Abstract: An apparatus is adapted for implementing a method of creating a data chain, which can be cryptographically proven to contain valid data. The method includes creating a data chain with no elements, validating the data chain for nodes before accepting the data chain, verifying the size of close group to add the data chain, adding a data block to the data chain, removing old copies of entries from the data chain only if a chained consensus would not be broken, else maintaining the entry and marking it as deleted, validating a majority of pre-existing nodes and validating a signature of the data chain via the data chain of signed elements. The apparatus is operable to support a data communication system and provides a technical effect of making a data processing system robust against data corruption, data loss, failure in data communication synchronization and similar practical operational issues.

Abstract: Media content is provided using metric-apportioning. In accordance with one or more embodiments, remote-user interface circuits are authenticated and remote access is provided to different sets of media content via the interface. For each authenticated interface and a time-based period during which the interface accesses the media content, time-stamped usage data that characterizes use of the media content at the interface is communicated therewith. A usage metric characterizing usage of the media content is apportioned based upon the time-stamped usage data and stored weighting factor data for the media content.

Abstract: Various aspects of the disclosure are directed to content rendition generation. Sets of disparately-formatted media content are reformatted into corresponding renditions of media content having a common format. The common format includes device-indeterminate ID linking data that links respective portions (e.g., assets or a structural component including the assets) of each rendition with the common format to corresponding portions of the disparately-formatted media content. For each rendition, reformatted assets are generated in which each reformatted is specific to one of a plurality of disparate types of devices, based upon characteristics of the disparate device types. Access to the portions of disparately-formatted media content and/or the assets within the portions of disparately-formatted media content is tracked, based on the linking data.

Abstract: Access is provided for different types of media content provided by disparate publishers, and in formats corresponding to operating characteristics of respective user devices. As consistent with one or more example embodiments herein, media content access is filtered for users requesting access via different user devices, based upon characteristics of the device to which the access is provided, user subscription data and publisher-specific criteria. A user-specific storefront interface is generated for each of a multitude of users, based upon the filtering. Each storefront interface indicates media content that can be displayed at the device to which access is requested, and identifies media content to which the user does and does not have subscription access. The user-specific storefront interfaces are presented at respective user devices, and media content is delivered to each device in response to selections made via the user-specific storefront interfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus is adapted for implementing a method of creating a data chain, which can be cryptographically proven to contain valid data. The method includes creating a data chain with no elements, validating the data chain for nodes before accepting the data chain, verifying the size of close group to add the data chain, adding a data block to the data chain, removing old copies of entries from the data chain only if a chained consensus would not be broken, else maintaining the entry and marking it as deleted, validating a majority of pre-existing nodes and validating a signature of the data chain via the data chain of signed elements. The apparatus is operable to support a data communication system and provides a technical effect of making a data processing system robust against data corruption, data loss, failure in data communication synchronization and similar practical operational issues.

Abstract: As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, respective sets of media content data, having disparate formats, are received from disparate content providers. The content is reformatted into a common format type and restructured into renditions having an article-oriented structure. Reformatted assets are generated for each rendition based upon characteristics of devices by which the renditions are to be accessed. Device-indeterminate ID linking data is generated for linking portions of each rendition with the media content data received from the content providers.

Abstract: A data communication system to provide secure data communication. The data communication system comprises an arrangement of elements coupled via communication links, wherein the elements comprise one or more user devices, one or more nodal elements or one or more servers, and/or one or more routers. The data communication system is operable to communicate data therein in a format which comprises data chunks which have been encrypted and obfuscated and are defined by one or more data maps, wherein the data communication system is configured to categorize the elements into one or more trusted elements and one or more untrusted elements, to receive votes from the one or more trusted elements to compute a consensus for verifying one or more transaction events.

Abstract: As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, specific electronic magazines are generated based on user interests as follows. Respective sets of media content data, associated with disparate electronic magazines provided by disparate publishers, are accessed and formatted into a common computer data format type. The formatted sets of media content data are broken into subsets and stored. Remote access to the respective subsets of media content data is provided to a user at a remote interface circuit based on authorization data specifying disparate electronic magazines that the user is authorized to access. This user access is tracked and a specific electronic magazine is generated for the user by combining disparate ones of the subsets of media content data based on both the tracked access and the user's authorization data.

Abstract: As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, respective sets of media content data, having disparate formats, are received from disparate content providers. The content is reformatted into a common format type and restructured into renditions having an article-oriented structure. Reformatted assets are generated for each rendition based upon characteristics of devices by which the renditions are to be accessed. Device-indeterminate ID linking data is generated for linking portions of each rendition with the media content data received from the content providers.

Abstract: As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, portions of media content data corresponding to respective sets of media content received from disparate content providers are restructured into renditions having an article-oriented structure. Device-indeterminate ID linking data is generated to link respective portions of each rendition with media content in the respective sets of media content. For each content provider, access is provided to portions of the restructured renditions bearing the content provider's content, based on the device-indeterminate ID linking data (e.g., providing verification of resulting content layout). Access is also provided to tracked subscriber access to ones of the restructured renditions bearing the content provider's content.

Abstract: As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, respective sets of media content data, having disparate formats, are received from disparate content providers. The content is reformatted into a common format type and restructured into renditions having an article-oriented structure. Reformatted assets are generated for each rendition based upon characteristics of devices by which the renditions are to be accessed. Device-indeterminate ID linking data is generated for linking portions of each rendition with the media content data received from the content providers.

Abstract: As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, media content from disparate content providers is restructured into one or more renditions having an article-oriented structure. Linking data is generated to link respective portions of each rendition with media content in the respective sets of media content. Users are allowed to access information characterizing the renditions in the article-oriented structure, and user inputs pertaining to the information characterizing the media content sets is collected. Portions of each rendition are transmitted to remote users based on the user inputs, authorization data, linking data and characteristics of the remote users' access.

Abstract: As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods and apparatuses involving the presentation of media content as follows. Different types of media content data having disparate formats and corresponding to respective sets of media content received from disparate content providers, are reformatted into media content data in a common format type. Analytics data providing information characterizing a plurality of users is accessed and utilized in restructuring portions of the media content data in the common format type into renditions having an article-oriented structure defined by the common format type. In various implementations, device-indeterminate ID linking data is generated, which links respective portions of each rendition with corresponding portions of the media content data from which the respective portions were generated.

Abstract: Media content is provided using metric-apportioning. In accordance with one or more embodiments, remote-user interface circuits are authenticated and remote access is provided to different sets of media content via the interface. For each authenticated interface and a time-based period during which the interface accesses the media content, time-stamped usage data that characterizes use of the media content at the interface is communicated therewith. A usage metric characterizing usage of the media content is apportioned based upon the time-stamped usage data and stored weighting factor data for the media content.

Abstract: Media content is provided for remote playback over a packet-based network. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a host server authenticates remote users and further processes media content requests from authenticated remote users by directing or otherwise facilitating the delivery of requested media content from a user's media content source to a remote playback device. The remote playback device is classified and the media content is selectively configured at one or both of the media content source and the host server in accordance with the classification, prior to delivery to the remote playback device. Communications among the host server, remote playback device and media content source are over the packet-based network.

Abstract: Remote media access is facilitated. According to an example embodiment, remote-user media access is facilitated using media provided by a subscriber media source, over a packet-based network. This access is facilitated in an environment involving subscriber users that provide media for transfer over a packet-based network to a remote device. A host server receives a request for access to media content provided by a subscriber. The request is authorized as a function of authorization criteria. In response to the request being authorized, a media source associated with the subscriber is controlled to provide requested media for access at a remote device. A media player is displayed at the remote device, and the media is provided for access via the media player.

Abstract: Media content is provided for remote playback over a packet-based network. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a host server authenticates remote users and further processes media content requests from authenticated remote users by directing or otherwise facilitating the delivery of requested media content from a user's media content source to a remote playback device. The remote playback device is classified and the media content is selectively configured at one or both of the media content source and the host server in accordance with the classification, prior to delivery to the remote playback device. Communications among the host server, remote playback device and media content source are over the packet-based network.

Abstract: There is provided a system, including a network that is defined by its novel approach to privacy, security and freedom for its users, namely privacy by allowing access anonymously, security by encrypting and obfuscating resources and freedom by allowing users to anonymously and irrefutably be seen as genuine individuals on the network and to communicate with other users with total security and to securely access resources that are both their own and those that are shared by others with them. Functional mechanisms that the system are able to restore open communications and worry-free access in a manner that is very difficult to infect with viruses or cripple through denial of service attacks and spam messaging; moreover, it will provide a foundation where vendor lock-in need not be an issue.

Abstract: There is described a system for adding content to a data container, the data container comprising one or more segments arranged in a sequence, each segment containing payload data and wherein at least one of the one or more segments is compressed. The system comprises parsing through at least a portion of the data container so as to determine at least one of a beginning and an end of the sequence of segments; and adding content to the data container at the at least one of the beginning and the end of the sequence of segments, while the at least one of the segments remains compressed.

Abstract: An authoritative computer network (10) comprising: at least one manager user (12); a plurality of subordinate users (14); and access control means adapted to allow the manager user to control access of one or more subordinate users to the authoritative computer network, wherein the authoritative computer network is provided as an overlay network on or within a distributed network (100).