# US 2020/0396284 A1 · System and method for managing media content > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0396284 A1 - Document ID: US20200396284A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/918,435 - Filed: 2020-07-01 - Published: 2020-12-17 - Earliest claimed: 2008-02-19 - Assignees: Lyft, Inc. - Applicants: Lyft, Inc. - Inventors: Scott White; James Cansler; Ian C. Schmehl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200396284A1 ## CPC - H04N 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests} - H04L 65/60: Network streaming of media packets - H04L 67/06: specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP] - H04L 67/1076: {Resource dissemination mechanisms or network resource keeping policies for optimal resource availability in the overlay network} - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - H04L 67/306: User profiles - H04L 67/54: Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users - H04N 21/25808: {Management of client data (terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303)} - H04N 21/41407: {embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop (constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57)} - H04N 21/41422: {located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle (arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62)} - H04N 21/485: End-user interface for client configuration - H04N 21/64322: {IP} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media distribution system having a controller to identify a plurality of media presentation devices of a user of the media distribution system, identify one or more distribution preferences supplied by the user for distributing media content to the plurality of media presentation devices, receive media content from one of a plurality of media sources of the user, determine a media content type from the received media content, and distribute the received media content to one or more of the plurality of media presentation devices according to the one or more distribution preferences and the media content type. The one or more distribution preferences comprise in part media content distribution arrangements assigned by the user between the plurality of media sources of the user and the plurality of media presentation devices of the user. Other embodiments are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A media distribution system comprising: a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: identifying, on a network accessible by the media distribution system (MDS), one or more media sources currently accessible by the MDS; analyzing media content available via the one or more accessible media sources, the media content including at least one of audio content or video content; determining that the analyzed media content is already accessible by the MDS; and initializing a search for new media content from one or more different media sources. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The media distribution system of claim 21, wherein determining that the analyzed media content is already accessible by the MDS includes determining that the media content has already been distributed to one or more detected media devices. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The media distribution system of claim 21, wherein determining that the analyzed media content is already accessible by the MDS includes determining that the media distribution system already includes a copy of the media content. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The media distribution system of claim 21, wherein initializing a search for new media content from one or more different media sources includes searching for media sources on one or more different computer networks. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The media distribution system of claim 21, wherein initializing a search for new media content from one or more different media sources includes continually monitoring for entry of new media sources into the network accessible by the MDS. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The media distribution system of claim 21, wherein one or more software applications are associated with the accessible media sources. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The media distribution system of claim 26, wherein the MDS receives the one or more software applications over the network. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The media distribution system of claim 26, wherein the software applications include one or more libraries and/or plug-ins that facilitate receiving and/or processing media content from the accessible media sources. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The media distribution system of claim 26, wherein the software applications include one or more libraries and/or plug-ins that facilitate distributing the media content to the media presentation devices. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The media distribution system of claim 26, wherein one or more of the software applications are configured to detect entry of new media sources or media presentation devices into the network accessible by the MDS. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The media distribution system of claim 30, wherein upon determining that the analyzed media content is already accessible by the MDS, the MDS is configured to ignore the detection and continue searching for new media sources with new media content. ### Claim 32 A method comprising: identifying, on a network accessible by a media distribution system (MDS), one or more media sources currently accessible by the MDS; analyzing media content available via the one or more accessible media sources, the media content including at least one of audio content or video content; determining that the analyzed media content is already accessible by the MDS; and initializing a search for new media content from one or more different media sources. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, further comprising: detecting a new media source with new media content that was not previously accessible by the MDS; and retrieving the new media content. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, further comprising determining a media content type for one or more portions of the new media content. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, further comprising: identifying one or more distribution preferences established for one or more subscribers that subscribe to the media content; and distributing media content to the one or more subscribers according to the identified distribution preferences. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein the identified distribution preferences direct distribution of the media content between the media sources accessible by the MDS and one or more media presentation devices of the one or more subscribers. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36, wherein the media presentation devices of the subscriber comprise at least one of: a cellular phone; a digital camera; a set-top box; a personal computer; or an automobile entertainment system. ### Claim 38 A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising: identifying, on a network accessible by a media distribution system (MDS), one or more media sources currently accessible by the MDS; analyzing media content available via the one or more accessible media sources, the media content including at least one of audio content or video content; determining that the analyzed media content is already accessible by the MDS; and initializing a search for new media content from one or more different media sources. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the MDS is accessible via a web portal. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the web portal is accessible through a set-top box.