Apparatus and method of managing storage space through time-variant consumption estimation

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for managing a storage space through time-variant consumption estimation. More particularly, an apparatus and a method for managing a storage space through time-variant consumption estimation that estimates consumption of an entire storage space when a user instructs program editing, program recording or reserved recording, and so on. When there is a possibility that the estimated consumption exceeds a predetermined value, immediately providing a user with information indicating that the storage space is lacking. The apparatus includes a storage unit storing contents in the storage space, a consumption estimation unit estimating time-variant consumption of the storage space, a contents management unit deleting at least a portion of the contents or storing at least a portion of additionally input contents according to the estimation result, and an output unit outputting the deletion or storage result.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for managing a storage space through time-variant consumption estimation according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a consumption estimation table according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a change in consumption using a consumption estimation table according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a change in consumption according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention upon storage of contents;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a change in consumption according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention upon editing of contents;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a case where consumption of a storage space according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention exceeds a critical value;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a case where utilization schemes according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention are displayed; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of managing a storage space through time-variant consumption estimation according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing a storage space through time-variant consumption estimation, the apparatus comprising: a storage unit which stores contents in the storage space;a consumption estimation unit which estimates time-variant consumption of the storage space;a contents management unit which deletes at least a portion of the contents or which stores at least a portion of additionally input contents according to the estimation result; andan output unit which outputs the deletion or storage result.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the consumption estimation unit estimates consumption with reference to a time that consumption of the storage space is changed and a consumption estimation table comprising consumption at the change time.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the storage unit stores the consumption estimation table.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a table update unit which updates the consumption estimation table according to a deletion or storage command requested by a user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contents management unit performs at least one of storage, editing, deletion, reserved storage, reserved editing, and reserved deletion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control unit which checks whether estimated consumption exceeds a predetermined critical value.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the critical value is determined according to a maximum size of the storage space or user's assignment.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control unit extracts utilization schemes of the storage space when estimated consumption exceeds the critical value.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the utilization schemes comprise at least one of deletion of the stored contents, editing of the stored contents, change of a storage start time of the additionally input contents, and change of a storage end time of the additionally input contents.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the output unit outputs the utilization schemes by image or sound.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the contents management unit deletes at least a portion of the contents or stores at least a portion of the additionally input contents according to a utilization scheme selected by a user from the utilization schemes.

12. A method for managing a storage space through time-variant consumption estimation, the method comprising: storing contents in a storage space;estimating time-variant consumption of the storage space;deleting at least a portion of the contents or storing at least a portion of additionally input contents according to the estimation result; andoutputting the deletion or storage result.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the estimating comprises estimating consumption with reference to a time that consumption of the storage space is changed and a consumption estimation table at the change time.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the storing comprises storing the consumption estimation table.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising updating the consumption estimation table according to a deletion or storage command requested by a user.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the deleting or storing comprises performing at least a portion of storage, editing, deletion, reserved storage, reserved editing, and reserved deletion of the contents.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising checking whether estimated consumption exceeds a predetermined critical value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the critical value is determined according to a maximum size of the storage space or user's assignment.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the checking comprises extracting utilization schemes of the storage space when estimated consumption exceeds the critical value.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the utilization schemes comprise at least one of deletion of the stored contents, editing of the stored contents, change of a storage start time of the additionally input contents, and change of a storage end time of the additionally input contents.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the outputting comprises outputting the utilization schemes by image or sound.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the deleting or storing comprises deleting at least a portion of the contents or storing at least a portion of the additionally input contents according to a utilization scheme selected by a user from the utilization schemes.