Technique for recording entertainment programming content with limited memory capacity

A system for recording entertainment programming content for a plurality of users, comprising:

• storage having a limited space for storing the entertainment programming content;
• an interface for invoking a configuration of the storage, the configuration being a function of at least the number of users, and desired amounts of storage space for the users, respectively, wherein a total of the desired amounts of storage space does not exceed the limited space;
• and
• a processor for allocating to the plurality of users the respective desired amounts of storage space in the storage.

A system for recording programming content, comprising:

• an interface for receiving from a requesting user a request for recording the programming content;
• receiving an identification code which is associated with the requesting user;
• a controller responsive to the identification code for making a determination whether the requesting user is authorized to record the programming content;
• and
• storage for storing the programming content in association with the identification code when it is determined that the requesting user is authorized to record the programming content.

A method for use in a recording system having a storage space for storing entertainment programming content received over a communications network, comprising:

• allocating the storage space to a plurality of users of the recording system, at least first and second users being associated with allocated storage subspaces, respectively;
• receiving from the first user a request for recording selected entertainment programming content, the request including data associated with the first user;
• and
• in response to the request, storing the selected entertainment programming content in the storage subspace associated with the first user.

A method for recording programming content in a storage space in a recording device, comprising:

• receiving from a requesting user a request for recording the programming content;
• receiving an identification code which is associated with the requesting user;
• in response to the identification code, making a determination whether the requesting user is authorized to record the programming content;
• and
• storing the programming content in the storage space in association with the identification code when it is determined that the requesting user is authorized to record the programming content.

A method for accessing programming content stored in a storage space in a recording device, the storage space being allocated to a plurality of users, at least first and second users being associated with allocated storage subspaces, respectively, comprising:

• receiving from the first user a request for accessing programming content stored in the storage space, the request including an identification code associated with the first user;
• In response to the identification code, making a determination whether the first user is authorized to access the programming content;
• and
• allowing the first user to access the programming content if the programming content is stored in the storage subspace associated with the first user.