Resource sharing system of set-top boxes

A network of set-top boxes, comprising:

• a network;
• a first set-top box that includes a first storage device connected in said network, wherein said first set-top-box is coupled, over said network, to a second set-top box that includes a second storage device, wherein each of said first and second storage devices is capable of storing programs and is available to said network;
• and
• a processor on said first set-top box, said processor being configured to:
• receive a request to record a future broadcast of a program;
• in response to receiving the request to record the future broadcast of the program, transmit a query to said network to determine whether a past broadcast of said program has previously been recorded in said second storage device included in said second set-top box, wherein the past broadcast of the program is an earlier instance of the program transmitted from a source to the second set-top box during a timeslot different from a timeslot during which a later instance of the future broadcast of the program is transmitted from the source to the first set-top box;
• access the past broadcast of said program stored on said second storage device over said network with said first set-top box in response to receiving said recording request when said query indicates that said program is stored in said second storage device;
• and
• otherwise, use at least one of said first and second storage devices in response to receiving said recording request.

A network of set-top boxes, comprising:

• means for receiving a request to record a future broadcast of a program in a first set-top box, wherein said first set-top box includes a first storage device, wherein said first set-top box is coupled, over said network, to a second set-top box, and wherein the second set-top box includes a second storage device;
• means for, in response to receiving the request to record the future broadcast of the program, querying said network, with said first set-top box, to determine whether a past broadcast of said program has previously been recorded in said second storage device included in said second set-top box, wherein the past broadcast of the program is an earlier instance of the program transmitted from a source to the second set-top box during a timeslot different from a timeslot during which a later instance of the future broadcast of the program is transmitted from the source to the first set-top box;
• means for accessing the past broadcast of said program stored on said second storage device over said network with said first set-top box in response to receiving said recording request when said query indicates that said program is stored in said second storage device;
• and
• otherwise, means for using at least one of said first and second storage devices in response to receiving said recording request.

A computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to:
• receive, during a time interval, a request to record a future broadcast of a program in a first set-top box, wherein said first set-top box includes a first storage device, wherein said first set-top box is coupled, over said network, to a second set-top box, and wherein the second set-top box includes a second storage device;
• in response to receiving the request to record the future broadcast of the program, query said network, with said first set-top box, to determine whether a past broadcast of said program has previously been recorded in said second storage device included in said second set-top box, wherein the past broadcast of the program is an earlier instance of the program transmitted from a source to the second set-top box during a timeslot different from a timeslot during which a later instance of the future broadcast of the program is transmitted from the source to the first set-top box;
• access the past broadcast of said program stored on said second storage device over said network with said first set-top box in response to receiving said recording request when said query indicates that said program is stored in said second storage device;
• and
• otherwise use at least one of said first and said second storage devices in response to receiving said recording request.

A method for using a network of user equipment devices, the method comprising:

• receiving a request to record a future broadcast of a program in a first user equipment device, wherein said first user equipment device includes a first storage device, wherein said first user equipment device and said first storage device are coupled to said network;
• in response to receiving the request to record the future broadcast of the program, querying said network, with said first user equipment device, to determine whether a past broadcast of said program has previously been recorded in a second storage device included in a second user equipment device, wherein said second user equipment device and said second storage device are coupled to said network, wherein the past broadcast of the program is an earlier instance of the program transmitted from a source to the second user equipment device during a timeslot different from a timeslot during which a later instance of the future broadcast of the program is transmitted from the source to the first user equipment device;
• and
• using at least one of said first and said second storage devices in response to receiving said recording request.