Methods, systems, and storage mediums for managing content storage and selection

• US 20060101489A1
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chanyu Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bulleit, Douglas A., Roden, Barbara J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,395,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/9994 Distributed or remote access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments relate to methods, systems, and storage mediums for managing content storage and selection activities. The method includes monitoring consumption of storage space with respect to storage capacity in at least one content device receiving content from a content provider, relocating content contained in the storage space of the content device when a predetermined condition is met, and providing access to relocated content. The relocation is operable for freeing up the storage space of the content device.

Claims

1. A method for managing content storage and selection storage, comprising:

monitoring consumption of storage space with respect to storage capacity in at least one content device receiving content from a content provider;

relocating content contained in the storage space of the content device when a predetermined condition is met, the relocating operable for freeing up the storage space of the content device; and

providing access to relocated content.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting content contained in the storage space for relocation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the content for relocation is selected based on at least one of how long the content has been stored in the storage device, size of the content, a content device user'"'"'s selection, and an inference based upon most frequently accessed content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

building a content library listing the content contained in the storage space and the relocated content;

associating the content library with a user account; and

providing access to the content library.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the relocating content contained in the storage space includes:

removing the content from the storage space; and

providing a link to content removed in the content library, the link operable for providing access to the relocated content.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the providing access to the content library includes providing a non-owner of the user account with access to the content library linked to the user account, the access including at least one of:

viewing listings in the content library;

accessing content identified in the content library;

adding content to an other content library associated with the non-owner;

charging a fee for accessed content; and

compensating a content owner for accessed content.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring activities conducted by a content device user via transactions occurring in a content library associated with the content device user;

comparing the activities with other activities conducted by other content device users via transactions occurring in corresponding tent libraries of the other content device users;

determining relationships between the user'"'"'s activities and the other activities;

generating a listing of recommended content items; and

presenting the listing to the content device user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the content includes at least one of:

audio;

video;

images;

text;

premium channel programming;

cable programming;

broadcast network programming;

radio programming;

digital music; and

pay-per-view programming.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing access to the relocated content is restricted based upon at least one of:

validation of a user identification and password;

validation of a security token, the security token operable for authenticating a content viewer and a recording device;

a recording device identifier linked to a user account; and

a transmission medium linked to a content library.

10. A system for managing content storage and selection activities, comprising:

a database for storing content;

an interface to at least one content device receiving content from a content provider; and

a content storage and selection application for monitoring consumption of storage space of the content device with respect to storage capacity, relocating content contained in the storage space when a predetermined condition is met, and providing the content device with access to the relocated content.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the content storage and selection application further performs:

selecting content contained in the storage space for relocation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the content for relocation is selected based on at least one of how long the content has been stored in the storage device, size of the content, a content device user'"'"'s selection, and an inference based upon most frequently accessed content.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the content storage and selection application further performs:

building a content library listing the content contained in the storage space and the relocated content;

associating the content library with a user account; and

providing access to the content library.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the relocating content contained in the storage space includes:

removing the content from the storage space; and

providing a link to content removed in the content library, the link operable for providing access to the relocated content.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the providing access to the content library includes providing a non-owner of the user account with access to the content library linked to the user account, the access including at least one of:

viewing listings in the content library;

accessing content identified in the content library;

adding content to an other content library associated with the non-owner;

charging a fee for accessed content; and

compensating a content owner for accessed content.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the content includes at least one of:

audio;

video;

images;

text;

premium channel programming;

cable programming;

broadcast network programming;

radio programming;

digital music; and

pay-per-view programming.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the providing access to the relocated content is restricted based upon at least one of:

validation of a user identification and password;

validation of a security token, the security token operable for authenticating a content viewer and a recording device;

a recording device identifier linked to a user account; and

a transmission medium linked to a content library.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the content storage and selection application maintains a single copy of a content item in the database and replicates the single copy for each content device that includes the content item in its content library.

19. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable program code for providing content storage and selection services, the program code including instructions for causing a host system to implement a method, comprising:

monitoring consumption of storage space with respect to storage capacity in at least one content device receiving content from a content provider;

relocating content contained in the storage space of the content device when a predetermined condition is met, the relocating operable for freeing up the storage space of the content device; and

providing access to relocated content.

20. The storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for causing a host system to implement:

selecting content contained in the storage space for relocation.