Method and system for allowing multiple receiving units in a network to record the same content while minimizing network resource use

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 plurality of recording requests from a first group of the plurality of receiving units;

communicating the recording requests through the network;

determining whether the recording requests are redundant;

when recording requests are redundant, selecting a first receiving unit of the first group to record content corresponding to the request;

storing the content in a first memory of the first receiving unit;

communicating a do-not record signal to the first group except the first receiving unit;

forming a selection for the content at the second receiving unit;

communicating the selection from the second receiving unit to the first receiving unit;

streaming the content to the second receiving unit through the network; and

displaying the content on a display associated with the second receiving unit.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first group is less than the plurality of receiving units.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first group comprises the plurality of receiving units.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein after recording the content in the first receiving unit communicating a list to the second receiving unit and wherein forming a selection comprises forming a selection from the list.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising storing the content in a second memory of the second receiving unit.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 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.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to storing the content in the first memory, receiving content from a satellite at the first receiving unit.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to storing the content in the first memory, receiving content from a terrestrial source at the first receiving unit.

9. 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.

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 stationary receiving unit and the second receiving unit being a mobile receiving unit.

11. 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.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a network includes forming a wireless network.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a network includes forming a wired network.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. A system comprising:

a network having a plurality of receiving units generating a plurality of recording requests for content and communicating the recording requests through the network;

a first receiving unit of the plurality of receiving units, said first receiving unit selected by the network to record content corresponding to the request in a first memory and storing the content in a first memory of the first receiving unit;

said network communicating a do-not record signal to the plurality of receiving units except the first receiving unit;

a second receiving unit of the plurality of receiving units forming a selection for the content and communicating the selection to the first receiving unit;

said first receiving unit streaming the content to the second receiving unit through the network; and

said second receiving unit displaying the content on a display associated with the second receiving unit.

17. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein a second memory of the second receiving unit stores the content.

18. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the first memory comprises a first digital video recorder and wherein the second memory comprises a second digital video recorder.

19. A system as recited in claim 16 further comprising a satellite communicating the content to the first receiving unit.

20. A system as recited in claim 16 further comprising a terrestrial source communicating the content to the first receiving unit.

21. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the network is disposed within one building.

22. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the first receiving unit comprises a stationary receiving unit and the second receiving unit comprises a mobile receiving unit.

23. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the first receiving unit comprises a mobile receiving unit and the second receiving unit comprises a stationary receiving unit.

24. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the network comprises a wireless network.

25. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the network comprises a wired network.

26. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the network comprises a plurality of receiving units in communication with a server.

27. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the plurality of receiving units comprises satellite receiving units.