Methods and apparatus for providing virtual content over a network
First Claim
1. A method of providing a virtual possessory interest in content and delivery of said content over a network, comprising:
- receiving a request for said virtual possessory interest from a user, said request comprising at least first information identifying requested content and second information uniquely identifying said user;
validating said second information;
generating a database record associating said requested content with said user;
storing a first copy of said requested content at a first identified portion of a network storage entity, said first identified portion specifically associated with said user;
upon said user request, authorizing delivery of said requested content to said user;
causing said requested content to be delivered from said network storage location only to said user via said network;
receiving a request for virtual possessory interest for said requested content from a second user; and
storing a second copy of said requested content at a second identified portion of said network storage entity, said second identified portion specifically associated with said second user.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for selecting, purchasing and delivering content to users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for physical media (e.g., DVDs or CDs). In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions or broadcast modes are used to deliver the virtual content stored at the head-end (or hub site) to the requesting owner. The purchased content is associated with one or more users when stored, thereby providing the owner(s) unlimited access thereto, without the costs and effort associated with renting/purchasing and maintaining DVDs. The content may also comprise new release content, which would otherwise not be available over the network at that time but for the purchase and delivery mechanisms of the invention. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user'"'"'s virtual ownership experience are also disclosed.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of providing a virtual possessory interest in content and delivery of said content over a network, comprising:
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receiving a request for said virtual possessory interest from a user, said request comprising at least first information identifying requested content and second information uniquely identifying said user; validating said second information; generating a database record associating said requested content with said user; storing a first copy of said requested content at a first identified portion of a network storage entity, said first identified portion specifically associated with said user; upon said user request, authorizing delivery of said requested content to said user; causing said requested content to be delivered from said network storage location only to said user via said network; receiving a request for virtual possessory interest for said requested content from a second user; and storing a second copy of said requested content at a second identified portion of said network storage entity, said second identified portion specifically associated with said second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of providing virtual ownership of content over a network, comprising:
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receiving a message from a subscriber, said message comprising; information identifying said subscriber; information identifying at least one content element; and subscription or payment information; generating a copy of said identified at least one content element for said subscriber; storing said copy at one or more storage locations; and defining a virtual control boundary for said subscriber within said one or more storage locations, said virtual control boundary enabling said subscriber to access and control their copy of said at least one content element only and preventing access to said copy of said content element stored at said one or more storage locations by other subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing virtual possession of content to a plurality of users over a network, comprising:
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receiving a message from each of said plurality of users, said messages each comprising; information identifying at least one of (i) a respective one of said plurality of users, or (ii) a device associated with a respective one of said plurality of users; and information identifying at least one content element being requested by said respective one of said plurality of users; generating respective copies of said identified at least one content elements for said respective ones of said plurality of users; storing said copies on one or more network storage locations; and providing respective virtual control boundaries for said copies, said virtual control boundaries enabling said respective ones of said plurality of users to access and control their copy of their identified at least one content element, said control being independent of copy control by other ones of said plurality of users and limited to their copy only. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of providing copyright-protected virtual content storage and delivery, comprising:
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receiving a request to store content for a user of a network; in response to said request, storing a copy of said requested content in a network storage location, said copy being accessible only to said requesting user; and subsequent to said storing, causing delivery of said stored copy to only said requesting user, said causing delivery being in response to a delivery request issued by said user. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. Content storage and distribution apparatus for use in a content delivery network, comprising:
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a storage device for storing a plurality of video content; and distribution apparatus in data communication with said storage device; wherein said distribution apparatus is configured to; encapsulate said video content using an internetworking protocol that is agnostic to an underlying bearer medium; and deliver said encapsulated video content to one or more user devices in communication with said content delivery network, said delivery comprising delivery over one or more channels; and wherein said content storage and distribution apparatus are disposed at a premises of the operator of said network, yet storage and delivery of the stored content is controlled by a customer of said network. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. Network server apparatus for use in a content delivery network, comprising:
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a processor; a storage device for storing content, said storage device in data communication with said processor; a network interface in data communication with said processor, said network interface being adapted to at least transmit said content via said network; and at least one computer program operative to run on said apparatus, said at least one computer program being adapted to; receive at least one selection indicating a purchase of said content from one or more subscribers of said network; define respective sections of a storage location accessible by said apparatus for the storage of respective versions of said selected content associated with individual ones of said one or more subscribers; receive a request for said selected content from a user device; affirm said user device as being associated with one of said individual ones of said one or more subscribers; and selectively deliver a respective version of said selected content associated with said one of said individual ones of said one or more subscribers to said user device over said network from said respective section of said storage location. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification