METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PREMISES CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
First Claim
1. A content server device for use in a premises network, comprising:
- a storage medium, said storage medium adapted to store content; and
a digital processor comprising at least one computer program configured receive and process at least one request for content, said computer program adapted to;
direct a search of said storage medium for said requested content; and
direct a transfer of said requested content.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for transfer and management of protected content in a network. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises server and renderer devices including, for example, consumer premise equipment (CPE) having a content handler application adapted to run thereon. The content handler directs requests for content, directs searches of a device'"'"'s storage, and directs transfers of content into the device as well as within the device. The content handler may, in another embodiment, be adapted to include a scheduler entity which maintains a schedule of upcoming content, and is adapted to maintain and manage requests for the upcoming content by reserving tuner resources. The content handler may be further adapted to implement authentication and authorization procedures.
115 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A content server device for use in a premises network, comprising:
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a storage medium, said storage medium adapted to store content; and a digital processor comprising at least one computer program configured receive and process at least one request for content, said computer program adapted to; direct a search of said storage medium for said requested content; and direct a transfer of said requested content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of managing content within a content server device, comprising:
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directing browsing of said content by a user; processing a request for said content; and directing a transfer of said at least portion of said content. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A content requesting device configured for data communication with a content server device over a premises network, said device comprising:
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a receiving apparatus, said receiving apparatus adapted to receive content from said server device; and a digital processor comprising at least one computer program, said computer program adapted to; direct a request for content from said server device; direct a search of a storage medium associated with said server device for said requested content; and direct a transfer of said requested content. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of transferring content between two devices associated with a network, comprising:
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storing said content at a first of said two devices; directing browsing of stored content by a requesting device; receiving a request for transmission of at least a portion of said content; and directing a transfer of said at least portion of said content to said requesting device while maintaining said content protection. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of sharing protected content within an ad hoc network, comprising:
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establishing ad hoc a communication channel between first and second entities, at least said first and second entities forming said network when said channel is established; selectively allowing at least one of said entities to browse content of the other of said entity, said browsing directed at least in part by a computer program adapted to run on at least one of said entities; receiving at one of said entities a request for at least portion of said content from the other said entity; and selectively transferring at least a portion of said content from at least one of said entities to the other of said entities, said transferring directed at least in part by said computer program adapted to run on at least one of said entities. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification