Series Link Inquiry

[nogdas]

I read in another post that the stated reason for not having Series Links be attached to a show and having one Link per show per channel.

Well Key Word can Record across any channel, if you put that show title as what you want to record, and there is no channel restriction, BUT as with the R15 the HR20 Key Word would pick up for instance King of the Hill also any movie called King of the Hill (happens alot) so using Key Word as an alternative is not an option.



Also with the minor flaws Key Word has it does not make it "too complex" as was stated in another thread to record a show across channels, and does not let you choose which channels to disclude from your recording desire.

Key Word lets you disclude channels in only same was as the Series Link does, by Channels you Recieve (when it is reactivated) and/or by a favorites list you create and/or by channels you block from viewing,

Which would be a good compromise for a show based Series link (1 link per show-not channel based) because being able to exclude channels that you do recieve from a show based series link is not a viable option.

While I do applaud Directv for allowing us to have more than 1 Series Link per show, as was stated in a nother thread "that is simply copying Tivo" This box is meant to be superior to Tivo.

We need a Show Based Series Link based on Channels we recive, / Our active favorites list, and excluding channels we do not want to be in the channel list we use (not ban individual channels from Series Links.



Now here is how a Show Based Series Link would put Tivo's Season Pass to shame.

Let us say you watch Mamma's Family (which is leaving TBS and moving to i 255) and you have a busy life, kids, job, wife, and etc. Well the fact that the Series Link you would need would be 1 per show, and not have to be changed (less having to keep up with show premiers / channel show changes and etc) the person could then "care less" what channel his or her fave shows are on. They would be there and less programming having to be done by the DVR owner.


Now my Question to Earl is... Would having only 1 Series Link based on show not channel, save space in data and/or cause conflict nightmares?

Because say for instance, you Record any on the MTV shows, or the family of Discovery channel shows and say for some reason they both appear on 2 diffrent channels at same time, how would conflict resolution occur ?

As in regards to First Run, Repeats and Duplicates, Would they have to change the logic, to forget channel aired on and focus on when it appeared on any channel in what ever parameters they have set up now?

And if this would cause nightmares for DiecTV programmers, how and why ?

I think A SHOW based Series Link would be superior to a Channel Based Series Link for the obvious benefits to the End User.

Comments Questions ?

[Earl Bonovich]

I think "one" of the problems... speaking as a programmer myself...

What if Mamma's Family is on 8 channels in market A... but only on 6 in market b, and possible only 7...in another market (due to different locals)
(Which in theory, once OTA get's turned on... a LOT of shows are going to be on at least 5 channels: Example: CSI.... CBS(MPEG4), CBS(OTA), CBS(SD), then CBS (MPEG-2) from NY, and the CBS(SD) from NY and that is just for the first run... not including all the other syndicated spots it appears in.

You then need to introduce another tier of logic for the Series Link recording settings, where you can list which channels to pay attention to... and which not to....

So not only asking the user for the input, but then storing and tracking it... and mixing that into the logic for the scheduler.... Just makes thinks more complicated.

Sure... Channels I receieve would work (in the long run), but that would block ALL recordings from that channel.

At least that is how I look at it from a programmers point of view.

[nogdas]

Thanx for the quick answer, but how would that be any diffrent than keyword, which would have to be able record shows that may be in 1 market that may not be in another ?

Also what extra logic have to be added ?

Because from a non-programmer here. I would think, the software sees the show title, disregard what market you are in and schedules 1 series link per show based on title.

Could we then have Series link for network channels and 1 Series Link for channels rest "cable channels appears in ?

Reason I ask with limit of 50 Links it could be filled fast.

And with 1 Link Customer needs would come 1st before programmer desire for simplicity. (Customer would not have to keep up on channel changes of there shows, simply record a show based on it's name and enjoy, instead of playing sleuth and detecting channel changes)



I think "one" of the problems... speaking as a programmer myself...

What if Mamma's Family is on 8 channels in market A... but only on 6 in market b, and possible only 7...in another market (due to different locals)
(Which in theory, once OTA get's turned on... a LOT of shows are going to be on at least 5 channels: Example: CSI.... CBS(MPEG4), CBS(OTA), CBS(SD), then CBS (MPEG-2) from NY, and the CBS(SD) from NY and that is just for the first run... not including all the other syndicated spots it appears in.

You then need to introduce another tier of logic for the Series Link recording settings, where you can list which channels to pay attention to... and which not to....

So not only asking the user for the input, but then storing and tracking it... and mixing that into the logic for the scheduler.... Just makes thinks more complicated.

Sure... Channels I receieve would work (in the long run), but that would block ALL recordings from that channel.

At least that is how I look at it from a programmers point of view.

[Earl Bonovich]

Thanx for the quick answer, but how would that be any diffrent than keyword, which would have to be able record shows that may be in 1 market that may not be in another ?

Also what extra logic have to be added ?

Because from a non-programmer here. I would think, the software sees the show title, disregard what market you are in and schedules 1 series link per show based on title.

Could we then have Series link for network channels and 1 Series Link for channels rest "cable channels appears in ?

Reason I ask with limit of 50 Links it could be filled fast.

And with 1 Link Customer needs would come 1st before programmer desire for simplicity.

Again, disclaimer that I don't have access to the code so I don't know how it works exactly... this is just my intrepretation.

Part of the extra code, would be the user interface to get the "channel" options that the user would want to use....... You could take the TiVo route and "globally" turn of certain channels, that would make it easier (hence why Wishlists over there work fairly okay)..

You mix into the logic:
Instead of looking for Series ID X on Channel Y
You will do either: Look for Series ID X on Channel Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4.....
or Look for Series ID X... (then after getting that list), scan through it for just the channels you wanted...

Then you need to add in, keeping track of those channel selections per Series ID... and so on.

There are many different ways they could do it... like your idea for: Network Channels, vs "Cable" channels ... but even those would have to be defined somewhere.....


I do agree with the Idea of having a single title record (I used Wishlists for my CSI's and my Law Orders... more so I could get them into one group on the SD DTivos)....

I just don't think the implementation is as easy as it seems on the surface, or even to the degree that I listed up above.....

"Keywords" do similar things, by scann all channels in stead of just for a Key ID (such as Series ID)...

[nogdas]

Then why not make series link Logic keyword based ?

Meaning, Title of show (not episode title) be only what each Series Link looks for ?

Then for keyword list (tivos is wish list) make that a saveable option based on actor, show category, genre, directorm, etc ? keep it ultimately simple for programmers, benefit them AND consumers at same time, I am sure at 1st it would take massive reprgramming, but striving to be the best is not meant to happen fast, but not even attempting it, is not good at all.

Again, disclaimer that I don't have access to the code so I don't know how it works exactly... this is just my intrepretation.

Part of the extra code, would be the user interface to get the "channel" options that the user would want to use....... You could take the TiVo route and "globally" turn of certain channels, that would make it easier (hence why Wishlists over there work fairly okay)..

You mix into the logic:
Instead of looking for Series ID X on Channel Y
You will do either: Look for Series ID X on Channel Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4.....
or Look for Series ID X... (then after getting that list), scan through it for just the channels you wanted...

Then you need to add in, keeping track of those channel selections per Series ID... and so on.

There are many different ways they could do it... like your idea for: Network Channels, vs "Cable" channels ... but even those would have to be defined somewhere.....


I do agree with the Idea of having a single title record (I used Wishlists for my CSI's and my Law Orders... more so I could get them into one group on the SD DTivos)....

I just don't think the implementation is as easy as it seems on the surface, or even to the degree that I listed up above.....

"Keywords" do similar things, by scann all channels in stead of just for a Key ID (such as Series ID)...

[Earl Bonovich]

Then why not make series link Logic keyword based ?

Meaning, Title of show (not episode title) be only what each Series Link looks for ?
....


I think that is how Dish network attempted to do it with their first DVR.... didn't turn out so well.

If you just go to that method, then you get to database and performance issues. As searching for a Key Indicator (such as Series ID) is quicker and more accurate, then scanning 10's of thousands of records in the guide data for key words in one field...

[kathurt]

I'm not really following what ya'll are talking about, probably because I don't have an R15.

Right now, with all of my DirecTivos, if I want to record a show I go to Pick Programs to Record. I choose by Title & I do not apply any filters. It brings me to a screen where I can start selecting the letters of the title with the remote. As I type in letters it starts populating names of shows on the right. Once I see the show I'm looking for it may be listed several times because it will show up for each channel that it's on. I choose the show for the channel I want then it will allow me to set up a Season Pass or view upcoming episodes & record them individually.

So my question is, is it this easy on the HR20 or the R15 for that matter? Wishlists are cool, dual live buffer is really cool, suggestions don't really matter, but the most important thing to me is being able to easily find the show I want to record. I've played with my BIL's Time Warner DVR & it's nearly impossible to set up a recording unless the show is currently on. If I can't type in the name of a show & find it in the future, that DVR is not for me.

[Earl Bonovich]

Yes... it is that easy on the HR20 (and the R15)....

What we are talking about here, is the ability to do what you just listed....
BUT have it record that show on ANY/ALL channels it airs on...

So for example: Law and Order
It would record in on NBC, TNT, USA, ect.... with just ONE entry into the Series Link listings, instead of three or more..

[kathurt]

OK, now I understand. I don't personally think I would want to do that although I guess I can see why someone would want to.

[jmell44]

As kathurt was saying that after a search you have the option of the season pass. I must be missing something because after I find the program I want on my hr20 using the search option I can't find where you can get the series link. If I see the program on the guide I realize you can double click the record button to get it but not from the search mode. Have they left out that option?

[Earl Bonovich]

Yes, the double record option doesn't work in search mode.

When you find the program. higlight it, hit select.

Then there will be a record option on the left menu.
Go into the record option there to select a Series Link record

[greywolf]

I've hit the record button twice in search mode after getting the list of upcoming episodes and had it create a series link after highlighting one. It doesn't show the right icon though. One click shows the single circle. A second click shows no change but the program will appear in the prioritizer. A third removes the circle icon.