Video playback device capable of sharing resources and method of operation
First Claim
1. A video playback device comprising:
- a disk storage device capable of storing television programs received from an external source;
a first controller capable of receiving a first program recording command, wherein said first program recording command is operable to cause said first controller to store a first television program on said disk storage device during a first time slot; and
a second controller capable of determining if sufficient space is available on said disk storage device to store said first television program, wherein said disk storage device, in response to a determination that sufficient space is not available on said disk storage device is further capable of identifying in an external communication network a second remote video playback device capable of recording said first television program and transmitting a recording task request to said second remote video playback device, wherein said recording task request is operable to cause said second remote video playback device to record said first television program during said first time slot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a video playback device comprising: 1) a disk storage device for storing television programs received from an external source; 2) a first controller for receiving a first program recording command, wherein the first program recording command is operable to cause the first controller to store a first television program on the disk storage device during a first time slot; and 3) a second controller for determining if sufficient space is available on the disk storage device to store the first television program. The disk storage device, in response to a determination that sufficient space is not available on the disk storage device, identifies in an external communication network a second remote video playback device capable of recording the first television program and transmits a recording task request to the second remote video playback device. The recording task request causes the second remote video playback device to record the first television program during the first time slot.
120 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A video playback device comprising:
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a disk storage device capable of storing television programs received from an external source;
a first controller capable of receiving a first program recording command, wherein said first program recording command is operable to cause said first controller to store a first television program on said disk storage device during a first time slot; and
a second controller capable of determining if sufficient space is available on said disk storage device to store said first television program, wherein said disk storage device, in response to a determination that sufficient space is not available on said disk storage device is further capable of identifying in an external communication network a second remote video playback device capable of recording said first television program and transmitting a recording task request to said second remote video playback device, wherein said recording task request is operable to cause said second remote video playback device to record said first television program during said first time slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a video playback device comprising a disk storage device capable of storing television programs received from an external source, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first program recording command, wherein the first program recording command is operable to cause the video playback device to store a first television program on the disk storage device during a first time slot;
determining if sufficient space is available on the disk storage device to store the first television program;
in response to a determination that sufficient space is not available on the disk storage device, identifying in an external communication network a second remote video playback device capable of recording the first television program; and
transmitting a recording task request to the second remote video playback device, wherein the recording task request is operable to cause the second remote video playback device to record the first television program during the first time slot. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)
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17. For use in a communication network coupled to a plurality of video playback devices, a server comprising a memory for storing a plurality of data files related to said plurality of video playback devices, wherein each of said plurality of data files comprises a disk status indicator indicating an amount of free space available on a disk drive in a selected one of said video playback devices.
Specification