User shared virtual channel via media storage
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sharing media content among peers over a communication medium, comprising:
- a receiver configured to automatically receive media content from at least one preauthorized sender over a communication medium;
a data storage element associated with said receiver and configured to store said received media content; and
a user interface associated with said receiver and configured to provide access to said received media content by selection of a virtual channel by a user;
wherein selection of said virtual channel results in retrieval of said received media content from said data storage element for playback.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for sharing media content between peers over a communication medium. Content is authenticated prior to being downloaded, or stored, so that only content from designated peers, or based on other user selected criteria, reaches the user. Typically, content is stored at the destination site on a fixed or removable media prior to user content playback. Users are notified of content receipt, such as by an entry within a programming guide through which convenient user access of content may occur without the need to log onto the Internet or other service. The media content is then played back over a virtual channel that is selected by the user. The functionality of the system may be embodied within a separate unit or incorporated within set-top boxes, television sets, audio systems, gaming systems, personal computer system, or other interconnected electronic devices. Content may be communicated between peers on a device back-channel over a telephone system, Internet, cable network, powerline network, wireless connection, or direct wired link.
102 Citations
58 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sharing media content among peers over a communication medium, comprising:
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a receiver configured to automatically receive media content from at least one preauthorized sender over a communication medium;
a data storage element associated with said receiver and configured to store said received media content; and
a user interface associated with said receiver and configured to provide access to said received media content by selection of a virtual channel by a user;
wherein selection of said virtual channel results in retrieval of said received media content from said data storage element for playback. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30)
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25. An apparatus for sharing media content among peers over a communication medium, comprising:
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a computer;
a data storage element associated with said computer;
programming executable by said computer for carrying out the operations of establishing a communication link with a source of media content over said communication medium, automatically authenticating access rights of said source of media content as a user selected peer, automatically receiving media content from an authenticated source of media content, automatically storing said media content received from said authenticated source within said data storage element for user selected playback, and providing a user interface associated with said computer and configured to provide access to said received media content by selection of a virtual channel by a user;
wherein selection of said virtual channel results in retrieval of said received media content from said data storage element for playback. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A computer program carried by computer readable storage media and executable by a computer, said computer program configured to cause said computer to carry out the steps comprising:
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establishing a communication link with a source of media content over a communication medium, automatically authenticating access rights of a source of media content as a user selected peer, automatically receiving media content from an authenticated source of media content, automatically storing said media content received from said authenticated source within said data storage element for user selected playback, and providing a user interface associated with said computer and configured to provide access to said received media content by selection of a virtual channel by a user;
wherein selection of said virtual channel results in retrieval of said received media content from said data storage element for playback. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for sharing media content among peers over a communication medium, comprising:
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establishing a communication link with a source of media content over a communication medium;
automatically authenticating access rights of a source of media content as a user selected peer;
automatically receiving media content from an authenticated source of media content;
automatically storing said media content received from said authenticated source within said data storage element for user selected playback; and
providing a user interface associated with said computer and configured to provide access to said received media content by selection of a virtual channel by a user;
wherein selection of said virtual channel results in retrieval of said received media content from said data storage element for playback. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification