GB2498399A

GB2498399A - Selecting between a plurality of audiovisual data resources

Info

Publication number: GB2498399A
Application number: GB201200676A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Austin
Original assignee: INVIEW TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Current assignee: INVIEW TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Priority date: 2012-01-14
Filing date: 2012-01-14
Publication date: 2013-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 2032-01-14
Also published as: PH12014501618A1; PH12014501618B1; WO2013104923A3; GB201200676D0; WO2013104923A2; GB2498399B

Abstract

Audiovisual (AV) resources (e.g. local or remote repository, broadcast AV) selection comprises storing data indicating limitations on use of a first of the resources (e.g. a data repository)based on data indicating a quantity of use which can be made of the first resource by a particular user(s), and selecting one of the resources based at least on the use limitation data of the first resource. The quantity of use data may consist of storage space data usable by the user(s) and bandwidth quantity data. Suggestions may be generated based on viewing preferences, including suggestions of AV data taken from the first resource, and second suggestions of AV data taken from other resource(s). Suggestion selection may be made based on the limitation data. Also disclosed is a method of storing AV data at a central repository comprising receiving a broadcast AV data stream as input, receiving commands from user devices, storing AV data at the repository based on the commands, and controlling access to the stored AV data by the user devices based on limitations associated with the users. Duplicated data is deleted from the repository.

Description

AUDIO VISUAL RESOURCE SELECTION

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for selecting between a plurality of audiovisual data resources. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for selection between sources of audiovisual data to be viewed and/or between audiovisual data repositories to be used for recording.

Traditionally, audiovisual programming was provided to consumers using terrestrial or satellite based radio-broadcast technologies. While such technologies have gained widespread acceptance and enjoyed considerable popularity, they have limitations. In particular, audiovisual programming provided using such technologies is provided to a broadcaster-specified timetable providing consumers with no real control over when particular audiovisual programming is viewed. As such, devices have been provided which allow broadcast programmes to be recorded and played back later, thereby allowing consumers to delay the time at which they view particular programming.

White techniques such as those described above have enjoyed ubiquity, they are limited in their ability to allow users to effectively manage the large quantity of audiovisual content which is now readily available. In particular, the described recording methods are effective only if a consumer has the forethought to record a programme at the time at which it is broadcast.

More recently, devices have been provided which somehow predict content of interest to a particular consumer and automatically record such content. Such predictions may be based upon user input indicating content of interest either by way of programme names or some other content-based characteristics of content which is of interest to the consumer. Alternatively, a consumer's viewing habits may be automatically analysed by suitable processing to generate suggestions of content of interest to the consumer. While useful, it is inevitably the case that such techniques will fail to always record all content which is of interest to a particular consumer given that such techniques must balance limited storage space (typically provided by one or more hard-disk devices in current devices) with the desire to record as much content as possible.

With the increased ubiquity of computer network communication, broadcasters are now providing services which allow consumers to request particular content for download, typically over the Internet, and then provide for download of requested content to a consumer's device for viewing. Such services take advantage of the increased bandwidth provided by modern Internet connections which allow relatively large audiovisual files to be quickly downloaded, thereby allowing audiovisual content to be streamed. However, the increasing use of such services places ever growing strain on available bandwidth. As such, many Internet Service Providers (ISP) limit how much data a particular consumer can download in a particular time period. Similarly, in order to balance the needs of a large number of consumers, operators of servers offering audiovisual content for download may impose limits on how much data can be downloaded by a particular consumer. Such limits may be based upon characteristics associated with the particular consumer's account, such that consumers can pay a fee based upon the quantity of data which they wish to download. As such, consumers cannot rely on using audiovisual content download services without limitation.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of the problems set out above.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of selecting between a plurality of audiovisual data resources, the method comprising: storing data indicating limitations on use of a first of said audiovisual data resources and selecting one of said audiovisual data resources based upon said data indicating limitations on use of the first of said resources.

Selecting one of the said plurality of audiovisual data resources may comprise selecting a resource to provide audiovisual data for viewing (e.g. for output to a display device) or recording, or selecting a resource to be used for storage of audiovisual data.

Indeed, the term resource' is used broadly to mean anything which provides audiovisual data for viewing and/or anything to which audiovisual data can be stored.

As such, the term resource' encompasses broadcast streams, and audiovisual data repositories which may be provided in any convenient way including one or more non-volatile storage devices such as hard disk drives or solid state memory devices.

In this way, the invention allows the use of a plurality of resources to be managed in such a way that limitations on use of a first of the resources are taken into account when selecting between plurality of resources for some particular purpose (e.g. to provide audiovisual data for viewing or to provide a repository to which audiovisual data should be recorded).

The first audiovisual data resource may comprise an audiovisual data repository located remote from a user device. The user device may take any suitable form and may be a set top box, a computer, a television or any other electronic device. The user device may be configured to cause data to be stored in the repository. The method may further comprise automatically storing audiovisual data in said remotely located audiovisual data repository. For example, the repository may receive data from one or more audiovisual data sources (such as broadcast sources -e.g. cable transmissions, terrestrial television transmissions, satellite transmissions etc) and store all received content, or alternatively content meeting some predefined criteria.

One of said plurality of audiovisual data resources other than said first resource may be selected from the group consisting of an audiovisual data repository local to a user device, a broadcast audiovisual source and a cable audiovisual source.

The data indicating a quantity of use may comprise data selected from the group consisting of data indicating a quantity of storage space usable by said user or said group of users, and data indicating a quantity of bandwidth usable by said user or said group of users to download data from said first audiovisual data resource.

The limitations may be based upon limitations of a connection between a user device and said first audiovisual data resource and/or upon a quantity of data which can be transferred to or from said first audiovisual data resource. The limitations may be based upon account privileges associated with a particular user or group of users.

One of said audiovisual data resources may be selected based upon said data indicating limitations on use of the first of said sources and data indicating use made of said first audiovisual data resource. That is, the selection may be based upon how much use can be made of a particular resource in a particular period and upon how much use has already been made of that resource. Additionally or alternatively the selection may be based upon predicted future use of a resource. Such an approach may be used to balance use of a particular resource throughout some time period to which a limit on its use applies.

Where reference is made to a user or group of users, such reference is intended to indicate that limitations may be applied at any convenient level. For example, limitations may be applied to a group of users sharing a single user device (for example all residents of an abode in which a set top box is located) or to individual ones of those users. A user or group of users may be identified in any convenient way including by way of login details which are processed by the first resource or some physical token identifier (e.g. a smart card). Alternatively, identification may be based upon identification of the user device itself.

Selecting one of said audiovisual data resources may further comprise generating data indicating user viewing preferences and generating audiovisual content suggestions based upon said user viewing preferences. Data indicating user viewing preferences may be based upon one or both of user input and content previously viewed by a particular user. The suggestions may comprise first suggestions of audio visual data taken from said first resource, and second suggestions of audio visual content taken from one or more of said plurality of resources other than said first resource. The method may further comprise selecting between first and second suggestions based upon said data indicating limitations. Alternatively, said first suggestions may be generated only if such generation is permitted by the limitations. Suggestions of said second suggestions may be selected in preference to suggestions of said first suggestions.

Said first audiovisual data resource may be a repository for audiovisual data located remotely from a user device and said audiovisual data resources may comprise a local repository for audiovisual data and a broadcast stream of audiovisual data. Selecting one of said audiovisual data resources may comprise selecting one of said resources to which to record audiovisual data provided as part of said broadcast stream of audiovisual data.

Selecting one of said audiovisual data resources may comprise generating data indicating user viewing preferences and selecting audiovisual data from said broadcast

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stream for recording based upon said preferences; determining whether said selected audiovisual data can be stared in said local repository; if it is determined that said selected audiovisual data can be stored in local repository, storing said selected audiovisual data in said local repository; and if it is determined that said selected audiovisual data cannot be stored in said local repository, storing in said selected audiovisual data in said remote repository. A user device may control recording of audiovisual data from said broadcast stream in a selected one of said local and remote repositories. The user device may be connected to said first audiovisual data resource via a computer network. The computer network may include the Internet.

A further aspect of the invention provides apparatus for selecting between a plurality of audiovisual data resources, the apparatus comprising: a storage device storing data indicating limitations on use of a first of said audiovisual data resources based upon data indicating a quantity of use which can be made of the first audiovisual data resource by a particular user or group of users; and means for selecting one of said audiovisual data resources based at least in part upon said data indicating limitations on use of the first of said resources.

A still further aspect of the invention provides apparatus for managing audiovisual content comprising: a storage device; a processor; a local audiovisual data resource: and a connection to a remote audiovisual data resource; wherein the processor is configured to select between use of said local and remote audiovisual data resources based upon data indicating limitations on use of the remote audiovisual data resource.

The data indicating limitations on use of the remote audiovisual data resource may be stored in the storage device.

The invention further provides a method of storing audiovisual data at a central repository. The method comprising: receiving as input a broadcast audiovisual data stream; receiving commands from a plurality of user devices; storing audiovisual data at said central repository based upon said received commands; controlling access to said stored audiovisual data by said user devices based upon limitations associated with users of said user devices; processing data stored in said central repository to determine whether there exist first and second audiovisual data items which are the same; and if said processing determines that there exist first and second audiovisual data items which are the same, deleting said second data item.

In this way, data may be stored in the central repository and periodically processed to remove duplicate copies of particular data.

Aspects of the invention can be implemented in any convenient way including by way of methods and apparatus. Such apparatus can take any convenient farm including the form of a suitably programmed computer. Further aspects of the invention provide computer programmes arranged to carry out the methods set out above, and computer readable media (including tangible and intangible media) carrying such computer programmes. Suitably programmed computers are also provided.

An aspect of the invention provides apparatus comprising: a memory storing processor readable instructions; and a processor configured to read and execute instructions stored in said memory, the instructions comprising instructions configured to control the processor to carry out a method according to any aspect of the invention set out above.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of network of devices on which an embodiment of the invention can be implemented; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration showing a set top box of the network of Figure 1 in further detail; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration showing a remote server of the network of Figure 1 in further detail; Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of logical components of the set top box of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a content selection process; and Figure 6 is a flow chart showing a content storage selection process.

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a network 1 of devices on which an embodiment of the invention can be implemented. The network 1 comprises a plurality of set top boxes 2, 3 and 4 each having a respective antenna 2a, 3a and 4a adapted to receive audiovisual content transmitted by a transmitter 6. Each of the set top boxes 2, S 3 and 4 is also connected to a remote server 7 via a network 8 which may comprise the Internet. The remote server 7 is also provided with an antenna 7a adapted to receive audiovisual content broadcast by the transmitter 6.

Referring now to Figure 2, the set top box 2 is shown in further detail. It will be appreciated that the set top boxes 3, 4 take a similar form. The set top box 2 comprises a TV receiver 10 which is configured to process broadcast content received from the transmitter 6 via the antenna 2a.

The set top box 2 further comprises a CPU 11 which is configured to read and execute instructions stored in a volatile memory 12 which takes the form of a random access memory (RAM). The volatile memory 12 stores instructions for execution by the CPU 11 and data used by those instructions. Non-volatile storage in the form of a hard disk drive 13 is also provided. Instructions for execution by the CPU 11, data used by those instructions and audiovisual content received by TV receiver 10 are stored on the hard diskdrivel3.

The set top box 2 further comprises an 110 interface 14 to which may be connected peripheral devices used in connection with the set top box 2. such as an input device 15. Any suitable input devices may be used. and in some embodiments infra-red input devices such as a conventional TV-remote control devices are provided. A network interface 16 allows the set top box 2 to be connected to an appropriate network, such as the network 8, so as to receive and transmit data from and to other computing devices, for example the server 7. A display buffer 17 is configured to store images for display on a display device 18 to which the set top box 2 may be connected. The TV receiver 10, CPU 11, volatile memory 12, hard disk drive 13, I/O interface 14, network interface 15 and display buffer 17, are connected together by a bus 19 so as to allow data to pass there between.

Referring now to Figure 3, the server 7 is shown in further detail. The server 7 comprises a plurality of TV receivers 20 which are configured to process audiovisual content received by the antenna 7a from the transmitter 6. The server 7 further comprises a CPU 21 which is configured to read and execute instructions stored in a volatile memory 22 which takes the form of a random access memory (RAM). The volatile memory 22 stores instructions for execution by the CPU 21 and data used by those instructions. The server 7 further comprises non-volatile storage in the form of a plurality of hard disk drives 23. Audiovisual content received by TV receivers 20, may be stored on the hard disk drives 23. The hard disk drives may be configured in any suitable way including as a RAID array.

The server 7 further comprises an 110 interface 24 to which may be connected peripheral devices used in connection with the server 7. Such peripheral devices may include display devices and conventional input devices such as a mouse and keyboard.

The server 7 further comprises a plurality of network interfaces 25 which allow the server 7 to be connected to an appropriate network or networks, such as the network 8, so as to receive and transmit data from and to other computing devices, for example set top boxes 2, 3, 4. The TV receivers 20, CPU 21, volatile memory 22, hard disk drive 23, I/O interface 24 and network interface 25 are connected together by a bus 26 to allow communication there between.

Referring now to Figure 4, logical components of software running on the set top box of figure 2 are described.

The set top box 2 receives programme data via the antenna 2a, or the network interface 16, and stores such programme data in a programme data store 28. The programme data store 28 can conveniently be stored in the hard disk drive 13, and copied to the RAM 12 for use.

A user interface 29 is provided to allow a user of the set top box to access programme data stored in the programme data store 28 so as to allow a user to select content for viewing from that indicated by the programme data. Additionally, a user can select a programme indicated by the programme data to be recorded.

Conveniently user preference data 30 may be stored on the hard disk drive 13. Such user preference dab is based upon data input via the user interface 29, and upon data received from a viewing monitor 31, which monitors programmes viewed by a particular user so as to determine a user's viewing preferences.

An auto-record module 32 is arranged to process programme data stored in the programme data store 26 and the user preferences 30 so as to determine content of interest to a particular viewer, and to cause this to be recorded.

Programme data stored in the programme data store 28 relates to programmes available from the transmitter 6 and programmes available for download from the server 7 via the network 8. The user interface 29 may also provide details of programmes that have previously been stored in the hard disk drive 13.

Referring now to Figure 5, a process for generating suggestions of content of interest to a viewer is described. Such processing can be carried out by the auto-record module 32 and can also be carried out by the user interface 29 to provide a user with suggestions of content to be viewed.

At step Si preference data is retrieved from the user preferences 30. At step 52, available content is processed, details of content being obtained from the programme data store 28. At step 53 a check is carried out to determine the status of the connection to the network 8, and in particular to determine how much use has been made of the network connections, It may be that use of the network 8 is limited to a particular quantity of data transfer within a particular period, and the check of step S3 is therefore designed to determine whether further use of the network connection 8 can be made. If it is determined that no further use of the network B should be made, processing passes from step S3 to step 54 where suggestions of content of interest are generated solely from content stored locally at the set top box 2, and content available from the transmitter 6.

If, however, at step S3 it is determined that further use of the network 8 can be made, processing passes to step S5 where a check is carried out to determine whether further use of the server 7 can be made. That is, the server 7 may limit particular users to downloading no more than a maximum quantity of content within a particular time period, and the check of step S5 is therefore intended to determine whether a user of a set top box 2 can download further content from the server 7. If it is determined that further content can be downloaded from the server 7 at step 35, processing passes from step 35 to step 56, where suggestions are generated based upon content available from the transmitter 6, content stored locally at that set top box 2. and content available from the server 7.

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Where it is determined at step S5 that further use cannot be made of the server 7, processing passes from step 35 to step S7. Here, a check is carried out to determine whether further servers providing content are available. If such servers are available, processing passes from step 57 to step S8, where suggestions are generated based upon content available from the transmitter 6, contents stored locally at the set top box 2, and content available from such further servers as are available, If however no further servers are available, processing passes from step 37 to step 39 where suggestions based solely upon content available locally at the set top box 2, and content available from the transmitter 6, are generated.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the processing of Figure 5 is arranged to generate suggestions which include content available from the server 7 only if use of the server 7 and use of the network 8 have not exceeded some predetermined limits. In the event that a limit on use of the server 7 has been exceeded, content from the server 7 is not suggested. However, in the event where usage of the server 7 has exceeded some predetermined limit, but usage of the network 8 is not exceeded some predetermined limit, content available from servers other than the server 7 (not illustrated in figure 1) is sought. Such further servers may provide content either on a free of charge basis, on a subscription basis, or on a pay per use basis.

The processing ol Figure 5 may be modified such that the checks as to availability of the network B and server 7 for the provision of content are based upon predicted future use of the network 8 or server 7, as appropriate, such that the total predicted use of the server 7 or network 8 does not exceed some predetermined limit during a time period to which the predetermined limit applies. For example, where some predetermined limit L is applied to use of the server 7 or network 8 in a time period comprising X days, a limit of nLIX may be applied to use on any particular day, where n is the nth day in the relevant time period. Such an approach is intended to balance use of the network 8 or server 7 throughout the relevant time period and to prevent excessive use being made 11.

in an early part of the time period such that use cannot be made later in the time period.

It will be appreciated that the suggestion generation process at Figure 5 can be applied either to generate suggestions of content to be viewed at a particular time, or alternatively used as a basis for processing carried out by the auto-record module 32 so as to determine what content should be recorded. That is, content from the server 7 may be recorded only in the event that the checks of steps S3 and S5 are satisfied.

Where a user uses the user interface 29 to select programmes to be viewed, and the programme data stored in the programme data store 28 includes programmes provided by the server 7, the user interface 29 may be adapted to display to a user an indication of how much more content can be downloaded from the server 7 in a particular time period, so as to allow a user to determine whether a particular content should be downloaded, given the limitations on the downloaded content from the server 7.

The user interface 29 may be arranged to display programme suggestions in an order that encourages users to view content and utilise server 7 in a way that is consistent with the user's predetermined usage limit for server 7. For example, if relatively little use has been made of the server 7 suggestions of content from the server 7 may be presented preferentially while if much use has been made of the server 7 such that little further use can be made, suggestions of content other than that from the server 7 may be presented preferentially.

Referring now to Figure 6, an exemplary content storage process is described. At step 510 audiovisual content may be selected for recording. Selection may be based upon a direct command to record by a user. Alternatively, selection may be based upon a prediction that a user may wish to view content, for example based upon operation of the auto-record module 32.

Once content has been selected for recording by step 512, at step 513 it is determined whether or not local storage is available. Local storage may be in the form of the hard disk drive 13 within the set top box 2 or any other local non-volatile storage media.

Limitations may apply to the volume of local storage available at any given time.

If local storage is available, processing passes from step Sil to step 512 where the content is stored on said local storage. However, if local storage is not available, processing passes from step Si i to step Si 3 where a check is carried out to determine whether it is permitted to store the content on remote storage, for example, on one of a plurality of hard disk drives 23 within the server 7. This check may be based upon data indicating limitations on the use of remote storage. If it is not possible to record the content to remote storage, an error message is generated at step 514.

Otherwise, processing passes from step Si3 to step 515 where the content is recorded to remote storage.

This is a simple embodiment of storage selection. It is of course possible that a number of different storage selection criteria are used. For example, if it is predicted with a high probability that a user will wish to view content then it will be prioritised in the sense that in the event of limited storage space such content will be stored in preference to other content If, however it is predicted with a lower probability, and that local storage space has only limited spare capacity, then the content may be stored remotely, even though there is enough space to store it locally.

Other mechanisms for managing content are envisaged wherein local storage can be made available by deleting content that is duplicated in remote storage if it is determined to be less likely to be selected for viewing than newly available content which should be recorded preferably locally.

It has been described above, both in the context of suggesting content for viewing and in the context of selecting a repository to which content should be recorded, that data indicating limitations on the use of a remote audiovisual data resource can be processed. Such limitations may be based upon limitations associated with network bandwidth allocated to a particular user (or to a group of users using a single network connection) or alternatively may be based upon limitations associated with the server 7. Such limitations may be determined by properties of a user's account either with an operator of the server 7 or with an operator of the network 8 or part thereof (for example a users account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP)). The operators of the server 7 and the network 8 may offer a variety of different account privilege levels, each perhaps being associated with a respective fee, such that user's can select how much use they intend to make of the network 8 and/or the server 7. The described limitations can be specified in any convenient way, for example in terms of a number of audiovisual content items (e.g. programmes) that can be downloaded, or a quantity of data that can be downloaded, each specified for a particular time period.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description, and particularly from Figure 5, that content is recorded in the hard disk drives 23 of the server 7 under control of the set top box 2. Given that a plurality of set top boxes 2, 3, 4 are connected to the server 7, it will be appreciated that the server 7 may store a plurality of copies of particular content, each copy being stored based upon a command received from a respective set top box. Periodically, the server 7 may run software arranged to identify duplicate copies of particular content so as to allow such duplicates to be deleted, thereby freeing up space on the hard disk drives 23.

While embodiments of the invention are described in the context of the network of Figure 1 it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made to the illustrated network. In particular, while it is indicated that each of the set top boxes 2, 3, 4 and the server 7 receive audiovisual content from the transmitter 6 through respective antennae, each of the set top boxes 2, 3, 4 and the server 7 may receive audiovisual content in any convenient way including by way of reception of signals transmitted by appropriate satellites or by cable connections. Similarly, while only three set top boxes 2, 3, 4 are shown in Figure 1 ii will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention can be implemented using any number of set top boxes. Indeed, in many embodiments a greater number of set top boxes will be connected to the server 7.

Although various embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Indeed, the foregoing description should be considered in all respects illustrative and not limiting.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A method of selecting between a plurality of audiovisual data resources, the method comprising: storing data indicating limitations on use of a first of said resources of audiovisual data based upon data indicating a quantity of use which can be made of the first audiovisual data resource by a particular user or group of users; selecting one of said audiovisual data resources based at least in pad upon said data indicating limitations on use of the first of said resources.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said first audiovisual data resource comprises an audiovisual data repository located remote from a user device.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising automatically storing audiovisual data in said remotely located audiovisual data repository.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein one of said plurality of audiovisual data resources other than said first resource is selected from the group consisting of an audiovisual data repository local to a user device, a broadcast audiovisual source and a cable audiovisual source.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said data indicating a quantity of use comprises data selected from the group consisting of data indicating a quantity of storage space usable by said user or said group of users, and data indicating a quantity of bandwidth usable by said user or said group of users to download data from said first audiovisual data resource.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein selecting one of said audiovisual data resources further comprises: generating data indicating user viewing preferences; and generating audiovisual content suggestions based upon said user viewing preferences.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said suggestions comprise first suggestions of audio visual data taken from said first resource, and second suggestions of audio visual content taken from one or more of said plurality of resources other than said first resource.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising selecting between first and S second suggestions based upon said data indicating limitations.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising selecting suggestions of said second suggestions in preference to suggestions of said first suggestions.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said first audiovisual data resource is a repository for audiovisual data located remotely from a user device and said audiovisual data resources comprise a local repository for audiovisual data and a broadcast stream of audiovisual data.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A method according to claim 10, wherein selecting one of said audiovisual data resources comprises selecting one of said resources to which to record audiovisual data provided as part of said broadcast stream of audiovisual data.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A method according to claim 11, wherein selecting one of said audiovisual data resources comprises: generating data indicating user viewing preferences and selecting audiovisual data from said broadcast stream for recording based upon said preferences; determining whether said selected audiovisual data can be stored in said local repository; if it is determined that said selected audiovisual data can be stored in local repository, storing said selected audiovisual data in said local resposity; and if it is determined that said selected audiovisual data cannot be stored in said local repository, storing in said selected audiovisual data in said remote repository.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A method according to any one of claim 10 to 12, wherein a user device controls recording of audiovisual data from said broadcast stream in a selected one of said local and remote repositories.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein a user device is connected to said first audiovisual data resource via a computer network.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the computer network includes the Internet.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said limitations are based upon limitations of a connection between a user device and said first audiovisual data resource.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said limitations are based upon a quantity of data which can be transferred to or from said first audiovisual data resource.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said limitations are based upon account privileges associated with a particular user.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising selecting one of said sources of audiovisual data based upon said data indicating limitations on use of the first of said sources arid data indicating use made of said first audiovisual data resource.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A computer programme comprising instructions arranged to control a processor to carry out a method according to any preceding claim.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. A computer readable medium carrying a computer programme according to claim 20.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. Apparatus comprising: a memory storing processor readable instructions; and a processor configured to read and execute instructions stored in said memory; wherein said instructions comprise instructions configured to control the processor to carry out a method according to any one of claim Ito 19.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. Apparatus for selecting between a plurality of audiovisual data resources, the apparatus comprising: a storage device storing data indicating limitations on use of a first of said audiovisual data resources based upon data indicating a quantity of use which can be made of the first audiovisual data resource by a particular user or group of users; means for selecting one of said audiovisual data resources based at least in part upon said data indicating limitations on use of the first of said resources.</claim-text> <claim-text>24. Apparatus for managing audiovisual content comprising: a storage device: a processor; a local audiovisual data resource; and a connection to a remote audiovisual data resource: wherein the processor is configured to select between use of said local and remote audiovisual data resources based upon data indicating limitations on use of the local remote audiovisual data resource.</claim-text> <claim-text>25. A method of storing audiovisual data at a central repository, the method comprising: receiving as input a broadcast audiovisual data stream; receiving commands from a plurality of user devices: storing audiovisual data at said central repository based upon said received commands; controlling access to said stored audiovisual data by said user devices based upon limitations associated with users of said user devices; processing data stored in said central repository to determine whether there exist first and second audiovisual data items which are the same; and if said processing determines that there exist first and second audiovisual data items which are the same, deleting said second data item.</claim-text>