Methods and apparatus for premises content distribution

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for transfer and management of protected content in a network. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises server and renderer devices including, for example, consumer premise equipment (CPE) having a content handler application adapted to run thereon. The content handler directs requests for content, directs searches of a device's storage, and directs transfers of content into the device as well as within the device. The content handler may, in another embodiment, be adapted to include a scheduler entity which maintains a schedule of upcoming content, and is adapted to maintain and manage requests for the upcoming content by reserving tuner resources. The content handler may be further adapted to implement authentication and authorization procedures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method of sharing digital content within an ad hoc network such that one or more protections of the digital content are maintained, the method directed at least in part by a computer program running on at least one of a first computerized user device or a second computerized user device, the method comprising:
 establishing a communication channel between the first computerized user device and the second computerized user device via the ad hoc network;   receiving, at the first computerized user device from the second computerized device, data indicative of a first request to access data representative of a plurality of digital content, the plurality of digital content available at the first computerized user device;   determining authorization of the second computerized user device to access the data representative of the plurality of digital content based at least in part on receipt of the first request;   based at least in part on a determination that the second computerized user device is authorized to access the data representative of the plurality of digital content, enabling the second computerized user device to browse the data representative of the plurality of digital content;   receiving, at the first computerized user device from the second computerized user device, data indicative of a second user request to access first digital content selected from the data representative of the plurality of digital content; and   determining authorization of the second computerized user device to access the first digital content based at least in part on the second user request based at least in part on the receipt of the first request.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising, based at least in part on the determining authorization, enabling the second computerized user device to access at least a portion of the first digital content. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising determining a subscription tier associated with a user of the second computerized user device, the subscription tier being one of a higher subscription tier or a lower subscription;
 wherein the enabling of the second computerized user device to access the at least portion of the first digital content comprises, based at least in part on (i) the determination authorization of the second computerized device to access the first digital content, and (ii) a determination that the user is associated with the higher subscription tier, enabling the second computerized user device to access a full version of the first digital content.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising determining a subscription tier associated with a user of the second computerized user device, the subscription tier being one of a higher subscription tier or a lower subscription; and
 wherein the enabling of the second computerized user device to access the at least portion of the first digital content comprises, based at least in part on (i) the determining authorization of the second computerized user device to access the first digital content, and (ii) a determination that the user is associated with the lower subscription tier, enabling the second computerized user device to access only a preview version of the first digital content.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising determining a subscription tier associated with a user of the second computerized user device, the subscription tier being one of a higher subscription tier or a lower subscription; and
 wherein the enabling of the second computerized user device to access the at least portion of the first digital content comprises, based at least in part on (i) the determining authorization of the second computerized user device to access the first digital content, and (ii) a determination that the user is associated with the lower subscription tier, enabling the second computerized user device to access a full version of the first digital content for only a predetermined duration of time.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the first digital content comprises digital content available only at a future time at the first computerized client device; and
 the method further comprises, based at least in part on the determining authorization of the second computerized user device to receive the first digital content, enabling the second computerized user device to reserve one or more digital content recording resources of the first computerized user device at the future time for recording of the first digital content.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 accessing data indicative of a copy counter associated with the first digital content; and   determining whether a number of copies issued is greater than a predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 based at least in part on (i) the determining authorization of the second computerized user device to access the first digital content and (ii) a determination that the number of copies issued is less than the predetermined threshold value, enabling the second computerized user device to access the first digital content; and   based at least in part on the enabling of the second computerized user device to access the first digital content, incrementing the copy counter by one.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising, based at least in part on a determination that the number of copies issued is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold, preventing access of the first digital content to the second computerized user device to access the first digital content. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the data representative of the plurality of digital content comprises a user interface menu or listing, and the receiving data indicative of a second user request to access first digital content selected from the data representative of the plurality of digital content comprises receiving data indicative of a user selection of a display element associated with an individual one of the digital content via the user interface menu or listing. 
     
     
         49 . A first computerized entity configured for (i) data communication with at least a second computerized entity over a premises data network, and (ii) implementation of digital content rights management within the premises data network, the first computerized entity comprising:
 a data communication interface configured for data communication with at least the second computerized entity via the premises data network;   digital processor apparatus; and   data storage apparatus configured for data communication with each of the data communication interface and the digital processor apparatus, the data storage apparatus having at least one computer program stored thereon, the computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the first computerized entity to:   establish a data communication channel between the first computerized entity and the second computerized entity via at least the premises data network;   based at least in part on the establishment of the data communication channel, enable access of the second computerized entity to data representative of a menu of digital content, the digital content available at the first computerized entity;   receive, from the second computerized entity, data indicative of a user request to access first digital content selected from the menu of digital content;   determine whether the second computerized entity is authorized to receive the first digital content, the determination based at least in part on receipt of the data indicative of the user request; and   based at least in part on a determination that the second computerized entity is not authorized to receive the first digital content, prevent transmission of the first digital content to the second computerized entity.   
     
     
         50 . The first computerized entity of  claim 49 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the first computerized entity to, based at least in part on a determination that the second computerized entity is authorized to receive the first digital content, cause transmission of at least a portion of the first digital content to the second computerized entity. 
     
     
         51 . The first computerized entity of  claim 50 , wherein the determination that the second computerized entity is authorized at least in part comprises a determination of a permissible access level associated with the second computerized entity, the permissible access level comprising one of a full access level and limited access level. 
     
     
         52 . The first computerized entity of  claim 51 , wherein the causation of transmission of the at least portion of the first digital content to the second computerized entity comprises, based at least in part on (i) the determination that the second computerized entity is authorized to receive the first digital content and (ii) a determination that the access level comprises the full access level, cause transmission of a full copy of the first digital content to the second computerized entity. 
     
     
         53 . The first computerized entity of  claim 51 , wherein the causation of transmission of the the at least portion of the first digital content to the second computerized entity comprises, based at least in part on (i) the determination that the second computerized entity is authorized to access the first digital content and (ii) a determination that the access level comprises the limited access level, cause transmission of at least one of (a) a preview copy of the first digital content, or (b) a truncated copy of the first digital content to the second computerized entity. 
     
     
         54 . A computerized device configured for data communication and management of sharing digital content with one or more computerized entities over a local area communication network so as to maintain protection of the digital content, the computerized entity comprising:
 a data communication interface configured for data communication with the one or more computerized entities via the local area communication network;   digital processor apparatus; and   data storage apparatus configured for data communication with each of the data communication interface and the digital processor apparatus, the data storage apparatus having at least one computer program stored thereon, the computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the computerized device to:
 authorize at least one computerized entity of the one or more computerized entities for data communication with the computerized device; 
 based at least in part on the authorization, enable establishment of a communication channel, via at least the local area communication network, between the computerized device and the at least one computerized entity; 
 enable the at least one computerized entity to access data enabling generation of a listing of digital content, the digital content available at the computerized device; 
 receive, from the at least one computerized entity, data indicative of a user request to access first digital content selected from the listing of digital content, the first digital content having data indicative of one or more security policies associated therewith; 
 determine whether the at least one computerized entity is authorized to access the first digital content based at least in part on the data indicative of the one or more security policies; and 
 based at least in part on a determination that the at least one computerized entity is not authorized to receive the first digital content, restrict access of the at least one computerized entity to the first digital content. 
   
     
     
         55 . The computerized device of  claim 54 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the computerized device to, based at least in part on a determination that the at least one computerized entity is authorized to receive the first digital content, enable the at least one computerized entity to access at least a portion of the first digital content. 
     
     
         56 . The computerized device of  claim 55 , wherein the determination that the at least one computerized entity is authorized to receive the first digital content comprises access data indicative of a permissible access level associated with the at least one computerized entity, the permissible access level comprising one of (i) a full access level, and (ii) a limited access level. 
     
     
         57 . The computerized device of  claim 56 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the computerized device to:
 access data indicative of a duration of a distribution period associated with the first digital content;   determine whether the duration the distribution period is greater than or equal to a pre-determined threshold; and   based at least in part on (i) the at least one computerized entity being associated with the limited access level and (ii) a determination that the duration of the distribution period is greater than or equal to the pre-determined threshold, enable access of the at least one computerized entity to a full version of the first digital content.