Patent ID: 8103777
Filing Date: 2012-01-24
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for sharing resources in a network of peers, the method comprising: receiving, at a coordinator of a coordinating peer, (i) a plurality of desired recording lists and (ii) a plurality of available resources lists (iii) from peers within the network of peers, wherein the plurality of desired recording lists each include (i)(a) at least one recording entry of identifiers and indicators (i)(b) for coordinating and compiling assignment lists, and wherein the plurality of available resources lists each include (ii)(a) at least one resource entry of identifiers and indicators (ii)(b) for identifying peers that have resources available that are also capable of recording programs for fellow peers; coordinating, via the coordinator, (i) the plurality of desired recording lists and (ii) the plurality of available resources lists and (iii) compiling, via the coordinator, at least one assignment list for at least one peer within the network of peers; and communicating, via the coordinator, the at least one assignment list to the at least one peer within the network of peers, wherein each assignment list comprises (i) one or more assignment entry of identifiers and indicators (ii) for informing a corresponding peer (ii)(a) what actions are required to be taken by the corresponding peer and (ii)(b) for which fellow peer the corresponding peer is performing the actions, wherein (I) the at least one recording entry of identifiers and indicators comprises (i) a user recognizable program identifier, (ii) a unique program identifier such that the peers within the network of peers can differentiate programs and reliably exchange programs, (iii) a requestor identifier to identify the peer requesting the program to be recorded, the requestor identifier for use during exchange of programs subsequent to an actual recording taking place, (iv) a priority indicator to indicate a priority that a user gives to the recorded program, the priority indicator for being provided as input to the coordinator unit for use during the coordination and compilation of the assignment lists, and (v) a weight indicator to allow a user to communicate preferences to the coordinator unit, wherein (II) the at least one resource entry of identifiers and indicators comprises (i) a device identifier to uniquely identify a peer or a device, (ii) a resource identifier to identify the resources, including a type of a resource, (iii) a resource quantity indicator to indicate the quantity of resources available to a peer, and (iv) a resource availability indicator to indicate the quantity of resources that a peer is prepared to actually share, and wherein (III) the one or more assignment entry of identifiers and indicators comprises (i) a user recognizable program identifier, (ii) a unique program identifier such that the peers within the network of peers can differentiate programs and reliably exchange programs, (iii) a requestor identifier to identify the peer requesting the program to be recorded, (iv) an assigned identifier to identify the peer assigned to record the program to be recorded, and (v) a value indicator to indicate earnable credits that allow individual users to bargain for resources.