Method to enable cooperative processing and resource sharing between set-top boxes, personal computers, and local devices
First Claim
1. A local video device, comprising:
- a processor for determining whether the local video device has a resource that is available to perform a task, and if the local video device does not have the resource, for causing a communications element to communicate with a local device to transmit a resource request to the local device; and
the communications element for communicating with the local device via a local transmission medium.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method enables a set-top box to share the processing, communications, and storage resources of another local device, such as a personal computer, other set-top box, or an electronic appliance. The set-top box is interconnected with the other local devices using a “transmission medium such as wire, concentric cable, or a wireless medium. The interconnected devices form a resource sharing group that includes a control member. The control member receives a request for a resource from a requesting member, and then determines whether the resource is available from a set-top box that is a member of the resource sharing group. If the resource is available, the set-top box shares the resource, and uses the shared resource to perform a task. The system and method also enables members of the resource sharing group to share video, audio, and related content.
182 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A local video device, comprising:
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a processor for determining whether the local video device has a resource that is available to perform a task, and if the local video device does not have the resource, for causing a communications element to communicate with a local device to transmit a resource request to the local device; and
the communications element for communicating with the local device via a local transmission medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A resource sharing group having a plurality of members, each member being adapted to communicate with at least one other member, the resource sharing group comprising:
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a local transmission medium for interconnecting the members of the resource sharing group;
a local video device for transmitting a resource request to a control member; and
the control member for, upon receiving the resource request, determining whether a resource is available from a member of the resource sharing group, and for transmitting a response to the local video device, the response indicating whether the resource is available. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of resource sharing for a local video device, comprising:
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receiving instructions to perform a task;
determining whether the local video device has sufficient resources available to perform the task;
if the local video device does not have sufficient resources available to perform the task, querying a first local device to determine whether a second shared resource is available; and
if the second shared resource is available, sharing the second shared resource so that the local video device uses the shared resource to perform the task. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for resource sharing by a plurality of members of a resource sharing group, the resource sharing group including a control member and a local video device, the method comprising:
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transmitting a resource request from a requesting member to the control member;
upon receiving the resource request, determining, using the control member, whether a resource is available from a member of the resource sharing group;
if the resource is available, then transmitting a response from the control member to the requesting member indicating that the resource is available; and
sharing the resource by the requesting member. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification