Business model for leasing storage space on a digital recorder

Abstract

The available amount of storage space of a fixed HDD on a CE device is adjustable via a data network. The consumer can upgrade the device via a third party service that remotely control's the HDD's settings.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of enabling an end-user to locally process content information at a quality level remotely adjustable by a service provider.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the end-user receives a higher quality in return for a higher fee.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the quality is adjustable via a data network.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the end-user has an apparatus for the local processing that is connectable to the data network for the remote adjusting.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the local processing comprises playing out of the content information; and    the quality level of the playing out is remotely adjustable by the service provider.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the content information comprises video data;    the quality level relates to at least one of a color depth and a resolution of the video data when rendered.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the local processing comprises locally storing the content information; and    the quality of the storing is remotely adjustable by the service provider.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the adjusting of the quality of the storing comprises regulating a storage capacity available to the end-user.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the regulating of the storage capacity comprises providing end-user access to a selected portion of a local storage.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the local storage comprises a HDD; and    the storage capacity is regulated by controlling a mechanical component of the HDD.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the local storage comprises a solid state memory; and    the storage capacity is regulated by controlling an address range of the memory.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the local storage comprises an ODD; and    the storage capacity is regulated by controlling a mechanical component of the ODD.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the regulating of the storage capacity comprises controlling a data format of the content information during the storing.  
     
     
         14 . A CE apparatus for processing content information, wherein: 
 the apparatus enables a user to select a specific one of multiple quality levels of the processing; and    the apparatus comprises a controller for setting the specific quality level in responsive to a signal supplied by a third party.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , comprising an input for receiving the signal from a server via a data network  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the processing comprises user-controllable recording of the information content;    the apparatus comprises a storage for the recording;    the specific quality level determines a specific storage capacity available to the user; and    the controller is coupled to the storage for setting the specific storage capacity under control of the signal.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the storage comprises at least one of: a HDD, an ODD and a solid state memory.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the processing comprises playing out the content information;    the apparatus comprises a circuit for rendering the content information;    the controller is coupled to the data rendering circuit for setting the specific quality of the rendering under control of the signal.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the content information comprises video data;    the specific quality determines at least one of a resolution of the rendered content information and a color depth of the rendered content information.    
     
     
         20 . A method of doing business comprising remotely modifying a quality of a functionality of a CE apparatus of an end-user through software control via a data network.