Device and method for tracking usage of content distributed to media devices of a local area network
First Claim
1. A method of a particular media device for tracking usage of content distributed to media devices of a local area network, each media device having a content usage counter associated with a media content, the method comprising:
- exchanging a content usage counter associated with the media content of the particular media device with content usage counters of other media devices of the local area network;
identifying a highest content usage counter having a highest value among the content usage counters of the particular media device and the other media devices;
determining whether the highest content usage counter is less than a maximum allowable content usage counter for the local area network; and
notifying the other media devices that the media content will be used in response to determining that the highest content usage counter is less than the maximum allowable content usage counter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A media device (812) for tracking usage of content distributed to media devices (806-812) of a local area network (802). A memory (906) of the media device (812) stores a content usage counter (918) associated with media content (816) of the media device (812). The transceiver (902) of the media device (812) communicates content usage counters (918) among other media devices (806-810) of the local area network (802). The processor (904) of the media device (812) identifies a highest content usage counter having a highest value among the content usage counters (918) of the particular media device (812) and the other media devices (806-810). The processor (904) also determines whether the highest content usage counter is less than a maximum allowable content usage counter for the local area network (802). The transceiver (902) notifies the other media devices (806-810) that media content (816) will be used if the highest content usage counter is less than the maximum allowable content usage counter.
45 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of a particular media device for tracking usage of content distributed to media devices of a local area network, each media device having a content usage counter associated with a media content, the method comprising:
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exchanging a content usage counter associated with the media content of the particular media device with content usage counters of other media devices of the local area network;
identifying a highest content usage counter having a highest value among the content usage counters of the particular media device and the other media devices;
determining whether the highest content usage counter is less than a maximum allowable content usage counter for the local area network; and
notifying the other media devices that the media content will be used in response to determining that the highest content usage counter is less than the maximum allowable content usage counter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A particular media device for tracking usage of content distributed to media devices of a local area network, each media device having a content usage counter associated with a media content, the particular media device comprising:
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a memory configured to store a content usage counter associated with the media content of the particular media device;
a transceiver configured to transmit the content usage counter of the particular media device to other media devices of the local area network and to receive content usage counters of the other media devices; and
a processor configured to identify a highest content usage counter having a highest value among the content usage counters of the particular media device and the other media devices, and determine whether the highest content usage counter is less than a maximum allowable content usage counter for the local area network, wherein the transceiver notifies the other media devices that media content will be used if the highest content usage counter is less than the maximum allowable content usage counter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification