Personalized Network Storage for Copyright-Controlled Content Uploads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current PVR and NPVR systems face challenges in balancing copyright preservation with the convenience and flexibility of content upload and storage, particularly due to bandwidth restrictions and legal concerns regarding unauthorized reproduction and distribution of content.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that enable content stored on a client device to be automatically uploaded to a network storage entity, where it is made available for subsequent streaming or download, while ensuring copyright protection by managing content uploads based on copyright considerations and optimizing storage to prevent duplicate copies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If content is automatically uploaded from client device to network storage, then user convenience and content accessibility are improved, but bandwidth consumption and copyright protection risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the content at the network storage location while maintaining the original at the client device. This allows the content to be accessible from multiple locations without requiring continuous bandwidth consumption for synchronization, resolving the contradiction between user convenience and bandwidth usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary upload of content to network storage before the user needs to access it from multiple devices. This preliminary action ensures content availability while allowing bandwidth consumption to occur during off-peak times, reducing the impact on user experience.
2Adaptability or versatility
If content is uploaded to network storage, then content availability for streaming and download is improved, but copyright protection and control over content distribution become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The network storage system acts as an intermediary between the client device and end users. It provides controlled access to the uploaded content through authentication and authorization mechanisms, ensuring that copyright protection is maintained while still allowing legitimate streaming and download operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network storage continuously monitors and tracks content access, usage patterns, and distribution. This feedback enables the system to enforce copyright policies, detect unauthorized distribution, and maintain control over content while providing broad availability.
3Quantity of substance
If network storage is used for content upload, then storage capacity and accessibility are improved, but system complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network storage system is designed to handle multiple functions including content storage, content delivery, access control, and usage monitoring within a single unified platform. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems, thereby managing complexity while providing extensive storage capacity and accessibility.
4Reliability
If multiple copies of content are stored across the network, then content accessibility and reliability are improved, but storage efficiency and copyright control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system strategically creates copies of content only when necessary for accessibility and redundancy, rather than maintaining multiple copies by default. It uses intelligent copy management to replicate content across the network based on access patterns, storage capacity, and reliability requirements, optimizing both storage efficiency and content accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
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.