# US 2018/0324494 A1 · Methods and apparatus for providing and uploading content to personalized network storage

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- Number: US 2018/0324494 A1
- Document ID: US20180324494A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/969,597
- Filed: 2018-05-02
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-12
- Assignees: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC
- Applicants: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC
- Inventors: Michael L. LaJoie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324494A1

## CPC

- H04N 21/4627: Rights management {associated to the content (security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08)}
- G06F 21/10: Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material (protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16) {; Digital rights management [DRM]}
- H04L 63/0428: {wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload}
- H04N 21/23113: {involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions (storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90)}
- H04N 21/2743: Video hosting of uploaded data from client
- H04N 21/4432: {Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server (resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Methods and apparatus for delivering, uploading, and storing content for users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for additional storage space at the client premises and offering seamless compliance with copyright laws. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and sessions are used to deliver content to the requesting owner and then back to storage space associated with the head-end where the content remains available for future subscriber requests. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user's virtual ownership experience are also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-23. (canceled)

### Claim 24

A method of content management within a content delivery network in data communication with a plurality of computerized client devices, said method comprising:
receiving a digitally encoded content element at a first computerized client device of said plurality of computerized client devices;
determining that a duplicate copy of said digitally encoded content element exists at a computerized storage entity associated with said content delivery network; and
based at least in part on said determining that said duplicate copy exists at said computerized storage entity:
deleting said digitally encoded content element from said first computerized client device.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, further comprising determining whether said digitally encoded content element has previously been uploaded to said computerized storage entity prior to the receiving.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the determining whether said digitally encoded content element has previously been uploaded to said computerized storage entity comprises determining that said digitally encoded content element has previously been uploaded to said computerized storage entity, and
wherein the receiving comprises receiving said digitally encoded content element from said computerized storage entity using said duplicate copy.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the receiving said digitally encoded content element from said computerized storage entity using said duplicate copy comprises:
causing an application of one or more personalizations required by said first computerized client device before delivering a personalized copy; and
receiving said personalized copy from said computerized storage entity.

### Claim 28

A network apparatus configured to obtain and store digitally encoded content elements from one or more computerized client devices, the network apparatus comprising:
a digital processor apparatus; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store at least one computer program thereon, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the network apparatus to:
configure a first computerized client device of said one or more computerized client devices to upload at least one digitally encoded content element;
receive a request from said first computerized client device of said one or more computerized client devices for said digitally encoded content element;
determine that said requested digitally encoded content element has previously been uploaded to a storage location of the network apparatus allocated to said first computerized client device of said one or more computerized client devices; and
based at least in part on said determination, provide said requested digitally encoded content element to said first computerized client device of said one or more computerized client devices from said storage location of the network apparatus.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The network apparatus of claim 28, wherein said storage location of the network apparatus allocated to said first computerized client device of said one or more computerized client devices is specifically allocated to a group of computerized client devices having a common characteristic.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The network apparatus of claim 28, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the network apparatus to, when said requested digitally encoded content element has not been previously uploaded:
(i) provide said requested digitally encoded content element to said first computerized client device of said one or more computerized client devices, and
(ii) store a duplicate copy of said requested digitally encoded content element at said storage location of the network apparatus allocated to said first computerized client device of said one or more computerized client devices.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The network apparatus of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the network apparatus to cause removal of said requested digitally encoded content element at said first computerized client device subsequent to the storage of said duplicate copy of said requested digitally encoded content element at said storage location of the network apparatus allocated to said first computerized client device.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The network apparatus of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, cause the network apparatus to provide said first computerized client device with data relating to options for removal of said requested digitally encoded content element from said first computerized client device.

### Claim 33

A non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus comprising:
a storage medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions configured to be executed on a processing apparatus of a computerized network entity, the processing apparatus in data communication with said non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus, said computerized network entity in data communication with at least one network storage entity and a plurality of client devices, said plurality of instructions configured to, when executed, cause said computerized network entity to:
cause configuration of said plurality of client devices to enable upload of digital content elements to said network storage entity;
receive a first request for upload of a first digital content element from a first client device of said plurality of client devices;
receive a second request for upload of a second digital content element from a second client device of said plurality of client devices, said second digital content element comprising a duplicate of said first digital content element;
based at least on said first request and said second request, determine an upload priority for said first digital content element;
based on said upload priority, cause a first upload of at least a portion of said first digital content element to said network storage entity from said first client device; and
prevent upload of a portion of said second digital content element that is duplicative of the at least portion of the first digital content element from said second client device.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus of claim 33, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed:
based at least on said receipt of said second request, cause a second upload of a portion of said second digital content element from said second client device, said portion of said second digital content element different than the at least portion of the first digital content element.

### Claim 35 (depends on 33)

The non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first client device and said second client device are each allocated a respective storage location within said network storage entity.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus of claim 35, wherein said plurality of client devices each are disposed within a virtual control boundary of said network storage entity.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus of claim 36, wherein said plurality of client devices within said virtual control boundary are each granted limited access privileges for said first digital content element.

### Claim 38 (depends on 33)

The non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus of claim 33, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause said computerized network entity to:
receive subsequent requests for said first digital content element from a third client device; and
cause a provision of said first digital content element based on said received subsequent requests.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus of claim 38, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause said computerized network entity to determine whether at least one of: (i) a different personalization, and/or (ii) a different encoding, is required for said third client device.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus of claim 39, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause said computerized network entity to cause a provision of said first digital content element based at least on said at least one (i) different personalization, or (ii) different encoding, to said third client device.

### Claim 41 (depends on 33)

The non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus of claim 33, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause said first client device to delete said first digital content element.

### Claim 42 (depends on 33)

The non-transitory computer readable storage apparatus of claim 33, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, provide said second client device with data relating to a plurality of options for removal of said second digital content element.