Method and system for arbitrating recording requests from multiple receiving units in a network to receive the same content

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 or tuning requests for content from a first group of the plurality of receiving units;

communicating the recording or tuning requests through the network;

selecting a first receiving unit of the first group to receive content corresponding to the request;

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

preventing the first group except the first receiving unit from recording the content in response to the do-not-record signal;

receiving the content at the first receiving unit;

immediately after receiving the content at the first receiving unit, streaming the content to the network from the first receiving unit; and

receiving the content at the second receiving unit.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying the content on displays associated with the first group.

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

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

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

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

7. 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.

8. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein prior to storing the content in the first memory, receiving content from a satellite at the first receiving unit.

9. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein prior to storing the content in the first memory, receiving content from a terrestrial source at the first receiving unit.

10. 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.

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

12. 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.

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

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

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a network includes forming the network with the plurality of receiving units in communication with a server.

16. 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.

17. A method comprising:

forming a network having a plurality of receiving units including a first receiving unit and a second receiving unit;

generating a first recording request or tuning request for content at a first receiving unit;

communicating the first recording request or tuning request to the plurality of receiving units through the network;

generating a second recording request or tuning request for the content at a second receiving unit;

communicating the second recording request or tuning request to the plurality of receiving units through the network;

tuning only the first receiving unit to receive the content;

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

preventing the plurality of receiving units except the first receiving unit from recording the content in response to the do-not-record signal;

receiving the content at the first receiving unit;

immediately after receiving the content at the first receiving unit, streaming the content to the network from the first receiving unit; and

receiving the content at the second receiving unit.

18. A system comprising:

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

a first receiving unit of the plurality of receiving units, said first receiving unit selected by the network to receive content corresponding to the request and immediately streaming the content to the network; and

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

said plurality of receiving units prevented from recording the content in response to the do-not-record signal;

a second receiving unit receiving the content from the network.

19. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein a second memory of the second receiving unit stores the content.

20. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the second memory comprises a second digital video recorder.

21. A system as recited in claim 18 further comprising a satellite communicating the content to the first receiving unit.

22. A system as recited in claim 18 further comprising a terrestrial source communicating the content to the first receiving unit.

23. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the network is disposed within one building.

24. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the first receiving unit comprises a stationary receiving unit and the second receiving unit comprises a mobile receiving unit.

25. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the first receiving unit comprises a mobile receiving unit and the second receiving unit comprises a stationary receiving unit.

26. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the network comprises a wireless network.

27. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the network comprises a wired network.

28. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the network comprises a plurality of receiving units in communication with a server.

29. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the plurality of receiving units comprises satellite receiving units.