US 12,170,798 B2
Intelligent assignment and data management of stored media content
Robert Drew Major, Orem, UT (US); Leo Davis, Englewood, CO (US); and Howard Davis, Englewood, CO (US)
Assigned to Sling TV L.L.C., Englewood, CO (US)
Filed by Sling TV L.L.C., Englewood, CO (US)
Filed on Jan. 18, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/416,435.
Application 18/416,435 is a continuation of application No. 18/181,436, filed on Mar. 9, 2023, granted, now 11,902,604.
Application 18/181,436 is a continuation of application No. 17/852,808, filed on Jun. 29, 2022, granted, now 11,611,786, issued on Mar. 21, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/216,461, filed on Jun. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0155167 A1, May 9, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 21/239 (2011.01); H04N 21/231 (2011.01); H04N 21/274 (2011.01)
CPC H04N 21/2396 (2013.01) [H04N 21/23113 (2013.01); H04N 21/274 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated process executed by a network server system that delivers recorded media programs to a plurality of viewers, the automated process comprising:
recording an initial number of copies of a media program for storage by the network server system, wherein the initial number of copies is based upon an expected demand for the media program;
after the initial number of copies of the media program have been recorded, receiving requests from at least some of the viewers to view a copy of the media program;
assigning, in response to each of the requests, one of the copies to the viewer making the request to thereby permit access to the assigned copy of the media program by the viewer; and
subsequently deleting at least some of the copies of the media program that are not yet assigned to any of the plurality of viewers.