Replace content with like content to enhance program experience

A method for program content replacement of programs to be recorded and programs that have already been recorded on a video recorder including a computer and a computer readable storage media comprising:

• a) estimating, by a processor of the computer, a total size for scheduled recordings;
• b) comparing, by the processor of the computer, the total size of scheduled recordings to available space on the computer readable storage media;
• c) if the total size of the scheduled recordings is greater than the available space on the computer readable storage media, then
• i) examining, by the processor of the computer, a high quality recording in the readable storage media, to determine, by the processor of the computer, whether the high quality recording may be replaced by a lower quality recording based on stored preferences;
• ii) if the high quality recording may be replaced based on the stored preferences, examining, by the processor of the computer, a listing of future programs for lower quality versions of the program;
• and
• iii) if a lower quality version of the program is available, scheduling, by the processor of the computer, the lower quality version for recording;
• and deleting the higher quality broadcast recording when the lower quality version has been recorded;
• iv) calculating, by the processor of the computer, available space after replacement of the high quality recording with the lower quality version;
• v) comparing, by the processor of the computer, the total size of scheduled recordings to available space on the computer readable storage media;
• vi) repeating steps (c)(i) to (c)(vi) until all the high quality recordings have been examined, or the total size of the scheduled recordings is less than the available space.

A video recorder system for replacement of programs comprising:

• a video recorder comprising a computer and computer a readable storage media coupled to a broadcasting network;
• first program instructions to compare recorded programs in the computer readable storage media and a schedule of programs to be recorded to a plurality of global preferences and program specific preferences specifying preferred recording quality;
• second program instructions for each recorded program whose quality does not match a global preference or program specific preference, examining a listing of future programs for alternate versions of the program which do match a global preference or program specific preference;
• if an alternate version of the program which does match a global preference or program specific preference exists, then scheduling an alternate version of the originally recorded program to be recorded;
• and
• when the alternate version of the program is recorded, deleting the recorded program;
• third program instructions for each scheduled program whose quality does not match a global preference or program specific preference, examining a listing of future programs for alternate versions of the program which do match a global preference or program specific preference;
• if an alternate version of the program which does match a global preference or program specific preference exists which will air before the scheduled program, then replacing the scheduled program with the alternate version of the scheduled program;
• and
• if an alternate version of the program which does match a global preference or program specific preference exists which will air after the scheduled program, then sending a notification to a user of availability of alternate version of the program
• wherein the first, second, and third program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.

A video recorder system for content replacement of programs to be recorded and have already been recorded comprising:

• a video recorder comprising a computer and a computer a readable storage media coupled to a broadcasting network;
• first program instructions to estimate a total size for scheduled recordings;
• second program instructions to compare the total size of scheduled recordings to available space on the computer readable storage media;
• third program instructions of if the total size of the scheduled recordings is greater than the available space on the computer readable storage media, then
• examining a high quality recording in the computer readable storage media, to determine whether the high quality recording may be replaced by a lower quality recording based on stored preferences;
• if the high quality recording may be replaced based on the stored preferences, examining a listing of future programs for lower quality versions of the program;
• and
• if a lower quality version of the program is available, scheduling the lower quality version for recording;
• and deleting the higher quality broadcast recording when the lower quality version has been recorded;
• calculating available space after replacement of the high quality recording with the lower quality version;
• comparing the total size of scheduled recordings to available space on the computer readable storage media;
• repeat from examining a high quality recording, until the first of all the high quality recordings have been examined, or the total size of the scheduled recordings is less than the available space
• wherein the first, second, and third program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.