Interactive electronic television program guide with database configurability

A method for controlling memory allocation in a user media device, the method comprising:

• transmitting, from a remote server to the user media device, a first instruction to allocate a first amount of memory to storing media data;
• determining whether additional memory space is available on the user media device;
• and
• in response to determining that additional memory space is available, transmitting, from the remote server to the user media device, a second instruction to allocate a second amount of memory to storing media data, wherein the user media device increases an allocation of memory space for storing media data based on the second instruction.

A system for controlling memory allocation in a user media device, the system comprising:

• a memory configured to store media data;
• and
• control circuitry configured to:
• receive, from a remote server, a first instruction to allocate a first amount of memory to storing media data;
• allocate the first amount of memory to storing media data based on the first instruction;
• in response to the remote server determining that additional memory space is available on the user media device, receive from the remote server, a second instruction to allocate a second amount of memory to storing media data;
• and
• increase the allocation of memory space for storing media data based on the second instruction.