Method and apparatus for recordable media content distribution

• US 20030005453A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Arturo A., Hammett, Geoffrey G., Beebe, Randolph R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,760,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/60 Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client , e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A media system which includes logic configured to provide a user interface that provides a user with a plurality of media content selections available at various times, and

a portable client media drive configured to receive over a secured transmission medium the media content selected by the user.

Claims

1. A media system comprising:

logic configured to provide a user interface that provides a user with a plurality of media content selections available at various times; and

a portable client media drive configured to receive over a secured transmission medium the media content selected by the user.

2. The media system of claim 1, further comprising a subscriber network television system in electrical communication with the portable media drive and a television.

3. The media system of claim 2, wherein the subscriber network television system is a digital broadband delivery system.

4. The media system of claim 2, wherein the subscriber network television system is a cable television system.

5. The media system of claim 1, further comprising a hard disk drive that receives the media content and transfers the media content to the portable media drive.

6. The media system of claim 1, further comprising a memory that receives the media content selected by the user.

7. The media system of claim 1, further comprising a memory that receives the media content and transfers the media content to the portable media drive.

8. The media system of claim 1, further comprising a hard disk drive and memory including a first part of memory and a second part of memory, wherein the first part of the memory receives the media content and transfers it to the hard disk drive, wherein the hard disk drive then transfers the media content to the second part of the memory, wherein the second part of the memory transfers the media content to the portable media drive.

9. The media system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is provided by a remote server.

10. The media system of claim 1, further comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured with the memory to provide the user interface.

11. The media system of claim 1, further comprising a processor to access secured media content over the secured transmission medium.

12. The media system of claim 1, wherein the portable media drive comprises at least one portable medium.

13. The media system of claim 1, wherein the portable media drive comprises a carousel media drive.

14. The media system of claim 1, wherein the portable media drive comprises a magazine drive.

15. The media system of claim 1, further comprising a television display showing the user interface.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving the selected media content over a secured subscriber network television system coupled to a portable media drive and a television.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the subscriber network television system is a digital broadband delivery system.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the subscriber network television system is a cable television system.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of decrypting the encrypted selected media content.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing the user interface from a remote server.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing the user interface from a local client device.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the portable medium is located in a portable media drive.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the portable medium is coupled to a local client device.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote device is a remote server.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote device is a home computer.

27. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of receiving the selected media content into a hard disk drive and then transferring the selected media content to the portable medium.

28. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of receiving the selected media content into a first part of memory, then transferring the selected media content from the first part of memory to a hard disk drive, then transferring the selected media content from the hard disk drive to a second part of memory, then transferring the selected media content to the portable medium.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving the selected media content at a faster rate than the real-time playback rate.

30. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving the selected media content at a slower rate than the real-time playback rate.

31. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving the selected media content at different times.

32. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing the user interface on a television screen display.

16. A method for recording media content, comprising the steps of:

providing a user interface to select from a plurality of media content selections available at different times;

receiving from a remote device the selected media content over a secured transmission medium; and

recording the selected media content onto at least one portable medium.