Resource sharing system of set-top boxes

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.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for using a network of user devices, the method comprising:
 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.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the one of receiving and storing the media asset comprises storing a transmission of the media asset. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the resource comprises a tuner. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the resource comprises sufficient storage space to store the media asset. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising determining that the queried user device is inactive if a display associated with the user device is OFF. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising determining that the queried user device is inactive if no user input was received by the queried user device within an amount of time. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising determining that the queried user device is inactive if a user of the queried user device has given permission for the queried user device to perform the at least one of receiving and storing the media asset. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising determining that the resource is available at the queried user device if the queried user device is inactive. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein causing the one of the plurality of user devices to perform the at least one of receiving and storing the media asset comprises causing the one of the plurality of user devices to receive the media asset from a remote source that is not directly connected to the network. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein causing the one of the plurality of user devices to perform the at least one of receiving and storing the media asset comprises causing the one of the plurality of user devices to receive the media asset with a first receiver, and wherein the one of the plurality of user devices is coupled to the network over a second receiver. 
     
     
         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. 
   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the one of receiving and storing the media asset comprises storing a transmission of the media asset. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the resource comprises a tuner. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the resource comprises sufficient storage space to store the media asset. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the queried user device is inactive if a display associated with the user device is OFF. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the queried user device is inactive if no user input was received by the queried user device within an amount of time. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the queried user device is inactive if a user of the queried user device has given permission for the queried user device to perform the at least one of receiving and storing the media asset. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the resource is available at the queried user device if the queried user device is inactive. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the one of the plurality of user devices to perform the at least one of receiving and storing the media asset by being configured to cause the one of the plurality of user devices to receive the media asset from a remote source that is not directly connected to the network. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the one of the plurality of user devices to perform the at least one of receiving and storing the media asset by being configured to cause the one of the plurality of user devices to receive the media asset with a first receiver, and wherein the one of the plurality of user devices is coupled to the network over a second receiver.