Inter-residence computing resource sharing
First Claim
1. A method for sharing resources of a television receiver between two or more customers, the method comprising:
- establishing, at a server system, a first network connection between the server system and a computing device associated with a first television customer account;
receiving, using the first network connection, a request to engage the first television customer account in an agreement to share television receiver resources associated with a different television customer account;
identifying, by the server system, a second television customer account to engage in an agreement with the first television customer account to share the television receiver resources of a television receiver located at a residence associated with the second television customer account, the television receiver being a satellite television receiver coupled with a satellite dish to receive satellite television programming, and the television receiver resources comprising television tuner resources of the satellite television receiver;
establishing, at a server system, a second network connection between the server system and the television receiver;
facilitating establishment of a direct point-to-point network connection between the television receiver and the computing device;
sending, using the second network connection, instructions to configure the television receiver to serve content to the first television customer account over the direct point-to-point network connection, wherein the instructions include an allocation of resources of the television receiver for use by the first television customer account, wherein the allocation of resources includes partitioning the tuner resources so that the first television customer account has allocated thereto a first set of one or more tuners of the television receiver and so that the second television customer account has allocated thereto a second set of one or more tuners of the television receiver different than the first set of one or more tuners; and
facilitating sending content from the television receiver to the computing device using the direct point-to-point network connection.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for enabling computing device or system resource sharing between two or more satellite television customers are disclosed. This may be achieved by partitioning resources of a television receiver system such that a first party and at least a second party have access to the various features or functionality in a manner similar to that as if each respective party has a standalone instance of the same. A server system may facilitate the resource sharing between satellite television customers by receiving a request from a first party and identifying a second party within suitable distance from the first party. The server system may send configuration instructions to the television receiver of the hosting party that include instructions as to how the resources of the computing system are to be allocated.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for sharing resources of a television receiver between two or more customers, the method comprising:
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establishing, at a server system, a first network connection between the server system and a computing device associated with a first television customer account; receiving, using the first network connection, a request to engage the first television customer account in an agreement to share television receiver resources associated with a different television customer account; identifying, by the server system, a second television customer account to engage in an agreement with the first television customer account to share the television receiver resources of a television receiver located at a residence associated with the second television customer account, the television receiver being a satellite television receiver coupled with a satellite dish to receive satellite television programming, and the television receiver resources comprising television tuner resources of the satellite television receiver; establishing, at a server system, a second network connection between the server system and the television receiver; facilitating establishment of a direct point-to-point network connection between the television receiver and the computing device; sending, using the second network connection, instructions to configure the television receiver to serve content to the first television customer account over the direct point-to-point network connection, wherein the instructions include an allocation of resources of the television receiver for use by the first television customer account, wherein the allocation of resources includes partitioning the tuner resources so that the first television customer account has allocated thereto a first set of one or more tuners of the television receiver and so that the second television customer account has allocated thereto a second set of one or more tuners of the television receiver different than the first set of one or more tuners; and facilitating sending content from the television receiver to the computing device using the direct point-to-point network connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19, 20)
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9. A non-transitory processor-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
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establishing, at a server system, a first network connection between the server system and a computing device associated with a first television customer account; receiving, using the first network connection, a request to engage the first television customer account in an agreement to share television receiver resources associated with a different television customer account; identifying, by the server system, a second television customer account to engage in an agreement with the first television customer account to share the television receiver resources of a television receiver located at a residence associated with the second television customer account, the television receiver being a satellite television receiver coupled with a satellite dish to receive satellite television programming, and the television receiver resources comprising television tuner resources of the satellite television receiver; establishing, at a server system, a second network connection between the server system and the television receiver; facilitating establishment of a direct point-to-point network connection between the television receiver and the computing device; sending, using the second network connection, instructions to configure the television receiver to serve content to the first television customer account over the direct point-to-point network connection, wherein the instructions include an allocation of resources of the television receiver for use by the first television customer account, wherein the allocation of resources includes partitioning the tuner resources so that the first television customer account has allocated thereto a first set of one or more tuners of the television receiver and so that the second television customer account has allocated thereto a second set of one or more tuners of the television receiver different than the first set of one or more tuners; and facilitating sending, using the direct point-to-point network connection, content to the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A satellite television receiver comprising:
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a receiver interface configured to receive media content from a content provider via a satellite dish located at a residence associated with a second television customer account; an output interface configured to output media content to a display device; a network interface configured to establish network connections with remote devices and to transmit and receive data over the network connections; a plurality of tuners in data communication with the receiver interface, the plurality of tuners configured to provide tuner resources; one or more processors configured to perform operations including; establishing a first network connection with a server system using the network interface; receiving, using the first network connection, instructions to allocate television receiver resources for use by a first television customer and to serve content to the first television customer, wherein; the instructions are associated with the server system receiving a request to engage an account of the first television customer in an agreement to share the television receiver resources; the instructions are associated with the server system identifying an account of the second television customer to engage in the agreement; and the instructions allocate the television receiver resources at least by partitioning the tuner resources so that the first television customer account has allocated thereto a first set of one or more tuners of the plurality of tuners and so that the second television customer account has allocated thereto a second set of one or more tuners of the plurality of tuners; allocating the television receiver resources for use by the first television customer according to the instructions; establishing a direct point-to-point network connection with a computing device associated with the first television customer using the network interface; configuring the television receiver to serve content to the first television customer over the direct point-to-point network connection; and sending the content to the computing device using the direct point-to-point network connection. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification