# US 8,474,002 B2 · Method and system for adaptive disk management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,474,002 B2 - Document ID: US8474002B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/930,724 - Filed: 2007-10-31 - Published: 2009-04-30 - Granted: 2013-06-25 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-31 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Lee R. Johnson - Inventors: Lee R. Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8474002B2 ## CPC - H04N 5/76: Television signal recording - H04H 60/27: Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information - H04H 60/33: Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions - H04N 7/163: {by receiver means only} - H04N 21/4147: PVR [Personal Video Recorder] (H04N5/76 takes precedence {; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40}) - H04N 21/42661: {for reading from or writing on a magnetic storage medium, e.g. hard disk drive} - H04N 21/42692: {for reading from or writing on a volatile storage medium, e.g. Random Access Memory [RAM]} - H04N 21/4325: {by playing back content from the storage medium (reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79)} - H04N 21/4334: {Recording operations (recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27)} - H04N 21/43622: {Interfacing an external recording device} - H04N 21/44224: {Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing} - H04N 21/4667: {Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) ## Abstract Provided herein are at least one embodiment of systems and methods of adaptive disk management for a recording device employing a memory storage device such as hard disk storage so that memory storage device usage is tracked in the recording device and the memory storage device is controlled based on time-based patterns of user behavior. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of predictive management of a recording device comprising: setting a collection period comprised of a plurality of days; dividing each day of the collection period into a number of time segments; creating, on the recording device, a memory bin for each of the time segments, each memory bin being allocated to its corresponding time segment; saving user data during the collection period, wherein the user data is comprised of user activity or lack of activity during the plurality of days for the time segment in which it occurs and the user data is saved in the memory bin for the time segment in which it occurs; determining patterns of user behavior by analyzing memory bins for the time segments that comprise the collection period and corresponding user data associated with each time segment, wherein at least one time segment has an anticipated user activity; and operating the recording device in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior, wherein the recording device is activated for a first predetermined time period prior to the anticipated user activity, the first predetermined time period prior to the anticipated user activity being at least equal to a time segment immediately preceding the at least one time segment having the anticipated user activity, and wherein the recording device is spun down after a second predetermined time past a last expected user activity when there was no anticipated user activity between a current time and the second predetermined time, wherein the second time predetermined time is automatically extended to equal a current program's running time, the current program's running time being estimated using program guide information and historical data for a television channel being received by the recording device, and wherein a greater number of days within a memory bin having user activity indicates a greater probability the patterns of user behavior predicts user activity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining patterns of user behavior comprises determining a time period to perform routine maintenance on the recording device through a subscriber television system based on the lack of user activity during one or more time segments of the collection period. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein recording user data during the collection period comprises recording the television channel that is showing a television show being recorded by the recording device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein recording user data during the collection period comprises recording whether a user rewinds, pauses or fast forwards while the recording device is receiving a television show. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein recording user data during the collection period comprises recording whether a user changes channels while the recording device is receiving a first television channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining patterns of user behavior by analyzing the memory bin for the time segments that comprise the collection period and corresponding user data associated with each time segment comprises determining whether a user rewinds, pauses or fast forwards while the recording device is receiving a particular television show or a particular type of television show. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining patterns of user behavior by analyzing the memory bin for the time segments that comprise the collection period and corresponding user data associated with each time segment comprises determining television shows or types of television shows that a user selects for watching through the recording device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining patterns of user behavior by analyzing the memory bin for the time segments that comprise the collection period and corresponding user data associated with each time segment comprises determining time periods that a user watches television shows. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining patterns of user behavior by analyzing the memory bin for the time segments that comprise the collection period and corresponding user data associated with each time segment comprises analyzing the memory bin for the time segments that comprise a plurality of collection periods and corresponding user data associated with each time segment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the recording device is comprised of a time shift buffer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the time shift buffer is comprised of a hard disk drive. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein operating the recording device in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior comprises placing the time shift buffer in a rest state during periods of time in which the determined patterns of user behavior indicate the recording device is not in use. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein operating the recording device in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior comprises disabling the time shift buffer during periods of time in which the determined patterns of user behavior indicate a user does not rewind, pause or fast forward while viewing a television show. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein operating the recording device in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior comprises enabling the time shift buffer during periods of time in which the determined patterns of user behavior indicate a user rewinds, pauses or fast forwards while viewing a television show. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein operating the recording device in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior comprises enabling the time shift buffer for a particular television show or a particular type of television show when the determined patterns of user behavior indicate a user watches the particular television show or the particular type of television show. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein operating the recording device in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior comprises enabling the time shift buffer and storing information about a particular television show or a particular type of television show on the memory storage device when the determined patterns of user behavior indicate a user watches the particular television show or the particular type of television show. ### Claim 17 A recording device with predictive disk management comprising: a memory; a time shift buffer, wherein the time shift buffer is comprised of a hard disk drive; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute executable code stored on the memory for performing the steps of, setting a collection period comprised of a plurality of days; dividing each day of the collection period into a number of time segments; creating, on the recording device, a memory bin for each of the time segments, each memory bin being allocated to its corresponding time segment; saving user data during the collection period, wherein the user data is comprised of user activity or lack of activity during the plurality of days for the time segment in which it occurs and the user data is saved in the memory bin area for the time segment in which it occurs; determining patterns of user behavior by analyzing memory bins for the time segments that comprise the collection period and corresponding user data associated with each time segment, wherein at least one time segment of the number of time segments has an anticipated user activity; and operating the time shift buffer of the recording device in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior, wherein the time shift buffer is activated for a first predetermined time period prior to the anticipated user activity, the first predetermined time period prior to the anticipated user activity being at least equal to a time segment immediately preceding the at least one time segment having the anticipated user activity, and wherein the recording device is spun down after a second predetermined time past a last expected user activity when there was no anticipated user activity between a current time and the second predetermined time, wherein the second time predetermined time is automatically extended to equal a current program's running time, the current program's running time being estimated using program guide information and historical data for a television channel being received by the recording device, and wherein a greater number of days within the memory bin having user activity indicates a greater probability the patterns of user behavior predicts user activity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The recording device of claim 17, wherein determining patterns of user behavior comprises determining a time period to perform routine maintenance on the recording device over a subscriber television system based on the lack of user activity during time segments that comprise the collection period. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The recording device of claim 17, wherein recording user data during the collection period comprises recording the television channel that is showing a television show being received by the recording device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The recording device of claim 17, wherein recording user data during the collection period comprises recording whether a user depresses a rewind, fast forward, or pause key. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The recording device of claim 17, wherein operating the time shift buffer in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior comprises placing the time shift buffer in a rest state during periods of time in which the determined patterns of user behavior indicate the recording device is not in use. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The recording device of claim 17, wherein operating the time shift buffer in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior comprises disabling the time shift buffer during periods of time in which the determined patterns of user behavior indicate a user does not rewind, pause or fast forward while viewing a television show. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The recording device of claim 17, wherein operating the time shift buffer in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior comprises enabling the time shift buffer during periods of time in which the determined patterns of user behavior indicate a user rewinds, pauses or fast forwards while viewing a television show. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The recording device of claim 17, wherein operating the time shift buffer in accordance with the determined patterns of user behavior comprises enabling the time shift buffer for a particular television show or a particular type of television show when the determined patterns of user behavior indicate a user watches the particular television show or the particular type of television show.