Method and system for managing content lifecycle in a content processing system

1. A method comprising:

receiving content and metadata in a content processing system from a content provider separate from the content processing system;

processing the content by packetizing, encrypting or both;

after processing, electronically storing the content and the metadata in a content repository under control of a content distribution system of the content processing system;

scheduling a transfer of the content and metadata to a content delivery network;

initiating, by a content management system of a content processing system, transfer of content to the content delivery network;

electronically transferring content and the metadata in an electronic data file under control of the content distribution system from the content repository to the content delivery network within the content processing system based on and prior to a publication start time indicative of when the content file is to be made available to be downloaded by a plurality of user devices from the content delivery network and electronically storing the content in the content delivery network, said content having the publication start time and a purge time associated therewith;

communicating an upload status message to the content distribution system indicative of successful content delivery network upload;

electronically publishing the content from the content delivery network to the plurality of user devices separate from the content delivery network through a communication network in response to the publication start time;

purging the content from the content delivery network at the purge time;

generating a purge status message at the content delivery network; and

after receiving the purge status message at the content distribution system, removing the content from the content repository.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the metadata comprises the publication start time and the purge time.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the metadata comprises the publication start time, the purge time and the publication end time.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein purging comprises purging the file after the publication end time.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the metadata comprises a material identification, the publication start time and a purge time.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the metadata comprises a material identification, the publication start time, a purge time and a content description.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

storing the content in the user device.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user device is a satellite television set top box having a digital video recorder therein.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein storing the content comprises storing the content in the digital video recorder.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communication network is a broadband connection.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communication network comprises a terrestrial connection.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communication network comprises a cable connection.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communication network comprises a wireless connection.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the content is performed after the publication start time and before the purge time.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the content is performed after the publication start time and before a publication end time.

16. A content processing system in communication with a content provider that is separate from the content processing system comprising:

a content management system receiving metadata for content determining a publication start time and a purge time for content from the metadata, said publication start time indicative of when the content file is to be made available to be downloaded by one or more user devices for the content delivery network;

a transport processing system processing the content from the content provider by packetizing, encrypting or both;

a content distribution system controlling a content repository to store the content from the transport processing system;

said content management system scheduling a transfer of the content and metadata to the content delivery network based on the metadata and initiating transfer for the content to the content delivery network;

said content delivery network communicating with the content repository and receiving content from the content repository; and

said content distribution system communicating with the content management system and the content delivery network, said content distribution system initiating transfer of content to the content delivery network from the content repository based on and prior to the publication start time;

said content distribution network communication an upload status message to the content distribution system indicative of successful content delivery network upload;

the content delivery network publishing the content in response to the publication start time;

the content delivery network purging the content at the purge time;

said content delivery network communicating a purge status message to the content distribution system; and

said content distribution system, after receiving the purge status message, removing the content from the content repository.

17. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the metadata comprises the publication start time and the purge time.

18. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the metadata comprises the publication start time, the purge time and the publication end time.

19. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the content delivery network purges the content after the publication end time.

20. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the metadata comprises a material identification, the publication start time and a purge time.

21. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the metadata comprises a material identification, the publication start time, a purge time and a content description.

22. A system as recited in claim 16 further comprising:

a user device; and

a communication network communicating content from the content delivery network to the user device,

said user device storing the content therein.

23. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the user device comprises a satellite television set top box having a digital video recorder therein.

24. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the user device stores the content in the digital video recorder.

25. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the communication network comprises a broadband connection.

26. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the communication network comprises a terrestrial connection.

27. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the communication network comprises a cable connection.

28. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the communication network comprises a wireless connection.

29. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the communication network communicates the content after the publication start time and before the purge time.

30. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the communication network communicates the content after the publication start time and before a publication end time.