METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AND UPLOADING CONTENT TO PERSONALIZED NETWORK STORAGE
Methods and apparatus for delivering, uploading, and storing content for users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for additional storage space at the client premises and offering seamless compliance with copyright laws. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and sessions are used to deliver content to the requesting owner and then back to storage space associated with the head-end where the content remains available for future subscriber requests. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user's virtual ownership experience are also disclosed.
1 . A method of content management within a content delivery network having a plurality of users, said method comprising:
receiving content at a client device, the client device associated with at least one of said plurality of users of said network; and
in response to said act of receiving, causing at least a portion of said content to be uploaded to a storage entity of said network;
wherein said storage entity is configured to store said content at a storage location specifically associated with at least said at least one user.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage location specifically associated with at least said at least one user is only accessible to said at least one user.
3 . The method of claim 1 , where said network comprises a managed network having a network operator, and the plurality of users comprises a plurality of subscribers who are bound to said network operator pursuant to respective subscription agreements.
4 . The method of claim 1 , where receiving content at a client device associated with said at least one of said plurality of users of said network comprises receiving content from the content delivery network.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, based at least on a request from the at least one user, causing a download of at least a portion of the stored content to a client device associated with the at least one user.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the client device associated with the at least one user to which the at least a portion of the stored content is downloaded comprises a different client device then that at which the content is received initially.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a managed network, and the receiving content at a client device comprises receiving the content from a source within the managed network.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the receiving the content from a source within the managed network comprises receiving the content in an encrypted format, and the method further comprises decrypting the encrypted content at the client device using cryptographic material provided by the network operator; and
wherein the causing the content to be uploaded comprises causing the decrypted content to be uploaded.
9 . A network apparatus configured to obtain and store content from one or more client devices, the apparatus comprising:
a storage apparatus; and
a digital processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, cause the network apparatus to:
configure at least one of said one or more client devices for upload;
receive a request from at least one of said one or more client devices for said content;
determine whether said requested content has previously been uploaded to a storage location specifically associated with said one or more client devices; and
based at least in part on said determination, provide said requested content to said at least one of said one or more client devices.
10 . The network apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further configured to, when said requested content has been previously uploaded, provide said requested content using said previously uploaded version.
11 . The network apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further configured to, when said requested content has not been previously uploaded: (i) provide said requested content to said at least one of said one or more client devices, (ii) receive said requested content from said at least one of said one or more client devices, and (iii) store said requested content.
12 . The network apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to, in response to storage of said content, cause removal of said content at said one or more client devices.
13 . The network apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to, in response to storage of said content, prompt said one or more client devices with options for removal of said content from said one or more client devices.
14 . A method of managing content via a content delivery network, so as to ensure copyright preservation, the method comprising:
recording a first content element on a recording device at a first location, the recording device being associated with a first user;
automatically uploading said first content element to a second device at a second location, the second location being in communication with the first location via the content delivery network, the first content element being made accessible only to the first user so as to protect a copyright associated with the first content element.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising scheduling an upload of said first content element in accordance with prioritization data associated with said first content element.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising deleting said first recording at said first location in response to a determination that said first recording has been viewed by said first user.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said uploading begins immediately upon a determination that said recording of said first content element has occurred.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said uploading occurs based at least in part on a predetermined periodicity.
19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising in response to said act of recording, scheduling said first content element for upload based at least in part on network upload bandwidth availability.
20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising in response to said act of recording, transferring said first content element to a third device located at said first location, said third device configured for automatic upload.
21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said second device at said second location is configured to initiate said automatic uploading in response to the recording of said first content element.
22 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising in response to said act of recording, determining whether said first content element has been previously uploaded to said second location.