Resource manager for clients in an information distribution system

A method, comprising:

• determining whether a resource allocation request associated with a requesting application conflicts with at least one of existing and proposed resource allocations associated with at least one other application, the resource allocation request comprising a request for all of the resources needed by the requesting application, the applications running at a set top box;
• and
• if a conflict exists, resolving the conflict in favor of at least one of the resource allocation request, existing resource allocation, and proposed resource allocation;
• wherein the resolving step comprises invoking a conflict handler that is part of the requesting application or the other application, and wherein the requested resources comprises at least one of a video resource, an audio resource, and a tuner resource.

A method performed by an application programming interface (API) within a middleware environment of a client device, the method comprising:

• receiving a resource allocation request associated with a first application that will use the resource, the application running at a set top box;
• identifying all resources required to complete the resource allocation request;
• if there is a conflict between the received resource allocation request and a contending resource allocation request associated with a second application, determining which resource allocation request is to be satisfied;
• and
• if the received resource allocation request is to be satisfied, acquiring all the identified resources,
• wherein the determining step comprises invoking a conflict handler that is part of one of the first application and the second application, and wherein the requested resources comprises at least one of a video resource, an audio resource, and a tuner resource.

A memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, perform:

• receiving a resource allocation request associated with an application that will use the resource, the application running at a set top box;
• identifying all resources required to complete the resource allocation request;
• if there is a conflict between the received resource allocation request and a contending resource allocation request associated with a second application, determining which resource allocation request is to be satisfied;
• and
• if the received resource allocation request is to be satisfied, acquiring all the identified resources,
• wherein the determining step comprises invoking a conflict handler that is part of the application running at the set top box, and wherein the requested resources comprises at least one of a video resource, an audio resource, and a tuner resource.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform:
• receiving a resource allocation request associated with an application that will use the resource, the application running at a set top box;
• identifying all resources required to complete the resource allocation request;
• if there is a conflict between the received resource allocation request and a contending resource allocation request associated with a second application, determining which resource allocation request is to be satisfied;
• and
• if the received resource allocation request is to be satisfied, acquiring all the identified resources,
• wherein the determining step comprises invoking a conflict handler that is part of the application running at the set top box, and wherein the requested resources comprises at least one of a video resource, an audio resource, and a tuner resource.