RESOURCE SHARING SYSTEM OF SET-TOP BOXES
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a resource sharing system of set-top boxes. The set-top boxes are arranged in a network. The resources of each set-top box in the network are potentially available to another set-top box in the network that has run out of resources. When a user needs a tuner resource, the set-top box determines if it has a local tuner available. If not, the set-top box attempts to use the tuner of another set-top box in the network. In one embodiment all of the tuners in the network are pooled together and used as a global resource of tuners for all of the set-tops. Alternatively, if a set-top box runs out of resource space on a storage device, it attempts to use the storage device on another set-top box before deleting shows locally to make room for the new show.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1-27. -27. (canceled)
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28. A method for using a network of user devices, the method comprising:
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receiving a user request to perform at least one of receiving and storing a media asset, wherein performing the at least one of receiving and storing the media asset requires a resource; querying each of a plurality of user devices coupled to the network to determine; whether the queried user device is inactive; and whether the resource is available at the queried user device; and if one of the plurality of user devices is inactive and the resource is available at the one user device, causing the one of the plurality of user devices to perform the at least one of receiving and storing the media asset. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for using a network of user devices, the system comprising:
a processor configured to; receive a user request to perform at least one of receiving and storing a media asset, wherein performing the at least one of receiving and storing the media asset requires a resource; query each of a plurality of user devices coupled to the network to determine; whether the queried user device is inactive; and whether the resource is available at the queried user device; and if one of the plurality of user devices is inactive and the resource is available at the one of the plurality of user devices, cause the one of the plurality of user devices to perform the at least one of receiving and storing the media asset. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
Specification