Method and system for operating a multi-room digital video recording system

Abstract

A system and method for allocating tuner resources in a multi-room digital video recording system, wherein the system includes a server device having a plurality of tuners therein and a first client device in communication with the server device and allocated at least a first tuner from the plurality of tuners. A second client in communication client device generates a tuner request. The server device allocates the first tuner to the second user device and communicates a content signal through the first tuner to the second client device.

1 . A method comprising:
 allocating a first tuner of a plurality of tuners to a first client device;   generating a tuner request at the second client device;   communicating the tuner request from the second client device to the server;   reallocating the first tuner to the second client device in response to the tuner request; and   communicating a content signal through the first tuner to the second client device.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein allocating a first tuner of a plurality of tuners comprises allocating the first tuner of the plurality of tuners located within a server device that is in communication with the first client device and the second client device. 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein allocating a first tuner of a plurality of tuners comprises allocating the first tuner of the plurality of tuners located within a satellite signal-receiving server device that is in communication with the first client device and the second client device. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein generating a tuner request comprises a recording request at the second client device. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein generating a tuner request comprises a picture-in-picture request at the second client device. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein generating a tuner request comprises a dual live buffer request at the second client device. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising generating a selection signal at the second client device and communicating the selection signal to the server from the second client device. 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 7  further comprises generating a tuner conflict screen at the second client device and wherein selecting comprises selecting after generating a tuner request. 
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein generating a tuner conflict screen comprises generating the tuner conflict screen comprising a tuner identifier for the plurality of tuners and a tuner status. 
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein generating a tuner conflict screen comprises generating the tuner conflict screen comprising a tuner identifier for the plurality of tuners and a tuner recording status. 
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein generating a selection signal comprises generating the selection signal based on tuner recording status. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein generating a selection signal comprises generating the selection signal based on the tuner conflict screen. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein reallocating comprises automatically reallocating the first tuner based on a priority of the tuner request. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein reallocating comprises automatically reallocating the first tuner based on a least active tuner. 
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising identifying a conflict at the server device based on the tuner request. 
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising identifying a conflict at a resource manager of the server device based on the tuner request. 
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 16  further comprising generating a set of sufficient sets based on the conflict at the resource manager, said set of sufficient sets comprising a solution to the conflict. 
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising sorting the set of sufficient sets at a conflict resolver of the server device to form a sorted set. 
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 18  further comprising communicating the sorted set from the conflicts resolver module to the resource manager, said resource manager reallocating the first tuner based on the sorted set. 
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 19  further comprising communicating the sorted set from the conflicts resolver module to the resource manager, said resource manager generating a tuner activity display based on the sorted set. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 allocating a first tuner of a plurality of tuners to a first client device;   generating a tuner request at the first device;   communicating the tuner request from the first client device to the server;   allocating a second tuner to the first client device; and   communicating a content signals through the first tuner and the second tuner to the first client device.   
     
     
         22 . A method as recited in  claim 21  further comprising generating a second tuner request at a second client device and communicating the second tuner request to the server;
 allocating a third tuner to the second client device in response to the second tuner request. 
 
     
     
         23 . A method as recited in  claim 22  further comprising recording content at the server using the third tuner. 
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 21  wherein allocating a first tuner of a plurality of tuners comprises allocating the first tuner of the plurality of tuners located within a server device that is in communication with the first client device and a second client device. 
     
     
         25 . A method as recited in  claim 21  wherein allocating a first tuner of a plurality of tuners comprises allocating the first tuner of the plurality of tuners located within a satellite signal-receiving server device that is in communication with the first client device and a second client device. 
     
     
         26 . A method as recited in  claim 21  wherein generating a tuner request comprises a recording request. 
     
     
         27 . A method as recited in  claim 21  wherein generating a tuner request comprises a picture-in-picture request at the first client device. 
     
     
         28 . A method as recited in  claim 21  wherein generating a tuner request comprises a dual live buffer request at the first client device. 
     
     
         29 . A method as recited in  claim 21  further comprising generating a selection signal at the first client device and communicating the selection signal to the server. 
     
     
         30 . A method as recited in  claim 29  further comprises generating a tuner conflict screen at the first client device and wherein selecting comprises selecting after generating a tuner request. 
     
     
         31 . A method as recited in  claim 30  wherein generating a tuner conflict screen comprises generating a tuner conflict screen comprising a tuner identifier for the plurality of tuners and a tuner status. 
     
     
         32 . A method as recited in  claim 30  wherein generating a tuner conflict screen comprises generating a tuner conflict screen comprising a tuner identifier for the plurality of tuners and a tuner recording status. 
     
     
         33 . A method as recited in  claim 30  wherein generating a selection signal comprises generating the selection signal based on tuner recording status. 
     
     
         34 . A method as recited in  claim 30  wherein generating a selection signal comprises generating the selection signal based on the tuner conflict screen. 
     
     
         35 . A method as recited in  claim 21  wherein allocating comprises automatically allocating the second tuner based on a priority of the tuner request. 
     
     
         36 . A method as recited in  claim 21  wherein allocating comprises automatically allocating the second tuner based on a least active tuner. 
     
     
         37 . A method as recited in  claim 21  further comprising identifying a conflict at the server device based on the tuner request. 
     
     
         38 . A method as recited in  claim 21  further comprising identifying a conflict at a resource manager of the server device based on the tuner request. 
     
     
         39 . A method as recited in  claim 38  further comprising generating a set of sufficient sets based on the conflict at the resource manager, said set of sufficient sets comprising a solution to the conflict. 
     
     
         40 . A method as recited in  claim 39  further comprising sorting the sufficient sets at a conflict resolver of the server device to form a sorted set. 
     
     
         41 . A method as recited in  claim 40  further comprising communicating the sorted set from the conflicts resolver module to the resource manager, said resource manager allocating the second tuner based on the sorted set. 
     
     
         42 . A method as recited in  claim 41  further comprising communicating the sorted set from the conflicts resolver module to the resource manager, said resource manager generating a tuner activity display based on the sorted set. 
     
     
         43 . A system comprising:
 a server device having a plurality of tuners therein;   a first client device in communication with the server device and allocated at least a first tuner from the plurality of tuners; and   a second client in communication with the server that generates a tuner request;   said server device allocating the first tuner to the second user device and communicating a content signal through the first tuner to the second client device.   
     
     
         44 . A system as recited in  claim 43  wherein the sever device comprises a satellite signal-receiving server device that is in communication with the first client device and the second client device. 
     
     
         45 . A system as recited in  claim 43  wherein the tuner request comprises a recording request. 
     
     
         46 . A system as recited in  claim 43  wherein the tuner request comprises a picture-in-picture request. 
     
     
         47 . A system as recited in  claim 43  wherein the tuner request comprises a dual live buffer request. 
     
     
         48 . A system as recited in  claim 43  wherein the second client device generates a selection signal and communicates the selection signal to the server. 
     
     
         49 . A system as recited in  claim 48  wherein the second client device generates a tuner conflict screen. 
     
     
         50 . A system as recited in  claim 49  wherein the tuner conflict screen comprises a tuner identifier for the plurality of tuners and a tuner status. 
     
     
         51 . A system as recited in  claim 49  wherein the tuner conflict screen comprises a tuner identifier for the plurality of tuners and a tuner recording status. 
     
     
         52 . A system as recited in  claim 49  wherein the selection signal is based on tuner recording status. 
     
     
         53 . A system as recited in  claim 49  wherein the selection signal is based on the tuner conflict screen. 
     
     
         54 . A system as recited in  claim 49  wherein the server identifies a conflict based on the tuner request. 
     
     
         55 . A system as recited in  claim 54  wherein the server comprises a resource manager identifying the conflict based on the tuner request. 
     
     
         56 . A system as recited in  claim 55  wherein the resource manager generates a set of sufficient sets based on the conflict, said set of sufficient sets comprising a solution to the conflict. 
     
     
         57 . A system as recited in  claim 56  further comprising a conflict resolver forming a sorted set from the set of sufficient set. 
     
     
         58 . A system as recited in  claim 57  wherein said resource manager reallocates the first tuner based on the sorted set. 
     
     
         59 . A system as recited in  claim 58  wherein said resource manager generates a tuner activity display based on the sorted set. 
     
     
         60 . A system comprising:
 a server device having a plurality of tuners therein;   a first client device in communication with the server and allocated at least a first tuner from the plurality of tuners; and   said first client generating a tuner request;   said server allocating at least a second tuner from the plurality of tuners in response to the tuner request;   said server communicating a content signals through the first tuner and the second tuner to the first client device.   
     
     
         61 . A system as recited in  claim 60  further comprising a second client device generating a second tuner request and communicating the second tuner request to the server; said sever allocating a third tuner to the second client device in response to the second tuner request. 
     
     
         62 . A system as recited in  claim 60  wherein the tuner request comprises a recording request. 
     
     
         63 . A system as recited in  claim 60  wherein the tuner request comprises a picture-in-picture request at the first client device. 
     
     
         64 . A system as recited in  claim 60  wherein the tuner request comprises a dual live buffer request at the first client device. 
     
     
         65 . A system as recited in  claim 60  wherein the first client device generates a selection signal and communicating the selection signal to the server. 
     
     
         66 . A system as recited in  claim 65  wherein the selection signal is based on tuner recording status. 
     
     
         67 . A system as recited in  claim 65  wherein the selection signal is based on the tuner conflict screen. 
     
     
         68 . A system as recited in  claim 65  wherein the server identifies a conflict at the based on the tuner request. 
     
     
         69 . A system as recited in  claim 68  wherein the server comprises a resource manager identifying the conflict based on the tuner request. 
     
     
         70 . A system as recited in  claim 69  wherein the resource manager generates a set of sufficient sets based on the conflict, said set of sufficient sets comprising a solution to the conflict. 
     
     
         71 . A system as recited in  claim 70  further comprising a conflict resolver forming a sorted set from the set of sufficient set. 
     
     
         72 . A system as recited in  claim 71  wherein said resource manager allocates the second tuner based on the sorted set. 
     
     
         73 . A system as recited in  claim 72  wherein said resource manager generates a tuner activity display based on the sorted set.