Method of sharing personal media using a digital recorder

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sharing personal media using a digital recorder allows a plurality of multimedia devices to view content stored on a DVR across a local network. The DVR records video content from broadcast signals and records video content downloaded via the Internet.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method for sharing media content, the method comprising:
 storing a media stream and metadata associated with the media stream in a memory of a first device, wherein the first device is located on a network in a home;   detecting the presence of a second device located on the network in the home;   receiving a media transfer criterion associated with the second device;   determining whether the metadata associated with the media stream matches the media transfer criterion;   in response to determining that the metadata associated with the media stream matches the media transfer criterion, transferring the media stream and a portion of the metadata from the memory of the first device to the second device via the network in the home.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 identifying a profile of a user associated with the second device;   determining the criterion based on preferences of the user stored in the profile.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein storing the media stream in the memory of the first device comprises, encrypting the media stream before storing the media stream in the memory of the first device. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein transferring the media stream from the memory of the first device to the second device comprises:
 retrieving the media stream from the memory of the first device; and   transferring the media stream to the second device, without decrypting the media stream, via the network in the home.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising, transmitting, to the second device, a key for decrypting the transferred media stream. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the criterion is received by the first device from the second device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the media stream is a first media stream, and wherein the metadata is first metadata, further comprising:
 storing a second media stream and second metadata associated with the second media stream in the memory of the first device;   determining whether the second metadata associated with the stored second media stream matches the media transfer criterion; and   in response to determining that the second metadata associated with the second media stream matches the media transfer criterion, transferring, via the network in the home, a portion of the second metadata associated with the second media stream to the second device without transferring the second media stream from the memory of the first device.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the second device, a request for the stored second media stream; and   in response to receiving the request, transferring the stored second media stream to the second device.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the request specifies a position within the stored second media stream, and wherein transferring the stored second media stream to the second device comprises:
 identifying a first portion of the stored second media stream following the position and a second portion of the stored second media stream preceding the position; and   transferring, from the memory of the first device, the first portion of the stored second media stream without transferring the second portion of the stored second media stream.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the media stream is received by the first device via a tuner associated with the first device. 
     
     
         43 . A system for sharing media content, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:
 store a media stream and metadata associated with the media stream in a memory of a first device, wherein the first device is located on a network in a home;   detect the presence of a second device located on the network in the home;   receive a media transfer criterion associated with the second device;   determine whether the metadata associated with the media stream matches the media transfer criterion;   in response to determining that the metadata associated with the media stream matches the media transfer criterion, transfer the media stream and a portion of the metadata from the memory of the first device to the second device via the network in the home.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 identify a profile of a user associated with the second device;   determine the criterion based on preferences of the user stored in the profile.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when storing the media stream in the memory of the first device, to encrypt the media stream before storing the media stream in the memory of the first device. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when transferring the media stream from the memory of the first device to the second device, to:
 retrieve the media stream from the memory of the first device; and   transfer the media stream to the second device, without decrypting the media stream, via the network in the home.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the control circuitry is further to transmit, to the second device, a key for decrypting the transferred media stream. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the criterion is received by the first device from the second device. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the media stream is a first media stream, and wherein the metadata is first metadata, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 store a second media stream and second metadata associated with the second media stream in the memory of the first device;   determine whether the second metadata associated with the stored second media stream matches the media transfer criterion; and   in response to determining that the second metadata associated with the second media stream matches the media transfer criterion, transfer, via the network in the home, a portion of the second metadata associated with the second media stream to the second device without transferring the second media stream from the memory of the first device.   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive, from the second device, a request for the stored second media stream; and   in response to receiving the request, transfer the stored second media stream to the second device.   
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the request specifies a position within the stored second media stream, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when transferring the stored second media stream to the second device, to:
 identify a first portion of the stored second media stream following the position and a second portion of the stored second media stream preceding the position; and   transfer, from the memory of the first device, the first portion of the stored second media stream without transferring the second portion of the stored second media stream.   
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 43 , further comprising a tuner configured to receive the media stream.