Digital content delivery via virtual private network (VPN) incorporating secured set-top devices

A system for delivery of digital media content over the Internet comprising:

• a multitude of secured set-top devices (SSDs), wherein each SSD includes:
• a main processor executing an operating system program and having a broadband connection to the Internet operably accessible to the processor and at least one input connection to a content source other than the Internet;
• means for storing digital media content, the means for storing including:
• a first portion owned by the consumer and available for storing digital copies of media content for personal use by the consumer;
• and
• a second portion licensed by the consumer and available for storing at least portions of digital copies of media content that the SSD will make available to other SSDs over the Internet;
• program means executed by the SSD for cooperatively establishing a virtual private network (VPN) over the Internet with the other SSDs to selectively transfer digital complete copies of media content stored on the second portion of the means for storing digital media content utilizing a peer-to-peer protocol;
• a multitude of digital media devices connected to at least one of the multitude of SSD, where the at least one SSD acts as a gateway device for a household network formed of the multitude of digital media devices by managing and authorizing access to the VPN;
• and
• user interface means executed by the processor for permitting the consumer to selectively control operation of the SSD, the user interface means limiting access by the consumer to the operating system program.

A secured set-top device (SSD) for delivery of digital media content over the Internet comprising:

• a main processor executing an operating system program and having a broadband connection to the Internet operably accessible to the processor and at least one input connection to a content source other than the Internet;
• means for storing digital media content, the means for storing including:
• a first portion owned by the consumer and available for storing digital copies of media content for personal use by the consumer;
• and
• a second portion licensed by the consumer and available for storing at least portions of digital copies of media content that the SSD will make available to other SSDs over the Internet;
• program means executed by the SSD for cooperatively establishing a virtual private network (VPN) over the Internet with other SSDs to selectively transfer portions of digital complete copies of media content stored on the second portion of the means for storing digital media content utilizing a peer-to-peer protocol;
• and
• user interface means executed by the processor for permitting the consumer to selectively control operation of the SSD, the user interface means limiting access by the consumer to the operating system program.

A method for delivery of digital media content over the Internet comprising:

• having at least one retailer sell secured set-top devices (SSDs) to consumers, each SSD having a unique identification, a broadband Internet connection, software for enabling a virtual private network (VPN) over the Internet and mass storage that is partitioned into a consumer portion and a VPN portion;
• providing a VPN server system that controls access to third party digital media content files stored at least in part on the VPN portion of mass storage of a plurality of SSDs in which different SSDs are owned by different consumers;
• having a consumer that purchases an SSD for one of the at least one retailers connect the SSD to the Internet and request at least one digital media content file to be delivered via the VPN to the SSD;
• tracking the consumer request to the unique identification of the SSD of the consumer and correlating that unique identification with the retailer who sold the SSD;
• and
• paying the retailer a portion of revenue generated by the consumer request for the digital media content file delivered via the VPN.