System and method for archiving multiple downloaded recordable media content

• US 7,512,964 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tech 5 SAS
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Arturo A., Hammett, Geoffrey G., Beebe, Randolph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): VAN HANDEL, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US09/896,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,832 Days
• Field of Search: 725/45, 725/37, 725/44, 725/61, 725/86, 725/87, 725/104, 725/142
• US Class Current: 725/142
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2542 for selling goods, e.g. TV shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4349 by extracting from data carousels, e.g. extraction of software modules from a DVB carousel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A recordable media content archiving system in a subscriber network. The recordable media content archiving system comprises, among other elements, a memory for storing recordable media content characterizing information, a storage device for storing a plurality of portable mediums, and a processor configured with the memory to receive the recordable media content characterizing information into the memory, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a user interface for the recordable media content archiving system.

Claims

1. A recordable media content archiving system in a subscriber network, said recordable media content archiving system comprising:

a memory for storing recordable media content characterizing information;

a storage device configured for storing a plurality of portable storage mediums, wherein each portable storage medium is one of a plurality of different portable storage medium types; and

a processor configured with the memory to;

prior to a download of first recordable media content to be provided from a remote server and subsequent to a purchase of the first recordable media content;

receive into the memory first recordable media content characterizing information corresponding to the first recordable media content, the first recordable media content characterizing information including content type and subcategories of the content type; and

provide a user interface that identifies the first recordable media content and provides information about the first recordable media content, the user interface further including user-selectable lists each having plural entries, the user-selectable lists corresponding to content type, subcategories of the content type, and a choice of the plurality of portable storage mediums to download the first recordable media content, the content type user selectable list defaulting to a first entry based on the first recordable media content characterizing information associated with a type of content corresponding to the first recordable media content, the subcategory user selectable list defaulting to a second entry based on the first entry, and the choice of medium user selectable list defaulting to a third entry based on the first and second entries; and

responsive to receiving a download of the first recordable media content via the subscriber network from the remote server, the processor is further configured with the memory to store the first recordable media content to the portable storage medium corresponding to the third entry.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to provide an archive user interface that is configured to enable a user to search for recordable media content among the plurality of portable storage mediums on the storage device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to provide an archive user interface that is configured to enable a user to search for the recordable media content characterizing information corresponding to the recordable media content among the plurality of portable storage mediums stored on the storage device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to provide an archive user interface that is configured to enable a user to create personalized categories.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to receive the downloaded first recordable media content from the server through an exclusive network session.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to determine if the portable storage medium corresponding to the third entry is loaded in the storage device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically load the portable storage medium corresponding to the third entry in a position to be written to in the storage device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to prompt the user to load one or more of the plurality of portable storage mediums in the storage device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to lock access to the first recordable media content stored on the portable storage medium corresponding to the third entry, where the locked access corresponds to denial of viewing of the first recordable media content without proper authorization.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to represent the locked access by providing corresponding icons displayed on one of a plurality of screen displays to alert a user to a requirement for authorized access.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor, the memory, and the storage device are located in a set top box.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to provide a second user interface that enables a user to purchase for personal possession the first recordable media content.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to receive the recordable media content characterizing information into the memory periodically.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to store the first recordable media content characterizing information on the portable storage medium corresponding to the third entry.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the storing on the portable storage medium corresponding to the third entry of the downloaded first recordable media content corresponds to an archiving operation.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to enable a user to select an alternative entry to the one or more defaulted entries of the plural entries of the user-selectable lists.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the content type selectable list includes two or more of a movie entry, a games entry, a music entry, and a software entry.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the subcategory user selectable lists of content types movie and music comprises entries corresponding to genre.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the choice of medium user selectable list comprises entries for each respective medium of the plurality of storage mediums.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to:

prior to a download of second recordable media content to be provided from the remote server and subsequent to a purchase of the second recordable media content;

receive into the memory second recordable media content characterizing information corresponding to the second recordable media content, the second recordable media content characterizing information including content type and subcategories of the content type; and

provide a second user interface that identifies the second recordable media content and provides information about the second recordable media content, the second user interface further including second user-selectable lists each having plural entries, the second user-selectable lists corresponding to second content type, second subcategories of the content type, and a second choice of the plurality of portable storage mediums to download the second media content, the second content type user selectable list defaulting to a content type entry based on the second recordable media content characterizing information associated with a type of content corresponding to the second recordable media content, the second subcategory user selectable list defaulting to a subcategory entry based on the content type entry, and the second choice of medium user selectable list defaulting to a medium entry based on the content type and medium entries.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein responsive to receiving a download of the second recordable media content via the subscriber network from the remote server, the processor is further configured with the memory to store the second recordable media content to the portable storage medium corresponding to the medium entry.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to determine whether the first recordable media content characterizing information and the second recordable media content characterizing information have common content types and subcategories and whether there is sufficient storage space to store the second recordable media content on the same portable storage medium where the first recordable media content is stored.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the medium entry is the same medium as the portable storage medium corresponding to the third entry, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to automatically store the first and second recordable media content on the same portable storage medium responsive to determining that the first recordable media content characterizing information and the second recordable media content characterizing information have common content types and subcategories and responsive to determining that there is sufficient storage space to store the second recordable media content on the same portable storage medium as where the first recordable media content is stored.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to automatically store the second recordable media content on a different portable storage medium than the one used for the first recordable medium content responsive to determining that the first recordable media content characterizing information and the second recordable media content characterizing information have different content types and different subcategories.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to automatically store the second recordable media content on a different portable storage medium than the one used for the first recordable media content responsive to determining that there is insufficient storage space to store the second recordable media content on the same portable storage medium as where the first recordable media content is stored.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to automatically store the second recordable media content on a different portable storage medium than the one used for the first recordable media content responsive to determining that a purchaser of the first recordable media content is different than a purchaser of the second recordable media content.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured with the memory to determine whether there is a different purchaser based on input received corresponding to a displayed pin entry screen at a time corresponding to the purchase of the first recordable media content, the second recordable media content, or both.

28. A recordable media content archiving method in a subscriber network, said recordable media content archiving method comprising:

prior to a download of first recordable media content to be provided from a remote server and subsequent to a purchase of the first recordable media content;

receiving into memory first recordable media content characterizing information corresponding to the first recordable media content, the first recordable media content characterizing information including content type and subcategories of the content type; and

providing a user interface that includes the identity of the first recordable media content and information about the first recordable media content, wherein the user interface further includes user-selectable lists each having plural entries, the user-selectable lists corresponding to content type, subcategories of the content type, and a choice of the plurality of portable storage mediums to download the first recordable media content, the content type user selectable list defaulting to a first entry based on the first recordable media content characterizing information associated with a type of content corresponding to the first recordable media content, the subcategory user selectable list defaulting to a second entry based on the first entry, and the choice of medium user selectable list defaulting to a third entry based on the first and second entries; and

responsive to receiving a download of the first recordable media content via the subscriber network from the remote server, storing the first recordable media content to the portable storage medium corresponding to the third entry.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing a second user interface that enables a user to purchase for personal possession the first recordable media content.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising storing the first recordable media content characterizing information on the portable storage medium corresponding to the third entry.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving user input corresponding to re-configuration of one or more defaulted entries of the plural entries of the user-selectable lists.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the content type selectable list includes two or more of a movie entry, a games entry, a music entry, and a software entry.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the subcategory user selectable lists of content types movie and music comprises entries corresponding to genre.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the choice of medium user selectable list comprises entries for each respective medium of the plurality of storage mediums.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

prior to a download of second recordable media content to be provided from the remote server and subsequent to a purchase of the second recordable media content;

receive into the memory second recordable media content characterizing information corresponding to the second recordable media content, the second recordable media content characterizing information including content type and subcategories of the content type; and

providing a second user interface that identifies the second recordable media content and provides information about the second recordable media content, the second user interface further including second user-selectable lists each having plural entries, the second user-selectable lists corresponding to second content type, second subcategories of the content type, and a second choice of the plurality of portable storage mediums to download the second media content, the second content type user selectable list defaulting to a content type entry based on the second recordable media content characterizing information associated with a type of content corresponding to the second recordable media content, the second subcategory user selectable list defaulting to a subcategory entry based on the content type entry, and the second choice of medium user selectable list defaulting to a medium entry based on the content type and medium entries.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising storing the second recordable media content to the portable storage medium corresponding to the medium entry responsive to receiving a download of the second recordable media content via the subscriber network from the remote server.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising determining whether the first recordable media content characterizing information and the second recordable media content characterizing information have common content types and subcategories and whether there is sufficient storage space to store the second recordable media content on the same portable storage medium where the first recordable media content is stored.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the medium entry is the same medium as the portable storage medium corresponding to the third entry, further comprising automatically storing the first and second recordable media content on the same portable storage medium responsive to determining that the first recordable media content characterizing information and the second recordable media content characterizing information have common content types and subcategories and responsive to determining that there is sufficient storage space to store the second recordable media content on the same portable storage medium as where the first recordable media content is stored.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising automatically storing the second recordable media content on a different portable storage medium than the one used for the first recordable medium content responsive to determining that the first recordable media content characterizing information and the second recordable media content characterizing information have different content types and different subcategories.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising automatically storing the second recordable media content on a different portable storage medium than the one used for the first recordable media content responsive to determining that there is insufficient storage space to store the second recordable media content on the same portable storage medium as where the first recordable media content is stored.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising automatically storing the second recordable media content on a different portable storage medium than the one used for the first recordable media content responsive to determining that a purchaser of the first recordable media content is different than a purchaser of the second recordable media content.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising determining whether there is a different purchaser based on input received corresponding to a displayed pin entry screen at a time corresponding to the purchase of the first recordable media content, the second recordable media content, or both.