Disclosed is a method for the distributed storage and distribution of data. Original data is divided into fragments and erasure encoding is performed on it. The divided fragments are dispersedly stored on a plurality of storage mediums, preferably that are geographically remote from one another. When access to the data is requested, the fragments are transmitted through a network and reconstructed into the original data. In certain embodiments, the original data is media content which is steamed to a user from the distributed storage.

A media content pipeline architecture is described that enables media devices to efficiently receive, store, play, and stream media content. In general, a media content pipeline as described herein is configured to receive media content streams from one or more input sources, segment and store the media content streams into fixed-sized or variable-sized data buffers, encrypt the data stored in the buffers, and store the encrypted data in an in-memory buffer cache for further processing. The media content pipeline further may be configured to write the encrypted buffers stored in the in-memory buffer cache to a secondary storage device (e.g., a hard disk) in response to the occurrence of one or more defined operating conditions. The media content pipeline may enable a media device to efficiently receive and process media content data streams, write the media content data streams to storage, and stream the media content data to client devices.

A non-transitory storage medium stores instructions readable and executable by a first computer (14) to perform an image processing method (100, 200, 400). The method includes: encrypting image data portions to generate encrypted image data portions; transmitting the encrypted image data portions from the first computer to a second server (16) different from the first computer; decrypting encrypted processed image data portions received at the first computer from the second server to produce processed image data portions and generating a processed image from the processed image data portions; and controlling a display device (24) to display the processed image or storing the processed image in a database (30).

A method to protect a media content encrypted by a media content key, said method being carried out by a security module embedded into a reception device and connected to a consumption device, comprising: receiving an encrypted media content, encrypted by a media content key; receiving a message, being encrypted by a personal key of the security module, containing the media content key; decrypting the message by the personal key to retrieve the media content key; decrypting the encrypted media content by the media content key; generating a current local key; encrypting a portion of the media content by the current local key, said portion defining a chunk; transmitting the current local key to the consumption device; transmitting the encrypted chunk to the consumption device; repeating the previous four steps for different chunks of the media content and modifying the current local key for the different chunks.

Systems, methods, software, and apparatus are described for facilitating the distribution and management of fragmented content. In one embodiment, a packager packages content into fragments and generates a manifest including policies and metadata associated with the content. A downloader obtains the manifest, and uses it to obtain the content from one or more uploaders. For example, a downloader might forward a search request to one or more trackers, which, in turn, are operable to locate one or more uploaders that can meet the request, subject to any relevant policy limitations. The uploaders forward fragments to the downloader, subject to any relevant policy. The downloader assembles the content from the fragments. The operations and interactions of the entities can be subject to policy limitations associated with the fragments, the content as a whole, or the like.

Apparatus and methods for providing content to IP-enabled devices in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, a network architecture is disclosed which enables delivery of content to such IP-enabled devices without the use of a high-speed data connection This capability allow the managed network operator to provide content services to an IP-enabled device associated with a non-data subscriber. In one implementation, requests for content from user IP-enabled devices are received, authenticated, and content processed into a series of encrypted segments. Once the requesting user/device is authenticated, the segments are provided with a playlist. The rendering device is also provided access to a decryption key (e.g., via a URL to a managed key server). Variants providing (i) user access to the MSO distribution network via an indigenous modem or gateway; and (ii) user access to the MSO core via a gateway and a third party unmanaged network are described.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to validation of a request for an asset based on information in the request. Validation of the request can be processed by a network node in a network repository that contains the asset. In one aspect, validation of the request can comprise determining if the request is legitimate based at least on processing at least a portion of the information in the request. In response to a legitimate request, the network node can process the request and, as a result, a data object associated with the asset can be supplied to a device originating the request. In the alternative, the network node can yield an exception.

A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed storage network (DSN), a memory that stores operational instructions, and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations including to receive, via the interface, content retrieval messages for a data object. Then, based on the content retrieval messages for the data object and respectively for each associated data segment, the processing module determines respective groups of unique pillar combinations of at least read threshold number of EDSs, retrieves the respective groups of unique pillar combinations of at least read threshold number of EDSs from storage units (SUs) within the DSN, and provides the respective groups of unique pillar combinations of at least read threshold number of EDSs respectively to recipient device(s).

A method for use in a dispersed storage network (DSN) operates to output at least a write threshold number of write slice requests to a set of storage units of the DSN and receive write slice responses from the set of storage units. When the write threshold number of favorable write slice responses is received, the method includes generating a corresponding number of commit requests and outputting the number of commit requests to associated storage units corresponding to the write threshold number of favorable write slice responses received.

A frame for a mobile device with a memory and a processor running an application and a system for displaying digital content, comprising a frame assembly for the mobile device, comprising a processor, a media storage memory, a first body with a recess configured for receipt of a mobile device in the frame assembly, and a second body, configured to connect to the first body to enclose the mobile device. Preferably, at least one of the two sides comprises a connector, configured to connect with a corresponding connector of the mobile device, so that the processor of the frame is configured to communicate, through said connector, with the memory and processor of the mobile device. In an alternate embodiment, at least one of the two sides comprises a communication means, configured to communicate with the memory and processor of the mobile device through WiFi, Bluetooth, or the Internet.