Dynamic resource sharing among multiple wireless devices

• US 9,398,089 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sheth, Soham V., Soliman, Samir, Trando, Huey
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PELING ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US12/333,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20100153553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,777 Days
• Field of Search: 709225-226, 709/229, 709/248, 707/999.008, 707/999.009, 707/999.201, 710/200
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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:

establishing a shared session;

receiving a request to share a client resource from at least one active host in a first predetermined share mode;

receiving a request to share the client resource from at least one inactive host in a second predetermined share mode;

requesting permission from the at least one active host to share the client resource with the at least one inactive host;

receiving a response to the request for permission from the at least one active host;

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

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; and

negotiating the allocation with the at least one active host and the at least one newly active host, wherein the step of negotiating further comprises transferring of permissions and preferences.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the client resource allocation vector.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising acknowledging the response to the at least one active host.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the response comprises a rejection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one active host, comprising at least one tenant, has a use of a full or partial client resource.

6. The method of claim 5, 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.

7. The method of claim 5, 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.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one tenant relinquishes the permission.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the resource allocation vector.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the updating occurs at predetermined instances.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the client resource comprises a display.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the client resource comprises a surface area of the display and a location on the display.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising reallocating the client resource upon addition or subtraction of active and newly active hosts.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising notifying the at least one active host of the reallocation.

15. The method of claims 1, wherein the response comprises a delayed start for using the client resource.

16. An apparatus for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, comprising:

means for establishing a shared session;

means for receiving a request to share a client resource from at least one active host in a first predetermined share mode;

means for receiving a request to share the client resource from at least one inactive host in a second predetermined share mode;

means for requesting permission from the at least one active host to share the client resource with the at least one inactive host;

means for receiving a response to the request for permission from the at least one active host;

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

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; and

means for negotiating the allocation with the at least one active host and the at least one newly active host, wherein the means for negotiating further comprises means for transferring of permissions and preferences.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a means for maintaining an allocation vector.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a means for a acknowledging the sought permission to the at least one active host.

19. The system apparatus of claim 16, wherein the response comprises a rejection.

20. The system apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one active host, comprising at least one tenant, has a use of a full or partial client resource.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, 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.

22. The system apparatus of claim 20, 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.

23. The system apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one tenant relinquishes the permission.

24. The system apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a means for updating the resource allocation vector.

25. The system apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for updating is activated at predetermined instances.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the client resource comprises a display.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the client resource comprises a surface area of the display and a location on the display.

28. The system of claim 16, further comprising a means for reallocating the client resource upon addition or subtraction of active and newly active hosts.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising a means for notifying the at least one active host of the reallocation.

30. The system of claims 16, wherein the response comprises a delayed start for using the client resource.

31. A non-transitory 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 establish a shared session;

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

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

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

program instructions to receive a response to the request for permission from the at least one active host;

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

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; and

program instructions to negotiate the allocation with the at least one active host and the at least one newly active host, wherein the program instructions to negotiate further comprise program instructions to transfer permissions and preferences.

32. The storage media of claim 31, further comprising program instructions to maintain an allocation vector.

33. The storage media of claim 31, further comprising program instructions to acknowledge the response to the at least one active host.

34. The storage media of claim 31, wherein the response comprises a rejection.

35. The storage media of claim 31, wherein the at least one active host, comprising at least one tenant, has a use of a full or partial client resource.

36. The storage media of claim 35, 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.

37. The storage media of claim 35, 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.

38. The storage media of claim 35, wherein the at least one tenant relinquishes the permission.

39. The storage media of claim 31, further comprising program instructions to update the resource allocation vector.

40. The storage media of claim 39, further comprising program instructions to update the resource allocation vector at predetermined instances.

41. The storage media of claim 31, wherein the client resource comprises a display.

42. The storage media of claim 41, wherein the client resource comprises a surface area of the display and a location on the display.

43. The storage media of claim 31, further comprising program instructions to reallocate the client resource upon addition or subtraction of active and newly active hosts.

44. The storage media of claim 43, further comprising program instructions to notify the at least one active host of the reallocation.

45. The storage media of claims 31, wherein the response comprises a delayed start for using the client resource.

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

establishing a shared session;

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

receiving a request for permission from the client to share the client resource with a next host;

providing a response to the request for permission to the client;

negotiating an allocation of the client resource with the next host, wherein the negotiating further comprises transferring of permissions and preferences; and

receiving a client resource allocation vector from the client.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the negotiating comprises negotiating between the first host and the next host brokered through the client.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the negotiating comprises directly negotiating between the first host and the next host.

49. The method of claim 48, comprising sending information on the allocated first portion and the first host to the next host.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising the providing an updated allocation vector to the client.

57. The storage media of claim 46, wherein the program instructions to negotiate comprise program instructions to negotiate between the first host and the next host brokered through the client.

58. The storage media of claim 46, wherein the program instructions to negotiate comprise program instructions to directly negotiate between the first host and the next host.

59. The storage media of claim 58, comprising program instructions to send information on the allocated first portion and the first host to the next host.

60. The storage media of claim 58, further comprising program instructions to provide an updated allocation vector to the client.

51. An apparatus for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, comprising:

means for establishing a shared session;

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

means for receiving a request for permission from the client to share the client resource with a next host;

means for providing a response to the request for permission to the client;

means for negotiating an allocation of the client resource with the next host, wherein the means for negotiating further comprises a means for transferring of permissions and preferences; and

means for receiving a client resource allocation vector from the client.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for negotiating comprises a means for negotiating between the first host and the next host brokered through the client.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for negotiating comprises a means for directly negotiating between the first host and the next host.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising a means for sending information on the allocated first portion and the first host to the next host.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising a means for providing an updated allocation vector to the client.

56. A non-transitory 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 establish a shared session;

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

program instructions to receive a request for permission from the client to share the client resource with a next host;

program instructions to provide a response to the request for permission to the client;

program instructions to negotiate an allocation of the client resource with the next host, wherein the program instructions to negotiate further comprise program instructions to transfer permissions and preferences; and

program instructions to receive a client resource allocation vector from the client.

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

requesting a client resource from a client in a first predetermined share mode, wherein at least a first portion of the client resource is allocated to at least one active host;

negotiating an allocation of the client resource, wherein the step of negotiating further comprises transferring of permissions and preferences;

receiving an allocation of a second portion of the client resource from the client; and

receiving a client resource allocation vector from the client.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the negotiating comprises negotiating with the at least one active host brokered through the client.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the negotiating comprises directly negotiating with the at least one active host.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising acquiring information on the allocated first portion, the second portion, and the at least one active host.

65. An apparatus for sharing resources among at least two devices in a digital communication system, comprising:

means for requesting a client resource from a client in a first predetermined share mode, wherein at least a first portion of the client resource is allocated to at least one active host;

means for negotiating an allocation of the client resource, wherein the step of negotiating further comprises transferring of permissions and preferences;

means for receiving an allocation of a second portion of the client resource from the client; and

means for receiving a client resource allocation vector from the client.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the means for negotiating comprises means for negotiating with the at least one active host brokered through the client.

67. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the means for negotiating comprises means for directly negotiating with the at least one active host.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for acquiring information on the allocated first portion, the second portion, and the at least one active host.

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

program instructions to request a client resource in a first predetermined share mode, wherein at least a first portion of the client resource is allocated to at least one active host;

program instructions to negotiate an allocation of the client resource, wherein the step of negotiating further comprises transferring of permissions and preferences;

program instructions to receive an allocation of a second portion of the client resource from the client; and

program instructions to receive a client resource allocation vector from the client.

70. The storage media of claim 69, wherein the program instructions to negotiate comprise program instructions to negotiate with the at least one active host brokered through the client.

71. The storage media of claim 69, wherein the program instructions to negotiate comprise program instructions to directly negotiate with the at least one active host.

72. The computer-readable storage media of claim 71, further comprising program instructions to acquire information on the allocated first portion, the second portion, and the at least one active host.