Method and apparatus for network content download and recording

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing content to users of a network that can be selectively recorded via the user's equipment. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions are used to provide high-speed download of the requested content to the users. The user's equipment (e.g., set-top box) is equipped with a high-density recording device which can both record the content onto a selected medium (e.g., DVD) and optionally provide copyright protection via one or more means such as limiting the number of copies that can be made, and/or digital watermarking. The network operator can also restrict the establishment of the on-demand sessions and/or release of the content to subscribers based on parameters including prior purchase of the content by the user, and the timing of the release of the same content via other distribution channels such as rental and retail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A user apparatus configured to manager content delivery over a network, said apparatus comprising:
 a first network interface configured to operatively couple said apparatus to said network;   processing apparatus in data communication with said network interface; and   a storage device in data communication with said processing apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed on said processing apparatus:
 cause said user apparatus to display to a user thereof information related to programming content which is available within said network; 
 receive, from said user, one or more requests to record individual ones of said programming content; and 
 transmit an instruction to a remotely disposed second apparatus, said instruction causing said remotely disposed second apparatus to receive and record said individual ones of said programming content from a server entity in communication with said network. 
   
     
     
         50 . The user apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said network comprises a managed content distribution network. 
     
     
         51 . The user apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said network comprises an unmanaged internetwork. 
     
     
         52 . The user apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said first network interface comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol compliant interface. 
     
     
         53 . The user apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said user apparatus comprises a smartphone. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein said first network interface comprises a cellular wireless network. 
     
     
         55 . The user apparatus of  claim 53 , further comprising a graphical user interface, said graphical user interface provided at least in part by an application operative to run on said smartphone. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein said display of information comprises display via a graphical user interface provided by an Internet website. 
     
     
         57 . A non-transitory computer-readable apparatus comprising storage media, said media comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of first instructions which are configured to, when executed:
 generate a graphical user interface configured to:
 display to a user information related to programming content available via a content delivery network; and 
 receive from said user a request to record one of said programming content; and 
   upon receipt of said request, transmit an instruction to a remotely disposed client device associated to said user via at least a wireless network interface, said instructions configured to cause said remotely disposed client device to receive, and record said one of said programming content from a server entity in said content delivery network.   
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein said computer-readable apparatus is disposed on a smartphone. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein said content delivery network comprises a managed network having a network operator associated therewith, and said graphical user interface is generated via an application provided by said network operator. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein said smartphone is operatively coupled to said remotely disposed client device via an existing network infrastructure via at least one of: (i) a cellular wireless network; and (ii) an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol interface. 
     
     
         61 . A premises device configured to manage content delivery over a content distribution network, said premises device being operatively coupled to at least one client device via a premises network, said premises device comprising:
 at least one interface;   a processing apparatus in data communication with said at least one interface; and   a storage apparatus in data communication with said processing apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed on said processing apparatus:
 receive a request generated by said at least one client device, said request comprising at least information identifying at least one selected programming content; 
 receive said at least one selected programming content from a server entity within said content distribution network; and 
 record said at least one selected programming content at said storage apparatus. 
   
     
     
         62 . The premises device of  claim 61 , wherein said at least one client device comprises a smartphone wirelessly coupled to said premises network via at least one of: (i) a cellular wireless network; and (ii) an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol interface. 
     
     
         63 . The premises device of  claim 62 , wherein said smartphone is operatively coupled to said via a cellular wireless network. 
     
     
         64 . The premises device of  claim 61 , wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to generate a graphical user interface via a smartphone application. 
     
     
         65 . The premises device of  claim 61 , wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to generate a graphical user interface via an Internet website.