[Dawny]

Can someone technified write me a (lay person's) definition of the rolling buffer?

I know what it is and how it works. For the life of me, I just can not seem to write it up succinctly. I'm not in the habit of asking others to write for me (this is for my dissertation) and would be happy to credit you with the wording if you wish. :up:

I may end up piecing this together from terms suggested here. So, if you are ok with that, please post and help me out!

Thanks so much

 

[ZeoTiVo]

a rolling recording of up to the last 30 minutes of the channel the tuner is tuned to.

 

[MickeS]

I've only seen it referred to as a live TV buffer, which explains it rather succinctly I think.

If I had to explain more I'd say "a recording of the last 30 minutes of what a tuner is receiving."

 

[Dawny]

I've only seen it referred to as a live TV buffer, which explains it rather succinctly I think.

If I had to explain more I'd say "a recording of the last 30 minutes of what a tuner is receiving."

Yeah...for my folks I think I need to expalin it more. My advisor is "TiVo-free"- these are new terms to some.

I like so far....thanks guys

Some DVR's have up to a 90 minute one, yes? Does anyone know? I only have TiVo

 

[MickeS]

I know that the ReplayTV units had adjustable buffer capacity - IIRC, it could use the entire available HD space for it.

So change "30" above to "X".

 

[mick66]

Yeah...for my folks I think I need to expalin it more. My advisor is "TiVo-free"- these are new terms to some.

I like so far....thanks guys

Some DVR's have up to a 90 minute one, yes? Does anyone know? I only have TiVo

ReplayTVs had a buffer that was only limited by the available recording space.

A rolling buffer is where the last second is continuously being deleted as every new second of recording is being made and you can access any point in between.

 

[Dawny]

I know that the ReplayTV units had adjustable buffer capacity - IIRC, it could use the entire available HD space for it.

So change "30" above to "X".

Oh I really was not trying to be picky about the definition, I was just sort of curious.

Is it ok if I use your definition?

 

[Dawny]

A rolling buffer is where the last second is continuously being deleted as every new second of recording is being made and you can access any point in between.

I like this one, too, yet I'm not sure my readers will follow. May use this notion as an IOW. Thanks!

 

[richsadams]

Hmmm...tough assignment. I like mick66's "rolling buffer" explanation myself, but if it's for someone that's "TiVo challenged" I can understand the need for more basic enlightenment.

Might it be helpful to explain it in VCR-like terms? Seems like by now most people understand that concept. Something like...

"A DVR/PVR/TiVo (you pick) is basically a VCR that records television programs for playback using a computer hard drive instead of video tape. It is always recording and at least X minutes of this recording can be ‘rewound’ to be played back at any time."

Or something like that. I know for us "purists", equating TiVo with a VCR is blasphemy, but for an "outsider" it might be a good starting point.

Let us know what you end up with...so we can explain it to our, um, less sophisticated friends too.

 

[destek]

...you're watching a dog chasing its tail...

 

[jjberger2134]

A rolling buffer is where the last second is continuously being deleted as every new second of recording is being made and you can access any point in between.

Not to be too picky with you mick but, I would argue the "first" or "oldest" second not the last second is continuously being deleted from the buffer.

Dawny - Although I am suggesting the "first" second I do like explanation mick66 has given, just change the wording.

 

[jjberger2134]

I also like this explanation from TiVo's web site. (The first bullet point in the link).

 

[mick66]

ReplayTVs had a buffer that was only limited by the available recording space.

A rolling buffer is where the last second is continuously being deleted as every new second of recording is being made and you can access any point in between.

In terms of using a TiVo, A rolling buffer is up to 30 minutes of the current channel stored for the purpose of reviewing if necessary. The buffer is continually being added to and deleted from, i.e. the oldest second of the buffer is continuously being deleted as every new second of recording is being made. This buffer is deleted when the channel is changed and a new buffer starts. After 30 minutes on the new channel, the buffer reaches capacity and begins "rolling" to keep the latest 30 minutes.

 

[ZeoTiVo]

a rolling recording of up to the last 30 minutes of the channel the tuner is tuned to.

rolling denoted the concept that the second from 30 minutes ago was being rolled off.

up to 30 minutes denotes without going into detail that when you change the channel the previous channel buffered recording will be deleted and a new buffer starts

channel the tuner is tuned to - made it easy to follow it was a channel beimng recorded though the tuner is the hardware involved

not quite sure waht was different or wrong from the answer I gave compared to the others

 

[Dawny]

not quite sure waht was different or wrong from the answer I gave compared to the others

Not a single thing!! Sorry, I was offline last night and did not get to check these.

I want to thank all of you who have added to this thread. You have all been so helpful.
I'm attending to my kiddos right now but later I will figure out my wording and post it here and run it past you.

 

[vman41]

In computer programming texts, they used call the concept a circular buffer or ring buffer. Perhaps some prefer the rolling buffer term because it sounds more dynamic, it could also imply a steadiness to the data rate (rolling along).

 

[Dawny]

:up:

 

[TiVoStephen]

Back in 1999 when I worked on the first manual, I think what we ended up with is avoiding the use of computer terms like "buffer" and "circular stack" and just said this:

"TiVo is always recording the most recent 30 minutes of live TV."

As jjberger pointed out, that's pretty close to the wording that's up on the site now:

"The TiVo Digital Video Recorder (DVR) records the current channel to its memory for the most recent 30 minutes. The DVR is then able to pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV using this cached video."

 

[richsadams]

Back in 1999 when I worked on the first manual, I think what we ended up with is avoiding the use of computer terms like "buffer" and "circular stack" and just said this:

"TiVo is always recording the most recent 30 minutes of live TV."

As jjberger pointed out, that's pretty close to the wording that's up on the site now:

"The TiVo Digital Video Recorder (DVR) records the current channel to its memory for the most recent 30 minutes. The DVR is then able to pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV using this cached video."

Hey Stephen, welcome back! Hope Sophie is letting you sleep through the night now and then.

 

[ZeoTiVo]

"TiVo is always recording the most recent 30 minutes of live TV."

Yep, that nailed the simplicity of it :up:
Glad Sophie has a Dad who can explain things so easily