Sharing media content based on a media server

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• connecting a first media server of a set of media servers to a first private network, wherein the set of media servers is hosted by a service provider, and wherein said first media server is external to the first private network and a second private network, while appearing to be located in the first private network based on a first virtual address mapped to a physical address of the first media server;
• connecting a second media server of the set of media servers to a second private network, wherein said second media server is external to the first private network and the second private network, while appearing to be located in the second private network based on a second virtual address mapped to a physical address of the second media server;
• establishing a multicast group including the first and second media servers;
• and
• sharing media content from the first media server with the second media server of the multicast group, wherein each of the first and second private networks comprise a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed cause a computer device to perform a method comprising:

• connecting a first media server of a set of media servers to a first private network, wherein the set of media servers is hosted by a service provider, and wherein said first media server is external to the first private network and a second private network, while appearing to be located in the first private network based on a first virtual address mapped to a physical address of the first media server;
• connecting a second media server of the set of media servers to a second private network, wherein said second media server is external to the first private network and the second private network, while appearing to be located in the second private network based on a second virtual address mapped to a physical address of the second media server;
• establishing a multicast group including the first and second media servers;
• and
• sharing media content from the first media server with the second media server of the multicast group, wherein each of the first and second private networks comprise a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the apparatus to:
• connect a first media server of a set of media servers to a first private network, said first media server storing first media content for the first private network, and said first media server being external to the first private network and a second private network, while appearing to be located in the first private network based on a first virtual address mapped to a physical address of the first media server;
• connect a second media server of the set of media servers to the second private network, said second media server storing second media content for the second private network, and said second media server being external to the second private network and the first private network, while appearing to be located in the second private network based on a second virtual address mapped to a physical address of the second media server;
• establish a multicast group including the first and second media servers;
• and
• share media content between the first media server and the second media server using the multicast group, wherein the establishing and the sharing are based on an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).