Authorization access controlled content exchange

A client device for authorization access controlled content exchange, the client device configured to perform actions comprising:

• causing a plurality of content indexes to be searched to locate a match to requested content, each content index of the plurality of content indexes corresponding to content stored at a target client device of a plurality of target client devices;
• locating a content match responsive to the causing action, the content match corresponding to the requested content and having predefined authorization access information;
• determining whether predetermined authorization access information associated with the client device comports with the predefined authorization access information;
• if not, denying access to the requested content to a user;
• and
• if so, providing access to the requested content to the user by transferring the requested content from the target client device corresponding to the content match;
• wherein the action of determining comprises comparing subscription date information from the predetermined authorization access information to an original broadcast date of the requested content from the predefined authorization access information.

A client arrangement that is capable of authorization access controlled content exchange, comprising:

• profile means for profiling subscription information that indicates access rights to content;
• index means for indexing content that is stored at the client arrangement;
• search means for searching content that is stored remotely at a plurality of other client arrangements by searching a plurality of other index means, each other index means of the plurality of other index means corresponding to a particular other client arrangement of the plurality of other client arrangements;
• and
• access means for providing access to content located by the search means if the profile means indicates that access rights to the content located by the search means exist with respect to the client arrangement, the access means for transferring the content located at one of the plurality of other client arrangements responsive to the search means;
• wherein the access means comprises comparison means for comparing subscription date information from the predetermined authorization access information from the profile means to an original broadcast date of the content.

A method for controlling content exchange in a television-based entertainment environment, the method comprising actions of:

• performing a search for content that is stored on a target client device of a plurality of target client devices with reference to authorization access information;
• comparing subscription date information from the authorization access information to an original broadcast date of the content from predefined authorization access information;
• and
• enabling access to the content if predetermined authorization access information comports with the predefined authorization access information by transferring the content from the target client device to a requesting client device, the requesting client device requesting the search.

A method for authorization access controlled content exchange, the method comprising actions of:

• receiving a search request for content from a requesting user;
• locating a search match for the content, the content stored by a different user at a client device;
• determining whether the requesting user has access rights to the content responsive to authorization access information;
• if not, denying access to the content to the requesting user;
• and
• if so, providing access to the content to the requesting user by transferring the content from the different user after the locating;
• wherein the action of determining comprises:
• comparing a profile that corresponds to the requesting user with rights holder information that corresponds to the content;
• and
• wherein the profile includes subscription date information associated with the requesting user and at least one television channel or television network to which the requesting user subscribes, and the rights information includes an original broadcast date of the content and at least one television channel or television network that provided the content, and wherein the comparing comprises comparing the subscription date information associated with the requesting user to the original broadcast date of the content.

A method for authorization access controlled content exchange, the method comprising actions of:

• receiving a search request for content from a requesting user;
• determining whether special rights are needed to access the content;
• if special rights are needed to access the content, then determining whether the requesting user has access rights to the content responsive to authorization access information;
• if the requesting user does not have access rights to the content, then denying access to the content to the requesting user;
• if the requesting user does have access rights to the content, then
• performing a search to locate the content using a plurality of content indexes, the plurality of content indexes reflecting content stored at a plurality of client devices;
• reporting results of the search to the requesting user;
• and
• providing the requesting user an opportunity to elect to transfer the content from a particular client device of the plurality of client devices to a client device of the requesting user;
• wherein the action of determining whether the requesting user has access rights to the content comprises comparing subscription information from the authorization access information to an original broadcast date of the content.

A method for authorization access controlled content exchange, the method comprising actions of:

• receiving a search request for content from a requesting user;
• performing a search for the content responsive to the received search request by searching a plurality of content indexes, each content index of the plurality of content indexes reflecting content items stored at target client devices;
• determining whether a search match has been found from the search;
• if a search match has not been found, reporting a no match search result to the requesting user;
• if a search match has been found, determining whether the requesting user has rights to the content;
• if the requesting user has rights to the content, (i) reporting a match search result to the requesting user and (ii) scheduling a transfer of the content from a target client device of the plurality of target client devices to the requesting user;
• and
• if the requesting user does not have rights to the content, reporting a no access result to the requesting user;
• wherein the determining whether the requesting user has rights to the content comprises comparing subscription information associated with the requesting user with an original broadcast date of the content.

A method for authorization access controlled content exchange, the method comprising actions of:

• receiving a search request for desired content from a requesting user, the search request including at least one search parameter;
• searching a plurality of content indexes to match the at least one search parameter, each content index of the plurality of content indexes corresponding to content stored at a target client device of a plurality of target client devices;
• locating a content match responsive to the searching action, the content match corresponding to the desired content and having predefined authorization access information;
• determining whether predetermined authorization access information associated with the requesting user comports with the predefined authorization access information;
• if the predetermined authorization access information does not comport with the predefined authorization access information, denying access to the desired content to the requesting user;
• and
• if the predetermined authorization access information does comport with the predefined authorization access information, providing access to the desired content to the requesting user by transferring the desired content from a target client device that stores the desired content;
• wherein the determining whether predetermined authorization access information comports with the predefined authorization access information comprises comparing subscription information from the predetermined authorization access information to an original broadcast date of the desired content from the predefined authorization access information.

A system for authorization access controlled content exchange, comprising:

• a database, the database including a plurality of profiles and a plurality of content indexes;
• each profile of the plurality of profiles including predetermined authorization access information for a corresponding client device of a plurality of client devices, and each content index of the plurality of content indexes including predefined authorization access information for content stored at the corresponding client device of the plurality of client devices;
• a search server, the search server capable of receiving a content search request for requested content from a requesting client device and performing a search responsive to the content search request using the plurality of content indexes;
• the search server adapted to provide access to the requested content if the requesting client device has access rights to the requested content and to deny access to the requested content if the requesting client device does not have access rights to the requested content;
• the search server also adapted to compare subscription date information from the predetermined authorization access information to an original broadcast date of the requested content from the predefined authorization access information;
• and
• a communications part, the communications part adapted to transfer the requested content from a particular client device of the plurality of client devices to the requesting client device if the search server is to provide access to the requested content because the requesting client device has access rights to the requested content.