Digital video recording and reproduction system and method suitable for live-pause playback utilizing intelligent buffer memory allocation

A digital video recording and playback system adapted for “live-pause” recording and playback, said system comprising:

• a) at least one electronic audio-visual program source;
• b) a program guide source adapted to at least provide program length information about a program of interest;
• c) a converter adapted to convert said program length information into a corresponding buffer memory size;
• and
• d) at least one buffer memory established and sized to match that determined by said converter, said buffer memory being adapted to record a selected program;
• wherein said buffer memory size matches the size needed to record a program of interest.

A digital video recording and playback method adapted for “live-pause” recording and playback, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing at least one electronic audio-visual program source;
• b) adaptively establishing a buffer memory having a size adequate to record a program of interest;
• and
• c) recording a selected program in the buffer memory established in step b).

A digital video recording and playback system adapted for “live-pause” recording and playback, said system comprising:

• a) at least one electronic audio-visual program source;
• and
• b) at least one adaptively established buffer memory having a size adequate to record a program of interest;
• wherein said buffer memory is adapted to record a selected program.