Multimedia control center

Abstract

A video library is formed within a personal video depot (PVD). The PVD has capability to accept purchased video's and DVD's as well as personal video's captured on camcorders. The purchased video's and DVD's are rights verified and assigned to a user having an authenticated ID. The PVD has capability to play a selected video on a TV as well as acquire additional video titles from the server connected to the depot through a network. A menu is displayed on a TV from which a remote control is used to make selections that affect the purchase of video titles and operation of the PVD.

1 . A method for using a personal video depot, comprising:
 a) purchasing a video from a server storing the video into a personal video depot (PVD);   b) purchasing a DVD and ingesting the DVD into the PVD;   c) authenticating a user of the PVD;   d) playing the video downloaded from the server or the DVD ingested into the PVD;   e) copying the video to a first DVD with or without a fee;   f) copying the video to a second DVD for a fee that may be different from the fee for the first copy; and   g) copying the ingested DVD to a second DVD for a fee.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein purchasing the video from a server requires a network connection between the server and the PVD and verification of the identification of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein storing the video into the PVD requires a rights verification and assignment to be stored with the video acquired from the server. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein storing the ingested DVD into the PVD requires a rights verification and assignment to be stored with the ingested DVD. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein authentication of the user is through use of a smart card, personal identification number or similar mechanisms. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein playing the downloaded video or the ingested copy of the DVD requires the user identification authentication. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein copying the downloaded video onto a DVD is without fee for the first copy and requires a fee for second and each subsequent copy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein copying the ingested DVD to a second or subsequent DVD's requires a fee.