System, method and apparatus for distributed content dissemination

A content distribution device comprising:

• a transceiver, said transceiver in wireless communication with a network, wherein a user of said content distribution device is substantially contiguous to at least one other device, said at least one other device being in communication with said network and with a source device containing content, said content not under the control of said user, and said source device not in a home system of said at least one other device;
• wherein said at least one other device is owned by another and not in a home system of said user;
• and
• a control command, wherein said user, after transmitting said control command, initiates a content transference from said source device to said at least one other device,
• wherein substantially the same content is received by said at least one other device at substantially the same time,
• wherein said user communicates with said source device using a frequency hopping protocol, and
• wherein said network is a wide area network.

A system for delivering content from a user, said system comprising:

• means for initiating, by said user of a first device, a signal to transmit content selected by said user to at least one device,
• wherein said content is resident in a source device not under the control of said user;
• wherein said at least one device is owned by another and not in a home system of said user, and said at least one device is in communication with said source device and not in a home system therewith;
• wherein said at least one device is substantially contiguous to the user;
• means for receiving at said at least one device said content,
• wherein said content is selected from the group consisting of at least one of an audio, a video and a combined audio and video data stream,
• wherein said signal from said first device is a wireless signal,
• wherein said first device communicates with said source device using a frequency hopping protocol, and
• wherein said first device and said means for receiving communicate across a wide area network.

A system for selected content distribution, said system comprising:

• a communications network, said communications network including a multiplicity of devices in communication therein, said multiplicity of devices including a first device of a user and a plurality of other devices with respective other users thereof;
• wherein said plurality of other devices are owned by said respective other users and not in a home system of said user;
• wherein said communications network is in communication with a source device containing content, said content not under the control of said user, and said source device not in a home system of said plurality of other devices;
• and
• a selected content distribution signal, said signal being initiated by said user from said first device, said signal indicating content on said source device selected by said user for said respective users of said plurality of other devices, said plurality of other devices being identified as substantially contiguous said first device,
• whereby said respective users may, upon playing said content, participate in a common event designated by said user,
• wherein said signal from said first device is a wireless signal,
• wherein said first device communicates with said source device using a frequency hopping protocol, and
• wherein said communications network is a wide area network.

A method for selective content distribution, said method comprising:

• transmitting, by a user of a first device, content from a source device to a plurality of other devices, said content selected by said user for transmission, said plurality of other devices being substantially contiguous said user;
• wherein said plurality of other devices are owned by respective other users and not in a home system of said user;
• wherein said source device is in communication with said plurality of other devices, said content not under the control of said user, and said source device not in a home system of said plurality of other devices;
• receiving, by each of said plurality of other devices, said content from said user;
• and
• playing, to respective other users of said plurality of other devices, said content;
• said content being played to said respective other users substantially simultaneously,
• whereby said respective other users may participate in a common event designated by said user,
• wherein said signal from said first device is a wireless signal,
• wherein said first device communicates with said source device using a frequency hopping protocol, and
• wherein said first device and said plurality of other devices communicate across a wide area network.

A device for selected content distribution, said device comprising:

• a transceiver, said transceiver in communication with a network having a multiplicity of devices in communication therein, said multiplicity of devices including said transceiver and a plurality of other devices with respective other users thereof;
• wherein said plurality of other devices are owned by said respective other users and not in a home system of a user of said transceiver;
• wherein said network is in communication with a source device containing content, said content not under the control of said user, and said source device not in a home system of said plurality of other devices;
• and
• a selected content distribution signal, said signal being initiated by a user from said transceiver, said signal indicating said content stored on said source device and selected by said user for said respective users of said plurality of other devices, said plurality of other devices being identified, by said network, as substantially contiguous said transceiver,
• whereby said respective users may, upon playing said content, participate in a common event designated by said user,
• wherein said signal from said transceiver is a wireless signal,
• wherein said user communicates with said source device using a frequency hopping protocol, and
• wherein said transceiver and said plurality of other devices communicate across a wide area network.