CARD-BASED AND INDEPENDENT SERVER-BASED BILLING AND AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM IN A MEDIA EXCHANGE NETWORK

1 - 25 . (canceled)

26 . A system for communicating multimedia information in a communication network, comprising:

at least a first communication device deployed in a first geographic location and coupled to the communication network; and

a card carrying information related to one or more user-defined selections of information content, wherein when the card is communicatively coupled to the first communication device, the card allows the first communication device to access:

at least a first portion of the one or more user-defined selections of information content, said first portion located at a second communication device deployed at the first geographic location; and

at least a second portion of the one or more user-defined selections of information content, said second portion located at a third communications device deployed at a second geographic location and coupled to the communication network.

27 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the communication network comprises one or more of a third party media server, a media storage server, a broadband access headend, a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internet infrastructure, an intranet infrastructure, a wired infrastructure, a closed communication infrastructure, a local area network, and/or a wireless infrastructure.

28 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet.

29 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the communication network comprises a local area network (LAN).

30 . The system according to claim 29 , wherein the local area network comprises one or both of an Ethernet and/or an 802.11-based wireless network.

31 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the first, second and third communication devices each comprise one or more of a computer, a storage device, a media peripheral, set-top box circuitry, a television, a display, and/or a remote control.

32 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the information content comprises one or more of third party media content, digital video, digital images, digital audio, documents, files, broadcast television programs, radio channels, news programming, sporting events programming, personal programming or media, special programming, and/or on-demand movies.

33 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the card comprises one or more of a chip-enabled card, a magnetic strip card, and/or a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.

34 . The system according to claim 26 , wherein the information carried on the card is related to one or more of accessing the user-defined selections by the first communication device, processing the user-defined selections by the first communication device, pushing the user-defined selections onto the communication network, pushing user-created information content onto the communication network, information relating to securing a payment, information relating to payment terms, information relating to billing, information relating to content push restrictions or limitations, and/or information relating to content access.

35 . A method for communicating multimedia information in a communication network, comprising:

selecting at least one multimedia service to be provided to a first communication device at a first geographic location and a second communication device located at a second geographic location, the at least one multimedia service relating to user-defined selections of information content available on the communication network;

purchasing a card, the card giving access to the selected at least one multimedia service available on the communication network, and the card carrying information related to the selected at least one multimedia service;

communicatively coupling the card with the first communication device; and

accessing of the selected at least one multimedia service by the first communication device, once the card is communicatively coupled with the first communication device.

36 . The method according to claim 35 , comprising:

allowing the second communication device to access the selected at least one multimedia service.

37 . The method according to claim 36 , wherein allowing the first communication device or the second communication device to access the selected media exchange services comprises one or more of: granting the first communication device or the second communication device access to the user-defined selections, processing the user-defined selections by the first communication device or the second communication device, pushing the user-defined selections onto the communication network, and/or pushing user-created information content onto the communication network or between the first communication device and/or the second communication device.

38 . The method according to claim 35 , comprising:

allowing the second communication device to access user-created information content that is available to the first communication device.

39 . A method for communicating multimedia information in a communication network, comprising:

selecting at least one multimedia service to be provided to a first communication device at a first geographic location and/or a second communication device at a second geographic location;

establishing a subscription with a server located on the communication network, the subscription allowing for access by the first communication device and the second communication device to the selected at least one multimedia service; and

accessing the selected at least one multimedia service by the first communication device, upon authentication of the first communication device.

40 . The method according to claim 39 , wherein said authentication of the first communication device comprises:

entering identification information via the first communication device, the identification information validating the established subscription to the selected at least one multimedia service.

41 . The method according to claim 39 , wherein said at least one multimedia service relates to a user-defined selection of information content that is available on the communication network.

42 . The method according to claim 39 , comprising:

accessing said at least one multimedia service by the second communication device.

43 . The method according to claim 39 , comprising:

allowing the second communication device to access user-created information content that is available to the first communication device.

44 . The method according to claim 41 , wherein allowing the first communication device and the second communication device to access the selected at least one multimedia service comprises one or more of the following:

granting the first communication device or the second communication device access to the user-defined selections, processing the user-defined selections by the first communication device or the second communication device, pushing the user-defined selections onto the communication network, and/or pushing user-created information content onto the communication network or between the first communication device and the second communication device.

45 . The method according to claim 39 , wherein establishing the subscription comprises one or more of the following:

establishing information securing payment, establishing information regarding payment terms, establishing information regarding billing, and/or establishing information regarding content pushing.