System and method for content sharing

Abstract

A video content system includes a head end server module and a content-sharing server coupled to a video content network. Also included is a converged premises gateway module coupled to the video content network at a location remote from the head end server module and the content-sharing server. The converged premises gateway module includes a processor and a video content network interface coupled to the processor and the video content network and configured for communication with the head end server module over the video content network. The gateway module also includes a memory module having a predetermined storage location for content to be shared with the content-sharing server and a local area network configured at least for distribution of video content within the remote location. The system further includes an upload module configured to cause the content in the predetermined storage location to be uploaded to the content-sharing server.

1 . A video content system comprising:
 a head end server module;   a content-sharing server;   a video content network coupled to said head end server module and said content-sharing server;   a converged premises gateway module coupled to said video content network at a location remote from said head end server module and said content-sharing server, said converged premises gateway module in turn comprising:
 a processor; 
 a video content network interface coupled to said processor and said video content network and configured for communication with said head end server module over said video content network; 
 a memory module having a predetermined storage location for content to be shared with said content-sharing server; 
 a local area network interface configured at least for distribution of video content within said remote location; and 
   an upload module configured to cause said content in said predetermined storage location to be uploaded to said content-sharing server.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said head end server module and said content-sharing server are collocated in a head end of said video content network. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content-sharing server is located remotely from said head end server module at a location associated with a third party service provider. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content to be shared comprises user-generated content. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said memory module comprises at least non-volatile memory and wherein said predetermined storage location comprises at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said upload module is configured to periodically scan said at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory for new content and cause said new content to be uploaded to said content-sharing server. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one pre-determined directory is user-selectable. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one pre-determined directory is pre-set by an operator of said video-content network. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content-sharing server comprises an associated access-control module to limit access to said content uploaded to said content-sharing server to pre-determined entities. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said access-control module is configured to permit write access to said content-sharing server by certain of said pre-determined entities. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content-sharing server is Internet-accessible. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content-sharing server is accessible to persons wishing to access said content to be shared via said video content network. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said upload module comprises a push agent executable on said processor of said gateway module. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said upload module comprises a pull module accessible to said content-sharing server. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said upload module is configured to cause said content in said predetermined storage location to be uploaded to said content-sharing server over said video content network. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said gateway module further comprises a telephony interface in data communication with said video content network interface, said telephony interface being configured to transmit packetized voice data to said head end server module via said video content network interface. 
   
   
       17 . A method for sharing content from: a converged premises gateway module coupled to a video content network having a head end server module, to: a content-sharing server, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one user premises with said converged premises gateway module, said user premises being remote from said content-sharing server and said head end server module, said converged premises gateway module comprising:
 a processor; 
 a video content network interface coupled to said processor and said video content network for communication with said head end server module over said video content network; 
 a memory module having a predetermined storage location for content to be shared with said content-sharing server; and 
 a local area network interface configured at least for distribution of video content within said user premises; 
   storing said content to be shared in said predetermined storage location; and   causing said content in said predetermined storage location to be uploaded to said content-sharing server.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said head end server module and said content-sharing server are collocated in a head end of said video content network. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said content-sharing server is located remotely from said head end server module at a location associated with a third party service provider. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said content to be shared comprises user-generated content. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said memory module comprises at least non-volatile memory and wherein said predetermined storage location comprises at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said step of causing said content in said predetermined storage location to be uploaded to said content-sharing server comprises a push agent executable on said processor periodically scanning said at least one predetermined directory of said non-volatile memory for new content and causing said new content to be uploaded to said content-sharing server. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said step of causing said content in said predetermined storage location to be uploaded to said content-sharing server comprises a pull module accessible to said content-sharing server periodically scanning said at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory for new content and causing said new content to be uploaded to said content-sharing server. 
   
   
       24 . A converged premises gateway module for interconnection with a content-sharing server and a video content network having a head end server module, at a location remote from said content-sharing server and said head end server module, said converged premises gateway module comprising:
 a processor;   a video content network interface coupled to said processor and configured for coupling to the video content network and for communication with the head end server module over the video content network;   a memory module having a predetermined storage location for content to be shared with the content-sharing server;   a local area network interface configured at least for distribution of video content within said remote location; and   an agent executable on said processor and configured to cause said content in said predetermined storage location to be uploaded to the content-sharing server over the video content network.   
   
   
       25 . The module of  claim 24 , further comprising a telephony interface in data communication with said video content network interface, said telephony interface being configured to transmit packetized voice data to the head end server module via said video content network interface. 
   
   
       26 . A method for sharing content from: a content-sharing server, to: a converged premises gateway module coupled to a video content network having a head end server module, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one user premises with said converged premises gateway module, said user premises being remote from said content-sharing server and said head end server module, said converged premises gateway module comprising:
 a processor; 
 a video content network interface coupled to said processor and said video content network for communication with said head end server module over said video content network; 
 a memory module having a predetermined storage location for content to be shared with said content-sharing server; and 
 a local area network interface configured at least for distribution of video content within said user premises; 
   accepting upload of said content to be shared to said content-sharing server from a location outside said user premises; and   causing said content in said content-sharing server to be downloaded to said predetermined storage location.