Dynamically configurable chameleon device
AssigneeRovi Technologies Corporation
InventorMichael Patrick Chrabaszcz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dynamically configurable apparatus and methods for dynamically configuring the apparatus are provided. A list of resources available to the apparatus may be identified and communicated to a server computer and a list of functionalities performable by the apparatus, based on the list of resources, may be received from the server computer. A user selects one or more functionalities from the list of functionalities. The server computer may provide the apparatus with additional resources based on the selected functionalities. The apparatus preferably configures itself to perform the selected functionalities by using the additional resources. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- dynamically identifying a list of resources available to an apparatus;
- in response to the identification,
- communicating the list of resources to a server computer;
- obtaining from the server computer a list of functionalities performable by the apparatus based on the list of resources;
- receiving from a user a selection from the list of functionalities;
- receiving from the server computer additional resources based on the selection;
- and
- configuring the apparatus to perform selected functionalities by using the additional resources.
An apparatus comprising:
- an identification module to dynamically identify a list of resources available to the apparatus;
- a network interface device to communicate to a server computer the list of resources;
- the network interface device to receive from the server computer a list of functionalities performable by the apparatus based on the list of resources;
- a user interface device to receive from a user a selection from the list of functionalities;
- the network interface device to receive from the server computer additional resources based on the selection;
- and
- a configuration module to configure the apparatus to perform selected functionalities by using the additional resources.
A method comprising:
- at a server computer,
- receiving from an apparatus, over a network, a list of identified resources available to the apparatus;
- providing to the apparatus a list of functionalities performable by the apparatus based on the list of identified resources;
- receiving from the apparatus a user selection from the list of functionalities;
- and
- providing the apparatus with additional resources based on the user selection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.