System and method of providing media content

Abstract

A method includes selecting, at a content management computer, a particular content source of a plurality of content sources for media content associated with a media content item requested by a first media device. The particular content source is selected based on a network topology of an access network. The method includes sending a first instruction to the particular content source from the content management computer. The first instruction causes the particular content source to send the media content to the first media device. The method includes, after sending the first instruction, receiving, at the content management computer, a request for the media content item from a second media device. The method also includes sending a second instruction from the content management computer to the first media device. The second instruction causes the first media device to send the media content to the second media device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A media processor, comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate the performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 obtaining media content from a media content source; 
 receiving a first instruction to deliver the media content to a communication device from a content management server; 
 obtaining a first restriction associated with the media content from the content management server; and 
 providing the media content and the first restriction to the communication device, wherein the communication device presents the media content subject to the first restriction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The media processor of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further include providing a list of available media content to the communication device. 
     
     
         3 . The media processor of  claim 1 , wherein the media content comprises a media content item and a trailer for the media content item. 
     
     
         4 . The media processor of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a first access rules request to an access rules source, wherein the first access rules request causes the content management server to send the first restriction associated with the media content. 
     
     
         5 . The media processor of  claim 4 , wherein the access rules source comprises an access rules database, an access rules server, another media device, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The media processor of  claim 5 , wherein the operations further include receiving a charge authorization related to the media content from the communication device. 
     
     
         7 . The media processor of  claim 6 , wherein the operations further include retrieving a second access rule associated with the media content based on the charge authorization. 
     
     
         8 . The media processor of  claim 7 , wherein the operations further include sending the second access rule to the communication device. 
     
     
         9 . The media processor of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further include charging an account associated with a subscriber for the communication device. 
     
     
         10 . The media processor of  claim 9 , wherein the processing system comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed computing environment. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by a processing system comprising a processor, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 obtaining media content from a media content source;   receiving a first instruction to deliver the media content to a communication device from a content management server;   obtaining a first restriction associated with the media content from the content management server; and   providing the media content and the first restriction to the communication device, wherein the communication device presents the media content subject to the first restriction.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise charging an account associated with the communication device for download of the media content responsive to providing the first restriction. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further include receiving a charge authorization related to the media content from the communication device. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the operations further include retrieving a second access rule associated with the media content based on the charge authorization. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further include sending the second access rule to the communication device. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the processing system comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed computing environment. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processing system comprising a processor, media content from a media content source;   receiving, by the processing system, a first instruction to deliver the media content to a communication device from a content management server;   obtaining, by the processing system, a first restriction associated with the media content from the content management server; and   providing, by the processing system, the media content and the first restriction to the communication device, wherein the communication device presents the media content subject to the first restriction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing, by the processing system, a list of available media content to the communication device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising sending, by the processing system, a first access rules request to an access rules source, wherein the first access rules request causes the content management server to send the first restriction associated with the media content. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the access rules source comprises an access rules database, an access rules server, another media device, or a combination thereof.