Sharing video recording resources over a network
View Patent ↗A method of sharing recording capability on a network, the network having a server supporting at least a recording DVR and a receiving DVR, the recording and receiving DVRs being in different households, the method comprising: (a) determining that the receiving DVR is unable to record the content at a certain time; and (b) identifying that the recording DVR is able to provide the receiving DVR with a recording of the content; (c) recording the content on the recording DVR at the certain time; and (d) transmitting the content from the recording DVR to the receiving DVR after the certain time.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a recording digital video recorder (DVR), one or more commands identifying particular content recorded on the recording DVR, identifying a receiving DVR, and requesting that the particular content be offered to the receiving DVR;
offering, in response to the one or more commands, the particular content to the receiving DVR;
determining that the receiving DVR has sufficient storage space available for storing the particular content;
transmitting the particular content from the recording DVR in response to determining that the receiving DVR has sufficient storage space available; and
screening an identity of a user associated with the recording DVR from a user associated with the receiving DVR.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising;
receiving, at the recording DVR, authorization from the receiving DVR in response to the offering the particular content.
3. A method comprising:
receiving, at a recording digital video recorder (DVR), an identification of content recorded on the recording DVR;
identifying a receiving DVR;
offering the content to the receiving DVR;
determining that the receiving DVR does not have sufficient storage space available for storing the content;
transmitting the content from the recording DVR to a server in response to the determining; and
allowing a user at the recording DVR to remain anonymous to a user at the receiving DVR.
4. A method comprising:
receiving, by a first DVR, a first user's request to record a video program;
determining that the first DVR has insufficient storage space to store the video program;
transmitting, by the first DVR to a second DVR, a request to store the video program, the second DVR being affiliated with a second user, the second user being unassociated with the first user;
receiving, by the first DVR, confirmation that the second DVR has sufficient storage space to store the video program; and
receiving, by the second DVR, the video program for storage,
wherein the second DVR hides from the second user an identity of the first user.
5. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
screening, by the second DVR, from the second user, that the video program is stored on the second DVR.
6. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
screening, by the second DVR, from the second user information about a stored copy of the video program on the second DVR.
7. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
storing, by the second DVR, a copy of the video program; and
inhibiting access to the stored copy of the video program by the second user.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second DVR hiding from the second user the identity of the first user comprises screening an association between the first user and the video program.
9. The method of claim 3 , wherein the server supports two or more subnets.
10. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
screening, by the receiving DVR, from the user associated with the receiving DVR, that the particular content is stored on the receiving DVR.
11. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
screening, by the receiving DVR, from the user associated with the receiving DVR, information about a stored copy of the particular content on the receiving DVR.
12. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
storing, by the receiving DVR, a copy of the particular content; and
inhibiting access to the stored copy of the particular content by the user associated with the receiving DVR.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the screening the identity of the user associated with the recording DVR comprises screening an association between the user associated with the recording DVR and the particular content.
14. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
receiving, at the recording DVR, authorization from the server to transmit the content.
15. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
storing, by the server, a copy of the content.
16. The method of claim 3 , wherein the allowing the user at the recording DVR to remain anonymous comprises screening an association between the user at the recording DVR and the content.
17. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
sending, to the receiving DVR, a request for the particular content; and
receiving the particular content in response to the request.
18. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
sending, to the server, a request for the content; and
receiving the content in response to the request.
19. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
sending, to the second DVR, a request for the video program; and
receiving the video program in response to the request.
20. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
determining a plurality of interconnections between the recording DVR and corresponding ones of a plurality of DVRs, wherein the plurality of DVRs comprises the receiving DVR; and
selecting the receiving DVR based on the receiving DVR having a shortest interconnection of the plurality of interconnections.
21. The method of claim 4 , comprising:
determining a plurality of interconnections between the first DVR and corresponding ones of a plurality of DVRs, wherein the plurality of DVRs comprises the second DVR; and
selecting the second DVR based on the second DVR having a shortest interconnection of the plurality of interconnections.
22. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
deleting the particular content from the recording DVR after the particular content is transmitted to the receiving DVR.