Dvr service including a synchronization service

A network device comprising:

• a communication interface;
• a memory, wherein the memory stores software;
• a processor, wherein the processor executes the software to:
• store first recording information that indicates programs that are recorded and stored at user devices, and programs to be recorded and stored at the user devices, wherein the network device uses the first recording information to provide a digital video recorder (DVR) service to the user devices, and wherein the first recording information pertaining to each user device includes first data instances;
• receive, via the communication interface and from one of the user devices, a message that includes second recording information that indicates one or more programs that are recorded and stored at the one of the user devices, scheduled to be recorded and stored at the one of the user devices, or both, wherein the second recording information includes second data instances;
• compare in response to the receipt of the message, a portion of the first recording information that pertains to the one of the user devices with the second recording information;
• determine whether there is a difference between each first data instance relative to each corresponding second data instance;
• determine, in response to a determination that there is the difference, a master source for each first data instance that differs from each corresponding second data instance, wherein the master source indicates which of the network device or the one of the user devices stores a most reliable data, and wherein determining the master source includes determining whether one of the first data instances indicates a recording state of one of the programs, and wherein when determining that the one of the first data instances does not indicate the recording state of the one of the programs, the processor further executes the software to:
• determine whether the one of the programs associated with the one of the first data instances has the recording state that indicates the one of the programs is scheduled to be recorded;
• update, in response to the determination of the master source for each first data instance that differs, one of the network device or the one of the user devices based on the master source, wherein when the network device is the master source, the one of the user devices is updated with a differing first data instance, and when the one of the user devices is the master source, the network device is updated with a differing second data instance;
• and
• provide, in response to the update, the DVR service based on an updated portion of the first recording information stored at the network device, an updated second recording information stored at the one of the user devices, or both.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions executable by a processor of a network device, which when executed cause the network device to:

• store first recording information that indicates programs that are recorded and stored at user devices, and programs to be recorded and stored at the user devices, wherein the network device uses the first recording information to provide a digital video recorder (DVR) service to the user devices, and wherein the first recording information pertaining to each user device includes first data instances;
• receive, from one of the user devices, a message that includes second recording information that indicates one or more programs that are recorded and stored at the one of the user devices, scheduled to be recorded and stored at the one of the user devices, or both, wherein the second recording information includes second data instances;
• compare in response to the receipt of the message, a portion of the first recording information that pertains to the one of the user devices with the second recording information;
• determine whether there is a difference between each first data instance relative to each corresponding second data instance;
• determine, in response to a determination that there is the difference, a master source for each first data instance that differs from each corresponding second data instance, wherein the master source indicates which of the network device or the one of the user devices stores a most reliable data, and wherein determining the master source includes determining whether one of the first data instances indicates a recording state of one of the programs, and wherein when determining that the one of the first data instances does not indicate the recording state of the one of the programs, the instructions comprise further instructions to:
• determine whether the one of the programs associated with the one of the first data instances has the recording state that indicates the one of the programs is scheduled to be recorded;
• update, in response to the determination of the master source for each first data instance that differs, one of the network device or the one of the user devices based on the master source, wherein when the network device is the master source, the one of the user devices is updated with a differing first data instance, and when the one of the user devices is the master source, the network device is updated with a differing second data instance;
• and
• provide, in response to the update, the DVR service based on an updated portion of the first recording information stored at the network device, an updated second recording information stored at the one of the user devices, or both.