Audio visual player apparatus and system and method of content distribution using the same

A system for acquiring and distributing user profile data in a networked environment, the system comprising:

• a user profile storage storing a user profile;
• a user-operated device including a communications system for determining when there is network connectivity to the user profile storage and for establishing a communication pathway to the user profile storage when available, using said communication pathway;
• a media player for storage and playback of digital media content;
• a user profile content selector operated by the user to make a selection for a user profile;
• a transmitter for communicating the user profile to the user profile storage;
• and
• a receiver that receives user profile from the user profile storage.

A method of acquiring and distributing digital media content in a networked environment comprising:

• storing digital media content data on a media storage means;
• storing user profile data on a data storage means,
• creating communication pathways to said media storage means and said data storage means,
• creating a list of modifications to said user profile data,
• modifying said user profile data on said data storage means based upon said list,
• selecting content from within said media storage means based upon said modified data, and
• transmitting content data to the portable device based upon said modified data.

A system for acquiring and distributing digital media content in a networked environment, the system comprising:

• a content source storing user content,
• a user-operated device including a communications subsystem for determining when there is network connectivity to the content source and for establishing a communication pathway to the user profile content source when possible, using said communication pathway,
• a media player for storage and play back of digital media content,
• a content selector operated by the content source to make a selection based upon said user profile content, and
• a receiver that receives selected content from said content source;
• wherein said content source releases the selected content to said user-operated device if said user operated device is authenticated by said authentication system.