Systems and methods for managing local storage of on-demand content
AssigneeRovi Guides, Inc.
InventorsMichael D. Ellis, Robert A. Knee, Michael L. Craner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
On-demand systems and methods are provided to manage locally-stored on-demand content. A user's equipment controls the deletion of and/or access to on-demand content from a local storage device based on constraining criteria that may include rental conditions, dynamic factors, and keys.
Claims20
A method for managing at least a portion of on-demand content provided by an on-demand server and stored in a storage device that is local to an on-demand client, the method comprising:
- receiving an on-demand rental condition, from a remote server, which constrains deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content that is stored on the storage device, in accordance with an on-demand provider's rental policies, wherein the on-demand rental condition is defined without input from a user and specifies a maximum total viewing time for the on-demand content allowed by the on-demand provider, wherein the maximum total viewing time is a total time the content plays;
- providing a plurality of viewing sessions for the content, wherein each viewing session is separated by a period of time;
- and
- controlling deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content as a function of the on-demand rental condition and the plurality of viewing sessions.
A system for managing at least a portion of on-demand content provided by an on-demand server and stored in a storage device that is local to an on-demand client, the system comprising:
- control circuitry configured to:
- receive an on-demand rental condition, from a remote server, which constrains deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content that is stored on the storage device, in accordance with an on-demand provider's rental policies, wherein the on-demand rental condition is defined without input from a user and specifies a maximum total viewing time for the on-demand content allowed by the on-demand provider, wherein the maximum total viewing time is a total time the content plays;
- provide a plurality of viewing sessions for the content, wherein each viewing session is separated by a period of time;
- and
- control deletion of the at least a portion of the on-demand content as a function of the on-demand rental condition and the plurality of viewing sessions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.