[mythtv] conflict resolution

[Joseph A. Caputo]

On Monday 03 November 2003 04:32, Edward Wildgoose wrote:
> David,
>
> Could you have a think about how "fuzzy matching" might fit in with
> your schema.  I have been toying with an idea to make the timeslot
> matching code actually match if the program is (say) up to an hour
> either side of the noted time.  The idea is to handle scheduling
> changes either from when you ask for the single record slow, or from
> week to week on a regular record slot.  For example a regular serial
> can often shift from 9pm to 8:45pm and back to 9:30pm if something
> happens (big football event, etc)
>
> There are some performance issues I need to test, but basically the
> sql query needs to be changed to do something like checking that
> "datediff" of the record table and the programs table differ by less
> than 1 hour (arbitrary number).  The performance testing is to look
> at the join order and decide which way the indexed lookup is working
> and put the date functions on the appropriate side of the equals sign
> (so we don't deteriorate to table scans if possible).  That probably
> didn't make much sense...?
>
> Anyway, would be interested to add this in, but useful if you could
> evaluate how it might work for you (for example it would be better if
> the "don't record" was also working in a fuzzy way as well)

Hmmm... along these lines, what if a 'fuzzy timeslot' was based more on 
time-of-day, instead of actual time?  By this I mean have a standard 
day divided into periods like 'morning', 'mid-day', 'afternoon', 
'evening', 'prime-time' and 'late-night'.  The relevant start/end times 
for each period could be configurable.  Then, if I specify a 
timeslot/weekslot recording, the scheduler would know that if the 
instance I scheduled is on at 21:00, then what I really want is a 
'prime-time' timeslot/weekslot for this program.  So if the show gets 
moved around by the network, as long as it's still on in 'prime-time', 
it will get recorded, but it will know enough not to record the 
syndicated re-runs that are on at 18:00.

Just my $.02.

-JAC