Patent ID: 7978720
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for transferring media content from a first digital video recorder (DVR) set-top to a second DVR set-top comprising: recording instances of media content to a first storage medium located internal to a housing of the first DVR set-top; storing a plurality of catalog data comprising at least one logical data management rule associated with each of the instances of media content, wherein the logical data management rule comprises a retention rule for determining which of the instances of media content can be deleted at a particular opportunity; wherein the particular opportunity comprises an instant after the media content is transferred from the first DVR set-top to the external storage device, and after the particular opportunity, the media content is deleted from the first DVR set-top; receiving an indication that the instances of media content stored to the first storage medium are to be made available for playback using the second DVR set-top, wherein the indication is triggered by the detection of a connection of an external storage device to the first DVR set-top; removing the first storage medium from the housing of the first DVR set-top; installing the first storage medium into the external storage device; communicatively coupling the external storage device to the external port of the second DVR set-top; and in response to receiving the indication that the instances of media content stored to the first storage medium are to be made available for playback using the second DVR set-top, transferring the instances of media content and the associated catalog data from the external storage device to the second DVR set-top over a communication interface of the second DVR set-top, the communication interface accessible from the external port of the second DVR set-top; and wherein the communication interface of the second DVR set-top is a high-speed communication bus; and wherein the indication that the instances of media content stored to the first storage medium are to be made available for playback using the second DVR set-top is received in response to a user selection via a graphical user interface; and wherein providing the media content stored to the second storage medium comprises providing access to the instances of media content using at least one of a keying scheme or a trans-encryption scheme; and wherein the media content is encrypted by the first DVR set-top using a control key for each instance of media content; and wherein the content key is encrypted by a secure element of the first DVR set-top with a second key; and wherein the content key is provided from the first DVR set-top to the second DVR set-top by re-encrypting the content key using an encryption key that is capable of being decrypted by the second DVR set-top.