Apparatus for entitling and transmitting service instances to remote client devices

1. A method of transmitting service instances to a remote client device in a local network, including a communications device and one or more of said remote client devices, at a subscriber premises, comprising the steps of:

receiving a service instance at the communications device of the subscriber premises from a headend, wherein the service instance is stored in memory of the communications device;

receiving a request at the communications device for the stored service instance from the remote client device;

determining whether the remote client device is entitled to receive the requested stored service instance; and

responsive to determining the remote client device is entitled to receive the requested stored service instance, transmitting the requested service instance from the communications device to the remote client device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

determining a device type for the remote client device;

using the device type of the remote client device to determine a format protocol for the requested service instance; and

reformatting the requested service instance prior to transmitting the requested service instance.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

determining an encryption scheme for the requested service instance based on the remote client device; and

prior to transmitting the requested service instance, encrypting the requested service instance.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a message along with the request from the remote client device, the message having device type information regarding the remote client device; and

determining from the device type information the encryption scheme for encryption of the requested service instance.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a message along with the request from the remote client device, the message having device type information regarding the remote client device;

transmitting a second message to the headend, the second message having the device type information included therein, wherein the headend determines the encryption scheme using at least the device type information.

6. A method of transmitting service instances to a remote client device in a local network, including a communications device and one or more of said remote client devices, at a subscriber premises, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request at the communications device of the subscriber premises for a service instance from the remote client device;

determining whether the remote client device is entitled to receive the requested service instance;

responsive to determining the remote client device is entitled to receive the requested service instance, determining whether the requested service instance is accessible within the communications device;

if the requested service instance is accessible, transmitting the service instance from the communications device to the remote client device; and

if the requested service instance is not accessible, sending a request from the communications device to a headend for the requested service instance, wherein upon receipt of the service instance at the communications device, transmitting the service instance from the communications device to the remote client device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of, prior to transmitting the service instance to the remote client device, storing the received service instance in memory of the communications device.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

determining a device type for the remote client device;

using the device type of the remote client device to determine a format protocol for the requested service instance; and

reformatting the requested service instance prior to transmitting the requested service instance.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

determining an encryption scheme for the requested service instance based on the remote client device; and

prior to transmitting the requested service instance, encrypting the requested service instance.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a message along with the request from the remote client device, the message having device type information regarding the remote client device; and

determining from the device type information the encryption scheme for encryption of the requested service instance.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a message along with the request from the remote client device, the message having device type information regarding the remote client device;

transmitting a second message to the headend, the second message having the device type information included therein, wherein the headend determines the encryption scheme using at least the device type information.

12. A method of transmitting service instances to a plurality of remote client devices in a local network, including a communications device, at a subscriber premises, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first request for a service instance at the communications device of the subscriber premises from a first remote client device;

determining whether the first remote client device is entitled to receive the requested service instance;

responsive to determining the first remote client device is entitled to receive the requested service instance, transmitting the requested service instance from the communications device to the first remote client device;

receiving a second request for the service instance at the communications device from a second remote client device in the local network;

determining whether the second remote client device is entitled to receive the requested service instance; and

responsive to determining the second remote client device is entitled to receive the requested service instance, transmitting the requested service instance from the communications device to the second remote client device based upon local availability of the requested service instance within the communications device.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:

determining a device type for each of the first and second remote client devices;

using the device type of the first and second remote client devices to determine a format protocol for the requested service instance; and

reformatting the requested service instance prior to transmitting the requested service instance.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:

determining an encryption scheme for the requested service instance based on the first and second remote client devices; and

prior to transmitting the requested service instance, encrypting the requested service instance.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a message along with the request from each of the first and second remote client devices, the message having device type information regarding the respective remote client device; and

determining from the device type information the encryption scheme for encryption of the requested service instance.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a message along with the request from each of the first and second remote client devices, the message having device type information regarding the respective remote client device;

transmitting a second message to a headend, the second message having the device type information included therein, wherein the headend determines the encryption scheme using at least the device type information.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the device type information from each of the first and second remote devices may require a same encryption scheme or a different encryption scheme.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:

prior to transmitting the requested service instance to the first remote client device, determining whether the requested service instance is accessible within the communications device; and

if the requested service instance is not accessible, sending a request to a headend for the requested service instance, wherein upon receipt of the service instance, transmitting the service instance from the communications device to the first remote client device.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the requested service instance is accessible if the service instance is stored in memory of the communications device.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of, prior to transmitting the service instance to the first remote client device, storing the received service instance in memory of the communications device.