Personal content server apparatus and associated methods that allow a user (e.g., cable or satellite network subscriber) to access content, such as a video program, from a location outside the subscriber's network. In one embodiment, a personal content server streams the content to the subscriber over a network connection from the local e.g., (subscription) network to a remote network upon authorization by a content manager process. Various access, business or operational rules are applied depending on the content and delivery mode; e.g., to live video broadcast, video-on-demand (VOD), or archived content from the subscriber's digital video recorder (DVR) or networked PVR. Secondary content (e.g., promotions, advertisements, etc.) can also be selectively replaced if desired in order to make the remotely delivered content more appropriate to the remote user's context.

Personal content server apparatus and methods

Methods and apparatus for selecting, purchasing and delivering content to users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for physical media (e.g., DVDs or CDs). In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions or broadcast modes are used to deliver the virtual content stored at the head-end (or hub site) to the requesting owner. The purchased content is associated with one or more users when stored, thereby providing the owner(s) unlimited access thereto, without the costs and effort associated with renting/purchasing and maintaining DVDs. The content may also comprise new release content, which would otherwise not be available over the network at that time but for the purchase and delivery mechanisms of the invention. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user's virtual ownership experience are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for providing virtual content over a network

A power source device and a power charge device interoperate according to a wireless charging protocol. The power source device inductively wirelessly transmits charging energy signal via an inductive wireless power transmitting circuit. The power charge device wirelessly receives the inductively wirelessly transmitted charging energy signal via an inductive wireless power receiving circuit. The power charge device transfers wirelessly received charging energy signal to a re-chargeable battery of the power charge device. In response to determining that the power source device and the power charge device are in a charging arrangement, the power source device controls user access to a lockable user interface based on receiving information from the power charge device and can display messages received by the power charge device from a wireless communication network. The power source device can include a personal computing system and the power charge device can include a mobile phone.

Wireless charging and communication with power source devices and power charge devices in a communication system

Methods and apparatus for control of data and content protection mechanisms across a network using a download delivery paradigm. In one embodiment, conditional access (CA), digital rights management (DRM), and trusted domain (TD) security policies are delivered, configured and enforced with respect to consumer premises equipment (CPE) within a cable television network. A trusted domain is established within the user's premises within which content access, distribution, and reproduction can be controlled remotely by the network operator. The content may be distributed to secure or non-secure “output” domains consistent with the security policies enforced by secure CA, DRM, and TD clients running within the trusted domain. Legacy and retail CPE models are also supported. A network security architecture comprising an authentication proxy (AP), provisioning system (MPS), and conditional access system (CAS) is also disclosed, which can interface with a trusted authority (TA) for cryptographic element management and CPE/user device authentication.

Downloadable security and protection methods and apparatus

Apparatus and methods for provisioning of customer premise equipment (CPE) equipped with a secure microprocessor to receive e.g., digital video content by entering unique identification of the CPE at one or more servers located at the headend or other location of a content-based network. In one embodiment, the CPE comprises a download-enabled (e.g., DCAS) host with embedded cable modem and embedded set-top box functionality, and the provisioning includes enabling DOCSIS functionality of the CPE, assigning an IP address to the CPE and providing the CPE with a client image for the conditional access system chosen by the network operator. In one variant, the network operator can deactivate a provisioned device while connected to the network, as well when disconnected from the network. The network operator can also add, delete or replace conditional access client image in a provisioned device.

Apparatus and methods for provisioning in a download-enabled system

A system for protecting the digital rights of content owners allows digital media to be delivered to only those media rendering client devices that have been approved for the media content. Before delivering requested media, the media service provider may determines whether the media rendering client device that requested the media is the type of device that is authorized to receive the request media. If it is, the media service provider may transmit the media to a middleman server over a network (such as the Internet). A middleman server may then serves the media to the client device over a local network. By allowing the media content to be distributed to approved devices only, the media service provider can prevent a user from using the media in a way that is not authorized by the content owner.

Media service delivery system providing conditional access to media content from various client devices

Power consumption in a portable computing device's receive-transmit subsystem is reduced when this subsystem receives streaming media data. The portable computing device receives a first portion of the media data via a first communication channel and a second portion of the media data via a second channel. The portable computing device may obtain the first portion well in advance of receiving the second portion and may use a wireless connection to receive the second portion. The portable computing device may terminate the wireless connection once the second portion has been received, thus reducing overall power consumption in wireless device. A client application on the portable computing device reassembles the media file from the first and second portions.

Delivering media data to portable computing devices

Method and system for audio synthesis of a digital data file representing an assembly of information-bearing sounds (15) in digital form. One or more spaced apart data segments are designated as key blocks (19) and are removed from the original data file. The remainder (21) of the data file is encrypted or otherwise encoded and communicated to a selected recipient on a first channel (53). Locations, sizes and separation distances of key blocks from each other within the original data file and a selected portion of the encoding or encryption key are placed in a data supplement. The removed segments and data supplement (optional) are communicated to the selected recipient on a second channel (55) and/or at another time. The original data file is recovered by using the data supplement information, or using already available information, decoding or decrypting the encoded or encrypted data file and replacing the removed segments within the data file remainder. Neither the remainder data file nor the removed segments plus data supplement is sufficient, by itself, to allow reproduction of the original data file. Each of the remainder data file and the removed segments plus data supplement can be distributed separately and subsequently combined when authorization or license to reproduce the sounds has been obtained.

Timothy R. Bratton

Papers

Media service delivery system providing conditional access to media content from various client devices

Delivering media data to portable computing devices

Audio synthesis using digital sampling of coded waveforms