Resource sharing system of set-top boxes
US8528015B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 19, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/47214
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.