Apparatus, systems and methods for securely storing media content events on a flash memory device

A media device, comprising:

• a port configured to communicatively couple the media device with a flash memory device, wherein the flash memory device comprises a flash memory central processor unit (CPU);
• a media content stream interface configured to receive a media content stream comprising a media content event that comprises a video potion that is presentable on a display and an audio portion that is presentable as audible sounds by at least one speaker;
• a memory comprising a portion configured to store flash memory identification (ID) logic that is configured to communicate user-provided authorization information to the flash memory device;
• and
• a processor system communicatively coupled to the port, the media content stream interface and the memory, and upon executing the flash memory ID logic, is configured to:
• generate a flash memory device electronic program guide (EPG) that identifies the media content events stored in the flash memory device,
• communicate the flash memory device EPG to the display, wherein the presented flash memory device EPG indicates the media content events that are stored in the flash memory device, and indicates which of the stored media content events are secured by the authorization information that is saved as a portion of the media content event,
• receive a user selection of one of the media content events stored on the flash memory device,
• receive user-provided authorization information when the selection is for one of the stored media content events that are secured by authorization information,
• communicate information that identifies the selected media content event and the received user-provided authorization information to the flash memory CPU,
• wherein the flash memory CPU compares the received user-provided authorization information with the authorization information stored in the portion of the selected media content event residing in the flash memory device, permits access to the selected media content event residing in the flash memory of the flash memory device only when the received user-provided authorization information corresponds to the authorization information, and denies access to the selected media content event when the received user-provided authorization information does not correspond to the authorization information.

A flash memory device configured to communicatively couple to a media device, wherein user-provided authorization information is received by the flash memory device from the media device, comprising:

• a flash memory configured to store a media content event, wherein authorization information is stored into a portion of the media content event;
• and
• a central processor unit (CPU) communicatively coupled to the flash memory, and configured to:
• compare the user-provided authorization information with the authorization information of the media content event residing in the flash memory, wherein access to the media content event stored in the flash memory is permitted only when the received user-provided authorization information corresponds to the authorization information
• communicate information that identifies the media content event and a plurality of other media content events stored in the flash memory to the media device,
• wherein the media device is configured to generate a flash memory device electronic program guide (EPG) based on the information received from the flash memory device, and
• wherein the flash memory EPG is presentable on a display to identify the media content event and the plurality of other media content events stored in the flash memory device, and to indicate that the stored media content event is secured by the authorization information.