# US 11,122,025 B2 · System and method of providing media content > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,025 B2 - Document ID: US11122025B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/401,590 - Filed: 2019-05-02 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2007-03-09 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Ankur Mukerji; Charles Scott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122025B2 ## CPC - H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)} - H04L 63/10: {for controlling access to devices or network resources} - H04L 67/06: specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP] - H04L 67/303: Terminal profiles - H04L 67/306: User profiles - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method includes selecting, at a content management computer, a particular content source of a plurality of content sources for media content associated with a media content item requested by a first media device. The particular content source is selected based on a network topology of an access network. The method includes sending a first instruction to the particular content source from the content management computer. The first instruction causes the particular content source to send the media content to the first media device. The method includes, after sending the first instruction, receiving, at the content management computer, a request for the media content item from a second media device. The method also includes sending a second instruction from the content management computer to the first media device. The second instruction causes the first media device to send the media content to the second media device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: selecting, at a content management computer, a particular content source of a plurality of content sources for media content associated with a media content item requested by a first media device, wherein the particular content source is selected based on a network topology of an access network; sending a first instruction to the particular content source from the content management computer, wherein the first instruction causes the particular content source to send the media content to the first media device; after sending the first instruction, receiving, at the content management computer, a request for the media content item from a second media device; sending a second instruction from the content management computer to the first media device, wherein the second instruction causes the first media device to send the media content to the second media device, and wherein the first media device is distinct from the second media device and distinct from the particular content source; and sending a first restriction associated with the media content to the first media device, wherein the first media device sends the first restriction to the second media device, wherein the second media device presents the media content subject to the first restriction, wherein the first restriction comprises a time period to view the media content. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the first media device as a content source of the plurality of content sources after sending the first instruction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a credit to a subscriber account associated with the particular content source when the particular content source is another media device responsive to sending the first instruction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a credit to a subscriber account associated with the first media device responsive to sending the second instruction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a first access rules request to an access rules source, wherein the first access rules request causes the access rules source to send an access rule for the media content to the first media device, the access rule enabling the first media device to access a portion of the media content. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising, in response to receipt of a charge authorization associated with the media content item from the first media device, sending a second access rules request to the access rules source, wherein the second access rules request causes the access rules source to send a second access rule to the first media device, the second access rule enabling the first media device to access all of the media content. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a first access rule request to an access rule source, wherein the first access rules request causes the access rules source to send an access rule for the media content to the second media device, the access rule enabling the second media device to access a portion of the media content. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising, in response to receipt of a charge authorization associated with the media content item from the second media device, sending a second access rules request to the access rules source, wherein the second access rules request causes the access rules source to send a second access rule to the second media device, the second access rule enabling the second media device to access all of the media content. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the first media device to send the second instruction based on the network topology, wherein the selecting the first media device based on the network topology comprises choosing from the plurality of content sources based on an available bandwidth, a network capacity, load balancing, a logical proximity of the first media device to the second media device, a physical proximity of the first media device to the second media device, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the particular content source based on the network topology of the access network comprises choosing from the plurality of content sources based on an available bandwidth, a network capacity, load balancing, a logical proximity of the particular content source to the first media device, a physical proximity of the particular content source to the first media device, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: a processor; a memory accessible to the processor, wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the processor to perform operations, the operations including: selecting a particular content source of a plurality of content sources for media content associated with a media content item requested by a first media device, wherein the particular content source is selected based on a network topology of an access network; sending a first instruction to the particular content source, wherein the first instruction causes the particular content source to send the media content to the first media device; after sending the first instruction, receiving a request for the media content item from a second media device; sending a second instruction to the first media device, wherein the second instruction causes the first media device to send the media content to the second media device, and wherein the first media device is distinct from the second media device and distinct from the particular content source; and sending a first restriction associated with the media content to the first media device, wherein the first media device sends the first restriction to the second media device, wherein the second media device presents the media content subject to the first restriction, wherein the first restriction comprises a time period to view the media content. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further include providing a list of available media content to the first media device, the list including identification of the media content item. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise sending a first access rules request to an access rules source, wherein the first access rules request causes the access rules source to send an access rule for the media content item to the first media device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the access rules source comprises an access rules database, an access rules server, another media device, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the media content comprises the media content item and a trailer for the media content item. ### Claim 16 A computer-readable computer device storing instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising: selecting a particular content source of a plurality of content sources for media content associated with a media content item requested by a first media device, wherein the particular content source is identified based on a network topology of an access network; sending a first instruction to the particular content source, wherein the first instruction causes the particular content source to send the media content to the first media device; after sending the first instruction, receiving a request for the media content item from a second media device; sending a second instruction to the first media device, wherein the second instruction causes the first media device to send the media content to the second media device, and wherein the first media device is distinct from the second media device and distinct from the particular content source; and sending a first restriction associated with the media content to the first media device, wherein the first media device sends the first restriction to the second media device, wherein the second media device presents the media content subject to the first restriction, wherein the first restriction comprises a time period to view the media content. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer-readable computer device of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise charging an account associated with the first media device for download of the media content responsive to sending the first instruction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The computer-readable computer device of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise charging an account associated with the second media device for download of the media content responsive to the sending the second instruction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The computer-readable computer device of claim 16, wherein the particular content source comprises another media device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The computer-readable computer device of claim 16, wherein the particular content source comprises a content server of a content provider.