Device for aggregating, translating, and disseminating communications within a multiple device environment

A method for allowing access to digital content in an environment having a plurality of electronic devices, the method comprising:

• receiving a request via a receiver on an aggregator from a first device for access to digital content, wherein
• the request comprises content information identifying the digital content to be accessed;
• searching a plurality of content rules stored on a memory of the aggregator for the content information;
• and
• responsive to a content rule being found and to the digital content being accessible, replying via a transmitter to the request with a message allowing access to the digital content,
• wherein the aggregator automatically creates rules of device interaction for the plurality of electronic devices in the environment by detecting a state change of a first device and associating the change of state of the first device with a change of state of a second device that occurs within an interval of time of the change of state of the first device, these rules of device interaction used to automatically change the state of the second device in response to a subsequent change of state of the first device according to the rules of device interaction.

An aggregator for providing digital rights access in an environment having a plurality of electronic devices, the aggregator comprising:

• a first transmitter;
• a first receiver;
• a second receiver;
• a memory having thereon a plurality of content rules for content accessible on one or more devices in a plurality of devices;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive content information from a first device using a first transport via the first receiver, wherein the content information identifies content to be accessed on the first device;
• receive a content rule associated with the content information from one of the plurality of devices using a second transport via the second receiver, wherein the content rule comprises digital rights information;
• store the content rule in the memory;
• determine whether the content should be accessed based on the content rule;
• and
• send a message via the first transmitter to the first device, wherein the message comprises an instruction regarding access to the content,
• wherein the aggregator automatically creates rules of device interaction by detecting a state change of the first device and associating the change of state of the first device with a change of state of a second device that occurs within an interval of time of the change of state of the first device, these rules of device interaction used to automatically change the state of the second device in response to a subsequent change of state of the first device according to the rules of device interaction.