DYNAMIC RESOURCE SHARING AMONG MULTIPLE WIRELESS DEVICES

• US 20100153553A1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Trando, Huey, Soliman, Samir, Sheth, Soham V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,398,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA

Abstract

A system and method that enables two or more hosts so that they can share a resource, such as a display. Client allocates a portion of the resource to each of the eligible hosts. This allocated size is negotiable among host(s) and the client. Client may request the hosts to scale down/up resource utilization based on the allocated portion of the resource being shared. This helps keep the client implementation simple. In this case, client maintains the allocation vector for each host. This allocation vector is used to keep track of the resource sharing. While this is a preferred approach, it is possible that “intelligent” client may actually modify resource utilization for a given host based on the negotiated allocation.

Claims

1. A method for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

requesting a client resource by a first host in a first share mode;

requesting the client resource by a next host in a second share mode; and

sharing the client resource between the first host and the next host.

2. A system for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, comprising:

a processor;

means for requesting a client resource by a first host in a first share mode in the processor;

means for requesting the client resource by a next host in a second share mode in the processor; and

means for sharing the client resource between the first host and the next host in the processor.

3. A storage media comprising program instructions which are computer-executable to implement sharing of resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, the storage media comprising:

program instructions to request a client resource by a first host in a first share mode;

program instructions to request the client resource by a next host in a second share mode; and

program instructions to share the client resource between the first host and the next host.

4. A method for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

requesting a client resource by a first host in a first predetermined share mode;

requesting the client resource by a next host in a second predetermined share mode;

seeking permission by a client from the first host to share the client resource with the next host;

providing a response to the sought permission by first host to the client;

sharing the resource by the client between the first and the next host; and

sending a client resource allocation vector to the first host and the next host by the client.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first share mode and the second share mode are substantially similar.

6. A system for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, comprising:

a processor;

means for requesting a client resource by a first host in a first predetermined share mode in the processor;

means for requesting the client resource by a next host in a second predetermined share mode in the processor;

means for seeking permission by a client from the first host to share the client resource with the next host in the processor;

means for providing a response to the sought permission by first host to the client in the processor;

means for sharing the resource by the client between the first and the next host in the processor; and

means for sending a client resource allocation vector to the first host and the next host by the client in the processor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the first share mode and the second share mode are substantially similar.

8. A storage media comprising program instructions which are computer-executable to implement sharing of resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, the storage media comprising:

program instructions to request a client resource by a first host in a first predetermined share mode;

program instructions to request the client resource by a next host in a second predetermined share mode;

program instructions to seek permission by a client from the first host to share the client resource with the next host;

program instructions to provide a response to the sought permission by first host to the client;

program instructions to share the resource by the client between the first and the next host; and

program instructions to send a client resource allocation vector to the first host and the next host by the client.

9. The storage media of claim 8 wherein the first share mode and the second share mode are substantially similar.

10. A method for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

requesting a client resource by at least one active host in a first predetermined share mode;

requesting the client resource by at least one inactive host in a second predetermined share mode;

seeking permission by a client from the at least one active host to share the client resource with the at least one inactive host;

providing a response to the sought permission by at least one active host to the client;

sending a client resource allocation vector to the at least one active host and the at least one newly active host by the client;

allocating a first portion of the client resource to the at least one active host and a second portion of the client resource to the at least one newly active host by the client; and

negotiating the allocation by the at least one active host and the at least one newly active host.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of the client allocating a first portion of the client resource to the at least one active host and a second portion of the client resource to the at least one newly active host.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of maintaining an allocation vector.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of acknowledging the sought permission by the client to the at least one newly active host.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the provided response comprises a rejection.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one active host, comprises at least one tenant, has a use of a full or partial client resource.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one tenant comprises a member from the group consisting of an exclusive use tenant, a primary tenant, a secondary tenant, a time sliced primary tenant, a time sliced secondary tenant and an equal share tenant.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one active host grants permission to the at least one inactive host, comprising the at least one tenant, to use the full or partial client resource.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of the at least one tenant relinquishing the permission.

19. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of updating the resource allocation vector.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of updating occurs at predetermined instances.

21. The method of claim 10 wherein the client resource comprises a display.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the client resource comprises a surface area of the display and a location on the display.

23. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of reallocating the client resource upon addition or subtraction of active and newly active hosts.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of the client notifying the at least one active host of the reallocation.

25. The method of claims 10 wherein the step of granting permission comprises a delayed start for using the client resource.

26. A system for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, comprising:

a processor;

means for requesting a client resource by at least one active host in a first predetermined share mode in the processor;

means for requesting the client resource by at least one inactive host in a second predetermined share mode in the processor;

means for seeking permission by a client from the at least one active host to share the client resource with the at least one inactive host in the processor;

means for providing a response to the sought permission by at least one active host to the client in the processor;

means for sending a client resource allocation vector to the at least one active host and the at least one newly active host by the client in the processor;

means for allocating a first portion of the client resource to the at least one active host and a second portion of the client resource to the at least one newly active host by the client in the processor; and

means for negotiating the allocation by the at least one active host and the at least one newly active host in the processor.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising a means for allocating a first portion of the client resource to the at least one active host and a second portion of the client resource by the client to the at least one newly active host.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising a means for maintaining an allocation vector.

29. The system of claim 26 further comprising a means for acknowledging the sought permission by the client to the at least one newly active host.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein the provided response comprises a rejection.

31. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one active host, comprises at least one tenant, has a use of a full or partial client resource.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the at least one tenant comprises a member from the group consisting of an exclusive use tenant, a primary tenant, a secondary tenant, a time sliced primary tenant, a time sliced secondary tenant and an equal share tenant.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the at least one active host grants permission to the at least one inactive host, comprising the at least one tenant, to use the full or partial client resource.

34. The system of claim 31 further comprising a means for relinquishing the permission by the at least one tenant.

35. The system of claim 26 further comprising a means for updating the resource allocation vector.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the means for updating is activated at predetermined instances.

37. The system of claim 26 wherein the client resource comprises a display.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the client resource comprises a surface area of the display and a location on the display.

39. The system of claim 26 further comprising a means for reallocating the client resource upon addition or subtraction of active and newly active hosts.

40. The system of claim 39 further comprising a means for notifying the at least one active host of the reallocation by the client.

41. The system of claims 26 wherein the means for granting permission comprises a delayed start for using the client resource.

42. A storage media comprising program instructions which are computer-executable to implement sharing of resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, the storage media comprising:

program instructions to request a client resource by at least one active host in a first predetermined share mode;

program instructions to request the client resource by at least one inactive host in a second predetermined share mode;

program instructions to seek permission by a client from the at least one active host to share the client resource with the at least one inactive host;

program instructions to provide a response to the sought permission by at least one active host to the client;

program instructions to send a client resource allocation vector to the at least one active host and the at least one newly active host by the client;

program instructions to allocate a first portion of the client resource to the at least one active host and a second portion of the client resource to the at least one newly active host by the client; and

program instructions to negotiate the allocation by the at least one active host and the at least one newly active host.

43. The storage media of claim 42 further comprising program instructions to allocate a first portion of the client resource to the at least one active host and a second portion of the client resource to the at least one newly active host by the client.

44. The storage media of claim 43 further comprising program instructions to maintain an allocation vector.

45. The storage media of claim 42 further comprising program instructions to acknowledge the sought permission by the client to the at least one newly active host.

46. The storage media of claim 42 wherein the provided response comprises a rejection.

47. The storage media of claim 42 wherein the at least one active host, comprises at least one tenant, has a use of a full or partial client resource.

48. The storage media of claim 47 wherein the at least one tenant comprises a member from the group consisting of an exclusive use tenant, a primary tenant, a secondary tenant, a time sliced primary tenant, a time sliced secondary tenant and an equal share tenant.

49. The storage media of claim 47 wherein the at least one active host comprises program instructions to grant permission to the at least one inactive host, comprising the at least one tenant, to use the full or partial client resource.

50. The storage media of claim 47 further comprising program instructions for at least one tenant relinquishing the permission.

51. The storage media of claim 42 further comprising program instructions to update the resource allocation vector.

52. The storage media of claim 51 comprising program instructions to update at predetermined instances.

53. The storage media of claim 42 wherein the client resource comprises a display.

54. The storage media of claim 53 wherein the client resource comprises a surface area of the display and a location on the display.

55. The storage media of claim 42 further comprising program instructions to reallocate the client resource upon addition or subtraction of active and newly active hosts.

56. The storage media of claim 55 further comprising program instructions to notify the at least one active host of the reallocation by the client.

57. The storage media of claims 42 wherein the program instructions to grant permission comprises program instructions to provide a delayed start for using the client resource.

58. A method for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

requesting a client resource by a first host in a first predetermined share mode;

requesting the client resource by a next host in a second predetermined share mode;

seeking permission by a client from the first host to share the client resource with the next host;

providing a response to the sought permission by first host to the client;

negotiating an allocation of the client resource by the first host and the next host; and

sending a client resource allocation vector to the first host and the next host by the client.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the step of negotiating comprises negotiating between the first host and the next host brokered through the client.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein the step of negotiating comprises directly negotiating between the first host and the second host.

61. The method of claim 60 comprising the next host acquiring information on the allocated first portion and second portion and acquiring information on the at least one active host.

62. The method of claim 60 further comprising the step of providing an updated allocation vector to the client.

63. A system for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, comprising:

a processor;

means for requesting a client resource by a first host in a first predetermined share mode in the processor;

means for requesting the client resource by a next host in a second predetermined share mode in the processor;

means for seeking permission by a client from the first host to share the client resource with the next host in the processor;

means for providing a response to the sought permission by first host to the client in the processor;

means for negotiating an allocation of the client resource by the first host and the next host in the processor; and

means for sending a client resource allocation vector to the first host and the next host by the client in the processor.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the means for negotiating comprises a means for negotiating between the first host and the next host brokered through the client.

65. The system of claim 63 wherein the means for negotiating comprises directly negotiating between the first host and the second host.

66. The system of claim 65 comprising a means for acquiring information on the allocated first portion and second portion and acquiring information on the at least one active host by the next host.

67. The system of claim 65 further comprising a means for providing an updated allocation vector to the client.

68. A storage media comprising program instructions which are computer-executable to implement sharing of resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, the storage media comprising:

program instructions to request a client resource by a first host in a first predetermined share mode;

program instructions to request the client resource by a next host in a second predetermined share mode;

program instructions to seek permission by a client from the first host to share the client resource with the next host;

program instructions to provide a response to the sought permission by first host to the client;

program instructions to negotiate an allocation of the client resource by the first host and the next host; and

program instructions to send a client resource allocation vector to the first host and the next host by the client.

69. The storage media of claim 68 wherein the program instructions to negotiate comprises program instructions to negotiate between the first host and the next host brokered through the client.

70. The storage media of claim 68 wherein the program instructions to negotiate comprises program instructions to directly negotiate between the first host and the second host.

71. The storage media of claim 70 comprising program instructions to acquire information on the allocated first portion and second portion and acquiring information on the at least one active host by the next host.

72. The storage media of claim 70 further comprising program instructions to provide an updated allocation vector to the client.

73. A method for modifying a share mode of a first active host'"'"'s share in an ad-hoc network, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a request of the modification of the share mode by the first active host to the client; and

sending a response to the request by the client.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein the request comprises an upgrade of the share mode.

75. The method of claim 74 further comprising the step of determining whether a second active host maintains a similar or higher privilege share mode as the requested modified share mode by the client and the response comprises a grant of the request if the second active host does not maintain a similar or higher privilege.

76. The method of claim 75 further comprising the step of the client seeking permission from a second active host to modify the share mode of the active first host.

77. The method of claim 75 further comprising the step of the first active host sending an intent to depart the ad-hoc network and requesting the client nominate another active host to obtain privileges of the first active host and the step of the client assigning the privileges to a second active host.

78. A system for modifying a share mode of a first active host'"'"'s share in an ad-hoc network, comprising:

a processor;

means for sending a request of the modification of the share mode by the first active host to the client in the processor; and

means for sending a response to the request by the client in the processor.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein the request comprises an upgrade of the share mode.

80. The system of claim 79 further comprising a means for determining whether a second active host maintains a similar or higher privilege share mode as the requested modified share mode by the client and the response comprises a grant of the request if the second active host does not maintain a similar or higher privilege.

81. The system of claim 80 further comprising a means for seeking permission by the client from a second active host to modify the share mode of the active first host.

82. The system of claim 80 further comprising a means for the first active host sending an intent to depart the ad-hoc network and a means for requesting the client nominate another active host to obtain privileges of the first active host and a means for the client assigning the privileges to a second active host.

83. A storage media comprising program instructions which are computer-executable to implement a modification of a share mode of a first active host'"'"'s share in an ad-hoc network, the storage media comprising:

program instructions to send a request of the modification of the share mode by the first active host to the client; and

program instructions to send a response to the request by the client.

84. The storage media of claim 83 wherein the request comprises an upgrade of the share mode.

85. The storage media of claim 84 further comprising program instructions to determine whether a second active host maintains a similar or higher privilege share mode as the requested modified share mode by the client and the response comprises a grant of the request if the second active host does not maintain a similar or higher privilege.

86. The storage media of claim 85 further comprising program instructions for the client to seek permission from a second active host to modify the share mode of the active first host.

87. The storage media of claim 85 further comprising program instructions to send an intent to depart the ad-hoc network by the first active host and to request the client nominate another active host to obtain privileges of the first active host and program instructions to assign the privileges to a second active host by the client.