Systems and methods for providing a shared folder via television

A system for providing bi-directional communications and video content to network terminals of first and second subscribers, the network terminals being attached to an access network, the system comprising:

• a shared folder store storing a shared folder of the second subscriber, the shared folder including shared folder information, the shared folder information including a shared folder name and an access control list associated with the second subscriber, and
• a control system communicatively coupled to the shared folder store and the access network, the control system being configured to:
• receive a first request to create the shared folder from a network terminal of the second subscriber over the access network, the first request comprising a second subscriber identifier associated with the second subscriber;
• determine, based on the second subscriber identifier, whether the second subscriber is authorized to create the shared folder;
• create the shared folder in the shared folder store when the second subscriber is authorized;
• receive, from a network terminal of the first subscriber over the access network, a second request to store content information within the shared folder;
• determine, based on the second request, whether the first subscriber is authorized to access the shared folder, the control system being further configured to compare the first subscriber identifier to the access control list;
• determine whether the content information satisfies at least one content restriction associated with the shared folder, the at least one content restriction comprising a restriction on a type of content stored in the shared folder;
• transmit a notification identifying the first subscriber and the content information to the second subscriber network terminal, when the first subscriber is authorized and the content information satisfies the at least one content restriction;
• receive a response to the notification from the second subscriber network terminal;
• determine whether the second subscriber authorizes storage of the content information in the shared folder, based on at least the response to the notification;
• and
• store the content information in the shared folder in response to the second request, when the second subscriber has authorized the storage of the content information in the shared folder.

A system, comprising:

• an access network, the access network configured to provide bidirectional communications and video content to network terminals of first and second subscribers, the network terminals being attached to the access network;
• and
• an enhanced television system in communication with the access network, the enhanced television system including:
• a shared folder store storing a shared folder of the second subscriber, the shared folder including shared folder information, the shared folder information including a shared folder name, at least one content restriction identified by the second subscriber and an access control list associated with the second subscriber, the at least one content restriction comprising a restriction on a type of content stored in the shared folder;
• and
• a control system communicatively coupled to the shared folder store and the access network, the control system being configured to:
• receive a first request to create the shared folder from the network terminal of the second subscriber over the access network, the first request comprising a second subscriber identifier associated with the second subscriber;
• determine, based on the second subscriber identifier, whether the second subscriber is authorized to create the shared folder;
• create the shared folder in the shared folder store when the second subscriber is authorized;
• receive, from the network terminal of the first subscriber, a second request to store content information associated with an item of video content within the shared folder;
• receive a first subscriber identifier associated with the first subscriber;
• determine, based on the second request, whether the first subscriber is authorized
• to access the shared folder, the control system being further configured to compare the first subscriber identifier to the access control list;
• determine whether the content information meets the at least one content restriction;
• transmit, to the second subscriber network terminal, a notification identifying the first subscriber and the content information, when the first subscriber is authorized and the content information satisfies the at least one content restriction:
• receive a response to the notification from the second subscriber network terminal;
• determine whether the second subscriber authorizes storage of the content information in the shared folder, based on at least the response to the notification;
• and
• store the content information in the shared folder in response to the second request, when the second subscriber has authorized the storage of the content information in the shared folder.