Remote access management

A remote access management system, comprising:

• a network device including first data storage storing an item of media content and a first network interlace, said network device storing a remote access server application program and account information;
• a remote device including second data storage and a second network interface, said remote device storing a remote access client application,
• wherein said account information stored in said network device identifies said remote device;
• a remote access management service having a network connection to said network device through said first network interface and a network connection to said remote device through said second network interface;
• a set of rules to determine whether the requested remote access is appropriate so that the request can be authorized by allowing the remote access server application program to require delays between media content acquisition and remote access;
• and
• a remote access management application program stored by said remote access management service,
• wherein said remote access management application program collects information on remote access analysis by monitoring remote access transactions between said remote device and said network device, said remote access management application program operating to receive a remote access request from said remote access client application program including said account information and a content identifier indicating said item of media content, said remote access management application program configured to authorize said remote access request based on said account information, said content identifier, and said collected information on remote access analysis, and
• wherein said remote access management application program performs statistical analysis of remote access configurations and usages based on the set of rules.

A method of managing remote access, comprising:

• generating account information at a network device storing an item of content, said account information indicating said network device and a remote device;
• sending said account information to a remote access management service;
• sending a remote access request from said remote device to said remote access management service, said remote access request including remote device information indicating said remote device, including account information indicating a network device and a remote access account, and including a content identifier indicating said item of content;
• receiving said remote access request at said remote access management server;
• providing one or more authorization rules to determine whether the remote access request is appropriate;
• performing statistical analysis of remote access configurations and usages based on said one or more authorization rules to determine an authorization status, which indicates whether said remote access request has been authorized or not;
• authorizing said remote access request depending on said authorization status to generate an authorization result, said authorizing providing remote access for said remote device to said item of content on said network device by allowing the remote access management service to require delays between media content acquisition and remote access;
• and
• updating said remote access analysis information based on said remote access request and said authorization result.

A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for managing remote access, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

• generate account information at a network device storing an item of content, said account information indicating said network device and a remote device;
• send said account information to a remote access management service;
• send a remote access request from said remote device to said remote access management service, said remote access request including remote device information indicating said remote device, including account information indicating a network device and a remote access account, and including a content identifier indicating said item of content;
• receive said remote access request at said remote access management server;
• provide one or more authorization rules to determine whether the remote access request is appropriate;
• perform statistical analysis of remote access configurations and usages based on said one or more authorization rules to determine an authorization status, which indicates whether said remote access request has been authorized or not;
• authorize said remote access request depending on said authorization status to generate an authorization result, said authorizing providing remote access for said remote device to said item of content on said network device by allowing the remote access management service to require delays between media content acquisition and remote access;
• and
• update said remote access analysis information based on said remote access request and said authorization result.

A system for managing remote access, comprising:

• means for generating account information at a network device storing an item of content, said account information indicating said network device and a remote device;
• means for sending said account information to a remote access management service;
• means for sending a remote access request from said remote device to said remote access management service, said remote access request including remote device information indicating said remote device, including account information indicating a network device and a remote access account, and including a content identifier indicating said item of content;
• means for receiving said remote access request at said remote access management server;
• means for providing one or more authorization rules to determine whether the remote access request is appropriate;
• means for performing statistical analysis of remote access configurations and usages based on said one or more authorization rules to determine an authorization status;
• means for authorizing said remote access request depending on said authorization status to generate an authorization result, said authorizing providing remote access for said remote device to said item of content on said network device by allowing the remote access management service to require delays between media content acquisition and remote access;
• and
• means for updating said remote access analysis information based on said remote access request and said authorization result.