Multimedia network system with content importation, content exportation, and integrated content management

Abstract

This system provides wired and/or wireless access throughout a multimedia network built on a distributed architecture which can be transparent to the user. This multimedia network includes content which is imported or generated within the network. The system allows for the content provider to determine the license status of content and update the license status of content which was previously provided by that provider. The external content can be accessed in real time or downloaded and stored within the system for later access at the convenience of the user. The usage of some content is controlled by the use of encryption and other protection methods. The system allows for storage of live video by storing the digitized video and allowing the user to control how, when and where the content is viewed. The system makes available multiple multimedia services to all users in the network or connected via the internet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multimedia management system, comprising:
 a first electronic device communicatively connected to a local area network and a wide area network;   a second electronic device communicatively connected to the local area network and the wide area network;   a remote control device configured to control at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device in the local area network via a wireless signal; and   an external content provider device communicatively connected to the first electronic device and the second electronic device via the wide area network;
 the first electronic device being configured to:
 receive a video stream from the external content provider device via the wide area network; 
 record the video stream from the external content provider device on a local storage associated with the first electronic device; 
 receive a request from a user to record the video stream from the external content provider device at a specified time; 
 determine whether to record the video stream at the specified time based at least in part upon an availability of a tuner associated with the first electronic device to receive the video stream; 
 in response to a determination that the tuner associated with the first electronic device is available:
 record the video stream; 
 
 in response to a determination that the tuner associated with the first electronic device is unavailable:
 send a request to the second electronic device to record the video stream at the specified time; 
 receive information from the second electronic device regarding the availability of a second tuner to record the video stream from the external content provider device at the specified time; 
 present recording options to the user on a display for selection; 
 receive the selection from the user via the remote control device; and 
 implement the selection received from the user; 
 
 
 the second electronic device being configured to:
 receive the video stream from the external content provider device via the wide area network; 
 record the video stream from the external content provider device on a local storage associated with the second electronic device; 
 receive a request from first electronic device to record the video stream from the external content provider device at the specified time; 
 determine whether to record the video stream from the external content provider device at the specified time; and 
 send a notification to the first electronic device in response to determining to record the video stream from the external content provider device at the specified time; 
 
 the remote control device being configured to:
 send a first command to the first electronic device to record the video stream from the external content provider device at the specified time on the second electronic device; and 
 abandon recording when the selection made by the user indicates abandonment. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The multimedia management system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device and the remote control device communicate via a wireless communication comprising at least one of: an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, a Bluetooth signal, and a Wi-Fi signal. 
     
     
         3 . The multimedia management system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the electronic devices is further configured to generate a program guide for display on a display device. 
     
     
         4 . The multimedia management system of  claim 1 , wherein the video stream is received as broadcast television content. 
     
     
         5 . The multimedia management system of  claim 1 , wherein the video stream is received via a source on the wide area network. 
     
     
         6 . The multimedia management system of  claim 1 , wherein video stream is received in a television broadcast format. 
     
     
         7 . The multimedia management system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some communication between the electronic device and the external content provider device is encrypted. 
     
     
         8 . The multimedia management system of  claim 7 , wherein at least some of the encryption employs public key-private key encryption. 
     
     
         9 . The multimedia management system of  claim 1 , wherein the external content provider device is further configured to provide a schedule of programming information identifying the video stream to be selected. 
     
     
         10 . The multimedia management system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electronic device, the second electronic device, and the remote control device employs a graphical user interface (GUI). 
     
     
         11 . A method of managing multimedia, comprising:
 receiving, via a first electronic device, a video stream from an external content provider device via a wide area network;   recording, via the first electronic device, the video stream sent from the external content provider device on a local storage;   receiving, via the first electronic device, a request from a user to record the video stream from the external content provider device at a specified time;   determining, via the first electronic device, whether to record the video stream at the specified time based at least in part upon an availability of a tuner associated with the first electronic device to receive the video stream;   in response to a determination that the tuner associated with the first electronic device is available:
 recording, via the first electronic device, the video stream; 
   in response to a determination that the tuner associated with the first electronic device is unavailable:
 sending, via the first electronic device, a request to a second electronic device to record the video stream at the specified time; 
 receiving, via the first electronic device, information from the second electronic device regarding an availability of a tuner associated with the second electronic device to record the video stream from the external content provider device at the specified time; 
 presenting, via the first electronic device, recording options to the user on a display for selection; 
 receiving, via the first electronic device, the selection from the user via a remote control device; 
 implementing, via the first electronic device, the selection received from the user; 
   receiving, via the second electronic device, the video stream from the external content provider device via the wide area network;   recording, via the second electronic device, the video stream from the external content provider device on a local storage;   receiving, via the second electronic device, a request from first electronic device to record the video stream from the external content provider device at the specified time;   determining, via the second electronic device, whether to record the video stream from the external content provider device at the specified time;   sending, via the second electronic device, a notification to the first electronic device in response to determining to record the video stream from the external content provider device at the specified time;   sending, via the remote control device, a first command to the first electronic device to record the video stream from the external content provider device at the specified time on the second electronic device; and   abandoning, via the remote control device, recording when the selection made by the user indicates abandonment.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device and the at least one remote control device communicate via a wireless communication comprising at least one of: an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, a Bluetooth signal, and a Wi-Fi signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device is further configured to generate a program guide for display on a display device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the video stream is received as broadcast television content. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the video stream is received via a source on the wide area network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein video stream is received in a television broadcast format. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least some communication between the electronic device and the external content provider device is encrypted. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least some of the encryption employs public key-private key encryption. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing, via the external content provider device, a schedule of programming information identifying the video stream to be selected. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first electronic device, the second electronic device, and the remote control device employs a graphical user interface (GUI).