System and method for storing user data

Abstract

A method and system to store user data are provided. A system to store user data may include a video recorder device. The video recorder device may include a video receiver to receive video data. The video recorder device may also include a memory device. The memory device may include at least one protected memory region to store video data received via the video receiver. The memory device may also include at least one unprotected memory region. The video recorder device may be adapted to prevent user copying of video data stored at the protected memory region and to allow user copying of data stored at the unprotected memory region.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A video recorder device, comprising:
 a video receiver to receive video data; and 
 a memory device including:
 at least one protected memory region to store video data received via the video receiver, wherein the video recorder device is adapted to prevent user copying of video data stored at the protected memory region video data stored at the at least one protected memory region is copy restricted and is accessible for display at a display device; and 
 at least one unprotected memory region, wherein the video recorder device is adapted to allow user copying of data stored at the unprotected memory region is user modifiable. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , further comprising a partition control module to maintain a partition record, wherein the partition record relates the at least one protected memory region and the at least one unprotected memory region to a memory medium of the memory device. 
     
     
       3. The video recorder device of  claim 2 , wherein the partition control module is operable to modify the partition record based on user input to adjust an amount of memory allocated to the at least one protected memory region. 
     
     
       4. The video recorder device of  claim 2 , wherein the partition control module is operable to modify the partition record based on user input to adjust an amount of memory allocated to the at least one unprotected memory region. 
     
     
       5. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory management module to implement a user configurable memory management policy associated with the at least one unprotected memory region. 
     
     
       6. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one user device interface to communicate data between a user device and the at least one unprotected memory region. 
     
     
       7. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one user device interface comprises a wireless network interface. 
     
     
       8. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one user device interface comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface. 
     
     
       9. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one user device interface comprises a local area network interface. 
     
     
       10. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of user device interfaces and a plurality of unprotected memory regions, wherein each of the user device interfaces is associated with at least one of the unprotected memory regions. 
     
     
       11. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface module to display a user interface at a display device and to receive user configuration input to modify a configuration record associated with the memory device. 
     
     
       12. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , the user interface includes a representation of an amount of memory available within the at least one protected memory region and within the at least one unprotected memory region. 
     
     
       13. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , the user interface includes at least one user selectable element to associate the at least one unprotected memory region with at least one file type. 
     
     
       14. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , further comprising a system memory region, wherein the system memory region is accessible to a service provider via the video receiver. 
     
     
       15. The video recorder device of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory controller and a plurality of unprotected memory regions, wherein the memory controller is operable to select a region from among the plurality of unprotected memory regions in which to store particular data based on a type of the data. 
     
     
       16. A method comprising:
 receiving video data via a video distribution network; 
 storing the video data at a protected memory region of a memory device, wherein the memory device is adapted to prevent user copying of video data stored in at the protected memory region is copy restricted and is accessible for display at a display device; 
 receiving user data via a user device interface; and 
 storing the user data at an unprotected memory region of the memory device, wherein the memory device is adapted to allow user copying of user data stored in the unprotected memory region is user modifiable. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the memory device includes a plurality of unprotected memory regions, and wherein the method further comprises storing the user data at two or more of the plurality of unprotected memory regions. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising selecting one of the plurality of unprotected memory regions in which to store particular user data based on a type of the particular user data. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein a user configurable memory management policy is associated with the unprotected memory region. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising deleting the user data stored at the unprotected memory region based on the user configurable memory management policy. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising receiving user configuration input via a graphical user interface, and modifying the user configurable memory management policy based on the user configuration input. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving user configuration input via a graphical user interface, and modifying an amount of memory allocated to the unprotected memory region based on the user configuration input. 
     
     
       23. A processor readable medium memory device comprising processor readable instructions, wherein the processor readable instructions are executable by a processor to:
 receive video data via a video distribution network; 
 store the video data at a protected memory region of a memory device, wherein the memory device is adapted to prevent user copying of video data stored in the protected memory region is copy restricted and is accessible for display at a display device; 
 receive user data via at least one user device interface; and 
 store the user data at one or more unprotected memory regions of the memory device, wherein the memory device is adapted to allow user copying of user data stored in the one or more unprotected memory regions is user modifiable. 
 
     
     
       24. The processor readable medium memory device of  claim 23 , further comprising processor readable instructions executable to manage allocation of memory among the protected memory region and the one or more unprotected memory regions. 
     
     
       25. The processor readable medium memory device of  claim 23 , further comprising processor readable instructions executable to select one of the one or more unprotected memory regions at which to store particular user data. 
     
     
       26. The processor readable medium memory device of  claim 23 , further comprising processor readable instructions executable to select one of the one or more unprotected memory regions at which to store particular user data based on the at least one user device interface via which the particular user data was received. 
     
     
       27. The processor readable medium memory device of  claim 23 , further comprising processor readable instructions executable to manage retention of the user data based on one or more memory management policies. 
     
     
       28. The processor readable medium memory device of  claim 27 , further comprising processor readable instructions executable to receive user input to modify the one or more memory management policies. 
     
     
       29. A method comprising:
 receiving first data at a video playback device, the first data received by the video playback device via a distribution network;   storing the first data at a first memory region of a memory device accessible to the video playback device, wherein the first data stored at the first memory region is copy restricted and is accessible for display at a display device;   receiving second data via a graphical user interface (GUI) of the video playback device; and   storing the second data at a second memory region of the memory device, wherein the second data stored at the second memory region is user modifiable.   
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, further comprising, in response to a user request, displaying video content that corresponds to the first data. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 30, wherein the video content comprises television programming. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 29, wherein the first data includes video data, and wherein the second data includes user data. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 29, wherein the video playback device includes the memory device and further includes a processor coupled to the memory device. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 29, wherein the distribution network is a video distribution network. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 29, wherein the video playback device includes a display, and wherein the GUI is provided at the display. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 29, wherein the video playback device includes a video recorder device. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 29, wherein the video playback device includes a gaming system. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim 29, wherein the video playback device includes a mobile device. 
     
     
       39. The method of claim 29, wherein the video playback device includes a computer. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 29, wherein the video playback device includes a portable computer. 
     
     
       41. A method comprising:
 storing first data at a first memory portion of a memory system, wherein the first data stored at the first memory portion is copy restricted and is accessible for display at a display device;   receiving second data at a video playback device; and   storing the second data at a second memory portion of the memory system, wherein the second data stored at the second memory portion is modifiable by a user of the video playback device.   
     
     
       42. The method of claim 41, further comprising, in response to a user request, sending the first data via a distribution network to the video playback device to enable the video playback device to display video content corresponding to the first data. 
     
     
       43. The method of claim 42, wherein sending the first data to the video playback device includes streaming the video content to the video playback device. 
     
     
       44. The method of claim 43, wherein the video content is streamed to the video playback device in accordance with a protocol comprising an internet protocol, a transmission control protocol, a user datagram protocol, a hypertext transfer protocol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       45. The method of claim 41, wherein the user of the video playback device is permitted to read from the first data stored at the first memory portion, and wherein the user is not permitted to write to the first data stored at the first memory portion. 
     
     
       46. The method of claim 41, further comprising:
 receiving updated second data from the video playback device; and   modifying the second data stored at the second memory portion of the memory system based on the updated second data.   
     
     
       47. A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions that are executable by a processor of a video playback device to perform operations comprising:
 receiving first data at the video playback device, the first data received by the video playback device via a distribution network, wherein the first data corresponds to television programming;   storing the first data at a first memory region of a memory device within the video playback device, wherein the first data stored at the first memory region is copy restricted and is accessible for display at a display device;   receiving second data via a graphical user interface (GUI) of the video playback device; and   storing the second data at a second memory region of the memory device, wherein the second data stored at the second memory region of the memory device is modifiable by a user of the video playback device.   
     
     
       48. The computer-readable storage device of claim 47, further comprising, in response to a user request, displaying video content corresponding to the first data. 
     
     
       49. The computer-readable storage device of claim 47, wherein the first data is received at the video playback device in accordance with a protocol comprising an internet protocol, a transmission control protocol, a user datagram protocol, a hypertext transfer protocol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       50. The computer-readable storage device of claim 47, wherein the video playback device includes a gaming system, a mobile device, a computer, or a portable computer. 
     
     
       51. The computer-readable storage device of claim 47, wherein the video playback device includes a serial bus interface and a network interface. 
     
     
       52. A video recorder device, comprising:
 a video receiver to receive data; and   a memory device including:
 at least one protected memory region to store first data received via the video receiver, wherein the first data stored at the at least one protected memory region is copy restricted and is accessible for display at a display device; and 
 at least one unprotected memory region, wherein second data stored at the at least one unprotected memory region is user modifiable. 
   
     
     
       53. The video recorder device of claim 52, further comprising a partition control module to maintain a partition record, wherein the partition record relates the at least one protected memory region and the at least one unprotected memory region to a memory medium of the memory device. 
     
     
       54. The video recorder device of claim 53, wherein the partition control module is operable to modify the partition record based on user input to adjust an amount of memory allocated to the at least one protected memory region. 
     
     
       55. The video recorder device of claim 53, wherein the partition control module is operable to modify the partition record based on user input to adjust an amount of memory allocated to the at least one unprotected memory region. 
     
     
       56. The video recorder device of claim 52, further comprising a memory management module to implement a user configurable memory management policy associated with the at least one unprotected memory region. 
     
     
       57. The video recorder device of claim 52, further comprising at least one user device interface to communicate data between a user device and the at least one unprotected memory region. 
     
     
       58. The video recorder device of claim 57, wherein the at least one user device interface comprises a wireless network interface. 
     
     
       59. The video recorder device of claim 57, wherein the at least one user device interface comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface. 
     
     
       60. The video recorder device of claim 57, wherein the at least one user device interface comprises a local area network interface. 
     
     
       61. The video recorder device of claim 52, further comprising a plurality of user device interfaces and a plurality of unprotected memory regions, wherein each of the user device interfaces is associated with at least one of the unprotected memory regions. 
     
     
       62. The video recorder device of claim 52, further comprising a user interface module to display a graphical user interface (GUI) at a display device and to receive user configuration input to modify a configuration record associated with the memory device. 
     
     
       63. The video recorder device of claim 62, wherein the user interface includes a presentation of a first amount of memory available within the at least one protected memory region and a second amount of memory available within the at least one unprotected memory region. 
     
     
       64. The video recorder device of claim 63, wherein the user interface includes at least one user selectable element to associate the at least one unprotected memory region with at least one file type. 
     
     
       65. The video recorder device of claim 52, further comprising a system memory region, wherein the system memory region is accessible to a service provider via the video receiver. 
     
     
       66. The video recorder device of claim 52, further comprising a memory controller and a plurality of unprotected memory regions, wherein the memory controller is operable to select a region from among the plurality of unprotected memory regions in which to store particular data based on a type of the particular data. 
     
     
       67. A method comprising:
 receiving first data via a distribution network;   storing the first data at a protected memory region of a memory device, wherein the first data stored at the protected memory region is copy restricted and is accessible for display at a display device;   receiving second data via a user device interface; and   storing the second data at an unprotected memory region of the memory device, wherein the second data stored at the unprotected memory region is user modifiable.   
     
     
       68. The method of claim 67, wherein the memory device includes a plurality of unprotected memory regions, and wherein the method further comprises storing the second data at two or more of the plurality of unprotected memory regions. 
     
     
       69. The method of claim 68, further comprising selecting one of the plurality of unprotected memory regions in which to store particular user data based on a type of the particular user data. 
     
     
       70. The method of claim 67, wherein a user configurable memory management policy is associated with the unprotected memory region. 
     
     
       71. The method of claim 70, further comprising deleting the second data stored at the unprotected memory region based on the user configurable memory management policy. 
     
     
       72. The method of claim 70, further comprising receiving user configuration input via a graphical user interface, and modifying the user configurable memory management policy based on the user configuration input. 
     
     
       73. The method of claim 67, further comprising receiving user configuration input via a graphical user interface, and modifying an amount of memory allocated to the unprotected memory region based on the user configuration input. 
     
     
       74. A processor readable device comprising processor readable instructions, wherein the processor readable instructions are executable by a processor to:
 receive first data via a distribution network;   store the first data at a protected memory region of a memory device, wherein the first data stored at the protected memory region is copy restricted and accessible for display at a display device;   receive second data via at least one user device interface; and   store the second data at one or more unprotected memory regions of the memory device, wherein the second data stored at the one or more unprotected memory regions is user modifiable.   
     
     
       75. The processor readable device of claim 74, further comprising processor readable instructions executable to manage allocation of memory among the protected memory region and the one or more unprotected memory regions. 
     
     
       76. The processor readable device of claim 74, further comprising processor readable instructions executable to select one of the one or more unprotected memory regions at which to store particular user data. 
     
     
       77. The processor readable device of claim 74, further comprising processor readable instructions executable to select one of the one or more unprotected memory regions at which to store particular user data based on the at least one user device interface via which the particular user data was received. 
     
     
       78. The processor readable device of claim 74, further comprising processor readable instructions executable to manage retention of the second data based on one or more memory management policies. 
     
     
       79. The processor readable device of claim 78, further comprising processor readable instructions executable to receive user input to modify the one or more memory management policies.