Patent ID: 8272024

Claim:
A method for distributed recording of content in a client system having a home network connecting a content broker and a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) with digital video recording capability, the method comprising: in a requesting STB within the home network, receiving a command from a user to begin recording a content item that is then currently available for delivery to any one or more of the plurality of STBs from a video server system via an access network, wherein the access network is different from the home network, and wherein the access network connects the video server system to the client system; sending a query, via the home network, from the requesting STB to the content broker within the home network, to determine whether the content item is being recorded by any other STB of the plurality of STBs within the home network; receiving a response, via the home network, from the content broker; if the response indicates that none of the plurality of STBs within the home network is then currently recording the content item, recording the content item in the requesting STB as the content item is delivered to the requesting STB from the video server system via the access network; and if the response identifies a recording STB within the home network that is then currently recording the requested content item, delivered to the recording STB from the video server system via the access network, updating an internal content list in the requesting STB to identify the recording STB within the home network.