Secure video distribution

Abstract

Apparatus having corresponding methods, business methods, and computer programs comprises an input circuit to receive packets of encrypted encoded video data from a network; a storage device to store the encrypted encoded video data; a retrieve circuit to retrieve the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device; a decrypt circuit to decrypt the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while the retrieve circuit retrieves the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device; and an output circuit to transmit a signal representing the encoded video data while the decrypt circuit decrypts the encrypted encoded video data.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an input circuit to receive packets of encrypted encoded video data from a network;   a storage device to store the encrypted encoded video data;   a retrieve circuit to retrieve the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device;   a decrypt circuit to decrypt the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while the retrieve circuit retrieves the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device; and   an output circuit to transmit a signal representing the encoded video data while the decrypt circuit decrypts the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the storage device does not store any substantial portion of the encoded video data.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 a queue circuit to determine a number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   a further output circuit to transmit a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a control circuit to receive a command to discard one of the videos stored on the storage device;   wherein the storage device discards the one of the videos in response to the control circuit;   wherein the queue circuit then determines the current number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   wherein the further output circuit then transmits a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a further input circuit to receive the signal representing the encoded video data;   a decode circuit to decode the encoded video data into video data while the further input circuit receives the signal representing the encoded video data; and   a further output circuit to output a multimedia signal representing the video data while the decode circuit decodes the encoded video data.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 :
 wherein the apparatus does not store any substantial portion of the video data or the encoded video data.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first network port to receive the packets of encrypted encoded video data and first other data from the network, and to transmit second other data to the network;   a second network port to transmit the first other data to a local network, and to receive the second other data from the local network; and   a switch to pass the packets of encrypted encoded video data from the first network port to the input circuit, and to pass the first and second other data between the first and second network ports.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first network port receives first voice data and transmits second voice data, further comprising:
 an analog telephone interface to transmit first analog telephone signals representing the first voice data, and to receive second analog telephone signals representing the second voice data;   wherein the switch passes the first and second voice data between the first network port and the analog telephone interface.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the signal representing the encoded video data is a wireless signal which is compliant with at least one standard selected from the group consisting of IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20.   
   
   
       14 . An apparatus comprising:
 input means for receiving packets of encrypted encoded video data from a network;   storage means for storing the encrypted encoded video data;   retrieve means for retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage means;   decrypt means for decrypting the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while the retrieve means retrieves the encrypted encoded video data from the storage means; and   output means for transmitting a signal representing the encoded video data while the decrypt means decrypts the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 :
 wherein the storage means does not store any substantial portion of the encoded video data.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 queue means for determining a number of the videos stored on the storage means; and   further output means for transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage means.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 control means for receiving a command to discard one of the videos stored on the storage means;   wherein the storage means discards the one of the videos in response to the control means;   wherein the queue means then determines the current number of the videos stored on the storage means; and   wherein the further output means then transmits a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage means.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 further input means for receiving the signal representing the encoded video data;   decode means for decoding the encoded video data into video data while the further input means receives the signal representing the encoded video data; and   further output means for outputting a multimedia signal representing the video data while the decode means decodes the encoded video data.   
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 :
 wherein the apparatus does not store any substantial portion of the video data or the encoded video data.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 first network port means for receiving the packets of encrypted encoded video data and first other data from the network, and for transmitting second other data to the network;   second network port means for transmitting the first other data to a local network, and for receiving the second other data from the local network; and   switch means for passing the packets of encrypted encoded video data from the first network port means to the input means, and for passing the first and second other data between the first and second network port means.   
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the first network port means receives first voice data and transmits second voice data, further comprising:
 analog telephone interface means for transmitting first analog telephone signals representing the first voice data, and for receiving second analog telephone signals representing the second voice data;   wherein the switch means passes the first and second voice data between the first network port means and the analog telephone interface means.   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 14 :
 wherein the signal representing the encoded video data is a wireless signal which is compliant with at least one standard selected from the group consisting of IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20.   
   
   
       27 . A method comprising:
 receiving packets of encrypted encoded video data from a network;   storing the encrypted encoded video data on a storage device;   retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device;   decrypting the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device; and   transmitting a signal representing the encoded video data while decrypting the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 :
 wherein the storage device does not store any substantial portion of the encoded video data.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 determining a number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 receiving a command to discard one of the videos stored on the storage device;   discarding the one of the videos in response to the command;   determining the current number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 receiving the signal representing the encoded video data;   decoding the encoded video data into video data while receiving the signal representing the encoded video data; and   outputting a multimedia signal representing the video data while decoding the encoded video data.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 receiving the packets of encrypted encoded video data and first other data from the network;   transmitting second other data to the network;   transmitting the first other data to a local network;   receiving the second other data from the local network;   passing the packets of encrypted encoded video data to the storage device; and   passing the first and second other data between the network and the local network.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 receiving first voice data from the network;   transmitting second voice data to the network;   transmitting first analog telephone signals representing the first voice data; and   receiving second analog telephone signals representing the second voice data.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the signal representing the encoded video data is a wireless signal which is compliant with at least one standard selected from the group consisting of IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20. 
   
   
       39 . A computer program executable on a processor, comprising:
 instructions for storing encrypted encoded video data on a storage device, wherein the encrypted encoded video data is received in packets from a network;   instructions for retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device; and   instructions for decrypting the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device;   wherein a signal representing the encoded video data is transmitted while decrypting the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       40 . The computer program of  claim 39 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       41 . The computer program of  claim 39 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       42 . The computer program of  claim 39 :
 wherein the storage device does not store any substantial portion of the encoded video data.   
   
   
       43 . The computer program of  claim 39 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 determining a number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       44 . The computer program of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 instructions for discarding one of the videos stored on the storage device in response to a received command to discard the one of the videos;   instructions for determining the current number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   instructions for transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       45 . The computer program of  claim 39 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       46 . The computer program of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 instructions for decoding the encoded video data into video data while receiving the signal representing the encoded video data;   wherein a multimedia signal representing the video data is outputted while decoding the encoded video data.   
   
   
       47 . The computer program of  claim 46 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       48 . The computer program of  claim 39 , wherein the signal representing the encoded video data is a wireless signal which is compliant with at least one standard selected from the group consisting of IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20. 
   
   
       49 . An apparatus comprising:
 an input circuit to receive packets of encrypted encoded video data from a network;   a storage device to store the encrypted encoded video data;   a retrieve circuit to retrieve the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device; and   an output circuit to transmit a signal representing the encrypted encoded video data while the retrieve circuit retrieves the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device.   
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 49 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 a queue circuit to determine a number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   a further output circuit to transmit a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 a control circuit to receive a command to discard one of the videos stored on the storage device;   wherein the storage device discards the one of the videos in response to the control circuit;   wherein the queue circuit then determines the current number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   wherein the further output circuit then transmits a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 a further input circuit to receive the signal representing the encrypted encoded video data;   a decrypt circuit to decrypt the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while the further input circuit receives the signal representing the encrypted encoded video data;   a decode circuit to decode the encoded video data into video data while the decrypt circuit decrypts the encoded video data; and   a further output circuit to output a multimedia signal representing the video data while the decode circuit decodes the encoded video data.   
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 :
 wherein the apparatus does not store any substantial portion of the video data or the encoded video data.   
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 a first network port to receive the packets of encrypted encoded video data and first other data from the network, and to transmit second other data to the network;   a second network port to transmit the first other data to a local network, and to receive the second other data from the local network; and   a switch to pass the packets of encrypted encoded video data from the first network port to the input circuit, and to pass the first and second other data between the first and second network ports.   
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the first network port receives first voice data and transmits second voice data, further comprising:
 an analog telephone interface to transmit first analog telephone signals representing the first voice data, and to receive second analog telephone signals representing the second voice data;   wherein the switch passes the first and second voice data between the first network port and the analog telephone interface.   
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 49 :
 wherein the signal representing the encrypted encoded video data is a wireless signal which is compliant with at least one standard selected from the group consisting of IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20.   
   
   
       61 . An apparatus comprising:
 input means for receiving packets of encrypted encoded video data from a network;   storage means for storing the encrypted encoded video data;   retrieve means for retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage means; and   output means for transmitting a signal representing the encrypted encoded video data while the retrieve means retrieves the encrypted encoded video data from the storage means.   
   
   
       62 . The apparatus of  claim 61 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       63 . The apparatus of  claim 61 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       64 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 queue means for determining a number of the videos stored on the storage means; and   further output means for transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage means.   
   
   
       65 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , further comprising:
 control means for receiving a command to discard one of the videos stored on the storage means;   wherein the storage means discards the one of the videos in response to the control means;   wherein the queue means then determines the current number of the videos stored on the storage means; and   wherein the further output means then transmits a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage means.   
   
   
       66 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       67 . The apparatus of  claim 66 , further comprising:
 further input means for receiving the signal representing the encrypted encoded video data;   decrypt means for decrypting the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while the further input means receives the signal representing the encrypted encoded video data;   decode means for decoding the encoded video data into video data while the decrypt means decrypts the encoded video data; and   further output means for outputting a multimedia signal representing the video data while the decode means decodes the encoded video data.   
   
   
       68 . The apparatus of  claim 67 :
 wherein the apparatus does not store any substantial portion of the video data or the encoded video data.   
   
   
       69 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       70 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , further comprising:
 first network port means for receiving the packets of encrypted encoded video data and first other data from the network, and for transmitting second other data to the network;   second network port means for transmitting the first other data to a local network, and for receiving the second other data from the local network; and   switch means for passing the packets of encrypted encoded video data from the first network port means to the input means, and for passing the first and second other data between the first and second network port means.   
   
   
       71 . The apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein the first network port means receives first voice data and transmits second voice data, further comprising:
 analog telephone interface means for transmitting first analog telephone signals representing the first voice data, and for receiving second analog telephone signals representing the second voice data;   wherein the switch means passes the first and second voice data between the first network port means and the analog telephone interface means.   
   
   
       72 . The apparatus of  claim 61 :
 wherein the signal representing the encrypted encoded video data is a wireless signal which is compliant with at least one standard selected from the group consisting of IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20.   
   
   
       73 . A method comprising:
 receiving packets of encrypted encoded video data from a network;   storing the encrypted encoded video data on a storage device;   retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device; and   transmitting a signal representing the encrypted encoded video data while retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device.   
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 73 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 determining a number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising:
 receiving a command to discard one of the videos stored on the storage device;   discarding the one of the videos in response to the command;   determining the current number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 78 , further comprising:
 receiving the signal representing the encrypted encoded video data;   decrypting the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while receiving the signal representing the encrypted encoded video data;   decoding the encoded video data into video data while decrypting the encoded video data; and   outputting a multimedia signal representing the video data while decoding the encoded video data.   
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising:
 receiving the packets of encrypted encoded video data and first other data from the network;   transmitting second other data to the network;   transmitting the first other data to a local network;   receiving the second other data from the local network;   passing the packets of encrypted encoded video data from network to the storage device; and   passing the first and second other data between the network and the local network.   
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising:
 receiving first voice data from the network;   transmitting second voice data to the network;   transmitting first analog telephone signals representing the first voice data; and   receiving second analog telephone signals representing the second voice data.   
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the signal representing the encoded video data is a wireless signal which is compliant with at least one standard selected from the group consisting of IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20. 
   
   
       84 . A computer program executable on a processor, comprising:
 instructions for storing encrypted encoded video data on a storage device, wherein the encrypted encoded video data is received in packets from a network; and   instructions for retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device; and   wherein a signal representing the encrypted encoded video data is transmitted while retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device.   
   
   
       85 . The computer program of  claim 84 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       86 . The computer program of  claim 84 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       87 . The computer program of  claim 84 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 instructions for determining a number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   instructions for transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       88 . The computer program of  claim 84 , further comprising:
 instructions for discarding one of the videos stored on the storage device in response to a received command;   instructions for determining the current number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   instructions for transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       89 . The computer program of  claim 84 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       90 . The computer program of  claim 89 , further comprising:
 instructions for decrypting the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while receiving a signal representing the encrypted encoded video data; and   instructions for decoding the encoded video data into video data while decrypting the encoded video data;   wherein a multimedia signal representing the video data is outputted while decoding the encoded video data.   
   
   
       91 . The computer program of  claim 90 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       92 . The computer program of  claim 84 , wherein the signal representing the encoded video data is a wireless signal which is compliant with at least one standard selected from the group consisting of IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20. 
   
   
       93 . An apparatus comprising:
 an input circuit to receive packets of encrypted encoded video data from a network;   a storage device to store the encrypted encoded video data;   a retrieve circuit to retrieve the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device;   a decrypt circuit to decrypt the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while the retrieve circuit retrieves the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device;   a decode circuit to decode the encoded video data into video data while the decrypt circuit decrypts the encrypted encoded video data; and   an output circuit to output a multimedia signal representing the video data while the decode circuit decodes the encoded video data.   
   
   
       94 . The apparatus of  claim 93 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       95 . The apparatus of  claim 93 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       96 . The apparatus of  claim 93 :
 wherein the storage device does not store any substantial portion of the encoded video data or the video data.   
   
   
       97 . The apparatus of  claim 93 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 a queue circuit to determine a number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   a further output circuit to transmit a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       98 . The apparatus of  claim 93 , further comprising:
 a control circuit to receive a command to discard one of the videos stored on the storage device;   wherein the storage device discards the one of the videos in response to the control circuit;   wherein the queue circuit then determines the current number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   wherein the further output circuit then transmits a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       99 . The apparatus of  claim 93 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       100 . The apparatus of  claim 93 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       101 . The apparatus of  claim 93 , further comprising:
 a first network port to receive the packets of encrypted encoded video data and first other data from the network, and to transmit second other data to the network;   a second network port to transmit the first other data to a local network, and to receive the second other data from the local network; and   a switch to pass the packets of encrypted encoded video data from the first network port to the input circuit, and to pass the first and second other data between the first and second network ports.   
   
   
       102 . The apparatus of  claim 101 , wherein the first network port receives first voice data and transmits second voice data, further comprising:
 an analog telephone interface to transmit first analog telephone signals representing the first voice data, and to receive second analog telephone signals representing the second voice data;   wherein the switch passes the first and second voice data between the first network port and the analog telephone interface.   
   
   
       103 . An apparatus comprising:
 input means for receiving packets of encrypted encoded video data from a network;   storage means for storing the encrypted encoded video data;   retrieve means for retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage means;   decrypt means for decrypting the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while the retrieve means retrieves the encrypted encoded video data from the storage means;   decode means for decoding the encoded video data into video data while the decrypt means decrypts the encrypted encoded video data; and   output means for outputting a multimedia signal representing the video data while the decode means decodes the encoded video data.   
   
   
       104 . The apparatus of  claim 103 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       105 . The apparatus of  claim 103 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       106 . The apparatus of  claim 103 :
 wherein the storage means does not store any substantial portion of the encoded video data or the video data.   
   
   
       107 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 queue means for determining a number of the videos stored on the storage means; and   further output means for transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage means.   
   
   
       108 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , further comprising:
 control means for receiving a command to discard one of the videos stored on the storage means;   wherein the storage means discards the one of the videos in response to the control circuit;   wherein the queue means then determines the current number of the videos stored on the storage means; and   wherein the further output means then transmits a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage means.   
   
   
       109 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       110 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       111 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , further comprising:
 first network port means for receiving the packets of encrypted encoded video data and first other data from the network, and for transmitting second other data to the network;   second network port means for transmitting the first other data to a local network, and for receiving the second other data from the local network; and   switch means for passing the packets of encrypted encoded video data from the first network port means to the input means, and for passing the first and second other data between the first and second network port means.   
   
   
       112 . The apparatus of  claim 111 , wherein the first network port means receives first voice data and transmits second voice data, further comprising:
 analog telephone interface means for transmitting first analog telephone signals representing the first voice data, and for receiving second analog telephone signals representing the second voice data;   wherein the switch means passes the first and second voice data between the first network port means and the analog telephone interface means.   
   
   
       113 . A method comprising:
 receiving packets of encrypted encoded video data from a network;   storing the encrypted encoded video data on a storage device;   retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device;   decrypting the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device;   decoding the encoded video data into video data while decrypting the encrypted encoded video data; and   outputting a multimedia signal representing the video data while decoding the encoded video data.   
   
   
       114 . The method of  claim 113 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       115 . The method of  claim 113 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       116 . The method of  claim 113 :
 wherein the storage device does not store any substantial portion of the encoded video data or the video data.   
   
   
       117 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 determining a number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       118 . The method of  claim 113 , further comprising:
 receiving a command to discard one of the videos stored on the storage device;   discarding the one of the videos in response to the command;   determining the current number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       119 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       120 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       121 . The method of  claim 113 , further comprising:
 receiving the packets of encrypted encoded video data and first other data from the network;   transmitting second other data to the network;   transmitting the first other data to a local network;   receiving the second other data from the local network;   passing the packets of encrypted encoded video data from network to the storage device; and   passing the first and second other data between the network and the local network.   
   
   
       122 . The method of  claim 113 , further comprising:
 receiving first voice data from the network;   transmitting second voice data to the network;   transmitting first analog telephone signals representing the first voice data; and   receiving second analog telephone signals representing the second voice data.   
   
   
       123 . A computer program executable on a processor, comprising:
 instructions for storing encrypted encoded video data on a storage device, wherein the encrypted encoded video data is received in packets from a network;   instructions for retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device;   instructions for decrypting the encrypted encoded video data into encoded video data while retrieving the encrypted encoded video data from the storage device; and   instructions for decoding the encoded video data into video data while decrypting the encrypted encoded video data;   wherein a multimedia signal representing the video data is outputted while decoding the encoded video data.   
   
   
       124 . The computer program of  claim 123 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Internet Protocol packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       125 . The computer program of  claim 123 :
 wherein the packets of encrypted encoded video data comprise Ethernet packets of the encrypted encoded video data.   
   
   
       126 . The computer program of  claim 123 :
 wherein the storage device does not store any substantial portion of the encoded video data or the video data.   
   
   
       127 . The computer program of  claim 123 , wherein the video data represents one or more videos, further comprising:
 instructions for determining a number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   instructions for transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       128 . The computer program of  claim 123 , further comprising:
 discarding one of the videos stored on the storage device in response to a received command;   instructions for determining the current number of the videos stored on the storage device; and   instructions for transmitting a message to the network, the message representing the current number of the videos stored on the storage device.   
   
   
       129 . The computer program of  claim 123 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       130 . The computer program of  claim 123 , wherein the multimedia signal comprises a high-definition television signal. 
   
   
       131 . A business method comprising:
 providing a list of available encrypted videos;   receiving selections of one or more of the encrypted videos from a customer;   adding identifiers of the selected encrypted videos to a queue for the customer;   receiving an indication of a number of the encrypted videos stored on a storage device associated with the customer; and   electronically transmitting one of the encrypted videos having one of the identifiers in the queue to the storage device when the number of the encrypted videos stored on the storage device is less than a predetermined maximum number.   
   
   
       132 . The business method of  claim 131 , further comprising at least one of:
 billing the customer at regular intervals; and   billing the customer for each of the encrypted videos transmitted to the customer.   
   
   
       133 . The business method of  claim 131 , further comprising:
 removing an identifier of the one of the encrypted videos from the queue after transmitting the one of the encrypted videos to the storage device.   
   
   
       134 . A computer program executable on a processor, comprising:
 instructions for providing a list of available encrypted videos;   instructions for adding identifiers of one or more of the encrypted videos to a queue for a customer in response to receiving selections of the one or more of the encrypted videos from the customer; and   instructions for electronically transmitting one of the encrypted videos having one of the identifiers in the queue to the storage device when the number of the encrypted videos stored on the storage device is less than a predetermined maximum number.   
   
   
       135 . The computer program of  claim 134 , further comprising at least one of:
 instructions for billing the customer at regular intervals; and   instructions for billing the customer for each of the encrypted videos transmitted to the customer.   
   
   
       136 . The computer program of  claim 134 , further comprising:
 instructions for removing an identifier of the one of the encrypted videos from the queue after transmitting the one of the encrypted videos to the storage device.