to the media device based on the plurality of search criteria during a third search time period;
• identifying a first media content that matches the plurality of search criteria during the third search;
• configuring a digital video recorder (DVR) to record the first media content;
• determining a second media content according to the recommendation, wherein the second media content serves as a selectable alternative option to a presentation of the first media content;
• and
• providing the recommendation to the set-top box to enable a user to select via user-generated input a viewing of the second media content in place of the first media content.

A machine-readable storage device, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:

• obtaining a plurality of search criteria associated with media content from a set-top box, wherein the plurality of search criteria comprises a first search criteria and a second search criteria;
• sending the plurality of search criteria to an electronic program guide server via a network;
• receiving a first command from the electronic program guide server to perform a first search of first electronic program guide (EPG) data during a first search time period from the electronic programming guide server accessible to a media device based on the plurality of search criteria;
• detecting a lapse of the first search time period during which no match has been found among the first EPG data according to the plurality of search criteria;
• determining that the first EPG data has not been updated during the first search time period;
• receiving a second command from the electronic program guide server to perform a second search of the first EPG data based on the second of search criteria during a second search time period, wherein the second search is performed in response to the lapse of the first search time period during which no match being found according to the plurality of search criteria, and is not performed in response to an update to the first EPG data;
• identifying a recommendation according to the second search criteria;
• detecting a lapse of the second search time period during which no match has been found among the first EPG data according to the second search criteria;
• determining that the first EPG data has been updated to a second EPG data at a recurrent searching system, the electronic program guide server or a combination thereof during the second search time period;
• responsive to the second search time period elapsing with no match being found and the first EPG data updated to the second EPG data, receiving a third command from the electronic program guide server to perform a third search of the second EPG data accessible to the media device based on the plurality of search criteria during a third search time period;
• identifying a first media content that matches the plurality of search criteria during the third search;
• configuring a digital video recorder (DVR) to record the first media content;
• determining a second media content according to the recommendation, wherein the second media content serves as a selectable alternative option to a presentation of the first media content;
• providing the recommendation to the set-top box to enable a user to select via user-generated input a viewing of the second media content in place of the first media content;
• and
• configuring the DVR to record the second media content.