Method and system of using idle receiving unit resources for receiving content and communicating the content to other receiving units in the network

Abstract

A method and system for providing content includes a network having a plurality of receiving units. The system further includes a first receiving unit of the plurality of receiving units that forms a recording request, when the first receiving unit includes unavailable resources and communicates the recording request through the network. A second receiving unit receives the request and stores content in a second memory corresponding to the request and communicates the content to the first receiving unit.

1 . A method comprising:
 forming a network having a plurality of receiving units including a first receiving unit and a second receiving unit;   generating a recording request at the first receiving unit;   when the first receiving unit includes unavailable resources, communicating the recording request through the network; and   storing content in a second memory corresponding to the request at the second receiving unit in response to the request.   
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising when the first receiving unit becomes available, communicating the content from the second receiving unit to the first receiving unit through the network. 
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 2  further comprising storing the content in a first memory of the first receiving unit. 
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 3  wherein storing the content in a first memory comprises storing content in a first digital video recorder and wherein storing the content in a second memory of the second receiving unit comprises storing the content in a second digital video recorder. 
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising displaying the content on a display associated with the second receiving unit. 
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein prior to storing content in the second memory, receiving content from a satellite at the second receiving unit. 
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein prior to storing content in a second memory, receiving content from a terrestrial source at the second receiving unit. 
   
   
       8 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein forming a network includes forming the network having the plurality of receiving units disposed within one building. 
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein forming a network having a plurality of receiving units including a first receiving unit and a second receiving unit comprises forming a network having the first receiving unit being a stationary receiving unit and the second receiving unit being a mobile receiving unit. 
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein forming a network having a plurality of receiving units including a first receiving unit and a second receiving unit comprises forming a network having the first receiving unit being a mobile receiving unit and the second receiving unit being a stationary receiving unit. 
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein forming a network includes forming a wireless network. 
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein forming a network includes forming a wired network. 
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein forming a network includes forming the network with a plurality of receiving units in communication with a server. 
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein forming a network having a plurality of receiving units comprises forming the network having the plurality of receiving units being satellite receiving units. 
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first memory of the first receiving unit comprises a digital video recorder. 
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising communicating content to a receiving unit through a satellite network and storing the content at the service provider. 
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein storing content in a second memory comprises storing a first portion of content in a second memory and a second portion of content in a third memory of a third receiving unit. 
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising communicating the first portion and second portion to the first receiving unit. 
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising prior to storing, receiving content at a third receiving unit, streaming the content to the first receiving unit. 
   
   
       20 . A system comprising:
 a network having a plurality of receiving units;   a first receiving unit of the plurality of receiving units, said first receiving unit forming a recording request, when the first receiving unit includes unavailable resources, communicating the recording request through the network;   a second receiving unit receiving the request and storing content in a second memory corresponding to the request and communicating the content to the first receiving unit.   
   
   
       21 . A system as recited in  claim 20  wherein a second memory of the second receiving unit stores the content. 
   
   
       22 . A system as recited in  claim 21  wherein the first memory comprises a first digital video recorder and wherein the second memory comprises a second digital video recorder. 
   
   
       23 . A system as recited in  claim 20  further comprising displaying the content on a display associated with the second receiving unit. 
   
   
       24 . A system as recited in  claim 20  further comprising a satellite communicating the content to the second receiving unit. 
   
   
       25 . A system as recited in  claim 20  further comprising a terrestrial source communicating the content to the second receiving unit. 
   
   
       26 . A system as recited in  claim 20  wherein the network is disposed within one building. 
   
   
       27 . A system as recited in  claim 20  wherein the first receiving unit comprises a stationary receiving unit and the second receiving unit comprises a mobile receiving unit. 
   
   
       28 . A system as recited in  claim 20  wherein the first receiving unit comprises a mobile receiving unit and the second receiving unit comprises a stationary receiving unit. 
   
   
       29 . A system as recited in  claim 20  wherein the network comprises a wireless network. 
   
   
       30 . A system as recited in  claim 20  wherein the network comprises a wired network. 
   
   
       31 . A system as recited in  claim 20  wherein the network comprises a plurality of receiving units in communication with a server. 
   
   
       32 . A system as recited in  claim 20  wherein the plurality of receiving units comprises satellite receiving units. 
   
   
       33 . A system comprising:
 a network having a plurality of receiving units;   a first receiving unit of the plurality of receiving units, said first receiving unit forming a recording request, when the first receiving unit includes unavailable resources, communicating the recording request through the network;   a second receiving unit having a first available resource; and   a third receiving unit having a second available resource different than the first available resource, said first available resource in combination with the second available resource storing the content in memory.   
   
   
       34 . A system as recited in  claim 33  wherein the first available resource is a tuner, and the second available resource is a storage device. 
   
   
       35 . A system as recited in  claim 33  wherein the recording request comprises sub-requests such as a request to receive the data stream, a request to process the data stream or a request to store the processed data stream to memory. 
   
   
       36 . A request as recited in  claim 33  wherein the sub-requests are independently serviced and reconciled by the plurality of receiving units, the receiving units forming a processing chain for taking the output from another of the plurality of receiving units and communicating a resultant output to another of the plurality of receiving units.