Systems and methods for managing local storage of on-demand content
On-demand systems and methods are provided to manage locally-stored on-demand content. A user's equipment controls the deletion of and/or access to on-demand content from a local storage device based on constraining criteria that may include rental conditions, dynamic factors, and keys.
1. A method for managing at least a portion of on-demand content provided by an on-demand server and stored in a storage device that is local to an on-demand client, the method comprising:
receiving an on-demand rental condition, from a remote server, which constrains deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content that is stored on the storage device, in accordance with an on-demand provider's rental policies, wherein the on-demand rental condition is defined without input from a user and specifies a maximum total viewing time for the on-demand content allowed by the on-demand provider, wherein the maximum total viewing time is a total time the content plays;
providing a plurality of viewing sessions for the content, wherein each viewing session is separated by a period of time; and
controlling deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content as a function of the on-demand rental condition and the plurality of viewing sessions.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the on-demand rental condition further specifies at least one usage limit specifying a maximum number of on-demand contents stored in the storage device at a given time, and further comprising:
receiving a second request to access a second on-demand content; and
restricting access to the second request in response to determining that the number of on-demand contents currently stored in the storage device has reached the at least one usage limit.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a dynamic factor which constrains deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content stored on the storage device based on conditions of equipment on which the on-demand client is implemented; and
controlling deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content as a function of the dynamic factor.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the dynamic factor specifies determining whether the user is watching the on-demand content, determining whether the storage device is available, or determining whether the at least a portion of the on-demand content meets a keep criterion.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content on the storage device comprises:
determining that a user of the on-demand client is not actively watching the at least a portion of the on-demand content; and
deleting the at least a portion of the on-demand content from the storage device in response to the determining.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content on the storage device comprises:
determining that a user of the on-demand client is not watching the at least a portion of the on-demand content and that space on the storage device is needed for other system activities; and
deleting the at least a portion of the on-demand content from the storage device in response to the determining.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content on the storage device comprises:
determining that the user of the on-demand client is not watching the at least a portion of the on-demand content, that space on the storage device is needed for other system activities, and that the space used by the at least a portion of the on-demand content on the storage device is less than a specified minimum keep threshold; and
deleting the at least a portion of the on-demand content from the storage device in response to the determining.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the on-demand rental condition is received by processing circuitry from at least one of an on-demand server and a third-party rights-management server.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the on-demand rental condition is a function of a rating of the on-demand content.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a key according to which the at least a portion of the on-demand content may be decrypted;
decrypting the at least a portion of the on-demand content as a function of the key; and
playing back the decrypted at least a portion of the on-demand content.
11. A system for managing at least a portion of on-demand content provided by an on-demand server and stored in a storage device that is local to an on-demand client, the system comprising:
control circuitry configured to:
receive an on-demand rental condition, from a remote server, which constrains deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content that is stored on the storage device, in accordance with an on-demand provider's rental policies, wherein the on-demand rental condition is defined without input from a user and specifies a maximum total viewing time for the on-demand content allowed by the on-demand provider, wherein the maximum total viewing time is a total time the content plays;
provide a plurality of viewing sessions for the content, wherein each viewing session is separated by a period of time; and
control deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content as a function of the on-demand rental condition and the plurality of viewing sessions.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the on-demand rental condition further specifies at least one usage limit which specifies a maximum number of on-demand contents stored in the storage device at a given time, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive a second request to access a second on-demand content; and
restrict access to the second request in response to the determination that the number of on-demand contents currently stored in the storage device has reached the at least one usage limit.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive a dynamic factor which constrains deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content stored on the storage device based on conditions of equipment on which the on-demand client is implemented; and
control deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content as a function of the dynamic factor.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the dynamic factor specifies a determination of whether the user is watching the on-demand content, a determination of whether the storage device is available, or a determination of whether the at least a portion of the on-demand content meets a keep criterion.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein, to control deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content on the storage device, the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine that a user of the on-demand client is not actively watching the at least a portion of the on-demand content; and
delete the at least a portion of the on-demand content from the storage device in response to the determination.
16. The system of claim 13 , wherein, to control deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content on the storage device, the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine that a user of the on-demand client is not watching the at least a portion of the on-demand content and that space on the storage device is needed for other system activities; and
delete the at least a portion of the on-demand content from the storage device in response to the determination.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein, to control deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content on the storage device, the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine that the user of the on-demand client is not watching the at least a portion of the on-demand content, that space on the storage device is needed for other system activities, and that the space used by the at least a portion of the on-demand content on the storage device is less than a specified minimum keep threshold; and
delete the at least a portion of the on-demand content from the storage device in response to the determination.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the on-demand rental condition is received by processing circuitry from at least one of an on-demand server and a third-party rights-management server.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the on-demand rental condition is a function of a rating of the on-demand content.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive a key according to which the at least a portion of the on-demand content may be decrypted;
decrypt the at least a portion of the on-demand content as a function of the key; and
play back the decrypted at least a portion of the on-demand content.