Interactive dvr system

A computer-readable, tangible storage device(s) and computer-readable program instructions stored on the computer-readable, tangible storage device(s) for managing recorded program sharing in a digital video recorder (DVR) system, said DVR system including a plurality of users commonly connected to a video program source, the computer-readable program instructions, when executed by a processing system, being operable for implementing a method comprising:

• assigning a first partition area of storage in said DVR system to a first user of said plurality of users for storing recorded programs for said first user;
• assigning a shared partition area of storage in said DVB system, said shared partition area being accessible by all of said plurality of users, said first partition area and said shared partition area being separate storage areas of a single DVR storage device;
• and
• responsive to an input from said first user, transferring a video recording from said first partition area to said shared partition area.

A digital video recorder (DVR) system operable for managing recorded program sharing in said DVR system, said DVR system including a plurality of users commonly connected together and to a video program source, said DVR system including:

• a distributed DVR storage system for assigning a first partition area of storage in said DVR system to a first user of said plurality of users for storing recorded programs for said first user, said processing system being further operable for assigning a shared partition area of storage in said DVR system, said shared partition area being accessible by all of said plurality of users, said distributed DVR storage system including a plurality of interconnected separate DVR storage devices, said first partition area and said shared partition area being separate storage areas of one or more of said interconnected separate DVR storage devices;
• an input device responsive to an input from said first user for identifying a video recording which said first user desires to have transferred from said first partition area to said shared partition area;
• and
• a processing system operable in response to a user input for completing a transfer of only said identified video recording from said first partition area to said shared partition area, said input device being operable for enabling said first user to choose a selected video recording to be transferred, said input device being further operable for enabling said first user to identify another user to whom said selected video recording is to be transferred, said input device being further operable for enabling said first user to input a message to be associated with said selected video recording, and said input device being further operable for enabling said first user to establish a save period, said save period being a time period said selected video recording is saved on said shared partition area before being deleted.