Methods systems, and products for conserving bandwidth

A system for conserving bandwidth, comprising:

• a processor in a server communicating with memory, the memory storing processor-executable instructions for receiving a notification from a customer device that indicates media will be recorded;
• the processor executing a bandwidth optimization application for comparing available bandwidth in a communications network serving a population of customers to required bandwidth to deliver the media to the customer device;
• and
• the server sending a network command message to the customer device when the required bandwidth exceeds the available bandwidth, the network command message providing an option to reschedule recording of the media to a period of lesser bandwidth demand in the communications network, the network command message further providing an option of selecting lesser bandwidth-intensive media for recording;
• wherein, when the option is selected for the lesser bandwidth-intensive media, the server delivers the media at a reduced bit rate that is a fraction of an original bit rate to conserve bandwidth;
• wherein, when the option is selected to reschedule recording of the media, the server stores the media in a network storage device as deferred media for deferred delivery at the period of lesser bandwidth demand, the server sending a notification message to the customer device, the notification message including a viewing time the user may begin viewing the deferred media in response to a rate at which the deferred media is sent, the viewing time being prior to complete delivery of the deferred media to the customer device.

A computer program product storing processor-executable instructions for:

• at a server, receiving a notification from a customer device that indicates media will be recorded;
• the server executing a bandwidth optimization application for comparing available bandwidth in a communications network serving a population of customers to required bandwidth to deliver the media to the customer device;
• and
• the server sending a network command message to the customer device when the required bandwidth exceeds the available bandwidth, the network command message providing an option to reschedule recording of the media to a period of lesser bandwidth demand in the communications network, the network command message further providing an option of selecting lesser bandwidth-intensive media for recording;
• wherein, when the option is selected for the lesser bandwidth-intensive media, the server delivers the media at a reduced bit rate that is a fraction of an original bit rate to conserve bandwidth;
• wherein, when the option is selected to reschedule recording of the media, the server stores the media in a network storage device as deferred media for deferred delivery at the period of lesser bandwidth demand, the server sending a notification message to the customer device, the notification message including a viewing time the user may begin viewing the deferred media in response to a rate at which the deferred media is sent, the viewing time being prior to complete delivery of the deferred media to the customer device.