Multi-user intelligent content cache for bandwidth optimization

A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

• receiving, from a first end-user device, a request for media content;
• downloading the media content to be stored locally at the first end-user device;
• receiving from the first end-user device via a first type of communication path a request for permission for the first end-user device to provide the media content, that is stored locally at the first end-user device, to a second end-user device;
• receiving from the second end-user device via the first type of communication path an additional request for additional permission for the second end-user device to receive the media content that is stored locally at the first end-user device;
• and
• responsive to receipt of the request and the additional request, granting the permission and the additional permission for the first end-user device to provide the media content, that is stored locally at the first end-user device, to the second end-user device, the granting of the request and the additional request enabling the first end-user device to provide to the second end-user device the media content via a second type of communication path that is different from the first type of communication path, the first type of communication path having a first data rate that is lower than a second data rate of the second type of communication path.

A method, comprising:

• downloading, by a processing system of a first end-user device including a processor, media content from a server to be stored locally at the first end-user device;
• communicating, by the processing system, with the server via a first type of communication path to obtain permission to provide the media content, that is stored locally at the first end-user device, to a second end-user device, wherein the second end-user device communicates with the server via the first type of communication path to obtain additional permission to receive the media content that is stored locally at the end-user device;
• and
• responsive to the first end-user device obtaining the permission from the server and in association with the second end-user device receiving the additional permission from the server, providing, by the processing system, the media content to the second end-user device, the media content being provided from the first end-user device to the second end-user device via a second type of communication path that is different from the first type of communication path.