Personal content server apparatus and methods

An apparatus for providing content to at least one client device via at least first content delivery network, said apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive:
• an input from a user of said at least one client device, said input comprising user identification information;
• and
• a request from said user, said request comprising information identifying said at least one client device and information identifying requested content;
• a processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to:
• determine whether said at least one client device is entitled to access said requested content in a second content delivery network;
• associate said information identifying said at least one client device with a user account in a database;
• and
• when it is determined that said at least one client device is entitled to access said requested content in said second content delivery network, cause access to be provided to said requested content to said at least one client device via at least said first content delivery network;
• and
• an entity adapted to provide access to said requested content to said at least one client device over at least said first content delivery network.

A computer readable apparatus having at least one computer program thereon, said computer program configured to:

• receive user registration information from a user;
• receive from said user a request for content, said request identifying said content and a client device from which said request is received;
• transmit at least a portion of said user registration information and said information identifying said content to a remote entity;
• receive from said remote entity a determination of whether said client device is among a plurality of client devices associated with said user and thus said user is entitled to access said content in an operator managed content delivery network via said client device;
• and
• when it is determined that said user is entitled to access said requested content in said operator managed content delivery network, provide access to said requested content to said user.

A method of delivering content over a network, comprising:

• receiving a request from a subscriber to purchase content, said request comprising information at least identifying said subscriber;
• enabling said subscriber to purchase said content;
• creating a record of said purchase, said record comprising said content and an encrypted version of said information, said record being stored in a first database;
• communicating between said first database and a second database, said second database comprising a plurality of encrypted records correlating one or more devices to one or more subscriber accounts, said first and second databases further being in communication with a third database correlating said information to at least one of said subscriber accounts;
• receiving a request to access said content said request to access comprising information identifying at least one of:
• (i) a requesting device, (ii) said subscriber, and/or (iii) said subscriber account;
• determining, based at least in part on said communicating, whether said subscriber associated with said purchase record of said content is correlated to said request to access;
• and
• when it is determined that said subscriber associated with said purchase record is associated with said request to access, sending said content thereto.

An apparatus for providing access to content to at least one client device, said apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a user request for purchase of content, said request comprising user identification information, said user identification information being associated with a plurality of client devices;
• and receive a request for access to said purchased content from a first client device;
• and
• a processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to:
• determine whether said first client device is among said plurality of client devices associated with said user which purchased the content and thus is entitled to access said purchased content in a content delivery network;
• and
• if it is determined that said first client device is entitled to access said purchased content in said content delivery network, cause access to be provided to said purchased content to said first client device.