Apparatus and methods for rights-managed content and data delivery

Consumer premises equipment (CPE) for use in a content delivery network, comprising:

• a network interface adapted to:
• transmit a request for information regarding a subscriber's rights to content;
• receive said requested information;
• transmit a request for content;
• and
• receive said requested content;
• a storage apparatus adapted to store said information;
• and
• a digital processor adapted to determine, based at least in part on said information, whether said subscriber has a right to access said requested content, and if so providing said requested content to said user;
• wherein said requested content is received irrespective of whether said subscriber has a right to access said requested content or not.

A method for determining a set of rights for a subscriber to content in a content delivery network, said method comprising:

• receiving a request for said set of rights from said subscriber at a client device;
• associating said client device to said subscriber's account;
• determining said set of rights for said subscriber based at least in part on information obtained from said subscriber's account;
• and
• transmitting said set of rights to said subscriber at said client device.

A method of determining a user's rights to access requested content at a client device, comprising:

• receiving a request for content;
• accessing a profile comprising said user's rights to access a plurality of content;
• comparing information relating to said requested content to said profile;
• if said profile provides said user with a right to access said requested content, providing said requested content to said user;
• and
• if said profile fails to provide said user with said right to access said requested content, not providing said requested content to said user.

A client device for use in a content delivery network, comprising:

• a radio frequency (RF) front end interface;
• a plurality of back end interfaces;
• a storage apparatus;
• and
• a digital processor, said digital processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said program comprising a plurality of instructions which when executed:
• request information regarding a subscriber's rights to access a plurality of content via said RF front end interface;
• request one of said plurality of content from at least one content;
• determine based at least in part on said information whether said subscriber is given a right to access said requested one of said plurality of content;
• and
• if it is determined that said subscriber has said right, provide said subscriber with access to said requested one of said plurality of content.

A method for providing content to individual ones of a plurality of client devices in a content delivery network, said method comprising:

• generating a plurality of profiles, each of said plurality of profiles comprising information regarding rights of one of a plurality of subscribers to access a plurality of content;
• sending individual ones of said plurality of profiles to respective ones of said individual ones of said plurality of client devices;
• sending said plurality of content to said individual ones of said plurality of client devices;
• and
• enabling said individual ones of said plurality of client devices to utilize said information contained in said individual ones of said plurality of profiles to determine whether to provide for display of individual ones of said plurality of content sent thereto.